Critical review on medicinally potent plant species: Gloriosa superba.

Gloriosa superba L. is a perennial climber and is used as an ayurvedic medicinal herb to cure diseases in various parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. The plant was under threatened category due to its imprudent harvesting from wild as it is extensively used by medicinal industries for its colchicine content. It also faces a low seed set problem, but due to its industrial demand it is now under cultivation. The plant is used to cure arthritis, gout, rheumatism, inflammation, ulcers, bleeding piles, skin diseases, leprosy, impotency, snakebites, etc. Various compounds have been isolated from the plant parts mainly tubers and seeds, viz colchicine, colchicoside (its semi-synthetic derivative - thiocolchicoside), superbine, gloriosine, lumicolchicine, 3-demethyl-N-deformyl-N-deacetylcolchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine, N-formyl deacetylcolchicine. In the present review, we have summarized the information concerning the occurrence, botanical description, ethanopharmacology, medicinal uses, biological activities and toxicological studies on this plant.

Effect of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem extract on the functional indices and histology of the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats.

The effects of aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of body weight for 14 days on the functional indices of liver and kidney as well as the histology of the rat organs were evaluated. The extract did not significantly (P < .05) alter the total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, uric acid, and creatinine levels in the serum of rats. However, the 50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight doses reduced the liver- and kidney-body weight ratios by the end of the experimental period. While the extract increased the activities of liver gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST, respectively), and total bilirubin, globulin, and urea, the levels of albumin, conjugated bilirubin, inorganic phosphorus, and kidney ALP and GGT decreased. The activities of serum ALP, GGT, ALT, and AST also increased throughout the experimental period. The extract produced higher effects on the liver functional indices (39%) than the kidney parameters (21%). Histological examination revealed slight distortions in the architecture of the liver lobules as well as proximal and convoluted tubules of the kidney. The alterations produced in some of the functional indices as well as in the hepatorenal architecture may adversely affect the normal hepatic and renal functions. The parameter-specific effect of the extract suggests selective toxicity. This is an indication that the extract is not completely "safe" as an oral remedy.

Reproductive toxicologic evaluations of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem extract in albino rats.

The effects of oral administration of aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis Baker stem at daily doses of 25, 50, and 100mg/kg body weight on the reproductive function of Wistar rats were evaluated. The indices of mating and fertility success as well as quantal frequency increased after 7 days of treatment in all the dose groups except the 100mg/kg body weight group. The number of litters was not statistically different (P>0.05) from the control. Whereas the absolute weights of the epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate were not affected, that of the testes was significantly increased. The epididymal sperm count, motility, morphology, and viscosity were not different from the control after 7 days of treatment. The male rat serum testosterone, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone significantly increased in the 25 and 50mg/kg body weight groups, whereas the estradiol concentration decreased significantly at all the doses. The extract dose of 100mg/kg body weight decreased the serum testosterone and progesterone levels in male rats. The prolactin concentration was not affected by all the doses. All the indices of reproduction, maternal, embryo/fetotoxic, teratogenic, and reproductive hormones in the female rats were not statistically different from that of their control except the resorption index, which increased at the dose of 100mg/kg body weight of the extract. Histologic examination of the cross section of rat testes that received the extract at all the doses investigated revealed well-preserved seminiferous tubules with normal amount of stroma, normal population of spermatogenic and supporting cells, as well as normal spermatocytes within the lumen. The results revealed that the aqueous extract of Bulbine natalensis stem at doses of 25 and 50mg/kg body weight enhanced the success rate of mating and fertility due to increased libido as well as the levels of reproductive hormones in male rats. The absence of alterations in the reproductive parameters of female rats at doses of 25 and 50mg/kg body weight of Bulbine natalensis stem extract suggest that the extract is "safe" for use at these doses by females during the organogenic period of pregnancy, whereas the extract dose of 100mg/kg body weight portends a negative effect on some reproductive functions of male and female rats.

