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Bottoni M, Milani F, Galimberti PM, Vignati L, Romanini PL, Lavezzo L, Martinetti L, Giuliani C, Fico G. Ca' Granda, Hortus simplicium: Restoring an Ancient Medicinal Garden of XV-XIX Century in Milan (Italy). Molecules 2021; 26:6933. [PMID: 34834025 PMCID: PMC8620247 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This work is based on the study of 150 majolica vases dated back to the mid XVII century that once preserved medicinal remedies prepared in the ancient Pharmacy annexed to the Ospedale Maggiore Ca' Granda in Milan (Lombardy, Italy). The Hortus simplicium was created in 1641 as a source of plant-based ingredients for those remedies. The main objective of the present work is to lay the knowledge base for the restoration of the ancient Garden for educational and informative purposes. Therefore, the following complementary phases were carried out: (i) the analysis of the inscriptions on the jars, along with the survey on historical medical texts, allowing for the positive identification of the plant ingredients of the remedies and their ancient use as medicines; (ii) the bibliographic research in modern pharmacological literature in order to validate or refute the historical uses; (iii) the realization of the checklist of plants potentially present in cultivation at the ancient Garden, concurrently with the comparison with the results of a previous in situ archaeobotanical study concerning pollen grains. For the species selection, considerations were made also regarding drug amounts in the remedies and pedoclimatic conditions of the study area. Out of the 150 vases, 108 contained plant-based remedies, corresponding to 148 taxa. The remedies mainly treated gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. At least one of the medicinal uses was validated in scientific literature for 112 out of the 148 examined species. Finally, a checklist of 40 taxa, presumably hosted in the Hortus simplicium, was assembled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Bottoni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Fabrizia Milani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Paolo M. Galimberti
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 28, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Lucia Vignati
- Landscape Ecomuseum of Parabiago, P.za della Vittoria 7, 20015 Milan, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Luise Romanini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Luca Lavezzo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Livia Martinetti
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Claudia Giuliani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
| | - Gelsomina Fico
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy; (M.B.); (F.M.); (P.L.R.); (L.L.); (G.F.)
- Ghirardi Botanic Garden, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Religione 25, 25088 Toscolano Maderno, Italy
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Abdallah HM, Timraz NZ, Ibrahim SRM, El-Halawany AM, Malebari AM, Shehata IA, El-Bassossy HM. Nitric-Oxide-Mediated Vasodilation of Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Hypericum revolutum in Rat Aorta. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10060541. [PMID: 34204229 PMCID: PMC8234642 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Hypericum revolutum (HR) is reported to produce vasodilating activity in phenylephrine-precontracted aortae, where the chloroform fraction is the most potent. Chemical investigation of this fraction yielded two new compounds, revolutin (1) and hyperevolutin C (2), along with three known metabolites, β-sitosterol (3), euxanthone (4), and 2,3,4-tirmethoxy xanthone (5). Isolated compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 produce vasodilation activities that are dependent on endothelial nitric oxide release. Abstract Vasodilators are an important class in the management of hypertension and related cardiovascular disorders. In this regard, the chloroform fraction of Hypericum revolutum (HR) has been reported to produce vasodilating activity in phenylephrine-precontracted aortae. The current work aims to identify the active metabolites in the chloroform fraction of HR and illustrate the possible mechanism of action. The vasodilation activities were investigated using the isolated artery technique. NO vascular release was assessed by utilizing the NO-sensitive fluorescent probe DAF-FM. Free radical scavenging capacity was assessed utilizing DPPH. Chemical investigation of this fraction yielded two new compounds, revolutin (1) and hyperevolutin C (2), along with three known metabolites, β-sitosterol (3), euxanthone (4), and 2,3,4-tirmethoxy xanthone (5). Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 showed significant vasodilation activities that were blocked by either endothelial denudation or L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), pointing towards a role of endothelial nitric oxide in their activities. In confirmation of this role, compounds 1–3 showed a significant release of NO from isolated vessels, as indicated by DAF-FM. On the other hand, only compound 5 showed free radical scavenging activities, as indicated by DPPH. In conclusion, isolated compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 produce vasodilation activities that are dependent on endothelial nitric oxide release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossam M. Abdallah
- Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.Z.T.); (I.A.S.)
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-54-4733-110
| | - Noha Z. Timraz
- Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.Z.T.); (I.A.S.)
| | - Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim
- Batterjee Medical College, North Obhur, Abdullah Al-Faisal Street, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Ali M. El-Halawany
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt;
| | - Azizah M. Malebari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ibrahim A. Shehata
- Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (N.Z.T.); (I.A.S.)
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt;
| | - Hany M. El-Bassossy
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt;
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