Herbal Science Research - pharmacognosy

17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) in scleractinian corals and zooxanthellae.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:17:40 -0700

17beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) in scleractinian corals and zooxanthellae.: Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2006 Feb 1; Authors: Blomquist CH, Lima PH, Tarrant AM, Atkinson MJ, Atkinson S

Steroid metabolism studies have yielded evidence of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity in corals. This project was undertaken to clarify whether there are multiple isoforms of 17beta-HSD, whether activity levels vary seasonally, and if zooxanthellae contribute to activity. 17beta-HSD activity was characterized in zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate coral fragments collected in summer and winter and in zooxanthellae cultured from Montipora capitata. More specifically, 17beta-HSD activity was characterized with regard to steroid substrate and inhibitor specificity, coenzyme specificity, and Michaelis constants for estradiol (E(2)) and NADP(+). Six samples each of M. capitata and Tubastrea coccinea (three summers, three winters) were assayed with E(2) and NADP(+). Specific activity levels (pmol/mg protein) varied 10-fold among M. capitata samples and 6-fold among T. coccinea samples. There was overlap of activity levels between summer and winter samples. NADP(+)/NAD(+) activity ratios varied from 1.6 to 22.2 for M. capatita, 2.3 to 3.8 for T. coccinea and 0.7 to 1.1 for zooxanthellae. Coumestrol was the most inhibitory of the steroids and phytoestrogens tested. Our data confirm that corals and zooxanthellae contain 17beta-HSD and are consistent with the presence of more than one isoform of the enzyme.

Improved quality control method for Danshen products-Consideration of both hydrophilic and lipophilic active components.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:17:24 -0700

Improved quality control method for Danshen products-Consideration of both hydrophilic and lipophilic active components.: J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2006 Jan 31; Authors: Zhou L, Chow M, Zuo Z

The current study intends to provide an improved quality control analysis for Danshen product-a representative herbal product with known active components that are both hydrophilic and lipophilic in nature. A simple HPLC method with photodiode-array (PDA) ultraviolet detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of three major lipophilic components (cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA) and three major hydrophilic components (danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde and salvianolic acid B) of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). These six components were successfully separated using Radial-pak C18 cartridge with the elution gradient consisting of 0.5% acetic acid in water and 0.5% acetic acid in acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1ml/min. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of the analysis were within 2.32 and 2.0%, respectively. The detection limits were 0.02, 0.01, 0.01, 0.05, 0.005 and 0.02mug/ml for cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde and salvianolic acid B, respectively. The developed method has been applied to the simultaneous determination of above six major components in Fufang Danshen Tablet and Dripping Pill products by extraction with methanol and water. It has been demonstrated that salvianolic acid B and danshensu are the major components among the eight commercial Fufang Danshen products studied. The current developed method with methanol as extraction solvent provides a simple and efficient method for simultaneous detection of both lipophilic and hydrophilic major components in Danshen products.

Medicinal plants used by Tanzanian traditional healers in the management of Candida infections.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:17:14 -0700

Medicinal plants used by Tanzanian traditional healers in the management of Candida infections.: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Feb 1; Authors: Runyoro DK, Ngassapa OD, Matee MI, Joseph CC, Moshi MJ

An ethnomedical survey in Coast, Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Tanga regions of Tanzania has resulted in the identification of 36 plant species belonging to 21 plant families that are used traditionally for the treatment of Candida infections. Twenty-one plants constituting 58.3% of all collected plants are used to treat of oral candidiasis (Utando) one of the important signs of HIV/AIDS. The knowledge of traditional healers for the treatment of Candida infections has been highly supported by the literature in that 13 (36.1%) out of the 36 plants identified have been proven to be active against Candida albicans and/or other species of Candida. Also, some of the plants were reported to be active against other species of fungi including Cryptococcus neoformans, one of the important pathogenic fungi in HIV/AIDS. It can be seen that ethnomedical information from traditional healers provides a solid lead towards development of new drugs than random screening. The task that remains is to screen extracts prepared from these plants and perform a bioassay-guided fractionation of the active extracts so as to isolate the active compounds from these plants.

