Vasodilator activity of crude methanolic extract of Gentiana kokiana Perr. et Song. (Gentianaceae)

Genus Gentiana: A review on phytochemistry, pharmacology and molecular mechanism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As the largest genus of Gentianaceae family, the Gentiana genus harbors over 400 species, widely distributed in the alpine areas of temperate regions worldwide. Plants from Gentiana genus are traditionally used to treat a wide variety of diseases including easing pain dispelling rheumatism, and treating liver jaundice, chronic pharyngitis and arthritis in China since ancient times. In this review, a systematic and constructive overview of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms, toxicology and pharmacological activities of the researched species of genus Gentiana is provided.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The used information in this review is based on various databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley online library, Wanfang Data, Web of Science) through a search using the keyword "Gentiana" in the period of 1981-2019. Besides, other ethnopharmacological information was acquired from Chinese herbal classic books and Chinese pharmacopoeia 2015 edition.

RESULTS

The plants from Gentiana genus have a long tradition of various medicinal uses in Europe and Asia. Phytochemical studies showed that the main bioactive components isolated from this genus includes iridoids xanthones and flavonoids. These compounds and extracts isolated from this genus show a wide range of protective activities including hepatic protection, gastrointestinal protection, cardiovascular protection, immunomodulation, joint protection, pulmonary protection, bone protection and reproductive protection. Molecular mechanism studies also indicated several potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of certain diseases by plants from this genus. Besides, natural products from this plant show no significant animal toxicity, cytotoxicity or genotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

This review summarized the traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and molecular mechanism of genus Gentiana, providing references and research tendency for plant-based drug development and further clinical studies.

Hypotensive effect of Gentiana floribunda is mediated through Ca++ antagonism pathway

Background

Gentiana floribunda was investigated for the possible hypotensive and vasodilator activities in an attempt to rationalize its traditional use in hypertension.

Methods

The crude extract of Gentiana floribunda (Gf.Cr) was studied in anaesthetized rats and isolated thoracic aorta tissues.

Results

Gf.Cr which tested positive for presence of flavonoids, saponins, sterols, tannins and terpenes caused dose-dependent (3.0-100 mg/kg) fall in arterial blood pressure (BP) of rats under anaesthesia. In rat aortic ring preparations denuded of endothelium, Gf.Cr at concentration range of 1.0-10 mg/mL relaxed high K⁺ (80 mM) and phenylephrine (PE, 1 μM)-induced contractions and shifted Ca⁺⁺ dose–response curves to right, similar to that caused by verapamil. It also suppressed PE (1 μM) control peak responses at 0.3-1.0 mg/mL, obtained in Ca⁺⁺-free medium, as exhibited by verapamil. Pre-treatment of tissues with Gf.Cr produced rightward non-parallel shift of PE-curves with decline of maximum contractile response. The vasodilator effect of Gf.Cr was endothelial-independent, as it was not blocked by N_ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, atropine and indomethacin in endothelium-intact aortic tissues.

Conclusions

These data indicate that BP-lowering action of Gentiana floribunda occurred via Ca⁺⁺ antagonism (inhibition of Ca⁺⁺ ingress and release from intracellular stores), which provides pharmacological basis to justify its effectiveness in hypertension.

Mechanism of the vasodilator effect of Euxanthone in rat small mesenteric arteries

In the present work we investigated the mechanism involved in the vasodilator effect induced by euxanthone in rat small mesenteric arteries. We observed that euxanthone induced concentration-dependent vasodilatation in arteries by a mechanism independent on the release of endothelial factors, such as nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-derived factors. In addition our results also suggest that euxanthone induced its vasodilator effect through inhibition of calcium-sensitive mechanisms activated by protein kinase C, rather than by inhibition of contractions dependent on the release of the intracellular calcium stores or by inhibition of voltage-operated calcium channels.

Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Gentiana Species

Gentiana, a cosmopolitan and important genus of the Gentianaceae family, comprises over 300 species distributed among the world. Phytochemical investigations on the title genus have led to characterization of almost two hundred secondary metabolites. Some of them have shown promising bioactivities. Herein, we have summarized the phytochemical and pharmacological progress of this genus. This review covers the period 1960-June, 2009.

Pharmacological Effects of Xanthones as Cardiovascular Protective Agents

Many epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of dietary polyphenolic compounds is beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Xanthones are a class of polyphenolic compounds that commonly occur in plants and have been shown to have extensive biological and pharmacological activities. Recently, the pharmacological properties of xanthones in the cardiovascular system have attracted great interest. Xanthones and xanthone derivatives have been shown to have beneficial effects on some cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension and thrombosis. The protective effects of xanthones in the cardiovascular system may be due to their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, platelet aggregation inhibitory, antithrombotic and/or vasorelaxant activities. In particular, the antagonism of endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors by xanthones may represent the basis for improved endothelial function and for reduction of events associated with atherosclerosis.

Vasorelaxant effects of the chloroformic crude extract of Bupleurum fruticosum L. (Umbelliferae) roots on rat thoracic aorta

The chloroformic crude extract of roots of Bupleurum fruticosum L. (Umbelliferae) showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxing effect on aortic rings endothelium-deprived and pre-contracted by norepinephrine (NE). The pharmacological effect was not produced through the stimulation of cyclooxygenase, adenyl cyclase, or guanylyl cyclase, since selective inhibitors did not prevent the extract-induced responses. The incubation of the aortic rings with the chloroformic extract (10(-4) g/ml) produced a depression of the concentration-contractile response curve to NE, in normal conditions, and this effect was more evident in Ca2+-free Tyrode solution, suggesting an action on the intracellular mobilization of Ca2+ ions. Moreover, the vasodilator action of Bupleurum fruticosum extract was resistant to the pre-treatment with nifedipine and to the pre-treatment with cyclopiazonic acid (blocker of Ca2+/ATPase). Finally, the chloroformic extract of Bupleurum fruticosum produced a reduction of the contraction obtained by caffeine, an opener of ryanodine-sensitive receptors, suggesting that the plant could elicit the vasorelaxing response by the blockade of ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Vasodilator activity of Michelia figo Spreng. (Magnoliaceae) by in vitro functional study

The methanolic extract of leaves of Michelia figo Spreng. (Magnoliaceae), as well as several purified fractions, showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxing effect on aortic rings endothelium-deprived and pre-contracted by norepinephrine (NE). For further pharmacological investigation on the mechanism of action, the fraction S4 was selected, since it showed the best vasodilator properties. The pharmacological effect was not produced through the stimulation of cyclooxygenase, adenyl cyclase, or guanylyl cyclase, since selective inhibitors did not prevent the fraction S4-induced effects. Moreover, the vasorelaxing effect of the fraction was resistant to the block of nifedipine-sensitive Ca(2+) channels. The fraction S4 (10(-4) g/ml) produced a shift towards the right of the concentration-contractile response curve to NE, in normal conditions, and the shift was more evident in Ca(2+)-free Tyrode solution, suggesting an action on intracellular Ca(2+)-channels. The vasodilator action of fraction S4 on NE pre-contracted rings was not prevented by cyclopiazonic acid (blocker of Ca(2+)/ATPase), which excludes a role for mechanisms involving the storage of Ca(2+) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The reduction of the contraction elicited by caffeine, an opener of ryanodine-sensitive receptors, suggests that the fraction S4 of Michelia figo leaves could produce the vasorelaxing response by the blockade of ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+) channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.