Antioxidant activity and phenylpropanoids of Phlomis lychnitis L.: a traditional herbal tea.

Phlomis lychnitis L. (Lamiaceae) is consumed as a traditional herbal tea in Spain. The antioxidant-protective effects as well as its phytoconstituents have never been established. The ability of the methanolic extract to protect cells from oxidative stress was evaluated in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) using hydrogen peroxide as toxic agent. The viability of PC12 cells pre-treated with the methanolic extract of Phlomis lychnitis, determined by the MTT and LDH assays, was significantly improved at the highest dose (p < 0.01). The antioxidant activity was confirmed evaluating the capacity of the plant to scavenge ABTS, DPPH, O(2) . (-) radicals and to inhibit XO. Bioassay guided fractionation led to antioxidant compounds. Qualitative HPLC/DAD/ESI/MS analysis reported phenylpropanoids, verbascoside being the major antioxidant constituent.

Pharmacological properties of Anagallis arvensis L. ("scarlet pimpernel") and Anagallis foemina Mill. ("blue pimpernel") traditionally used as wound healing remedies in Navarra (Spain).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anagallis arvensis and Anagallis foemina are traditionally used in Navarra (Spain) for dermatological purposes regarding wound healing properties. In some cases they are also used to threat internal infections although they are known to be toxic at high doses. AIM OF STUDY: Due to lack of studies, we decided to evaluate the potential of the plants as wound healing remedies measuring antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties using in vitro procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial effects were studied against four bacteria and one fungus. Anti-inflammatory properties were measured in terms of COX-1 and -2 inhibition as well as superoxide radical scavenging capacity. RESULTS: Both species exerted antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The methanolic extract obtained from Anagallis arvensis seemed to produce the highest inhibition in Candida albicans (MIC=0.31 mg/ml). Inhibition of COX-1 and -2 was also stronger for methanolic extracts whereas aqueous were revealed as better free radical scavengers. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that both species possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities related to their ethnomedicinal uses.

Analyzing factors that influence the folk use and phytonomy of 18 medicinal plants in Navarra.

BACKGROUND: This article analyzes whether the distribution or area of use of 18 medicinal plants is influenced by ecological and cultural factors which might account for their traditional use and/or phytonymy in Navarra. This discussion may be helpful for comparative studies, touching as it does on other ethnopharmacological issues: a) which cultural and ecological factors affect the selection of medicinal plants; b) substitutions of medicinal plants in popular medicine; c) the relation between local nomenclature and uses. To analyze these questions, this paper presents an example of a species used for digestive disorders (tea and camomile: Jasonia glutinosa, J. tuberosa, Sideritis hyssopifolia, Bidens aurea, Chamaemelum nobile, Santolina chamaecyparissus...), high blood pressure (Rhamnus alaternus, Olea europaea...) or skin diseases (Hylotelephium maximum, H. telephium, Anagallis arvensis, A. foemina). METHODS: Fieldwork began on January 2004 and continued until December 2006. During that time we interviewed 505 informants in 218 locations in Navarra. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews, and we subsequently made maps using Arc-View 8.0 program to determine the area of use of each taxon. Each map was then compared with the bioclimatic and linguistic map of Navarra, using the soil and ethnographic data for the region, and with other ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological studies carried out in Europe. RESULTS: The results clearly show that ecological and cultural factors influence the selection of medicinal plants in this region. Climate and substrate are the most important ecological factors that influence the distribution and abundance of plants, which are the biological factors that affect medicinal plant selection. CONCLUSION: The study of edaphological and climatological factors, on the one hand, and culture, on the other, can help us to understand why a plant is replaced by another one for the same purposes, either in the same or in a different area. In many cases, the cultural factor means that the use of a species is more widespread than its ecological distribution. This may also explain the presence of synonyms and polysemies which are useful for discussing ethnopharmacological data.

First comprehensive contribution to medical ethnobotany of Western Pyrenees.

