The Herbal Drug Melampyrum pratense

Melampyrum pratense L. (Koch) is used in traditional Austrian medicine for the treatment of different inflammation-related conditions. In this work, we show that the extracts of M. pratense stimulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors- (PPARs-)α and -γ that are well recognized for their anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, the extract inhibited the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB and induction of its target genes interleukin-8 (IL-8) and E-selectin in vitro. Bioassay-guided fractionation identified several active flavonoids and iridoids including melampyroside and mussaenoside and the phenolic compound lunularin that were identified in this species for the first time. The flavonoids apigenin and luteolin were distinguished as the main components accountable for the anti-inflammatory properties. Apigenin and luteolin effectively inhibited tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB-mediated transactivation of a luciferase reporter gene. Furthermore, the two compounds dose-dependently reduced IL-8 and E-selectin protein expression after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF-α in endothelial cells (ECs). The iridoids melampyroside and mussaenoside prevented the elevation of E-selectin in LPS-stimulated ECs. Lunularin was found to reduce the protein levels of the proinflammatory mediators E-selectin and IL-8 in ECs in response to LPS. These data validate the ethnomedical use of M. pratense for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and point to the constituents accountable for its anti-inflammatory activity

Plant extracts in cell-based anti-inflammatory assays—Pitfalls and considerations related to removal of activity masking bulk components

Plants used in traditional medicine represent an important source of new lead compounds. However, cell-based in vitro screening assays with plant material are hampered by the complex nature of plant extracts as mixtures of active and inactive components. Bulk constituents, such as chlorophyll and polyphenols were previously shown to interfere with several biological in vitro assays. Their influence on anti-inflammatory cell-based testing systems has not been thoroughly investigated. Hence, the present study was aimed at comparing different procedures for the removal of bulk constituents from plant extracts and examining the influence of their elimination on selected cell-based anti-inflammatory assays. Malva sp. and Glechoma hederacea L., two plants used in traditional European medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, were subjected to three different methods for the removal of chlorophyll and polyphenols, respectively. Removal of bulk constituents was confirmed by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Extracts were tested before and after the purification procedure, to determine their potential to inhibit the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB in reporter gene assay and to interfere with the secretion of the chemokine IL-8 after stimulation of endothelial cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Removal of chlorophyll from tested extracts led to a strong decrease in the anti-inflammatory activities, due to loss of bioactive constituents. In contrast, the effect of the polyphenol-free extracts was either not changed or significantly increased, depending on the purification method used. The study concluded that clearance of bulk compounds represents a valuable strategy for cell-based in vitro anti-inflammatory evaluation of plant extracts. Liquid–liquid partitioning was identified as the optimal method for the elimination of both chlorophyll and polyphenols. It is recommended that removal of chlorophyll from extracts always be accompanied by HPLC profiling to detect a possible loss of active constituents

Österreichischer Bibliotheksbau in den neunziger Jahren /

Vortrage eines Symposiums an der Technische Universitat Wien, 31. Januar 1991, gehalten anlasslich des 60. Geburtstages von Hofrat Dr. Josef Wawrosch, Bibliotheksdirektor der Technischen Universitat Wie