Saniculoside N from Sanicula europaea L

VOLKSMED Database: A Source for Forgotten Wound Healing Plants in Austrian Folk Medicine

The global increase in the incidence of wounds is concerning and fuels the search for new treatment options. The use of traditional medicinal plants in wound healing represents an appreciated available therapeutic possibility. This work introduces the VOLKSMED database, which contains plants and other materials used in Austrian folk medicine, either as monographs or mixtures. This work focuses on the monographs of the database. Concerning wound healing, Hypericum sp., Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis, Plantago sp., and Malva sp. are the most commonly used plants. The focus of this paper is set on selected lesser-known plants (Abies alba, Anthyllis vulneraria, Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., Larix decidua, Picea abies, Sambucus sp., Sanicula europaea) and their status quo in literature concerning wound healing. A systematic search using the databases SciFinder, SCOPUS, and PubMed yielded substantial evidence for the wound healing potential of Brassica sp., Gentiana sp., the Pinaceae A. abies, L. decidua, and P. abies, as well as Sambucus nigra. In vivo and clinical studies substantiate their use in Austrian folk medicine. According to the literature, especially A. vulneraria, Sambucus racemosa, and S. europaea would be worth investigating in-depth since data concerning their wound healing effects - even though scarce - are convincing. In conclusion, the VOLKSMED database contains promising opportunities for further treatment options in the field of wound healing. Future research should consider the listed plants to support their traditional use in Austrian folk medicine and possibly promote the implementation of old knowledge in modern medicine.

Application of Rosmarinic Acid with Its Derivatives in the Treatment of Microbial Pathogens

The emergence of the antimicrobial resistance phenomena on and the harmful consequences of the use of antibiotics motivate the necessity of innovative antimicrobial therapies, while natural substances are considered a promising alternative. Rosmarin is an original plant compound listed among the hydroxycinnamic acids. This substance has been widely used to fight microbial pathology and chronic infections from microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses. Also, various derivatives of rosmarinic acid, such as the propyl ester of rosmarinic acid, rosmarinic acid methyl ester or the hexyl ester of rosmarinic acid, have been synthesized chemically, which have been isolated as natural antimicrobial agents. Rosmarinic acid and its derivatives were combined with antibiotics to obtain a synergistic effect. This review reports on the antimicrobial effects of rosmarinic acid and its associated derivatives, both in their free form and in combination with other microbial pathogens, and mechanisms of action.

A Comprehensive Review of Rosmarinic Acid: From Phytochemistry to Pharmacology and Its New Insight

Polyphenolic acids are the widely occurring natural products in almost each herbal plant, among which rosmarinic acid (RA, C18H16O8) is well-known, and is present in over 160 species belonging to many families, especially the Lamiaceae. Aside from this herbal ingredient, dozens of its natural derivatives have also been isolated and characterized from many natural plants. In recent years, with the increasing focus on the natural products as alternative treatments, a large number of pharmacological studies have been carried out to demonstrate the various biological activities of RA such as anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-diabetes, anti-virus, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, hepatoprotection, etc. In addition, investigations concerning its biosynthesis, extraction, analysis, clinical applications, and pharmacokinetics have also been performed. Although many achievements have been made in various research aspects, there still exist some problems or issues to be answered, especially its toxicity and bioavailability. Thus, we hope that in the case of natural products, the present review can not only provide a comprehensive understanding on RA covering its miscellaneous research fields, but also highlight some of the present issues and future perspectives worth investigating later, in order to help us utilize this polyphenolic acid more efficiently, widely, and safely.

Sesquiterpene and norsesquiterpene derivatives from Sanicula lamelligera and their biological evaluation

Fourteen sesquiterpene and norsesquiterpene derivatives, comprising six different carbon skeletons, were isolated from Sanicula lamelligera. Saniculamoid A1 (1a) is an oxidation product of saniculamoid A (1), created by the transition of a formyl group to a carboxylic acid group after a period of storage in air. The known compounds 5-14 were identified in Sanicula plants for the first time. The compounds were evaluated for their anti-HIV-1, cytostatic, and nitric-oxide-production-inhibiting activities using in vitro cellular assays. The results showed that 1,5-naphthalenediol inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 28.1 μM and was active toward five cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the 31.1-41.6 μM range.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of (+)- and (-)-Butyl ester of rosmarinic acid

An efficient method for the synthesis of the natural product (+)-(R)-butyl ester of rosmarinic acid (+)-(R)-1 and its enantiomer ( - )-(S)-1 has been developed by chemical resolution of its phenyl lactic acid precursors 4 with ( - )-menthol. Their antioxidative and anti-tumor activities were evaluated.

Flavonoid glycosides and methylinositol fromEbenus haussknechtii

Two flavonoid glycosides (compounds 1 and 3) of which one is reported for the first time and a methylinositol (compound 2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Ebenus haussknechtii (Leguminosae). The structures were established as quercetin-7-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 --> 6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside] (1), morin-3-O-[4-[5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoyl]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 --> 6)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl]-7-4'-di-O-methyleter (3), and methylinositol (2) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic means. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts have also been examined.

