Liselotte Krenn

Bufadienolides from animal and plant sources

Abstract Naturally occurring bufadienolides, which were isolated from both animal and plant sources and structurally elucidated in the period from 1967–1995, are reviewed and compiled.

Comparison of hormonal activity (estrogen, androgen and progestin) of standardized plant extracts for large scale use in hormone replacement therapy

Extracts from red clover (Trifolium pratense), soybean (Glycine max.) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) are frequently used as alternative compounds for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopausal disorders. Fifteen commercially available products made either from red clover, soybean or black cohosh were tested in in vitro assays in this study. The main polycyclic phenolic compounds of soy and red clover products were biochanin A, genistein, daidzein, formononetin, and glycitein. In red clover products glycitein was not abundant. All the compounds showed clear estrogenic activity through estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) and affinity to progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR), whereas the compounds from black cohosh did not. This was corroborated by synthetic isoflavones such as biochanin A, daidzein, genistein and formononetin. They exerted affinity to PR and AR in the range of 0.39-110 mM. Statistical analysis applying principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that all red clover and soy products are grouped in different clusters. Red clover products showed a higher affinity to AR and PR than soy products, which is explained by the higher amount of isoflavones present. In vitro assays and chemical analysis showed that theoretical estrogenic activity expressed as equivalent E2 concentration is in the same range as recommended for synthetic estrogens. Broader spectrum of action and hypothesized lower side effects by action through ERbeta make them suitable for alternative hormone replacement therapy.

Estrogenic activity of two standardized red clover extracts (Menoflavon®) intended for large scale use in hormone replacement therapy

Isoflavones are the most potent estrogenic compounds in red clover extracts. Standardized extracts have been discussed as an alternative for hormone replacement therapy. Variation due to extraction procedure and natural seasonal variation and variations originating from agricultural conditions have prevented the large scale use of such phytochemicals. An improved extraction procedure and careful analysis of the raw material yielded in a highly standardized preparation (Menoflavon) with an average isoflavone content of approximately 9% (dry weight) determined by HPLC. The estrogenic activity has been further evaluated by a yeast two plasmid system using estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ER beta). An estrogenic activity corresponding to a transactivational capacity of ca. 18 microg 17 beta-estradiol per g red clover extract for ER alpha and ca. 78 microg 17 beta-estradiol per g red clover for ER beta was obtained. The difference is explained by the higher affinity of ER beta to isoflavones than that observed for ER alpha. Calculation of potency from isoflavone content measured by HPLC yielded a comparable potency to that experimentally determined by the bioassay. The high content of isoflavones as well as the higher transactivational potency for ER beta than ER alpha make these extracts interesting candidates for HRT.

Quantification of isoflavones in red clover by high-performance liquid chromatography

An RP-HPLC method for the determination of daidzein, genistein, formononetin and biochanin A in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was developed and validated. The compounds are quantified after hydrolytic extraction using an internal standard. On a base-deactivated C(18) column good separation of the analytes, also from accompanying substances, and excellent peak shape are achieved by gradient elution with aqueous sulfuric acid and acetonitrile. The method was applied to the analysis of different red clover cultivars.

Inhibition of angiogenesis and inflammation by an extract of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

Antiangiogenic compounds are gaining more and more interest as a new approach in the prevention and treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the antiangiogenic effect of a red clover extract (RCE) used in food supplements for menopausal complaints as well as of its main isoflavones in an in vivo system, the chorioallantoic membrane assay of fertilized hens eggs. At a dosage of 250 microg/pellet the red clover extract showed excellent inhibition of angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic activity of the non-methylated isoflavones daidzein and genistein was higher than that of the methylated compounds formononentin and biochanin A. The results demonstrate that RCE is not only suitable for menopausal complaints, but might also be a powerful chemopreventive agent against chronic diseases e.g. which have a high incidence especially in elderly female.

Anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic activity of extracts from Droserae herba

An ethanolic extract of Drosera madagascariensis inhibited human neutrophil elastase with an IC50 of 9.4 microg/ml. The naphthoquinones present in the extract were not responsible for this effect, but flavonoids like quercetin (IC50 0.8 microg/ml), hyperoside (IC50 0.15 microg/ml) and isoquercitrin (IC50 0.7 microg/ml) contributed to inhibition of the enzyme. In guinea-pig ileum the extract (0.5-1 mg/ml) induced a spasmolytic effect via affecting cholinergic M3 receptors and histamine H1 receptors, respectively. At contractile prostanoid receptors of guinea-pig trachea the Drosera extract was not effective.

