Preparation of herbal tea as infusion or by maceration at room temperature using mistletoe tea as an example

Herbal tea can be prepared by infusion or maceration at room temperature resulting in different compositions of extractable constituents, which possibly influences the mode of action or safety profile. Knowledge on this topic is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the substantial differences between infusion and maceration as recommended preparation methods for the preparation of herbal mistletoe tea, a traditional remedy against cardiovascular diseases. No active substances are known but analytical marker substances such as proteins, triterpenoids, phenylpropane derivatives and flavonoids can be quantified within the herb and the different herbal tea preparations. Whereas phenylpropane derivatives were completely extracted by infusion and maceration, neither method dissolved viscotoxins. 43% of mistletoe lectins were extracted by maceration, whereas by infusion they are inactivated by thermal degradation. By contrast, oleanolic acid and betulinic acid are present in higher concentrations in infusates compared with macerates, but even infusion extracted less than 2%. Infusion extracted 43% of flavonoid-like substances and maceration only 31%. In conclusion this study determines some differences between both extraction methods on the profile of solved substances. The relevance of it should be determined in studies dealing with the efficacy of herbal mistletoe tea.     

Diuretic activity of squamate mistletoe,Viscum angulatum

Viscum angulatum Heyne ex DC (Viscaceae) is a leafless hemiparasitic shrub traditionally used in Asian countries for the treatment of hypertension. In the present study, the methanol extract of the whole plant was examined for diuretic activity in rats. The activity was evaluated using parameters such as urine volume after 5, 19, and 24?h and urine sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations. The extract was further scrutinized for polyphenolic compounds and triterpenoids. The extract demonstrated a significant increase in and dose-dependent effect on urine excretion volume in comparison to the normal group in the tested range of 100–400?mg/kg. The extract demonstrated comparable saluretic and higher natriuretic activity (Na⁺/K⁺) compared to the furosemide treated group. However, the Cl^?/Na⁺ + K⁺ ratio, which indicates carbonic anhydrase mediated activity, remained unaffected. HPLC and quantitative analysis of the extract revealed that polyphenolic compounds and the triterpenoid, oleanolic acid, are the major phytochemicals, and are proposed to be responsible for the observed diuretic effect. Oleanolic acid has been reported to possess diuretic activity with significant potassium loss in rats. In contrast to pure oleanolic acid, the extract demonstrated a valuable potassium-sparing effect. This suggests modulation of the diuretic effect of oleanolic acid by polyphenolics present in the extract. The observed dose-dependent potassium-sparing diuretic effect is a hereto unreported property of this plant.     

Gut modulatory and antiplatelet activities of Viscum cruciatum

Viscum cruciatum Sieber (Viscaceae) is widely used in folk medicine for various gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders. The crude extract of Viscum cruciatum (VCr), which tested positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, sterols, tannins, and terpenes, caused concentration-dependent (0.01–3.0?mg/mL) relaxation of spontaneous and K⁺ (80?mM)-induced contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum, similar to that caused by verapamil. VCr shifted the Ca²⁺ concentration–response curves to the right with suppression of the maximum response, like verapamil. In guinea-pig ileum preparations, VCr caused atropine-sensitive spasmogenic effects. When tested for its effect on human platelets, VCr inhibited the adrenaline and adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP)-induced human platelet aggregation at the concentration range of 0.3–1.2?mg/mL. These observations indicate the presence of spasmogenic, spasmolytic, and antiplatelet activities in Viscum cruciatum mediated through cholinergic and calcium channel antagonist activities along with the blockade of adrenergic and ADP receptors, respectively, which explains its medicinal use in gut motility and inflammatory disorders.     

槲寄生化学成分的研究——Ⅲ.槲寄生新甙Ⅲ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ的结构

自槲寄生(Viscum coloratum(Kom.) Nakai)中分离得到五个黄酮甙。经光谱和化学分析确定Ⅰ为异鼠李素-3-O-β-D-葡萄糖甙,Ⅱ为异鼠李素-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖甙,Ⅲ为高圣草素-7-O-β-D-芹菜糖基(1→2)-β-D-葡萄糖甙;Ⅴ为高圣草素-7-O-β-D-芹菜糖(1→5)-β-D-芹菜糖(1→2)-β-D-葡萄糖甙;Ⅵ为高圣草素-7-O-β-D-(6″-乙酰)-葡萄糖甙。化合物Ⅲ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ为三个新的双氢黄酮甙,分别命名为槲寄生新甙Ⅲ(viscumneoside Ⅲ),槲寄生新甙Ⅴ(viscumneoside Ⅴ)和槲寄生新甙Ⅵ(viscumneoside Ⅵ)。Ⅰ和Ⅱ亦系首次从该植物中发现。     

The evolution and ancestors of toxic proteins.

