Dynamic changes of the main active constituents in valerian rhizome and root (Valeriana amurensis Smir. ex Kom.) during different harvest periods / Cambios dinámicos de los principales constituyentes activos del rizoma y raíz valeriana (Valeriana amurensis Smir. Ex Kom.) durante diferentes períodos de cosecha

Valeriana amurensis Smir. ex Kom. widely distributed in the northeast region of China and some region in Russia and Korea, and its underground parts (roots and rhizomes) being used to cure nervous system diseases such as insomnia. The active components including the essential oil and iridoids of underground parts were investigated in different harvest periods in order to evaluate the quality for the roots and rhizomes of V. amurensis. The content of the essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and bornyl acetate in the oil was quantitated by GC-EI. The iridoids, valepotriates were determined by potentiometric titration and the main component, valtrate was quantitated by HPLC-UV. The factors of biomass were considered in the determination of collection period. Statistical analysis of results showed that, the highest content of the essential oil per plant was 22.69 µl in withering period and then 21.58 µl in fruit ripening period, while the highest contents of bornyl acetate, valepotriates and valtrate per plant were 2.82 mg, 31.90 mg and 0.98 mg in fruit ripening period separately. Fruit ripening period was decided as the best harvest period for the content of active constituents and output of drug, and it would provide scientific basis for the artificial cultivation of V. amurensis.

Valeriana amurensis Smir. ex Kom. Se distribuye ampliamente en la región noreste de China y en algunas regiones de Rusia y Corea, y sus partes subterráneas (raíces y rizomas) se utilizan para curar enfermedades del sistema nervioso como el insomnio. Se investigaron los componentes activos, incluidos el aceite esencial y los iridoides de las partes subterráneas de V. amurensis en diferentes períodos de cosecha para evaluar la calidad de las raíces y rizomas. El contenido del aceite esencial se obtuvo mediante hidrodestilación y el acetato de bornilo en el aceite se cuantificó por GC-EI. Los iridoides, valepotriatos se determinaron mediante valoración potenciométrica y el componente principal, el valtrato se cuantificó por HPLC-UV. Los factores de biomasa fueron considerados en la determinación del período de recolección. El análisis estadístico de los resultados mostró que el mayor contenido de aceite esencial por planta fue de 22,69 µl en el período de marchitación y luego de 21,58 µl en el período de maduración de la fruta, mientras que el mayor contenido de acetato de bornilo, valepotriatos y valtrato por planta fue de 2.82 mg, 31.90 mg y 0,98 mg, respectivamente, en el período de maduración de la fruta por separado. Se definió el período de maduración de la fruta como el mejor período de cosecha para el contenido de constituyentes activos y la producción de droga, lo cual proporcionaría una base científica para el cultivo artificial de V. amurensis.

Total phenolic, flavonoid, alkaloid and iridoid content and preventive effect of Lider-7-tang on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats

Lider-7-tang, a medicine used for the treatment of respiratory diseases especially pneumonia and fever in Mongolian Traditional Medicine, was selected for this phytochemical and pharmacological study. The objectives of the study were to determine total biological active substances and analyze the effects of Lider-7-tang treatment in rats with acute lung injury (ALI). Quantitative determination of the total active constituents (phenolic, flavonoid, iridoid and alkaloid) of the methanol extract of Lider-7-tang was performed using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride reagent, Trim-Hill reagent, and Bromocresol green reagent, respectively. A total of fifty 8-10-week-old male Wistar rats (200-240 g) were randomized into three groups: control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (7.5 mg/kg) and LPS+Lider-7 group (90 mg/kg Lider-7-tang before LPS administration). The total content of alkaloids was 0.2±0.043%, total phenols 7.8±0.67%, flavonoids 3.12±0.206%, and iridoids 0.308±0.0095%. This study also evaluated the effects of Lider-7 on levels of inflammatory mediators by observing histopathological features associated with LPS-induced ALI. The rats pretreated with Lider-7 had significantly lower levels of IL-6 (at 3 and 6 h), and TNF-α (at 3, 6, 9, and 12 h). The current study showed that Lider-7 exerted a preventive effect against LPS-induced ALI, which appeared to be mediated by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Two new secoiridoids from Chelonanthus alatus (Aubl) Pulle (Gentianaceae) / Dos nuevos secoiridoides de Chelonanthus alatus (Aubl) Pulle (Gentianaceae)

The species Chelananthus alatus is an herbaceous plant with known ethno botanical and medicinal properties used in control of fever, especially those produced by malaria. From dried leaves (1.11 Kg), the crude alcoholic extract was fractionated by liquid-liquid partition with different polarity solvents. From the sec-butyl alcohol soluble fraction, by successive application of chromatographic methods, four compounds type iridoid were isolated and identified by spectroscopic techniques. Compound 1 is a new secoiridoid which was identified as sweroside 7-isobutyryloxy, and it is reported here for the first time in the Gentianaceae family; the other secoiridoids which were isolated are known as vogeloside (2), dihydro-chelonanthoside (3) and sweroside (4); vogeloside was identified for the first time in this plant (C. alatus). From the isopropyl acetate extract, in conjunction with the sweroside 7- isobutyryloxy (1), chelonanthoside (5) and sweroside (4), were identified, along with the sweroside 7-isovaleryloxy-(6) as a new side chain isomeric ester of dihydrochelonanthoside (3) . This work presents the spectroscopic analysis of the new structures and some bioactivity data.

La especie Chelonanthus alatus (Gentianaceae) es una hierba de aplicaciones ethnobotánicas reconocidas en medicina tradicional, especialmente en el control de la fiebre producida por la malaria. De las hojas secas (1,11 Kg) se realizó el extracto crudo en alcohol etílico, el cual se fraccionó por partición líquido-líquido (L-L) con disolventes de diferente polaridad. De la fracción soluble en alcohol sec-butílico, se aislaron cuatro compuestos tipo seco-iridoide por aplicación sucesiva de diversos métodos cromatográficos los cuales se identificaron por técnicas espectroscópicas. El compuesto 1 es un nuevo secoiridoide identificado como de 7- isobutiriloxi-swerosido, y se reporta por primera vez en la familia Gentianaceae; los otros tres secoiridoides aislados se conocen como vogelósido (2), dihidrochelonanthosido (3) y swerósido (4); el vogelósido se identificó por primera vez en C. alatus. De la fracción soluble en acetato de isopropilo además del 7-isobutiriloxi-swerosido (1) y el swerosido se aislaron e identificaron, el chelonanthosido (5) y el isovaleriloxi-swerosido (6), el cual es un nuevo isómero del dihidrochelonanthosido. En este trabajo se presenta el análisis espectroscópico que llevó a la elucidación estructural de los compuestos novedosos y algunos datos de bioactividad.