Funda Nuray Yalçin

In vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of some Lamium species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Several Lamium species have been used to relieve pain in arthritic ailments in Turkish folk medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of different extracts prepared with methanol, dichloromethane, n-butanol and water from the aerial parts of some Lamium species of Turkish origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lamium eriocephalum subsp. eriocephalum, Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum, Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum and Lamium purpureum var. purpureum (Lamiaceae); for the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model, PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema model, and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model and for the antinociceptive activity p-benzoquinone (PBQ)-induced writhing test in mice were employed. RESULTS The n-butanol extracts of Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum (LGL-BuOH), Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum (LGP-BuOH), and Lamium purpureum var. purpureum (LPP-BuOH) exhibited notable inhibition (16.5-28.9, 14.5-26.9, 12.3-21.5%, resp.) in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model at doses of 200mg/kg without inducing any gastric damage. The LGL-BuOH (7.1-30.4%) and LGP-BuOH (5.9-24.1%) extracts also displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity against PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema model. LGL-BuOH and LGP-BuOH were also found to exhibit remarkable antinociceptive activity in p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test at a dose of 200 mg/kg (25.0 and 24.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION The experimental data demonstrated that Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum and Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum displayed remarkable anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.

Chemical composition of Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean.

The chemical composition of the brown alga Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean was investigated. Fourteen sterols have been identified, five of them for the first time in algae. The structure of one new sterol was established. The origin of seven sterols with short side chains was discussed. In the volatile fraction 19 compounds and in the polar fraction 15 compounds were identified. The main lipid classes were isolated and their fatty acid composition was established.

Cycloartane glycosides from Astragalus stereocalyx Bornm.

Six cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides were isolated from Astragalus stereocalyx along with six known cycloartane-type glycosides. Their structures were established by the extensive use of 1D and 2D-NMR experiments along with ESIMS and HRMS analysis. Three compounds are based on an aglycon characterized by the occurrence of an unusual hydroxyl group at position 20, whereas three other compounds are based on cycloasgenin C as aglycon, so far reported from Astragalus spp. All the compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activity against a number of cancer cell lines. One compound exhibited activity versus human cervical cancer (Hela) with an IC(50) value = 10 μM.

The evaluation of topical administration of Bellis perennis fraction on circular excision wound healing in Wistar albino rats

Context: Bellis perennis L. (Asteraceae) has been used traditionally in the treatment of bruises, broken bones, and wounds by European people. Objective: To investigate the wound healing activity of B. perennis flowers in Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: Dried B. perennis flowers were extracted with ethanol, then fractioned with n-butanol and an oinment was prepared. Twelve male adult Wistar rats were used. Six wounds were created for each animal by using circular excision wound model. The first two wounds were treated topically with HOTBp (hydrophilic ointment treatment containing n-butanol fraction). The second two wounds were control group and not treated with anything. The third two wounds were treated only with HOT (hydrophilic ointment treatment without n-butanol fraction). Treatments were applied once a day and lasted for 30 days. Wound samples were excised on days 5th, 10th and 30th. The percentage of wound healing was calculated by Walker’s formula after measurement of the wound area and the tissue samples were examined histopathologically. Results: The percentages of wound closure (HOTBp: 100%; HOT: 85% and control: 87%) and histopathological observations showed that there were statistically significant differences between HOTBp, HOT and control groups (p < 0.05) at 30th day. Discussion and conclusion: Topically administered ointment prepared from the n-butanol fraction of B. perennis flowers has a wound healing potential without scar formation in circular excision wound model in rats. Thus, traditional usage of wound healing activity of B. perennis was scientifically verified for the first time.

Physocalycoside, a new phenylethanoid glycoside from Phlomis physocalyx Hub.-Mor.

Abstract A new phenylethanoid tetraglycoside, physocalycoside (2), was isolated from the aerial parts of Phlomis physocalyx. Its structure was identified as 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-β-phenyl-ethoxy-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)]-4-O-feruloyl-[β-ᴅ- glucopyranosyl-(1→6)]-|β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside, on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, one known iridoid glucoside, lamiide (1) and five known phenylethanoid glycosides, wiedemannioside C (3), verbascoside (= acteoside) (4). leucosceptoside A (5), martynoside (6), and forsythoside B (7) were also characterized. Compounds 2-7 demonstrated radical scavenging properties towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical.

