Ye YN, Liu ES, Shin VY, Koo MW, Li Y, Wei EQ, Matsui H, Cho CH.
It has been reported that an extract from Angelica sinensis mainly consisting of polysaccharides (95%) prevented ethanol- or indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal damage (Cho CH et al. Planta Med 2000;66:348-51). However, it is not known whether Angelica sinensis has a direct stimulatory effect on the healing of gastric mucosal lesions. To study the hypothesis that Angelica sinensis has a direct mucosal healing effect in rats and in isolated gastric epithelial cells, we assessed the wound repair in both animals and normal cell culture (RGM-1), as well as [3H]thymidine incorporation, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, and ODC protein and c-Myc protein expression after different treatments in RGM-1 cells. We found that Angelica sinensis crude extract (ASCE) dose-dependently enhanced gastric ulcer healing in rats and promoted wound repair in RGM-1 cells. It also significantly stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and ODC activity in RGM-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. ODC and c-Myc protein expression was also increased as a result of this process. DL-alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine repressed the [3H]thymidine incorporation and ODC activity induced by ASCE. Pretreatment with c-Myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides blocked the stimulatory action of ASCE on [3H]thymidine incorporation and ODC protein expression. These data suggest that ASCE has a direct mucosal healing effect on gastric epithelial cells, while ODC and c-Myc are closely associated with this effect.

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Tona L, Kambu K, Ngimbi N, Mesia K, Penge O, Lusakibanza M, Cimanga K, De Bruyne T, Apers S, Totte J, Pieters L, Vlietinck AJ.
Three major extracts from some traditional preparations, based on medicinal plants, used as antidiarrhoeal agents were investigated for their putative antiamoebic and spasmolytic activities in vitro. Results indicated that both biological activities are concentrated in the polyphenolic fraction, and not in the saponin or alkaloid containing fractions. The most active polyphenolic extracts were those from Euphorbia hirta whole plant, leaves of Alchornea cordifolia, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Nauclea latifolia, Psidium guajava, Tithonia diversifolia, stem bark of Harungana madagascariensis, Mangifera indica, Maprounea africana and Psidium guajava, inhibiting Entamoeba histolytica growth with MAC < 10 micrograms/ml. The same extracts, at a concentration of 80 micrograms/ml in an organ bath, also exhibited more than 70% inhibition of acetylcholine and/or KCl solution-induced contractions on isolated guinea-pig ileum.

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Ruppelt BM, Pereira EF, Gonçalves LC, Pereira NA.
We have observed that several plants used popularly as anti-snake venom show anti-inflammatory activity. From the list prepared by Rizzini, Mors and Pereira some species have been selected and tested for analgesic activity (number of contortions) and anti-inflammatory activity (Evans blue dye diffusion--1% solution) according to Whittle's technique (intraperitoneal administration of 0.1 N-acetic acid 0.1 ml/10 g) in mice. Previous oral administration of a 10% infusion (dry plant) or 20% (fresh plant) corresponding to 1 or 2 g/kg of Apuleia leiocarpa, Casearia sylvestris, Brunfelsia uniflora, Chiococca brachiata, Cynara scolymus, Dorstenia brasiliensis, Elephantopus scaber, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Mikania glomerata and Trianosperma tayuya demonstrated analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory activities of varied intensity.

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Huguet AI, Máñez S, Alcaraz MJ.
The superoxide anion scavenging activity of 38 flavonoids, some of them isolated from Sideritis mugronensis, Sideritis javalambrensis and Cayaponia tayuya were investigated by measurement of their inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. Isoorientin, orientin, amentoflavone, leucocyanidol, eriodictyol, datiscetin and robinetin behaved as potent scavengers and structure-activity relationships were established.