Antioxidant activity and phenylpropanoids of Phlomis lychnitis L.: a traditional herbal tea

Chemical Constituents and Anticancer Activities of the Extracts from Phlomis × commixta Rech. f. (P. cretica × P. lanata)

The present work is the first report on the ingredients of the P. × commixta hybrid, a plant of the genus Phlomis. So far, thirty substances have been isolated by various chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroscopic methods, such as UV/Vis, NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS. The compounds are classified as flavonoids: naringenin, eriodyctiol, eriodyctiol-7-O-β-D-glucoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, diosmetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside, quercetin, hesperetin and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside; phenylpropanoids: martynoside, verbascoside, forsythoside B, echinacoside and allysonoside; chromene: 5,7-dihydroxychromone; phenolic acids: caffeic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid methyl ester, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid; aliphatic hydrocarbon: docos-1-ene; steroids: brassicasterol and stigmasterol; a glucoside of allylic alcohol, 3-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-oct-1-ene-3-ol, was fully characterized as a natural product for the first time. Two tyrosol esters were also isolated: tyrosol lignocerate and tyrosol methyl ether palmitate, the latter one being isolated as a natural product for the first time. Moreover, the biological activities of the extracts from the different polarities of the roots, leaves and flowers were estimated for their cytotoxic potency. All root extracts tested showed a high cytotoxic activity against the Hep2c and RD cell lines.

In Vitro/In Vivo Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Effects of Defatted Extract and a Phenolic Fraction Obtained from Phlomis Tuberosa

An in vitro/in vivo hepatotoxicity and hepatoprotection evaluation of a defatted extract and a phenolic fraction from Phlomis tuberosa, administered alone and in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced metabolic bioactivation model, was performed. The extract and the phenolic fraction were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the total flavonoid content, to identify flavonoids and to quantify verbascoside. In addition, total polyphenolics in the samples were expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Applied alone, the extract and the fraction (5, 10 and 50 µg/mL) did not show a statistically significant hepatotoxic effect on isolated rat hepatocytes in vitro. In a CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity model, the samples exhibited a concentration-dependent, statistically significant hepatoprotective effect, which was most pronounced at 50 µg/mL for both. The phenolic fraction exhibited a more pronounced hepatoprotective effect compared to the extract. Data from the in vitro study on the effects of the extract were also confirmed in the in vivo experiment conducted in a CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity model in rats. A histopathological study showed that the animals treated with CCl₄ and the extract had an unaltered histoarchitecture of the liver. The effects of the extract were the same as those of silymarin.

Ethnopharmacology in the Upper Guadiana River area (Castile-La Mancha, Spain)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Determining traditional remedies for human pathologies is relevant, when compared with the standard materia medica of the pharmacopoeias and dietary supplement databases, because we can assess the species and uses that have been previously studied and target understudied species for further pharmacological investigation.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to systematically record and analyze medicinal uses of natural resources (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi and minerals), mostly local, in the territories adjoining the upper Guadiana River and its tributaries. We were particularly interested in recording resources and pathologies linked to wetland areas, especially in the National Parks Las Tablas de Daimiel and Cabañeros. Wetlands are interesting because they present a double face in relation with human health: Wetlands furnish hydration, safe water, nutrition, and medicinal resources; are places from which people derive their livelihood. However wetlands are also sites of exposure to pollution or toxicants, and infectious diseases; and sites of physical hazards. We wanted to identify procedures for preparation of medicinal formulae and routes of administration. We also intended to detect whether a geographical pattern exists or not in our records in relation to the use of local resources.

METHODS

We used semi-structured interviews with one-to-one informants or groups, from 1998 to 2018. Raw data were introduced in a Firebird database and analyzed. To identify ingredients and pathologies we consulted local floras and epidemiological literature. Finally, we compared documented pathologies, remedies and ingredients in the historical context of medicinal uses of natural resources in Castile-La Mancha and especially in Ciudad Real.

