Chemical constituents of Cichorium intybus L.]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemical constituents of Cichorium intybus. METHOD: Constituents were separated by means of solvent extraction and chromatography on silical gel. The structures were established by spectral analysis and chemical evidence. RESULT: Seven compounds were isolated from the roots of C. intybus and four of them were identified as alpha-amyrin, taraxerone, baurenyl acetate and beta-sitosterol. CONCLUSION: All the four compounds were obtained from the plant for the first time.     

Anti-diabetic effects of Cichorium intybus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The present study was designed to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties of an ethanolic extract of Cichorium intybus (CIE) which is widely used in India as a traditional treatment for diabetes mellitus. Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 9 weeks (160-200 g) were administered with streptozotocin (STZ, 50mg/kg) intraperitoneally to induce experimental diabetes. The Cichorium intybus whole plant was exhaustively extracted with 80% ethanol, concentrated at 40 degrees C using a rotavapor and freeze dried to get powder. Hypoglycemic effects of CIE were observed in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in which, a dose of 125 mg of plant extract/kg body weight exhibited the most potent hypoglycemic effect. Moreover, daily administration of CIE (125 mg/kg) for 14 days to diabetic rats attenuated serum glucose by 20%, triglycerides by 91% and total cholesterol by 16%. However, there was no change in serum insulin levels, which ruled out the possibility that CIE induces insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. In addition, hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity (Glc-6-Pase) was markedly reduced by CIE when compared to the control group. The reduction in the hepatic Glc-6-Pase activity could decrease hepatic glucose production, which in turn results in lower concentration of blood glucose in CIE-treated diabetic rats. In conclusion, our results support the traditional belief that Cichorium intybus could ameliorate diabetic state.     

Antihepatotoxic activity of seeds of Cichorium intybus

The different fractions of alcoholic extract and one phenolic compound AB-IV of seeds of Cichorium intybus Linn were screened for antihepatotoxic activity on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage in albino rats. The degree of protection was measured using biochemical parameters like aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), and total protein (TP). The methanol fraction and compound AB-IV were found to possess a potent antihepatotoxic activity comparable to the standard drug Silymarin (Silybon-70). The histopathological study of the liver was also carried out, wherein the methanolic fraction and compound AB-IV showed almost complete normalization of the tissues as neither fatty accumulation nor necrosis was observed.     

Crude extracts of hepatoprotective plants,Solanum nigrum and Cichorium intybus inhibit free radical-mediated DNA damage

The presence of plant extracts of Solanum nigrum and Cichorium intybus in the reaction mixture containing calf thymus DNA and free radical generating system protect DNA against oxidative damage to its deoxyribose sugar moiety. The effect was dependent on the concentration of plant extracts. However, the effect of Cichorium intybus was much pronounced as compared to the effect of Solanum nigrum. These studies suggest that the observed hepatoprotective effect of these crude plant extracts may be due to their ability to suppress the oxidative degradation of DNA in the tissue debris.     

Antimalarial activity of lactucin and lactucopicrin: sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Cichorium intybus L

Folklore reports from Afghanistan prior to the wars described the use of aqueous root extracts of Cichorium intybus (L.) as a light-sensitive plant remedy for malaria. Preparative isolation and bioassay against HB3 clone of strain Honduras-1 of Plasmodium falciparum identified the previously known light-sensitive sesquiterpene lactones Lactucin and Lactucopicrin to be antimalarial compounds.     

基于果蝇模型建立的菊苣提取物抗尿酸盐沉积作用研究

目的：建立尿酸盐沉积果蝇模型并确定其造模条件,并初步观察菊苣提取物抗尿酸盐沉积的作用。方法：以5%酵母提取物饲喂诱导果蝇尿酸盐沉积,通过果蝇马氏小管及后肠偏振光成像、六胺银染色及其匀浆液尿酸水平评价果蝇尿酸盐沉积状态,考察雌雄性别、不同造模时间对果蝇尿酸盐沉积的影响,并应用该模型研究菊苣提取物抗尿酸盐沉积的作用。结果：5%酵母提取物饲喂可成功诱导果蝇尿酸盐沉积;雄性果蝇在造模3 d后开始出现尿酸盐沉积,在造模7 d后大部分出现尿酸盐沉积,各造模时间点果蝇马氏小管及后肠匀浆液尿酸水平持续升高,各造模时间点之间差异不明显;雌性果蝇在造模10 d后开始出现尿酸盐沉积,在造模14 d后大部分出现尿酸盐沉积,各造模时间点果蝇马氏小管及后肠匀浆液尿酸水平持续升高,马氏小管及后肠匀浆液尿酸水平持续升高,各造模时间点之间比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）;菊苣提取物可减少果蝇马氏小管及后肠偏振光信号,并明显降低其匀浆液的尿酸水平（P<0.001）。结论：以5%酵母提取物饲喂雌性果蝇14 d可较稳定诱导尿酸盐沉积,菊苣提取物可在果蝇模式动物上发挥抗尿酸盐沉积的作用。     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory activity of triterpenoids from Cichorium intybus

