Acute and subchronic dermal toxicity of Vitex negundo essential oil

Vitex negundo is a common herb in different herbal formulation. The potential acute and sub-chronic dermal toxicities were evaluated as per OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) guidelines 402 and 411, respectively. Both sexes of Wistar rats were exposed to Vitex negundo oil of 2000?mg/kg body weight for acute dermal toxicity, whereas in the dermal sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were exposed to Vitex negundo oil 250, 500 and 1000?mg/kg body weight, respectively, for five times a week for 90?d. In acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies, all animals were normal without any behavioral, serum biochemistry, hematology, necroscopical and histopathological changes. The no observed effect level (NOEL) and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of Vitex negundo oil were 250 and 1000?mg/kg/day, respectively. Vitex negundo oil is under the category 5 (Unclassified) according to the Globally Harmonized System, with an LD₅₀ value of over 2000?mg/kg.     

Hepatoprotective Activity of Vitex trifolia against Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Damage

Aqueous and ethanol extracts of leaf of Vitex trifolia was investigated for hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage. To assess the hepatoprotective activity of the extracts, various biochemical parameters viz., total bilirubin, total protein, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities were determined. Results of the serum biochemical estimations revealed significant reduction in total bilirubin and serum marker enzymes and increase in total protein in the animals treated with ethanol and aqueous extracts. However significant rise in these serum enzymes and decrease in total protein level was noticed in CCl4 treated group indicating the hepatic damage. The hepatoprotective activity is also supported by histological studies of liver tissue. Histology of the liver tissue treated with ethanol and aqueous extracts showed normal hepatic architecture with few fatty lobules. Hence the present study revealed that Vitex trifolia could afford significant protection against CCl₄ induced hepatocellular injury.     

The coastal medicinal plant Vitex rotundifolia: a mini-review on its bioactive compounds and pharmacological activity

Humans have long used natural remedies like plants and herbs to treat disease.Furthermore,research has been ongoing to find alternative pharmaceutical drugs based on traditionally used plants,as natural products show fewer side effects compared to synthetic drugs.Medicinal plants have long been targeted in drug development due to their bioactive compounds like alkaloids,flavonoids,and terpenoids.This is not only the case for terrestrial plants,but marine environments also provide a larger diversity of flora and fauna with medicinal bioactive compounds.Vitex rotundifolia,also known as Beach Vitex,is a coastal plant that has been traditionally used to treat a variety of diseases including premenstrual syndrome,headaches,migraines,colds,and eye pain.There have been many review papers on V.rotundifolia,emphasizing its taxonomy,distribution,and biological activity.Our current mini-review not only summarizes the pharmacology and bioactivity of V.rotundifolia,but it also provides new information on the main bioactive compounds of V.rotundifolia such as flavonoids,phenolic acid,and terpenes and their current pharmacological activity in vitro and in vivo research.This information can be useful for developing new pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents to treat and manage disease.     

黄荆子三萜类化学成分研究

目的 研究马鞭草科牡荆属植物黄荆果实的三萜类化学成分.方法 采用硅胶柱层析、ODS柱层析、Sephadex LH-20柱层析等色谱法分离纯化黄荆子三萜类化学成分,并根据理化性质和波谱数据对化合物结构进行鉴定.结果 分离得到了7个化合物,分别是2α,3α,19α-三羟基乌苏-12-烯-28-酸(1)、2α,3β-二羟基齐墩果-12-烯-28-酸(2)、2α,3β,19α-三羟基乌苏-12-烯-28-酸(3)、2α,3ββ,19α,23-四羟基齐墩果-12-烯-28-酸(4)、2α,3β,23-三羟基齐墩果-12-烯-28-酸(5)、2α,3α,24-齐墩果三羟基-12-烯-28-酸(6)、乌苏酸(7).结论 化合物1、3、4、5、6为首次从该属植物中分离得到.     