Isolation of an oleanane-type saponin active from Bellis perennis through antitumor bioassay-guided procedures

Abstract Context: Bellis perennis L. (Asteraceae) (common daisy) is a herbaceous perennial plant known as a traditional wound herb; it has been used for the treatment of bruises, broken bones, and wounds. Bellis perennis has also been used in the treatment of headache, common cold, stomachache, eye diseases, eczema, skin boils, gastritis, diarrhea, bleeding, rheumatism, inflammation, and infections of the upper respiratory tract in traditional medicine. Objective: Antitumor activities of different fractions of B. perennis flowers at different concentrations were evaluated and through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures a saponin derivative (1) was isolated from the active fraction obtained from the n-butanol extract of flowers of the title plant by column chromatography. Materials and methods: Antitumor activities of different fractions of B. perennis flowers at different concentrations were evaluated using Potato Disc Tumor Induction Bioassay. Structure elucidation of 1 was accomplished by spectroscopic methods [1D- and 2D-NMR, and LC-ESI(APCI)-TOF-MS(MSn)]. Results: The present study showed the antitumor activity of fractions obtained from B. perennis flowers for the first time. The most active fraction showed 99% tumor inhibition at 3000 mg/L. An oleanane-type saponin was isolated through bioassay-guided studies. Discussion and conclusion: Through antitumoral bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures, 1 was isolated from the active fraction of B. perennis. The detailed NMR data of compound 1 is given for the first time.

Amanicadol, a pimarane-type diterpene from Phlomis amanica Vierch

Fractionation of the methanol extract of Phlomis amanica resulted in the isolation of a new pimarane type diterpene, amanicadol (1), together with the known glycosides lamiide, verbascoside (= acteoside), syringaresinol-4-O-β -glucoside, liriodendrin, syringin, and a caffeic acid ester, chlorogenic acid. The structure of the new compound was established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data interpretation. Molecular modeling studies on 1 were conducted and showed that it exhibited low conformational flexibility. Additionally, NMR chemical shifts were calculated for 1 in vacuo, and calculated values were in very close agreement with those found experimentally.

Composition of Lipophylic Extracts from Two Tunicates, Styela sp. and Phallusia sp. from the Eastern Mediterranean

Sterols, volatiles and lipids were isolated and identified from lipophylic extracts from two tunicates, Styela sp. and Phallusia sp., occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean. Seventeen sterols were identified. The sterol composition of the two organisms appeared to be similar except for the concentrations of 5α-stanols. Both tunicates were characterized by the presence of sterols with a (22Z)-double bond. In the volatiles significant amounts of chlorinated compounds were found (phenols in Styela sp. and hydrocarbons in Phallusia sp.). The fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols and phospholipids of the two tunicates showed significant differences.

An LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of pronuciferine and roemerine in some Papaver species

Papaver species, well known for their alkaloids, have been used for the treatment of several diseases, such as inflammation, diarrhea, depression, and sleep disorders in certain parts of Anatolia. In this study, four Papaver species (P. lacerum, P. syriacum, P. glaucum and P. rhoeas) were collected from different localities of Turkey. Methanolic extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of the plants. A rapid analytical method was developed for the simultaneously quantitative analysis of two alkaloids, pronuciferine and roemerine, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Multiple reaction monitoring in the positive ionization mode was used for detection. Pronuciferine and roemerine were analyzed on a C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 3 μm) with the mobile phase run in the gradient mode with 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The transitions 312.1→283.1 m/z and 280.0→249.0 m/z were used to monitor pronuciferine and roemerine, respectively. The assay was linear in the concentration range of 0.01 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL (r = 0.996 for roemerine, r = 0.998 for pronuciferine). The validation studies revealed that the method was linear, sensitive, accurate, precise, selective, repeatable, robust, and rugged. Finally, the developed method was applied to quantify pronuciferine and roemerine in the selected species. The amounts of pronuciferine and roemerine were respectively found as 8.5 to 48 μg/g and 4.4 to 43,000 μg/g.