Two new triterpenoids, 18alpha,19beta-20(30)-taraxasten-3beta,21alpha-diol (cichoridiol) (1) and 17-epi-methyl-6-hydroxyangolensate (intybusoloid) (2), were obtained from the methanolic extract of seeds of Cichorium intybus along with 11 known compounds, lupeol (3), friedelin (4), beta-sitosterol (5), stigmasterol (6), betulinic acid (7), betulin (8), betulinaldehyde (9), syringic acid (10), vanillic acid (11) 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin (12), and methyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside (13). Compounds 1, 1a, and 11 showed a good alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity.     

Antioxidant properties and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effects of Tamus communis L. root extracts

This study was conducted to search for xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors from the root extracts of Tamus communis L. traditionally used in folk medicine in Algeria. Root extracts with different solvents were screened for purified milk xanthine oxidase inhibition. The root extracts (methanol, chloroform and ethyl acetate) and proteins, obtained in distilled water, inhibited bovine, sheep and human milk XO from three species in a concentration-dependent manner, with an additional superoxide scavenging capacity, which reached its highest level with ethyl acetate extract (IC(50) = 0.15, 0.04 and 0.09 g/L) for bovine XO, sheep XO and human XO, respectively. The antioxidant potential was confirmed with the non-enzymatic method, total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) assay, which showed that the Tamus communis L. extracts have a potential antioxidant activity in the same order obtained by using the reduction of cytochrome c, an enzymatic method, in which the antioxidant activity followed a decreasing order: ethyl acetate extract > chloroform extract > protein.     

菊苣化学成分及其防治尿酸相关代谢性疾病研究进展

菊苣系维吾尔族习用药材,有近千年的药用、食用、饲用史,具较高药用价值和经济价值.近年来研究发现菊苣有显著的降尿酸活性,且兼具调节尿酸相关代谢紊乱作用,在代谢性疾病的治疗中显示出明确优势.基于此,该研究立足于本课题组近30年菊苣研究成果,结合国内外近3年研究进展,对菊苣的化学成分及其防治尿酸相关代谢性疾病研究进行系统梳理...     

Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of root bark extracts of Acanthopanax henryi简

AIM： To investigate the cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory activity, and action mechanism of root bark extracts of Acanthopanax henryi. METHOD： The hot methanol extract of the root bark ofA. henryi was subjected to XAD-4 column chromatography eluting with a gradient of methanol in water. The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects of the MeOH fractions were evaluated on the inhibi- tion on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS： The 80% MeOH fraction was a better inhibitor of LPS-induced NO, PGE2, IL-1β, and IL-6 production, and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） at the protein levels in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION： The 80% MeOH fraction ofA. henryi root bark has significant anti-inflammatory activity. This provides a phar- macological basis for clinical application for the treatment of inflammation.     

Cytotoxic effects of the root extracts of Eurycoma longifolia Jack

The methanol, n-butanol, chloroform and water extracts obtained from the root of Eurycoma longifolia Jack were assayed using methylene blue assay to evaluate its cytotoxic effect against KB, DU-145, RD, MCF-7, CaOV-3, MDBK cell lines. The results showed that all the root extracts except the water extract of E. longifolia produced significant cytotoxic effect on these cell lines. However, no significant cytotoxic effect was detected on MDBK (kidney) normal cell line. 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, an alkaloid, was detected in each extract with different intensities by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.     

Anticonvulsant and sedative effects of Salvadora persica L. stem extracts

The effect of Salvadora persica L. stem extracts on the potentiation of sodium pentobarbital activity and on generalized tonic-clonic seizure produced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) on the rat is reported. The extracts of Salvadora persica L. extended sleeping-time and decreased induction-time induced by sodium pentobarbital; in addition it showed protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion by increasing the latency period and diminishing the death rate.     

