Anticoccidial effects of the Plantago asiatica extract (PAE) were evaluated in chickens following oral infection with Eimeria (E.) tenella. This study was conducted on the 3-day-old chickens (n=30). Those animals were divided with 3 groups; PAE 0.1% treated/infected (n=10), PAE untreated/infected (n=10) and non-infected control (n=10). Chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented with or without PAE for 1 week prior to infection with E. tenella (10,000 sporulated oocysts per chicken). The effects of PAE on E. tenella infection were assessed by two parameters; fecal oocysts shedding and body weights gain. The PAE-fed chickens produced significantly reduced fecal oocysts (P<0.05) when compared to the E. tenella-infected group fed standard diet. Also, PAE-based diet, improved body weight loss caused by E. tenella infection. Our data demonstrated that PAE had remarkable anticoccidial activities against E. tenella. This finding might have implications for the development of anticoccidial drug. This study is the first to demonstrate anticoccidial effect of PAE on Eimeria parasites.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Chickens ; Diet ; Eimeria tenella* ; Eimeria* ; Oocysts ; Parasites ; Plantago*

In order to evaluate the efficiency of ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences used as DNA barcodes to distinguish Plantaginis Semen from its adulterants, we collected 71 samples of Plantaginis Semen and its adulterants. The ITS2 and psbA-trnH sequences were aligned through Clustal W, and the genetic distances were calculated by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA 5.1. The results indicated that the ITS2 sequence lengths of Plantago asiatica and P. depressa were 199 bp and 200 bp, respectively; the maximum intra-specific K2P distance were lower than the minimum inter-specific K2P distance; the NJ tree based on ITS2 sequence indicated that Plantaginis Semen and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. The sequence lengths of psbA-trnH of both P. asiatica and P. depressa were 340 bp; the maximum intra-specific K2P distances were lower than the minimum inter-specific K2P distance; the NJ tree based on psbA-trnH sequence showed that Plantaginis Semen can be distinguished clearly from its adulterants except for P. major. Therefore, ITS2 sequences can be used as an ideal DNA barcode to distinguish Plantaginis Semen from its adulterants.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plantago ; classification ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the antiulcer effects and the mechanism of Veronicastrum axillare (Sieb. et Zucc) Yamazaki (VAY) on ethanol induced gastric ulcer rats.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the ranitidine group, the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were administered with normal saline respectively. Rats in the ranitidine group were administered with 0.18% ranitidine suspension (at the daily dose of 0.027 g/kg) by gastrogavage. Those in the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group were administered with VAY at the daily dose of 2.8 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg, and 0.7 g/kg by gastrogavage, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The gastric ulcer model was established using absolute ethanol after the last gastrogavage. The ulcer index and the ulcer inhibitory rate were compared. The concentrations of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum and the homogenate of the gastric mucosa tissue were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the gastric ulcer index in the rest groups obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The ulcer index was dose-dependent with VAY (P < 0.01), with the highest gastric ulcer index shown in the high dose VAY group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of MDA and NO significantly increased in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue, the activity of SOD and the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue of rats in the model group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the MDA concentrations in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum NO content increased, the NO content in the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum SOD activity increased, the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue increased in the rest groups, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe water extract of VAY had significant effects on ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Its mechanisms might lie in reducing the generation of free radicals, promoting the oxygen free radical clearance, restraining lipid peroxidation, regulating and controlling the in vivo contents of NO and EGF.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for quick investigating the absorption ingredients of Plantaginis semen and guiding the index selection for its quality control.

METHODThe absorption of three concentrations of Plantaginis semem was investigated with the in vitro everted intestinal sac (VEIS) model The intestinal sac contents of jejunum and ileum were collected at different time and geniposidic acid was detected by HPLC and LC-MS(n) as the representative marker.

RESULTSix ingredients could be detected. At different concentrations of Plantaginis semen, geniposidic acid tested by VEIS showed that there was a good linear correlation between the drug absorption from the medium across the intestinal epithelium into the sac contents in various intestines section. The absorption of the gut sacs from 0 to 90 min manifested a significant time-dependent manner. The Ka of geniposidic acid in the jejunum and ileum increased along with the raised dosage of the Plantaginis Semen (P < 0.05), which indicated a passive absorption manner.

CONCLUSIONThis method can be used as a tool to investigate the absorption ingredients of Plantaginis Semen. Comparing with the jejunum, the ileum can provide more absorption information faster. The optimal incubation time in intestinal sac was 90 min.

Animals ; Body Fluids ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ileum ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Jejunum ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study on the chemical consitituents of Lagotis brevituba.

