In vitro and In vivo Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Fumaria parviflora Lam. Embedded in Chitosan Nanoparticles Against Leishmania major

INTRODUCTION

Fumaria has been traditionally used to treat skin damages due to anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the ethanolic extract of Fumaria parviflora Lam. (F. parviflora) against Leishmania major (L. major) using chitosan biopolymer drug delivery system both In vitro and In vivo models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ethanolic extract of F. parviflora was analyzed by HPLC to determine its active ingredients content. The extract was then loaded on chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs). The parasite was treated with various concentrations of the ethanolic extract, CNPs and CNPs loaded with F. parviflora extract (CNPs@ F. parviflora). The size of lesions of treated mice were measured on a weekly basis. The parasite burden was evaluated 8 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

The HPLC analysis showed the presence of Fumaric acid at a high concentration. The percentage of the drug released from CNPs@ F. parviflora within 24 and 72 h were 65% and 90% respectively. The results showed that F. parviflora extract and CNPs@ F. parviflora caused 84% and 96% growth inhibition of L. major promastigotes as revealed by Neubauer chamber counting and MTT test respectively. The IC50 values of F. parviflora extract and CNPs@ F. parviflora were 450 and 68.4 µg/ml respectively. In amastigote assay, the best results showed in CNPs@ F. parviflora that only 2% of macrophages were infected with amastigotes. In vivo experiments for mice treated with F. parviflora and CNPs @ F. parviflora in comparison to control group showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean diameter of the lesions (2.3 and 1.72 mm and 9.91 mm respectively).

CONCLUSION

The ethanolic extract of F. parviflora both as standalone and loaded in CNPs showed promising inhibitory effects against L. major both upon In vitro and In vivo experimentation as well as therapeutic effects for wound healing in infected mice.

Shahatra (F.parviflora Lam)- a comprehensive review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

F.parviflora Lam. is a plant widely used in traditional medicine systems like Unani, Ayurveda, and folk medicines in Iraq and Turkey. It is known as Shahatraj in Arabic, which is derived from Shahatra and called Shajaratuddam. In the ancient Unani system, it is called Shajaratuddam. The term derived from Sajarat means tree, and Dam means blood since it has a potent blood purifier property.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review focused on comprehensive, updated information on the F.parviflora Lam. about the traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacology and provided insights into potential opportunities for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The classical literature of Shahatra for its temperament (Mizaj), medicinal properties and traditional therapeutic uses were gathered from nearly 15 classical Unani books, eight local and foreign books on ethnomedicines and ethnobotany in English. The information of pharmacognosy, phytochemical and pharmacological activities of F.parviflora Lam was collected by browsing the Internet (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley online library, Google Scholar, ResearchGate). The relevant primary sources were probed, analysed, and included in this review. The keywords used to browse were F.parviflora Lam, shahatra, pitpapda, and fine fumitory. Relevant Sources were gathered up to April 2021, and the chemical structures were drawn using Chemsketch software. The species name was checked with http://www.theplantlist.org ("F.parviflora Lam. - The Plant List," n.d.). The materials published in both Urdu and English were included in the review.

RESULTS

F.parviflora Lam was found to possess an excess of bioactive compounds and broad pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, antiprotozoal activity, anthelmintic activity, antidiarrheal, antispasmodic and bronchodilator activities, antidiabetic activity, hepatoprotective activity, anticancer activity (cytotoxicity)of nanoparticle, antipruritic activity, dermatological effect, reproductive effect, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity.

CONCLUSION

In this review, the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of F.parviflora were reviewed. It showed a broad scope of application, and its benefits had been extended far beyond the initial conventional uses of its parts. It consists of numerous chemical constituents and reported various pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, antidiabetic activity, hepatoprotective activity, anticancer activity etc. Though it is widely studied using several in-vitro and in-vivo models and tested clinically for skin diseases, several gaps and research priorities have been identified that need to be addressed in the future, such as active ingredients and their mechanism of action applications in immunomodulation and hepatic diseases.

Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction by Fumaria officinalis extracts in leukemia and multiple myeloma cell lines

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fumaria officinalis (Fumariaceae) is recorded in the Kurdish ethnobotany for various health problems.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, the cytotoxic activity of F. officinalis extracts on two leukemia and nine multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic and ferroptotic activity were examined by resazurin reduction assay. Flow cytometry, immunoblotting assay and fluorescence microscopy were used to measure cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss integrity of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and autophagy. LC-ESI/MS was used to identify chemical constituents present in F. officinalis.

