Herbal Science Research - in vivo

In vitro and in vivo anti-retroviral activity of the substance purified from the aqueous extract of Chelidonium majus L.

Site Editor — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:37:20 -0800

In vitro and in vivo anti-retroviral activity of the substance purified from the aqueous extract of Chelidonium majus L.: Antiviral Res. 2006 Nov;72(2):153-6 Authors: Gerencer M, Turecek PL, Kistner O, Mitterer A, Savidis-Dacho H, Barrett NP

We have isolated a substance with anti-retroviral activity from the freshly prepared crude extract of Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine) by 9-aminoacridine precipitation method and ion exchange chromatography using Dowex-50W/H+ resin followed by the gel filtration on Sephadex-75 column. Elemental and phenol/sulfuric acid method analyses as well as the mass spectrometry of the purified substance indicated that it may represent a low-sulfated poly-glycosaminoglycan moiety with molecular weight of approximately 3800 Da. The substance prevented infection of human CD4+ T-cell lines AA2 and H9 with HIV-1 at concentration of 25 microg/mL as well as the cell-to-cell virus spread in H9 cells continuously infected with HIV-1, as determined by the measurement of reverse transcriptase activity and p24 content in cell cultures. Furthermore, we have shown in a murine AIDS model that the treatment with purified substance significantly prevented splenomegaly and the enlargement of cervical lymph nodes in C57Bl/6 mice chronically infected with the pool of murine leukemia retroviruses. The mechanism(s) of anti-retroviral activity of this substance have to be elucidated.

Analysis of the interaction of phytoestrogens and synthetic chemicals: An in vitro/in vivo comparison.

Site Editor — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 06:32:55 -0800

Analysis of the interaction of phytoestrogens and synthetic chemicals: An in vitro/in vivo comparison.: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2006 Dec 5; Authors: Charles GD, Gennings C, Tornesi B, Kan HL, Zacharewski TR, Bhaskar Gollapudi B, Carney EW

In the evaluation of chemical mixture toxicity, it is desirable to develop an evaluation paradigm which incorporates some critical attributes of real world exposures, particularly low dose levels, larger numbers of chemicals, and chemicals from synthetic and natural sources. This study evaluated the impact of low level exposure to a mixture of six synthetic chemicals (SC) under conditions of co-exposure to various levels of plant-derived phytoestrogen (PE) compounds. Estrogenic activity was evaluated using an in vitro human estrogen receptor (ER) transcriptional activation assay and an in vivo immature rat uterotrophic assay. Initially, dose-response curves were characterized for each of the six SCs (methoxyclor, o,p-DDT, octylphenol, bisphenol A, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionitrile) in each of the assays. The six SCs were then combined at equipotent ratios and tested at 5-6 dose levels spanning from very low, sub-threshold levels, to a dose in which every chemical in the mixture was at its individual estrogenic response threshold. The SC mixtures also were tested in the absence or presence of 5-6 different levels of PEs, for a total of 36 (in vitro) or 25 (in vivo) treatment groups. Both in vitro and in vivo, low concentrations of the SC mixture failed to increase estrogenic responses relative to those induced by PEs alone. However, significant increases in response occurred when each chemical in the SC mixture was near or above its individual response threshold. In vitro, interactions between high-doses of SCs and PEs were greater than additive, whereas mixtures of SCs in the absence of PEs interacted in a less than additive fashion. In vivo, the SC and PE mixture responses were consistent with additivity. These data illustrate a novel approach for incorporating key attributes of real world exposures in chemical mixture toxicity assessments, and suggest that chemical mixture toxicity is likely to be of concern only when the mixture components are near or above their individual response thresholds. However, these data suggest that extrapolation from in vitro assays to in vivo mixture effects should be approached with caution.

Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and MMP-9 secretion...after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 04:35:17 -0700

Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and MMP-9 secretion by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol).: J Inflamm (Lond). 2006 Jan 27;3(1):1 Authors: Grimm T, Chovanova Z, Muchova J, Sumegova K, Liptakova A, Durackova Z, Hogger P

ABSTRACT: French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol(R)) displays a variety of anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Aim of this study was to determine whether human plasma after oral intake of Pycnogenol contains sufficient concentrations of active principles to inhibit key mediators of inflammation. Blood samples from seven healthy volunteers were obtained before and after five days administration of 200 mg Pycnogenol per day. Plasma samples statistically significantly inhibited matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) release from human monocytes and NF-kappaB activation. Thus, we provide evidence that bioavailable active principles of Pycnogenol exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of proinflammatory gene expression which is consistent with documented clinical observations. We suggest that our ex vivo method is suitable to substantiate molecular pharmacological mechanisms of complex plant extracts in a more focussed and rational way compared to in vitro studies by taking into account the processes of absorption and metabolism.

Protective effect of propolis ethanol extract on ethanol-induced renal toxicity: an in-vivo study.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:59:04 -0700

Protective effect of propolis ethanol extract on ethanol-induced renal toxicity: an in-vivo study.: Am J Chin Med. 2005;33(5):779-86 Authors: Liu CF, Lin CH, Lin CC, Lin YH, Chen CF, Lin SC

Acute p.o. administration of absolute ethanol (10 ml/kg) to fasted mice would produce extensive renal failure. Pretreatment with p.o. administration of propolis ethanol extract (PEE) could prevent such renal failure effectively and dose dependently. This renal protective effect of PEE may be contributed, at least in part, to its antioxidative activity. The maximal antioxidative effect against absolute ethanol (AE)-induced renal failure could be observed 1 hour after PEE administration. In order to further investigate the renal protective mechanism of PEE, lipid peroxidation and superoxide scavenging activity were conducted in vivo. PEE exhibited dose-dependent antioxidative effects on lipid peroxidation in mice renal homogenate. Results indicated that mice with acute renal failure have higher malonic dialdehyde (MDA) levels compared with those in PEE administered mice. It was concluded that the renal protective mechanism of PEE could be contributed, at least in part, to its prominent superoxide scavenging effect; hence, it could protect, indirectly, the kidney from superoxide-induced renal damages.

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial action of tea: the commonest beverage of Asia.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:47:44 -0700

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial action of tea: the commonest beverage of Asia.: Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Nov;28(11):2125-7 Authors: Bandyopadhyay D, Chatterjee TK, Dasgupta A, Lourduraja J, Dastidar SG

The methanolic extract of leaves of Camellia sinensis (L) O. KUNTZE was screened for antimicrobial property against 111 bacteria comprising 2 genera of Gram positive and 7 genera of Gram negative bacteria. Most of these strains were inhibited by the compound at 10-50 microg/ml level and few strains were sensitive even at lower concentrations (5 microg/ml). The bacteria could be arranged in the decreasing order of sensitivity towards the compound in the following manner: Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity of compound could also be confirmed in vivo. When it was given to Swiss strain of white mice at different dosages (30, 60 microg/mouse), it could significantly protect the animals challenged with 50 MLD of Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 74. According to Chi square test the in vivo data were highly significant (p<0.001).

New acylated clionasterol glycosides from Valeriana officinalis.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:44:41 -0700

New acylated clionasterol glycosides from Valeriana officinalis.: Planta Med. 2005 Oct;71(10):960-1 Authors: Pullela SV, Choi YW, Khan SI, Khan IA

The chloroform extract of Valeriana officinalis led to the isolation of clionasterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and a mixture of 6'-O-acyl-beta-D-glucosyl-clionasterols. The acyl moieties were identified as hexadecanoyl, 8 E,11 E-octadecadienoyl and 14-methylpentadecanoyl by alkaline hydrolysis followed by GC-MS analysis. The isolated compounds did not exhibit any anti-inflammatory, anticancer or cytotoxic activity when tested in a variety of in vitro cell-based assays.