The anti-asthmatic effect of the combined yerba buena (Mentha arvensis Linn.) and oregano (Coleus amboinicus Lour.) leaves in BALB/c mice model of allergic asthma

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is an IgE-mediated inflammatory response characterized by hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and reversible airflow obstruction. Currently, asthma affects 12 - 22% of the population in the Philippines. Anecdotal reports showed that yerba buena (Mentha arvensis Linn.) and oregano (Coleus amboinicus Lour.) are utilized for treating asthma in the folk culture.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of combined Yerba Buena (Mentha arvensis Linn.) and Oregano (Coleus amboinicus Lour.) leaves extract in asthma-induced mice.METHODS:This study investigated the anti-asthmatic activity of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the combined herbs in asthma-induced mice using immunoglobulin E (IgE) as a parameter.RESULTS: Aqueous- and methanol-treated mice has 50% and 60% reduction in the IgE level, respectively (p = 0.018). The extracts exhibited a significant (p = 0.001) anti-inflammatory activity in mice that further proved its effect on IgE. Moreover, lung histopathology also established the potential effect of the extract through the widening of the alveoli on treated mice.CONCLUSION: Combined Yerba Buena and Oregano aqueous and methanol extracts may have a potential health benefit against asthma.

Parâmetros de qualidade físico-químicos e avaliação da atividade antioxidante de folhas de Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae) submetidas a diferentes processos de secagem / Quality of the leaves of Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae) dried in solar dryer and oven

RESUMO O presente trabalho descreve a composição físico-química, a avaliação da atividade antioxidante pelo método de sequestro de radicais livres DPPH, determinação de flavonoides e de fenóis totais dos extratos etanol, acetona e aquoso de Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae), desidratadas em secador solar e em estufa de circulação de ar a 60 oC. Os valores de atividade de água encontrados para as duas secagens foram inferiores ao mínimo necessário para o crescimento e produção de toxina de patógenos de importância alimentar. Os resultados das análises físico-químicas demonstraram que ambos os processos mostraram-se eficientes na desidratação de P. barbatus. Os resultados demonstraram que os extratos acetona (estufa) e etanol (estufa e secador solar) foram os que apresentaram maior conteúdo de fenóis totais. O extrato etanólico (estufa) apresentou maior quantidade de flavonoides e melhor potencial antioxidante (IC50 = 75,71 ± 10,57 µg mL-1).

ABSTRACT This paper describes the physicochemical composition, the evaluation of the antioxidant activity by free DPPH radicals using the scavenging method, the determination of flavonoids and total phenolic compounds of ethanol, acetone and aqueous extracts of the medicinal plant Plectranthus barbatus Andr. (Lamiaceae), dehydrated in solar dryer and circulation oven at 60 °C. Water activity rates for two drying methods were below the minimum necessary for growth and toxin production of important food pathogens. Physicochemical results showed that both processes were effective in the dehydration of P. barbatus. The results demonstrated that the acetone (over) and ethanol (over and solar dryer) extracts showed the highest content of total phenols. The ethanol extract (over) showed the highest amount of flavonoids and better antioxidant activity (75.71 ± 10.57 µg L-1).

In vitro metabolism of forscolin isolated from Coleus forskohlii / 药学学报

This paper is to report the study of the metabolism of forscolin in plasma and liver microsomes for guiding clinical therapy. Forscolin was quantified by HPLC-MS/MS. The metabolic stability of forscolin in rat, Beagle dog, monkey and human plasma and liver microsomes, mediated enzymes of forscolin and its inhibition on cytochrome P450 isoforms in human liver microsomes were studied. Results showed that forscolin was not metabolized in plasma of the four species but metabolized in liver microsomes of the four species. The t1/2 of forscolin in rat, Beagle dog, monkey and human liver microsomes were (52.0 +/- 15.0), (51.2 +/- 5.9), (6.0 +/- 0.2) and (11.9 +/- 1.8) min; CL(int) were (75.6 +/- 18.7), (60.9 +/- 6.8), (513.8 +/- 14.3) and (176.2 +/- 25.6) mL x min(-1) x kg(-1); CL were (34.8 +/- 4.5), (23.3 +/- 1.0), (40.3 +/- 0.5) and (17.9 +/- 0.3) mL x min(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. Forscolin was metabolized by CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes. There was definite inhibition on CYP3A4 at the concentrations of forscolin between 0.1 ng x mL(-1) and 5 microg x mL(-1). Therefore, forscolin is rapidly excreted from liver microsomes. Attention should be paid to the drug interaction when forscolin was used along with other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in clinics.