RESULTS

Chloroform (CF) and ethyl acetate (EF) fractions showed drastic cytotoxic effect on CCRF-CEM and CEM/ADR 5000 cells. NCI-H929 cell line exhibited higher sensitivity against CF, while EF demonstrated its higher cytotoxicity on OPM-2 cells with IC₅₀ value 14.80 ± 1.70 and 28.13 ± 1.38 μg/mL respectively. Flow cytometric and morphological studies confirmed that CF and EF induced apoptosis in NCI-H929 cells by loss of MMP, generation of ROS and obvious morphological variations. In DNA histograms, up to 50% of the cells were accumulated by CF and 44% by EF in the sub-G0/G1 phase following 72 h treatment. EF induced autophagic cell death, while CF stimulated iron-dependent cell death. Moreover, two isoquinoline alkaloids and four flavonoids were identified in the active fractions.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the cytotoxicity of F. officinalis extracts in MM cell lines. CF and EF fractions inhibited MM cell proliferation through various modes of actions.

Effect of dry medicinal plants (wormwood, chamomile, fumitory and mallow) on in vitro ruminal antioxidant capacity and fermentation patterns of sheep

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dry medicinal plants (wormwood, chamomile, fumitory and mallow) and dietary substrates containing a mix of the plants on the end products of in vitro ruminal and intestinal fermentation, rumen protozoan population and ruminal antioxidant capacity of sheep. The experiment consisted of fermentations with the four plants used individually as the sole substrate and fermentation of a mix of medicinal plants (Plants): meadow hay:barley grain (MH:B), 700/300 w/w and Plants:MH:B, 100/600/300 w/w/w. The experiment was conducted using the in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT) with 35 ml of buffered inocula and approximately 250 mg (DM basis) of substrate incubated for 24 hr at 39°C in anaerobic conditions. Quantitative analyses of the bioactive compounds by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry in Plants identified three main groups: flavonoids (22 mg/g DM), phenolic acids (15 mg/g DM) and alkaloids (3 mg/g DM). The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the plant extracts and rumen fluid was analysed using a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The values of total and individual short-chain fatty acids, acetate:propionate ratio, pH and total gas production were significantly affected by the single plant substrates and inocula (p < .001). Apart from these parameters, the values of ammonia N, methane production and total gas produced were decreased in Plants:MH:B in comparison with MH:B (p < .001). A positive correlation was recorded between total polyphenols content and TAC of plant extracts (R2  = .778, p < .001). The counts of the total ciliate protozoan population in rumen fluid after 24 hr of fermentation were not significantly different (p > .05). Results suggest that the dietary substrate containing the medicinal plant mix possessed strong ruminal antioxidant capacity, had the potential to reduce methane emission and ammonia concentration and caused desirable changes in the gastrointestinal ecosystem.

Report: Assessment of Fumaria indica, Dicliptera bupleuroides and Curcuma zedoaria for their antimicrobial and hemolytic effects

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the antibacterial, antifungal and hemolytic activities of organic and aqueous fractions of Fumaria indica, Dicliptera bupleuroides and Curcuma zedoaria. The methanolic extracts of the plants were dissolved in the water (distilled) separately and then partitioned with the n-hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc and n-BuOH sequentially. Antibacterial activity was checked against Escherichia coli, Pasturella multocida, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus by the disc diffusion method using streptomycin sulphate, a standard antibiotic, as positive control. Antifungal activity was studied against four fungi i.e. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Ganoderma lucidum and Alternaria alternata by the disc diffusion method using fluconazole, a standard antifungal drug, as positive control. It was revealed that aqueous fraction of F. indica showed very good antibacterial activity against P. multocida with zone of inhibition 26mm and MIC of 98μg/mL. Its CHCl3 and n-BuOH fractions also displayed good results. Its CHCl3 fraction showed good antifungal activity against G. lucidum with zone of inhibition 24mm and MIC of 115μg/mL. Other polar fractions of F. indica showed good activity against somefungal strains. The CHCl3 and EtOAc fractions of D. bupleuroides displayed good antibacterial activity against some bacterial strains. Its EtOAc fraction showed good antifungal activity only against G. lucidum. The CHCl₃ fraction of C. zedoaria showed good activity against all studied bacterial strains, while its EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions displayed good results against some bacterial strains. None of the fractions of C. zedoaria displayed antifungal activity against the under test strains. All the studied fractions of three plants showed very less toxicity except n-hexane fraction of D. bupleuroides which showed 79% toxicity.

