Interaction of folk medicinal plant extracts with human alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes

Forty-two extracts of folk medicinal plant organs from Pakistan were tested in competition binding assays for their interaction with the specific ligand recognition sites on the human alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes alpha2A, alpha2B and alpha2C Strong binding of the extracts (40 mg/ml) from Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile leaves (88-98% displacement of radiolabel) and Peganum harmala seeds (89-96% displacement) on three subtypes prompted us to extract these plant materials with 40% and 80% methanol, ethanol, and acetone. The extraction results indicated an absence of alpha2-adrenoceptor binding activity in the stalk of A. nilotica and A. tortils, whereas the leaves of both plants contained activity. The extracts of A. nilotica leaves showed a slight, but consistent, preference for the alpha2C-adrenoceptor, whereas the leaves of A. tortils were slightly more active on the alpha2B subtype. The extract of P. harmala stalks was less active than that of its seeds. The binding activities of A. nilotica leaves and P. harmala seeds were mainly concentrated in the water and 30% methanol fractions and further sub-fractions. In a functional activity assay, the active fractions inhibited epinephrine-stimulated 35S-GTPyS binding, thus indicating a predominantly antagonistic nature of the compounds with alpha2-adrenoceptor affinity in these fractions. Among the known major alkaloids of P. harmala (demissidine, harmaline, harmine, 6-methoxyharmalan, and norharmane), only 6-methoxyharmalan showed moderate affinity (dissociation constant (Ki) of 530 +/- 40 nm for alpha2A subtype). This study is a first systematic attempt towards the discovery of potential drug candidates from these plant materials for treating alpha2-adrenoceptor related diseases.     

骆驼蓬提取物浸种对小麦幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

以不同浓度骆驼蓬提取液浸种处理小麦。研究对幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明,骆驼蓬提取液浸种后小麦幼苗的根长、株高和干重增加,根冠比增大;幼苗根系活力增强,根系超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性提高,过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性先升后降,过氧化物酶（POD）活性下降,过氧化物酶同工酶表达受抑;叶片叶绿素和可溶性蛋白质含量增加,叶片SOD、POD活性提高,过氧化物酶同工酶表达增强,CAT活性降低。根系和叶片丙二醛（MDA）含量下降。     

骆驼蓬种子中一种具抗肿瘤活性蛋白的分离纯化及鉴定

骆驼蓬种子经浸提、硫酸铵沉淀、CM阳离子交换层析和Superdex 75凝胶过滤层析分离纯化得到一种具有抗肿瘤细胞增殖活性的蛋白(命名为PhLTP),经Tricine-SDS-PAGE检测为单一蛋白条带,高效液相色谱检测其表观分子量为14.8 kDa左右,表明PhLTP是由两条相同的亚基组成的蛋白.采用Edman降解法对该纯化蛋白的N-末端进行氨基酸测序,其N-末端序列与其他植物非特异性脂转移蛋白相似.对PhLTP抗肿瘤活性进行研究,结果表明其对HeLa、Eca-109、MGC-9和BEL-7404细胞都有增殖抑制活性,其中对HeLa细胞增殖的抑制作用较好,并具有浓度和时间依赖性,其IC50为45 μg/mL.通过Hoechst33258染色观察细胞形态,发现PhLTP能诱导HeLa细胞发生凋亡.     

Treatment of natural tropical theileriosis with the extract of the plant Peganum harmala

Theileria annulata, a protozoan parasite of cattle and domestic buffaloes, is transmitted by ticks of the genus Hyalomma, and causes a disease named Mediterranean or tropical theileriosis. In this research 50 cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata were treated with the extract of the plant Peganum harmala. The treatment was continued for 5 days, the dose of the extract being 5 mg/kg per day. After the treatment, 39 cattle responded to the treatment and recovered, but 11 did not respond to the treatment and died. The recovery rate of animals treated with the extract of the plant Peganum harmala was 78%.     

