Traditional uses of medicinal plants in Valvestino (Italy).

This paper reports the results of a survey concerning folk uses of medicinal plants in Valvestino (Brescia, Italy). The features of this area, recognized by European Union as "Site of Community interest", allowed the preservation of the ethnobotanical traditions. We have documented the use of 58 species belonging to 30 families by interviewing 54 villagers of a mean age of 72 years. The dominant families are Asteraceae (10 species), Pinaceae and Rosaceae (5 species, respectively); the most common preparations are infusion and decoction. Three plants have been mentioned for treatment of animals, some species are employed in cookery. The study, carried out for the first time in this valley, gathered information about traditional remedies, before they are completely lost. All the interesting species have been transplanted to the G. E. Ghirardi Botanical Garden for the ex situ conservation.

Comparative phytochemical and morphological analyses of three Italian Primula species.

The taxonomy of alpine Primula species has long been in dispute because of high morphologic variability and several hybridisations. In Primula species, the trichome height and the colour of hair-tips are usually indicated as diacritic characters, but in our experience this is not adequate. The present study, focused on Primula auricula, Primula daonensis and Primula hirsuta, therefore proposes the use of other morphologic trichome parameters (size and dimensional ratio of stalk, neck and gland head). Phytochemical investigations about the flavonoid composition (epicuticular and vacuolar) of leaves, as taxonomic markers, have also been performed. We report the isolation and identification of two new flavonol glycosides, isorhamnetin 3-O-(2,6-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (1) and kaempferol 3-O-(2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-6-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (2) and of eight known flavonoids. Size and dimensional ratio of the three trichome elements (stalk, neck and glandular head) are typical for each species analysed. The flavonoid profile well characterise the entities under study. Three different profiles have been obtained with both vacuolar and epicuticular flavonoids. The morphologic and phytochemical markers proposed in this work seem to be parameters which significatively discriminate the species under study.

Furostanol saponins and quercetin glycosides from the leaves of Helleborus viridis L.

Phytochemical analysis of the polar extracts of the leaves of Helleborus viridis (Ranunculaceae) resulted in the isolation of two new furostanol saponins (25R)-26-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-22alpha-methoxyfurost-5-en-3beta-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-[6-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)-26-[(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-22alpha-methoxyfurost-5-en-3beta-yl O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) and three new quercetin glycosides, quercetin 3-O-(2-E-caffeoyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside-7-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-(2-E-caffeoyl)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4), and quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR data and mass spectrometry.

Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of flavonol glycosides from different Aconitum species.

Bioassay-guided fractionation by 1,1-diphenyl-2-dipicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test of polar extracts of some Italian Aconitum species (A. napellus subsp. tauricum, A. napellus subsp. neomontanum, A. paniculatum, A. vulparia) led to the isolation of 13 flavonol glycosides: quercetin 3-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin 3-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (4), quercetin 7-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (5), kaempferol 7-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (6), kaempferol 7-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol 3-O-beta-(2"-acetyl)galactopyranoside (8), kaempferol 3-O-beta-(2"-acetyl)galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside (9), quercetin 3-O-beta-(2"-acetyl)galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside (10), quercetin 3,7-di-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (11), kaempferol 3,7-di-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (12) and quercetin 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (13). Their antioxidant activity (AA) was determined by measuring free radical scavenging activity by DPPH test and the coupled oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid assay. The results showed that 5 is the most active compound in the DPPH free-radical scavenging test (IC(50) 1.9 microM) while in the coupled oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid assay compound 1 has the highest inhibitory ratio after 1h (58.9%). Some structure-activity relationships on the AA were obtained.

In vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes L. extracts and isolated compounds.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Asplenium trichomanes was used as an expectorant, anti-cough remedy, laxative, emmenagogue, abortifacient and for irregular menses. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the in vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes extracts and isolated compounds and their ability to activate ERalpha and ERbeta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Leaves infusion (IF), decoction (DC) and methanol extract (ME) were prepared. MCF7/EREluc cell line which expresses endogenous ERalpha, and SK-NBE cells transiently transfected with the estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta) were used for the estrogenic activity assays. Phytochemical investigations were performed (CC, HPLC, etc.) and structure of isolated compounds were achieved on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-MS spectrometry. RESULTS: IF and ME were active in our MCF7 model; selectivity for the ERbeta receptor was observed in the SK-NBE test. Two new phenol derivatives, 4-vinyl-phenol-1-O-[alpha-L-rhamno(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranosyde] (1) and kaempferol-3-O-alpha-[2'acetyl]-arabinofuranosyl-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated with six known compounds (3-8). Compounds 2-4, 7 and 8 showed selectivity for the activation of the ERbeta receptor although with a moderate activity compared with 17-beta-estradiol. CONCLUSION: Further investigations about the estrogenic effects of this plant are needed but our data can, at least in part, explain some of its traditional use as emmeagogue.

Traditional healthy Mediterranean diet: estrogenic activity of plants used as food and flavoring agents.

The Italian-style Mediterranean diet has been defined as healthy by epidemiologists and nutritionists. Besides being low fat, the Mediterranean diet is rich in biologically active minor compounds. Among these, phytoestrogens seem to have an impact on the prevention of chronic degenerative disease. It is important to understand how this occurs. The in vitro estrogenic activity of crude extracts from typical Mediterranean foods was tested using a yeast estrogen screen (YES), containing human estrogen receptor. Species belonging to Leguminosae, Apiaceae, Graminaceae, Iridaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cruciferae and Solanaceae showed the greatest number of positive responses. These species include some foods which are traditionally widely consumed, such as beans and other legumes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and some cereals. The highest activity was found in the more polar extracts (aqueous, methanol and chloroform: methanol) indicating that polar compounds are mainly responsible for the estrogenic activity. This is also supported by the traditional cooking practices. According to data from in vitro tests, the estrogenic activity is present in numerous plants which are commonly used as food in the Mediterranean diet. Vegetable foods rich in phytoestrogens, as in the Mediterranean tradition, may contribute to the maintenance of health status.