Paracetamol (acetaminophen) hepatotoxicity increases in the presence of an added herbal compound

Hepatotoxicity from paracetamol/acetaminophen has occasionally been reported at lower than expected doses. As herbal preparations may interact with pharmaceutical drugs the following in vitro study was undertaken to determine whether the toxic effects of paracetamol on liver cell growth in culture would be exacerbated by the addition of psoralen, a furanocoumarin compound that is present in Psoralea corylifolia, a common Chinese herb. The following study utilising a liver carcinoma cell line (HepG2) showed that Psoralea corylifolia was significantly toxic from 0.3 mg/ml to 5 mg/ml (p < 0.05), whereas paracetamol was not toxic below 50 mM (p = 0.0026). Interactions between previously non-toxic levels of 0.1 mg/ml of Psoralea corylifolia and increasing concentrations of paracetamol (0-50 mM), however, were observed, with a significant increase in toxicity compared to paracetamol alone (30% cell death vs. 72% cell death with Psoralea corylifolia). A significant synergistic interaction was observed at 40 mM paracetamol with 0.1 mg/ml of Psoralea (p = 0.038). This study has, therefore, shown significantly increased hepatotoxicity in cell cultures exposed to paracetamol when herbal compounds containing furanocoumarins were added. Fulminant acute liver failure occurring after the ingestion of low doses of paracetamol may not, therefore, always be due to an occult idiosyncratic response to paracetamol, but instead possibly to the combined effects of paracetamol and herbal preparations. Given the widespread use of both paracetamol and herbal preparations this possibility should be considered in cases of unexplained hepatic necrosis and liver failure that present for medicolegal investigation.

The ethanol extraction of prepared Psoralea corylifolia induces apoptosis and autophagy and alteres genes expression assayed by cDNA microarray in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells

Prostate cancer is the most common male reproductive system cancer. The prevalence of prostate cancer in Europe and the United States is higher than that in the Asian region. However, the treatment of prostate cancer remains unsatisfactory. Psoralea corylifolia has been used to cure this disease as Chinese medicine in the Asian region. In this study, we analyzed the components of ethanol extraction of unprepared and prepared P. corylifolia by HPLC. Psoralen and isopsoralen content from the prepared P. corylifolia is twofold higher than that from unprepared, so we use the prepared extraction in this study. However, the effects of the ethanol extraction of P. corylifolia (PCE) on PC-3 human prostate cancer cells remain unclear. PC-3 cells were treated with PCE for different time periods and cells were examined for cell morphological change and total viable cells by using contrast phase microscopy and flow cytometer, respectively. Results indicated that PCE induced cell morphological changes and cytotoxic effect in PC-3 cells in dose-dependent manners. PCE induced chromatin condensation of PC-3 cells dose-dependently. PCE also induced apoptosis and autophagy in PC-3 by western blotting and acridine orange (AO) staining, respectively. Furthermore, a complementary DNA microarray analysis demonstrated that PCE treatment led to 944 genes upregulation and 872 genes downregulation. For example, the DNA damage-associated gene DNA-damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT 3) had a 62.1-fold upregulation and CDK1 2.68-fold downregulation. The differential genes were classified according to the Gene Ontology. Furthermore, GeneGo software was used for the key genes involved and their possible interaction pathways. Those genes were affected by P. corylifolia, which provided information for the understanding of the antiprostate cancer mechanism at the genetic level and provide additional targets for the treatments of human prostate cancer.

In vitro enhancement of psoralen as an important anticancer compound in Psoralea corylifolia through precursor feeding

CONTEXT

Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabacese) is rich source of bioactive compounds, which endows the plant with immense value for its use in pharmaceuticals, health, and body-care products.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was designed (i) for the determination of psoralen from callus derived from different plant parts, and (ii) for the enhancement of psoralen in in vitro condition with the treatment of various psoralen pathway precursors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

B5 media were employed for raising the cultures from different plant parts such as leaf, node, root, and green seeds. Cotyledons' calluses were derived from cotyledon of green seeds that were elicited on MS + 10 µM BA + 5 µM IBA medium supplemented at 0.1, 1, 2.5, 5, 25, and 50 mg/L of various psoralen pathway precursors such as umbelliferone, cinnamic acid, and NADPH. The method for extraction of psoralen was modified from the Singh method and the content of psoralen was measured using HPLC.

