Ficus carica Leaf Extract Modulates the Lipid Profile of Rats Fed with a High‐Fat Diet through an Increase of HDL‐C

Ficus carica has been traditionally used for the treatment of several metabolic syndrome‐related health problems. It was the objective of this study to investigate the preventive effects of a Ficus carica (FC) leaf extract on hyperlipidemia in high fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese male rats. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (180 – 200 g) were fed with a regular diet, HFD or a HFD + oral treatment of either 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of FC or 30 mg/kg pioglitazone for six weeks. A range of parameters was evaluated including body weight development, plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), adiponectin, leptin, glucose, insulin, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), atherogenic index (AI) and the coronary risk index (CRI). FC significantly lowered TG and IL‐6 levels and elevated HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05). The effects of FC on lipid parameters were more pronounced than those of the positive control pioglitazone. FC significantly lowered AI and CRI (p < 0.01) while it had no effect on adiponectin and leptin levels. Our results demonstrate that preventive treatment with FC significantly improved the lipid profile and decreased adipogenic risk factors in HFD rats most likely mediated through an increase in HDL‐C levels. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

五指毛桃生药学研究

目的 明确五指毛桃Ficus hirta基原,以更好地控制药材质量。方法 考证五指毛桃文献,研究并记述五指毛桃植物形态、生药特征、各部分组织粉末显微特征及化学成分薄层色谱特征并进行分析。结果 提供了五指毛桃使用的历史依据,生药和薄层色谱数据,得到了五指毛桃标准中未曾记载的茎叶生药特征,提出根及茎叶不可同等使用。结论 为完善五指毛桃生药及成药质量标准提供依据。     

五指毛桃组织培养获得再生植株的研究

目的采用组织培养快繁技术培养五指毛桃种苗,为人工种植提供种源。方法采用五指毛桃叶片作外植体,以MS和1/2 MS为基本培养基,采用正交设计研究植物生长调节剂多因素组合(6-BA、NAA、2,4-D、IAA、KT和IBA)对五指毛桃初代诱导、不定芽分化和诱导生根的影响。结果不定芽最佳诱导培养基为MS+1.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.3 mg/L NAA,外植体经20 d诱导培养,可分化形成不定芽72个;MS+1.0 mg/L 6-BA+0.3 mg/L IAA+0.3 mg/L KT最利于不定芽继代增殖,增殖倍数6.67;1/2 MS+1.0 mg/L IBA+0.3 mg/L NAA最适于诱导生根获得再生植株,生根率100%;宜移栽于泥炭-珍珠岩(1︰1)的基质上,成活率为93%。结论此途径繁殖速度快、再生率高,能为栽培五指毛桃提供大量种苗。     

黎药荔花鼻窦炎处方中1个新的酚苷类化合物

目的研究黎药荔花鼻窦炎处方的化学成分。方法采用多种色谱手段分离化合物,运用理化性质和波谱技术鉴定化合物的结构;考察化合物1对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的巨噬细胞RAW264.7释放NO的影响。结果从荔花鼻窦炎处方中分离得到2个化合物,分别鉴定为尖瓣海莲苷A-4-甲醚(1)、尖瓣海莲苷C(2)。化合物1在50μmol/L时对LPS诱导的RAW264.7细胞释放NO有轻微的抑制作用。结论化合物1为1个新的酚苷类化合物,化合物2为首次从荔花鼻窦炎处方中分离得到,尖瓣海莲苷A-4-甲醚具有一定的抗炎作用。     

薜荔药材醇提物抗炎活性的研究

目的获得薜荔抗炎有效部位。方法将薜荔药材醇提取物分别用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、醇、水液、水饱和正丁醇进行提取,采用二甲苯致耳肿胀和醋酸毛细血管通透性实验,对各提取物进行抗炎实验研究。结果在5组供试液中,只有石油醚组抗炎活性不明显,其余4组均具有抗炎活性。结论 4组供试液抗炎活性排序:水液组>乙酸乙酯提取液组>正丁醇提取液组>醇提取液组。     

Hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Ficus exasperata vahl. (Moraceae) leaf aqueous extract in rats

