Beneficial effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper on caustic esophageal injuries: an experimental model.

Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is an herbal extract that enhances mucosal healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ABS on the healing of the esophagus and prevention of stricture development after esophageal caustic injuries in rats. The study included 50 rats. Rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (no injury, sham surgery), group 2 (injury + no ABS + study after 2 weeks of injury), group 3 (injury + ABS + study after 2 weeks of injury), group 4 (injury + no ABS + study after 4 weeks of injury), and group 5 (injury + ABS + study after 4 weeks of injury). Standard esophageal burn injury was created by applying 50% NaOH solution to distal esophagus of about 1.5 cm. To rats in the sham group, isotonic solution was given instead of NaOH. ABS (2 mL/day) was given via oral route to group 3 and 5 rats. Fourteen days (group 2 and 3) and 28 days (group 4 and 5) later, all the live rats were killed. The distal esophageal segments of all rats were removed and divided into two equal parts for biochemical and histopathological examination. Mortality rate, weight changes, inflammation, stenosis index (SI), and biochemical measurements were evaluated. The SI was found as 0.31 ± 0.03 in group 1, 0.533 ± 0.240 in group 2, 0.568 ± 0.371 in group 3, 0.523 ± 0.164 in group 4, and 0.28 ± 0.03 in group 5. The SI and inflammation in ABS-treatment group 5 was significantly lower than that in non-treatment group 4 (P= 0.005). There were no significant differences between inflammation and SI among other groups. The mortality rate was 14.2% in group 1, 37.5% in untreated group 2, 14.2% in ABS-treated group 3, 80% in untreated group 4, and 33.3% in ABS-treated group 5. The mortality rate in group 4 was significantly higher than other groups (P= 0.025). Decrease rates in mean body weights of the groups were as follows: group 1, 1%; group 2, 15%; group 3, 14%; group 4, 46%; and group 5, 15%. Biochemical tests other than albumin and creatinine were comparable among the groups. Treatment with ABS prevents inflammation, scar formation, weight loss, and mortality in esophageal caustic injuries. Additional studies to evaluate the clinical benefits of ABS in esophageal caustic injury are recommended.

Triterpenoids of the roots of Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas.

The roots of Lavandula stoechas ssp. stoechas afforded eleven known triterpenes, two steroids and two aromatics, in addition to two new triterpenes, 18-hydroxy-27-norolean-12,14-dien-30-al-28-oic acid and 3 beta-hydroxy-1-oxo-olean-12-ene-30-al-28-oic acid. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The chloroform extract and some isolated compounds were evaluated for their growth inhibitory activity against several mammalian cell lines.

Diterpenes from the berries of Juniperus excelsa.

From the hexane extract of berries of Juniperus excelsa, one new and four known diterpenes were isolated besides a known sesquiterpene. The structures of the known diterpenes were identified as isopimaric, isocommunic, (-)ent-trans communic and sandracopimaric acids, along with the sesquiterpene 4a-hydroxycedrol and the new compound which was elucidated as 3 alpha-acetoxylabda-8(17),13(16),14-trien-19-oic acid (juniperexcelsic acid). Cytotoxic activity of the hexane extract was investigated against a panel of cell line and found highly active against LNCaP, KB-V (+VLB) and KB-V (-VLB) cell lines. Furthermore, the hexane and methanol extracts, and the new compound were found to be moderately active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Terpenoids from Salvia glutinosa.

A new steroidal compound 1-oxo-7 alpha-hydroxysitosterol was isolated from the whole plant of Salvia glutinosa in addition to 11 known triterpenoids and three steroids. The structures were established by spectral data. Cytotoxic activity of the new compound and 7 alpha-hydroxysitosterol were tested against P-388 and KB systems; only marginal activity was found.

DNA as an affinity probe useful in the detection and isolation of biologically active natural products.

A simplified hplc system is described for the detection of compounds capable of binding to DNA. Compounds known to interact with DNA were found to invoke a positive response with this system, and the concentration-dependence and sensitivity were determined. When applied to 17 randomly selected plant extracts, five elicited a positive response and, of these, four were subsequently found to be cytotoxic with cultured KB or P-388 cells. As described in a companion paper, one of these extracts (derived from Albizia amara) has been further processed and found to contain a group of structurally-unique macrocyclic alkaloids that demonstrate a variety of biological activities. Therefore, this approach should prove a value in facilitating the identification of plant extracts that contain substances capable of binding to DNA and the subsequent activity-directed fractionation for the procurement of active principles. As a prescreen or monitor, these relatively uncomplicated hplc procedures can be used in laboratories not prepared to perform more complicated or costly bioassay techniques. Thus, the pool of potentially active novel chemical substances to be considered for more advanced testing could be increased.

Studies on zoapatle. VIII: Novel cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Montanoa tomentosa ssp. microcephala.

Investigation of the leaves of Montanoa tomentosa Cerv. ssp. microcephala (Sch.-Bip.) Funk (Compositae) resulted in the isolation of three novel guaianolide sesquiterpenes, montacephalin (1), tomencephalin (2), and 5-hydroxytomencephalin (3), which were shown to be cytotoxic (P-388). The structures of these sesquiterpenes were elucidated through analysis of their spectroscopic characteristics, and complete proton and carbon-13 assignments were made for the new compounds. Also isolated were the known terpenes, beta-amyrin, beta-amyrin acetate, stigmasterol, stigmasterol-3 beta-D-glucoside, (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid, and monoginoic acid.