PMID: 16458463 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A Preadipocyte Differentiation Assay as a Method for Screening Potential Anti-Type II Diabetes Drugs from Herbal Extracts.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:14:26 -0700

A Preadipocyte Differentiation Assay as a Method for Screening Potential Anti-Type II Diabetes Drugs from Herbal Extracts.: Planta Med. 2006 Jan;72(1):14-9 Authors: Xu ME, Xiao SZ, Sun YH, Ou-Yang Y, Guan C, Zheng XX

A cell-based method for screening drug candidates from herbal extracts that have possible anti-type II diabetic effects was established. The differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes was used as a sensitive primary indicator of a drug's potential effect on type II diabetes. We established a quantitative method by using a computer image analysis system for assessing the morphological alterations. The assay was validated by screening compounds extracted from Chinese herbs and the known drug rosiglitazone for their capability of modulating PPARgamma gene expression and glucose uptake by adipocytes. Two drug candidates having possible anti-type II diabetic effects were identified. Abbreviations. DMEM:Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium FCS:fetal calf serum RT-PCR:reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction WST:water-soluble tetrazolium PPARgamma:peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor FITC:fluorescein isothiocyanate PI:propidium iodide PS:phosphatidyl serine.

Tungtungmadic acid, a novel antioxidant, from Salicornia herbacea.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:52:06 -0700

Tungtungmadic acid, a novel antioxidant, from Salicornia herbacea.: Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Oct;28(10):1122-6 Authors: Chung YC, Chun HK, Yang JY, Kim JY, Han EH, Kho YH, Jeong HG

Tungtungmadic acid (3-caffeoyl-4-dihydrocaffeoyl quinic acid) is a new chlorogenic acid derivative that was isolated from the Salicornia herbacea. The structure of tungtungmadic acid was determined using chemical and spectral analysis. The antioxidant activity of tungtungmadic acid was evaluated using various antioxidant assays, including free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand breaks assays. Tungtungmadic acid (IC50 = 5.1 microM and 9.3 microM) was found to have higher antioxidant activity in the DPPH scavenging assay as well as in the iron-induced liver microsomal lipid peroxidation system. In addition, the tungtungmadic acid was also effective in protecting the plasmid DNA against strand breakage induced by hydroxyl radicals.

A phenolic glucoside isolated from Prunus serrulata var. spontanea and its peroxynitrite scavenging activity.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:51:46 -0700

A phenolic glucoside isolated from Prunus serrulata var. spontanea and its peroxynitrite scavenging activity.: Arch Pharm Res. 2005 Oct;28(10):1127-30 Authors: Jung HA, Chung HY, Kang SS, Hyun SK, Kang HS, Choi JS

A new phenolic glucoside (1), pursargentoside, was isolated from the leaves of Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, along with three other known compounds, orobol 7-omicron-glucoside (2), 1beta, 2alpha, 3alpha, 24-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3), and chlorogenic acid (4). The structure of pursargentoside (1) was identified by spectroscopic data analysis including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, as 2-omicron-beta-(6'-benzoyl)-glucopyranosyl omicron-(Z)-coumaric acid. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 exhibited ONOO scavenging activity, whereas compound 3 was determined to be virtually inactive.

The pharmacognosy of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) with an emphasis on estrogenic properties.

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:45:41 -0700

The pharmacognosy of Humulus lupulus L. (hops) with an emphasis on estrogenic properties.: Phytomedicine. 2006 Jan;13(1-2):119-31 Authors: Chadwick LR, Pauli GF, Farnsworth NR

As the population ages, there is an ever-increasing need for therapeutic agents that can be used safely and efficaciously to manage symptoms related to postmenopausal estrogen deficiency. Endogenous estrogens, e.g., 17beta-estradiol, of exogenous mammalian origin, e.g., horses, have long been used to manage such symptoms. There are more than 20 different classes of phytochemicals that have demonstrated affinity for human estrogen receptors in vitro. Some studies on exogenous estrogenic substances of botanical origin (phytoestrogens), such as standardized formulations of plant extracts with in vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity from soy (Glycine max Merill.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), suggest clinical efficacy. Few clinical data for phytoestrogens other than isoflavonoids are available. In an exhaustive review of the literature through 2003, only two clinical trials were identified that were designed to evaluate the effect of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) on symptoms related to menopause. Folkloric, chemical, and biological literature relating primarily to the use of hops for their estrogenic activity, and two human clinical trials, are reviewed.

Herbal Medicine: Ancient Practice Meets Modern Science

Site Editor — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:24:52 -0700

Herbal Medicine: Ancient Practice Meets Modern Science - Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D.

Dr. Farnsworth is Director of the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he is also a Research Professor of Pharmacognosy and Distinguished University Professor. His research in the field of biologically active plants dates back to the early 1950's. He is a world renowned scholar and leader in the effort to standardize dosage forms of plant extracts so that clinical and basic research can be conducted to evaluate their effectiveness as drugs and dietary supplements. His research group at the UIC/NIH Center for Botanical Dietary Supplements Research is currently designing standardized plant extracts for use in clinical trials to obtain definitive answers regarding their safety and effectiveness to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause. He discussed the challenges in this research, including plant collection and identification, isolation of active ingredients, understanding how botanicals work, and whether they are safe and effective.

Wednesday, October 22, 2003