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Bergenia crassifolia (L.) Fritsch – Pharmacology and phytochemistry
... Bergenin has been reported to occur naturally in several plant species, such as Bergenia crassifolia, Bergenia stracheyi, and Bergenia ligulata Wall, which are traditionally used and reported for their antioxidant and cardioprotective effects. Moreover, the Bergenia ligulata Wall extract showed negative inotropic and chronotropic effects [9,10]. Bergenin is reported for a wide range of activities, including antiulcer [11], antiplatelet [12], antioxidant [13], antimicrobial [14], hypolipidemic [15], and anti-inflammatory activity [16,17]. ...
Bergenin is a phenolic glycoside that has been reported to occur naturally in several plant species, reported as a cardioprotective. However, bergenin, one of the important phytochemicals in these plants, is still not reported as a cardioprotective. The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of bergenin on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Bergenin and atenolol were administered through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats in separate experiments for five (5) days. At the end of this period, rats were administered isoproterenol (80 mg/kg s.c.) to induce myocardial injury. After induction, rats were anaesthetized to record lead II ECG, then sacrificed, blood was collected to analyze cardiac marker enzymes, and a histopathological study of the heart tissues was also performed. Pretreatment with bergenin showed a significant decrease in ST-segment elevation, deep Q-wave, infarct size, and also normalized cardiac marker enzymes (cTnI, CPK, CK-MB, LDH, ALT, and AST), particularly at 3 mg/kg, as compared to isoproterenol treated group. Our findings revealed, for the first time, the use of glycoside bergenin as a potential cardioprotective agent against the isoproterenol-induced MI in rats.
The yield of essential oils isolated from plants is not very high and the hydrodistilled residue by-products rich in polyphenols could be used to increase the profitability of such plant raw materials [1–4]. The aim of the study was to evaluate the compositions and contents of phenolic compounds in the dry extracts obtained from the by-product of American basil (Ocimum americanum L.) and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa L.) as well as to investigate their safety and pharmacological activities. The conducted chromatographic analyses of polyphenols revealed the domination of rosmarinic acid in both obtained dry extracts. Its amount analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography method was 91.23 ± 1.62 mg/g in the Monarda fistulosa dry extract (ME) and 78.70 ± 1.13 mg/g in the Ocimum americanum dry extract (OE). Luteolin-7-O-glucoside was the second predominant polyphenol of both extracts, but its content differed significantly (76.30 ± 1.50 mg/g and 17.22 ±0.49 mg/g, respectively). Caffeic acid (21.62 ± 0.17 mg/g) followed by apigenin (15.12 ± 0.15 mg/g) were the other major compounds in the ME, whilst rutin (11.20 ± 0.26 mg/g) and ferulic acid (8.21 ± 0.09 mg/g) predominated in OE. The free radical scavenging activity against DPPH of ME and OE were
IC50 = 0.285 mg/mL and IC50 = 0.298 mg/mL, respectively. Both tested extracts dose-dependently decreased the paw oedema in rats suggesting their anti-inflammatory properties. The administration of extracts at the doses of 500–5000 mg/kg to rats did not reveal any toxic reactions that indicates their
safety. Consequently, the studied by-products are promising sources of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
The natural compounds produced by plants are categorised into primary and secondary metabolites. Among them, primary metabolites are essential for the physiological functioning of the plants such as photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development. Certain phytochemicals not having direct roles are known as secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites play key roles such as preventing plants from pathogens, herbivore attacks and attracting pollinators. Secondary metabolites have huge applications in flavours, dyes, fibres, glues, oils, waxes, pharmaceutical drugs and fragrances. Many of the secondary metabolites are also used as active compounds for the development of drugs, antibiotics, insecticides and herbicides. Various categories of secondary metabolites such as phenolics, terpenes and nitrogen-containing metabolites have been recognised in plants based on their structure and origin. Several families of plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites. Plants are an important source of phytochemical compounds with various biological properties that man has exploited to his advantage. Thus, the phytochemical analysis of the plants plays a significant role in the commercial field and has a great interest in the pharmaceutical industries and food industries for the production of modified foods. The current chapter covers the diversity of important phytochemicals along with their sources and roles.
