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OBJECTIVE@#To assess acute toxicity, the in vitro and in vivo effects of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts (JME and JEE) of Jatonik polyherbal mixture on some mitochondria-related parameters and their effect on the activity of some liver enzymes.@*METHODS@#Acute toxicity of JME and JEE was determined using Lorke's method. In vitro and in vivo opening of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore (MMPT pore) was spectrophotometrically assayed. Production of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an index of lipid peroxidation and the activity of mitochondrial ATPase was evaluated in vitro and in vivo and the effect of JME and JEE on the activity of liver enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was also investigated.@*RESULTS@#JME had an LD50 of 3 808 mg/kg b.w whereas JEE had an LD50 greater than 5 000 mg/kg b.w. of rats. After the rats have been fed with both extracts, a photomicrograph of a piece of liver tissue showed no apparent symptoms of toxicity. From the in vitro and in vivo studies, both extracts prompted intact mitochondria to open their MMPT pores. When compared to the control, lipid peroxide product release and ATPase activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in vitro and in vivo. The activities of AST, ALT, and GGT were all reduced at 50 mg/kg when treated with JME, but the activity of AST was considerably enhanced when treated with JEE (P < 0.05). The results revealed that both JME and JEE of the Jatonik polyherbal mixture had low toxicity, profound MMPTpore induction, and enhanced ATPase activity, but an increased MDA production.@*CONCLUSION@#Jatonik extracts may be a promising target for drug development in diseases where there is dysregulation of apoptosis, however, further studies are needed to better clarify the molecular mechanism involved in these phenomena.
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Objective To study the chemical constituents of the dried roots of Lepidium meyenii cultivated in Lijiang. Methods The samples were extracted by 90% alcohol, and then isolated by silica column, MCI, and HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by NMR techniques including 2D NMR such as HSQC, HMBC, and COSY. The cytotoxic activity of the new compound against five cell lines (NB4, A549, PC3, SHSY5Y, and MCF7) was evaluated by MTT methods. Results Three macamides were isolated and identified as N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl) hexadec-9Z-enamide (1), N-benzyl-13-oxo-9E,11E-octadecadienamide (2) and N-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-hexadecanamide (3) from this plant. Conclusion Compound 1 is a new compound named macalepidiumide A and shows no significant cytotoxic activity.
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Objective To investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of Lepidium meyenii Walp (LMEE) from two different areas in Xinjiang on the maturation of mouse macrophages (RAW264. 7 cells) and dendritic cells (DCs). Methods Ethanol extracts of LMEE from Tashikuergan County (Ta xian) and A La gou of Xinjiang were prepared and named as LMEE-T and LMEE-A, respectively. RAW264. 7 cells and bone marrow-derived DCs from C57BL/6 mice were treated with different concentrations of LMEE-T/A. The viability of RAW264. 7 cells was analyzed by MTT assay. Expression of costimulatory molecules and MHCⅠ on the surface of RAW264. 7 cells and DCs was detected by flow cytometry. Secretion of cytokines and the release of nitrogen oxide (NO) were measured by ELISA and Griess method, respectively. Results LMEE-T/A had no significant influence on the viability of RAW264. 7 cells when the concentration was lower than 1 mg/ml. Treating RAW264. 7 cells with LMEE-T/A promoted surface molecule expression, cytokine secretion and NO release through TLR4 signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, LMEE-T was more potent than LMEE-A. LMEE-T/A at the concentration of 0. 4 mg/ml promoted the expression of DC surface molecules and the secretion of cytokines. Infrared and ultraviolet spectra showed that LMEE-A and LMEE-T contained polysaccharides, macaenes, macamides and flavanols. Compared with LMEE-A, LMEE-T contained more benzene ring compounds but less polysaccharides. Conclusion Both LMEE-T and LMEE-A could activate RAW264. 7 cells and promote the maturation of DCs. The differences between their effects might be related to the differences in their contents.
