Neurosedative and Antioxidant Activities of Phenylpropanoids from Ballota nigra

Abstract

Ballota nigra is a European plant known for its neurosedative properties. In this study, the ability of five phenylpropanoids (verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside, ballotetroside, and caffeoyl malic acid) isolated from a hydroalcoholic extract, to bind to benzodiazepine, dopaminergic, and morphinic receptors was investigated. To carry out these studies, affinity tests with rat striata, entire brains and receptor rich preparations were employed. In addition, the phenolic aspect of these five phenylpropanoid esters led to investigate antioxidant activities using cell-free experiments and cellular experiments including isolated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Effects of phenylpropanoid esters against reactive oxygen species as superoxide anion, peroxide hydrogen, hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radical were tested. These molecules are liberated by PMN during inflammatory disorders, so that reproduction of this process in vitro stimulating PMN by chemical stimulants was undertaken. Results show that four of the five compounds are able to bind to the studied receptors. Inhibitory concentrations at 50% were determined and vary from 0.4 to 4.7 mg/ml. This may be in relation with the Ballota nigra known neurosedative activities. Results concerning antioxidant investigations evidence an ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Inhibitory concentrations at 50% obtained are comparable to those of known antioxidant drugs (mesna or N-acetyl cysteine). Moreover, the use of different stimuli having various pathways of action on PMN oxidative metabolism permits to establish that each phenylpropanoid ester has its own particular way of action by using proteine kinase C or phospholipase C pathways.

Flavones and phenylpropanoids from a sedative extract of Lantana trifolia L.

“…As far as phenylpropanoids usually found in Verbenaceae are concerned, verbascoside, 5, has already been tested on benzodiazepine receptors (Daels-Rakotoarison et al, 2000) and its IC 50 (1.9 mM) was compatible with the lack of effect at 300 lM, observed in the present study (Table 3). For the other phenylpropanoid tested here (compound 4) there is no previous data in the literature.…”

Assessment of a natural dietary extract, titrated in phenylpropanoid glycosides, on blood parameters and plasma oxidative status in intensively reared Italian hares (Lepus corsicanus)

“…The extensive family of phenylpropanoids contains natural molecules that are water soluble, widely distributed in the plant kingdom and have been isolated from medical plants. In vitro studies have demonstrated that these molecules promote anti-inflammatory (Deepak and Handa, 2000), anti-tumour (Kunvari et al, 1999) and antioxidant (Daels-Rakotoarison et al, 2000) activities through a scavenger effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS; Wang et al, 1996;Gao et al, 1999). Many studies have also shown the antioxidant activity of verbascoside on cellular systems and on various organs and systems of the human body (Li et al, 1999;Chen et al, 2002).…”

A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, and Biological Activities of the Genus Ballota and Otostegia

“…In some cases, a number of individual active compounds were isolated and identified. The following were purified from leaf extract (water/EtOH 1 : 1) of B. nigra collected in France [236,237]: (+)-(E)-caffeoyl-L-malic acid (186), verbascoside 227, forsythoside B (223), arenarioside (220), and ballotetroside (221). On the other hand, morin (110) and quercetin (100) were isolated from the bio-guided purification of the methanolic extract of O. persica [160].…”

“…On the other hand, morin (110) and quercetin (100) were isolated from the bio-guided purification of the methanolic extract of O. persica [160]. In an interesting study [236], some chemical indicators of the intracellular inflammatory cascade reaction of the neutrophils were evaluated: superoxide anion, H 2 O 2 , HClO, and OH radical. All of the compounds were found to be active, inhibiting the development of oxygenated species to various degrees; only ballotertoside (221) was inactive in the superoxide anion and OH radical tests.…”