Japonica root bark and pullulan for skin wound healing

Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (UD) has widely been used in Korean traditional medicine for the treatment of various types of diseases including inflammation and skin wounds. The UD root bark powders possess gelling activity with an excellent capacity for absorbing water. This distinct property could make the UD root bark powders to be a great material for manufacturing a gel film specifically for the healing of large and highly exudating wounds (e.g., pressure sores and diabetic ulcers). In this research, we separated the UD root bark powder into 4 different samples based on their sizes and then tested their water absorption capacity and flowability. Based on these results, 75-150 μm sized and below 75 μm sized samples of UD root bark powders were chosen, and UD gel films were prepared. The UD gel films showed good thermal stability and mechanically improved properties compared with pullulan only gel film with excellent swelling capacity and favorable skin adhesiveness. Further, in the animal studies with the skin wound mice model, the UD gel films exhibited significant therapeutic effects on accelerating wound closure and dermal regeneration. Overall, this study demonstrated the applicability of UD root bark powders for hydrogel wound dressing materials, and the potential of UD gel films to be superior wound dressings to currently available ones.

Anti-inflammatory alkaloids from the root bark of Hernandia nymphaeifolia

Four undescribed alkaloids, 7-ethoxy-6-methoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, N-formylhernagine, and 5,6-dihydroxy-N-methylphthalimide, were obtained from the root bark of Hernanadia nymphaeifolia, along with fourteen known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. 7,8-Dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, N-formylhernagine, 5,6-dihydroxy-N-methylphthalimide, oxohernagine, hernandonine, and N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine inhibited the superoxide anion (O₂^-) production (IC₅₀ values ≤ 6.23 μg/mL) by neutrophils stimulated with formyl-L-methionyl-L-leuckyl-L-phenyl-alanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). Furthermore, 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, N-formylhernagine, 5,6-dihydroxy-N-methylphthalimide, oxohernagine, and N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC₅₀ values ≤ 7.41 μg/mL. In addition, 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-methylisoquinolin-1(2H)-one, N-formylhernagine, oxohernagine, and N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine showed potent inhibition with IC₅₀ values ≤ 28.55 μM, against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) generation.

Moutan)

Tree peonies (Paeonia Sect. Moutan) are well-known for their medicinal and ornamental uses but most wild species in the Moutan section are endangered. The comprehensive metabolomics evaluation of tree peonies is essential to distinguish different species and to identify undescribed compounds, thereby elucidating the diversity of their metabolites and discovering potential active ingredients. In this study, the metabolome variations of root barks of nine species and their varieties collected from one botanical garden after years of localization were systematically investigated. A digital database of specialized metabolites was established to improve feature identification or annotation and various bio- and cheminformatics tools were employed to analyse and visualize the profiled metabolomic data. As a result, 384 compounds were identified or annotated, including various monoterpene glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids and steroids, tannins, stilbenes and others. All samples were clearly divided into two subsections: Vaginatae and Delavayanae. The distribution and abundance of metabolites were also analysed and discussed in order to find potential biomarkers in different wild tree peonies.

root bark

OBJECTIVE

To assess the in-vitro antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity of orally administered different extracts (Hydro-alcoholic, methanolic, ethyl acetate and hexane) of Rauvolfia tetraphylla (R. tetraphylla) root bark in Carrageenan induced acute inflammation in rats.

METHODS

In-vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated for extracts against four Gram positive and four Gram negative bacteria by using cylinder plate assay. Hydro-alcoholic extract (70% v/v ethanol) at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg doses and methanolic, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg were tested for anti-inflammatory activity in Carrageenan induced rat paw oedema model and paw thickness was measured every one hour up to 6 hrs.

RESULTS

All extracts of R. tetraphylla root bark showed good zone of inhibition against tested bacterial strains. In Carrageenan induced inflammation model, hydro-alcoholic and methanolic extract of R. tetraphylla root bark at three different doses produced significant (P<0.001) reduction when compared to vehicle treated control group and hexane, ethyl acetate extracts.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study extracts of R. tetraphylla root bark shows good in-vitro antibacterial activity and in-vivo anti-inflammatory activity in rats.