ABSTRACT
Epilobium parviflorum Schreb. (willow-herb) is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but its biological action is not entirely identified. This paper aims to report data on willow-herbs probable biological effect. In vitro studies have been made to investigate different aspects of its antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory (COX-inhibitory) action, steroid-receptor -agonistic and -antagonostic effect as well as aromatase-inhibitory effect. Based on our results, willow-herb possess remarkable antioxidant and COX-inhibitory action.
Subject(s)
Epilobium , Plant Preparations/therapeutic use , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Phytotherapy , Plant Preparations/pharmacology , Receptors, Androgen/drug effects , Receptors, Androgen/physiology , Receptors, Estrogen/drug effects , Receptors, Estrogen/physiologyABSTRACT
Epilobium species (Onagraceae) are commonly used herbal remedies in traditional, adjuvant therapy of benignus prostate hyperplasia (BPH), however the pharmacological and clinical standardization of commercially available Epilobii herba (willow-herb) remains difficult. Willow-herb products usually consist of mixtures from various species, with different phenoloid content, often only partially identified. The present study reports comprehensive LC-MS/MS investigation on the polyphenol composition of the most common Epilobium species, emphasizing the pharmaceutical importance of a uniform standardization protocol in case of their products. The antioxidant capacity of species was evaluated by a simple spectrophotometric method, using ABTS(+) (2,2'azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)). High ratio of macrocyclic tannins, mainly oenothein B was identified in all Epilobium species examined. Flavonoid composition of Epilobium extracts showed several differences, especially comparing E. angustifolium to other species. Myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol and their various glycosides were dominant in samples, but their combination and ratio were distinctive in all cases. Epilobium extracts showed high radical-scavenger activity, comparable to that of well-known antioxidants, Trolox and ascorbic acid. Among species examined, extract of Epilobium parviflorum possessed the highest antioxidant capacity (EC(50)=1.71+/-0.05 microg/ml).
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Epilobium/chemistry , Flavonoids/chemistry , Phenols/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Chromatography, Liquid , Free Radical Scavengers/pharmacology , Hydrolyzable Tannins/analysis , Hydrolyzable Tannins/chemistry , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Molecular Structure , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Polyphenols , Species Specificity , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
Epidemiological and clinical studies have proved the beneficial effect of bioactive compounds of vegetables and medicinal plants used in phytotherapy on prevention of several diseases. Beyond the well-known natural antioxidants, such as vitamins, other natural substances can function as antioxidants. In 1992 the Saas Fee Declaration was published by leader nutritionist and biochemists underlining the importance of prevention in health maintenance based on scientific studies with natural compounds. According to the declaration the antioxidants are the main active and beneficial components. Authors joining with the spirit of Saas Fee Declaration have worked out a complex examination system to study the antioxidant, free radical scavenging and inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation of isolated components, natural plant extracts and herbal preparations. The members of the system are the followings: hydrogendonating ability, reducing power, chelating activity, free radical scavenging activities measured by chemiluminescence techniques, electron paramagnetic resonance / spin trapping studies, inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced in rat brain / liver microsomes, consequencies and treatment of experimental hyperlipidemia, morphological and histological studies. Only one measurement cannot give enough information about the antioxidant properties of the products. Complex in vitro examination of a novel antioxidant can draw pictures of correlation between the chemical structure and antioxidant effect, the mechanism of its favourable effect and its presumable role in prevention of lipid peroxidation. With the use of these results planning and execution of in vivo examinations should be more precise, practical and essential.