Past, present and future of Psoralea glandulosa Linn, Chilean medicinal plant, an inexhaustible resource: a literature review / Pasado, presente y futuro de Psoralea glandulosa Linn, planta medicinal chilena fuente inagotable de recursos: una revisión de la literatura

Culén is the popular term used in Chile for the only endemic species of the Fabaceae family, Psoralea glandulosaLinn. It is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in Chile and in some regions of South America, not only as a home remedy, but also recommended by medicine and widely used in the gastronomic industry. Many properties are known, supported by biological tests both in vitroand in vivo. Because it is so highly appreciated, it is included in the book "Medicamentos HerbariosTradicionales" (Traditional Herbal Medicines) of the Chilean Ministry of Health. Given the great interest in this plant since time immemorial, this review contains information on its history, popular uses and scientific studies, for a better knowledge, management and sustainable care of this Chilean natural resource.

Culén es el término popular utilizado en Chile para la única especie endémica de la familia Fabaceae, Psoralea glandulosaLinn. Se trata de una de las plantas medicinales más utilizadas en Chile y en algunas regiones de Sudamérica, no solamente como remedio curativo casero, sino también recomendada por la medicina y con amplia utilización en la industria gastronómica. De ella se conocen un gran número propiedades avaladas por ensayos biológicos tanto in vitrocomo in vivo. Por ser tan apreciada, se encuentra incluida en el libro "Medicamentos Herbarios Tradicionales" del Ministerio de Salud de Chile. Dado el gran interés que despierta esta planta desde tiempos inmemoriales, se recoge en este capítulo la información sobre su historia, usos populares y estudios científicos, para un mejor conocimiento, manejo y cuidado de manera sustentable de este recurso natural chileno.

Psoralea glandulosa as a potential source of anticancer agents for melanoma treatment.

With the aim of identifying novel agents with antigrowth and pro-apoptotic activity on melanoma cancer, the present study was undertaken to investigate the biological activity of the resinous exudate of aerial parts from Psoralea glandulosa, and its active components (bakuchiol (1), 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol (2) and 12-hydroxy-iso-bakuchiol (3)) against melanoma cells (A2058). In addition, the effect in cancer cells of bakuchiol acetate (4), a semi-synthetic derivative of bakuchiol, was examined. The results obtained show that the resinous exudate inhibited the growth of cancer cells with IC50 value of 10.5 µg/mL after 48 h of treatment, while, for pure compounds, the most active was the semi-synthetic compound 4. Our data also demonstrate that resin is able to induce apoptotic cell death, which could be related to an overall action of the meroterpenes present. In addition, our data seem to indicate that the apoptosis correlated to the tested products appears, at least in part, to be associated with an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In summary, our study provides the first evidence that P. glandulosa may be considered a source of useful molecules in the development of analogues with more potent efficacy against melanoma cells.

Antiphytopathogenic activity of Psoralea glandulosa (Fabaceae) against Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora cinnamomi.

The resinous exudate, three meroterpenes, namely bakuchiol (1), 3-hydroxybakuchiol (2), 12-hydroxyisobakuchiol (3), and one furanocoumarin, psoralen (4), were isolated from the leaves of culen (Psoralea glandulosa). In addition to these, two semi-synthetic derivatives, bakuchiol acetate (5) and bakuchiol methyl eter (6), were obtained from 1, and were subsequently evaluated in vitro for the inhibitory effect of resin and compounds on the mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. and Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The resinous exudate inhibited the mycelial growth of both the pathogens, while bakuchiol (1) exhibited an inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of B. cinerea up to 94% at a concentration of 150 mg/L and psoralen (4) reduced the mycelial growth of P. cinnamomi up to 80% at a concentration of 150 mg/L. These compounds have the ability of blocking the development of mycelial growth and may be used as a potential biopesticide in the agricultural sector once the in vivo test results have been validated.

Study of the chemical composition of the resinous exudate isolated from Psoralea glandulosa and evaluation of the antioxidant properties of the terpenoids and the resin / Estudio de la composición química del exudado resinoso aislado de Psoralea glandulosa y la evaluación de las propiedades antioxidantes de la resina y sus terpenoides

Otholobium glandulosum (L.) J.W. Grimes (= Psoralea glandulosa L.) (Fabaceae) is a resinous bush that grows in Chile. The chemical composition of its resinous exudate was determined for the first time. Three meroterpenic: bakuchiol (8), 3-hydroxybakuchiol (11), 12-hydroxyisobakuchiol (12) and a new compound kuchiol (13) were isolated and their structures were determined. The antioxidant activity of the terpenic compounds and resin was evaluated using the bleaching of DPPH radical, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Total Reactive Antioxidant Properties (TRAP) assays.

Otholobium glandulosum (L.) J.W. Grimes (= Psoralea glandulosa L.) (Fabaceae) es un arbusto resinoso que crece en Chile. La composición química de su exudado resinoso fue determinada por primera vez. Tres meroterpenos: bakuchiol (8), 3-hidroxibakuchiol (11), 12-hidroxiisobakuchiol (12) y un nuevo compuesto kuchiol (13) fueron aislados y sus estructuras fueron determinadas espectroscópicamente. La actividad antioxidante de los compuestos terpénicos y la resina se evaluó mediante tres métodos antioxidantes DPPH, Poder Reductor de Hierro III (FRAP) y Capacidad Antioxidante Total (TRAP).