METHODThe chemical consitituents were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and they were identified as beta-sitosterol (1), succinic acid (2), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (3), uracil (4), apigenin (5), chrysoeriol (6), chrysoeriol-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (7), and apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (8).

CONCLUSIONCompound 4-8 were isolated from L. brevituba for the first time, and among them, compound 7 and 8 were isolated from genus Lagotis for the first time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Plantago ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the immunomodulatory mechanism of phenylethanoid glycosides from the seeds of Plantago asiatica by testing its effects on the maturing of murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs).

METHODMonocytes generated from bone marrow of Balb/cj mouse were cultured for 6 days in complete RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS, rmGM-CSF and rmIL-4.50 mg x L(-1) acteoside or isoacteoside was added to cells on day 6 of culture for 24 h. The surface molecules expression level of DCs and their phagocytose ability were analysis by flow cytometry.

RESULTBoth acteoside and isoacteoside could increase the expression of CD11c, CD86, MHC II and CD80 on DCs surface. The ability of unstimulated DCs to uptake FITC-dextran was higher than that of phenylethanoid glycosides or LPS treated DCs.

CONCLUSIONBoth acteoside and isoacteoside could induce maturation of murine dendritic cells.

Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; immunology ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; genetics ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Lagotis brevituba.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of analysis of IR,NMR, 2D-NMR, and MS spectra.

RESULTTwo compounds were obtained and were identified as phenylethanoid glucosides, lagotiside A (1) and acteoside (2), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound and named as lagotiside A.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plantago ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of compound plantain-senna granule (CPSG) in the treatment of functional constipation.

METHODSEighty patients with confirmed diagnosis of functional constipation were assigned to 2 groups. The 40 patients in the treatment group were treated with CPSG 5 g per day, while the 40 patients in the control group were treated with equal volume of starch granule, for 2 weeks totally. The defecating frequency and stool property, the scores of fecal discharge difficulty and accompanied symptoms, the gastrointestinal transmission time, and adverse reaction of treatment in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSParameters of defecating frequency, stool property, the scores of fecal discharge difficulty, accompanied symptoms and the gastrointestinal transmission time were unchanged after treatment in the control group (P > 0.05); while in the treatment group, they improved significantly (P < 0.05) and showed significant difference to those in the control group respectively (P < 0. 05). No serious adverse reaction occurred in both groups.

CONCLUSIONCPSG can obviously increase the defecating frequency, change the stool property, alleviate the fecal discharging difficult symptom and accompanied symptom, and shorten the gastrointestinal transmission time in patients with functional constipation with good security and tolerability.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cathartics ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Senna Extract ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of foliar endophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on plant community structure in experimental microcosms containing an assemblage of five species of plants (Oenothera odorata, Plantago asiatica, Trifolium repens, Isodon japonicas and Aster yomena). Leaves of Sasa borealis, Potentilla fragarioides, and Viola mandshurica were collected in Chungbuk, Korea. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the surface sterilized leaves and identified to species level using molecular and morphological techniques. Four isolates of the endophytic fungi were inoculated to the leaves of host plants in the microcosms. Also, three species of AMF spores were extracted from pure cultures and the mixture of the three species inoculated to the roots of the plants. After four months of growth in a green house, effects of both symbiotic fungi on plant species diversity, community composition and productivity were examined. The plant species diversity showed significant differences with inoculation of the symbiotic fungi. Results indicate that AMF significantly affect plant productivity and plant community structure.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Efficiency ; Endophytes ; Fungi* ; Isodon ; Korea ; Mycorrhizae ; Plantago ; Plants* ; Potentilla ; Sasa ; Spores ; Trifolium ; Viola

Plantago major is not only used as medicinal herb but also an important model plant of ecology. Little work has been reported on the tissue culture of P. major. A reproducible system for direct shoot morphogenesis and callus induction of Plantago major L. 'Giant Turkish' was described. Using seed as explants, the adventitious buds were obtained 4 to 5 weeks following incubation on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L IAA and 1.0 mg/L TDZ. The frequency of adventitious buds was as high as 100%. The average number of buds per explant was 14.6. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis on 9 regenerants indicated that somaclonal variation occurred at DNA level. Using leaves as explants, calli were easily induced on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA 3 weeks following inoculation. The frequency of callus induction can be as high as 98%. On MS medium containing 4.0 mg/L 6-BA, 25% of calli differentiated and the mean number of buds per piece of callus was 2.8. The buds developed roots on 11/2 MS medium and formed plantlets, 90% of which survived when transplanted to greenhouse.
Plantago ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods