Search Results (10)

Akebia quinata seeds (AQSs) are used as an analgesic, antiphlogistic, and diuretic in traditional herbal medicine. We developed an ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) simultaneous component analysis method to analyze eight compounds (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, hederacolchiside F, hederacoside C, dipsacoside B, akebia saponin D, and α-hederin) as markers for the quality assessment of AQSs. The separation of the eight analytes was performed in an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ reversed-phase analytical column. The method was validated with respect to linearity (coefficient of determination ≥ 0.994), recovery (90.32–108.18%; relative standard deviation (RSD) < 10.0%), and precision (RSD < 10%). The analysis of the AQSs confirmed that the eight components were found in concentrations of 0.42–9.07 mg/g. The cytotoxicity of the AQS extract and the eight compounds against human cancer cell lines, including MDA-MB-231 (breast), A549 (lung), HCT 116 (colon), AsPC-1 (pancreas), and A2780 (ovarian), was also assessed, with cisplatin used as a positive control. In addition, dipsacoside B showed high cytotoxicity in all cell lines. This assay will help to enhance efficacy and clinical research as well as provide a validated quality assessment of AQS extract and related traditional herbal medicines. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cork oak forests have been declining due to fungal pathogens such as Diplodia corticola. However, the preventive fungicides against this fungus have restricted use due to the deleterious effects on human health and the environment, prompting the need for sustainable alternatives. Here, we describe the antifungal activity of an aqueous extract of Hedera helix L. leaves (HAE) against D. corticola and the possible mechanism of action. Results/Methods: The chemical analysis revealed compounds like the saponin hederacoside C, quinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, rutin, and glycoside derivatives of quercetin and kaempferol, all of which have been previously reported to possess antimicrobial activity. Remarkable in vitro antifungal activity was observed, reducing radial mycelial growth by 70% after 3 days of inoculation. Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants, bck1 and mkk1/mkk2, affected the cell wall integrity signaling pathway were more resistant to HAE than the wild-type strain, suggesting that the extract targets kinases of the signaling pathway, which triggers toxicity. The viability under osmotic stress with 0.75 M NaCl was lower in the presence of HAE, suggesting the deficiency of osmotic protection by the cell wall. Conclusions: These results suggest that ivy extracts can be a source of new natural antifungal agents targeting the cell wall, opening the possibility of preventing fungal infections in cork oaks and improving the cork production sector using safer and more sustainable approaches. Full article

Conventional and herbal active principles can be combined in a beneficial harmony using their best features and compensating for the certain weaknesses of each. The study will answer the question, “how can willow bark extract (Wbe) or ivy leaf extract (Ile) influence the photoprotective, skin permeation and hydration properties of Bioactive Lipid Nanocarriers (BLN) loaded with UV-filters and selected herbals?”. BLN-Wbe/Ile-UV-filters were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, thermal behavior, entrapment efficiency and drug loading. The formulated BLN-hydrogels (HG) were subjected to in vitro release and permeation experiments. The in vitro determination of sun protection factors, as well as comparative in vitro photostability tests, rheology behavior and in vivo hydration status have been also considered for hydrogels containing BLN-Ile/Wbe-UV-filters. Photoprotection of BLN-HG against UVA rays was more pronounced as compared with the UVB (UVA-PF reached values of 30, while the maximum SPF value was 13). The in vitro irradiation study demonstrated the photostability of BLN-HG under UV exposure. A noteworthy cosmetic efficacy was detected by in vivo skin test (hydration effect reached 97% for the BLN-Wbe-UV-filters prepared with pomegranate oil). The research novelty, represented by the first-time co-optation of the active herbal extracts (Wbe and Ile) together with two synthetic filters in the same nanostructured delivery system, will provide appropriate scientific support for the cosmetic industry to design novel marketed formulations with improved quality and health benefices. Full article