Cytotoxic effects of Echinacea root hexanic extracts on human cancer cell lines

Echinacea is one of the most widely used alternative medicine in the world. Intake of Echinacea preparations is common among patients with advanced malignancies enrolled onto phase I chemotherapy trials; however, to our knowledge, no data are available regarding the possible direct effect of Echinacea species on human cancer cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate potential in vitro cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic properties of hexanic root extract of the three medicinal Echinacea (Asteraceae) species (Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt., Echinacea angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.) on the human pancreatic cancer MIA PaCa-2 and colon cancer COLO320 cell lines. We demonstrated, for the first time, that all the three species reduced cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner; Echinacea pallida was the most active species with IC(50)s of 46.41+/-0.87 and 10.55+/-0.70 microg/ml in MIA PaCa-2 and COLO320 cells, respectively. Echinacea pallida extract was able to induce apoptosis by increasing significantly caspase 3/7 activity and promoting nuclear DNA fragmentation. These results represent the starting point to establish viable scientific evidence on the possible role of Echinacea species in medical oncology.     

Antifatigue and anoxia-tolerating effects of the root of Tragopogon porrifolius L

The root of Tragopogon porrifolius can evidently prolong the duration of swimming and stick-climbing for mice. The drug has provided food for tolerating anoxia in several models of rats and mice.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Satureja hortensis L. extracts and essential oil

Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Iranian folk medicine as muscle and bone pain reliever. In the present study, hydroalcoholic extract, polyphenolic fraction and essential oil of the aerial parts of the herb were prepared and evaluated for the analgesic activity using light tail flick, formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of the above-mentioned preparations were assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Results showed that in the light tail flick test neither the essential oil nor the extracts could exert any significant effect. The hydroalcoholic extract (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the mice writhing responses caused by acetic acid. In formalin test, hydroalcoholic extract (500-2000 mg/kg, p.o.), polyphenolic fraction (250-1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (50-200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed analgesic activity and pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or caffeine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to reverse this antinociceptive activity. Polyphenolic fraction (1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (200 mg/kg) reduced edema caused by carrageenan. These results suggest that S. hortensis L. has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects and probably mechanism(s) other than involvement of opioid and adenosine receptors mediate(s) the antinociception.     

香附提取物抗抑郁作用研究

目的 考察香附抗抑郁活性提取物及其量效关系.方法 通过三种动物模型,即小鼠悬尾实验(TST)、强迫游泳实验(FST)和开场实验(OFT)模型,首次测试香附95％乙醇提取物(醇提物,XF-E)及其水提物(XF-W)的抗抑郁活性.结果 ①在抗抑郁活性提取物筛选方面:XF-E (2 g/kg)可使小鼠在TST及FST的不动时间均显著性缩短(P＜0.05),而XF-W(2g/kg)对此均无显著性差异(P＞0.05);各组小鼠OFT穿格次数比较,均无显著性差异(P＞0.05).②在活性提取物量效关系方面:XF-E(1,2g/kg)均可使小鼠在TST及FST的不动时间显著性缩短(P＜0.05),XF-E (0.5 g/kg)对此亦有缩短趋势(P＞0.05).结论 首次证实XF-E为香附具有抗抑郁作用的活性提取物,且XF-E呈现出良好的量效关系.     

Cardiovascular effects of the methanol and dichloromethanol extracts from Teucrium flavum L.

The effects on arterial blood pressure and heart rate of the methanol and dichloromethanol extracts from Teucrium flavumL. were analysed in urethane anaesthetized rats. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly reduced by the i.v. administration of both extracts to normotensive rats. The methanol extract also induced a decrease in the heart rate, while the dichloromethanol extract lacked any effect on this parameter. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cardiovascular effects of the methanol and dichloromethanol extracts from Teucrium cartaginenses L.

Methanol and dichloromethanol extracts of the leaves and stems of Teucrium cartaginensesL. have been tested for their effects on resting arterial blood pressure, heart rate and noradrenaline induced hypertension. Both extracts administered i.v. to urethane anaesthetized normotensive rats reduced mean arterial blood pressure and heart valve, while only the dichloromethanol extract prevented noradrenaline induced hypertension. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.