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Leaves from Serjania marginata Casar. (Sapindaceae Family) are used popularly against abdominal pain. Scientific description from literature indicates the antiulcer properties and rare studies showed the analgesic effects of this plant.
Aim of study
In this study, we investigated the anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous extract from leaves of Serjania marginata (AESM) in models of nociception/inflammation.
Material and methods
AESM was analyzed in FIA-ESI-IT-MS and Mass spectrometer LTQ XL. AESM oral administration (p.o.) (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) and dexamethasone subcutaneous injection (1 mg/kg, s.c.) or morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) were tested against the acetic acid-induced nociception, carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory paw edema/hyperalgesia, formalin-induced nociception and carrageenan-induced pleurisy in Swiss mice.
Results
Flavonoids rutin and quercetin were detected in the phytochemical analysis of this extract. Oral treatment of AESM 300 mg/kg significantly reduced the number of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing. AESM (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly inhibited formalin-induced nociception, mechanical hyperalgesia and paw edema in carrageenan-model. Furthermore, AESM significantly inhibited leukocyte migration and protein exudation in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy test. In the statistical analysis of the experiments, a significant difference was observed among the doses tested, which suggests a dose-dependent effect of the extract.
Conclusion
This study confirms the analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activity of AESM, which may explain, in part, the popular use of this plant as a natural analgesic agent. This pharmacological action can be caused by flavonoids such as rutin and other compounds present in AESM.
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Srolo Bzhtang (SBT), which consists of Solms-laubachia eurycarpa, Bergenia purpurascens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and lac secreted by Laccifer lacca Kerr (Lacciferidae Cockerell), is a well-known traditional Tibetan medicinal formula and was documented to cure “lung-heat” syndrome by eliminating “chiba” in the ancient Tibetan medical work Four Medical Tantras (Rgyud bzhi). Clinically, it is a therapy for pulmonary inflammatory disorders, such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, whether and how SBT participates in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is still unclear.
Aim of the study
We aimed to determine the role of SBT in attenuating pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular remodeling caused by monocrotaline (MCT) and hypoxia. To elucidate the potential mechanism underlying SBT-mediated PAH, we investigated the changes in inflammatory cytokines and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.
Materials and methods
MCT- and hypoxia-induced PAH rat models were used. After administering SBT for four weeks, the rats were tested for hemodynamic indicators, hematological changes, pulmonary arterial morphological changes, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and lung tissues. Protein expression of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway was determined using western blotting.
Results
SBT reduced pulmonary arterial pressure, vascular remodeling, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines induced by MCT and hypoxia in rats. Furthermore, SBT significantly suppressed the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that SBT alleviates MCT- and hypoxia-induced PAH in rats, which is related to its anti-inflammatory actions involving inhibition of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
The influence of new nootrope and adaptogen preparations representing dry extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis (Georgi), Bergenia crassifolia (Fritsch), and velvet antlers of Siberian deer (Cervus elaphus sibiricus) on the bioelectric activity (cortex Fourier spectral EEG power) under conflict situation and conditioned reflex development was studied in rats. In both tests, the drugs produced similar changes in the EEG activity: (i) increase in the partial contribution of δ-activity and general spectral power, (ii) depression in the a and β1-rhythm power, (iii) depression of θ-activity in some cases. The EEG activity changes depended on the initial state and were closely connected with the behavior of the test animals. The drug administration led to normalization of the α and β1 activity correlated with the improved behavioral characteristics. At the same time, the δactivity was virtually not affected and lost the correlation with behavior.
The object of this research was to study rat liver bioenergetics at pathology caused by inhibition of β-oxidation of fatty acids against the background of 4-pentenoic acid injection and at silymarin and Bergenia crassifolia extract therapy. The experiment was conducted with 50 nonpedigreed male rats. The functional state of the energy production system was estimated by the polarogaphic method from the rate of oxygen consumption in different Chans metabolic states. At silymarin therapy, increase was observed in the oxidative phosphorylation coupling in all metabolic states. The Bergenia crassifolia extract favored normalization of energy production parameters in rat liver mitochondria more efficiently than silymarint did.