HPLC法测定江西不同产地蔓荆子中蔓荆子黄素的含量

目的:建立测定江西不同产地蔓荆子中蔓荆子黄素含量的方法。方法:采用高效液相色谱法。色谱柱为Alltima HP C18(250mm×4.6mm,5μm),流动相为乙腈-50mmol·L-1磷酸二氢钾溶液(磷酸调pH值为3.0)=50∶50,流速为1.0mL·min-1,检测波长为254nm,柱温为室温,进样量为10μL。结果:蔓荆子黄素的进样量在0.2～1.2μg范围内与峰面积积分值呈良好的线性关系(r=0.9994);平均加样回收率为99.96%,RSD=1.42%(n=9)。江西不同产地蔓荆子中蔓荆子黄素含量差异较大。结论:本方法简便、快速、线性关系良好,可用于蔓荆子中蔓荆子黄素的含量测定。     

In silico and in vitro studies on the anti-cancer activity of artemetin,vitexicarpin and penduletin compounds from Vitex negundo

Vitex negundo L. (V. negundo) is one of the important medicinal and anticancer enhancer herbs. This plant is commonly used in the preparation of traditional drugs to treat numerous diseases. Inspired by the medicinal properties of this plant, the current study aimed to investigate antiproliferative potential and the primary molecular mechanisms of the apoptotic induction against human HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines, by pure compounds isolated from targeted fractions of V. negundo which were characterized by NMR, FTIR and HRMS analysis and identified as artemetin (FLV1), vitexicarpin (FLV2), and penduletin (FLV3) compounds. The FLV1, FLV2, and FLV3 compounds were evaluated for the antiproliferative potential against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines by cell viability assay and exhibited IC₅₀ values of 2.3, 23.9 and 5.6 µM and 3.9, 25.8, and 6.4 µM, respectively. In addition, those compounds increased the level of reactive oxygen species production, induced cell death occurred via apoptosis, demonstrated by Annexin V-staining cells, contributed significantly to DNA damage, and led to the activation of caspase3/caspase8 pathways.Additionally, molecular docking was also conducted to rationalize the cancer cells inhibitory and to evaluate the ability of the FLV1, FLV2, and FLV3 compounds to be developed as good drug candidates for cancers treatment.     

黄荆子乙酸乙酯提取物及木脂类化合物对人卵巢癌COC1细胞体外增殖及裸鼠皮下移植瘤的抑制作用

目的:研究黄荆子乙酸乙酯提取物EVn-50及从中分级分离获得的4种木脂类化合物(Comp 6、Comp 7、Comp 8、Comp 10)体内外对人卵巢癌COC1细胞的作用。方法:体外培养人卵巢癌COC1细胞,细胞计数法检测EVn-50、Comp 6、Comp 7、Comp 8、Comp 10对人卵巢癌COC1细胞生长的影响;采用人卵巢癌COC1细胞裸鼠移植瘤模型治疗实验评价EVn-50、Comp 6、Comp 7、Comp 8、Comp 10体内治疗卵巢癌的有效性。结果:EVn-50、Comp 6、Comp 7、Comp 8、Comp 10对人卵巢癌COC1细胞生长具有抑制作用,且呈浓度及时间依赖性,其中,以Comp 8效价最高,其IC50为1.40μg/ml;其次为EVn-50,其IC50为1.56μg/ml;体内实验显示,5mg/kg给药20天时,EVn-50、Comp 6对人卵巢癌COC1细胞裸鼠皮下移植瘤生长抑制率分别为57.1%、55.7%;瘤重抑制率分别是61.6%、53.1%,Comp 8无效。结论:黄荆子乙酸乙酯提取物EVn-50及黄荆子木脂类化合物体内外均能抑制人卵巢癌COC1细胞的生长和增殖。     

天然野生和种植药用蔓荆子化学成分研究──Ⅰ．天然野生和种植药用蔓荆子挥发油成分定性研究

本文采用水蒸气蒸馏提出挥发油，并利用不同类型的毛细管柱，找出最佳色谱分离条件，再利用气相色谱－质谱－计算机系统将色谱分离出的３５种成分进行鉴定，从中定性了２１种成分，占总挥发油成分的６０％。从ＧＣ－ＭＳ鉴定结果看，天然野生蔓荆子比种植药用蔓荆子缺少了氯代甲烷、二氯甲烷、氯仿和１－甲氧基－４－（２－丙烯基）苯，因此，两者在挥发油成分上极为相似，有进一步研究开发利用的价值。     

Case report: Multiple follicular development associated with herbal medicine

After three endocrinologically normal cycles while undergoingunstimulated in-vitro fertilization treatment, a woman tooka herbal medicine (Vitex agnus castus) at the beginning of afourth unstimulated IVF treatment cycle. In this fourth cycle,her serum gonadotrophin and ovarian hormone measurements weredisordered. One embryo resulted from the three eggs collectedbut a pregnancy did not ensue. She had symptoms suggestive ofmild ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in the luteal phase.Two subsequent cycles were endocrinologically normal. We donot advocate the use of this herbal medicine to promote normalovarian function.