Antifungal study of the resinous exudate and of meroterpenoids isolated from Psoralea glandulosa (Fabaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Psoralea glandulosa L. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal resinous shrub used in Chilean folk medicine as antiseptic in treatment of infections and skin diseases caused by bacteria and fungus. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the resin and the active components from P. glandulosa against clinical yeast isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Active compounds were obtained of the resinous exudate from aerial parts of P. glandulosa. Eight species of yeast were exposed to the resin and two major compounds. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC(80)) was determined according to the standard broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Bakuchiol and 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol demonstrated potent activity with the MIC(80) ranging from 4 to >16 and 0.125 to 16 µg/mL, respectively. The resin had some degree of antifungal activity. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results provided important information for the potential application of the 3-hydroxy-bakuchiol from P. glandulosa in the therapy of serious infection and skin diseases caused by clinical yeast.

Fitoconstituyentes de las hojas de Psoralea glandulosa y efecto del infuso sobre la Glicemia en Rattus rattus var. albinus con hiperglicemia experimental / Phytoconstituents from the leaves of Psoralea glandulosa and effect on plasma glucose infused Rattus rattus var. albinus with experimental hyperglycemia

En el presente trabajo se ha determinado los fitoconstituyentes de las hojas de Psoralea Glandulosa y su efecto hipoglicemiante en Rattus rattus var. albinus con hiperglicemia experimental. Para la determinación de los fitoconstituyentes se utilizó la marcha fitoquímica de Olga Lock adaptada por Hugo casanova H. Encontrándose los siguientes fitoconstituyentes: fenoles, flavonoides y taninos. Para comprobar el efecto hipoglicemiante del infuso de hojas de Psoralea glandulosa se utilizó 24 animales de experimentación los que se dividieron en cuatro grupos. Al grupo I se les administró una sobrecarga de glucosa a la dosis de 2.5 g por Kg.p.c. determinándoles su glicemia basal y a intervalos de 30, 60, 90 y 120 minutos; al grupo II se le administró junto a la sobrecarga de glucosa el infuso a la dosis de 160 mg/Kg, siguiendo los mismos pasos del primer grupo. Al grupo III se realizo la medición de absorción intestinal con intestino de cada rata al que se le colocó glucosa y se midió sucesivamente los tiempos previo basal y luego 30, 60, 90, 120 minutos; al grupo IV también se realizó la medición de absorción intestinal pero colocando infuso y glucosa luego se realizó como el grupo anterior. Se empleó el método enzimático de glucosa en sangre, encontrándose que el infuso a la dosis de 160 mg/kg ejerce efecto hipoglicemiante teniendo en cuenta el nivel de significancia (p<0.05). Por lo que se concluye que el infuso de las hojas de Psoralea Glandulosa tiene efecto hipoglicemiante.

At the present study we determined the phitoconstituyent Psoralea glandulosa leaves and its hipogliceming effect in Rattus rattus var albinos. Determination of the phitoconstituyent was used the March Phitochimestry Olga Lock adapated by Casanova. Being the following fitoconstitutives: phenoles, flavonoids, tanins. To check the hipoglicemic effect of the leaves infuse of Psoralea glandulosa 24 animals was distributed in four groups. Group I they were administered solutio of glucose for oral way to the doses of 2.5 g/kg.c.w. and derterminate the glicemi respectively by diferent time: 30,60,90, 120 minutes in the second group they were administered infuse by 160 mg/dL. and glucose solution and repeat the same method as first group. The group III determinate intestinal absortion with glucose solution and infuse with glucose then determinated the glucose value. Enzymatic method was used for the determinations of glucose, being that the infuse to the dose 160 mg/dL of c.w. it exercises hipoglicemic effect, being statistically this value significant ( P< 0.05). We conclude that the infuse of leaves of Psoralea glandulosa has hipoglicemic effect.

The evaluation of forty-three plant species for in vitro antimycobacterial activities; isolation of active constituents from Psoralea corylifolia and Sanguinaria canadensis

Extracts from forty-three plant species were selected on account of reported traditional uses for the treatment of TB and/or leprosy. These were assayed for antimycobacterial activities. A simple in vitro screening assay was employed using two model species of mycobacteria, M. aurum and M. smegmatis. Crude methanolic extracts from three of the plants, C. mukul, P. corylifolia and S. canadensis, were found to have significant antimycobacterial activity against M. aurum only (MIC=62.5 microg/ml). Bioassay guided fractionation led to the isolation of two known benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine (1) and chelerythrine (2), from the roots S. canadensis and the known phenolic meroterpene, bakuchiol (3) from the seeds of P. corylifolia. The fractionation of the resin of C. mukul lead to a decrease in antimycobacterial activity and hence further work was not pursued. Compound (2) was the most active against M. aurum and M. smegmatis (IC(50)=7.30 microg/ml [19.02 microM] and 29.0 microg/ml [75.56 microM], respectively). M. aurum was the most susceptible organism to all three compounds. No significant difference in antimycobacterial activity was observed when the two alkaloids were tested for activity in media of differing pH values. The activities of the pure compounds against M. aurum were comparable with those against M. bovis BCG with compound (2) being the most active (M. bovis BCG, IC(50)=14.3 microg/ml [37.3 microM]). These results support the use of these plants in traditional medicine.

Active constituents isolated from Psoralea glandulosa L. with antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities.

The antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities of the petroleum ether extract (PEE), dichloromethane extract (DME) and methanol extract (ME1) of the aerial part of Psoralea glandulosa L. (Papilionaceae) were studied. The bioactivity-guided fractionation of the active extracts yielded the isolation of bakuchiol (Bk) from the petroleum ether as the active compound, cyclobakuchiols A and B (Cbk), and angelicin (Ang) from DME.