RESULTS

126 pathologies and 220 species furnishing ingredients have been recorded from the interviews. In total, 188 are plants and 20 animals. The most commonly used species include Malva sylvestris, Phlomis lychnitis, Genista tridentata and Thymus mastichina. Most records refer to flowers, or fruits, of locally available plant species, classified as Mediterranean, European or widespread that belong to the Lamiaceae, Compositae or Leguminosae. Ingredients which are collected in open shrublands, known as "garrigue", and dry grasslands furnish a relevant proportion of records while the imported ingredients remain marginal. The contribution of wetlands, riverine habitats and irrigated fields and gardens as a source of medicinal resources is 36% of the records. It is relatively high considering its limited presence in terms of total extension within the study area. The most frequently reported diseases are respiratory, gastrointestinal, dermatological and infectious or parasitic.

CONCLUSIONS

Along the Guadiana River in the Ciudad Real province exists a wide and deep knowledge of traditional remedies for the treatment of common pathologies, based fundamentally on the use of local flora, fauna and mineral resources. The uses and ingredients documented are useful for further pharmacological investigation to improve health care for a wide range of pathologies.

Osteogenic effects of Phlomis umbrosa via up-regulation of Runx2 in osteoporosis

Phlomis umbrosa Turcz (labiatae) has been suggested to promote bone growth. However, the anti-osteoporotic effects of P. umbrosa have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, the osteogenic effects of P. umbrosa were investigated in an osteoporosis model. ICR female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporosis for 7 weeks. Treatment with 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg P. umbrosa was administrated orally to the OVX mice for 6 weeks. At the end of experiment, the microstructure of the capital femoral epiphysis was investigated. The levels of bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and serum osteocalcin concentration were evaluated. In addition, mineralized Saos-2 osteoblast cells were treated with 0.01, 0.1 and 1 µg/ml P. umbrosa to analyze the expression of osteoblast differentiation-associated factors. Hyperplasia of the growth plate in the femur was recovered by P. umbrosa treatment. BMD and BMC were significantly increased in P. umbrosa-treated femurs. Serum calcium concentration was increased following P. umbrosa treatment. In addition, the ratio of mineralization was markedly increased in P. umbrosa-treated differentiated osteoblasts along with increases in Runx2 levels. P. umbrosa conferred its osteogenic effects by upregulating Runx2 in osteoporosis. P. umbrosa may be a potential therapeutic material for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Chemical and genetic characterization of Phlomis species and wild hybrids in Crete

The genus Phlomis is represented in the island of Crete (Greece, Eastern Mediterranean) by three species Phlomis cretica C. Presl., Phlomis fruticosa L., the island endemic Phlomis lanata Willd. and three hybrids Phlomis x cytherea Rech.f. (P. cretica x P. fruticosa), Phlomis x commixta Rech.f. (P. cretica x P. lanata) and Phlomis x sieberi Vierh. (P. fruticosa x P. lanata). This work describes (a) the profile of hybrids and parental species concerning their volatile compounds, (b) the suitability of ribosomal nuclear (ITS region), chloroplast (trnH-psbA), and AFLP markers to identify hybrids and (c) their competence to characterize the different chemotypes of both hybrids and their parental species. The cluster analysis and PCA constructed from chemical data (volatile oils) suggest that there are three groups of taxa. Group IA includes P. cretica and P. fruticosa, group IB includes P. x cytherea, whereas group II consists of P. x commixta, P. x sieberi and P. lanata. Volatile compounds detected only in the hybrids P. x sieberi and P. x commixta correspond to the 3% of the total compounds, value that is much higher in P. x cytherea (21%). Neighbor-joining, statistical parsimony analysis and the observations drawn from ribotypes spectrum of ITS markers divided Phlomis species in two groups, P. lanata and the complex P. cretica/P. fruticosa. In contrast to the ITS region, the plastid DNA marker follows a geographically related pattern. Neighbor-Net, PCA and Bayesian assignment analysis performed for AFLP markers separated the genotypes into three groups corresponding to populations of P. cretica, P. fruticosa, and P. lanata, respectively, while populations of P. x commixta, P. x cytherea, and P. x sieberi presented admixed ancestry. Most of the P. x cytherea samples were identified as F1 hybrids by Bayesian assignment test, while those of P. x commixta and P. x sieberi were identified as F2 hybrids. Overall, high chemical differentiation is revealed in one of the three hybrids, which is likely related with niche variation. Moreover, molecular markers show potential to identify Phlomis taxa.

