Irena Matławska

Leonurus cardiaca L. (Motherwort): A Review of its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Leonurus cardiaca is a perennial plant indigenous to central Europe and Scandinavia, but it is also found in the area spanning temperate Russia to central Asia. It has been introduced to North America and has become established locally in the wild. Motherwort (Leonuri cardiacae herba) consists of aerial parts of Leonurus cardiaca gathered during the flowering period, dried at 35 °C and, according to European Pharmacopoeia 7th edition, should contain a minimum of 0.2% flavonoids, expressed as hyperoside. Compounds belonging to the group of monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, nitrogen‐ containing compounds, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as volatile oils, sterols and tannins, have been identified in motherwort. Traditionally, extracts of the herb have been used internally, mainly for nervous heart conditions and digestive disorders. However, they have also been used for bronchial asthma, climacteric symptoms and amenorrhoea, as well as externally in wounds and skin inflammations. Mild negative chronotropic, hypotonic and sedative effects can be attributed to the herb and preparations thereof. Pharmacological studies have confirmed its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and analgesic activity, as well as its effects on the heart and the circulatory system. Sedative and hypotensive activity has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Copyright

Protective effect of Aquilegia vulgaris L. on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatic damage in rats

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ethanol and ethyl acetate extract obtained from Aquilegia vulgaris L. on microsomal lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione level and antioxidant enzymes activity in the liver of rats intoxicated with aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). Animals were pretreated with 12 daily p.o. doses of the extracts tested (100mg/kg body weight). Then AFB(1) was administered intraperitoneally at a single dose of 1.5mg/kg b.w. to evoke the liver damage. α-Tocopherol was used as a positive control. Reduced glutathione (GSH) was depleted in aflatoxin-treated rats by 80% in comparison with that in the controls. The extracts restored the GSH concentration up to the basal level. Microsomal lipid peroxidation stimulated by Fe(2+)/ascorbate (assessed by measuring TBARS) was enhanced in AFB(1)-treated rats by 28% as compared to that in the control group. The extracts caused a decrease in TBARS level by 40% and 27%. Only two antioxidant enzymes were affected by AFB(1) administration. The activity of catalase was reduced by 24% and the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was increased by 33%. The pretreatment with ethyl acetate and ethanol extract reduced the GST activity by 76% and 30%, respectively. No significant changes in the activity of other antioxidant enzymes were observed in rats treated with the extracts and AFB(1). It can be concluded that multiple pretreatment with the extracts obtained from A. vulgaris attenuated aflatoxin B(1)-induced hepatic damage as evidenced by inhibition of lipid peroxidation and preventing reduced glutathione depletion.

Essential oil composition of Taraxacum officinale

The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the flower of Taraxacum officinale L. revealed the presence of 25 compounds with 1,3-dimethylbenzene, 1,2-dimethylbenzene, 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene, heneicosane and tricosane as the main components.

Disseminated cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma in a patient receiving triptolide/tripdiolide for rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary Background To date, Kaposi sarcoma has not been mentioned among the adverse effects of triptolide/tripdiolide, ethyl acetate extracts or polyglycosides of the Chinese herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. Case Report A patient was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 29 years. She underwent treatment with corticosteroids, methotrexate and gold sodium thiosulfate, and was chronically taking ketoprofen. At the age of 59 years she started to take a powder (≈2 g/day) from a Chinese physician for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This powder was supplied to her regularly for 10 years. At the age of 69 years, multiple soft, violaceous to dark-red patches, plaques, nodules and blisters of varying sizes appeared on a background of severely edematous skin on her legs, and later on her arms. Biopsy specimens of the leg lesions were diagnostic for human herpesvirus 8-associated Kaposi sarcoma. Triptolide (235 μg/1 g) and tripdiolide were found in the Chinese powder by the use of Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Administration of the powder was stopped and medication with paclitaxel was introduced. General condition of the patient improved and skin lesions diminished significantly. Conclusions This case indicates a possible association between triptolide/tripdiolide chronic intake and development of human herpesvirus 8-associated Kaposi sarcoma. Triptolide/tripdiolide could contribute to development of Kaposi sarcoma by reactivation of latent human herpesvirus 8, permitted by immunosuppression induced by triptolide.

