No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Contact ; Pulsatilla

OBJECTIVETo observe the toxicity of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel saponins (PRS) against Oncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis).

METHODSO. hupensis snails were exposed to 40% and 80% of 24 h LC50 of PRS for 24 h, and then choline esterase (CHE), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in cephalopodium and liver of snails were determined. Niclosamide (NIC) was used as the reference molluscicide. Zebra fish lethality test was evaluated to non-target aquatic species of PRS.

RESULTSThe molluscicidal activity of PRS (LC50 at 24 h: 0.48 mg/L) was similar to that of NIC (LC50 at 24 h: 0.16 mg/L). Significant alterations about CHE, ALP, and ALT activities both in the cephalopodium and the liver of snails were observed when O. hupensis was exposed to 40% and 80% LC50 of PRS or NIC for 24 h. PRS and NIC could not affect LDH activity in the cephalopodium and the liver. Lower toxicity to fish of PRS was observed up to the highest concentration tested than NIC.

CONCLUSIONPRS, as compared with the reference molluscicide NIC, is thought to be used for the control of harmful vector snails safely.

Animals ; Molluscacides ; pharmacology ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Snails ; drug effects

Extraction and fractionation of Pulsatilla koreana flowers followed by, repeated open column chromatography for EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions yielded four flavonoid glycosides, namely, astragalin (1), tiliroside (2), buddlenoide A (3), and apigenin-7-O-(3"-E-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (4). The chemical structures of these flavonoid glycosides were elucidated on the basis of various spectroscopic methods including electronic ionization mass spectrometry (EI-MS), 1D NMR (1H, 13C, DEPT), 2D NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC), and infrared (IR) spectrometry. This study represents the first report of the isolation of the flavonoid glycosides from the flowers of P. koreana.
Chromatography ; Flowers* ; Glycosides* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Pulsatilla* ; Spectrum Analysis

This study was performed to define the cytotoxicity and the anti-inflammatory action of Pulsatilla koreana extracts. To analyze cytotoxic effects, gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts were used, and anti-inflammatory actions related to reduction of IL-1beta and PGE2 production were performed in vitro, for the suggestion of efficacy and safety on periodontal therapeutic use of Pulsatilla koreana extracts. We extracted ethylacetate and butylalcohol from well-dried and ground Pulsatilla koreana throughout multiple processing, then used different concentration solution(0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, 0.01 %, 0.02 %, 0.04 %, 1 %, 2 %) of ethylacetate and butylalcohol extracts to examine cytotoxic effects and anti-inflammatory actions Cytotoxic effects were examined by ELISA reader using MTT(Methyl Thiazol-2-YL-2, 5-diphenyl Tetrazolium bromide)solution following culture of human gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts. Synthesis of IL-1beta was examined by IL-1beta enzyme-immunoassay(EIA)system after separation and culture of monocyte, and PGE2 was examined by PGE2 EIA system after culture of gingival fibroblasts. The results were as follows: 1. In the MTT test of gingival fibroblasts, the change of optical density was decreased significantly at 2 % of butylalcohol extracts and 0.04 %, 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, 1 %, 2 % of ethylacetate extracts.(p<0.05) 2. In the MTT test of periodontal ligament cells, the change of optical density were not differ significantly. but butylalcohol and ethylacetate extracts except from butylalcohol 0.01 % showed high cell cytotoxity. 3. Both ethylacetate and butylalcohol extracts from Pulsatilla koreana inhibited the synthesis of IL-1beta, and inhibition effect of ethylacetate extracts were higher than butylalcohol extracts. 4. Both ethylacetate and butylalcohol extracts from Pulsatilla koreana inhibited the synthesis of PGE2, and ethylacetate extracts were higher than butylalcohol extracts. In conclusion, ethylacetate and butylalcohol extracts from Pulsatilla koreana showed little cell cytotoxity for gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts, and the inhibition of IL-1beta and PGE2 synthesis, therefore it is considered that these extracts can be developed as the therapeutics of the periodontal disease.
Dinoprostone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Monocytes ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Pulsatilla*

This study was performed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of the Pulsatilla koreana extracts against food-borne pathogens. First, the Pulsatilla koreana was extracted with methanol at room temperatures, and fractionation of the methanol extracts from Pulsatilla koreana was carried out by using petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate, and methanol respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the Pulsatilla koreana extracts was determined using a paper disc method against food-borne pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. The ethyl acetate extracts of Pulsatilla koreana showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis and Shigella dysenteriae. The Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae were inhibited by petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of Pulsatilla koreana as well as ethyl acetate extracts of Pulsatilla koreana. The synergistic effect has been found in combined extracts of Pulsatilla koreana and Portulaca oleracea as compared to each extracts alone. Finally, the growth inhibition curve was determined using ethyl acetate extracts of Pulsatilla koreana against Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae. The ethyl acetate extract of Pulsatilla koreana showed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at the concentration of 2,000 ppm. The 2,000 ppm of ethyl acetate extract from Pulsatilla koreana retarded the growth of S. aureus more than 12 hours and Shigella dysenteriae up to 9 hours.
Bacteria ; Chloroform ; Ether ; Methanol ; Petroleum ; Portulaca ; Pulsatilla* ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Shigella dysenteriae ; Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVETo establish HPLC characteristic fingerprints of the saponins in Pulsatilla medicinal plants, and provide the basis for authentication and classification of Pulsatilla species.