骆驼瘤胃耐受/降解去氢骆驼蓬碱细菌的筛选

【目的】中药骆驼蓬含多种生物碱,对动物有毒性。生活于荒漠半荒漠的骆驼可采食部分有毒植物而不中毒。为了解骆驼瘤胃微生物对骆驼蓬植物毒素的耐受与降解能力进行本研究。【方法】以含100mg/L纯品去氢骆驼蓬碱的M98-5培养基接种骆驼瘤胃内容物,经五代胁迫培养后分离可耐受/降解去氢骆驼蓬碱的细菌,以薄层析法检验其降解活力,以16SrRNA序列分析其进化地位。【结果】29个分离株中15株具有降解去氢骆驼蓬碱活性;16SrRNA序列分析显示,属于乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)16株,占55%;志贺氏菌属(Shigella)7株,占24%;芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)4株,占13.8%;肠球菌属(Enterococcus)和巨型肠球菌属(Megasphaera)各1株。【结论】可耐受/降解去氢骆驼蓬碱的骆驼瘤胃细菌仅限于少数几类,且检测到的具有降解活力的只有乳杆菌类。     

骆驼蓬(Peganum harmala)蛋白质的分布、提取及活性研究

采用不同溶剂分级提取骆驼蓬（Peganum harmala L．）根、茎、叶及种子中的蛋白质,结果表明总蛋白以种子中的蛋白含量最高,而营养器官以叶中的蛋白含量较高。当年种子总蛋白含量显著高于贮藏种子。不同溶剂分级提取的当年生种子、根、茎和叶中各组分,以碱提组分蛋白含量最高。用含不同盐离子浓度的缓冲液和不同pH值的广泛缓冲液提取骆驼蓬种子的蛋白质,结果表明优化后的缓冲液条件为含0．2mol／LNaCl,pH：7．0～8．0的5mmol／LPBS缓冲液。硫酸铵沉淀法获得的骆驼蓬种子中的蛋白粗提物（1．2mg／mL）对供试真菌交格链孢菌（Alternaria alternata）、指状青霉菌（Penicillium degitatum）、灰霉病菌（Botrytis cinerea）、稻瘟病菌（Magnaporthe grisea）和意大利青霉菌（Penicillium italicum）等5种植物病原真菌均有抑菌作用,其中对意大利青霉菌和交格链孢菌表现出较好的抑菌活性,抑菌环直径分别为19．50和18．50mm。对供试细菌表皮葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus epidermidis）、粪肠球菌（Enterococcus faecalis）、臭鼻克雷伯菌（Klebsiella penumoniae）、福氏志贺氏菌（Shigella flexneri）、金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcus aureua）和鲍曼不动杆菌（Acinetobacter baumannii）等6种病原细菌也有抑菌作用,其中对臭鼻克雷伯菌、福氏志贺氏菌、表皮葡萄球菌等病原细菌等有较好的抑制作用,抑菌圈直径分别10．20、10．10和9．30mm。     

Beta-carboline and quinoline alkaloids in root cultures and intact plants of Peganum harmala

Alkaloid profiles of root and shoot cultures, seedlings and mature plants were analysed by capillary GLC and GLC-MS. beta-Carboline alkaloids, such as harmine, harmaline dominate in normal and root cultures transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, as well as in roots and fruits of the plant. In shoots, flowers and shoot cultures quinoline alkaloids such as peganine, deoxypeganine, vasicinone and deoxyvasicinone widely replace the beta-carboline alkaloids. In root cultures, the formation of beta-carboline alkaloids can be induced by methyljasmonate and several other elicitors indicating that these alkaloids are part of the reactive chemical defence system of Peganum harmala.     

