Antimicrobial Activity of Some Endemic Verbascum,Salvia, and Stachys Species

Methanol extracts obtained from endemic Stachys sivasica Kit Tan & Yildiz, Stachys anamurensis Sumbul, Stachys cydni Kotschy ex Gemici & Leblebici, Salvia aytachii Vural & Adiguzel, and Verbascum gypsicola Vural & Aydogdu have been investigated for their antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity was determined with Escherichia coli ATCC 11230, Stapylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Klebsiella pneumoniae UC57, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, Mycobacterium smegmatis CCM 2067, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313, Micrococcus luteus CCM 169, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Rhodotorula rubra DSM 70403, and Kluyveromyces fragilis ATCC 8608 by the disk-diffusion method. Verbascum gypsicola extracts had strong antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacteria and the yeast cultures. The extracts of Stachys L. were effective only against bacteria. The extracts of Salvia aytachii demonstrated an antimicrobial effect against bacteria and the yeast cultures used in this study.     

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and wound healer glycosides from the flowers of Verbascum mucronatum Lam.

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The leaves, flowers and whole aerial parts of Verbascum L. species have been used to treat respiratory problems, haemorrhoids and other types of inflammatory conditions in traditional Turkish medicine.

Aim of the study

In order to evaluate this traditional information, the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and wound healing activities of Verbascum mucronatum Lam. which is used as haemostatic in Turkish folk medicine were investigated.

Materials and methods

In vivo inhibitory effect of the extracts on the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model in mice was studied for the assessment of anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the wound healing potential of the plant were evaluated by using in vivo wound healing experimental models, i.e. incision and excision models on mice and rats, were comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol^®. Skin samples were also evaluated histopathologically.

Results

The results of these experimental studies exhibited that Verbascum mucronatum displays anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and wound healing activities. Through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures four iridoid glucosides, ajugol (1), aucubin (2), lasianthoside I (3), catalpol (4), two saponins, ilwensisaponin A (5) and C (6) and a phenylethanoid glycoside, verbascoside (7) were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectral techniques. Verbascoside (7) was found to possess significant wound healing activity as well as antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials, per os without inducing any apparent acute toxicity or gastric damage.

Conclusion

The experimental study revealed that Verbascum mucronatum displays remarkable antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities.     

Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive glycoterpenoids from the flowers of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Bentham

Infusions of Verbascum lasianthum flowers have been used for hemorrhoids in Turkish folk medicine. In order to evaluate the scientific basis for this practice, in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Verbascum lasianthum Boiss. ex Bentham flowers were investigated. A methanolic extract of the flowers was shown to possess significant inhibitory activity in the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model and in p-benzoquinone-induced writhings in mice. Through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures eight compounds, 6-O-(4-O-trans-p-coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranosylaucubin (1), 6-O-(4-O-trans-p-methoxycinnamoyl)--l-rhamnopyranosylaucubin (2), sinuatol (3), aucubin (4), geniposidic acid (5), catalpol (6), ajugol (7) and ilwensisaponin A (8) were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectral techniques. An iridoid glucoside, aucubin (4) and a triterpenoid saponin, ilwensisaponin A (8) were found to possess significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities, per os without inducing any apparent acute toxicity or gastric damage. Results of the present study support the continued and expanded utilization of plants employed in Turkish folk medicine.     

毛蕊花的生药学研究

目的：对毛蕊花进行生药学鉴定,为其鉴别及应用提供科学依据。方法：采用来源鉴定、性状鉴定、显微及理化鉴定的方法。结果：详细描述了毛蕊花的生药学鉴定特征。结论：实验结果可为该生药的鉴定、质量标准的制定和进一步开发利用提供理论依据。     

In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Some Traditional Persian Medicinal Plants on Pathogenic Fungi

Objective

To investigate the antifungal activities of the extracts and sub-fractions of Phlomis olivieri, Verbascum speciosum, Sambucus ebulus and Erigeron hyrcanicus, four Persian medicinal plants used in Iranian folk medicine.

Methods

Evaluation of the antifungal activity was performed on the clinical isolates of pathogenic fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum, and the yeast Candida albicans. The susceptibility tests were done by agar well diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of active extracts and sub-fractions were measured using method of National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).

Results

Only P. olivieri sub-fractions were found to have fungicidal activity among the other investigated plants. The MIC and MFC was found to be high in petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions (100 and 200 mg/mL) against the studied pathogenic fungi and the yeast Candida albicans. P. olivieri sub-fractions significantly inhibited the growth of all pathogenic fungi and the yeast studied.

Conclusion

If the antifungal activity of P. olivieri is confirmed by in vivo studies and if the responsible compound (s) is isolated and identified, it could be a good remedy for mycotic infections.

     

Antiinflammatory Properties of Extracts and Compounds Isolated from Verbascum xanthophoeniceum Griseb

Verbascum xanthophoeniceum Griseb. is an endemic plant of the Balkan region, a representative of the genus Verbascum used in traditional medicine for respiratory and inflammatory disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo and in vitro the antiinflammatory action of crude extract, different fractions and pure compounds obtained from V. xanthophoeniceum Griseb. Bioactive metabolites were isolated by the use of low‐pressure chromatographic separation. Crude methanol extract (CME) was applied in a model of paw oedema and different fractions and substances were tested in vitro for their effect on NO and cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages, and on the COX‐1 and COX‐2 expression. The CME exerted inhibition on cobra venom factor (CVF)‐induced oedema in mice, in correlation with reduced alternative pathway (AP) complement activity. A highly suppressive effect was expressed by nigroside VI on IL‐6 and NO production and by forsythoside B on TNF‐α production. Leucosceptoside B lowered NO release and COX‐1 expression in macrophages. Verbascum xanthophoeniceum could serve as a promising source of active compounds with antiinflammatory action, particularly in complement‐mediated disorders. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.): recent advances in research

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is a medicinal plant readily found in roadsides, meadows and pasture lands and has been used to treat pulmonary problems, inflammatory diseases, asthma, spasmodic coughs, diarrhoea and migraine headaches. Although it has been used medicinally since ancient times, the popularity of common mullein has been increasing commercially for the past few years. Today, the dried leaves and flowers, swallow capsules, alcohol extracts and the flower oil of this plant can easily be found in health stores in the United States. The use of common mullein extracts in folk medicine begun recently to be supported by an increasing number of research studies. This paper thoroughly reviews all the scientific research related to Verbascum thapsus L. including plant tissue cultures and the biological properties of this plant.     

Effect of the aqueous extract and saponin fraction from the flowers of Verbascum thapsiforme on protein biosynthesis in a rat liver ribosomal system

The effect of fractions isolated from the aqueous extract of Verbascum flowers on protein biosynthesis was studied. A strong inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract on protein biosynthesis was demonstrated in isolated rat liver ribosomes. The saponin fraction was shown to be responsible for this activity and it was compared to commercial glycyrrhizic acid and its aglycon as the standard drungs. It was found that these compounds strongly inhibited the incorporation of [¹⁴C]leucine into proteins in vitro and that the target site for inhibition was the ribosome fraction from rat liver cells.