Production of Δ7-Sterols from In Vitro Root Cultures of Endangered Gypsophila trichotoma.

Species from the genus Gypsophila are known for their medicinal, industrial and decorative applications. G. trichotoma Wend. is an endangered plant species for the Bulgarian flora according to the Red Data Book. Δ7-Sterols, which are unusual and rare in the plant kingdom, are present in the roots of this species. In previous studies different in vitro cultures were established from aerial parts of the species. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility for production of Δ7-sterols from in vitro cultured roots of G. trichotoma. The root cultures were grown on six modified MS media and the quantity of sterols was analyzed. These findings will serve to solve the important matter of the role of nutrients on sterols biosynthesis.

Flavonoids from the Genus Astragalus: Phytochemistry and Biological Activity.

Flavonoids, the most common plant polyphenols are widely distributed in every species and possess a broad range of pharmacological activities. The genus Astragalus is the largest in the Fabaceae family with more than 2,500 species spread. They are known to contain different metabolites such as flavonoids, saponins, and polysaccharides. Plants from the genus have been used in the traditional medicine of many countries for centuries. This paper is focused on the large group of flavonoid compounds. Details on structure as well as information about the pharmacological properties of flavonoids, isolated from Astragalus species have been discussed. This review is based on publications until the first half of 2014 and includes also the results from our phytochemical investigations of the genus.

Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of saponarin from Gypsophila trichotoma on streptozotocin-induced diabetic normotensive and hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and hypertension are diseases that often coexist, which increases the risk of chronic organ damages and cardiovascular complications. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of saponarin, isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma Wend, on blood pressure, glycemia, body weight, and liver biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress in diabetic normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, i.p.). The following biochemical parameters: reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total cytochrome P450, aniline hydroxylase (AH) activity, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in the livers of euthanized rats. RESULTS: Saponarin exerted slight antihypertensive activity in non-diabetic SHR, judged by 19% (p<0.05) decrease of the initial blood pressure. However, such effect was not observed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic SHR (SHR-D). Streptozotocin-induced diabetes was evidenced by 78% (p<0.05) and by 171% (p<0.05) increase in blood glucose level in NTR and SHR, respectively. In non-diabetic SHR the initial MDA quantity was by 36% (p<0.05) higher and the initial GSH levels were by 28% (p<0.05) lower in comparison to non-diabetic NTR. Significant decrease in the activities of GPx, GR, and GST was measured in the livers of all diabetic rats. Treatment with saponarin ameliorated the above mentioned liver parameters in both diabetic strains, however its effects were less pronounced in the diabetic SHR group. CONCLUSION: Taken together our data indicate that diabetes and hypertension in combination are more difficult to be modulated by saponarin.