Recent Herbal abstracts

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Hi All,

 

See these.

 

Phil

 

Li, S.y.; Chen, C.; Zhang, H.q.; Guo, H.y.; Wang, H.; Wang, L.; Zhang,

X.; Hua, S.n.; Yu, J.; Xiao, P.g.; Li, R.s.; Tan, X. (2005) Identification of

natural compounds with antiviral activities against SARS-associated

coronavirus. Antiviral Research 67, no. 1, pp. 18-23. Chinese Academy

of Sciences, Beijing 101300, China; E-mail: tanxh

More than 200 Chinese medicinal herb extracts were screened for

antiviral activities against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-

associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-

5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl) -2-(4-sulfop henyl)-2H-tetrazolium inner

salt (MTS) assay for virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE). Four of

these extracts showed moderate to potent antiviral activities against

SARS-CoV with 50% effective concentration (EC sub(5) sub(0)) ranging

from 2.4+/-0.2 to 88.2+/-7.7 mu g /ml. Out of the four, Lycoris radiata

was most potent. To identify the active component, L. radiata extract

was subjected to further fractionation, purification, and CPE/MTS

assays. This process led to the identification of a single substance

lycorine as an anti-SARS-CoV component with an EC sub(5) sub(0)

value of 15.7+/-1.2nM. This compound has a CC sub(5) sub(0) value of

14980.0+/-912.0nM in cytotoxicity assay and a selective index (SI)

greater than 900. The results suggested that four herbal extracts and

the compound lycorine are candidates for the development of new anti-

SARS-CoV drugs in the treatment of SARS.

 

Hwang, Jin-Ming; Wang, Chau-Jong; Chou, Fen-Pi; Tseng, Tsui-Hwa;

Hsieh, Yih-Shou; Hsu, Jeng-Dong; Chu, Chia-Yih. (2005) Protective

effect of baicalin on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced rat hepatotoxicity.

Archives of Toxicology 79, no. 2, pp. 102-109. Chung Shan Medical

University, No. 110, Section 1, Chien Kuo N. Rd., 402, Taichung,

Taiwan; E-mail: chucy Baicalin (BA), a flavonoid from

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is used in TCHM. BA was studied for the

mechanism of its inhibitory effects on the tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-

BHP)-induced cytotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rat liver system. BA

expressed an antioxidant property by its capacity for quenching the free

radicals of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Further investigations

using the t-BHP-induced cytotoxicity in rat primary hepatocytes

demonstrated that baicalin, at the concentrations of 2-220 mu M,

significantly decreased the leakages of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)

and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the formation of

malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by 30 min treatment of t-BHP(1.5 mM).

Baicalin also attenuated the t-BHP-induced depletion of glutathione

(GSH) and high level of DNA repaired synthesis. An in vivo study in rats

showed that pretreatment with BA (i.p.) at concentrations of 0.5 and 5

mg/kg for 5 days before a single i.p. dose of t-BHP (0.1 mmol/kg)

significantly lowered the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (ALT

and AST) and reduced oxidative stress in the liver. Histopathological

evaluation of the rat livers revealed that baicalin reduced the incidence

of liver lesions induced by t-BHP including hepatocyte swelling,

leukocyte infiltration, and necrosis. Based on the results described

above, we speculate that baicalin may play a chemopreventive role via

reducing oxidative stress in living systems.

 

Fang, S. H.; Hou, Y. C.; Chao, P. D. L. Pharmacokinetic and

pharmacodynamic interactions of morin and cyclosporin. Toxicology and

Applied Pharmacology 205, no. 1, pp. 65-70 School of Medicine, China

Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; E-mail: shfang

We have reported that morin Morin, a flavonoid in mulberry and herbs,

exerted anti-inflammatory activity on the activated macrophages.

Cyclosporin (CsA), a potent immunosuppressive agent with narrow

therapeutic range, is used widely to treat autoimmune diseases and

transplantation rejection. This study aimed to measure the effects of

morin on the disposition of CsA in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues,

and on the functions of immune cells in mice. CsA (Neoral, 10 mg/kg)

was orally administered with and without a concomitant dose of morin

(0, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) to mice once daily for 2 weeks. CsA

concentrations in blood, liver, kidney, and spleen were determined by a

specific monoclonal fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The

decreased levels of CsA in tissues were found well correlated to

increased doses of morin. The coadministration of 200 mg/kg morin

significantly decreased CsA in blood, liver, kidney, and spleen by 33%,

17%, 38%, and 45%, respectively. On the other hand, coadministration

of morin decreased dramatically the nitric oxide production by the

activated macrophages when compared to CsA treatment alone.

Moreover, morin maintained the level of CsA-suppressed T helper 1

(Th1) type cytokine, although the CsA concentration in spleen was

markedly reduced. In conclusion, morin coadministration profoundly

reduced CsA concentration but did not significantly alter the CsA-

suppressed Th1 immune response in mice.

 

 

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