苏木水提物对卵巢癌细胞增生的抑制及诱导凋亡作用

 [目的　观察苏木水提物对人类浆液性囊腺卵巢癌细胞SKOV3的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用。方法　采用细胞计数法绘制生长抑制曲线;光镜下观察药物作用后SKOV3细胞经锥虫蓝染色后的形态变化;电子显微镜下观察苏木水提物作用后细胞的超微结构;不同质量浓度苏木水提物作用于细胞后,用流式细胞术（FCM）进行凋亡及周期分析。结果　生长曲线显示苏木水提物对SKOV3细胞有明显的生长抑制作用,且呈现一定的质量浓度依赖性;电镜图可见典型的细胞凋亡特征,如细胞核固缩、染色质凝聚及凋亡小体形成;FCM分析证实：体外培养的SKOV3细胞经不同质量浓度的苏木水提物作用后,细胞生长明显受到抑制,细胞凋亡率随苏木水提物质量浓度的增加而增加。结论　苏木水提物对人类卵巢癌细胞株SKOV3有明显的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用。     

A comparative study of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. root extracts on sexual behaviour in male Wistar rats

Caesalpinia bonduc is among the traditionally used plant in Benin, for its enhancement of male sexual activity. This study was undertaken to investigate the potential effect of C. bonduc root extracts on sexual behaviour of male Wistar rats. For that, thirty-six rats were allocated into six groups and orally treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (control), Sildenafil citrate (standard) and C. bonduc root extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol) orally for twenty-eight days. Sexual behaviour parameters such as intromission frequency, intromission latency, mount latency and mount frequency were evaluated on day 0, 14 and 28. After the study completion, the body and reproductive organ weights as well as testicular histology and testosterone level were recorded. C. bonduc root extracts treatments had no significant effect on the body weight of rats. Enhancement in sexual behaviour was observed in ethanolic extract treated rats. An significant increase in mount frequency and intromission frequency as well as significant reduction in mount latency and intromission latency were noticed for ethanolic extract. The same extract caused an improvement in testosterone levels, relative testes weight and histological architecture. The findings demonstrate the aphrodisiac potential of C. bonduc root and lend support to the folkloric use as aphrodisiac.     

苏木醇提取物对心脏移植后外周血部分辅助性T淋巴细胞因子水平的影响

目的 探讨苏木醇提物对心脏移植后外周血部分辅助性T淋巴细胞因子(Th1)细胞因子水平的影响。方法 应用大鼠腹腔同种异位心脏移植模型。受体SD大鼠，供体Wistar大鼠，苏木醇提物分为大、小剂量组，环孢素A(CsA)组，苏木 半量CsA合作组，对照组。术前2d给药，术后5，9d抽血检测白介素-2(IL-2)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)，观察术后移植心脏的存活天数及心脏跳动情况及病理改变。结果 苏木醇提物、苏木 半量CsA合作组可明显延长供心存活时间，减轻移植心的病理损害，不同程度上降低移植后血清IL-2、IFN-γ、TNF-α水平。结论 苏木醇提物有较强的免疫抑制作用，可能是一种很有前途的心脏移植后抗排斥反应新药。     

苏木种子的化学成分研究

目的研究苏木Caesalpinia sappan种子的化学成分。方法采用柱色谱方法对苏木种子95%甲醇提取物进行分离纯化,结合波谱技术与化学方法进行结构鉴定。结果从苏木种子95%甲醇提取物中分离得到了14个化合物,结构鉴定为phanginin F(1)、phanginin G(2)、phanginin H(3)、phanginin I(4)、phanginin J(5)、phanginin K(6)、phanginin L(7)、phanginin M(8)、柚皮素(9)、homoeriodictyol(10)、steraric acid(11)、1H-azirino[1,2-a]indole(12)、serlyticin A(13)、山柰酚(14)。结论化合物9~14为首次从云实属植物中分离得到。     

Anti‐allergic activity of principles from the roots and heartwood of caesalpinia sappan on antigen‐induced β‐hexosaminidase release

The dichloromethane extract of the roots and heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan exhibited potent inhibitory activity against β‐hexosaminidase release as marker of degranulation in rat basophilic leukemic (RBL‐2H3) cells, with inhibition of 98.7% and 87.5% at concentration of 100 µg/ml, respectively. These extracts were further separated by chromatographic techniques to give two chalcones and seven homoisoflavones. Among the compounds tested, sappanchalcone (2) possessed the most potent effect against allergic reaction in RBL‐2H3 cells with an inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 7.6 µM, followed by 3‐deoxysappanchalcone (1, IC₅₀ = 15.3 µM), whereas other compounds showed moderate and mild effects. The results suggested the following structural requirements of chalcones (1 and 2) and homoisoflavones (3‐9) for anti‐allergic activity: (i) chalcone exhibited higher activity than homoisoflavone (ii) vicinal hydroxylation at B‐ring of chalcone conferred higher activity than one hydroxylation; and (iii) for homoisoflavone, the hydroxyl groups at C‐3 and C‐4 positions decreased the activity. This is the first report of C. sappan for anti‐allergic activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anthelmintic activity of Chenopodium album (L) and Caesalpinia crista (L) against trichostrongylid nematodes of sheep