The hypotensive and hypoglycaemic effects of Ficus exasperata (Vahl) (family: Moraceae) leaf aqueous extract (FEE) were investigated in experimental rat models. In this study, spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR) (type 1 diabetes), obese Zucker (type 2 diabetes) and Wistar rats were used. Three (A, B and C) groups of rats, each group consisting of 10 rats, were used. Group A Wistar rats received distilled water in quantities equivalent to the volume of streptozotocin (STZ) and FEE administered intraperitoneally to treated rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the SHR group B rats by multiple low-dose (MLD) intraperitoneal injections of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) to induce type 1 diabetes. The animals in group C were the obese Zucker rats with non-insulin-independent diabetes mellitus (NDDM) (type 2 diabetes) on genetic basis. F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract (FEE, 100 mg/kg/day p.o.) was administered orally by orogastric intubation to fasted Groups B and C rats. In groups B and C rats, administration of FEE commenced 4 weeks post STZ injection, and continued for the next 4 consecutive weeks. Group A rats gave normal biochemical and morphological findings. Group B rats exhibited pronounced polyuria, hypoinsulinaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia. These findings were also observed in group C rats, except that there was hyperinsilinaemia. Histopathological study of the aortic blood vessels showed extensive collagen fiber formation as well as perivascular fibrosis in both groups B and C rats. Four weeks of oral administration of F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract to diabetic groups of rats decreased blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid profiles. Administration of FEE (100 mg/kg p.o.) also restored the microanatomy of the blood vessels to almost normal levels. The findings of this study suggest that F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract possesses hypoglycaemic, hypotensive and hypolipidaemic properties. These findings lend biomedical and pharmacological support to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant in the management and/or control of diabetes and hypertension among the Yoruba-speaking people of Western Nigeria.     

Note: A new chromone from Ficus lyrata

A new chromone, named 5,6-dihydroxy-2-methylchromone (FL-2), along with seven known flavonoids, 5-hydroxy-7,3,3′,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (FL-3), 5,4′-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (FL-4), 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone (FL-5), 4-methoxychalcone (FL-6), 7,4′-dimethoxyapigenin (FL-7), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-2′,3′,6′-trimethoxyisoflavone (FL-8?a rare flavonoid), acacetin-7-O-glucoside (FL-9) and acacetin-7-O-neohesperidoside (FL-10), and β-sitosterol-d-glucoside (FL-1) have been isolated from the leaves of Ficus lyrata. Their structures have been established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence (IR, UV, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectra).     

Water-soluble constituents from aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa

Three new water-soluble constituents [ficuscarpanoside B (1), (7E,9Z)-dihydrophaseic acid 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4) and ficuscarpanic acid (6)] and the natural product 2,2′-dihydroxyl ether (7) have been isolated, together with three known compounds [(7S,8R)-syringoylglycerol (2), (7S,8R)-syringoylglycerol-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and icariside D₂ (5)] from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa. Identification of their structures was achieved by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including ¹H–¹H COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC methods and FAB mass spectral data.     

Effects of Ficus asperifolia on normal rat estrus cyclicity

Objective

To evaluate Ficus asperifolia (Moraceae) (F. asperifolia) effecting on regular estrus cycle of Wistar rats.

Methods

Air-dried fruits of F. asperifolia were extracted using water. Prior to the test, vaginal smear was monitored daily for a 3-week period to select females with normal (regular) estrous cycle. Those with regular estrus cycle weighing between 150–170 g were randomized into three sets of 15 animals each. Each set was then divided into three groups: Group 1 (control) was orally administered with distilled water (10 mL/kg body weight) once a day for 1 week starting from the proestrus stage. Groups 2 and 3 were respectively treated with 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight of the plant aqueous extract. The two other sets of 15 animals each were similarly treated as the first set for 3 weeks and 6 weeks respectively. Estrus cycle pattern was monitored before and during plant extract application whereas lipid profile, ovary, uterus and liver growth indices were determined at the end of each treatment.

Results

F. asperifolia did not disrupt (0%) the order of appearance of normal estrus cycle stages, namely, proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus. Short-term treatment (1 week duration) exhibited high frequency of appearance of proestrus and estrus stages while mid- (3 weeks) and long-term (6 weeks) treatments revealed constancy in the frequency of all stages irrespective to animal groups. The plasma and organ lipid profile, as well as ovary, uterus and liver growth remained unchanged when compared to distilled water-treated animals. Following long-term administration of plant extract (6 weeks), no adverse effect was noticed.

Conclusions

Our data partially support the use of F. asperifolia in common medicine.     

薜荔果的生药学研究及其黄酮的含量测定

目的对薜荔果生药学进行研究,同时采用反相高效液相色谱法测定薜荔果药材中黄酮的含量。方法对薜荔果进行性状鉴别、显微鉴别和薄层色谱鉴别。采用Phenomenex Gemini C18色谱柱（250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm）,流动相为乙腈-0.5%冰醋酸梯度洗脱,流速为1.0 mL.min-1,检测波长254 nm,柱温40℃。结果芦丁在5～100μg.mL-1浓度与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,回归方程为Y=5.685×104X＋2 644（r=0.999 9）,平均加样回收率为98.8%。结论研究结果可为薜荔果的生药鉴定、质量标准的制定提供一定依据。