Bufadienolides from Urginea maritima from Egypt

Forty-one bufadienolides were isolated from the bulbs of Urginea maritima agg. from Egypt; 26 of them are new natural compounds. Structure elucidation was performed by comparison with authentic substances or by means of 1H, 13C NMR and FAB mass spectroscopy. Sixteen of the glycosides derive from nine structurally new aglycones: 16 beta-hydroxy-scillarenin, 16 beta-O-acetyl- scillarenin, 12 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-4,5-dihydro-scillirosidin, 16 beta- hydroxy-5 alpha-4,5-dihydro-scillirosidin, 16 beta-O-acetyl-5 alpha-4,5- dihydro-scillirosidin, 12 beta-hydroxy-scillirubrosidin, 16 beta-O-acetyl- scillirubrosidin, 9-hydroxy-scilliphaeosidine and 12 beta-hydroxy-desacetyl- scillirosidine.

Combination of Bioautography with HPTLC–MS/NMR: A Fast Identification of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors from Galbanum†

INTRODUCTION In the search for new natural compounds with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity this study focused on galbanum, the oleo gum-resin from Ferula gummosa Boiss., which had shown AChE inhibitory activity in a screening. OBJECTIVE The isolation of bioactive compounds from plant extracts usually is laborious and time consuming. In an approach to accelerate the characterisation of compounds with AChE inhibitory activity, the potential of a combination of HPTLC bioautography with HPTLC-MS/NMR for the fast identification of active compounds in galbanum was studied. METHOD Pre-fractionation of the dichloromethane extract was performed by vacuum liquid chromatography. The resulting fractions were separated by HPTLC and active zones determined by bioautography. A TLC-MS interface was used to elute the single zones from the plates directly into a mass spectrometer. The interface was also used to extract the two major active zones from HPTLC plates for off-line one- and two-dimensional NMR and quadrupole time of flight (QTOF) MS. RESULTS The isolated compounds were identified as 7-{[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl]oxy}-2H-chromen-2-one (auraptene) and 7-{[(1R,4aR,6S,8aS)-6-hydroxy-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylenedecahydronaphthalen-1-yl]methoxy}-2H-chromen-2-one (farnesiferol A). This is the first report of these substances in F. gummosa. Their median inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) values for AChE inhibition were determined as 47 and 17 µg/mL in comparison with physostigmine as a positive control (IC50 : 0.8 µg/mL) and their concentrations in galbanum were quantified by HPLC as 3.5% and 7.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION The study showed that HPTLC-MS/NMR can be considered as a fast and high-confidence method for dereplication of natural compounds. From the correlation of the concentration of the elucidated compounds and their IC50 values for AChE inhibition it can be concluded that auraptene and farnesiferol A are contributing to this activity of galbanum.

Flavonoids from Achillea nobilis L.

The detailed investigation of a methanolic extract of aerial parts of Achillea nobilis resulted in the isolation of 10 flavonoids. A new C-glycosylflavone, luteolin-6-C-apiofuranosyl-(1‴→2″)-glucoside, was isolated besides orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isoschaftoside, luteolin- 7-O-β-glucuronide, luteolin-4′-O-β-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-methyl ether and two rare flavonolglycosides, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinosyl-(1‴→6″ )-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-methylether-7-O-β-glucoside. The structures were established either by comparison with authentic substances or by UV, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic methods including 2ᴅ-NMR techniques and ESI-MS

Quantitative analysis of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids senkirkine and senecionine in Tussilago farfara L. by capillary electrophoresis

A method to quantify the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara L., by capillary electrophoresis was established using external and internal standardisation. The method is very sensitive and allows the quantification of amounts less than 0.5 ppm of senkirkine and senecionine in the drug. For sample preparation of the plant extracts, various extraction procedures were tested: the best method of extraction of the drug was by refluxing for 15 min with 50% methanol acidified with citric acid to pH 2–3. Final purification of the extracts was performed by solid phase extraction on diol-phase cartridges. The fast and exhaustive extraction of the alkaloids is the main advantage of the new method, which replaces the time consuming Soxhlet extraction. Owing to the high sensitivity and short analysis time, capillary electrophoresis is confirmed as an excellent complementary method in the quantification of toxic PAs in Folium Farfarae. Copyright