Neuroactivity of the naturally occurring aporphine alkaloid, roemerine.

Roemerine is a naturally occurring aporphine alkaloid. In this study, we screened a conformer library of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to identify similar drugs that can assist in identifying the biological targets of roemerine. To assess the neuroactivity in vitro, we measured the levels of cell metabolites, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and serotonin (5-HT) in SH-SY5Y cell line. By means of structure-based virtual screening, we identified five drugs that are similar to roemerine; mirtazapine, atomoxetine, epinastine, diphenhydramine and orphenadrine. GC-MS metabolomics study revealed that roemerine has a high impact on alanine-aspartate-glutamate pathway in cell lysate and cultured medium. Additionally, roemerine increased intercellular 5-HT level and intracellular BDNF protein expression at 10 µM. In conclusion, roemerine - a major alkaloid in antidepressant-like effect possessing plants (P. lacerum and P. syriacum) - has a neuronal activity through increasing BDNF protein expression and affecting serotonergic and glutamatergic systems in SH-SY5Y cell line.

MAO-A inhibition profiles of some benzophenone glucosides from Gentiana verna subsp. pontica.

Gentiana verna L. subsp. pontica (Soltok.) Hayek, G. pyrenaica L., and G. verna L. subsp. balcanica Pritchard from Turkey were tested for their MAO-A inhibitory effects. A photometric peroxidase linked MAO-A bioassay performed on the H20 extracts prepared from the methanolic extracts of the title plants revealed the potential effect of G. verna subsp. pontica and three benzophenone glucosides; 2,3'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone-6-O-beta-glucopyranoside (1), 2,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-benzophenone-6-O-beta-glucopyranoside (maclurin-6-O-f-glucopyranoside) (2) and 2,4,3'-trihydroxy-benzophenone-6-O-beta-glucopyranoside (3) isolated from G. verna subsp. pontica. Among the benzophenone glucosides 1 and 2 exhibited significant inhibition of MAO-A (IC50 = 31.3 +/- 4 microM and 41 +/- 4.7 microM resp.).

Comparative assessment of dermal wound healing potentials of various Trifolium L. extracts and determination of their isoflavone contents as potential active ingredients.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Trifolium species are used in Turkish folk medicine as a wound healing agent, expectorant, antiseptic, sedative and to alleviate pain in rheumatism. In the present study, the aqueous methanolic extracts (80%) of 13 Trifolium species (Trifolium ambigum, Trifolium arvense var. arvense, Trifolium campestre, Trifolium canescens, Trifolium hybridum var. anatolicum, Trifolium hybridum var. hybridum, Trifolium pannonicum, Trifolium pratense var. pratense, Trifolium purpureum var. purpureum, Trifolium repens var. repens, Trifolium resupinatum var. microcephalum, Trifolium spadiceum and Trifolium trichocephalum) collected from different regions of Anatolia were evaluated for their in vivo wound healing effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo wound healing activities of the plant aqueous methanolic extracts were evaluated by linear incision and circular excision wound models subsequent to histopathological analysis. Active constituents were determined by a validated high performance liquid chromatographic method. Precision of the method was performed by the evaluation of intra-day and inter-day variations of the each standard at limits of quantification (LOQ) levels. RESULTS: The aqueous methanolic extracts of Trifolium canescens and Trifolium pretense var. pratense possessed better wound healing activity compared to the other extracts and control groups. The animal groups treated with the Trifolium canescens extract demonstrated increased contraction (48.96%) on excision and a significant increase in wound tensile strength (35.6%) on incision models. The main compounds were detected as genistein and biochanin A for Trifolium canescens. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study revealed the wound healing potential of Trifolium canescens. This might be due to the combined effect of the isoflavones genistein, formononetin, daidzein, and biochanin A present in the extract.

In vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of some Lamium species.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Several Lamium species have been used to relieve pain in arthritic ailments in Turkish folk medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of different extracts prepared with methanol, dichloromethane, n-butanol and water from the aerial parts of some Lamium species of Turkish origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lamium eriocephalum subsp. eriocephalum, Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum, Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum and Lamium purpureum var. purpureum (Lamiaceae); for the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model, PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema model, and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model and for the antinociceptive activity p-benzoquinone (PBQ)-induced writhing test in mice were employed. RESULTS: The n-butanol extracts of Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum (LGL-BuOH), Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum (LGP-BuOH), and Lamium purpureum var. purpureum (LPP-BuOH) exhibited notable inhibition (16.5-28.9, 14.5-26.9, 12.3-21.5%, resp.) in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model at doses of 200mg/kg without inducing any gastric damage. The LGL-BuOH (7.1-30.4%) and LGP-BuOH (5.9-24.1%) extracts also displayed potent anti-inflammatory activity against PGE(2)-induced hind paw edema model. LGL-BuOH and LGP-BuOH were also found to exhibit remarkable antinociceptive activity in p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test at a dose of 200 mg/kg (25.0 and 24.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The experimental data demonstrated that Lamium garganicum subsp. laevigatum and Lamium garganicum subsp. pulchrum displayed remarkable anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.

Secondary metabolites from Phlomis oppositiflora.

In addition to rare phenylethanoid triglycosides, myricoside and its dimetylether derivative serratumoside A {3-hydroxy,4-methoxy-beta-phenylethoxy-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-4-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside}, a new phenylethanoid glycoside, myricoside-3""-O-methylether {3,4-dihydroxy-beta-phenylethoxy-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-4-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside} along with a new neolignan glucoside, (7S, 8R)-dehydroconiferyl alcohol-8-5'-dehydroconiferyl aldehyde 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the aerial parts of Phlomis oppositiflora. The structures of the new compounds were identified by means of spectroscopic (UV, IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and LC-ESIMS) methods.

Physocalycoside, a new phenylethanoid glycoside from Phlomis physocalyx Hub.-Mor.

A new phenylethanoid tetraglycoside, physocalycoside (2), was isolated from the aerial parts of Phlomis physocalyx. Its structure was identified as 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-beta-phenylethoxy-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-4-O-feruloyl-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, one known iridoid glucoside, lamiide (1) and five known phenylethanoid glycosides, wiedemannioside C (3), verbascoside (= acteoside) (4), leucosceptoside A (5), martynoside (6), and forsythoside B (7) were also characterized. Compounds 2-7 demonstrated radical scavenging properties towards the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical.

Chemical composition of Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean.

The chemical composition of the brown alga Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean was investigated. Fourteen sterols have been identified, five of them for the first time in algae. The structure of one new sterol was established. The origin of seven sterols with short side chains was discussed. In the volatile fraction 19 compounds and in the polar fraction 15 compounds were identified. The main lipid classes were isolated and their fatty acid composition was established.

Composition of lipophylic extracts from two Tinicates, Styela sp. and Phallusia sp. from the Eastern Mediterranean.

Sterols, volatiles and lipids were isolated and identified from lipophylic extracts from two tunicates, Styela sp. and Phallusia sp., occurring in the Eastern Mediterranean. Seventeen sterols were identified. The sterol composition of the two organisms appeared to be similar except for the concentrations of 5alpha-stanols. Both tunicates were characterized by the presence of sterols with a (22Z)-double bond. In the volatiles significant amounts of chlorinated compounds were found (phenols in Styela sp. and hydrocarbons in Phallusia sp.). The fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols and phospholipids of the two tunicates showed significant differences.

Neolignan glucosides from Phlomis chimerae Boiss.

From the aerial parts of the plant Phlomis chimerae, a new neolignan glucoside, (-)-4-O-methyldihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) was characterized along with the known neolignan glucosides, (-)-4-O-methyldehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (= longifloroside A) (2) and (-)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3). The structure of the new compound was established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.