Anti-inflammatory activity of herb products from Licania rigida Benth.

PurposeThe objective of the present study was to evaluate the systemic anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Licania rigida Benth (EHFLR) on models of systemic inflammation in mice.MethodsThe quantitative chemical profiles of phenolic acids and flavonoids were performed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Systemic anti-inflammatory activity was determined from carrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema models and the animals were orally treated (p.o.) with EHFLR at doses of 25, 50, 100 mg/kg, indomethacin (10 mg/kg) for carrageenan-induced paw edema and promethazine (6 mg/kg) for dextran-induced paw edema. The possible mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory action of the extract were evaluated by the paw edema models induced by histamine and arachidonic acid, and by the model of carrageenan-induced peritonitis, where vascular permeability and leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity were evaluated.ResultsThe results of the HPLC identified the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids, with chlorogenic acid (1.16%) and Caempferol (0.81%) as the main constituents. From the results, it was concluded that the extract has an LD₅₀ ≥5000 mg/kg when administered orally in mice as this dose did not trigger deaths in any of the observed groups. EHFLR (25 mg/kg) showed a significant antiderematogenic effect on histamine and arachidonic acid-induced paw edema at the third hour of the tests, with a percentage of inhibition of 46.64% and 18.33%, respectively. The extract (25 mg/kg, p.o.) also significantly reduced vascular permeability and leukocyte migration in the peritoneal cavity.ConclusionsIt is concluded that EHFLR exerts a systemic anti-inflammatory action, which seems to depend, at least in part, on the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism and the action of vasoactive amines. In addition, the extract reduced the leukocyte migration in the peritoneal cavity, indicating that its action may be linked to the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines.     

Promising activity of Anthemis austriaca Jacq. on the endometriosis rat model and isolation of its active constituents

Anthemis austriaca Jacq. flowers are traditionally used to alleviate abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, ovary diseases and pneumonia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of A. austriaca flowers, which are frequently used in gynecological disorders, on the rat endometriosis model. The rat endometriosis model was used to evaluate the potential activity of the plant in endometriosis. The dried plant material was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH), successively. The obtained extracts from A. austriaca flowers were applied to the rats. The adhesion scores, endometrial foci areas, and cytokine levels of the peritoneal fluids were measured on surgical induction of endometriosis in rats. The adhesion scores, endometriotic volume, and cytokine levels of the peritoneal fluids were reduced in the EtOAc, MeOH, and buserelin acetate-treated (reference) groups. The MeOH extract reduced the adhesion scores and endometrial foci areas from 3.1 to 1.1 (p < 0.01) and from 86.4 to 40.5 (p < 0.01), respectively and also the MeOH extract reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin (IL)-6 levels of the peritoneal fluids from 13.7 to 3.8 (p < 0.01), from 28.4 to 16.3 (p < 0.05) and from 50.2 to 24.3 (p < 0.01), respectively. Therefore, isolation studies were conducted on the EtOAc and MeOH extracts. After the MeOH extract was fractionated using RP-18 column, the obtained subfractions were evaluated again on the endometriosis rat model. Subfractions A and C of the MeOH extract displayed statistically significant activity on the endometriosis rat model. Phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (1) from Fr. A and quercetin (2), apigenin-7-O-(3″-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin-7-O-(6″-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) from Fr. C. Moreover, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) was isolated from the EtOAc extract. As a conclusion, the MeOH extract obtained from A. austriaca flowers contributed to the regression of endometriosis. In addition, flavonoids and sterols of the plant were detected as the possible compounds responsible for the activity.     

基于黄酮类成分含量构成特征和体外抗病毒活性的不同产地黄芩的质-效评价研究

目的:评价黄芩道地药材与非道地药材中主要黄酮类成分含量构成特征及其抗病毒活性,以探讨黄芩药材的质-效关系及药效物质基础。方法:制备8批不同产地黄芩(S1~S8)的水提物冻干粉,采用超高效液相色谱法测定水提物中黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素等4种黄酮类成分的含量并计算其含量构成比。按不同产地黄芩的黄酮类成分含量构成比,制备上述4种成分混合物作为对应的黄酮类成分模拟样品(E1~E8)。以利巴韦林为阳性对照,采用MTT法和细胞病变程度法,考察8批黄芩水提物样品及其对应的模拟样品对人喉癌细胞Hep-2的半数有毒浓度(TD50)和对呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)的半数抑制浓度(IC50),并计算治疗指数(TI)。采用SPSS 17.0软件对黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素含量与其抗RSV活性(IC50值)进行Pearson相关性分析。结果:样品S4(产地为河北承德)的黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷含量最高,样品S6(产地为内蒙古-2)的黄芩素、汉黄芩素含量最高;上述4种成分含量最低的分别为样品S6、S6、S7(产地为北京)、S4。样品S4中黄酮苷类成分含量较高,相应的苷元类成分含量较低,其黄芩苷、汉黄芩苷、黄芩素、汉黄芩素的含量构成比为1∶0.224∶0.111∶0.013;样品S6中黄酮苷类成分含量较低,相应的苷元类成分含量较高,上述4种成分的含量构成比为1∶0.241∶0.713∶0.106。不同产地黄芩水提物对Hep-2细胞的TC50均高于50μg/mL,对RSV的IC50为11.11~51.74μg/m L,TI为1.86~5.20;其对应的黄酮类成分模拟样品的TC50为23.11~52.23μg/mL,对RSV的IC50为4.87~14.61μg/mL,TI为1.85~4.75。道地产区(河北承德)黄芩(S4)的水提物及其对应模拟样品(E4)的抗RSV作用最强。相关性分析显示,4种黄酮类成分的含量与其抗病毒活性的相关系数均小于0.5,两者无显著相关性。结论:当黄芩中4种主要黄酮类成分的含量构成比为1∶0.224∶0.111∶0.013时,其对RSV的抑制作用较强。道地产区黄芩样品具有较优的黄酮类成分构成特征,该特征可能是道地药材发挥最佳抗病毒疗效的重要物质基础。     

