Antiinflammatory Activity of Some Extracts from Plants used in the Traditional Medicine of North-African Countries

Aqueous, ethanol and chloroform extracts from five plants were administered either topically (oedema induced by arachidonic acid in mouse ear) or i.p. (subplantar oedema induced by carrageenan in rats). Our results show that Anacyclus pyrethrum, Armeria alliacea, Asphodelus ramosus, Capparis spinosa and Rhaponticum acaule possess antiinflammatory activity, since at least one extract of each plant was active in one of the experimental models. The three extracts from Anacyclus pyrethrum showed significant activity in both experimental models, but the highest antiinflammatory activity was exhibited by the polar extracts of Armeria alliacea . The ethanol extract of the latter produced 100% inhibition of the inflammation induced by carrageenan and this inhibition was highly significant ( p <0.001) with reference to values found in both active (indomethacin 3 mg/kg) and vehicle administered control groups.     

Gene-centric metagenomics of the fiber-adherent bovine rumen microbiome reveals forage specific glycoside hydrolases

The complex microbiome of the rumen functions as an effective system for the conversion of plant cell wall biomass to microbial protein, short chain fatty acids, and gases. As such, it provides a unique genetic resource for plant cell wall degrading microbial enzymes that could be used in the production of biofuels. The rumen and gastrointestinal tract harbor a dense and complex microbiome. To gain a greater understanding of the ecology and metabolic potential of this microbiome, we used comparative metagenomics (phylotype analysis and SEED subsystems-based annotations) to examine randomly sampled pyrosequence data from 3 fiber-adherent microbiomes and 1 pooled liquid sample (a mixture of the liquid microbiome fractions from the same bovine rumens). Even though the 3 animals were fed the same diet, the community structure, predicted phylotype, and metabolic potentials in the rumen were markedly different with respect to nutrient utilization. A comparison of the glycoside hydrolase and cellulosome functional genes revealed that in the rumen microbiome, initial colonization of fiber appears to be by organisms possessing enzymes that attack the easily available side chains of complex plant polysaccharides and not the more recalcitrant main chains, especially cellulose. Furthermore, when compared with the termite hindgut microbiome, there are fundamental differences in the glycoside hydrolase content that appear to be diet driven for either the bovine rumen (forages and legumes) or the termite hindgut (wood).     

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a worker at an offset color proof‐printing company: An autopsy case report

A 40‐year‐old Japanese man visited our hospital after test results indicated elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. He had worked at a printing plant for 8 years and been exposed to organic solvents, including 1,2‐dichloropropane (1,2‐DCP) and dichloromethane (DCM). Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed an intrahepatic tumor with dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct. He was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. He had no known risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma. Extended left hepatectomy with lymph node dissection was performed and the tumor was histologically diagnosed as well‐differentiated adenocarcinoma. A histological examination also showed biliary intraepithelial preneoplastic lesions in non‐cancerous liver areas. Two years after surgery, the patient developed jaundice, esophageal varices and ascites. A CT examination showed liver cirrhosis without recurrence of the cholangiocarcinoma. Although a liver transplantation was planned as a therapeutic option for his liver cirrhosis, his liver failure progressed rapidly and he died before transplantation could be performed. At autopsy, fibrosis was found in the whole liver, especially in the wall of the bile duct and periductal area suggesting chronic bile duct injury due to exposure to organic solvents. Taken together, the current case may suggest that exposure to organic solvents, including 1,2‐DCP and DCM, is a risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Identifying risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma will help identify the mechanism and help prevent development of the disease.     

药用植物DNA条形码鉴定策略及关键技术分析

DNA条形码（DNA barcoding）是近年来生物分类和鉴定的研究热点和方向,其在药用植物鉴定中的成功应用将可能是生药鉴定方法的革命性突破。本文结合具体研究工作就构建药用植物DNA条形码鉴定平台的标准化流程、药用植物DNA条形码鉴定序列的选择、DNA条形码序列校对机制、DNA条形码序列鉴定效率评价方法进行了探讨,并展望了DNA条形码的发展趋势。     

A comparison of medicinal plant use in Sardinia and Sicily—De Materia Medica revisited?

