LC-ESI-MS/MS profiling of phenolics from Eleutherococcus spp. inflorescences, structure-activity relationship as antioxidants, inhibitors of hyaluronidase and acetylcholinesterase.

Nature is a source of many plant-based molecules used as pro- or drugs. Eleutherococcus species are native to Asia and the North Russia, and are traditionally used to treat various diseases. In turn, neither secondary metabolites of the species cultivated in the West Europe nor the bioactivity is known. No differences in the phenols and flavonoids content in the inflorescences were found. The richest in polyphenols was E. giraldii (5.18 mg/g), while in flavonoids it was E. gracilistylus (1.80 mg/g). Using LC-ESI-MS/MS, protocatechuic and trans-caffeic acids have been identified as the most abundant compounds in E. gracilistylus, E. giraldii, E. senticosus (833.4; 855.6; 614.7 and 280.8; 156.0; 167.6 µg/g DE). It was observed that all species were able to chelate Fe2+ with the EC50 value of 0.2, 0.6, 0.3 mg/mL for E. gracilistylus, E. giraldii, E. senticosus, respectively. E. gracilistylus exhibited the strongest antiperoxidation and anti-DPPH∗ activity (EC50 3.2 and 0.48 mg/mL). The weak inhibitory potential has been observed in case of AChE inhibition at the level of 16.17 and 12.2% for E. gracilistylus, E. giraldii. We report for the first time that the extracts inhibited Hyal activity in the range from 16.4 to 60.7%. To our best knowledge, no information was available on this activity of the inflorescences and this provides a background to study inflorescences in more detail. Considering the SAR, an antioxidant activity may be correlated with a high amount of protocatechuic and trans-caffeic acids and their chemical structure.

TLC profiling, nutritional and pharmacological properties of Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) cultivated in Poland.

The chemical composition and pharmacological activity of E. senticosus cultivated in Poland were investigated. Studies included the assay of TPC and TFC, 2D-TLC identification of phenolic acids, HPTLC-detection of antioxidants, and antioxidative, antileukemic, anti-MMPs properties of E. senticosus. The ethanolic extracts from the roots, spring leaves, fruits, and the chloroform extract from the roots were tested. The richest in polyphenols are the fresh fruits (57.5 mg/g), while in flavonoids the spring leaves (27.4 mg/g). The antioxidant ability both in extracts and single phenolic constituents were checked out by the measurement of the DPPH radical scavenging activity, iron (II) chelating and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity. Using HPTLC-DB test eleutherosides B and E1 have been found as the phenolic antioxidants. Thirty six percent of apoptotic cells have been observed in Jurkatt 45 line by the treatment with the chloroform extract from the roots. Only the chloroform extract from the roots and the ethanolic one from the dried fruits have shown the inhibitory activities against MMPs. It is noteworthy, that our studies have been done for the first time, and the plant material has come from another geographical zone (Poland) than native (Asia).

Identification of MMP-1 and MMP-9 inhibitors from the roots of Eleutherococcus divaricatus, and the PAMPA test.

The purpose of this study was the isolation of metalloproteinases MMP-1 and MMP-9 inhibitors from the chloroform extract of the Eleutherococcus divaricatus roots. Using GC-MS, (1)H and (13)C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, COSY and DEPT, (+)-sesamin has been identified as a new anti-MMP inhibitor. We report for the first time that (+)-sesamin inhibited MMP-1 and MMP-9 activity in 40% and 17%, respectively. The high inhibitory potential has been shown by ursolic acid (90.9% and 89.8% for MMP-1 and MMP-9). In the PAMPA test, the Pe value for sesamin was established as 17.4 × 10(-6) cm/s, that for ursolic acid as 30.0 × 10(- 6) cm/s. Verapamil and theophylline were used as a positive and negative control (Pe 42.1 and 2.9 × 10(-6) cm/s). To our best knowledge, no information was available on this activity of sesamin and other compounds. These studies provide a biochemical basis for the regulation of MMP-1 and MMP-9 by E. divaricatus compounds.

Cytotoxic effect of some medicinal plants from Asteraceae family on J-45.01 leukemic cell line--pilot study.

In this study the in vitro cytotoxic properties of ethanol extracts from the herbs, inflorescents and roots of selected Asteraceae species: Arctium lappa, Artemisia absinthium, Calendula officinalis, Centaurea cyanus, Tanacetum vulgare and Tragopogon pratensis on J-45.01 human acute T leukemia cell line was examined. All tested samples possess antileukemic properties and induce cells death via apoptosis. The correlation between antileukemic activity and total polyphenol content was determined.