Optimization of natural deep eutectic solvents extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge by response surface methodology

A green and efficient extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge by using ultrasound-assisted natural deep eutectic solvents combined with response surface methodology. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process. We aimed to test the scavenging ability of sixteen different NADESs and methanol extracts on DPPH and ABTS free radicals. The optimal extraction solvent was as follows: 1, 4-butanediol-acetic acid. With the best solvent the optimal extraction conditions were as follows: molar ratio 1:3, water content 33%, solid-liquid ratio 1:18 g mL^?1 and extraction time 33 min. Under these conditions, the yields of (?)-epigallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, dihydromyricetin, taxifolin and myricetin were 9.99, 1.38, 11.08, 6.53, 0.84 and 0.54 mg g^?1, respectively. A total extraction yield of 30.37 mg g^?1 was obtained. The IC₅₀ values of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were 3.18 μg mL^?1 and 0.51 mg mL^?1, respectively. This study suggests that the extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity of 1, 4-butanediol-acetic acid were higher than traditional organic solvent methanol and have the advantages of environmental protection. The experiment provided a new method for the extraction of flavonoids from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge.     

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta L.

Objective

To assess antioxidant activities of different aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta (T. hirsuta) from west Algeria, and to search for new sources of safe and inexpensive antioxidants.

Methods

Samples of leaves, stems and flowers from T. hirsuta were tested for total phenolic content, flavonoids content, and evaluation its total antioxidant activity, were done using the spectrophotometric analyses.

Results

Results of preliminary phytochemical screening of leaf, flower and stem of T. hirsuta revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, coumarins, reducteurs compound and anthraquinones. The total phenolics and flavonoids were estimated. The aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of T. hirsuta showed potent in vitro antioxydant activities using various models viz, DPPH scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging activity.

Conclusions

On the basis of the results obtained, T. hirsuta extracts are rich sources of natural antioxidants appears to be an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and this justifies its therapeutic usage.     

正交试验法优选桃红四物汤醇提工艺

目的：优选桃红四物汤的醇提工艺。方法：以总黄酮含量和浸膏得率为考察指标,以乙醇浓度、乙醇用量、提取时间、提取次数为考察因素,采用正交试验优选桃红四物汤的最佳醇提工艺。结果：桃红四物汤的最佳醇提工艺为加6倍量80％乙醇提取三次,每次1．5h。结论：优选出的桃红四物汤的醇提工艺合理、稳定,可为其工业化生产提供参考。     

Recent trends in preclinical drug–drug interaction studies of flavonoids — Review of case studies,issues and perspectives

Because of health benefits that are manifested across various disease areas, the consumption of herbal products and/or health supplements containing different kinds of flavonoids has been on the rise. While the drug–drug interaction potential between flavonoids and co‐ingested drugs still remain an issue, opportunities exist for the combination of flavonoids with suitable anti‐cancer drugs to enhance the bioavailability of anti‐cancer drugs and thereby reduce the dose size of the anti‐cancer drugs and improve its therapeutic index. In recent years, scores of flavonoids have undergone preclinical investigation with variety of drugs encompassing therapeutic areas such as oncology (etoposide, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, tamoxifen etc.), immunosuppression (cyclosporine) and hypertension (losartan, felodipine, nitrendipine etc.). The review provides examples of the recent trends in the preclinical investigation of 14 flavonoids (morin, quercetin, silibinin, kaempferol etc.) with various co‐administered drugs. The relevance of combination of flavonoids with anti‐cancer drugs and a framework to help design the in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies to gain better mechanistic insights are discussed. Also, concise discussions on the various physiological factors that contribute for the reduced bioavailability of flavonoids along with the significant challenges in the data interpretation are provided. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.