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Objective To investigate the effects of water extracts of Lepidium meyenii walp (LMWE) collected from two different places in Xinjiang on the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs) and to evaluate their roles in immunoregulation. Methods Water extracts of LMWE growing in Tashikuergan County (Ta xian) and A La gou of Xinjiang were prepared and named as LMWE-T and LMWE-A,respectively. Bone marrow-derived DCs and splenocytes isolated from C57BL/6 mice were treated with different concentrations of polysaccharide extracts from LMWE-T/A. Effects of LMWE-T/A on the per-centage and apoptosis of DC,expression of co-stimulatory molecules and secretion of cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and ELISA. MTT assay was used to analyze the proliferation of splenocytes. Changes in the functions of DC were evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR). Results LMWE-T/A had no in-fluence on the percentage and viability of DC. Expression of CD40 and CD86,and secretion of TNF-α,IL-12p40 and IFN-γ were significantly increased by LMWE-T/A treatment in a dose-dependent manner. LMWE-T/A treatment enhanced the functions of DCs and also dose-dependently promoted the proliferation of splenocytes. LMWE-A was more effective than LMWE-T in promoting CD86 expression,IFN-γ secretion and splenocyte proliferation. Pretreatment with TAK-242,an inhibitor of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),could sig-nificantly inhibit the regulatory effects of LMWE-T/A on CD40 expression and the secretion of TNF-α and IL-12p40. Conclusion This study shows that LMWE could promote the maturation of DC through TLR4 signaling pathway,enhance the functions of DC without side effects on DC survival,and increase the prolif-eration of splenocytes,indicating that LMWE has a potential immunopotentiating effect. LMWE-A has better effects than LMWE-T on immune enhancement.
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In order to provide scientific basis for quality evaluation of Lepidium meyenii Walp.in Sichuan province,the extracted constituents of essential oil and petroleum ether were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS),respectively.The volatile oil and fat soluble components were extracted by the steam distillation and petroleum ether ultrasonic.They were isolated and identified by GC-MS.The structures were identified in combination with database search system of MS.The relative content of every compound was determined by normalization method.The results showed that a total of 22 compounds were identified in volatile oil (98.85％) and 40 compounds were identified in liposoluble constituents (73.99％).There were significant differences of components and relative percentage contents of volatile oil and fat-soluble components.Dodecane,quinoline,3-methoxybenzaldehyde,palmitic acid methyl ester and ethyl linoleate were the same compositions.Comparative analysis was conducted on volatile oil and liposoluble constituents by GC-MS for the first time.The results provided references for herbal resource investigation and quality standard evaluation of Maca.
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Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) has been used as both food and traditional medicine for centuries for its high nutritional value and multi-medicinal properties. Macamides, the marker compounds of maca, are a series of nonpolar, long chain fatty acid N-benzylamides. Most of them have neuroprotective and neuroregulation effects. In this paper, we reviewed the structures of macamides, methods of chemical synthesis, and quantitative determination, and their bioactivities to provide a reference for further research and development.
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Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the dried rhizome of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) cultivated in Jilin. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified with macroreticular resin, silica gel, ODS column chromatography, preparation HPLC, etc. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and various spectroscopic methods. Results: Thirteen compounds were isolated as N-methyl-3-hydroxy-benzeneacetamide (1), N-benzyloctadecanamide (2), benzeneacetamide (3), benzylamine (4), 3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (5), phenylacetic acid (6), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (7), nicotinic acid (8), 3, 4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid methyl ester (9), adenosine (10), L-valine (11), daueosterol (12), and β-sitosterol (13). Conclusion: Compound 1 is identifled as a new natural compound, and compounds 3-6 and 9-12 are obtained from L. meyenii for the first time.
