The SHS-174 preparation, a lyophilized infusion from flowers of Sambucus nigra L., aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L., and roots of Saponaria oficinalis (100 g; 70 g; 40 g) exhibited an antiviral effect. It inhibited the reproduction of different strains of influenza virus types A and B, both in vitro and in vivo, and herpes simplex virus type 1, in vitro. The preparation contains flavonoids, triterpene saponins, phenolic acids, tannins and polysaccharides which could be responsible for its antiviral properties.

No abstract

Polysaccharide fractions TG-1 and TG-2 were isolated from the fruit bodies of Trarnetes gibbosa (Pers.: Fr.) Fr.(Polyporaceae). Both fractions are glucans with trace amounts of other sugars. The polysaccharide fractions administered to rats intravenously, strongly inhibited vessel permeability in the rat pleural exudate model, induced by carragenan, but did not influence its density. Both polysaccharide fractions decreased considerably the total protein level in the pleural effusion. Fractions TG-1 and TG-2 antagonized effectively the inflammation mediator complex induced by carragenan and they neutralized the pharmacological effects with respect to small vessel permeability. At the same time they increased the number of neutrophils and eosinophils and decreased the number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. The pharmacological activity of polysaccharide fractions TG-1 and TG-2 confirms their function as potential factors responsible for the stabilization of a wall vessel, especially in pathological conditions leading to endothelial damage.

Clerosterol and clerosteryl acylglucosides were identified as the most abundant steroids of the aerial parts of Teucrium montanum L. subsp. pannonicum (Kern.) S. Pawł. Other constituents isolated were the neo-clerodane diterpenes auropolin and montanin H, and widespread triterpenes.

The study evaluated the antitumor activity of tylopilan, aβ- (1→3) (1→6) linked glucan isolated from fruiting bodies of Tylopilus felleus (Bull.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Boletaceae), and Propionibacterium acnes (P.a.) preparation. The antitumor effect of tylopilan and P.a. used alone or in combination was studied in NMRI mice inoculated i.p. with 106 180-TG Crocker tumor cells. All experiments were based on a pretreatment with tylopilan and/or P.a. 5 days and/or 2 h before tumor cell inoculation. Mean survival time (MST) of tumor - bearing mice was significantly prolonged in comparison to control mice by a single injection of tylopilan (25 µg/mouse or 50 µg/mouse) or P.a. (1 mg/mouse). MST was 23.6; 22.8 days in the tylopilan injected mice and 17.5 in the control animals. Tylopilan injected in conjunction with P.a. prolonged signifi-cantly MST in comparison to control mice as well as to tylopilan alone treated mice. We have found that P.a. which stimulate immune response enhanced significantly antitumor activity of tylopilan. The cytotoxicity of tylopilan at concentrations of 300, 150, 75 and 37.5 µg/ml towards 180-TG Crocker cells in vitro studies was evaluated. All examined tylopilan concentrations showed cytotoxic activity