Hydrocotylosides I-VII, new oleanane saponins from hydrocotylesibthorpioides

Seven new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, hydrocotylosides I-VII (1-7), and one known saponin, udosaponin B (8), were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole plants of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Oleanane saponins from Sanicula elata var. chinensis

Eleven new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, saniculasaponins I-XI (1-11), and a known saponin, sandrosaponin IX (12), were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole plants of Sanicula elataHam. var. chinensis Makino. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Antiviral potency of mistletoe (Viscum album ssp. album) extracts against human parainfluenza virus type 2 in Vero cells

Various extracts from the leaves of mistletoe (Viscum album L. ssp. album) were investigated for their antiviral activity on human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV-2) growth in Vero cells. Plant extracts were prepared using distilled water, 50% ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform and acetone. The 50% effective dose (ED(50)) of aqueous extract for HPIV-2 replication was 0.53 +/- 0.12 micro g/mL, and the antiviral index (AI), which was based on the ratio of the 50% inhibitory concentration (CD(50)) for host cell viability to the ED(50) for parainfluenza virus replication, was 10.05. The aqueous extract was found to be the most selective inhibitor. Furthermore, the aqueous extract at a concentration of 1 micro g/mL was found to inhibit HPIV-2 replication and the virus production was suppressed to more than 99% without any toxic effect on host cells. The chloroform extract was also found to be moderately active. In an effort to further analyse the mechanism of antiviral activity, the effectiveness of the aqueous extract on different steps of virus replication was examined. The antiviral activity could neither be attributed to the direct inactivation of the HPIV-2 nor to the inhibition of adsorption to Vero cells. The active aqueous extract has shown a dose-dependent antiviral activity on virus replication.

HIV-1 integrase inhibitory substances from Coleus parvifolius

For the purpose of discovering anti-HIV-1 agents from natural sources, water and EtOH extracts of 50 Thai plants were screened for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 integrase (IN), an enzyme essential for viral replication. Of these plants, an EtOH extract of Coleus parvifolius Benth. (aerial parts) showed potent activity against HIV-1 IN with an IC50 value of 9.2 microg/mL. From this extract, 11 compounds were isolated and identified as luteolin 5-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), luteolin (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether (3), luteolin 5-O-beta-d-glucuronide (4), 5-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-luteolin 7-methyl ether (5), rosmarinic acid (6), rosmarinic acid methyl ester (7), daucosterol (8), a mixture of alpha- and beta-amyrin (9, 10) and phytol (11). Of these compounds, rosmarinic acid methyl ester (7), rosmarinic acid (6), luteolin (2) and luteolin 7-methyl ether (3) exhibited inhibitory activities against HIV-1 IN with IC50 values of 3.1, 5.0, 11.0 and 11.0 microM, respectively. Among rosmarinic acid derivatives, the HIV-1 IN inhibitory activity increased in turn for a dimer (IC50 = 5.0 microM), a trimer (IC50 = 1.4 microM), and a tetramer (IC50 = 1.0 microM).

A new triterpene saponin from Pittosporum viridiflorum from the Madagascar rainforest

A novel triterpenoid saponin, pittoviridoside (1), which possesses an unusual 2,3,4-trisubstituted glycosidic linkage, has been isolated from Pittosporum viridiflorum using the engineered yeast strains 1138, 1140, 1353, and Sc-7 for bioactivity-guided fractionation. The structure of this compound was determined to be 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)]-[alpha-D-arabinopyranosyl(1-->3)],[alpha-l-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-21-angeloyl-22-senecioylolean-12-en-3beta,15alpha,16alpha,21beta,22alpha,28-hexol by spectral, chemical, and GC analyses. This compound showed weak cytotoxicity against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line.

Antiviral activity of Sanicula europaea L. extracts on multiplication of human parainfluenza virus type 2

The antiviral activity of Sanicula europaea L. extracts against human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV-2) was examined. The extract prepared from the leaves of the plant and a fraction separated from the crude extract with gel filtration chromatography were found to inhibit HPIV-2 replication without any toxic effect on Vero cells. The acidic fraction obtained from the crude extract of S. europaea leaves was found to be the most active fraction with plaque inhibition assay at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Unfortunately, antiviral activity was not detected in the molecules purified from the crude ethanol extract of Sanicula leaves.

Free radical scavengers from Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) and Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae)

The water-soluble extract of Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae) and Mutisia friesiana (Asteraceae) showed radical scavenging activity in the DPPH decoloration assay. Bioassay-guided isolation led to caffeic acid derivatives and flavonoids as the main active compounds of both species. After hydrolysis, caffeic acid and quercetin proved to be the bioactive principles of both plants.