Alkaloid screening. VI.

One thousand and five plant extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids. The number of positive tests obtained was 267, or 34.01%. New to the literature are 137 species. In the five previous communications (1-5) in this series we have reported on the screening of 4,990 plant extracts for alkaloids. These 4,990 extracts represented 4,103 species of plants, of which 1,069 gave positive tests.     

Suppressive effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Saururaceae) extract on Th2 immune response

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Saururaceae), known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, has been traditionally used for the treatment of herpes simplex, chronic sinusitis, and allergy. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the inhibitory activity of Houttuynia cordata Thunb fractions (HcFs) on the T helper 2 (Th2) immune response, we evaluated the alternation of the release of Th2-type cytokines and chemokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol fraction was obtained from dried and powdered whole plants of Houttuynia cordata Thunb using ethanol. The residue was diluted with water and was then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc and BuOH. HcFs include ethanol, n-hexane, EtOAc, BuOH and water fractions. RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression of cytokines. RESULTS: HcFs inhibited the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore (CaI) in Jurkat T cells and the human mast cell line, HMC-1. IL-4- and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced TARC production was blocked by HcFs in skin fibroblast CCD-986sk cells, particularly by the ethanol extract of Hc. Stimulants included in PMA, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and CaI, increased the mRNA level of CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), a receptor of TARC, in Jurkat T cells, and the ethanol extract of HcF weakly blocked the increased mRNA level. However, the stimulants and ethanol extract had no effect on the CCR4 protein level. The ethanol extract inhibited TARC-induced migration, as well as basal migration of Jurkat T cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study may show the usefulness of HcFs in the ethnopharmacological treatment of Th2-mediated or allergic inflammation, through the down-regulation of the production of Th2 cytokines and TARC, as well as cell migration.     

Neurophysiological effects of an extract of Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae)

An aqueous alcohol extract of Eschscholzia californica (Ec) has been evaluated for benzodiazepine, neuroleptic, antidepressant, antihistaminic and analgesic properties, in order to complete the study of the sedative and anxiolytic effects previously demonstrated. The plant extract did not protect mice against the convulsant effects of pentylenetetrazol, and did not cause muscle relaxant effects but appeared to possess an affinity for the benzodiazepine receptor: thus, flumazenil, an antagonist of these receptors, suppressed the sedative and anxiolytic effects of the extract. The Ec extract induced peripheral analgesic effects in mice but did not possess antidepressant, neuroleptic or antihistaminic effects.     

毛细管区带电泳法测定三白草中芦丁和槲皮素的含量

目的:建立毛细管区带电泳法测定三白草中芦丁和槲皮素的含量.方法:采用石英毛细管(50 cm×50μm i.d.,有效长度为41 cm),以15 mmol/L硼砂(pH 8.5)为背景电解质,运行电压28 kV,重力进样10cm,12 s,紫外检测波长254nm.结果:芦丁在0.5-100 mg/L浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.999 3),平均回收率为97.2%.槲皮素在2.0-200mg/L浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.999 6),平均回收率为96.0%.结论:该法简便、快速、污染小,适用于三白草药材中芦丁和槲皮素含量的测定.     

Akaloid screening. VII.

One thousand and five plant extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids. The number of positive tests obtained was 190, or 18.91%. There were 153 species found to contain alkaloids that are new to the literature. In the six previous communications (1-6) we have reported on the screening of 5,995 plant extracts for alkaloids. These extracts represented 4,888 species of plants, of which 1,336 gave positive alkaloid tests.     

Alkaloid screening. VIII.

One thousand plant extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids. The number of positive tests was 185 (18.5%). There are 107 new alkaloid-containing species.     

Antimicrobial screening of some Indian spices.

In India, spices have been traditionally used since ancient times, for the preservation of food products as they have been reported to have antiseptic and disinfectant properties. In this respect, a preliminary screening for antimicrobial activities of 35 different Indian spices has been carried out. Of the spices surveyed, the results indicate that clove, cinnamon, bishop's weed, chilli, horse raddish, cumin, tamarind, black cumin, pomegranate seeds, nutmeg, garlic, onion, tejpat, celery, cambodge, have potent antimicrobial activities against the test organisms Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 9763). The results also establish the traditional use of spices as food preservatives, disinfectants and antiseptics.     

Phytochemical screening of Tanzanian medicinal plants. I

Palms are the most versatile group of plants used by man, providing all of the basic necessities (food, shelter, fuel and fiber) as well as many ameliorants (spices, oils, waxes, gums, poisons and medicines). The importance of palms in the pharmacopoeias of South American Indians has received little attention. This paper presents the results of a literature search on the medicinal uses of South American palms and suggests that phytochemical screening of these species might result in the identification of new and useful biodynamic compounds.     

Preliminary screening of ethnomedicinal plants from India.

Antibacterial activity of aqueous residues of 16 different ethnomedicinal plants have been studied. The effect of the aqueous extract at two different weights of plant residues, 30 and 40 mg, were tested against three gram positive bacteria and seven gram negative bacteria by the filter paper disc diffusion method. Among the tested plants, Cleome gynandropsis and Ageratum conyzoides showed a significant control of the growth of Alkaligens viscolactis, Klebsiella aerogenas, Bacillus cerues and Streptococcus pyogens. The maximum inhibitions were observed in Tridax procumbens, Cleome viscosa, Acalypha indica and Boerhaavia erecta against Aeromonas hydrophilla and Bacillus cerues.     

A new retro-carotenoid from the petals of the Californian yellow poppy Eschscholtzia californica

A new retro-carotenoid (1) isolated from the petals of the Californian yellow poppy, Eschscholtzia californica, was determined to be (all-E)-(3S,5R,3'S)-4',5-retro-beta,beta-carotene-3,5,3'-triol by spectroscopic analysis.     

Preliminary pharmacological screening of Bixa orellana L. leaves

Preliminary pharmacological studies were performed on the methanol extract of Bixa orellana L. (Bixaceae) leaves to investigate neuropharmacological, anticonvulsant, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal activity and effect on gastrointestinal motility. All studies were conducted in mice using doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight. In the pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis test, the extract statistically reduced the time for the onset of sleep at 500 mg/kg dose and (dose-dependently) increased the total sleeping time at 250 and 500 mg/kg dose. A statistically significant decrease in locomotor activity was observed at all doses in the open-field and hole-cross tests. In the strychnine-induced anticonvulsant test, the extract increased the average survival time of the test animals (statistically significant at 250 and 500 mg/kg). The extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced the writhing reflex in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Antidiarrhoeal activity was supported by a statistically significant decrease in the total number of stools (including wet stools) in castor oil-induced diarrhoea model. A statistically significant delay in the passage of charcoal meal was observed at 500 mg/kg in the gastrointestinal motility test. The extract was further evaluated in vitro for antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It revealed radical scavenging properties in the DPPH assay (IC(50)=22.36 microg/ml) and antibacterial activity against selected causative agents of diarrhoea and dysentery, including Shigella dysenteriae.