Advances in research on chemical composition of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora and P. kurroa and their biological activities / 中国中药杂志

At present, 141 compounds have been isolated from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora and P. kurroa of the Scrophulariaceae plants, including 46 iridoid glycosides, 29 tetracyclic triterpenoids, 25 phenylpropanoids, and 11 phenylethanoid glycosides. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that they have liver-, heart-, brain-, kidney-, and nerve cells-protecting effects as well as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-asthma, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, and blood lipid-lowering activities. This article reviews the chemical components and pharmacological activities of P. scrophulariiflora and P. kurroa, aiming to provide a basis for the in-depth research, development, and utilization of the two plants.

Picroside II attenuates fatty acid accumulation in HepG2 cells via modulation of fatty acid uptake and synthesis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic steatosis is caused by an imbalance between free fatty acids (FFAs) uptake, utilization, storage, and disposal. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in FFAs accumulation and its modulation could drive the development of potential therapies for Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of the current study was to explore the effects of picroside II, a phytoactive found in Picrorhiza kurroa, on fatty acid accumulation vis-à-vis silibinin, a known hepatoprotective phytoactive from Silybum marianum. METHODS: HepG2 cells were loaded with FFAs (oleic acid:palmitic acid/2:1) for 20 hours to mimic hepatic steatosis. The FFAs concentration achieving maximum fat accumulation and minimal cytotoxicity (500 μM) was standardized. HepG2 cells were exposed to the standardized FFAs concentration with and without picroside II pretreatment. RESULTS: Picroside II pretreatment inhibited FFAs-induced lipid accumulation by attenuating the expression of fatty acid transport protein 5, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and stearoyl CoA desaturase. Preatreatment with picroside II was also found to decrease the expression of forkhead box protein O1 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that picroside II effectively attenuated fatty acid accumulation by decreasing FFAs uptake and lipogenesis. Picroside II also decreased the expression of gluconeogenic genes.

Antimalarial activity of three Pakistani medicinal plants

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro anti-malarial activity of three medicinal plants, Picrorhiza kurroa, Caesalpinia bonducella and Artemisia absinthium of Pakistan. Different extracts of various parts of these plants were prepared by maceration and percolation, and were evaluated for their antimalarial activity. Aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa showed 34%, 100% and 90% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively, at 2.00 mg/ml. While aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extracts of Caesalpinia bonducella showed 65%, 56% and 76% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively at same concentrations. In the case of Artemisia absinthium, aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extract of Artemisia absinthium showed 35%, 55% and 21% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively at 2.00 mg/ml. In our study, extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa were found good for traditional therapy with highly significant results

Effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora on the progression of chronic kidney disease in a rat remnant kidney model / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (EPS) on renal function and tissue damage in a rat remnant kidney model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models of chronic kidney disease induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) were randomly assigned into two groups for treatment with a gavage of either EPS or vehicle for 9 weeks. The rats in the control group received only sham operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with vehicle-treated 5/6 Nx rats, the EPS-treated rats displayed significantly decreased urinary excretion of malondialdehyde, serum levels of AGEs and AOPPs, and increased serum SeGSHPx activities. These changes were associated with attenuated urinary protein excretion, glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EPS can obviously improve the renal functions and renal pathologies in rats with chronic kidney disease probably by inhibiting the oxidative stress.</p>

Protective effect of total glucosides of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora against oxidative stress in glomerular mesangial cells induced by high glucose / 药学学报

Total glucosides of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (TGP) is the active principal in Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora which has antioxidant effect. Since oxidative stress plays a key role in diabetic nephropathy, we investigated the effects of TGP on oxidative stress in bovine glomerular mesangial cells (MC) induced by prolonged high glucose. Bovine glomerular mesangial cells were cultured and passages 2-3 were used for the experiment. Mesangial cells were cultured in high glucose medium, and treated with TGP for 3 weeks. Then collagen IV excreted by mesangial cells were detected, and the percentages of cell cycle were observed by flow cytometry technique. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and [Ca2+]i were measured by flow cytometry after loaded with fluorescent probe DCFH-DA, Rh123 and fluo-3-acetoxymethylest. TGP significantly decreased the excretion of collagen IV and cell hypertrophy induced by high glucose, reduced the levels of ROS and [Ca2+]i, and increased MMP. Therefore we conclude that TGP could protect mesangial cells against oxidative stress induced by high glucose.

Protective activity of picroliv on hepatic amoebiasis associated with carbon tetrachloride toxicity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Picroliv, isolated from the root and rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa, is known to have significant hepatoprotective activity. Its effects against Entamoeba histolytica induced liver damage are not studied. This study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective action of picroliv against the hepatotoxic changes induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) and E. histolytica infection in three animal models. METHODS: Mastomys, gerbils and albino Druckray rats were used in this study. A total of 30 animals were used for each model and divided into five groups of six animals each. Group I consisted of normal animals. The rest received six doses of CCl(4) intraperitoneally. Group II served as hepatotoxic control. The remaining animals were infected intraperitoneally with E. histolytica trophozoites, of which group III was the hepatotoxic plus amoeba infected control. The remaining animals were divided into two groups, one received hepatoprotective agent picroliv and the other silymarin. All animals were sacrificed seven days post amoeba infection. RESULTS: Increase in the enzyme levels induced by CCl(4) was further elevated after E. histolytica infection. Pinpoint abscesses were found to develop only in gerbils after E. histolytica infection. Picroliv was found to possess hepatoprotective activity against amoebic liver abscess. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Significant recovery obtained in serum enzyme levels in all animal models and against amoebic liver abscess in gerbils on treatment with picroliv indicated that picroliv possesses therapeutic activity against E. histolytica induced hepatic damage.

Phenylethanoid glycosides from root of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the phenylethanoid glycosides from root of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Column chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of the plant and the structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Six phenylethanoid glycosides were isolated and elucidated as: 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3) beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), scroside B (3), hemiphroside A (4), plantainoside D (5) and scroside A (6), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 2 was firstly obtained from natural source.</p>

Free radical scavenging potential of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth.

For assessing free radical scavenging potential of P. kurrooa, the antioxidant activity of P. kurrooa extract was studied by lipid peroxidation assay using rat liver homogenate. The extract (1 mg/ml) showed marked protection (up to 66.68%) against peroxidation of liver phospholipids. Besides, reduced glutathione showed very encouraging activity. The extract also exhibited significant scavenging activity. Thus augmenting the wide use of plant in the indigenous system of medicine, which may partly be due to antioxidant and free radical scavening activity of the extract.