反相离子对高效液相色谱法优选去氢骆驼蓬碱提取工艺的初步研究

笔者用反相离子对高效液相色谱法对骆驼蓬种子所含有效成分去氢骆驼蓬碱提取工艺进行了研究 ,工艺合理可行 ,结论合理可靠     

Xanthomicrol is the main cytotoxic component of Dracocephalum kotschyii and a potential anti-cancer agent

Spinal-Z, a methanolic mixture of dried powdered seeds of Peganum harmala Linn. and leaf of Dracocephalum kotschyii Boiss. is an Iranian ethno-medical remedy. It has been used for the treatment of various types of cancer for many years. To evaluate the use of Spinal-Z in treatment of cancer, we examined its effects against a panel of malignant cell lines and tumors induced in mice. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of Spinal-Z, the seed extract of P. harmala and the leaf extract of D. kotschyii were determined using the MTT assay. The concentration of the agent required to inhibit cell growth by 50% (IC50) was estimated. In addition, the anti-tumor activities of the remedy and its constituents were investigated. Viability of cells treated with Spinal-Z and its components decreased in a dose dependent manner. Spinal-Z and its components showed cytotoxic effects against all cell lines tested. The leaf extract of D. kotschyii showed a greater preferential cytotoxic effect than the seed extract of P. harmala and Spinal-Z, on all cell lines tested. Harmine showed cytotoxicity against HL60 and K562 cell lines. This could explain the cytotoxic effect of P. harmala on these cells. The leaf extract of D. kotschyii was able to inhibit tumor proliferation in mice. The active ingredient in the leaf extract of D. kotschyii appears to be a flavone identified as xanthomicrol. Xanthomicrol was able to inhibit proliferation of a number of malignant cells. The cytotoxic effects of xanthomicrol were more selective towards malignant cells than doxorubicin.     

Inhibition of Site I mitochondrial electron transport by an extract of the seeds of Millettia thonningii: a potential mechanism for the plant's molluscicidal and schistosome larvicidal activity

A dichloromethane extract of the seeds of Millettia thonningii (Leguminosae) which contains a mixture of isoflavonoids (predominantely robustic acid, alpinumisoflavone and dimethylalpinumisoflavone) is known to have larvicidal activity towards the miracidia and cercariae of schistosomes and to possess significant molluscicidal activity. The present investigation has assayed the effects of this extract on the electron transport systems of isolated rat liver mitochondria. The extract was found to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport at Site I (NADH dehydrogenase) at concentrations of 30-159 mg x l(-1). Although the extract is not as potent an inhibitor at Site I as rotenone, a known inhibitor of NADH dehydrogenase, such observations could explain the molluscicidal and schistosomicidal activity of dichloromethane extracts of the seeds of M. thonningii.     

Glucose uptake stimulatory effect of 4-hydroxypipecolic acid by increased GLUT 4 translocation in skeletal muscle cells

Peganum harmala Linn, commonly known as 'harmal' belonging to the family Zygophyllaceae, is one of the most important medicinal plants of India. In continuation of our drug development program on Indian medicinal plants we discovered antihyperglycemic activity in 4-hydroxypipecolic acid (4-HPA), isolated from the seed of P. harmala. Effect of 4-HPA on glucose uptake and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) translocation was investigated in L6 skeletal muscle cell lines. Treatment with 4-HPA stimulated both glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation from intracellular to cell surface in skeletal muscle cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which might be leading to antihyperglycemic effect.     

Insecticidal effects of extracts of seven plant species on larval development, alpha-amylase activity and offspring production of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Bioinsecticidal effects of methanol extracts from seven plant species on Tribolium castaneum were investigated. Centaurium erythraea, Peganum harmala, Ajuga iva, Aristolochia baetica, Pteridium aquilinum and Raphanus raphanistrum extracts inhibit growth of larvae. C. erythraea was the most toxic with 63% mortality 10 days after treatment, followed by P. harmala with 58%. C. erythraea and P. aquilinum reduce the emergence rate respectively of 66% and 19%. The duration of larval period was shortened by Launaea arborescens, P. aquilinum and A. iva extracts, whereas R. raphanistrum and P. harmala extracts extend the larval period when compared to the control. Extracts of C. erythraea, P. harmala, A. iva and A. baetica inhibited F1 progeny production. Larvae possess three alpha-amylase isoforms as determined by SDS-PAGE. Larvae fed on treated diet had lower alpha-amylase activity than larvae feed on untreated diet. C. erythraea and P. harmala are the most potent extracts. These plant extracts could be useful to reduce seed damage caused by this pest species.     

