Antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Sambucus ebulus L. flower.

In this study antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Sambucus ebulus L. flower was investigated employing various in vitro assay systems, i.e., DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, reducing power, iron ion chelating power and linoleic acid. IC50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 228 +/- 12 microg mL(-1). The extract showed very high activity in the reducing power assay that was comparable with positive control, vitamin C. The extract showed good nitric oxide-scavenging activity (IC50 = 309 +/- 14 microg mL(-1). It was found that antioxidant activity was dose dependent i.e., activity was increased with the increase of their concentrations. The extract showed very weak activity in iron ion chelating (IC50 = 1.3 +/- 0.07 mg mL(-1)). It is showed very good activity in scavenging of hydrogen'peroxide. IC50 for scavenging of extract was 59.5 +/- 3.3 mcirog mL(-1). The extracts exhibited no activity in linoleic acid model. The total phenolic content of flower was 56.3 +/- 2.81 mg gallic acid equivalent g(-1) of extract powder and total flavonoid content was 14.5 +/- 0.72 mg quercetin equivalent g(-1) of extract powder by reference to standard curve.

Caracterização farmacobotânica das espécies de Sambucus (Caprifoliaceae) utilizadas como medicinais no Brasil: Parte II. Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. / Pharmacobotany of Sambucus species (Caprifoliaceae), used in traditional medicine in Brazil: Part II. Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl

Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. (sabugueiro-do-rio-grande, Caprifoliaceae) é uma planta medicinal descrita apenas na primeira edição da Farmacopéia Brasileira. A espécie é nativa no Brasil, e suas flores são utilizadas na medicina popular, na forma de infusão ou decocção, como diuréticas, antipiréticas, antiinflamatórias, laxativo leve e no tratamento de doenças do aparelho respiratório. Visando elaborar uma monografia farmacopéica atualizada e comparativa com a de Sambucus nigra L., de origem européia, foram estabelecidos os caracteres botânicos macro e microscópicos, através da metodologia clássica utilizada em morfoanatomia vegetal. São características macroscópicas: flores morfologicamente monoclinas; corola de sete a dez milímetros de diâmetro; pétalas com cinco, raro quatro nervuras paralelas; estames curtos e longos; gineceu em regra com cinco lóculos. São características microscópicas: cutícula espessa e estriada; ausência de idioblastos de areia cristalina de oxalato de cálcio; estômatos anomocíticos; brácteas anfiestomáticas; sépalas hipoestomáticas; pétalas anfi-hipoestomáticas; células epidérmicas da face abaxial de sépalas e pétalas retilíneas a sinuosas; células epidérmicas do filete alongadas e de paredes retilíneas; tricomas tectores e glandulares de diferentes tipos; brácteas, sépalas e pétalas com mesofilo homogêneo; sistema vascular representado por feixes colaterais ou agrupamentos de elementos xilemáticos; presença de gotas lipídicas em todas as peças.

Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. (sabugueiro-do-rio-grande, Caprifoliaceae) is a medicinal plant described only in the first edition of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. This species is native to Brazil, and its flowers are used in the folk medicine, with diuretic purpose, antipiretic, anti-inflammatory, mild laxative and to treat respiratory diseases, on infusions or decoctions forms. Aiming at elaborating an updated pharmacopoeical monograph and comparing it with the monograph of Sambucus nigra L., from Europe, it was established the macro and microscopic botanical characters, through the classic methodology used in plant morpho-anatomy. The macroscopic characters are: morphologic monoclin flowers; corolla with seven to ten millimeters of diameter; petals with five, rarely four parallel veins; shorter and longer stamens; ovary oftenly with five locules. The main microscopic characters are: thickned and striated cuticule; absense of idioblasts with calcium oxalate sandy cristals; anomocytic stomatas; amphystomatic bracts; hypostomatic sepals; amphi-hypostomatic petals; wavy and straight epidermal cells in the lower surface of sepals and petals; filaments epidermal cells with narrow and straight walls; glandular and non-glandular trichomes of different types; homogeneous mesophyll in bracts, sepals and petals; vascular system represented by both collateral bundles and xylematic elements; volatile and non volatile oil globules in all structures.

[A study on quality standard of Sambucus chinensis Lindl].

OBJECTIVE: To offer evidences for exploiting the plant resources and drafting the quality standards. METHOD: Studies of pharmacognosy. RESULT: The medicinal properties and the microscopic characteristics of the stem, leaves, rhizome and powder were described, drawn and physicochemically identified. CONCLUSION: A convenient and effective method for identifying the herb has been established.