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Antitumour activity of saffron (Crocus sativus).

Antitumor activity of saffron (Crocus sativus) extract a commonly used spice in India was studied against intraperitoneally transplanted sarcoma-180 (S-180), Ehrlich ascites Carcinoma (EAC) and Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) tumours in mice. Oral administration of 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract increased the life span of S-180, EAC, DLA tumour bearing mice to 111.0%, 83.5% and 112.5%, respectively. The same extract was found to be cytotoxic to P38B, S-180, EAC and DLA tumour cells in vitro. Thymidine uptake studies indicated the mechanism of action of the extract at the site of DNA synthesis. Toxicity studies showed that the hematological and biochemical parameters were within normal range. These results indicate the potential use of saffron as an anticancer agent.

Animals↗

Inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumorigenesis and of in vivo formation of mammary DMBA-DNA adducts by rosemary extract.

The effect of dietary intake of an extract of the spice plant Rosmarinus officinalis L. on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary tumorigenesis and on the in vivo formation of mammary DMBA-DNA adducts was evaluated. Supplementation of a semi-purified diet with 1.0% (by wt.) rosemary extract resulted in a significant (47%) decrease in mammary tumor incidence compared to controls. In subsequent studies, dietary supplementation with 0.5% and 1.0% rosemary extract inhibited total in vivo binding of DMBA to mammary epithelial cell DNA by an average of 42%. This decrease in total binding was not due to a uniform decrease in the formation of all mammary DMBA-DNA adducts. The formation of two major adducts derived from the anti-diastereomer of DMBA and bound to deoxyguanosine (anti-dGuo) was significantly decreased at both dietary rosemary concentrations. The formation of the syn-dGuo adduct also was inhibited, whereas formation of the syn-dAdo adduct was unaffected by consumption of the rosemary extract. These studies suggest that use of rosemary extract and its individual antioxidative constituents as chemopreventative agents for experimental mammary tumorigenesis warrant further investigation.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Crocin, safranal and picrocrocin from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.

Extracts of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been reported to inhibit cell growth of human tumor cells. In order to study the cytotoxic effect of the characteristic compounds of saffron spice, we have isolated crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin and safranal. Doses inducing 50% cell growth inhibition (LD50) on HeLa cells were 2.3 mg/ml for an ethanolic extract of saffron dry stigmas, 3 mM for crocin, 0.8 mM for safranal and 3 mM for picrocrocin. Crocetin did not show cytotoxic effect. Cells treated with crocin exhibited wide cytoplasmic vacuole-like areas, reduced cytoplasm, cell shrinkage and pyknotic nuclei, suggesting apoptosis induction. Considering its water-solubility and high inhibitory growth effect, crocin is the more promising saffron compound to be assayed as a cancer therapeutic agent.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Effect of oil of nutmeg on the fertility and induction of meiotic chromosome rearrangements in mice and their first generation.

The dose-dependent effects of oil of nutmeg on the fertility and induction of chromosomal translocations in treated mice and their F1 males were examined. C3H male mice were treated with oil of nutmeg for 8 successive weeks at 60, 80, 100 and 400 mg/kg body weight. The greatest reduction of fertility occurred in the group treated with 400 mg/kg; chromosomal translocation in directly treated animals was not found. The chromosomal translocations in F1 males, derived from males treated with oil of nutmeg at dose levels of 60, 80 and 100 mg/kg.

Animals↗

Ocotea quixos, American cinnamon.

Among the three South American Lauraceae with cinnamon odours, Ocotea quixos Lam. is distinguished with the richest historical legacy. Cinnamaldehyde, its odoriferous principle, occurs besides o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid and methyl cinnamate in the fruit calyx. In contradistinction, 1-nitro-2-phenylethane is responsible for the cinnamon odour of bark and leaves of Aniba canelilla (H..B.K.) Mez and Ocotea pretiosa (Nees) Mez.

Cinnamomum zeylanicum↗

Ethnopharmacology versus chemosystematics in the search for biologically active principles in plants.

The chemicals to which Brazilian angiosperms owe their use in the preparation of arrow poisons, hallucinogens, fish poisons, drugs, stimulants, spices, perfumes and pigments are correlated with the systematic position of the species in which they occur. Most compounds are produced either by the primitive Magnoliidae (sensu Cronquist) or by the advanced Asteridae. The Rosidae-Dilleniidae, precisely the group of subclasses of widest distribution over the country, have heretofore yielded relatively few useful compounds. This fact can be rationalized by the presence in their species of massive quantities of gallo- and ellagitannins, general defences which make the presence of specific alleochemics superfluous. The natural occurrence of specific biologically active compounds is thus ecologically and systematically conditioned and it should be possible to build a system capable of predicting the existence and the nature of useful chemicals in plant taxa.