RESULTS

HPLC analysis of callus derived from different parts of P. corylifolia revealed that a maximum of psoralen (2601.8 µg/g fresh wt.) was recorded in cotyledons' callus. Cotyledonary callus was chosen for the enhancement of psoralens because of higher amount of psoralen in it. In vitro evaluation showed that all the precursors enhanced the psoralen amount dramatically so that the optimum amount of psoralen (2518.8 µg/g fresh wt.) was obtained at 2.5 mg/L cinnamic acid.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results obtained indicate that cinnamic acid is one of the important precursors of psoralen pathway that induced a maximum amount of psoralen with in vitro conditions.

In vitro isolation, elicitation of psoralen in callus cultures of Psoralea corylifolia and cloning of psoralen synthase gene

Psoralen, an important furanocoumarin occurring abundantly in seeds of Psoralea corylifolia is used as an anticancerous compound against leukemia and other cancer cell lines. Evaluation and isolation of psoralen from the calluses derived from different plant parts, viz. cotyledons, nodes, leaves and roots have been done in the present case for the first time. Amongst all, a maximum of 1934.75 μg/g f.w. of psoralen was recorded in callus derived from cotyledons, followed by 1875.50 and 1465.75 μg/g f.w. of psoralen in node and leaf derived calluses, respectively. Amount of psoralen enhanced further when cotyledonary calluses were exposed to different concentrations of organic elicitors (yeast extract, proline, inositol, casein hydrolyzate (CH), glycine, glutamine and sucrose) and precursors of psoralen (umbelliferone, cinnamic acid and NADPH). Isolation of psoralen was done using methanol as solvent through column chromatography and TLC. FT-IR and NMR further characterized and confirmed the structure of psoralen. In addition, the putative gene, psoralen synthase involved in psoralen synthesis pathway has been isolated, cloned and sequenced which comprised 1237 bp length. BLAST analysis of the gene sequence of psoralen synthase revealed that its nucleotide sequence showed 93% homology with psoralen synthase isolated from Ammi majus. This is the first report of isolation, cloning and characterization of psoralen synthase from Psoralea corylifolia.

[Study on the chemical constituents of Psoralea corylifolia]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents of Psoralea corylifolia.

METHODS

Column chromatography was used in the isolation procedure. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectral data.

RESULTS

Seven compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as isopsoralen (1), psoralen (2), bavachalcone (3), 4", 5"-dehydroisopsoralidin (4), methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (5), psoralidin (6), corylin (7).

CONCLUSION

Compounds 4 and 5 are obtained from Psoralea for the first time.

[Study on the chemical constituents of aerial part of Ligusticum jeholense]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents of the aerial part of Ligusticum jeholense.

METHODS

The constituents were isolated by sillica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.

RESULTS

Seven compounds were separated from the EtOH extracts. Their structures were identified as psoralen (1), beta-sitosterol (2), daucosterol (3), kaempferol-3-O-(2",4"-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-alpha-L-rhamnoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-galactoside (5), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactoside (6), sucrose (7).

CONCLUSION

Compounds 1, 4, 5 and 6 are isolated from the genus for the first time. Compounds 2, 3 and 7 are isolated from the aerial part of the plant for the first time.

Phytoestrogens from Psoralea corylifolia reveal estrogen receptor-subtype selectivity

The seed of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PCL), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been applied as a tonic or an aphrodisiac agent and commonly used as a remedy for bone fracture, osteomalacia and osteoporosis in China. In our study, the estrogen receptor subtype-selective activities of the extracts and compounds derived from PCL were analyzed using the HeLa cell assay. The different fractions including petroleum ether, CH(2)Cl(2) and EtOAc fractions of the EtOH extract of PCL showed significant activity in activating either ERalpha or ERbeta whereas the n-BuOH fraction showed no estrogenic activity. Further chromatographic purification of the active fractions yielded seven compounds including the two coumarins isopsoralen and psoralen, the four flavonoids isobavachalcone, bavachin, corylifol A and neobavaisoflavone, and the meroterpene phenol, bakuchiol. In reporter gene assay, the two coumarins (10(-8)-10(-5)M) acted as ERalpha-selective agonists while the other compounds (10(-9)-10(-6)M) activated both ERalpha and ERbeta. The estrogenic activities of all compounds could be completely suppressed by the pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780, suggesting that the compounds exert their activities through ER. Only psoralen and isopsoralen as ERalpha agonists promoted MCF-7 cell proliferation significantly. Although all the compounds have estrogenic activity, they may exert different biological effects. In conclusion, both ER subtype-selective and nonselective activities in compounds derived from PCL suggested that PCL could be a new source for selective estrogen-receptor modulators.