Selective inhibition of toxic cyanobacteria by β-carboline-containing bacterium Bacillus flexus isolated from Saudi freshwaters

A bacterial strain SSZ01 isolated from a eutrophic lake in Saudi Arabia dominated by cyanobacterial blooms, showed an antialgal activity against cyanobacteria species. Based on the analysis of the 16S rDNA gene sequence, the isolated strain (SSZ01) most likely belonged to the genus Bacillus with a 99% similarity to Bacillus flexus strain EMGA5. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the ethyl acetate extract of this bacterium revealed that this strain can produce harmine and norharmane compared to different β-carboline analog standards. Harmine and norharmane were also detected in considerable amounts in bacterial growth medium, indicating a potential excretion of these compounds into the aquatic environment. The crude extract of Bacillus flexus as well as pure materials of harmine and norharmane inhibited the growth of tested species of cyanobacteria. However, the bacterial crude extract has a higher toxicity against tested species of cyanobacteria than harmine and norharmane. In addition, harmine was more toxic to cyanobacteria than norharmane. On the other hand, neither pure compounds of harmine and norharmane nor crude bacterial extract showed any antialgal activity against tested species of green algae. The results of the present study suggest that B. flexus SSZ01 or its crude extract containing harmine and norharmane could be a candidate for the selective control of cyanobacterial blooms without affecting other algal species.     

Antimicrobial activity of various extracts and carvacrol from Lippia multiflora leaf extract

This study examines the antimicrobial activity of the hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Lippia multiflora and carvacrol isolated from the hexane extract. The result shows the hexane extract to be the most active, while the methanol extract exhibited no antimicrobial activity. The isolated carvacrol from the hexane fraction showed tremendous antimicrobial activity. These results confirm the traditional uses of Lippia multiflora in the treatment of disease conditions due to microbes.     

骆驼蓬营养器官的旱生结构

 骆驼蓬是生长在荒漠或盐碱地区的旱生植物,具有显著的旱生结构特征。主根粗壮,其中柱周围产生2或3轮呈同心环状排列的异常维管束。这种异常结构对旱生植物具有重要的生态学意义。茎肉质,其皮层、韧皮部,尤其是髓内具有发达的贮水薄壁组织细胞。叶片肉质,光滑无毛。其表皮细胞的外切向壁有较厚的角质层,表面具皱纹状突起。气孔器与表皮细胞平齐,面积较大,而密度较小。栅栏组织发达,为环栅型,包围着发达的贮水组织。叶脉维管束不发达。其叶表面积与体积之比远比中生植物小。根据以上营养器官形态结构特征,可以认为骆驼蓬是典型的多浆汁旱生植物。     

The Isolation and Structural Determination of r-harmine from the Seed of Peganum harmala L.

γ-Harmine, a new carboline alkaloid isolated from Peganum harmala L. (Zygophylaceae), has been shown to be 7-methoxy-4-methyl-γ-carboline (Ⅵ) according to its color reaction and spectral analyses. This is the first γ-carboline compound isolated from a plant, Harmine (Ⅰ) has also been isolated from the same plant material.     

Antimicrobial fungal endophytes from the botanical medicine goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

The potential of fungal endophytes to alter or contribute to plant chemistry and biology has been the topic of a great deal of recent interest. For plants that are used medicinally, it has been proposed that endophytes might play an important role in biological activity. With this study, we sought to identify antimicrobial fungal endophytes from the medicinal plant goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L., Ranunculaceae), a plant used in traditional medicine to treat infection. A total of 23 fungal cultures were obtained from surface-sterilized samples of H. canadensis roots, leaves and seeds. Eleven secondary metabolites were isolated from these fungal endophytes, five of which had reported antimicrobial activity. Hydrastis canadensis plant material was then analyzed for the presence of fungal metabolites using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolving power mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial compound alternariol monomethyl ether was detected both as a metabolite of the fungal endophyte Alternaria spp. isolated from H. canadensis seeds, and as a component of an extract from the H. canadensis seed material. Notably, fungi of the Alternaria genus were isolated from three separate accessions of H. canadensis plant material collected in a time period spanning 5 years. The concentration of alternariol monomethyl ether (991 mg/kg in dry seed material) was in a similar range to that previously reported for metabolites of ecologically important fungal endophytes. The seed extracts themselves, however, did not possess antimicrobial activity.     

Effects of ATP and magnesium ions on the fluorescence of harmala alkaloids. Restrictions for the use of harmala alkaloids as fluorescent probes for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

1. Harmine and harmaline were investigated as potentially useful fluorescent inhibitors of (Na+ + K+) activated ATPase. 29 From spectroscopic measurements both compounds were shown to form 1 : 1 complexes with ATP, the dissociation constants being 0.65 mM and 1.83 mM for harmine and harmaline respectively. Addition of Mg2+ and enzyme further affected these equilibria. 3. Although it was possible to demonstrate a competitive effect of harmine at the sodium-loading site of the enzyme, other inhibitory effects, including inhibitions of ouabain binding and the ouabain-insensitive ATPase were found. 4. It was concluded that the harmala alkaloids can inhibit (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase in a complex way involving both Na- and ATP-binding sites. This severely limits their usefulness as spectroscopic probes.     

Antischistosomal bioactivity of isoflavonoids from Millettia thonningii (Leguminosae)

Extracts of the seeds of the leguminous tree Millettia thonningii are molluscicidal and schistosomicidal and contain a mixture of isoflavonoids and 3-phenylcoumarins. Robustic acid and a pure mixture of alpinumisoflavone and dimethylalpinumisoflavone, as characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract. The bioactivity of these compounds against Schistosoma mansoni miracidia, cercariae, and adult worms was tested in vitro. Both robustic acid and the alpinumisoflavone mixture killed cercariae and adult schistosomes in vitro. At sublethal concentrations of the isoflavonoids, reductions in miracidial motility were measured using a video-imaging technique. The inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport at site I by the isolated isoflavonoids was also investigated. The results suggest that robustic acid and at least 1 alpinumisoflavone compound from the dichloromethane extract of the seeds of M. thonniogii are responsible for some of the observed bioactivity of this extract against schistosomes.     

Palynological characterisation of sedra honeys (Ziziphus lotus) produced in Algeria

Abstract

A melissopalynological study was carried out on 46 samples of Ziziphus lotus honey from Laghouat and Djelfa region (central Algeria). The number of pollen types identified per honey sample ranges between nine and 39 with a mean of 24. These correspond to 52 botanical families with 79 different pollen types in the whole samples. Asteraceae and Fabaceae families were present in all the samples where as Apiaceae, Brassicaceae and Nitrariaceae (Peganum harmala) were identified in more than 90%. Other plant families as Boraginaceae, Cistaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Salicaceae or Urticaceae were identified in more than 50% of the samples but frequently as minor pollen. Ziziphus lotus pollen had a mean content of 68.9% (with a range of 45.3% to 93.4%). The secondary pollen types were Ononis natrix, Peganum harmala, Brassica napus, Echium and Olea europaea. Regarding the important pollen it is highlighted the presence Lotus t., Eucalyptus, Pimpinella anisum t., Trifolium t., Eryngium campestre t., Centaurea t., Galega officinalis t., Citrus or Scrophularia t. The sedra honeys of the studied region are characterised by their high content in pollen grains with a mean content of 188 403 grains/10 g. The presence of some pollen types in the pollen spectra of honeys such as Peganum harmala, Thapsia garganica, Launaea, Muscari comosum, Carthamus or Limonium bonduellei together several Asteraceae as Centaurea, Taraxacum, Carduus, Artemisia and Matricaria was proposed as geographical markers of this honey type.