The in vivo effects of Tulbhagia violacea on blood pressure in a salt-sensitive rat model.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The in vivo effects of Tulbhagia violacea on systemic arterial blood pressure and on the renin-angiotensin system in a Dahl salt-sensitive rat model were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were treated for 14 days intraperitoneally as follows: Tulbhagia violacea (Tvl) (50mg/kg b.w.), captopril (Cap) (10mg/kg b.w.) or DMSO (Con). Baseline blood pressures were recorded prior to the commencement of the study and biweekly during the experimental period. Urine volume and sodium concentration were measured during the experimental period. On day 15, animals were anaesthetized (sodium thiopentane, 50mg/kg, i.p.), blood samples for aldosterone levels were taken and the kidneys removed for determining AT1a mRNA expression. RESULTS: Cap and Tvl groups showed significantly reduced AT1a mRNA expressions by 3.11- and 5.03-fold, respectively, when compared to the Con group (p<0.05). When compared to baseline blood pressures (day 0); Cap and Tvl showed reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 7.76+/-0.41% and 9.12+/-0.31%, respectively (mean% decrease from day 0 to day 14). In contrast, in the Con group the systolic blood pressure increased from day 0 to day 14 by 4.66+/-0.56%. Blood pressure changes in all treated groups differed from Con significantly. Systolic blood pressure decreased with the decrease in AT1a mRNA expressions in these groups. When comparing day 0 to day 14, urine output increased in the Cap and Tvl groups. In the Con group, urinary volume was reduced by day 14 as compared to day 0. Urinary sodium excretion was increased in the treated groups by day 14. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that Tulbhagia violacea reduces systemic arterial blood pressure in the Dahl rat by decreasing renal AT1 receptor gene expression and hence modulating sodium and water homeostasis.

[Occupational allergy caused by ornamental plants]. / Alergia zawodowa spowodowana przez rosliny ozdobne.

The problem of allergy to decorative plants is still poorly known. Reports on occupational allergy to flowers are scarce and usually concern gardeners, greenhouse workers and florists. The handling, smelling and caring of flowers may cause rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, urticaria and also contact dermatitis. Plants of the Compositae family that includes many different species have been frequently described. Chrysanthemum flowers, the strongest sensitizer among ornamental Compositae plants, especially contribute to the development of contact dermatitis. Allergy to Liliaceae, mostly to tulips, hyacinths, lilies and crocuses has quite often been reported as well as sensitization to rose pollen in rose planters. Occupational sensitization to flowers of other families, among which spathe flowers, primulas, weeping fig or Stephanotis floribunda should be mentioned, is less frequent. Exposure to ornamental flowers is common in the general population. Persons occupationally involved in cultivation of flowers and who demonstrate allergic symptoms are often forced to change their jobs. Candidates to these occupations with diagnosed atopy should be informed about the risk of developing allergy to flowers, which could make them unable to perform the job.

Norlanostane and lanostane glycosides from the bulbs of Chionodoxa luciliae and their cytotoxic activity.

Ten lanostane glycosides (1-10), including two new norlanostane glycosides (2 and 7) and a new lanostane glycoside with a spirolactone ring system (9), were isolated from the fresh bulbs of Chionodoxa luciliae (Liliaceae). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and the results of hydrolytic cleavage to be (23S)-3beta-[(O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-17alpha,23-epoxy-28,29-dihydroxy-27-norlanost-8-en-24-one (2), (23S)-17alpha,23-epoxy-29-hydroxy-3beta-[(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-27-norlanost-8-ene-15,24-dione (7), and (23S,25R)-17alpha,23-epoxy-29-hydroxy-3beta-[(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]lanost-8-en-23,26-olide (9), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells are also reported.

Cholestane glycosides from the bulbs of Galtonia candicans and their cytotoxicity.

Further search for cytotoxic compounds contained in the bulbs of Galtonia candicans (Liliaceae) led to the isolation of four potent cytotoxic cholestane glycosides (1-4) based upon 3beta,16beta,17alpha-trihydroxycholest-5-en-22-one, three of which (2-4) have not been reported previously. A new cholestane bisdesmoside (5) and a new rearranged cholestane glycoside (6) were also isolated. The structural assignment of the new constituents was carried out by spectroscopic analysis and a few chemical transformations.

Tolerance to the nephrotoxic component of Narthecium ossifragum in sheep: the effects of repeated oral doses of plant extracts.

Young adult sheep were dosed with extracts of Narthecium ossifragum plants by the oral or parenteral routes and the resulting nephrotoxicity was assessed from the increases in the concentrations of creatinine and urea in the serum. Following single intraruminal or intraperitoneal doses of extracts derived from 30 g N. ossifragum (wet weight) per kg live weight (kg lw), serum creatinine concentrations increased from about 100 micromol/L to between 260 and 510 micromol/L. The serum urea concentrations increased from about 5-8 mmol/L to between 11 and 66 mmol/L in individual sheep. Daily intraruminal administration of 5-30 g/kg lw to three sheep over a 10- or 15-day period increased creatinine concentrations from 100 micromol/L to 300-760 micromol/L, and urea concentrations from 5-8 mmol/L to 35 mmol/L. A single intraperitoneal challenge dose of 30 g/kg lw, delivered 7 or 12 days after the final intraruminal dose, did not lead to increased serum creatinine or urea concentrations, indicating that oral treatment had apparently resulted in an increased tolerance to the nephrotoxic principle(s) in N. ossifragum.