ABSTRACT
The root of Palisota hirsuta is used in Ghana and other West African countries for the treatment of various disease conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (also in other inflammatory and painful conditions), infertility in females, anaemia, and dysentery. The current study sought to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effect of the hydroethanolic root extract and compounds isolated from Palisota hirsuta. Mice were used for studying the antinociceptive activity of P. hirsuta extracts and isolates at doses of 10-300 mgkg-1p.o and 10- 30 mgkg-1 respectively using the Formalin Induced paw licking model. The total crude extract, methanolic and petroleum ether fractions showed analgesic activity in a dose-dependent manner for both the early and late phases. Three isolates, a fatty acid mixture, 20-hydroxyecdysone and an uncharacterized ecdysteroid (PH V) were obtained from the methanol fractions with significant activity. 20-hydroxyecdysone exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of the nociception for both the early and late phases; 71.39±9.19% and 89.19±3.81% respectively. PH V showed significant activity between the early and late phases of inhibition as compared to the reference drug morphine. The present study has given scientific credence to the use of the roots of P. hirsuta for the mitigation of pain and established its antinociceptive constituents.
ABSTRACT
The information on Serratula centauroides L., a plant which accumulates plant ecdysteroids is given in the present paper. Taking into account pharmacological properties of ecdysteroids Serratula centauroides may be considered to be prospective raw material for the development of a new effective adaptogenic remedy. Key words: Ecdysteroids, Serratula centauroides L., adaptogenes At the present stage of social evolution there is noted the dramatic spread of so called “civilization diseases” connected with the bodily adaptation mechanisms depression of an individual who lives in the post-industrial society. In this connection the issues concerning the increase of non-specifi c resistance of the body with the use of pharmacological means – adaptogenes become more actual. The development of new adaptogenes from the plant material is the most prospective trend. The group of plant adaptogenes is rather large in number; since ancient times many of them were used in the traditional medicine as tonics. But mechanism of their effect remained uncertain for a long time. According to the modern concept biologically active substances responsible for pharmacological effect of plant adaptogenes are conditionally divided into three groups: phenolic compounds, tetracyclic triterpenoids (triterpene glycosides) and oxylipins. Many of these chemical compounds are structurally similar and their effect is the same as of endogenic mediators of bodily stress-realizing systems, such as sympatho-adrenal and hypotalamohypophysial- suprarenal ones. Nevertheless, there is a great number of other biologically active substances specifying adaptogenic properties of a plant. Plant ecdysteroids are related to such substances; structurally they are close to true hormones of insects molting; they are contained in all plants but their concentrations vary signifi cantly – 8-9 orders [1]. Physiological effects of ecdysteroids are rather diverse. They regulate mineral, carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. Also they promote the normalization of the blood sugar and cholesterol levels; they are able to duplicate the effect of vitamin D3 showing the anti-rickets effect. Being the ligands for intracellular and membrane receptors they are capable to change homeostasis infl uencing the growth, differentiation and apoptosis of cells [2, 3, 4]. Pharmacological studies on ecdysteroids have revealed their awareness-inducing and tonic effects as well as anti-ulcer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and hemoreological, anti-infl ammatory and hypocholesterolemic properties [5]. Also the data on the inhibition of sarcoma cell growth and other malignant growth are available. Their use in composition of wound-healing and antimicrobial preparations is assumed to be prospective [6]. Recently there has been developed a technology for the use of ecdysteroids in the management of growth and development processes in the organisms. Moreover, their immune modulating effect is known, in particular they increase the activity of elements in the blood protective system – lymphocytes and neutrophils [3] and promote phagocytosis functions. They have anticonvulsant effect in spontaneous epilepsy. They stimulate erythropoiesis, accelerate regeneration and increase erythrocyte and hemoglobin concentration in the blood. Acetates and 20-hydroxyecdysone derivatives stimulated DNA biosynthesis in human and animal lymphocytes. Preventive and therapeutic effects of plant ecdysteroids in induced anemia and leucopenia have been revealed in the treatment of miscarriage danger, disturbances of sexual functions and climacteric syndrome caused by age-related changes in the regulation of reproductive cycle [7].
ABSTRACT
Expression profile of a Laccase2 encoding gene during the metamorphic molt in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Metamorphosis in holometabolous insects occurs through two subsequent molting cycles: pupation (metamorphic molt) and adult differentiation (imaginal molt). The imaginal molt in Apis mellifera L. was recently investigated in both histological and physiological-molecular approaches. Although the metamorphic molt in this model bee is extremely important to development, it is not well-known yet. In the current study we used this stage as an ontogenetic scenario to investigate the transcriptional profile of the gene Amlac2, which encodes a laccase with an essential role in cuticle differentiation. Amlac2 expression in epidermis was contrasted with the hemolymph titer of ecdysteroid hormones and with the most evident morphological events occurring during cuticle renewal. RT-PCR semiquantitative analyses using integument samples revealed increased levels of Amlac2 transcripts right after apolysis and during the subsequent pharate period, and declining levels near pupal ecdysis. Compared with the expression of a cuticle protein gene, AmelCPR14, these results highlighted the importance of the ecdysteroid-induced apolysis as an ontogenetic marker of gene reactivation in epidermis for cuticle renewal. The obtained results strengthen the comprehension of metamorphosis in Apis mellifera. In addition, we reviewed the literature about the development of A. mellifera, and emphasize the importance of revising the terminology used to describe honey bee molting cycles.
ABSTRACT
Este estudo teve como objetivo otimizar a extração de ecdisterona em raízes de ginseng brasileiro. Primeiramente, para se avaliar a eficiência do solvente extrator, amostras de raízes dois acessos (BRA e JB-UFSM) de P. glomerata foram extraídas em Soxhlet com metanol e clorofórmio, separadamente, durante 4 horas. No segundo ensaio, com o intuito de se escolher o método extrator, a extração foi conduzida em Soxhlet e em ultrassom, utilizando metanol como solvente. Em P. tuberosa, as amostras foram extraídas com metanol, e a extração foi conduzida em Soxhlet e em banho ultrasônico. O conteúdo de ecdisterona foi determinado em Cromatógrafo Líquido de Alta Eficiência (CLAE). Em ambas as espécies, um maior conteúdo de ecdisterona foi detectado nas amostras extraídas com metanol e em Soxhlet. A metodologia proposta mostrou-se eficaz para a quantificação da ecdisterona a partir das raízes de P. glomerata e P. tuberosa, podendo ser aplicada no controle de qualidade de drogas vegetais e/ou fitoterápicos.
This study aimed at optimizing the extraction method from ecdysterone of Brazilian ginseng. Root samples of two accessions (BRA and JB-UFSM) of P. glomerata were extracted in a Soxhlet with methanol or chloroform for 4h. In the second trial, the extration was conduced in a Soxhlet or ultrasonic using metanol as a solvent. In P. tuberosa, the roots samples were extracted with methanol in a Soxhlet or in ultrasonic. The ecdysterone content was determinated using high efficiency liquid chromatography methods. In both studied species, the highest ecdisterone content was detected from samples extracted in a Soxhlet and using methanol as a solvent. This extration method has been successfully applied for determination of ecdysterone content from roots of Brazilian ginseng, and could be useful for the quality control of drugs and pharmaceutical formulations.