At present, 141 compounds have been isolated from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora and P. kurroa of the Scrophulariaceae plants, including 46 iridoid glycosides, 29 tetracyclic triterpenoids, 25 phenylpropanoids, and 11 phenylethanoid glycosides. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that they have liver-, heart-, brain-, kidney-, and nerve cells-protecting effects as well as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-asthma, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, and blood lipid-lowering activities. This article reviews the chemical components and pharmacological activities of P. scrophulariiflora and P. kurroa, aiming to provide a basis for the in-depth research, development, and utilization of the two plants.
Iridoid Glycosides ; Picrorhiza ; Triterpenes/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVETo study the phenylethanoid glycosides from root of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora.

METHODColumn chromatographic techniques were used for isolation and purification of chemical constituents of the plant and the structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis.

RESULTSix phenylethanoid glycosides were isolated and elucidated as: 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3) beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), scroside B (3), hemiphroside A (4), plantainoside D (5) and scroside A (6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were isolated from this plant for the first time and compound 2 was firstly obtained from natural source.

Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Picrorhiza ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the ethanol extract of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (EPS) on renal function and tissue damage in a rat remnant kidney model.

METHODSRat models of chronic kidney disease induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) were randomly assigned into two groups for treatment with a gavage of either EPS or vehicle for 9 weeks. The rats in the control group received only sham operation.

RESULTSCompared with vehicle-treated 5/6 Nx rats, the EPS-treated rats displayed significantly decreased urinary excretion of malondialdehyde, serum levels of AGEs and AOPPs, and increased serum SeGSHPx activities. These changes were associated with attenuated urinary protein excretion, glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONEPS can obviously improve the renal functions and renal pathologies in rats with chronic kidney disease probably by inhibiting the oxidative stress.

Animals ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Picrorhiza ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic steatosis is caused by an imbalance between free fatty acids (FFAs) uptake, utilization, storage, and disposal. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in FFAs accumulation and its modulation could drive the development of potential therapies for Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of the current study was to explore the effects of picroside II, a phytoactive found in Picrorhiza kurroa, on fatty acid accumulation vis-à-vis silibinin, a known hepatoprotective phytoactive from Silybum marianum. METHODS: HepG2 cells were loaded with FFAs (oleic acid:palmitic acid/2:1) for 20 hours to mimic hepatic steatosis. The FFAs concentration achieving maximum fat accumulation and minimal cytotoxicity (500 μM) was standardized. HepG2 cells were exposed to the standardized FFAs concentration with and without picroside II pretreatment. RESULTS: Picroside II pretreatment inhibited FFAs-induced lipid accumulation by attenuating the expression of fatty acid transport protein 5, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and stearoyl CoA desaturase. Preatreatment with picroside II was also found to decrease the expression of forkhead box protein O1 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that picroside II effectively attenuated fatty acid accumulation by decreasing FFAs uptake and lipogenesis. Picroside II also decreased the expression of gluconeogenic genes.
Fatty Acid Transport Proteins ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Lipogenesis ; Milk Thistle ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Phosphoenolpyruvate ; Picrorhiza ; Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1

Total glucosides of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora (TGP) is the active principal in Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora which has antioxidant effect. Since oxidative stress plays a key role in diabetic nephropathy, we investigated the effects of TGP on oxidative stress in bovine glomerular mesangial cells (MC) induced by prolonged high glucose. Bovine glomerular mesangial cells were cultured and passages 2-3 were used for the experiment. Mesangial cells were cultured in high glucose medium, and treated with TGP for 3 weeks. Then collagen IV excreted by mesangial cells were detected, and the percentages of cell cycle were observed by flow cytometry technique. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and [Ca2+]i were measured by flow cytometry after loaded with fluorescent probe DCFH-DA, Rh123 and fluo-3-acetoxymethylest. TGP significantly decreased the excretion of collagen IV and cell hypertrophy induced by high glucose, reduced the levels of ROS and [Ca2+]i, and increased MMP. Therefore we conclude that TGP could protect mesangial cells against oxidative stress induced by high glucose.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cattle ; Cell Cycle ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; secretion ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Picrorhiza ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism