Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Achillea macrophylla L. and Achillea stricta Schleicher from Valsesia (Italy)

Valsesia is an area of Western Italian Alps characterized by the presence of many species of wild and autochthonous plants. Some of these plants are commonly used by local population for pharmaceutical purposes and human nourishment, in veterinary medicine. In this work we present the results obtained by analysis of methanolic extracts and their fractions of two species belonging to the Achillea genus (A. macrophylla L. and A. stricta Schleicher) collected in Valsesia. These species have shown significant antioxidant activity and aim of this work is therefore the identification of pure compounds responsible of this activity. The MeOH extracts have been separated with Sephadex LH-20; 22 and 19 fractions have been obtained from A. macrophylla and A. stricta respectively. The fractions with different TLC profiles were tested for the antioxidant activity, evaluated as removal of the stable radical DPPH, total antioxidant capacity based upon the reduction of Cu++ to Cu+ and lipid peroxidation. Subsequently we have separated the selected fractions with HPLC: 4 active compounds were isolated (Chlorogenic acid isomers, Rutin, Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, Apigenin-7-O-glucoside)

Phytochemistry and biological activity of Primula spectabilis Tratt., an endemism of Valvestino (Italian Alps)

none5Valvestino (Brescia) is a valley of Italian Central Southern Alps, recognized by European Union as “Site of Community Interest”; this site is characterized by the presence of numerous endemisms, some of them included in the IUCN Red List. An ethnobotanical investigation in this valley has pointed out that some species belonging to Primula genus are commonly used for their medicinal properties. In this work we report the flavonoid composition of the endemism Primula spectabilis Tratt. and its antioxidant potential. Samples of this species were collected during the Summer of 2007 and determined according to “Flora d’Italia” by Pignatti. The dried powdered leaves were exhaustively extracted with increasing polarity solvents: n-hexane, dichloromethane, dichlorometane:methanol (9:1) and methanol. The methanol extract was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20, using MeOH as eluent, to obtain fractions that showed NTS-PEG positive spots on TLC. Finally some of these fractions have been submitted to RP-HPLC to obtain phenols, and the structural identification was determined on the basis of extensive NMR spectral studies, as well as by HPLC-MS analysis. Three compounds (C-glucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin), never isolated before in the Primula genus, were identified. The methanol extract, the richest in polyphenols, was also submitted, after the determination of polyphenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, to DPPH and total antioxidant capacity based upon the reduction of Cu++ to Cu+ assays. The obtained results showed a considerable antioxidant activity from P. spectabilis.noneS. Vitalini; G. Fico; A. Valaguzza; F. Visioli; F. TomèS., Vitalini; G., Fico; A., Valaguzza; Visioli, Francesco; F., Tom

Hypericum perforatum L., H. maculatum Crantz., H. calycinum L. and H. pulchrum L. : phytochemical and morphological studies

Four species of Hypercium growing in Italy were characterized morphologically and chemically: Hypericum perforatum L., H. maculation Crantz., H. calycinum L. and H. pulchrum L. The composition of secondary metabolites (phloroglucinols, naphthodianthrones, flavonoids) in the aerial, parts of plants collected in different habitats was analysed. The four species show different compositions of phloroglucinols and naphthodianthrones, but there was no qualitative difference in flavonoid content of the species analysed. Study of main-constituent variation during the ontogenetic cycle showed that hypericin decreases and hyperforin increases during the reproductive phase. In St. John's Wort, hypericin and hyperforin are thought to be localised in black nodules. Our investigation shows no clear correlation between either the presence or absence of nodules and hypericin or hyperforin content

Estrogenic activity of Nigella damascena extracts, evaluated using a recombinant yeast screen

We used the yeast estrogen screen (YES) containing a human estrogen receptor to evaluate the estrogenic activity of extracts obtained from Nigella damascena seeds. Alcohol extracts obtained by direct extraction of seeds showed a low estrogenic activity, while the alcohol extract obtained after extraction with solvents of increasing polarity showed a strong estrogenic activity. This suggests the presence in Nigella of polar components whose activity can be clearly demonstrated after previous elimination of interacting apolar components that may mask the activity of more polar components. The response of both alcohol fractions follow a bell-shaped curve indicating a concentration-dependent relationship

Phytochemistry and biological activity of Primula spectabilis Tratt., an endemism of Valvestino (Italian Alps)

Valvestino (Brescia) is a valley of Italian Central Southern Alps, recognized by European Union as \u201cSite of Community Interest\u201d; this site is characterized by the presence of numerous endemisms, some of them included in the IUCN Red List. An ethnobotanical investigation in this valley has pointed out that some species belonging to Primula genus are commonly used for their medicinal properties. In this work we report the flavonoid composition of the endemism Primula spectabilis Tratt. and its antioxidant potential. Samples of this species were collected during the Summer of 2007 and determined according to \u201cFlora d\u2019Italia\u201d by Pignatti. The dried powdered leaves were exhaustively extracted with increasing polarity solvents: n-hexane, dichloromethane, dichlorometane:methanol (9:1) and methanol. The methanol extract was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20, using MeOH as eluent, to obtain fractions that showed NTS-PEG positive spots on TLC. Finally some of these fractions have been submitted to RP-HPLC to obtain phenols, and the structural identification was determined on the basis of extensive NMR spectral studies, as well as by HPLC-MS analysis. Three compounds (C-glucosides of kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin), never isolated before in the Primula genus, were identified. The methanol extract, the richest in polyphenols, was also submitted, after the determination of polyphenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, to DPPH and total antioxidant capacity based upon the reduction of Cu++ to Cu+ assays. The obtained results showed a considerable antioxidant activity from P. spectabilis

In vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes L. extracts and isolated compounds

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Asplenium trichomanes was used as an expectorant, anti-cough remedy, laxative, emmenagogue, abortifacient and for irregular menses. Aim of the study: To investigate the in vitro estrogenic activity of Asplenium trichomanes extracts and isolated compounds and their ability to activate ER and ER . Materials and methods: Leaves infusion (IF), decoction (DC) and methanol extract (ME) were prepared. MCF7/EREluc cell line which expresses endogenous ER , and SK-NBE cells transiently transfected with the estrogen receptors (ER and ER )were used for the estrogenic activity assays. Phytochemical investigations were performed (CC, HPLC, etc.) and structure of isolated compounds were achieved on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HR-MS spectrometry. Results: IF andMEwere active in our MCF7 model; selectivity for the ER receptorwas observed in the SKNBE test. Two new phenol derivatives, 4-vinyl-phenol-1-O-[ -l-rhamno(1\u21926)- -d-glucopyranosyde] (1) and kaempferol-3-O- -[2 acetyl]-arabinofuranosyl-7-O- -l-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated with six known compounds (3\u20138). Compounds 2\u20134, 7 and 8 showed selectivity for the activation of the ER receptor although with a moderate activity compared with 17- -estradiol. Conclusion: Further investigations about the estrogenic effects of this plant are needed but our data can, at least in part, explain some of its traditional use as emmeagogue