Evaluation of Anti-Bacterial and Wound Healing Activity of the Fruits of Amorpha Fruticosa L.

As the traditional Chinese medicine, the fresh fruits of Amorpha fruticosa L. were applied for the treatment of carbuncle, eczema and burn (Das et al., 2007). However, little is known about the functional roles of the fruits of Amorpha fruticosa L. during wound healing progress. In the present study, we evaluated both antimicrobial potential against a wide range of microorganisms and wound healing activity of the seven compounds isolated from the fruits of Amorpha fruticosa L in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that compounds I (6a,12a-dehydroamorphin), V (dehydrosermundone) and VI (tephrosin) isolated from the fruits of Amorpha fruticosa L. performed dominant antimicrobial potential against microorganisms. Moreover, these compounds significantly enhanced fibroblasts proliferation and migration, leading to promotion of wound healing. Thus, it could be possible for the therapeutic utilization of Amorpha fruticosa L. for wound healing in the future.     

In vitro and in vivo immunostimulatory activity of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers on non-specific immunity

Context: Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. (Lythraceae), a non-rasayana immunomodulatory Indian medicinal plant, used traditionally as an anthelmintic, in dysentery, leprosy, blood diseases, leucorrhea, and menorrhagia.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ethanol extract of W. fruticosa flowers on non-specific immune responses in mice.

Materials and methods: In vitro immunomodulatory activity of the extract was examined on murine peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis (nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction, lysosomal enzyme activity, nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase) and on proliferation of bone marrow cells by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, while the in vivo potential on macrophages and bone marrow cells was evaluated by using carbon clearance test and cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression, respectively.

Results: Significant increase in the release of myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide lysosomal enzyme and superoxide from macrophages along with significant increase in phagocytic index in carbon clearance test indicate stimulatory activity of the extract on macrophages. The extract also demonstrated 60% increase in bone marrow cell proliferation and offer protection towards cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression which represents the stimulation of bone marrow activity.

Discussion: Significant increase in mediators released from macrophages and phagocytic index in carbon clearance test suggests the release of cytokines from macrophages and stimulation of reticulo-endothelial system. Proliferation of bone marrow cells indicates the plausible release of colony stimulating factors, which further stimulates the immune system through generation of immune cells.

Conclusion: The result described here indicates the immunostimulatory activity of ethanol extract of W. fruticosa flowers by stimulating non-specific immune responses, macrophages and bone marrow cells.     

Acute Poisonings with Breynia officinalis—An Outbreak of Hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Background.?In combination with other traditional Chinese medicines, Breynia officinalis, a species of Euphorbiaceae, has long been used to treat contusions, heart failure, venereal diseases, growth retardation, and conjunctivitis. B. officinalis, regarded as a poison, was mistaken for a similar plant, Securinega suffruticosa, and cooked in a soup used for the treatment of muscle soreness, lumbago, and as a tonic in this outbreak. Case series.?Nineteen patients, 11 males and 8 females (average age 49.2 ± 9.1 years) consumed an average of 130 mL (30–900 mL) of soup containing B. officinalis stems. Fourteen patients developed diarrhea, 10 experienced nausea and chilly sensations, 9 had sensations of abdominal fullness, and 7 suffered from vomiting. The results of liver function tests (LFTs) indicated that the observed maximum median level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 647 U/L (range 89–9440 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 314 U/L (range 47–7756 U/L), alkaline phosphatase 251 U/L (range 224–278 U/L), and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase 106 U/L (range 84–313 U/L). The median time to the observed median peak levels was 3 days for ALT, 2 days for AST, 5 days for alkaline phosphatase, and 12 days for gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. With supportive treatment, the majority of abnormalities in 14 of the cases resolved within 6 months of exposure. Conclusions.?The consumption of a soup containing B. officinalis Hemsley resulted in dose‐related toxic effects. Clinical toxicity consisted primarily of gastrointestinal symptoms and signs and hepatotoxicity. Hepatocellular liver injury rather than cholestatic liver injury was observed. Marked jaundice did not develop.     

Xanthones from the roots of Cudrania fruticosa Wight

Chemical investigation on the roots of Cudrania fruticosa resulted in the isolation of two new xanthones, 1,6,7-trihydroxy-2-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl)-3-methoxyxanthone (1) and 3,6,7-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (2), together with three known ones, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)xanthone (3), 1,3-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyxanthone (4) and 3,5,6-trihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone (5), respectively. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical techniques.     