Evaluation of anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic activity of Euphorbia nivulia in PTZ-induced kindling model of epilepsy in mice

Epilepsy remains a major chronic neurological disorder with significantly higher refractory seizure rate. Based on the folk medicine literature, we explored the anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic activity of aqueous ethanolic extracts of Fumaria indica, Euphorbia lactea, Euphorbia helioscopia, Neurada procumbens, and Euphorbia nivulia. The acute anticonvulsant activity of the extracts was determined at different concentrations in different groups of Swiss albino mice. Among all the materials tested, the ethanolic extracts of Euphorbia nivulia (eth-EN) alone was found to exhibit concentration-dependent anticonvulsant effects when evaluated against the acute convulsant dose of Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 90mg/kg, s.c.). eth-EN extract at 100mg/kg i.p concentration showed maximum protection against the PTZ induced mortality (P<0.05). eth-EN (100mg/kg) treated animals also showed significant reduction in the progression of epileptogenesis (P<0.05) when tested against the PTZ-induced (50mg/kg s.c.) chemical kindling model of epilepsy. The FT-IR spectra of this extract showed both known and unknown spectral peaks from which the presence of the functional groups; i.e. aromatics, diketones, alkenes, carbonyls, carboxylic acids and amide compounds were confirmed. The unknown peaks strongly suggested the presence of novel compounds that may be responsible for its anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic activity.

Antioxidant and alpha amylase inhibitory activities of Fumaria officinalis and its antidiabetic potential against alloxan induced diabetes

Fumaria officinalis belongs to family papaveraceae and is traditionally used to treat hypertension, hepatitis and diabetes. The current study was conducted to evaluate in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity of Fumaria officinalis. Aerial parts of the plant were sequentially extracted with n-hexane, chloroform, methanol and water. Phytochemical analysis was carried out on all extracts. Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition method. In vitro alpha-amylase inhibitory activity was performed on all extracts by using dinitrosalicylic acid. Effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts of F. officinalis on blood glucose was evaluated in normo-glycaemic rats and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Glimepiride 0.2 mg/kg was used as standard therapy in diabetic rats. Results showed that methanolic extract exhibited the maximum percentage inhibition of DPPH (86.30%) and alpha-amylase inhibition (94.01%) at 500 µg/ml and 16 mg/ml concentration respectively. Administration in normo-glycaemic rats did not show any significant decrease in blood glucose level at 500 and 750 mg/kg dosage. Aqueous and methanolic extracts exhibited a significant hypoglycaemic effect (p˂0.05) at all doses. A significant increase in the body weight and an improvement in liver and kidney function tests of diabetic rats were observed. These extracts also reduced the damage to the cells of glomeruli, interstitial inflammation, necrosis of tubular cells and thrombosis in the kidney, the enlargement of sinusoids and steatosis in the liver of diabetic rats. This study concludes that F. officinalis may have antidiabetic potential possibly due to its antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities.

Are the green synthesized nanoparticles safe for environment? A case study of aquatic plant Azolla filiculoides as an indicator exposed to magnetite nanoparticles fabricated using microwave hydrothermal treatment and plant extract

It has been claimed that the green synthesized NPs possess no toxicity in comparison to the NPs fabricated via conventional protocols like reduction by sodium borohydride. Therefore, it is necessary to test the toxic effects of NPs on environment. In the current study, we report the binding of Fe₃O₄ NPs to galate ions containing biomaterial namely "galate bio-capping agent". The bio-capping agent is simply mixed with the Fe³⁺ cations at pH 8 to produce negatively charged bio-capped Fe₃O₄ NPs. Finally, the toxic effects of the Fe₃O₄ NPs were investigated on some growth and developmental indices of the aquatic plant species Azolla filiculoides. The relative frond number and relative growth rate were calculated after treatment of plants with different concentrations of bio-capped Fe₃O₄ NPs. In addition, the content of phenolics as well as antioxidant enzymes' activity including superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were assessed. The Fe₃O₄ NPs led to growth reduction and significant changes in total phenol and flavonoid content as well as in antioxidant enzymes' activity. All these findings confirm reactive oxygen species formation due to the nanoparticle toxicity. In consequence, the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems of plant were stimulated against oxidative stress.

Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of total alkaloid extract from Fumaria capreolata in the DNBS model of mice colitis and intestinal epithelial CMT93 cells

BACKGROUND

Fumaria capreolata L. (Papaveraceae) is a botanical drug used in North Africa for its gastro-intestinal and anti-inflammatory properties. It is characterized for the presence of several alkaloids that could be responsible for some of its effects, including an immunomodulatory activity.

PURPOSE

To test in vivo the intestinal anti-inflammatory properties of the total alkaloid fraction extracted from the aerial parts of F. capreolata (AFC), and to evaluate its effects on an intestinal epithelial cell line.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

AFC was chemically characterized by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and high resolution mass spectrometry. Different doses of AFC (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) were assayed in the DNBS model of experimental colitis in mice, and the colonic damage was evaluated both histologically and biochemically. In addition, in vitro experiments were performed with this alkaloid fraction on the mouse intestinal epithelial cell line CMT93 stimulated with LPS.

RESULTS

The chemical analysis of AFC revealed the presence of 23 alkaloids, being the most abundants stylopine, protopine and coptisine. Oral administration of AFC produced a significant inhibition of the release and the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in the colonic tissue. It also suppressed in vivo the transcription of other pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, iNOS, IL-12 and IL-17. Furthermore, AFC showed an immunomodulatory effect in vitro since it was able to inhibit the mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF-α and ICAM-1. Moreover, the beneficial effect of AFC in the colitic mice could also be associated with the normalization of the expression of MUC-2 and ZO-1, which are important for the intestinal epithelial integrity.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that AFC, containing 1.3% of stylopine and 0.9% of protopine, significantly exerted intestinal anti-inflammatory effects in an experimental model of mouse colitis. This fact could be related to a modulation of the intestinal immune response and a restoration of the intestinal epithelial function.

Comparative Study of Alkaloid Pattern of Four Bulgarian Fumaria species

The alkaloid pattern of four Fumaria species (Fumaria kralikii, Fumaria rostellata, Fumaria schleicherii, Fumaria thureii) growing in Bulgaria was investigated by GC-MS and twenty isoquinoline alkaloids were determined. Phytochemical investigation of the alkaloid composition on Fumaria thuretii Boiss was made for the first time. The alkaloid profile of the species was compared at two levels, between different species and within two species from different habitats. Two chemotypical groups, based on the types of isoquinoline alkaloids were suggested. To group A belong species F. kralikii, F. rostellata (F. r. 1) and F. thuretii containing more than 50% spirobenzylisoquinoline alkaloids of the crude alkaloid mixtures. To group B belong species F. rostellata (F. r. 2) and F. schleicherii containing more than 40% protopine alkaloids and relatively high percentage phthaldeisoquinoline alkaloids (11-19%). In group A phthaldeisoquinoline alkaloids were not detected.

Evaluation of antisecretory, gastroprotective and in-vitro antacid capacity of Fumaria indica in rats

Fumaria indica is used for its anthelmintic, antidyspeptic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, stomachic, tonic properties and claimed to possess various properties for the ailments of blood, skin, gastrointestinal systems and central nervous system. The present study was undertaken to evaluate antisecretory, gastroprotective and in-vitro antacid capacity of ethanol extract from F. indica in rats. Evaluation of F. indica extract as antisecretory was carried out by pyloric ligation induced ulcer model. The gastroprotective effect was carried out by absolute ethanol induced ulcer model. Integrity of gastric mucosa was evaluated by estimation of GSH and gastric mucus level. The in-vitro antacid capacity was evaluated by titration method. Ethanol extract of F. indica at 200 mg kg(-1), orally showed inhibition of secretion in pyloric ligation model. GSH level (1.67 μg mg(-1) protein), gastricwall mucus (240.76 μg g(-1) wet glandular tissue) and percentage protection (77.59%) of ulcer were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in absolute ethanol induced ulcer model. The in-vitro antacid capacity of ethanol extract of F. indica was compared with the standard. Conclusively, it appears that F. indica possess antisecretory (inhibition of acid secretion), gastroprotective (potentiation of defensive factors) and in-vitro antacid activity.

