Immunosuppressive principles from Achillea talagonica, an endemic species of Iran

Achillea talagonica Boiss. [Asteraceae] grows in the western and central parts of Iran. This plant has long been used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of rheumatic pain. Previously, the immunosuppressive activity of the aqueous extract of this endemic plant in experimental animals was reported. In this research, isolation of the main immunologically active components of A. talagonica, which were effective on humoral immune responses in BALB/c mice is elucidated. In order to find the main immunosuppressive components of A. talagonica, methanol and methanol-water [80% and 50% v:v] extracts were injected to BALB/c mice and the hemagglutinating antibody titer was assayed after immunization with SRBC [sheep red blood cells]. Guided by this assay, active principles were separated by chromatographic methods. Isolated compounds were identified as caffeic acid 9-O-glucoside [1], quercetin [2], luteolin [3], 3'-methoxy luteolin [4], proline [5] and choline [6] by comparison of their spectral data with those of reported in literatures. Immunosuppressive property of choline [5 mgkg-1] was comparable to those of prednisolone [10 mgkg-1]; although, quercetin [20 mgkg-1] and caffeoyl glucoside [20 mgkg-1] decreased anti-SRBC titer in comparison with control groups. Immunosuppressive effects of A. talagonica are due to some components belonging to betaine, flavonol and phenoilc esters

[Review of Centella asiatica [L.] Urban]

AB-Boshghabi [Centella asiatica] from Apiaceae family, has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asiatic countries for hundreds of years. This plant is indigenous to the warmer regions of both hemispheres, including southeast Africa, Asia, Srilanka, the Pacific Islands, Madagascar, Eastern South America, Venezuela, Columbia. It is especially abundant in the swampy areas of India, Iran [around the Anzali lagoon], and Pakistan, Upto an altitude of approximately 700m. This hygrophyte plant is considered as a "vulnerable species" in the Red data book of plant species of Iran. This valuable hygrophyte species has a definitely exclusive habitat around the Anzali lagoon. The major principles are the triterpenes asiatic acid and madecassic acid, and their derived triterpene ester glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside. The major clinical indications for the use of centella asiatica in human include the treatment of wounds, venous insufficiency of the limbs, Certain mycobacterial infections and cellulitus. In the present article, we review mainly medicinal aspect of Centella asiatica that hitherto has not received much attention