The biochemical content and antioxidant capacities of endemic Tanacetum densum (Lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. laxum, and Tanacetum densum (Lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. amani Heywood growing in Turkey / O conteúdo bioquímico e as capacidades antioxidantes de Tanacetum densum endêmico (lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. laxum e Tanacetum densum (lab.) Schultz Bip. subsp. amani Heywood que crescem na Turquia

Abstract Medicinal plants have a significant role in preventing and curing several diseases, and Tanacetum L. is one of these plants. The aim of the present study is to determine the fatty acid, lipid-soluble vitamin, sterol, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani, to compare the effect of altitude on the biochemical content and to compare systematically by using fatty acids and phenolics. This study showed that palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) are major sources of saturated fatty acid and oleic acid (C18:1 n9), and linoleic acid (18:2 n6c) and a-linolenic acid (C18:3 n3) are the principal unsaturated fatty acids in the two endemic Tanacetum densum taxa. Also, this study found that the unsaturated fatty acid content (60.11±1.61%) of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum was higher than the unsaturated fatty acid content (44.13±1.28%) of Tanacetum densum subsp. amani. And also, the ω6/ω3 ratio of Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum (1.74) and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani (1.60) was found to be similar. However, this study determined that the lipid soluble vitamin and sterol content of two endemic Tanacetum taxa are low except for stigmasterol. Present study showed that catechin is principal phenolic in the Tanacetum densum taxa. This study also found that Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum and Tanacetum densum subsp. amani had the highest levels of catechin, vanillic acid, and caffeic acid content though the phenolic amounts, particularly catechin and quercetin, were dissimilar in the T. densum taxa. This study suggested that ecological conditions such as altitude may affect the biochemical content of two endemic Tanacetum densum taxa. Furthermore, the current study determined that two endemic Tanacetum L. taxa had potent radical scavenging capacities and found a correlation between total phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Resumo As plantas medicinais têm um papel significativo na prevenção e cura de várias doenças, e Tanacetum L. é uma dessas plantas. O objetivo do presente estudo é determinar o conteúdo de ácido graxo, vitamina lipossolúvel, esterol, estrutura fenólica e capacidade antioxidante de Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum e Tanacetum densum subsp. amani, comparar o efeito da altitude sobre o conteúdo bioquímico e realizar uma comparação sistemática usando ácidos graxos e fenólicos. Esta pesquisa mostrou que o ácido palmítico (C16:0) e o ácido esteárico (C18:0) são as principais fontes de ácido graxo saturado e que o ácido oleico (C18:1 n9), o ácido linoleico (18:2 n6c) e o ácido a-linolênico (C18: 3 n3) são os principais ácidos graxos insaturados nos dois táxons endêmicos de Tanacetum densum. Além disso, este estudo descobriu que o conteúdo de ácidos graxos insaturados (60,11±1,61%) de Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum foi superior ao conteúdo de ácidos graxos insaturados (44,13±1,28%) de Tanacetum densum subsp. amani, e também que a razão ω6/ω3 de Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum (1,74) e Tanacetum densum subsp. amani (1,60) foi semelhante. No entanto, este trabalho determinou que o conteúdo de vitamina lipossolúvel e esterol de dois táxons endêmicos de Tanacetum é baixo, exceto o estigmasterol, além de descobrir que Tanacetum densum subsp. laxum e Tanacetum densum subsp. amani apresentaram os mais altos níveis de conteúdo de catequina, ácido vanílico e ácido cafeico, embora as quantidades fenólicas, especialmente catequina e quercetina, sejam diferentes nos táxons de T. densum. Este estudo sugere que condições ecológicas, como a altitude, podem afetar o conteúdo bioquímico de dois táxons endêmicos de Tanacetum densum. Ainda, esta pesquisa determinou que dois táxons de Tanacetum L. endêmicos possuíam potentes capacidades de sequestro de radicais e que houve correlação entre fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante.

Performance of a commercially available plant allergen series in the assessment of suspected occupational contact dermatitis to plants in north Indian patients.

Background: Parthenium hysterophorus is the leading cause of phytogenic allergic contact dermatitis in India. The Indian Standard Series currently supplied by Systopic Laboratories Ltd and manufactured by Chemotechnique Diagnostics® contains parthenolide as the only allergen representing plant allergens. Aim: The study was conducted to assess the performance of the Chemotechnique plant series (PL-1000), consisting of 14 allergens, in patients with clinically suspected occupational contact dermatitis to plant allergens. Methods: Ninety patients were patch tested with the Chemotechnique plant series from 2011 to 2013. Demographic details, clinical diagnosis and patch test results were recorded in the contact dermatitis clinic proforma. Results: Of 90 patients, 24 (26.7%) showed positive reactions to one or more allergens in the plant series. Positive patch tests were elicited most commonly by sesquiterpene lactone mix in 19 (78.6%) patients, followed by parthenolide in 14 (57.1%), Achillea millefolium in 10 (42.9%) and others in decreasing order. Conclusion: The plant allergen series prepared by Chemotechnique Diagnostics® is possibly not optimal for diagnosing suspected allergic contact dermatitis to plants in north Indians. Sesquiterpene lactone mix should replace parthenolide as the plant allergen in the Indian Standard Series until relevant native plant extracts are commercially available for patch testing.

