Neolignans from North American Magnolia species with cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitory activity.

OBJECTIVES: Based upon reported ethnomedicinal use by Native Americans, extracts and pure isolates from leaves and seeds of Magnolia grandiflora, M. virginiana, M. acuminata and M. macrophylla, all native to the Southeastern United States, were investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential against cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The extracts and pure compounds from Magnolia species were tested for their production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) using a mouse macrophage (RAW 264.7) assay where cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. RESULTS: Leaf extracts were moderately active (44-58% inhibition at 50 microg/ml) whereas seed extracts showed significant activity of 54-88% inhibition, respectively. In the seed extract of M. grandiflora, honokiol, magnolol and 4'-O-methylhonokiol strongly inhibited COX-2 (IC(50): 1.2-2.0 microg/ml), 3-O-methylmagnolol was moderately active while a new compound was inactive towards COX-2. The neolignans were not cytotoxic to macrophages (RAW 264.7) and kidney fibroblast (VERO) cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the reported ethnomedicinal use of the investigated Magnolia species is in agreement with anti-inflammatory activity of their respective compounds.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects of sesquiterpene lactones from Magnolia and Bear's foot.

Sesquiterpene lactones possess a variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity. Two plants native to the southeastern United States, Magnolia grandiflora (L.) and Smallanthus uvedalius (L.) [syn Polymnia uvedalius (L.)], are novel sources of the sesquiterpene lactones parthenolide and enhydrin, respectively. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic effects of these isolated lactones from these two plant sources were evaluated in the rat carrageenan inflammation model. Rats received ip injections of either vehicle (propylene glycol), indomethacin (5 mg/kg), 11,13-dihydroparthenolide (20 mg/kg), parthenolide (5 or 20 mg/kg) or enhydrin (5 or 20 mg/kg). A 100-microl injection of 2.0% carrageenan was made into the plantar surface of the right hindpaw. Paw withdrawal latencies and paw volumes in both inflamed and non-inflamed paws were recorded at four test intervals: pre-inflammation baseline (0 time point), and 1, 2 and 4 h post-carrageenan injection. Vehicle-treated animals exhibited a significant time-dependent hyperalgesic and edema response that was greatest at the 4-h test interval. Indomethacin significantly blocked the hyperalgesic response and modestly attenuated the edema response. Parthenolide (20 mg/kg) and enhydrin (20 mg/kg) significantly blocked the hyperalgesic response and significantly attenuated the edema response; 11,13-dihydroparthenolide did not affect either inflammation or hyperalgesia. These findings suggest that parthenolide and enhydrin from these plant sources may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory pain.

New triterpenoids with antibacterial activity from Zizyphus joazeiro.

The stem bark of the Brazilian medicinal plant Zizyphus joazeiro C. Mart. was phytochemically investigated. Three known compounds (betulinic, ursolic and alphitolic acid) and three new derivatives of betulinic acid, 7 beta-(4-hydroxybenzoyloxy)-betulinic acid, 7 beta-(4-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzoyloxy)-betulinic acid and 27-(4-hydroxy-3'-methoxybenzoyloxy)-betulinic acid which showed a considerable activity against Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from the dichloromethane extract. The structures were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

The ethnomedicinal uses of magnoliaceae from the southeastern United States as leads in drug discovery.

In Asia and North America, members of the family Magnoliaceae have been and are presently used extensively in indigenous herbal medicine. Many taxa of the genus Magnolia produce lignans and sesquiterpene lactones, some with considerable in vitro bioactivities. This review focuses on selected natural products of the genus Magnolia from the southeastern United States with demonstrated biological and pharmacological properties. Ethnomedicinal data obtained from the Native Americans of the southeastern United States correlate well with the results of pharmacological investigations.

Radical scavenger activity of phenylethanoid glycosides in FMLP stimulated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes: structure-activity relationships.

Radical scavenger activities of 21 phenylethanoid glycosides, including 15 ester derivatives of caffeic, ferulic, vanillic and syringic acid as well as 6 deacyl derivatives were determined by quantifying their effects on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) stimulated human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). All phenylethanoids acylated with phenolic acids showed strong antioxidant activity whereas the deacyl derivatives were more than 30-fold less active. Therefore, the antioxidant activity is mainly related to the number of aromatic methoxy and hydroxy groups and the structure of the acyl moiety (C6-C1 or C6-C3). In contrast, modification of the sugar chain or replacement of hydroxy groups by methoxy groups in the acyl or the phenylethanoid moiety is of minor importance. The position of the acyl moiety is without significance. Free caffeic, ferulic, vanillic and syringic acid are less active compared to the phenylethanoid derivatives. This points to the importance of dissociation and lipophilicity of these acids in a cellular test system.

Iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides from Phlomis longifolia var. longifolia.

From the aerial parts of Phlomis longifolia var. longifolia four iridoid glucosides, shanzhiside methyl ester (1), 5-deoxypulchelloside I (2), lamalbide (3), phlomiol (4) and three phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside (5), forsythoside B (6), leucosceptoside A (7) along with the caffeic acid ester, chlorogenic acid (8) were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic (UV, IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, FABMS) and chemical evidence. The structure elucidation of the iridoid compounds 2 and 3 are discussed in detail.

Multiple screening of medicinal plants from Oaxaca, Mexico: ethnobotany and bioassays as a basis for phytochemical investigation.

Based on ethnobotanical data collected among Zapotec Indians in Mexico, nine species traditionally applied to treat skin diseases and two species used to treat gastrointestinal disorders were subjected to several bioassays as further selection criteria for phytochemical investigation. Ten were active against at least one of the pathogenic and/or non-pathogenic bacteria and one against a non-pathogenic fungus in bioautographic TLC and agar diffusion tests. Cytotoxic/antitumor potential was found for one plant species with cell lines (KB, Caco-2) and for six with the brine shrimp assay. In the NF-κB- and the HET-CAM-test used to test for anti-inflammatory potential, two respectively one plant extract showed noteworthy activity. Furthermore, a potentially immunomodulating activity was investigated by evaluating the influence of extracts in various in vitro assays using murine and human lymphoid cells. In addition to the reported biological activities of the eleven plant species, comparisons of the ethnobotanical data and strategies for the selection for further phytochemical investigations are discussed.