Effect of ShanZha, a Chinese herbal product, on obesity and dyslipidemia in hamsters receiving high-fat diet.

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 16; Kou DH, Yeh CH, Shieh PC, Cheng KC, Chen FA, Cheng JTAIM: The present study is designed to investigate the effect of ShanZha (Crataegus pinnatifida) on obesity or dyslipidemia induced by high fat diet in hamsters and characterize the role of PPARalpha in this action of ShanZha. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We induced dyslipidemia and obesity in hamsters using high fat diet and treated hamsters with ShanZha or vehicle for 7 days. We measured the body weight, adipose tissue weights, and food intake of hamsters. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined at the beginning and end of this treatment. Effect of ShanZha on adipogenesis was examined in vitro and change of PPARalpha was analyzed using Western blot. RESULTS: The food intake, body weights, and weights of both brown and white adipose tissues were markedly reduced in hamsters receiving ShanZha as compared with the vehicle-treated control. Plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were decreased by this ShanZha treatment while HDL-C was elevated. The effects of ShanZha were reversed by the combined treatment with PPARalpha antagonist, MK886. ShanZha inhibited the fat droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner and this effect was abolished by MK886. Western blot results showed activation of PPARalpha by ShanZha in hamster adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: We suggest that ShanZha could activate PPARalpha to improve dyslipidemia or obesity.

Chemistry and pharmacology of Rhaponticum carthamoides: A review.

Phytochemistry. 2009 May 18; Kokoska L, Janovska DRhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) Iljin is a perennial herb, commonly known as a maral root or Russian leuzea, which has been used for centuries in eastern parts of Russia for its marked medicinal properties. This review based on 117 literary sources, with many of them being originally published in non-English languages (mainly in Russian), discusses the current knowledge of traditional uses, chemistry, biological effects and toxicity of this species. Several different classes of compounds were previously isolated from various parts of R. carthamoides of which the main groups are steroids, particularly ecdysteroids, and phenolics (flavonoids and phenolic acids) accompanied with polyacetylenes, sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoid glycosides and terpenes (essential oil). A comprehensive account of the chemical constituents is given in this review (figures of 120 structures are shown). Various types of preparations, extracts and individual compounds derived from this species have been found to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects on several organs such as the brain, blood, cardiovascular and nervous systems as well as on different biochemical processes and physiological functions including proteosynthesis, work capacity, reproduction, and sexual function. Moreover, the extracts and preparations from the plant, which are hopefully safe, exhibited various additional biological effects e.g. antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic and insect antifeedant or repellent activities. The results of data analysis on the chemical, pharmacological and toxicological characteristics of R. carthamoides support the view that this species has beneficial therapeutic properties and indicate its potential as an effective adaptogenic herbal remedy. Finally, some suggestions for further research on chemical and pharmacological properties are given in this review.

Flavonol tetraglycosides from fruits of Styphnolobium japonicum (Leguminosae) and the authentication of Fructus Sophorae and Flos Sophorae.

Phytochemistry. 2009 May 15; Kite GC, Veitch NC, Boalch ME, Lewis GP, Leon CJ, Simmonds MSThe dried fruits and seeds of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott (syn. Sophora japonica L.) are used in traditional Chinese medicine and known as Fructus Sophorae or Huai Jiao. The major flavonoids in these fruits and seeds were studied by LC-MS and other spectroscopic techniques to aid the chemical authentication of Fructus Sophorae. Among the flavonoids were two previously unreported kaempferol glycosides: kaempferol 3-O-beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-beta-xylopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)[beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-glucopyranoside, the structures of which were determined by NMR. Two further tetraglycosides were identified for the first time in S. japonicum as kaempferol 3-O-beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)[alpha-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)[alpha-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside; the latter was the main flavonoid in mature seeds. The chromatographic profiles of 27 recorded flavonoids were relatively consistent among fruits of similar ages collected from five trees of S. japonicum, and those of maturing unripe and ripe fruits were similar to a market sample of Fructus Sophorae, and thus provide useful markers for authentication of this herbal ingredient. The flower buds (Huai Mi) and flowers (Huai Hua) of S. japonicum (collectively Flos Sophorae) contained rutin as the main flavonoid and lacked the flavone glycosides that were present in flower buds and flowers of Sophora flavescens Ait., reported to be occasional substitutes for Flos Sophorae. The single major flavonoid in fruits of S. flavescens was determined as 3'-hydroxydaidzein.

Antimicrobial and brine shrimp toxicity of some plants used in traditional medicine in Bukoba District, north-western Tanzania.

Tanzan J Health Res. 2009 Jan; 11(1): 23-8Moshi MJ, Innocent E, Masimba PJ, Otieno DF, Weisheit A, Mbabazi P, Lynes M, Meachem K, Hamilton A, Urassa IHerbal medicines constitute a potentially important resource for new and safe drugs for the management of microbial infections and other diseases. In this study, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and ethanol extracts of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Dissotis brazzae Cong., Iboza urticifolia (Bak) E.A.Bruce, Isoglosa lacteal Lindau, Strombosia Scheffleri Engl., and Whitfieldia elongate T. Anders were tested for antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity. The objective was to validate claims that they are used to treat bacterial infections, diarrhoea and heal wounds among the Haya tribe of north-western Tanzania. At least one extract of each plant showed antibacterial activity. Dichloromethane extracts were the most active while ethanol extracts were the least active. Extracts of Whitfieldia elongate and Isoglossa lacteal were the most and least active with MICs in the range 0.08-0.62 mg/ml and 15.6-62.5 mg/ml, respectively. The dichloromethane extract of Whitfieldia elongate exhibited strong antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. Against brine shrimp larvae, the extracts from the six plants exhibited a low to very low toxicity with LC50 values ranging from 15.35-374.0 microg/ml. However, ethanol extracts of Dissotis brazzae and Strombosia scheffleri had LC50 values of >1000 microg/ml. The seemingly innocuous nature and relatively good antibacterial activity against skin infections and gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria support the traditional uses of the plants and deserve more detailed studies.