Chemical constituents in the introduced Coleus forskohlii / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents in the introduced Coleus forskohlii.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromato-graphy. The structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR experiments.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight compounds were obtained, the structures of which were identified as cytochalasin B (1), N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninol (2), 3,6-dibenzyl-2,5-dioxopiperazine (3), 2-furoic acid (4), vanillic acid (5), loliolide (6) and forskolin D (7).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1-6 were isolated from the genus Coleus for the first time.</p>

In vivo antimalarial activity of leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (lour) spreng on Plasmodium berghei yoelii.

An invivo study of aqueous extract of the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus on Plasmodium berghei yoelii was conducted on laboratory infected albino mice and compared with standard drug chloroquine. Reduction of parasitemia at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract for 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 72 hrs and 96 hrs were determined. The reduction of parasitemia after 96 hrs was 100%, 67.9% and 76.2% for standard, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract respectively. The isolation of active principle responsible for the reduction of parasitemia may give a promising drug molecule.

Hepatoprotective effect of water soluble extract of Coleus barbatus on cholestasis on young rats / Efeito hepatoprotetor do extrato aquoso de Coleus barbatus na colestase em ratos jovens

PURPOSE: To test the effects of water extract of Coleus barbatus (WEB) on liver damage in biliary obstruction in young rats. METHODS: Forty 21 day-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of ten 21 day old (P21) submitted to sham or actual operation (S or L) combined with WEB or Water (B or A). At P48 pentobarbital sleeping time (ST) was measured. At P49 they were submitted to euthanasia to determine of serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), liver wet weight (PFF) and, on hepatic histological slides, the frequency of mitoses (FM), the number of necrotic areas (NN), intensity of fibrosis (IF) and intensity of ductal proliferation (IPD). Two Way ANOVA, the S.N.K. test and the Wilcoxon test for paired multiple comparisons were employed to study the effects of cholestasis and those of EAB and their interactions. The Pearson's coefficient of linear correlation of between paired histological variables separately for the groups LA and LD was determined. The test results were considered statistically significant when the p of alpha error <0.05. RESULTS: Cholestasis increased the TS, ALT, AST, PFF, MI, NN, IF and IPD. The EAB decreased the TS and IM in the animals without cholestasis (sham operated animals). The EAB decreased the TS, ALT, AST, PFF, MI, NN and IF of the cholestatic animals. In the LA group there was a positive correlation between the IPD and the IF, a negative correlation between the IPD and the FM and a negative correlation between the IF and the FM. In the LD group there was a negative correlation between the NN and the IPD. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of cholestasis the EAB reduces the pentobarbital sleeping time and decreases the frequency of mitoses. The EAB has a hepatoprotective effect on the biliary cirrhosis secondary to extra-hepatic biliary obstruction.

OBJETIVO: Testar os efeitos do extrato aquoso de Coleus barbatus (EAB) na cirrose biliar secundária por obstrução das vias biliares extra-hepáticas em ratos jovens. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos Wistar machos com 21 dias de vida (P21), foram distribuídos em quatro grupos de 10 animais, submetidos a operação simulada ou dupla ligadura e ressecção do ducto biliar (S ou L) combinados EAB e a Água (B ou A). No P48, foi medido o tempo de sono com o pentobarbital (TS). No P49, foram submetidos a eutanásia para a determinação das atividades séricas do aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e da alanina aminotransferases (ALT); após a eutanásia foram avaliados o peso fresco do fígado (PFF) e, em cortes histológicos do fígado, a freqüência de mitoses (FM), o número de áreas de necrose (NN), a intensidade da fibrose (IF) e da proliferação ductal (IPD). Os efeitos da colestase, os do EAB e suas interações foram testados pela ANOVA com dois fatores, e as comparações múltiplas pareadas foram realizadas pelo teste de S.N.K ou teste de Wilcoxon. Também foi determinada a correlação linear de Pearson entre as variáveis histológicas duas a duas separadamente para os grupos LA e LD. O nível de significância estatística para os vários testes foi de p do erro alfa <0,05. RESULTADOS: A colestase aumentou significativamente o TS, a ALT, a AST, o PFF, a MI, o NN, a IF e a IPD. O EAB diminuiu o TS e a IM nos animais sem colestase (operação simulada). O EAB diminuiu o TS, a ALT, a AST, o PFF, a MI, o NN e IF na colestase. No grupo LA houve correlação positiva entre a IPD e a IF, correlação negativa entre a IPD e a FM e correlação negativa entre a IF a FM. No grupo LD houve correlação negativa entre o NN e a IPD. CONCLUSÕES: Na ausência de colestase o EAB encurta o tempo de sono e diminui a freqüência de mitoses. O EAB apresenta efeito hepatoprotetor no modelo de cirrose biliar secundária a obstrução biliar extra-hepática.