Rumex L. species induce apoptosis in 1301, EOL-1 and H-9 cell lines.

The Rumex L. (dock) species for many centuries have been used in medical treatment, through their adstringent, spasmolitic or cholagogic action. In the present study, the in vitro screening of cytotoxic activities of ethanol extract from roots, leaves and fruits of six Rumex species: R. acetosa L., R. acetosella L., R. confertus Willd., R. crispus L., R. hydrolapathum Huds. and R. obtusifolius L. were performed. We found remarkable cytotoxic activities on leukemic 1301 and EOL-1 cell lines and T cell line at concentration dependent manners. Cytotoxic activity was determined in two ways: trypan blue test and annexin-V FITC and propidium iodide assay. Received IC50 values of investigated extracts on 1301, EOL-1 and H-9 cell lines ranged from 0.22, 0.17 and 0.04 to 2.56, 1.91 and 1.83 mg/mL, respectively. Analysis of morphological changes demonstrated that the extract exerted cell-death via apoptosis. The overall activities of Rumex species support the traditional use of the extract from the fruits of R. confertus, R. crispus, R. hydrolapathum and R. obtusifolius in the treatment of cancer.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidative, antileukemic and anti-MMPs activity of Eleutherococcus species cultivated in Poland.

The content of phenols (TPC), and the antioxidative, antileukemic and anti-MMPs properties of Eleutherococcus spp. cultivated in Poland are reported. The highest TPC was found in the spring leaves (20.3 - 37.2 mg/g). The spring leaves and roots of E. divaricatus had the strongest anti-DPPH activity (EC50 1.2 and 1.2 mg/mL), whereas the greatest ability of iron (II) chelating was shown by autumn leaves of E. setchuensis (EC50 0.3 mg/mL), and the ethanolic extract of E. gracilistylus roots showed the strongest lipid antiperoxidation activity (EC50 0.7 mg/mL). The highest number of apoptotic cells was observed in the Jurkat 45 cell line after treatment with the ethanolic extract of E. sessiliflorus roots (27%). Only the chloroform extracts of roots of E. gracilistylus and E. divaricatus showed the inhibitory activity against MMPs. Most of the studied species have a significant biological activity that is probably due to the presence of phenols. To the best of our knowledge, neither detailed phytochemical nor biological studies have been performed for most of the investigated species.

Pinostrobin--an anti-leukemic flavonoid from Polygonum lapathifolium L. ssp. nodosum (Pers.) Dans.

AIM OF STUDY: Search for plant compounds possessing anti-leukemic properties. RESULTS: We have shown that 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy flavanone (pinostrobin) isolated from Polygonum lapathifolium ssp. nodosum quickly penetrates through cytoplasm to the cellular nucleus of the cultured cells, and gives intensive apoptotic response in stimulating leukemic cells in vitro. The number of apoptotic cells increased with the concentration of pinostrobin: 10 nM - 25% and 60%; 100 nM - 45% and 76%; 1 microm - 70% and 88% for Jurkat and HL60 cell lines, respectively CONCLUSION: Pinostrobin may be considered as a good candidate for a leukemia chemopreventic agent.

Lipophilicity, antifungal and antioxidant properties of persilben.

The lipophilicity of persilben, an important parameter influencing the penetration of the compound through biological membranes, was determined experimentally by dynamic method and was theoretically calculated according to the fragmentation methods introduced by Crippen, Broto and Viswanadhan. The higher value of partition coefficient (log P = 3.89) obtained for persilben than that for resveratrol points to potentially higher ease of penetration of persilben into cells of living organism. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of persilben were tested. The obtained data suggest that this compound possesses some antioxidant activity. Persilben appears to have also some inhibitory effect against some species of dermatophytes from Tnichophyton genus but only at high concentrations.

Comparative study on the free flavonoid aglycones in herbs of different species of Polygonum L.

The flavonoid aglycones were studied in the herbs of the following taxons of the Polygonum L. genus: P. hydropiper L, P. bistorta L., P. aviculare L., P. persicaria L., P. lapathifolium ssp. tomentosum (Schrank) Dans, P. lapathifolium ssp. nodosum (Pers.) Dans, P. amphibium L., P. mite Schrank, P. conolvulus L. (Bilderdykia convolvulus L.) by means of the RP-HPLC method. The content of taxifolin, quercetin, quercetin-3-methyl ether, kaempferol, myritcetin, luteolin, isorhamnetin and rhamnetin were determined.