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Lepidium meyenii Walp (maca) (Brassicaceae), es empleada tradicionalmente por sus diversas propiedades, entre las que destacan la mejora en el desempeño sexual en humanos, ratas y ratones, además de mejorar la espermatogénesis. Sin embargo, el mecanismo de como la maca influye sobre la espermatogénesis es aún desconocido En el presente estudio, ratones machos de edad adulta fueron tratados con el extracto acuoso de maca, durante periodos de 7, 14 y 21 días; al final de cada tratamiento se midieron los pesos, concentración espermática y se evaluó la expresión de ciclina A1 (Ccna1), citocromo P450 17α-hidroxilasa/17,20-liasa (Cyp17), protamina 2 (Prm2) y la proteína reguladora de esteroidogénesis aguda (StAR), genes involucrados en el proceso de espermatogénesis. En los resultados se observó que la maca incrementó significativamente (p<0.05) la concentración espermática en los 3 grupos tratados; además la expresión de los genes Ccna1, Cyp17 y Prm2 no fue afectada significativamente a diferencia de StAR, que muestra una regulación negativa en su expresión en los grupos de 7 y 14 días de tratamiento. Estos resultados sugieren que el mecanismo por el cual la maca incrementa la concentración espermática, no está relacionado al incremento de la actividad meiótica, ni a la síntesis de testosterona, sino mas bien a la respuesta de algún componente con actividad androgénica presente en el extracto acuoso de maca, evidenciado por el efecto negativo sobre la expresión de StAR. Estos resultados revalidan la importancia de maca como potenciador reproductivo, sin el riesgo del incremento de andrógenos, contraindicados para los casos de cáncer de próstata.
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Animals , Mice , Spermatogenesis , Plant Extracts , Lepidium , Peru , Models, AnimalABSTRACT
La maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) es una raíz de los andes del Perú, usada como alimento por su valor nutricional y sus propiedades etnomedicinales, por lo que forma parte de la medicina tradicional. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron, demostrar la capacidad antioxidante de los extractos acuosos y etanólico de harina de maca amarilla in vitro y comprobar en animales que recibieron una dieta hipercolesterolémica el efecto antioxidante e hipolipemiante de los ecotipos amarillo, negro y morado de maca. Finalmente evaluar los efectos adversos de la administración de maca y atorvastatina en ratas hipercolesterolémicas a nivel hepática. Se realizaron pruebas para medir la capacidad antioxidante del extracto acuoso y etanólico in vitro. Se emplearon ratas machos Sprague-Dowley, sometidas a una dieta rica en colesterol y distribuidas en grupos de acuerdo al tratamiento, ya sea con los ecotipos de maca o atorvastatina, se evaluó perfil lipídico, vitamina A, C, niveles de TBARS-MDA y fibrinógeno. Los cuales fueron analizados aplicado la prueba t de Student y la Turkey. Así mismo mediante cortes histológicos se evaluó el tejido aórtico y hepático de los grupos de estudio. El extracto acuoso de harina de maca amarilla mostró mayor capacidad antioxidante que el etanólico probablemente debido a la presencia antioxidante que el etanólico probablemente debido a la presencia de fenoles y flavonoides. En los animales hipercolesterolémicos, la administración de maca ejerció un mayor efecto protector contra el daño oxidativo al disminuir los niveles de TBARS-MDA en un 67.7% e incrementar los valores de la vitamina C en un 87.7% respecto al control positivo. En estos animales, la administración de maca redujo los niveles de colesterol, LDLc y triglicéridos (p<0.05) respecto al control positivo. También la maca causó una disminución de los niveles de fibrinógeno, el que está relacionado con el desarrollo de la ateroesclerosis. Al evaluar los efectos adversos de la administración de atorvastatina y de harina de maca mediante enzimas marcadoras de daño hepático y cortes histológicos, se demostró que la maca produjo menor daño hepático que la atorvastatina, que es usada como uno de los mejores agentes hipolipemiantes en la clínica médica para el tratamiento de dislipidemias. La harina de maca amarilla presentó una mayor capacidad antioxidante in vitro como in vivo, probablemente debido a la presencia de fenoles y flavonoides. Así mismo la maca amarilla produjo efectos benéficos sobre el perfil lipídico lo cual se demostró en los cortes de tejido aórtico donde se observó un menor daño endotelial.