Ontogenetic changes in foliar features and psoralen content of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. exposed to SO2 stress

Field-grown Psoralea corylifolia plants were exposed to 0.5 ppm and 1.0 ppm concentrations of sulphur dioxide gas and sampled for observation at the pre-flowering, flowering and post-flowering stages of plant ontogeny. One ppm SO2 concentration caused a significant decline in leaf number and leaf area per plant, total leaf dry weight, and the size and amount of midrib vasculature. The density and size of stomata decreased and many stomata were damaged. Interestingly new epidermis developed oversome of the damaged leaf stomata, thus showing a unique defence strategy against SO2 stress through dedifferentiation of the epidermal cells. Decline in the concentrations of leafchlorophylls and carotenoids in treated plants were up to 20% and 29% respectively. Stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 content and net photosynthetic rate lowered byover 52%, 20% and 35%, respectively under the SO2 stress. Concentration of psoralen, a basic linear furanocoumarin known for its use in the treatment of dermal diseases, was highest (5.32%) in seeds and lowest (0.28%) in roots. It was heavily reduced in SO2 treated plants, the maximum decline occurring in seeds (86.70%) and leaves (56.27%). In the roots and shoots of the treated plants, it was low in pre-flowering stage, compared with the control, but showed a recovery during the post-flowering phase of plant growth.

[Chemical constituents of antibacterial activity fraction of Angelica polymorpha]

OBJECTIVE

To study chemical constituents of antibacterial activity fraction of Angelica polymorpha.

METHODS

Compounds were isolated by repeatedly silica gel column chromatography and recrystallization. Their structures were identified by physical and chemical evidences and spectral methods.

RESULTS

Seven compounds were obtained from the antibacterial activity fraction, their structures were elucidated as: bisabolangelone(I), isoimperatorin (II), oxypeucedanine(III), isooxypeucedanine(IV), oxypeucedanin hydrate(V), bergapten(VI), pabulenol(VII).

CONCLUSION

Bisabolangelone(I) is obtained from this plant for the first time. Compound (II)-(VII) belong to linear furanocourmarins.

Separation and determination of psoralen and isopsoralen by microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

The use of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography was proposed to separate psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylitolia L. and its preparations. After conducting a series of optimizations, baseline separation was obtained for the analytes under the optimum conditions [sodium dodecyl sulfate 1.05% (m/v), ethyl acetate 0.96% (v/v), butan-1-ol 0.24% (v/v), 25 mm borate, pH 8.5, applied voltage 17.5 kV and detection at 254 nm]. Regression equations revealed linear relationships (correlation coefficients 0.9997 for psoralen and 0.9999 for isopsoralen) between the peak area of each analyte and the concentration. The limits of detection (defined as a signal-to-noise ratio of about 3) were 0.42 microg/mL for psoralen and 0.32 microg/mL for isopsoralen, respectively. The analytes were successfully determined with recoveries ranging from 95.50 to 102.03%. The method has been successfully applied for the analysis of psoralen and isopsoralen in medical samples. Furthermore, a simple and effective extraction method, with methanol in an ultrasonic water bath for 20 min three times, was used for sample preparation.

Antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extracts and compounds from Treculia obovoidea (Moraceae)

The crude extract from Treculia obovoidea was subjected to purification by repeated chromatography. Eight compounds were isolated from Treculia obovoidea and identified as Psoralen (1), Bergapten (2), 7-methoxycoumarin (3), 7-hydroxycoumarin (4), 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone (5), 4,2',4'-trihydroxy-3-prenylchalcone (6), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid (7) and O-[3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-2H-furan-5-yl) butyl] bergaptol (8). These compounds together with the extract were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (six species), Gram-negative bacteria (12 species) and three Candida species using micro-dilution methods for the determination of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and the minimal microbicidal concentration (MMC). The MIC values obtained with the crude extracts varied from 78.12 to 156.25 microg/ml against 17 (80.95%) of the 21 tested microorganisms. All the isolated compounds showed selective activity. The antimicrobial activity of this plant as well as that of compounds 6 and 8 is being reported for the first time. The obtained results provide promising baseline information for the potential use of these crude extract as well as some of the isolated compounds in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections.

[Effect of roots of Ficus hirta on cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity and active components]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of the roots of F. hirta against the cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity and it's active components.

METHOD

Cocaine hydrochloride was subcutaneously injected to make male ICR mice liver wounded. Male ICR mice were randomly ig administered with the F. hirta decoction. The dose groups are 100, 200, 300 g x kg(-1) herb materials per body weight. Cocaine hydrochloride was subcutaneously injected into the mice after the administration. The serum ALT, AST activity and the activity of CAT in liver homogenate were assayed, and liver change of pathomorphism was evaluated to prove the effect of the F. hirta decoction on cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity. And the activity of psoralean which was separated from the F. hirta decoction by bioassay-guided fractionation, was proofed in the same method.

RESULT

We find that the F. hirta decoction shows a distinct effect on reducing serum transferase. The serum transferase and the content CAT in liver homogenate were dose-related reduced, and the histopathological examination found a significantly change of the liver tissues. And the psoralean, qua the mainly component, shows the same effect.

CONCLUSION

F. hirta has the protective effect against the cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity. Psoralean is the basis.

Studies on the chemical constituents of Psoralea corylifolia L

A new isoflavone, corylinin (1), along with six known compounds, isopsoralen (2), psoralen (3), sophoracoumestan A (4), neobavaisoflavone (5), daidzin (6) and uracil (7), have been isolated from the dried fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L. The structure of 1 was established as 7,4'-dihydroxy-3'-[(E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl]isoflavone on the basis of the spectroscopic methods. Structures of the known compounds were identified by comparison of the literature.

[Comparation of constitutions between raw Psoralea corylifolia L. and processed one]

OBJECTIVE

To study the processing material foundation of Psoralea corylfolia L. and compare the content of psoralen, isopsoralen and microelement between raw Psoralea corylifolia L. and processed one.

METHODS

The content of psoralen, isopsoralen and microelement were obtained by HPLC-gradient elution and ICP-AES.

RESULTS

The content of psoralen, isopsoralen and microelement Mn, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn were raising, but the change of that of microelement Cu was not obvious.

CONCLUSION

The content of effective composition of Psoralea corylifolia L. is raised by Lei-Gong method and the biological activity is improved simultaneously.

[Studies on chemical constituents in rhizome of Elaeagnus bockii I]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents in the rhizome of Elaeagnus bockii.

METHOD

Compounds were isolated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectral analysis.

RESULT

Seven compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of E. bockii, and their structures were identified as angelicin (1), psoralen (2), vanillic acid (3), bakuchiol (4), oleanolic acid (5), ursolic acid (6) and beta-sitosterol (7 ).

CONCLUSION

All these compounds were obtained from E. bockii for the first time.

[Chemical constituents from roots of Ficus hirta]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Ficus hirta.

METHOD

Compounds were isolated by chromatographic techniques on silica gel and HP-20 resin columns. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

RESULT

Ten compounds were identified as beta-sitosterol (1), stigmasterol (2), psoralene (3), 3beta-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one (4), 5-hydroxy-4', 6, 7, 8-tetramethoxy flavone (5), 4', 5, 6, 7, 8-pentamethoxy flavone (6), 4', 5, 7-trihydroxy-flavone (7), 3beta-acetoxy-beta-amyrin (8), 3beta-acetoxy-alpha-amyrin (9) and hesperidin (10).

CONCLUSION

The compounds 4, 5, 6 were obtained from this genus for the first time, and all the compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

[Isolation and structure identification of a new isoflavone from Psoralea corylifolias]

AIM

To study the chemical constituents of the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia L.

METHODS

The constituents were separated and purified by column chromatography with normal phase silica gel and polyamide. Their structures were identified on the basis of physical and spectral data (MS, NMR, HMBC and HMQC).

RESULTS

Six compounds were isolated and identified as psoralen (1), isopsoralen (2), bavachalcone (3), psoralidin (4), daidzin (5) and bavadin (6).

CONCLUSION

Compound 6 is a new compound. Compound 5 was isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Extraction and purification of psoralen from Psoralea corylifolia L]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a method for extracting psoralen from the seed of Psoralea corylifolia L.

METHODS

Crushed seed of Psoralea corylifolia L. was soaked with 50% ethyl alcohol solution, and the leaching solution was filtrated and distilled to remove alcohol. A slurry of the sediment was obtained and dissolved in methyl alcohol (MeOH), followed by treatment with active carbon for decoloration and evaporation of MeOH, resulting in a lamellar crystal after the sediment was kept still overnight. MeOH was applied to dilute the sticky solution, and after filteration, a yellow crystal was obtained, recrystallization of which in MeOH yielded white needle-like crystals. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed to determine the purity of the resultant substance, and UV and H1-NMR applied to identify its chemical structure.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The resultant crystal is confirmed to be pure monomers of psoraren with a yield of 0.147% from the seed (m/m) by this simple extraction method.

Preparative isolation and purification of psoralen and isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Psoralen and isopsoralen were separated from Psoralea corylifolia by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). A two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:4.5:5.5, v/v) was used for HSCCC separation, and yielded, from 100 mg of crude extract, 39.6 mg of psoralen and 50.8 mg of isopsoralen each at over 99% purity as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The identification of psoralen and isopsoralen were performed with 1H NMR and 13C NMR.

An efficient new method for extraction, separation and purification of psoralen and isopsoralen from Fructus Psoraleae by supercritical fluid extraction and high-speed counter-current chromatography

Psoralen and isopsoralen were extracted from Fructus Psoraleae (Psoralea corylitolia L.) by supercritical CO2. The effect of various parameters, i.e., pressure, temperature and sample particle size on yield was investigated with an analytical-scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system to find the optimal conditions. The process was then scaled up by 50 times with a preparative SFE system under the optimized conditions of pressure (26 MPa), temperature (60 degrees C) and a sample particle size of 40-60 mesh. The yield of the preparative SFE was 9.1% and the combined yield of psoralen and isopsoralen was 2.5 mg/g of dry seeds. Psoralen and isopsoralen in the extract were separated and purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:0.7:1:0.8, v/v), and the fractions were analyzed by HPLC, MS, 1HNMR and 13C NMR. The structures of the products were further confirmed by comparison with authentic samples (National Institute of the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, Beijing, China).

A furanocoumarin and polymethoxylated flavonoids from the Yucatec Mayan plant Casimiroa tetrameria

As part of an ongoing study of the medicinal plants of the Yucatec Maya, Casimiroa tetrameria was investigated for its phytochemistry. From an ethyl acetate partition of an ethanol extract of the leaves, eight flavonoids and a furanocoumarin were isolated and characterised as 5,6,2',3',5',6'-hexamethoxyflavone, 5,6,2',3',6'-pentamethoxyflavone and 5-methoxy-8-(3''-hydroxymethyl-but-2''-enyloxy)-psoralen using a combination of 1H, 13C NMR and NOESY spectroscopy.

[Determination of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia L. from different habitats]

OBJECTIVE

To study the psoralen and isopsoralen content in Psoralea corylifolia from different habitats.

METHOD

C18 column was used. Mobile phase was methanol-water (45:55). The detection wavelength was at 245nm and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min.

RESULT

The linearity was obtained over the range of 0.448 to approximately 0.448 microg (r = 0.9999) for psoralen, 0.356 to approximately 0.356 microg = 0.997) for isopsoralen.

CONCLUSION

The contents of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia from different habitats have no obvious difference.

[Studies on extraction and isolation of active constituents from Psoralen corylifolia L. and the antitumor effect of the constituents in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents from Psoralea corylifolia L. and their antitumor activities.