8-Hydroxyflavonoid glucuronides of Malope trifida

The new flavonoid: herbacetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside-8-O-β-glucuronopyranoside (1) together with known gossypetin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside - 8-O-β-glucuronopyranoside (2) and isoscutellarein: 8-O-β-glucuronopyranoside (3) as well as 4′-methyl ether-8-O-β-glucuronopyranoside (4), were isolated from the calyx and epicalyx leaves of Malope trifida and identified on the basis of their spectroscopic properties: UV, 1H and 13C NMR, ESI/MS. Two other flavonoids were identified as isoscutellarein: 3′-hydroxy 4′-methyl ether-8-O-β-glucuronoside (5) and 8-O- rhamnoglucoside (6) on the basis of their UV and ESI/MS data.

Phenolics in the Tussilago farfara leaves

Summary Coltsfoot leaves (Farfarae folium) are used in the European medicine in respiratory tract diseases, for cough, bronchitis and asthmatic disorders, while in the traditional Chinese medicine only flower buds (Farfarae flos) have been recognized as a medicine. A short literature review shows that most data concern the chemical composition of the coltsfoot flowers. During the carried out studies we have isolated and identified (UV, 1H and 13C NMR, analysis of acid and enzymatic hydrolyze products) six known flavonols from the coltsfoot leaves: kaempferol and its 3-O-β-glucopyranoside and 3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)- β-glucopyranoside, along with quercetin derivatives: 3-O-β-arabinopyranoside, 3-O-β- glucopyranoside and 3-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)-β-glucopyranoside. Moreover, we have detected the presence of three phenolic acids. Streszczenie Liście podbiału (Farfarae folium) są stosowane w medycynie europejskiej w chorobach dróg oddechowych, w kaszlu, w stanach zapalnych i skurczowych oskrzeli. W medycynie chińskiej są wykorzystywane jedynie kwiaty podbiału (Farfarae flos), dlatego większość danych literaturowych dotyczy składu chemicznego kwiatów. Z liści podbiału wyizolowaliśmy i zidentyfikowaliśmy (UV, 1H i 13C NMR, hydroliza kwasowa i enzymatyczna) 6 związków flawonoidowych: kemferol i jego glikozydy: 3-O-β-glukopiranozyd i 3-O-α-ramnopiranozylo(1→6)-β-glukopiranozyd, oraz glikozydy kwercetyny: 3-O-β- arabinopiranozyd, 3-O-β-glukopiranozyd i 3-O-α-ramnopiranozylo(1→6)-β-glukopiranozyd. Ponadto w surowcu stwierdzono obecność trzech kwasów fenolowych.

EFFECT OF AQUILEGIA VULGARIS (L.) ETHYL ETHER EXTRACT ON LIVER ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEM IN RATS

INTRODUCTION The ethyl ether extract from Aquilegia vulgaris (L.) (Ranunculaceae) contains a lot of phenolic acids. Their hydroxyl groups are capable of donating hydrogen atoms at the initial stage of lipid peroxidation (LPO), which inactivates hydroxyperoxides formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and leads to breakdown of the propagation chain. MATERIAL AND METHODS Rats pretreated with acetaminophen (APAP) (600 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) were given ethyl ether extract (100 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) obtained from A. vulgaris herb. The study parameters measured were microsomal lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, and the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes and some drug metabolizing enzymes. RESULTS The treatment with ethyl ether extract of the herb produced a 87-95% decrease in uninduced and Fe2+/ascorbate-stimulated microsomal lipid peroxidation in the liver of rats receiving APAP. Hepatic glutathione level depleted by APAP increased significantly (by 18%) after the extract treatment. Antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver, inhibited by APAP, was found to increase after administration of the extract: catalase by about 36%, glutathione reductase by 27% and glutathione S-transferase by 29%. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which decreased after APAP administration, increased again by 26% after extract treatment. The extract tested did not affect the activity of DT-diaphorase. The cytochrome P450 content, depleted by APAP, increased as much as by 100% after the treatment. The activities of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase were not affected. CONCLUSIONS The protective effect of the Aquilegia vulgaris extract in APAP-induced liver injury was mediated by its antioxidant activity. The extract did not inhibit the formation of reactive intermediate metabolites of APAP.