环境条件对蕲艾叶品质影响的研究＊

目的 研究环境条件对蕲艾叶有效物质含量以及出绒率的影响。方法 采用国家行业标准分别测定土壤水分、pH值及有机质的含量；采用紫外-可见分光光度法测定蕲艾叶总黄酮含量；参照中国药典（2015年版）方法测定蕲艾叶挥发油和鞣质含量；采用HPLC法比较样品70%甲醇提取液的峰谱特征；采用自拟的经过方法学验证的方法检测蕲艾叶出绒率。结果 蕲艾叶品质与土壤水分、pH、日照长短及施化肥与否有关。施用化肥（含N、P、K）后所产蕲艾叶的挥发油平均含量比未施化肥的高17.6%，而总黄酮和鞣质的平均含量分别降低28.5%、30.5%，且施用化肥者5种有机酸的总含量显著降低；日照时数较短的蕲艾叶的挥发油的平均含量比日照时数长的高12.6%，但总黄酮和鞣质的平均含量分别降低23.5%、19.1%，5种有机酸的含量也显著降低，且出绒率整体较低；土壤水分较少的蕲艾叶的挥发油的平均含量比土壤水分充足的高5.5%，但总黄酮和鞣质的平均含量分别降低21.4%、34.6%，5种有机酸的含量也显著降低。蕲艾叶总黄酮和鞣质的含量在土壤酸性范围内随pH的升高而升高。结论 蕲艾的栽培应选择日照充分、土壤偏酸性且水分较充足的环境，避免施用化学肥料。     

Plant‐derived glucose transport inhibitors with potential antitumor activity

Glucose, a key nutrient utilized by human cells to provide cellular energy and a carbon source for biomass synthesis, is internalized in cells via glucose transporters that regulate glucose homeostasis throughout the human body. Glucose transporters have been used as important targets for the discovery of new drugs to treat cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, owing to their abnormal expression during these disease conditions. Thus far, several glucose transport inhibitors have been used in clinical trials, and increasing numbers of natural products have been characterized as potential anticancer agents targeting glucose transport. The present review focuses on natural product glucose transport inhibitors of plant origin, including alkaloids, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds, and isoprenoids, with their potential antitumor properties also discussed.     

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Urtica pilulifera

The petroleum ether extract of Urtica pilulifera (Urticaceae) seeds showed anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced edema in rats.     

Evaluation Of The Diuretic Activity Of Boerhaavia Verticillata

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the potential diuretic activity of Boerhaavia verticillata . The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of B. verticillata were administered in doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p., to normal and adult albino rats, which were monitored over a period of 24 h. Experimental results confirmed that both the ethanol and aqueous extracts have diuretic properties, but the ethanol extract seems to have less diuretic and natriuretic activity than the aqueous extract.     

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic compounds isolated from Melipona beecheii honey

Methanolic extract was obtained from Melipona beecheii honey and quantitative analysis of components like total amount of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and flavonols were estimated. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were fractionated by reverse phase HPLC and assessed for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by in vitro methods. Total phenol content was estimated as 63.22?mg of Gallic acid equivalents/100?g of honey. Total flavonoids and flavonols were found to be 3.61 and 3.16?mg of Catechin or Naringenin equivalents/100?g of honey, respectively. The flavonoids fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values of 0.33, 0.92 and 0.36?mg/mL for radical scavenging activity, chelating effects and reducing power, respectively. Inhibition of albumin denaturation, membrane stabilization and proteinase inhibition assays indicated that flavonoids extract showed anti-inflammatory activity. Phenolic compounds like phenolic acids and flavonoids present in the M. beecheii honey could be partially responsible for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.     

Red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) flavonoids down‐regulate collagen type III expression after UV‐A in primary human dermal blood endothelial cells

Red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) flavonoids including flavan‐3‐ols (eg, catechin and epicatechin), flavonols (eg, quercetin) and anthocyanins (eg, malvidin) exert anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In the skin they also have a photoprotective action, and their effects have been extensively investigated in keratinocytes, melanocytes and fibroblasts. Despite their known effects also on blood vasculature, little is known on their activities on human dermal blood endothelial cells (HDBECs), which are critically involved in skin homeostasis as well as in the pathogenesis of neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases. We sought to study the biological effects of selected red grape flavonoids in preventing the consequences of ultraviolet (UV)‐A irradiation in vitro. Our results show that red grape flavonoids prevent UV‐A‐induced sICAM‐1 release in HDBECs, suggesting that this cell type could represent an additional target of the anti‐inflammatory activity of flavonoids. In addition, flavonoids effectively inhibited UV‐A‐induced synthesis of collagen type III at both RNA and protein level, indicating that dermal blood microvasculature could be actively involved in ECM remodelling as a consequence of skin photo‐ageing, and that this can be prevented by red grape flavonoids.     

Effects of red wine on established markers of arterial structure and function in human studies: current knowledge and future research directions

Evidence from observational studies suggests that mild-to-moderate consumption of red wine is associated with reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Various individual chemical components of red wine also show salutary effects on vascular homeostasis, that is, enhanced endothelial function and arterial distensibility, both in vitro and in animal studies. However, testing the beneficial potential of red wine in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention on established surrogate cardiovascular markers requires further study with longer term intervention trials. This report reviews and critically appraises the published evidence for the effects of red wine on endothelium-dependent vasodilation, arterial stiffness and arterial wave reflections in healthy subjects and in patients with cardiovascular disease. Suggestions for future research directions are also provided.     

Cytogenetic Effects Of Aqueous Extracts Of The Medicinal Plant Paico (Chenopodium Multifidum L.)

The cytogenetic effects of aqueous extracts of Chenopodium multifidum L. (Paico) were determined by addition of the extracts and fractions to human lymphocyte cultures. Toxicity was evaluated by analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), mitotic (MI) and replication (RI) indexes. The results showed an increase in CA frequency in cultures exposed to infusion decoction, no modification in the CPK values either in the decoction or in the infusion, and a decrease in the MI of lymphocyte cultures exposed to the decoction. These results suggested genotoxic effects of “Paico” aqueous extracts.     

Ejaculatory activities of Allanblackia floribunda stem bark in spinal male rats

Abstract

Context: Medicinal plants have become a great source of relief for more 70% of the population in developing countries where access to modern medicine is very limited. Some of these plants are used as aphrodisiac agents. The stem bark of Allanblackia floribunda Oliver (Clusiacea) has been used in Cameroon as an aphrodisiac.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the effects of Allanblackia floribunda aqueous and ethanol extracts and their potential mechanism on fictive ejaculation in spinal male rats.

Materials and methods: Electromyographic activities of the bulbospongiosus muscles were recorded in 24 groups of spinal rats after intravenous administration of aqueous and ethanol extracts (2.5, 10, 20, 40 or 60?mg/kg) from the stem bark of A. floribunda in the presence or absence of dopamine (60?mg/kg). Furthermore, electromyographic activities of the bulbospongiosus muscles were recorded in five groups of spinal rats pre-treated orally during 8?d with extracts (150 and 300?mg/kg) in the presence of dopamine.

Results: Sequential treatments of rats with extracts significantly decreased the occurrence of ejaculation induced by dopamine up to 88.94% inhibition. The oral pre-treatment with both extracts significantly decreased the ejaculation induced by dopamine with the highest inhibition of 89.79%.

Discussion and conclusion: Two extracts of A. floribunda used in this study had inhibitory activities on ejaculation. The inhibitory effect of A. floribunda extracts on fictive ejaculation in rat may be directly mediated through dopaminergic pathways. Inhibition of ejaculation caused by these extracts could support its use in patients suffering from rapid ejaculation.