METHODThe HPLC profiles were determined at 35 degrees C on a Symmetry C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm,5 microm) eluted with water (A) and acetonitrile (B) as mobile phases in a linear gradient elution with the flowrate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). The elution program was as follows: 0-8 min, 90% A to 77% A, 8-25 min, changed to 71% A, 25-40 min, to 60% A, 40-50 min, to 50% A, 50-75 min, to 10% A, 75-80 min, to 0% A. The detection wavelength was set at 210 nm.

RESULTThe different species of Pulsatilla showed different HPLC fingerprints, but with 10 common peaks. A cluster analysis of 14 accessions indicated that they were divided into four groups: all accessions from P. koreana were classified into group I, P. ambigua in group II, P. dahurica and P. turczaninovii in group III, and P. chinensis in group IV, respectively. The significant differences between P. koreana and P. dahurica, and between P. turczaninovii and P. ambigua were observed.

CONCLUSIONThe results obtained were in agreement with the traditional taxonomic study. The method was rapid and precise, not only can be used to classify and authenticate Pulsatilla species, but also provides important references for HPLC fingerprints and quality control of Pulsatilla medicinal plants.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cluster Analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

Network pharmacology and the mouse model of viral pneumonia caused by influenza virus FM_1 were employed to explore the main active components and the mechanism of Pulsatilla chinensis against the inflammatory injury of influenza virus-induced pneumonia. The components and targets of P. chinensis were searched from TCMSP, and the targets associated with influenza virus-induced pneumonia were searched from GeneCards. The common targets between P. chinensis and influenza virus-induced pneumonia were identified with Venn diagram established in Venny 2.1. The herb-component-disease-target(H-C-D-T) network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.7.2. The above data were imported into STRING for PPI network analysis. Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment were performed with DAVID. BALB/cAnN mice were infected with the influenza virus FM_1 by nasal drip to gene-rate the mouse model of pneumonia. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to the expression profiling of inflammatory cytokines in the lung tissues of mice in the blank group, model group, and P. chinensis group 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after infection. The pathological changes of lung and trachea of mice in blank group, model group, and P. chinensis group were observed with light microscope and scanning electron microscope at all the time points. The network pharmacological analysis indicated that 9 compounds of P. chinensis were screened out, with a total of 57 targets, 22 of which were overlapped with those of influenza virus-induced pneumonia. A total of 112 GO terms(P<0.05) were enriched, including 81 terms of biological processes, 11 terms of cell components, and 20 terms of molecular functions. A total of 53 KEGG signaling pathways(P<0.05) were enriched, including TNF signaling pathway, influenza A signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and other signaling pathways related to influenza/inflammation. In the P. chinensis group, the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 in the lung tissue was down-regulated on the 3 rd day after infection, and that of IL-6 in the lung tissue was down-regulated on the 5 th day after infection. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that P. chinensis significantly alleviated the pathological damage of lung and trachea compared with the model group. This study reflects the multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways of P. chinensis against influenza virus-induced pneumonia. P. chinensis may reduce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators and block the pro-inflammatory signaling pathways to alleviate viral pneumonia, which provides reference for future research.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pneumonia/genetics* ; Pulsatilla

OBJECTIVETo observe the spermicidal effect of alcohol extracts from different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul in vitro.

METHODSSemen samples aseptically obtained by masturbation and prepared by density gradient centrifugation from 15 healthy men were incubated in the alcohol extracts from 9 different ratios of Sophora flavescens Ait/Chinese Bulbul for 20 seconds, 2 minutes and 4 minutes. Then the motility and movement parameters of the sperm were detected by computer-assisted semen analysis, and the minimal effective concentrations of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts were determined.

RESULTSAt the ratio of 3:1, the extract at 0.5 mg/ml significantly inhibited the sperm motility and other sperm movement parameters VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, WOB and MAD, as compared with the control group. The minimal effective concentration of the instant spermicidal effect of the extracts was 3.5 mg/ml at 3:1.

CONCLUSIONThe alcohol extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait and Chinese Bulbul at the ratio of 3:1 have the best spermicidal effect in vitro.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pulsatilla ; Semen Analysis ; Sophora ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatocidal Agents ; pharmacology ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from rhizome of Pulsatilla dahurica.

METHODThe constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods. AR compounds were identified on the basis of spectral analysis and physico-chemical characters.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated from the 70% alcohol extract of the rhizome identified as hederagenin ( I ), hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (II), hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (III), hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1 -->2) [beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (IV), beta-sitosterol (V) and daucosterol (VI), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds I approximately VI were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Pulsatilla koreana is a member of the buttercup familly(Ranuculaceae) which contains the unsaturated lactone, protoanemonin(C3H4O2), formed after injury to the plant by the breakdown of the glycoside ranunculin. It has been prescribed as a herbal medicine or a folk medicine for antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and hemostatic effects in Korea. A 20 year-old famale patient presented with confluent vesicobullae on the erythematous base with a burning sensation on her upper back. This was caused by contact with crushed Pulsatilla koreana, a folk medicine for the treatment of left facial nerve palsy, that had occurred 10 days before her visit. A provocation patch test with Pulsatilla koreana upon a heathy male volunteers upper back showed strong positive reactions with the stalk and leaf in fresh and frozen stat.e and after thaw ing resptively. However no reaction was seen when the folk medicine was used in a dried form or with the root in any state. This case indicates that misadvice and ignorant folk remedies could cause misfortunate results to innocent people.
Burns ; Dermatitis, Irritant* ; Facial Nerve ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medicine, Traditional ; Paralysis ; Patch Tests ; Plants ; Pulsatilla* ; Sensation ; Volunteers ; Young Adult