Adlumiceine methyl ester, a new alkaloid from Fumaria vaillantii

A new alkaloid, adlumiceine methyl ester (1), together with two known alkaloids, parfumine (2) and N-methylhydrastine methyl ester (3), was isolated from aerial parts of Fumaria vaillantii. The structures of compounds were determined by 1D/2D NMR and MS data. All three compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against PC3 and MCF7 cell lines using Alamar blue assay. The tested compounds showed no significant cytotoxic activity (IC50>50 μM) against PC3 and MCF7 cell lines.

Antiviral and Antimicrobial Profiles of Selected Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Fumaria and Corydalis Species

In the current study, 33 isoquinoline alkaloids belonging to protopine-, benzylisoquinoline-, benzophenanthridine-, spirobenzylisoquinoline-, phthalideisoquinoline-, aporphine-, protoberberine-, cularine-, and isoquinolone-types as well as 7 derivatives of them obtained from some Fumaria and Corydalis species growing in Turkey have been evaluated for their in vitro antiviral and antimicrobial activities. Both DNA virus Herpes simplex (HSV) and RNA virus Parainfluenza (PI-3) were employed for antiviral assessment of the compounds using Madine- Darby bovine kidney and Vero cell lines and their maximum non-toxic concentrations (MNTC) and cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were determined using acyclovir and oseltamivir as the references. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of the alkaloids were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans by the microdilution method and compared to ampicilline, ofloxacine, and ketocanazole as the references. The alkaloids did not present any notable antibacterial effect, while they had significant antifungal activity at 8 μg/ml concentration. On the other hand, the alkaloids were found to have selective inhibition against the PI-3 virus ranging between 0.5 and 64 μg/ml as minimum and maximum CPE inhibitory concentrations, whereas they were completely inactive towards HSV.

Nematicidal activity of nonacosane-10-ol and 23a-homostigmast-5-en-3β-ol isolated from the roots of Fumaria parviflora (Fumariaceae)

Two bioactive nematicidal phytochemicals, viz., nonacosane-10-ol and 23a-homostigmast-5-en-3β-ol, were isolated from the n-hexane fraction of the roots of Fumaria parviflora through activity-guided isolation. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using ¹³C and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. Activity of the two compounds against eggs and juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita was evaluated in vitro at the concentrations of 50, 100, 150, and 200 μg mL⁻¹. Over 120 h of incubation, the cumulative percent mortality and hatch inhibition of both of the compounds tested ranged from 20 to 100% and from 15 to 95.0%, respectively. In pot trials with tomato cultivar Riogrande, the two compounds, applied as soil drenches at the concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, significantly decreased the nematodes and plant growth parameters. Nonacosane-10-ol and 23a-homostigmast-5-en-3β-ol reduced the numbers of galls (42.6 and 60.3), galling index (1.6 and 2.8), females per gram of root (37.3 and 57.0), eggs per gram of root (991.3 and 1273.0), reproduction factor (Rf) (0.1 and 0.2), and fresh root weight (14.33 and 17.0 g) at 300 mg/kg concentration and increased fresh shoot weight (49.0 and 48.4 g), dry shoot weight (28.0 and 25.3 g), and plant height (53.5 and 49.6 cm), respectively. These compounds could provide new insight in the search for novel nematicides against M. incognita.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicity study of standardized extract of Fumaria indica in rodents

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Despite Fumaria indica (FI) widespread medicinal uses in the Indian traditional medicine, no systematic study of the potential toxicity of the plant has been described.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess acute and sub-chronic toxicity of a 50% ethanolic extract of FI in mice and rats respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In acute toxicity study, Swiss strain albino mice of either sex were administered orally FI doses of 1, 2.5 and 5 g/kg and observed for behavioural changes and mortality, if any. In sub-chronic toxicity study, Charles Foster albino rats of either sex were administered two doses of FI i.e., 100 and 400mg/kg, p.o. for 30 consecutive days. During 30 days of treatment, rats were observed for any change in body weight and daily food and water intake. After 30 days, rats were sacrificed for haematological, biochemical and histopathology study. Control animals were administered 0.3% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) suspension by oral route.

RESULTS

There was no mortality or abnormal behaviour, observed in acute toxicity study in mice at all the three dose levels. In sub-chronic toxicity study, FI did not produce any significant change in body weight and daily food and water intake of rats when compared to vehicle treated rats. Further, haematological and biochemical parameters were also found normal. Histopathological study revealed normal architecture of kidney and liver of FI treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

FI extract, provisionally standardized on its fumarate contents, seems to fulfill a preclinical criterion necessary for its further development as a clinically useful adaptogen.

Effect of chromatographic conditions on the separation and system efficiency for HPLC of selected alkaloids on different stationary phases

Retention parameters of alkaloid standards were determined on different stationary phases, i.e., octadecyl silica, base-deactivated octadecyl silica, cyanopropyl silica, preconditioned cyanopropyl silica, and pentafluorophenyl, using different aqueous eluant systems: acetonitrile-water mixtures; buffered aqueous mobile phases at pH 3 or 7.8; and aqueous eluants containing ion-pairing reagents (octane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt and pentane-1-sulfonic acid sodium salt) or silanol blockers (tetrabutyl ammonium chloride and diethylamine). Improved peak symmetry and separation selectivity for basic solutes was observed when basic buffer, ion-pairing reagents, and, especially, silanol blockers as mobile phase additives were applied. The best separation selectivity and most symmetric peaks for the investigated alkaloids were obtained in systems containing diethylamine in the mobile phase. The influence of acetonitrile concentration and kind and concentration of ion-pairing reagents or silanol blockers on retention, peak symmetry, and system efficiency was also examined. The most efficient and selective systems were used for separation of the investigated alkaloids and analysis of Fumaria officinalis and Glaucium flavum plant extracts.

Hepatoprotective potential of Fumaria indica Pugsley whole plant extracts, fractions and an isolated alkaloid protopine

The present investigation demonstrates the hepatoprotective potential of 50% ethanolic water extract of whole plant of Fumaria indica and its three fractions viz., hexane, chloroform and butanol against d-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The hepatoprotection was assessed in terms reduction in histological damage, changes in serum enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, ALP) and metabolites bilirubin, reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (MDA content). Among fractions more than 90% protection was found with butanol fraction in which alkaloid protopine was quantified as highest i.e. about 0.2mg/g by HPTLC. The isolated protopine in doses of 10-20mg p.o. also proved equally effective hepatoprotectants as standard drug silymarine (single dose 25mg p.o.). In general all treatments excluding hexane fraction proved hepatoprotective at par with silymarine (p<or=0.01).

Quantification of Fumaria officinalis isoquinoline alkaloids by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis–electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method using non-aqueous (NA) separation solutions combined with an ion trap mass spectrometer (MS and MS/MS) as detection device is presented for the separation, identification and quantification of isoquinoline alkaloids from Fumaria officinalis. The best results were obtained with a mixture of acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) containing 60mM ammonium acetate and 2.2M acetic acid as running electrolyte and an applied voltage of 30 kV. Electrospray MS measurements were performed in the positive ionization mode with isopropanol-water (1:1, v/v) as sheath liquid at a flow rate of 3 microl/min. Alkaloids were detected as [M+H](+)-ions and showed typical fragmentation patterns in MS/MS experiments. The developed assay was used for the quantification of seven isoquinoline alkaloids representing different structural subtypes in Fumariae herba extracts and F. herba containing phytopharmaceuticals.

1H and 13C NMR signal assignment of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Fumaria officinalis L. (Papaveraceae)

The NMR signal assignments of a series of structurally divergent benzylisoquinolines isolated from Fumaria officinalis L. (Fumariaceae, Papaverales), namely adlumine, corlumine, corydamine, cryptopine, fumarophycine, O-methylfumarophycine, hydrastine, parfumine, protopine and sinactine, are presented.

Direct determination of alkaloid contents in Fumaria species by GC-MS

The isoquinoline alkaloids protopine, cryptopine, sinactine, stylopine, bicuculline, adlumine, parfumine, fumariline, fumarophycine, fumaritine, dihydrofumariline, parfumidine and dihydrosanguinarine have been determined and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in Fumaria agraria, F. bastardii, F. capreolata, F. sepium, F. densiflora, F. faurei, F. officinalis subsp. officinalis, F. parviflora, F. petteri subsp. calcarata and F. macrosepala. The chemotaxonomic significance of the results is discussed.