Inhibitory potential of some Romanian medicinal plants against enzymes linked to neurodegenerative diseases and their antioxidant activity

CONTEXT

Eryngium planum, Geum urbanum and Cnicus benedictus plants are an endemic botanical from the Romanian used in folk medicine.

OBJECTIVE

The extracts from three Romanian medicinal plants were investigated for their possible neuroprotective potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Within this study, in vitro neuroprotective activity of the extracts of E. planum, G. urbanum, and C. benedictus plants were investigated via inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and tyrosinase (TYR). Total content of phenolics, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, high-performance liquid chromatography profile of the main phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were also determined.

RESULTS

Among the tested extracts, the best inhibition of AChE (88.76 ± 5.2%) and TYR (88.5 ± 5.2%) was caused by C. benedictus ethanol (EtOH) extract. The G. urbanum extracts exerted remarkable scavenging effect against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (IC50, 7.8 ± 0.5 μg/mL aqueous extract, and IC50, 1.3 ± 0.1 μg/mL EtOH extract, respectively) and reducing power, whereas the EtOH extract of C. benedictus showed high scavenging activity (IC50, 0.609 ± 0.04 mg/mL), also.

CONCLUSION

According to our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates in vitro neuroprotective effects of E. planum, G. urbanum and C. benedictus.

T cell regulation by Phlomis lanata protein extracts in mice

CONTEXT

Phytopharmacology is a complex but very promising research area. The different plant parts and extraction methods may result in opposed effects. Phlomis species have been reported for both anti-inflammatory and tonic properties.

OBJECTIVE

The effect of Phlomis lanata Willd. (Lamiaceae) protein extracts on immune cell reactivity was studied in the experimental mouse model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Protein extracts from P. lanata aerial parts were fractionated by Q-sepharose ion-exchange chromatography and applied to whole spleen cells or T-cell subsets at 5 μg/ml. Cell growth and cytokine production were evaluated after 4 and 2 d of culture using (3)H-thymidine-uptake and ELISA techniques, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the protein fractions tested, column wash proteins (W1) and the fraction eluted using 600 mM NaCl (F6) reduced by 76% and increased by 78% spleen cell proliferation, respectively. W1 suppressed proliferation of effector T-cells, but stimulated the growth of suppressor/regulatory cells by 62-148%. Although W1 stimulated IL-2 and IL-10 production from total spleen cells, it significantly increased IL-10 (50%) and reduced IL-2 (30-50%) production from T-cells, while TNF-α release was enhanced in CD25(+)CD4(+) by 92% and reduced by 50% in CD25(+)CD8(+) cells. F6 stimulated whole spleen cell growth, reduced proliferation of CD8(+) and CD25(+) cells by approximately 50%, while decreasing by 60-80% TNF-α production from CD25(-) and CD25(+)CD8(+) cells.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The suppressive activity of W1 could be attributed to IL-10 and TNF-α, while the stimulatory effect of F6 could be attributed to the inhibition of T-regulatory cells. In the same plant, coexisting protein fractions induce both immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive activities.

Phenolic composition, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of Eryngium bornmuelleri leaf

Eryngium bornmuelleri Nab. (Tusî) is an endemic botanical from the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey traditionally used for preparation of herbal tea. Within this study, phenolic composition, antioxidant capacities and inhibitory activities towards selected digestive enzymes of E. bornmuelleri leaf were investigated. Sequential extracts, obtained by extraction of plant tissue by ethanol, acetone and water exhibited pronounced antioxidant capacities and in a dose-dependent manner suppressed the metabolic syndrome related enzymes: α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. All extracts contained high levels of phenolic compounds. Flavonoid glycosides were the main phytochemicals detected, with rutin as the major compound (70% of total phenolics). Chlorogenic, hydroxybenzoic and caftaric acids as well as traces of caffeic, ferulic and rosmarinic acids were also detected. Correlation analysis indicated that phenolic compounds were the major sources of the enzyme-inhibitory activities. This study suggests that E. bornmuelleri leaf extracts can modulate the metabolism of sugars and fats through inhibition of the relevant digestive enzymes.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Phlomis purpurea L. and Phlomis lychnitis L. in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Different species from genus Phlomis, frequently native from the the eastern Mediterranean zone, have been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory remedy. Among other constituents, they contain polyphenols that show antioxidant properties, which are interesting for the treatment of inflammatory pathologies associated with oxidative stress in humans, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the intestinal anti-inflammatoy effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Phlomis lychnitis and P. purpurea in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis, a well characterized experimental model with some resemblance to human IBD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hydroalcoholic extracts of both plants were characterized by determining their polyphenolic content and then assayed in the TNBS model of rat colitis. For this purpose, female Wistar rats were assigned to seven groups (n=10): healthy control, untreated TNBS-colitis and five TNBS- colitis groups treated with Phlomis lychnitis (10 and 20mg/kg), P. purpurea (10 and 25mg/kg) and sulphasalazine (200mg/kg), as a positive control. Treatments started the same day of TNBS colitis induction, and rats were sacrificed one week later. Colonic inflammation was evaluated both histologically and biochemically.