BACKGROUND: An ethnobotanical and medical study was carried out in the Navarre Pyrenees, an area known both for its high biological diversity and its cultural significance. As well as the compilation of an ethnopharmacological catalogue, a quantitative ethnobotanical comparison has been carried out in relation to the outcomes from other studies about the Pyrenees. A review of all drugs used in the area has also been carried out, through a study of the monographs published by the institutions and organizations responsible for the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants (WHO, ESCOP, and the E Commission of the German Department of Health) in order to ascertain the extent to which the Navarre Pyrenees ethnopharmacology has been officially evaluated. METHODS: Fieldwork was carried out over two years, from November 2004 to December 2006. During that time we interviewed 88 local people in 40 villages. Information was collected using semi-structured ethnobotanical interviews and the data was analyzed using quantitative indexes: Ethnobotonicity Index, Shannon-Wiener's Diversity, Equitability and The Informant Consensus Factor. The official review has been performed using the official monographs published by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health. RESULTS: The ethnobotanical and medical catalogue of the Navarre Pyrenees Area comprises 92 species, of which 39 have been mentioned by at least three interviewees. The quantitative ethnobotany results show lower values than those found in other studies about the Pyrenees; and 57.6% of the Pyrenees medical ethnobotany described does not figure in documents published by the above mentioned institutions. CONCLUSION: The results show a reduction in the ethnobotanical and medical knowledge in the area of study, when compared to other studies carried out in the Pyrenees. Nevertheless, the use of several species that may be regarded as possible sources for pharmacological studies is reported here such as the bark of Sambucus nigra, the roots of Fragaria vesca, or the leaves of Scrophularia nodosa. These species are not currently approved by the WHO, ESCOP and the E Commission of the German Department of Health, institutions that, apart from encouraging the greater use of plants for medicinal purposes, may help in the design of development plans for these rural areas by validating their traditional medicine.

In vitro antioxidant and anti-rhizopus activities of Lamiaceae herbal extracts.

Eighty-eight extracts of different polarity obtained from 18 Lamiaceae medicinal and aromatic plants were screened for their antioxidant and antifungal properties. A TLC analysis combined with two bioassays were used to detect these activities. In most cases the highest radical scavenger capacity was detected in methanolic and aqueous extracts and polyphenols may be responsible. The most interesting antioxidant activity was observed in polar extracts obtained from Lycopus europaeus, Melissa officinalis, Origanum vulgare subsp. virens and Lavandula latifolia. On the contrary, the best results for the antifungal test against Rhizopus stolonifer were produced by non-polar herbal extracts. Phlomis lychnitis, Salvia pratensis and Calamintha sylvatica caused the highest inhibition on Rhizopus growth.

Actividad antioxidante de plantas empleadas en la medicina tradicional navarra / No disponible

Numerosos estudios han puesto de manifiesto últimamente la relación existente entre el estrés oxidativo, el envejecimiento celular y algunas enfermedades. El estilo de vida actual está favoreciendo la acumulación de radicales libres y especies reactivas del oxígeno en nuestro organismo y como consecuencia de ello un aumento del estrés oxidativo a nivel fisiológico. Por esto es recomendable el aporte de antioxidantes de carácter exógeno. Debido al interés que están adquiriendo este grupo de compuestos, en este artículo se presenta un trabajo de investigación que tiene por objeto la búsqueda de plantas medicinales con actividad antioxidante a partir de especies vegetales empleadas en la medicina tradicional en Navarra (AU)

Many studies have shown the relation between oxidative stress, cellular senescence and some diseases. In addition, current lifestyle is causing the accumulation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species in the human body increasing the physiological level of oxidative stress. For these reasons it is recommended the intake of exogenous antioxidants. Due to the raising interest of these compounds, this article presents a research work about antioxidant activity of plants used in folk medicine in Navarra (Spain) (AU)

Plantas medicinales en la medicina tradicional de Navarra: primera aproximación / No disponible

La etnobotánica además de ser una fuente para la búsqueda de nuevos fármacos, es un inventario del saber ancestral que en la actualidad se está perdiendo u olvidando debido a diferentes causas, tales como el éxodo rural, la industrialización o los nuevos hábitos de vida. El presente artículo recoge la primera aproximación del estudio etnobotánico de las plantas medicinales empleadas tradicionalmente en Navarra. Tras un exhaustivo trabajo de campo que consiste en entrevistas personales y en la posterior recolección del material vegetal con los informantes, esta información se ha revisado y discutido con las monografías publicadas por instituciones internacionales como la OMS, ESCOP y Comisión E del Ministerio de Sanidad Alemán. Hasta el momento se han realizado entrevistas a 152 personas procedentes de 82 localidades y se han recopilado un total de 1.008 recetas de plantas medicinales correspondientes a 178 taxones y 60 familias botánicas

Ethnobotany in addition to being a source for the search of new drugs, is an inventory of the ancestral knowledge that at the present time is being lost of forgetting due to different causes, such as the rural exodus, the industrialization or the new habits of life. The present article gathers the first approach of the ethnobotanical study of the traditionally used medicinal plants in Navarre. After an exhaustive work of field that consist of personal interviews and the later harvesting of the vegetal material with the informants, this information has been reviewed and discussed with the monographs published by international institutions like the WHO, ESCOP and Commission E of the German Ministry of Health. Until the moment interviews to 152 people coming from 82 localities have been made and a total of 1008 prescriptions of 178 has been compiled medicinal plants corresponding to 178 taxa and 60 botanical families