Animals↗

The pharmacological effects of the ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans).

A ligroin extract of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) caused a significant increase in the duration of light and deep sleep in the young chicken. The presence of trimyristin tended to increase the effect of the extract. The extract did not contain detectable amounts of myristicin, elemicin, safrole, or eugenol, which either individually or collectively have been suggested to be the active agent of nutmeg.

Animals↗

Cholagogic effect of ginger and its active constituents.

The effect of bile secretion in rats was examined in order to clarify the stomachic action of ginger and also to investigate its active constituents. The results showed that mainly the acetone extracts of ginger, which contain essential oils and pungent principles, caused an increase in the bile secretion. Further analyses for the active constituents of the acetone extracts through column chromatography indicated that [6]-gingerol and [10]-gingerol, which are the pungent principles, are mainly responsible for the cholagogic effect of ginger.

Animals↗

Nutmeg oil: identification and quantitation of its most active constituents as inhibitors of platelet aggregation.

Three distilled or commercially available nutmeg oils were analysed and their chemical composition compared with their capacity to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro. It could be clearly shown that eugenol and isoeugenol play the major role in the detected activity of nutmeg. Medicinally, it appears that nutmeg oil and nutmeg powder can be replaced by eugenol and/or isoeugenol.

Animals↗

Acute nutmeg intoxication.

Nutmeg is a common household spice sometimes abused for its hallucinogenic properties. This abuse is well reported in the medical literature over the last century. Ingestion of less than one tablespoon can produce symptoms similar to those of an anticholinergic toxic episode. Common presenting complaints are hallucinations, palpitations, and feelings of impending doom. We report a case of intentional nutmeg intoxication in a 23-year-old college student. As laboratory tests are usually normal, this diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting with an acute psychotic break accompanied by symptoms resembling an anticholinergic toxic episode. Treatment is primarily supportive once other life-threatening conditions have been ruled out.

Adult↗

Spectrophotometric analysis of irradiated spices.

Seven different spices (thyme, cinnamon, coriander, caraway, pimento, paprika, black pepper) were treated by gamma radiation at an absorbed dose of 10 kGy, and the effect on chemical quality was determined. The effects of this dose were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis of some water-soluble constituents of spices (carbohydrates; carbonyl compounds) and on the content of water-insoluble steam-volatile oils. The colour of paprika and the content of piperine in pepper held in different packaging materials were measured in unirradiated and irradiated samples as a function of storage time. In all cases irradiation does not bring about any distinct qualitative or quantitative chemical changes based on spectrophotometric analysis of spice extracts.

Condiments↗

Extract of a spice--omum (Trachyspermum ammi)-shows antiaggregatory effects and alters arachidonic acid metabolism in human platelets.

An ethereal extract of omum (Trachyspermum ammi; Hindustani: ajwan)--a frequently consumed spice--was found to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA), epinephrine and collagen; in this respect it was most effective against AA-induced aggregation. Inhibition of aggregation by omum could be explained by its effect on platelet thromboxane production as suggested by the following experimental observation. (i) Omum reduced TxB2 formation in intact platelet preparations from added arachidonate, and (ii) it reduced the formation of TxB2 from AA-labelled platelets after stimulation with Ca2+-ionophore A23187 by a direct action on cyclooxygenase as it did not affect the release of AA from labelled platelets. An increased formation of lipoxygenase-derived products from exogenous AA in omum-treated platelets was apparently due to redirection of AA from cyclooxygenase to the lipoxygenase pathway.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Extracts from two frequently consumed spices--cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa)--inhibit platelet aggregation and alter eicosanoid biosynthesis in human blood platelets.

In the traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, several spices and herbs are claimed to possess medicinal properties, such as being antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory etc. Earlier we have reported that extracts from several spices behave as antiaggregatory agents and inhibit eicosanoid synthesis. Similar studies with extracts prepared from cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) were undertaken. Ethereal extract of both cumin and turmeric inhibited arachidonate-induced platelet aggregation. Extracts from these spices inhibited thromboxane B2 production from exogenous (14C) arachidonic acid (AA) in washed platelets; a simultaneous increase in the formation of lipoxygenase-derived products was observed. Less TxB2 was produced in blood samples treated with turmeric extract when they were allowed to clot. Turmeric extract inhibited incorporation of (14C)AA into platelet phospholipids and deacylation of AA-labelled phospholipids on stimulation with calcium ionophore A23187. Cumin extract was devoid of such effects. Extracts from the two spices reduced the formation of (14C)TxB2 from AA-labelled platelets when they were challenged with A23187. The anti-inflammatory property of turmeric may, in part, be explained by its effect on eicosanoid biosynthesis.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