Effect of several flavonoid-containing plant preparations on activity of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel

Flavonoid-containing plant preparations (water soluble extracts of Pentaphylloides fruticosa [Extralife], Emblica officinalis Gaerth [Amla], and Bergenia crassifolia [Bergenia]) produced a dose-dependent and tissue-specific effect on activity of mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel. The effect of these preparations was biphasic (activation and inhibition). The activating effect of Extralife was one order of magnitude higher than that of Amla and Bergenia and was observed in a wider concentration range. The activating effect of preparations was abolished by inhibitors of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel, which attested to specificity of their influence on mitochondrial channel. Under in vivo conditions, the antihypoxic effect of Extralife was partially abolished by mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoate. Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 8, pp. 195–199, August, 2008     

黑面神水提物免疫抑制作用实验研究

目的：探讨黑面神水提物对小鼠的免疫调节作用,为临床用药提供科学的实验依据。方法：连续灌胃5天黑面神水提物,观察黑面神对正常小鼠免疫器官指数的影响;炭廓清实验法测定小鼠网状内皮系统（RES）中巨噬细胞（MФ）的吞噬功能。结果：与空白对照组相比,黑面神水提物各剂量组均能明显降低正常小鼠的脾脏及胸腺指数;显著降低小鼠RES中MФ吞噬碳粒的能力,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05或0．01）。结论：黑面神水提物对小鼠免疫功能有抑制作用。     

黑面神枝叶中表儿茶素的含量测定及水提工艺优化

目的：测定黑面神枝叶中表儿茶素含量并优化水提取工艺条件。方法：采用HPLC法测定黑面神枝叶中表儿茶素含量,并运用正交试验考察浸泡时间、加水量、提取时间和提取次数对表儿茶素含量的影响。结果：表儿茶素在0.006 6~0.264 0 g·L^-1线性关系良好,回归方程Y=59 283X+53.986,r=0.999 9,平均回收率达98.2%,RSD 1.03%。水提最佳工艺条件：药材加20倍量水浸泡45 min,80 ℃温浸提取2次,每次1 h。结论：HPLC法测定黑面神枝叶中表儿茶素含量操作简便,专属性强,经正交试验优化后含量有所提高,为黑面神的进一步开发奠定基础。     

Impact of the preparation process on immunomodulatory activities of the ayurvedic drug Nimba arishta

Nimba arishta is an ayurvedic drug obtained by fermentation of a decoction of Azadirachta indica bark to which sugar and a kalka have been added. Kalkas consist of various plant materials including flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa. The effects of the preparation process on immunomodulatory properties of Nimba arishta were investigated by means of model systems. On the basis of traditional applications of Nimba arista in Sri Lanka, complement activity and functioning of granulocytes were selected as relevant immunological parameters in our studies. Long boiling times, as a consequence of decoction preparation on a commercial scale, were found to substantially reduce the immunomodulatory activities, whereas addition of the kalka resulted in a marked increase. Inoculation with yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Schizosaccharomyces pombe var. pombe) or microorganisms introduced through addition of the kalka did not affect the in vitro immunomodulatory activities of Nimba arista. Further investigations revealed that Woodfordia fruticosa is the kalka ingredient with the most pronounced biological activities. Although in quantitative terms the bark of Azadirachta indica strongly dominates in Nimba arishta preparation, it was shown by detailed model studies that the flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa were found to represent a major ingredient with respect to modulation of complement activity.     

Protective effect of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers against acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in rats

Context: The flowers of Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz. (Lythraceae) are commonly used for the treatment of several ailments which includes rheumatism, leucorrhea, menorrhagia, asthma, liver disorder, and inflammatory conditions.

Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective property of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers against acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury in rats.

Material and methods: Acetaminophen (3?g/kg bw)-induced hepatotoxicity study was carried out by observing the effect of methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers (400 and 600?mg/kg, bw) on some serum marker enzymes, albumin, blood urea nitrogen levels as well as liver total protein, nonenzymetic glutathione reduced content, and enzymatic antioxidant glutathione peroxidase, with histopathological evidence.

Results and discussion: Pretreatment of rats with methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers effectively prevented the acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage as indicated by the serum marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and other biochemical parameters (albumin and blood urea nitrogen). Parallel to these changes, the methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers also prevented acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress in the rat liver by inhibiting depletion of liver total protein and restoring the levels of nonenzymatic antioxidant glutathione reduced. The biochemical changes were consistent with histopathological observations suggesting marked hepatoprotective effect of the methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers.

Conclusion: The results suggested that methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers possesses protective effect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.     

喙果黑面神化学成分研究

目的研究大戟科植物喙果黑面神(Breynia rostrata Merr.)的化学成分。方法利用硅胶、凝胶等色谱技术分离纯化化学成分,根据化合物的理化性质和光谱数据进行结构鉴定。结果从喙果黑面神的正丁醇萃取部分分离得到4个化合物,分别鉴定为6-O-甲基丙酰基-α-D-吡喃葡糖(6-O-methylpropanoyl-α-D-glucopyranose,1);4″-苯酚基-6-O-甲基丙酰基-β-D-吡喃葡糖苷(4″-phenolic-6-O-methylpropanoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside,2);1-O-没食子酰基-β-D-吡喃葡糖苷(1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside,3);熊果苷(arbutin,4)。结论化合物1和2为新化合物,3和4均为首次从该种植物分离得到。