METHODS

The constituents were isolated on silica gel column chromatography and identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. Morphological and MTT assays in vitro were used to explore the inhibiting effect of the active compounds on the proliferation of BGC-823 cancer cell.

RESULTS

Two compounds were isolated from its chloroform extract and identified as psoralen (I) and isopsoralen (II). IC50 of psoralen and isoporalen were 5.82 micrograms/ml and 148.8 micrograms/ml respectively.

CONCLUSION

Compound I and II having antitumor activity against BGC-823 cancer cell were obtained from this plant with the yields of 0.048% and 0.11%.

Chalcones and other constituents of Dorstenia prorepens and Dorstenia zenkeri

The twigs of Dorstenia prorepens furnished the digeranylated chalcone, 5,3'-(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl)-3,4, 2',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone while Dorstenia zenkeri yielded the 3',4'-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyldihydropyrano)-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone and a bichalcone. 4-Hydroxylonchocarpin was found in both plants. D. prorepens also yielded the known compounds: psoralen, bergapten, beta-sitosterol and its D-glucopyranosyl derivative. D. zenkeri yielded p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, dorsmanin A, 4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone and 4,2',4'-trihydroxy-3'-prenylchalcone. Structures of the new compounds were established by UV, IR, MS and 2-D NMR analysis.

Photosensitization and mutation induced in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains by dorstenin, a psoralen analog isolated from Dorstenia bahiensis

Dorstenin, 5-[3-(4,5-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-4-oxo-2-furanyl)-butoxy]-7H-furo[3, 2-g] benzopyran-7-one, is a psoralen analog recently isolated from Dorstenia species (Moraceae). In order to characterize its biological activity, its photosensitizing and mutational properties were measured in wild-type E. coli and S. cerevisiae and also in strains carrying mutations which affect DNA repair. Compared to the high activities of psoralen and bergapten, dorstenin showed lower genotoxic effect.

Bakuchiol: a hepatoprotective compound of Psoralea corylifolia on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in Hep G2 cells

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the H(2)O extract of the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia furnished one hepatoprotective compound, bakuchiol (1), together with two moderately active compounds, bakuchicin (2) and psoralen (3), on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells. The EC(50) values of compounds 1 - 3 are 1.0, 47.0, 50.0 microg/ml, respectively. Silymarin as a positive control showed the EC(50) value with 5.0 microg/ml.

[Extraction technology of Fructus Psoraleae with orthogonal test]

The extraction conditions of Fructus Psoraleae were studied with orthogonal test, taking the contents of psoralen and isopsoralen as indexes and smesh degree, alcohol concentration, alcohol volume, immersion time and immersion times as factors. The results showed the optimal extraction process is pulverizing the herbs into 20 meshes powder, 6 times volume of 55% alcohol immersed three times and two days every time.

[A study on nasal absorption of psoralen and isopsoralen in Psoralea corylifolia L]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the nasal absorption regularities of psoralen and isopsoralen of different concentrations.

METHOD

Building an experimental model of rat in situ nasal recirculation and determining the contents of psoralen and isopsoralen by HPLC.

RESULT

The nasal absorption of psoralen and isopsoralen fitted in with zero order kinetics, getting saturated with the increase of concentration.

CONCLUSION

A suitable concentration is necessary for the preparation of nasal remedies psoralen and isopsoralen.

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography of psoralen and isopsoralen

In this paper, a micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) method to analyze the active components of psoralen and isopsoralen in the Chinese herb Psoralea corylifolia L. was developed. It was found that the optimum separation condition for the analysis of these compounds was a buffer solution which contained phosphate, borate and sodium dodecyl sulfate (pH 9.2). Through optimization of the experimental condition, the two isomers could be baseline-separated and their contents in the methanol-extracted sample were quantitatively analyzed.

Identification of psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, isopimpinellin, and 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin in Pelea anisata H. Mann

5,7-dimethoxycoumarin and isopimpinellin, together with the well-known phototoxic, photo-irritant furanocoumarins psoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen, were isolated and identified from leaves and fruits of Pelea anisata H. Mann, a plant whose fruit are used in the construction of mohikana leis used in parts of the Hawaiian Islands. The presence of phototoxic furanocoumarins would explain the occurrence of photodermatitis in the wearers of the leis.