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was carried out to determine the anthelmintic activity of Caesalpinia crista (L.) (Fabaceae) seed kernel and Chenopodium album (L.) (Chenopodiaceae) whole plant in order to justify their traditional use in veterinary medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro anthelmintic activity of crude aqueous methanolic extract (AME) of both the plants was determined using mature Haemonchus contortus and their eggs in adult motility assay and egg hatch test, respectively. In vivo anthelmintic activity was evaluated in sheep naturally infected with mixed species of gastrointestinal nematodes by administering crude powder (CP) and AME in increasing doses (1.0-3.0 g/kg). RESULTS: Both plants exhibited dose- and time-dependent anthelmintic effects by causing mortality of worms and inhibition of egg hatching. Caesalpinia crista (LC50=0.134 mg/mL) was found to be more potent than Chenopodium album (LC50=0.449 mg/mL) in egg hatch test. In vivo, maximum reduction in eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces was recorded as 93.9 and 82.2% with Caesalpinia crista and Chenopodium album AME at 3.0 g/kg on day 13 and 5 post-treatment, respectively. Levamisole (7.5 mg/kg), a standard anthelmintic agent, showed 95.1-95.6% reduction in EPG. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that both Caesalpinia crista and Chenopodium album possess anthelmintic activity in vitro and in vivo, thus, justifying their use in the traditional medicine system of Pakistan.     

苦石莲微量元素含量及溶出率研究

目的探讨苦石莲中微量元素的含量及溶出率。方法采用火焰原子吸收光谱法测定苦石莲消化和水煎两种不同处理方法下K、Ca、Mg、Mn、Fe、Zn、Cu等七种元素的含量及溶出率。结果苦石莲含有丰富的营养元素,钾含量为12054.67μg.g-1,含量较高。各元素含量顺序依次为K〉Ca〉Mg〉Fe〉Mn〉Zn〉Cu,种皮中钙、铁、锰含量明显高于子叶,镁、锌、铜的含量低于子叶;溶出率大小顺序为K〉Zn〉Cu〉Fe〉Ca〉Mg〉Mn,溶出率在4.43%59.54%之间。结论苦石莲中微量元素的溶出率高低主要取决于元素在药材中的存在形态。苦石莲破碎后入煎,各元素的溶出率都不高,采用煎煮后吞服的方法可减少这些微量元素的浪费。     

Evaluation of Caesalpinia pulcherrima Linn. for anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities

Objective:

To evaluate the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Linn.) Sw. for anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities.

Materials and Methods:

Anti-inflammatory action of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of C. pulcherrima (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) (CPE and CPA) were evaluated by cotton pellet granuloma models. Pylorus ligation and aspirin induced ulcer models were employed for evaluating antiulcer activity for both the extracts. Ulcerogenic potential of CP was also evaluated.

Result:

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of C. pulcherrima significantly decreased (P<0.01) the granuloma tissue development. CPE and CPA at both the doses exhibited significant (P<0.01) antiulcer activity by decreasing the ulcer score in both the ulcer models and it was not ulcerogenic.

Conclusion:

The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of C. pulcherrima (CPE and CPA) possess significant anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activities.     

Galactomannan from Caesalpinia spinosa induces phenotypic and functional maturation of human dendritic cells

Plant polysaccharides present an interesting potential as immunomodulators, particularly in the induction of antitumoral responses, principally because of their molecular complexity and low in vivo toxicity. Activation of dendritic cells (DCs) could improve antitumoral responses usually diminished in cancer patients, and natural adjuvants provide a possibility of inducing this activation. Herein, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of a neutral plant polysaccharide Galactomannan on human monocyte-derived DCs (MDDC). MDDCs were stimulated with Galactomannan (GLM) from Caesalpinia spinosa and both phenotypic and functional activities were assessed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR. The phagocytic ability of MDDCs was determined by using E-coli pHrodo particles and induction of T-lymphocyte allostimulation was determined after T-cell staining with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE). In MDDCs, purified Galactomannan induced phenotypic maturation revealed by increased expression of CD83, CD86, CD206, and HLA-DR. Functional experiments showed the loss of particulate antigen uptake in Galactomannan-stimulated DCs and increased alloantigen presentation capacity. Finally, Galactomannan increased protein and mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, and TNF-α. These data reveal that Galactomannan obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa promotes effective activation of MDDCs. This adjuvant-like activity may have therapeutic applications in clinical settings where immune responses need boosting.