Protective Effects of Bacopa Monnieri on Hydrogen Peroxide and Staurosporine: Induced Damage of Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells.

Many herbs, and recently their biomass from in vitro cultures, are essential for the treatment of diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal growth of Bacopa monnieri (water hyssop) in an in vitro culture and to examine if extracts of the B. monnieri biomass from the in vitro culture would affect hydrogen peroxide- and staurosporine-induced injury of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. It has been found that B. monnieri at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL inhibited both hydrogen peroxide-induced efflux of lactate dehydrogenase from damaged cells to culture medium and increased cell viability determined by an MTT assay. Moreover, B. monnieri at concentrations of 10, 25, and 50 µg/mL decreased staurosporine-induced activity of an executive apoptotic enzyme-caspase-3 and protected mitochondrial membrane potential. The obtained data indicate that the biomass from the in vitro culture of B. monnieri prevented SH-SY5Y cell damage related to oxidative stress and had the ability to inhibit the apoptotic process. Thus, this study supports the traditional use of B. monnieri as a neuroprotective therapy, and further in vivo studies on the effects of this preparation on morphology and function of nerve cells could lead to its wider application.

In vitro cultures of Bacopa monnieri and an analysis of selected groups of biologically active metabolites in their biomass.

CONTEXT: Bacopa monnieri L. Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) is one of the most important plants in the system of Indian medicine (Ayurveda). OBJECTIVE: This paper studies the optimal growth of B. monnieri for effective accumulation of metabolites. Biomass growth of this plant could be accomplished in liquid cultures on Murashige & Skoog medium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Powdered shoots of in vitro cultures of B. monnieri were extracted by methanol for indole compounds, phenolic compounds and bacosides for RP-HPLC analysis. Fatty acid analysis was performed via gas chromatography. Anti-inflammatory effect of B. monnieri extracts was evaluated in the A549 cells. COX-2 and cPGES expression was analyzed using Western blots. RESULTS: l-Tryptophan and serotonin were found in biomass from in vitro cultures of B. monnieri on MS medium and in biomass from the MS mediums enriched with the different additions such as of 0.1 g/L magnesium sulphate, 0.1 g/L zinc hydroaspartate, 0.1 g/L l-tryptophan, 0.25 g/L serine, 0.5 g/L serine and 0.5 mg/L anthranilic acid. The content of l-tryptophan and serotonin compounds was significant in biomass from medium with the addition of 0.1 g/L zinc hydroaspartate (0.72 mg/g dry weight and 1.19, respectively). Phenolic compounds identified in biomass from the same variants of MS medium were chlorogenic acid (ranging from 0.20 to 0.70 mg/g dry weight), neochlorogenic acid (ranging from 0.11 to 0.40 mg/g dry weight) and caffeic acid (ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 mg/g dry weight). The main group of fatty acids in biomass was saturated fatty acids (53.4%). The predominant fatty acid was palmitic acid. A significant decrease of COX-2 and cPGES expression was observed in the A549 cells activated with LPS and treated with B. monnieri extracts. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: As far as we know, this is the first analysis of indole compounds and phenolic acids in this plant. The multi-therapeutic effect of B. monnieri is expressed by the activity of bacosides. Information about the presence of indole and phenolic compounds, and fatty acids in this plant is limited, but the content of these compounds might participate in the physiological activity of B. monnieri.

Chemopreventive and Anticancer Activities of Bacopa monnieri Extracted from Artificial Digestive Juices.

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell (water hyssop) from the Scrophulariaceae family represents one of the best known plants of the Ayurveda system, with reported precognitive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant activity. It is considered to be a central nervous system modulating agent. However, recent studies have indicated its potential use in cancer prevention and treatment. Here we report the findings from a study of the effects of B. monnieri extracts derived from artificial digestive juices on physiological traits of prostate cancer cells (DU 145), such as viability and migratory activity. The safety profile and chemopreventive potential of B. monnieri extracts were investigated in Vibrio harveyi mutagenicity assays. Additionally, in this study for the first time the content of phenolic compounds and bacosides released from B. monnieri biomass to artificial digestive juices was determined. The investigated extracts were cytotoxic to DU 145; however, in non-cytotoxic concentrations, they significantly reduced cancer cell motility, thereby demonstrated anti- invasive activity. All extracts under study exhibited very strong antimutagenic activity against nitroquinoline-N-oxide. Bacoside A and phenolic acids were determined, but qualitative and quantitative differences between extracts were found.

Natural products of relevance in the prevention and supportive treatment of depression.

The use of herbs or their parts: leaves, roots, rhizomes, flowers, seeds, natural strains, as well as extracts or isolated metabolites is becoming more and more popular. Natural remedies not only act prophylactically, but also help to alleviate symptoms of many diseases and enhance the overall functioning of the internal organs. Many raw materials of natural origin plays a role in treatment of health problems, and also in case of serious diseases such as depression. Depression (affective disorder) now affects about 10% of the population, but in next few years due to the development of civilization and increasing pace of life, the probable number of people suffering from this disease can grow rapidly. Natural raw materials such as Bacopa monnieri, Crocus sativus, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Griffonia simplicifolia, Hypericum perforatum, Sceletium tortuosum, Piper methysticum, Rhodiola rosea, Aspalathus linearis, Camellia sinensis, Ficus carica, Lycium chinense, Cuminum cyminum, Panax Ginseng can effectively assist the prevention and treatment of depression. Daily diet may also have positive effect in prevention of this disease. It was found that 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, L-tryptophan (which are precursors of serotonin in the CNS), omega-3 fatty acids and anthranilic acid (vitamin L1) are able to improve mood. L-Tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan are present in the largest quantities in the fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in the flesh of fish, walnuts, soybeans, beans and chicken egg protein, while the anthranilic acid is commonly found in plants.

Development of optimal medium content for bioelements accumulation in Bacopa monnieri (L.) in vitro culture.

Bacopa monnieri is one of the most interesting plants from the Ayurveda system. The aims of present research were, basing on in vitro shoot culture of B. monnieri, to determine content and to evaluate the influence of physiologically important metabolites on the selected bioelements accumulation in biomass. The most significant increase in biomass production was observed in the culture medium enriched with 0.5 mg/L of anthranilic acid. In this medium also, the highest accumulation of Mg was noted. The highest concentration of iron was determined in B. monnieri in vitro culture enriched with 0.25 g/L of serine. The addition of L-tryptophan, magnesium sulfate, and zinc hydroaspartate caused only a small increase in the accumulation of copper in B. monnieri. Increase in Zn accumulation was obtained in biomass from in vitro culture of B. monnieri with the addition of magnesium sulfate and zinc hydroaspartate. In the case of Na, the maximum level of this element was in biomass from medium enriched with zinc hydroaspartate. Twofold increase in K concentration was obtained in biomass from cultures on medium with addition of serine and magnesium sulfate. The concentrations of Ca in biomass of all studied media were at the similar level.