Immunostimulants of Plant Origin

Our recent screening program with higher plants has revealed many low Mr compounds (e.g. alkaloids, quinones, terpenoids, phe- nolcarboxylic acids) and high Mr compounds (e.g. polysaccharides, glycoproteins) with a pronounced immunostimulating potential. The most promising low Mr compounds are some cytostatic compounds, which are known for their direct antitumoral activities at high doses and which exert immunostimulating effects when applied in minute doses. In the class of high Mr compounds, primarily some complex acidic arabinogalactans or rhamnogalacturonans (e.g. Echinacea purp., Achyrocline sat., Urtica dioica) show significant immunostimulating activities in vitro and in vivo

Biological activity of the aqueous extract of Lychnophora pinaster Mart

Lyophilized aqueous extract (LAE) from Lychnophora pinaster Mart (Asteraceae) aerial parts was evaluated in the search of possible biological activities. LAE exhibited trypanocidal activity (113.62 μg/mL), but could not inhibit 5-lipoxygenase in vitro (17% of inhibition). LAE chemical characterization by HPLC with UV-Diode Array Detector showed the presence of caffeic acid, isochlorogenic acid, vitexin, isovitexin and quercetin, in comparison with authentic samples

New analytical monographs on TCM herbal drugs for quality proof

Regardless of specific national drug regulations there is an international consensus that all TCM drugs must meet stipulated high quality standards focusing on authentication, identification and chemical composition. In addition, safety of all TCM drugs prescribed by physicians has to be guaranteed. During the 25 years history of the TCM hospital Bad Kötzting, 171 TCM drugs underwent an analytical quality proof including thin layer as well as high pressure liquid chromatography. As from now mass spectroscopy will also be available as analytical tool. The findings are compiled and already published in three volumes of analytical monographs. One more volume will be published shortly, and a fifth volume is in preparation. The main issues of the analytical procedure in TCM drugs like authenticity, botanical nomenclature, variability of plant species and parts as well as processing are pointed out and possible ways to overcome them are sketched