Investigating the altitude effect on the quantity and quality of the essential oil in Tanacetum polycephalum Sch.-Bip. polycephalum in the Baladeh region of Nour, Iran / 中国天然药物

Medicinal plant are grown and produced in different ecosystems and sites under the influence of different potential factors, including the altitude as one of the vital determinants in the quantity and quality of the plants. One of the species that grows in the highlands is Tanacetum polycephalum, an aromatic perennial of the Asteraceae. This species is characterized to be antiseptic, analgesic, anesthetic, disinfective, expectorant, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, and conducive to low blood pressure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the essential compositions in the aerial parts of T. polycephalum at the time of flowering, and in three different altitudes of the Baladeh region of Nour. Thus, the essential oil was extracted from the aerial parts in the flowering stage of the plant at three altitudes of 1 600, 2 400 and 3 200 m using a water distillation method, and the essential oil compositions were identified using GC and GC/MS instruments. One-way ANOVA method was conducted to analyze the obtained data using SPSS, and a Duncan test was administered to compare the means. The results indicated that the essential output obtained from the altitudes of 1 600, 2 400 and 3 200 m was (0.74 ± 0.01)%, (1.09 ± 0.02)%, and (1.32 ± 1.2)%, respectively, so that the altitude of 3 200 m revealed the greatest quantity, and the altitude of 1 600 m represented the smallest quantity. Moreover, the essential oil compositions showed the highest percentage in the altitude of 3 200 m and the lowest percentage at the altitude of 1 600 m. The results showed that as the altitude increases, the essential oil compositions revealed the greater quantity and percentage in the aerial parts of T. polycephalum.

Hepatoprotective effects of setarud against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats.

To assess the hepatoprotective activity of a new herbal drug "setarud" in experimental liver fibrosis, 48 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: controls, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) group, and two treatment groups that received CCl4 and setarud at doses of 0.02 or 0.04 g/Kg/day for 30 days. Body weight gain, biochemical liver tests, bile flow rate and composition, and changes in liver morphology in the four groups were studied. CCl4 administration led to morphological and biochemical evidence of liver injury as compared to untreated controls. Setarud administration led to significant protection against CCl4-induced changes in body weight gain, liver morphology, bile flow and concentration. It was also associated with significantly lower serum liver enzyme levels (p<0.01), higher serum albumin level, and reduced increase in narcotic-induced sleeping time. Thus, setarud showed protective activity against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Further studies of its efficacy in liver disease are warranted.

Phytochemical and biological studies on the different organs of Tanacetum parthenium L.cultivated in Egypt

Phytochemical investigation of Tanacetum parthenium L. family Asteraceae cultivated in Egypt resulted in isolation and identification of four flavonoids. One surface flavonoid was isolated from the fresh leaves and three other flavonoids were isolated from the flower heads. Four sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the leaves. Two sterols were isolated from the roots. A comparative study of the essential oil content of the leaves and the flower heads was performed using GC/MS. The results revealed the presence of 42 and 30 components in the leaves and the flower heads oil samples, respectively. The major components of both oil samples were camphor [constituted 37.7% and 48.4%] and chrysanthenyl acetate [constituted 33.8% and 26.3%] in the leaves and the flower heads, respectively. Different extracts of T. parthenium L. showed significant biological activities. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antispasmodic and uterine-stimulant activities were studied in addition to the in vitro cytotoxic effect

Evaluation of antibacterial activities of some medicinal plants from north-West Iran

Aim of the present study was to screen the antibacterial activities of some medicinal plants extracts traditionally used in Azarbaijan area [Iran]. Thirty-six extracts obtained from different parts of ten plants including Tanacetum balsam ita L. [Copmositae], Muscari caucasicum Baker [Hyacinthaceae], Equisetum arvense L. [Equisetaceae], Achillea millefollum L. [Copmositae], Stachys fruticulosa M. Bieb. [Labiatae], Stachys schtschegleevii Sons. ex, Grossh. [Labiatae], Salvia sahendica Boiss and Buhse [Labiatae], Phlomis caucasica Rech. f. [Labiatae], Etchium italicum L. [Boraginaceae] and Thalictrum minus L. [Ranunculaceae] from north-west Iran with traditional medicinal use were examined for their antibacterial activities against some Gram-negative strains such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella paratyphi and Serratia marcescens, also, Gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Staph. epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus cereus. The filter paper disc diffusion method as well as broth serial dilution technique were applied to screen the antibacterial efficacy of the extracts and determination of minimum inhibitory values. Results indicated that the majority of tested plant extracts had antibacterial activity at least against one of the selected bacteria, with the exception of Muscari caucasicum. Methanol extract of the aerial part of Thalictrum minus L. [Ranunculaceae] showed the most potent antibacterial activity against Staph. Aureus with MIC value of 0.3125 mg/ml. The results of this study show that most of the studied plants are potentially a good source of antimicrobial agents and support the traditional applications of some of the tested plants

Evaluation of pyrethrin formulations on Dengue/Dengue haemorrhagic fever vectors in the laboratory and sublethal effects

In Southeast Asia, Aedes aegypti [L.] has been incriminated as principal vector of dengue viruses and Ae. albopictus as the secondary vector of dengue fever. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of three formulations of pyrethrin derived from Tanacetum cinerariaefolium against the dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the laboratory. The testings employed 2 methodologies: the WHO Larval Bioassay and WHO Adult Bioassay. The results showed that all the three pyrethrin formulations had larvicidal and adulticidal activities. The impact of the sublethal doses of pyrethrin formulations on Aedes spp. larvae resulted in 4-6% of alive adult emergence compared to 90% of Ae. aegypti emerging adults and 96% Ae. albopictus alive adult emergence in the control. The impact of sublethal doses of the pyrethrin formulations caused very low fecundity on both Aedes spp. compared to the control [P< 0.05]