Aim of the Study

Written records of oral medical traditions have had significant impact on the development of medicine and the pharmacopoeias. Modern ethnobotanical studies in Europe and the Mediterranean region, however, have so far largely overlooked the richness and accuracy of historic sources and ignored their probable influence on the development of today's local traditional medicines. Here, we explore the common fundament of traditional knowledge for the medicinal plant uses in Sardinia and Sicily by comparing the selection of medicinal species and specific uses with those of Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica.

Materials and methods

We use (i) a quantification of citations for medicinal species mentioned in ethnobotanical studies conducted in Sardinia and Sicily (ii) a comparison of the flora and medicinal flora with a χ²-test (iii) a binomial approach recently introduced into ethnobotany (iv) a comparison of the most frequently used species with the indications cited in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica (v) and a crosscheck of all mentioned species with their appearance in Berendes’ translation of De Materia Medica.

Results

We identified a core group of 170 medicinal species used on either islands, which accumulate 74% of all citations and are best represented in De Materia Medica. The 15 most frequently used species of both islands demonstrate intriguing parallels for indications with Dioscorides’ work.

Conclusion

The ethnopharmacopoeia of Sicily and Sardinia are shallow stereotypes of the different editions of De Materia Medica and talking of oral tradition in this respect is a contradiction. The medicinal species of Sardinia and Sicily are largely widespread and common species, including many weeds, which are not facing threat of extinction. Therefore, using traditional medicinal practices as an argument for conservation biology or vice versa is not scientifically sound.     

Screening of selected food and medicinal plant extracts for pancreatic lipase inhibition

Lipids are important components in human nutrition; however, their increased intake contributes to the development of obesity and can lead to multiple long‐term complications. Pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) is a key enzyme for the absorption of dietary triglycerides. Interference with fat hydrolysis results in the reduced utilization of ingested lipids, therefore inhibition of lipases decreases fat absorption. Extracts from 106 species of medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits were screened for potential lipase inhibitory activity. p‐Nitrophenylpalmitate and 5‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐3‐indoxylpalmitate were used as substrates in an in vitro test with crude porcine pancreatic lipase. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva‐ursi), garden pea (Pisum sativum), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and large‐leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) extracts were the most active. Additionally, the activity of selected extracts with removed polyphenols was measured. Extracts of bearberry, garden pea and large‐leaved lime are a promising source for developing functional foods or isolating active compounds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

云南省獐牙菜属药用植物资源调查

目的:弄清云南省獐牙菜属药用植物资源的种类及分布,为獐牙菜属药用植物的持续利用和合理开发提供科学依据.方法:查阅文献资料,实地调查和标本采集相结合.结果:确定了云南省獐牙菜属35个种和2个变种,其中1种为新记录种,供药用的有22种,并列出了分类检索表.结论:为云南省獐牙菜属药用植物资源的综合利用和深入研究提供了一定的依据.     

中药材仿生栽培的理论与实践

采用生态工程和现代农业生产技术,模拟野生药用植物群落的自然生态系统,开展中药材的仿生栽培,是中药材规范化栽培的一种新模式,在中药农业上日益受到重视.中药材仿生栽培是一种生态种植模式,为中药学、农学、园艺学、生态学、农业工程学和管理学等多学科的交叉与融合,在促进中药资源的可持续利用,改善生态环境和实现人与自然的和谐共处方面有着显著优势,在中药材生产上应大力发展和推广.     

草乌中脂类生物碱在高温高压条件下的分解反应

目的：分析高温高压条件下草乌中脂类生物碱的变化。方法：利用高温高压提取草乌中生物碱,利用电喷雾质谱法对提取前后的脂类生物碱进行检测分析。结果：脂类生物碱在高温高压条件下发生分解反应,生成相应的水解型生物碱。结论：利用电喷雾质谱法可以简便、快速地获得脂类生物碱分解前后的分子离子信息,直观的分析分解产物的生物碱类别,为研究脂类生物碱与其他类型生物碱之间的相互转化提供新的方法。