RESULTS

The histological (macroscopic and microscopic) analysis of colonic samples revealed that both extracts showed an anti-inflammatory effect, which was confirmed biochemically by a decreased colonic MPO activity, a maker of neutrophil infiltration, an increased colonic glutathione content, which counteracts the oxidative status associated with the inflammatory process, and a down-regulated iNOS expression. However, only the extract of P. purpurea reduced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-17, the chemokines CINC-1 and MCP-1, as well as the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, ameliorating the altered immune response associated with the colonic inflammation. Furthermore, both P. lychnitis and P. purpurea extracts were able to significantly increase the expression of markers of epithelial integrity such as MUC-2, MUC-3 and villin, thus revealing an improvement in the altered colonic permeability that characterizes colonic inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Both extracts showed intestinal anti-inflammatory activity in the TNBS model of rat colitis, thus confirming their traditional use in digestive inflammatory complaints. In addition to their antioxidant properties, other mechanisms can contribute to this beneficial effect, like an improvement in the intestine epithelial barrier and a downregulation of the immune response.

Phenolic constituents of the Chilean herbal tea Fabiana imbricata R. et P

"Pichi" or "pichi romero" (Fabiana imbricata R. et. P., Solanaceae) is a Chilean plant used as a tea in the Andean regions of Chile and Argentina. A very simple and direct method was developed for the qualitative analysis of polyphenols in the tea by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The phenolic constituents identified in the teas were chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid), p-hydroxyacetophenone, scopoletin and quercetin derivatives. The glycosides were mainly glucosides from p-hydroxyacetophenone and scopoletin while di- and tri-glycosides from quercetin were the main flavonoids. The content of the main phenolic compounds in the teas (g/100 g lyophilized infusion) was 0.8-1.9 % for scopoletin, 0.4-6.2 % for p-hydroxyacetophenone and 2.1-4.3 % for rutin, respectively. The health-promoting properties reported for this herbal tea can be associated with the presence of several phenolics with known antioxidant, diuretic and antiinflammatory activity.

Anti-proliferative effect of Melissa officinalis on human colon cancer cell line

Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae) is consumed as a traditional herbal tea in the Mediterranean region. The cytotoxic effect of the 50% ethanolic and aqueous extract, determined by the MTT and NR assays, was evaluated in vitro on Human Colon Cancer Cell Line (HCT-116), using Triton 10% as positive control. The 50% ethanolic extract showed significant differences after 72 h of treatment, reducing cell proliferation to values close to 40%, even the lowest dose tested (5 μg/ml). In the MTT assay, the same extract caused the lowest cell viability with 13% at a concentration of 1,000 μg/ml after 72 h of treatment, being a value lower than Triton 10%. The antioxidant activity was also confirmed evaluating the capacity of the extracts to scavenge ABTS and DPPH radicals, and IC(50) values were highly correlated with the total phenolic and flavonoid content. Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of an anti-proliferative compound, rosmarinic acid. Its structural elucidation was performed by HPLC/DAD/ESI/MS analysis. High dose of rosmarinic acid (1,000 μg/ml) was clearly cytotoxic against HCT-116 cells, with a significant decrease in cell number since the earliest time point (24 h).