Phytochemical Study and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Hypolipidemic Properties of <i>Launaea taraxacifolia</i>Leaves Extracts on Cell Lines HepG2 and PLB985

Launaea taraxacifolia is a leafy vegetable of the family of Asteraceae (Compositae) found in several countries in West Africa including Ghana, Benin and Nigeria. The plant leaves are eaten either fresh as salad or cooked as sauces. They are also consumed as infusion to fight against several diseases including non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Several studies have been conducted in Ghana, Nigeria on the nutritional and medicinal values of this plant but no study has yet been conducted in Benin on the virtues of this plant. In this work we have achieved the phytochemical characterization and evaluated the cytotoxicity as well as hypolipidemic and anti-oxidant effects of the ethanol-aqueous extracts of Launaea taraxacifolia leaves. Cytotoxicity and hypolipidemic activities have been performed on HepG2 cells;the antioxidant effect has been performed on the PLB985 cells. The results showed that the ethanol-aqueous extracts of Launaea taraxacifolia leaves contained the following metabolites: catechic tannin, flavonoids, phenolic acids, mucilage and leucoanthocyanins. Only very high concentrations (>20 mg/ml) of leaves extracts are toxic for HepG2 cells. Launaea taraxacifolia leaves have significant antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oil of Launaea lanifera Pau grown in Algerian arid steppes

Objective: To evaluate the essential oil composition and the antibacterial activity of an Algerian endemic plant, Launaea lanifera Pau(L. lanifera), grown in arid steppe regions.Methods: L. lanifera essential oil was isolated from aerial parts by steam distillation and its chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatographyflame ionization detector and gas chromatography with electron impact mass spectrometry. Furthermore, its in vitro antibacterial activity against four bacterial strains was tested following the agar disk diffusion method.Results: This species had a very low essential oil yield(0.005%). Twenty-four(92.6%)individual components were identified. The main constituents were hexahydrofarnesyl acetone(31.6%),(E)-b-ionone(8.5%),(E)-b-damascenone(7.0%), 2-methyltetradecane(3.8%), n-heptadecane(3.8%), limonene(2.8%) and b-caryophyllene(2.8%). No noteworthy antimicrobial activity was observed on the tested bacteria, neither Gram negative nor Gram positive.Conclusions: This is the first report on the volatile constituents and antibacterial activity of L. lanifera. The studied essential oil does not possess significant activity against the tested microorganisms.

Toxicological evaluation and protective effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia on gentamicin induced rat kidney injury

Objective: To evaluate the toxic potential of Launaea taraxacifolia leaf extract(LTE) in rats within 14 d of oral administration and also assess the potential of LTE in protecting against kidney injury induced by gentamicin using rat model.Methods: The protective ability of LTE was done after sub-acute toxicity evaluation has been carried out. Acute Kidney Injury(AKI) was induced by gentamicin at a dose of 160 mg/kg intraperitoneal i.p. Parameters and indicators considered include mortality,clinical signs, body and organ weights, haematological and clinical chemistry parameters.Gross examination and histopathological assessment was also done on selected internal organs.Results: There were no treatment-related deaths or changes in clinical signs, haematological and clinical chemistry indices during sub-acute toxicity studies with the exception of creatinine levels. This was confirmed by micrographs obtained from histopathological analysis. Co-administration of LTE with 160 mg/kg of gentamicin(i.p) markedly decreased the levels of urea and creatinine when compared to negative control group.Histological studies of kidney tissues showed an insignificant change in tubular epithelium in LTE plus gentamicin treated group compared to LTE treated only.Conclusions: Data obtained show that ethanolic leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia is non-toxic within a 14 d administration at a maximum dose of 1 000 mg/kg bwt and also possesses the ability to protect against gentamicin-induced kidney damage in rats at a dose of 300 mg/kg bwt.

Effects of Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Launaea acanthodes on Serum Gonadotropin and Testosterone Levels and the Structure of Seminiferous Tubules in Hyperglycemic Rats

Objective： To investigate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes, a blood glucose lowering plant in folk medicine of Iran, on the structure of seminiferous tubules and serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels in hyperglycemic rats. Methods： Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups （n=6）： control, streptozotocin （STZ）, STZ ＋ insulin [STZ ＋ Ins, 5 IU/（kg·day）], and STZ ＋ Launaea acanthodes extract [STZ ＋ Ext, 150 mg/（kg·day）]. Blood samples were collected at the 2nd and 4th weeks for detection of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone （FSH） and luteinizing hormone （LH） with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay （ELISA）, and the dght testes of rats were removed at the 7th week for the evaluation of diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells using unbiased stereological techniques. Results： in comparison with the control group, at the 2nd week FSH （0.45 vs 0.03, 0.02, 0.02 lUlL in STZ, STZ ＋ Ins and STZ ＋ Ext groups, respectively） and LH （1.02 vs 0.37, 0.2, 0.29 IU/L） showed significant decreases （all P〈0.05） and testosterone （4.2 vs 8.37, 7.78, 11.8 ng/mL） showed a remarkable increase （all P〈0.05）. The levels of these hormones became closer in the STZ ＋ Ext and the STZ ＋ Ins groups to the control at the 4th week. A significant decrease in diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules and number of Leydig cells were observed in the STZ group as compared with the control （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： Administration of Launaea extract demonstrated a beneficial impact on the protection of testis from pathogenic and degenerative effects of hyperglycemia which may be partly due to its potential antioxidative effects.

光茎栓果菊的化学成分研究

目的:研究光茎栓果菊Launaea acaulis(Roxb.)Babcock ex Kerr.的化学成分。方法:运用ODS、Sephadex LH-20葡聚糖凝胶等柱色谱和高效液相色谱技术对光茎栓果菊进行分离纯化,并根据理化性质和NMR、MS波谱数据鉴定化合物结构。结果:从光茎栓果菊中分离得到10个化合物,分别鉴定为:七叶内酯(1)、马兜铃酸C(2)、马兜铃内酰胺Ⅲa(3)、马兜铃内酰胺AⅡ(4)、aristolactamⅢa N-β-D-glucoside(5)、对羟基苯乙酸(6)、香豆素(7)、N-β-D-马兜铃内酰胺葡萄糖苷(8)、对羟基苯乙酸甲酯(9)、胡萝卜苷(10)。结论:化合物1~10均为首次从栓果菊属植物中分离得到。

广西特色药材光茎栓果菊中脂溶性成分的GC-MS分析

目的 对光茎栓果菊药材中的脂溶性成分进行分析。方法提取分离光茎栓果菊中脂溶性成分,并将分离得到的脂溶性成分进行甲酯化后通过GC-MS联用技术进行分析和鉴定。结果共检出29个成分,其中有机酸类化合物为主要物质。结论这29个成分均为首次从光茎栓果菊中鉴定出来,可为进一步研究光茎栓果菊的化学成分提供参考。