Antimicrobial activity of Coleus aromaticus (benth) against microbes of reproductive tract infections among women

Coleus aromaticus (Benth) is a commonly available medicinal herb in India. The antimicrobial activity of this herb is tested as a cure for reproductive tract infections (RTI) among women. Fresh leaf has been used as a disc in different diameters to test the antimicrobial activity; against RTI causing microbes. Candida krusei showed the highest zone of inhibition of growth; followed by Candida albicans; Proteus mirablis; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae and the least inhibition was observed for Neisseria gonohorreae. Coleus aromaticus exhibits an effective antifungal and marked antibacterial activity. Using the leaf as a disc seems to be a novel and easy method that can be used initially to access the antimicrobial activity of a herb; before proceeding for further studies. This herb seems to be an ideal choice to treat RTI infections among women

Potential application of urea-derived herbicides as cytokinins in plant tissue culture.

Various urea-derived herbicides and different cytokinin analogues were used to determine their effects on callusing response and shoot regenerating capacity of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Coleus (Coleus forskohlii Briq.). The herbicides monuron and diuron evoked profuse callusing response from Coleus leaf segments and alfalfa petiole explants on Murashige and Skoog medium. Shoot regeneration by monuron (2.0 mg/l) showed a maximum of 3 multiple shoots both in alfalfa and Coleus with a frequency of 92% and 75%, respectively. Whereas diuron (0.5 mg/l) showed a high frequency of shoot regeneration (89%)with a mean number of 5 shoots in alfalfa, in C.forskohlii, the frequency of regeneration was 90%with a mean number of 6 shoots. Diuron with two chloride groups in the phenyl ring showed significantly higher cytokinin-like activity than single chloride substitution monuron. This study demonstrates the potential use of monuron and diuron as cytokinins in plant tissue culture.

Water-soluble extract of Coleus barbatus modulates weight gain, energy utilization and lipid metabolism in secondary biliary cirrhosis: an experimental study in young rats

OBJETIVO:Testar os efeitos do extrato aquoso de Coleus barbatus (WEB) sobre o aproveitamento nutricional e o metabolismo lipídico em ratos jovens com colestase obstrutiva. MÉTODOS: Quarenta ratos machos Wistar com 21 dias de vida (P21), em grupos de 10, foram submetidos a um dos seguintes tratamentos: operação simulada e administração diária de água ou WEB e dupla ligadura e ressecção do ducto biliar com administração diária de água ou WEB. No P49, foram sacrificados e medidos: a ração ingerida (IF), o aproveitamento nutricional (EU) e o ganho de peso (WG) desde o P29 ao P49, as concentrações séricas do colesterol total (TC) e dos triacilgliceróis (TG), o peso fresco (LWW) e o teor de gordura do fígado (LFC). A ANOVA com dois fatores e o método de S.N.K para comparações pareadas (p<0,05) foram utilizados para estudar os efeitos, sobre as variáveis, da colestase e do EAB e suas interações. RESULTADOS: A colestase, independentemente do WEB, e o WEB independentemente da colestase diminuíram o WG, a IF e o EU, mas não houve interação significativa entre os dois fatores. A colestase, independentemente do WEB elevou o LWW, o LFC, o TC e os TG. O WEB, independentemente da colestase, diminuiu esses valores, havendo interação significativa entre os dois fatores, sendo estes efeitos mais acentuados nos animais com colestase. CONCLUSÃO: O EAB diminui a IF, o EU e o WG, tanto na presença quanto na ausência de colestase, na mesma proporção. O WEB inibi parcialmente o aumento do LWW, do LFC, do TC e dos TG causados pela colestase.

Studies on the chemical constituents in root of Coleus forskohlii / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents in root of Coleusforskohlii.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography. The structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 2D-NMR experiments.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Six compounds were obtained and the structures were identified as 14-deoxycoleon U (1), demethylcryptojaponol (2), alpha-amyrin (3), betulic acid (4), alpha-cedrol (5) and beta-sitosterol (6).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the genus Coleus for the first time. Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from C. forskohlii for the first time.</p>

Efficiency of Coleus aromaticus extract in modifying cyclophosphamide and mitomycin-C induced clastogenicity in mouse bone marrow cells.

The anticlastogenic potency of the ethanolic extract of a medicinal plant, C. aromaticus was investigated by taking bone marrow chromosomal aberration assay and micronucleus (MN) test as the test parameters. Swiss albino mice were fed orally with different doses (10,15, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) of ethanolic extract for 7 days and on the 7th day, two doses each of anticancer drugs cyclophosphamide (CP; 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) and mitomycin-C (MMC; 4 and 8 mg/kg body weight) were injected, ip, to different groups of animals. Bone marrow MN preparations were made at 24 and 48 hr time intervals. Coleus extract reduced CP and MMC induced MN and lower doses of the extract were found to be more effective than higher doses. The effective doses of extract in MN test were selected to study the anticlastogenic effects against CP (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) and MMC (2 and 4 mg/kg body weight) induced chromosomal aberrations. The results indicate the protective effect of C. aromaticus against CP and MMC induced cytogenetic damage.