Biotechnological production of ruscogenins in plant cell and organ cultures of Ruscus aculeatus.

Ruscus aculeatus is a threatened medicinal plant whose main bioactive components, the ruscogenins, have long been used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and varicose veins, but recently demonstrated activity against some types of cancer. Plant cell biofactories could constitute an alternative to the whole plant as a source of ruscogenins. In this pipeline, despite the in vitro recalcitrance of R. aculeatus, after many attempts we developed friable calli and derived plant cell suspensions, and their ruscogenin production was compared with that of organized in vitro plantlet and root-rhizome cultures. Root-rhizomes showed a higher capacity for biomass and ruscogenin production than the cell suspensions and the yields were greatly improved by elicitation with coronatine. Although ruscogenins accumulate in plants mainly in the root-rhizome, it was demonstrated that the aerial part could play an important role in their biosynthesis, as production was higher in the whole plant than in the root-rhizome cultures.

Assessment of quality of life in Mexican patients suffering from chronic venous disorder - impact of oral Ruscus aculeatus-hesperidin-methyl-chalcone-ascorbic acid treatment - 'QUALITY Study'.

OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed the effect of Ruscus aculeatus-hesperidin-methyl-chalcone-ascorbic acid (HMC-AA) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients suffering from chronic venous disorders (CVDs). METHODS: An observational, multicentre and prospective study was performed with 917 Mexican patients suffering from CVD. Patients were treated with R. aculeatus-HMC-AA. After 12 weeks of treatment, the physicians then assessed the patients' symptoms and QoL using Short Form (SF-12) and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CIVIQ) auto-questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients were mainly women (86.7%), overweight or obese (72.7%) or C2 (39.3%)-C3 (27.6%). All symptoms and ankle circumferences significantly improved over time, with increasing clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathophysiological (CEAP) classes and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001). Concerning QoL, all dimensions of the SF-12 score significantly improved over time (P < 0.001). Moreover, the CIVIQ scores significantly improved (P < 0.001) with increasing BMI (P < 0.002) and CEAP classes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: R. aculeatus-HMC-AA significantly improved the symptoms and QoL of CVD patients.

Fitofármacos en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia venosa crónica / Phytopharmaceuticals in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency

La insuficiencia venosa crónica (IVC) es uno de los desórdenes vascularesmás comunes. Los principales factores de riesgo son el efectogravitacional sobre la circulación venosa, la edad avanzada, una historiafamiliar de enfermedades venosas, la obesidad y el embarazo.También inciden las condiciones de trabajo y el estilo de vida que favorezcanel ortostatismo.Las preparados mas utilizados para el tratamiento de la IVC derivan deAesculus hippocastanum, Ruscus aculeatus, Pinus pinaster y Hamamelisvirginiana, entre otras, y contienen compuestos bioactivos talescomo saponósidos, proantocianidinas y flavonoides. El uso de fitofármacosen el tratamiento de la IVC se asocia al alivio tanto del dolorcomo de la pesadez de piernas, cansancio, calambres y parestesia,síntomas que constituyen el síndrome prevaricoso. Aunque existe unaamplia evidencia de su efecacia y seguridad a corto plazo, se consideranecesaria la realización de más estudios clínicos(AU)

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is one of the most commonvascular disorders. The main risk factors are the gravitationaleffect on the venous circulation, elderly, a familyhistory of venous disease, obesity and pregnancy. Also, theworking conditions and lifestyles favouring orthostatismcan have a role in CVI.The preparations most commonly used for the treatment ofIVC come from Aesculus hippocastanum, Ruscus aculeatus,Pinus pinaster and Hamamelis virginiana, among others,and contain bioactive compounds such as saponins,proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. The use of phytopharmaceuticalsin the treatment of IVC is associated with reliefof pain and heaviness in the legs, fatigue, cramps andparaesthesia, symptoms that constitute the pre-varicosesyndrome. Although there is evidence of its safety and efficacyat short term use, it is considered necessary to carryout further clinical studies(AU)

The effect of methyl jasmonate on triterpene and sterol metabolisms of Centella asiatica, Ruscus aculeatus and Galphimia glauca cultured plants.

Considering that exogenously applied methyl jasmonate can enhance secondary metabolite production in a variety of plant species and that 2,3-oxidosqualene is a common precursor of triterpenes and sterols in plants, we have studied Centella asiatica and Galphimia glauca (both synthesizing triterpenoid secondary compounds) and Ruscus aculeatus (which synthesizes steroidal secondary compounds) for their growth rate and content of free sterols and respective secondary compounds, after culturing with or without 100 microM methyl jasmonate. Our results show that elicited plantlets of G. glauca and to a higher degree C. asiatica (up to 152-times more) increased their content of triterpenoids directly synthesized from 2,3-oxidosqualene (ursane saponins and nor-seco-friedelane galphimines, respectively) at the same time as growth decreased. In contrast, the free sterol content of C. asiatica decreased notably, and remained practically unaltered in G. glauca. However, in the case of R. aculeatus, which synthesizes steroidal saponins (mainly spirostane type) indirectly from 2,3-oxidosqualene after the latter is converted to the plant phytosterol-precursor cycloartenol, while the growth rate and free sterol content clearly decreased, the spirostane saponine content was virtually unchanged (aerial part) or somewhat lower (roots) in presence of the same elicitor concentration. Our results suggest that while methyl jasmonate may be used as an inducer of enzymes involved in the triterpenoid synthesis downstream from 2,3-oxidosqualene in both C. asiatica and G. glauca plantlets, in those of C. asiatica and R. aculeatus it inhibited the enzymes involved in sterol synthesis downstream from cycloartenol.