(1) Background: Hedera nepalensis (Araliaceae) is a recognized medicinal plant founded in Asia that has been reported to work in antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antitumor capacities. (2) Methods: The subcritical fluid extraction of saponin from Hedera nepalensis leaves and the optimum of the extraction process based on yield of saponin contents (by calculating the hederacoside C contents in dried Hedera nepalensis leaves) are examined by response surface methodology (RSM). Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the extract is tested for potential drug applications in the future. (3) Results: Based upon RSM data, the following parameters are optimal: extraction time of 3 min, extraction temperature of 150 °C, and a sample/solvent ratio of 1:55 g/mL. Under such circumstances, the achieved yield of saponin is 1.879%. Moreover, the extracts inhibit the growth of some bacterial strains (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenza) at a moderate to strong level with inhibition zone diameter values ranging from 12.63 to 19.50 mm. (4) Conclusions: The development of such a model provides a robust experimental process for optimizing the extraction factors of saponin contents from Hedera nepalensis extract using subcritical fluid extraction and RSM. Moreover, the current work reveals that saponin extracts of Hedera nepalensis leaves exhibit a potential antimicrobial activity, which can be used as scientific evidence for further study. Full article

COVID-19 infection causes complications, even in people who have had a mild course of the disease. The most dangerous seem to be neurological ailments: anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety–depressive (MAD) syndromes, and irreversible dementia. These conditions can negatively affect the respiratory system, circulatory system, and heart functioning. We believe that phytotherapy can be helpful in all of these conditions. Clinical trials confirm this possibility. The work presents plant materials (Valeriana officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, Piper methysticum, Humulus lupulus, Ballota nigra, Hypericum perforatum, Rhodiola rosea, Lavandula officinalis, Paullinia cupana, Ginkgo biloba, Murraya koenigii, Crataegus monogyna and oxyacantha, Hedera helix, Polygala senega, Pelargonium sidoides, Lichen islandicus, Plantago lanceolata) and their dominant compounds (valeranon, valtrate, apigenin, citronellal, isovitexin, isoorientin, methysticin, humulone, farnesene, acteoside, hypericin, hyperforin, biapigenin, rosavidin, salidroside, linalool acetate, linalool, caffeine, ginkgolide, bilobalide, mihanimbine, epicatechin, hederacoside C,α-hederine, presegenin, umckalin, 6,7,8-trixydroxybenzopyranone disulfate, fumaroprotocetric acid, protolichesteric acid, aucubin, acteoside) responsible for their activity. It also shows the possibility of reducing post-COVID-19 neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular complications, which can affect the functioning of the nervous system. Full article

Hedera helix L. is known for its therapeutic properties, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant activity. It is currently known that the characteristic therapeutic effects of ivy extracts are induced by phytocompunds, such as: saponins (hederagenin, α and β-hederin, hederacoside B and C), phytosterols (sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol), flavonoids, falcarinol, falcarinone, scopoline, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, phytoestrogens [¹]. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the total saponin content of Hedera helix L. leaves extracts obtained by both conventional, and unconventional methods. The commercial fresh leaves of Hedera helix L. were purchased from Hofigal SA, Romania. The following reagents used for testing were α-hederin, hederagenin, and hederacoside C at purity ≥98% (HPLC), DMSO were purchased from Sigma Aldrich. The chemical composition of the obtained extracts was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, and the total saponin content was evaluated [²,³]. Our study indicated an optimal method for obtaining Hedera helix L. leaves extract with an enriched saponin content. Full article

Background: Hederacoside C from ivy leaf dry extracts (HH) and berberine from Coptidis rhizome dry extracts (CR) can be combined (HHCR) as a herbal product. Previous studies have demonstrated that HHCR has antitussive and expectorant effects in animal models of respiratory disease. However, the therapeutic effects of HHCR on respiratory diseases in humans have not been well-studied. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the effectiveness of HHCR in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Methods: This was a multicenter (10 university teaching hospitals), open-label, prospective, single-arm, observational study. Consecutive patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis were included. Patients were orally treated with HHCR daily for 12 weeks. St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores and bronchitis severity scores (BSS) were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week study. Results: In total, 376 patients were enrolled, of which 304 were finally included in the study, including 236 males and 68 females with a median age of 69 years (range: 37–88 years). After 12 weeks of HHCR treatment, there was a significant improvement in SGRQ score (baseline, 32.52 ± 16.93 vs. end of study, 29.08 ± 15.16; p < 0.0001) and a significant reduction in BSS (baseline, 7.16 ± 2.63 vs. end of study, 4.72 ± 2.45; p < 0.0001). During the study, 14 patients concomitantly used an inhaled corticosteroid and 83 patients used an inhaled bronchodilator. HHCR also had significant positive effects on these patients in terms of SGRQ score and BSS. No serious adverse drug reactions occurred during HHCR treatment. Conclusions: treatment with HHCR improved the SGRQ score and BSS in patients with chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. HHCR may be a new therapeutic option for chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Large-scale, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are warranted. Full article

Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) is consumed as a fruit and is also used in traditional medicine. In order to identify the bioactive components of A. quinata, a phytosterol glucoside stigmasterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (1), three triterpenoids maslinic acid (2), scutellaric acid (3), and hederagenin (4), and three triterpenoidal saponins akebia saponin PA (5), hederacoside C (6), and hederacolchiside F (7) were isolated from a 70% EtOH extract of the fruits of A. quinata (AKQU). The chemical structures of isolates 1–7 were determined by analyzing the 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. Here, we evaluated the effects of AKQU and compounds 1–7 on insulin secretion using the INS-1 rat pancreatic β-cell line. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was evaluated in INS-1 cells using the GSIS assay. The expression levels of the proteins related to pancreatic β-cell function were detected by Western blotting. Among the isolates, stigmasterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (1) exhibited strong GSIS activity and triggered the overexpression of pancreas/duodenum homeobox protein-1 (PDX-1), which is implicated in the regulation of pancreatic β-cell survival and function. Moreover, isolate 1 markedly induced the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and Akt, which regulate the transcription of PDX-1. The results of our experimental studies indicated that stigmasterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (1) isolated from the fruits of A. quinata can potentially enhance insulin secretion, and might alleviate the reduction in GSIS during the development of T2DM. Full article

Developed methods for routine analysis of medicines should be considered in terms of analytical efficiency, economic cost, as well as their environmental impact. Different chromatographic methods for the routine quantitative analysis of hederacoside C in ivy leaf extract and its original dosage forms (capsules and syrup) are developed. The performance of HPLC and UPLC methods should be done using ACE C18 (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) and ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) columns, respectively, and both of them require a mixture of water and acetonitrile in the ratio 71/29 as a mobile phase. The HPTLC procedure is carried out using the stationary phase pre-coated silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ glass sheets and a mixture of anhydrous formic acid/acetone/methanol/ethyl acetate (4:20:20:30 v/v). The most suitable conditions of preparation for each sample are established, for instance, the solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the analysis of syrup is applied. Analytical methods are compered by analytical accuracy, calculation of expenses, and assessment of their influence on ecology. All methods are recognized as accurate, precise, and reliable. However, the assessment of the environmental impact shows that HPTLC is the less green method. On the another hand, it is found to be the cheapest, the costs of performing HPTLC are 2.3 and 1.6 times lower than for HPLC and UPLC, respectively. Full article

In this study, three of the saponins present in leaves of Hedera helix L., α-hederin, hederagenin, and hederacoside C were studied for their antiproliferative activity. The three saponins were analyzed in different concentrations by in vitro tests on normal fibroblasts cells and cervix ephitelial tumor cells. Determination of cytotoxicity and antitumor effects was performed using the MTT method. From the tested saponins, α-hederin was biocompatible in normal fibroblasts cells at concentrations between 2–10 μg/mL. Its antiproliferative activity was exerted in the concentration range of 10–400 μg/mL in cervix ephitelial tumor cells. Similarly, hederagenin presented antiproliferative activity at concentrations between 25–400 μg/mL. In turn, hederacoside C was shown to be noncytotoxic in normal fibroblasts and cervix ephitelial tumor cell culture at all the tested concentrations. The obtained experimental results were analyzed by “Mixture design”, a specialized form of the response surface method (RSM) provided by the Design Expert 11 software, and the optimal composition of obtained saponins mixture was selected and verified in vitro for antiproliferative activity. The results showed that an optimal saponins mixture has the potential to be used in pharmacological applications. Full article