A large number of sequences of digestive enzymes, hormones and a large series of toxins from organisms representing different levels of evolutionary development have been compared and the results juxtaposed with data about their functions and active sites. This allows random coincidences to be excluded; they serve as a background, against which the real albeit weak analogies are outlined. The results show proinsulin as a protein closest to the common ancestor of the proteins compared. Next in this respect are ribonuclease and phospholipase. It is established that most of the examined proteins are related and constitute a superfamily of a higher level—hypersuperfamily. Evidence in favour of the evolutionary order: cardiotoxins→short and long snake neurotoxins is also presented.     

高圣草素及其B环异构物的合成和结构特征

制备了高圣草素及其 B 环羟基与甲氧基取代位置不同的黄烷酮共6个。经药理初筛,其中5个显示一定的抑制血小板聚集和增加冠脉流量的作用。     

枫香槲寄生挥发性成分GC—MS指纹图谱初步研究

目的 初步研究枫香槲寄生挥发性成分的气相色谱-质谱联用（GC—MS）指纹图谱。方法 利用水蒸气蒸馏法提取枫香槲寄生挥发性成分，用GC—MS法进行指纹图谱分析，结合计算机检索技术对分离的化合物进行结构鉴定，应用色谱峰面积归一化法计算各成分的相对百分含量。结果 枫香槲寄生各组分均得到较好分离，共分离出33个成分，鉴定了18个化合物。结论 用GC—MS法建立枫香槲寄生挥发性成分的指纹图谱方法可行。     

绿茎槲寄生的化学成分及其促PC12细胞的分化作用

目的：研究绿茎槲寄生的活性化学成分。方法：对绿茎槲寄生的乙醇提取物的有效部位,即醋酸乙酯溶解部分中主要化学成分进行分离鉴定,并经体外活性筛选,寻找促PC12细胞分化的活性物质。结果：获得了5个主要化学成分,即北美圣草素(1), 5,7-二羟基-3′,4′-二甲氧基-二氢黄酮(2), 齐墩果酸(3), 5,7-二羟基色原酮(4),高北美圣草素(5)。经活性筛选试验发现,化合物高北美圣草素(5)具有促PC12细胞分化作用。结论：成分1～5均为首次从该植物中分离得到,并找到了活性单体成分高北美圣草素。     

槲寄生抗肿瘤有效成份提取及其对乳腺癌细胞的抑制作用

目的:从槲寄生中分离?提取抗肿瘤有效组份,并观察该组份对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响?方法:采用经典提取分离方法,利用槲寄生生物碱不同酸碱度在不同溶剂中溶解度不同,分离提取槲寄生不同组份;将槲寄生不同组份溶解并制成系列浓度的溶液后,加入到乳腺癌细胞中,观察该系列组份对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响?结果:采用经典提取分离法得到5个组份,利用生物碱不同酸碱度在不同溶剂中溶解性不同分离并纯化后,得到5个组份?这10个组份体外对乳腺癌细胞生长均有不同的抑制作用,且组份5能显著抑制乳腺癌细胞生长,对乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB-231以及MDA-MB-435的IC50分别为3.24?4.80 ?滋g/mL?结论:槲寄生系列提取组份在体外对乳腺癌细胞的增殖具有不同的抑制作用,且组份5作用最强?     

槲寄生黄酮苷对大鼠心室肌细胞钾离子通道的作用

目的观察槲寄生黄酮苷对大鼠心室肌细胞钾离子通道的作用,探讨槲寄生黄酮苷抗心律失常作用机制。方法应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录槲寄生黄酮苷对大鼠单个心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流(IK1)、瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)的影响。结果应用50μg/ml和250μg/ml两种浓度的槲寄生黄酮苷分别使大鼠单个心室肌细胞内向整流钾电流(IK1)在实验电压-120mV时从给药前(-26.23±9.52)pA/pF减少到(-20.82±7.88)pA/pF,(-18.11±7.89)pA/pF(n=7,P<0.05);使大鼠心室肌细胞瞬时外向钾电流(Ito)在实验电压+50mV时,从给药前(26.14±6.67)pA/pF减少到(16.41±6.23)pA/pF,(13.25±3.78)pA/pF(n=4,P<0.05)。结论槲寄生黄酮苷抑制大鼠心室肌细胞IK1,Ito可能是其抗心律失常作用的一个机制。