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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Antidepressant-like effect of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) on the sleep polysomnogram.

We studied the effect of two doses (0.9 mg and 1.8 mg) of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) on the sleep polysomnogram of healthy subjects using a placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Both doses of hypericum significantly increased the latency to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without producing any other effect on sleep architecture. Our data are consistent with the proposed clinical antidepressant efficacy of hypericum, and raise the possibility that its pharmacological mechanism of action may be similar to that of conventional antidepressant medication.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Adverse effects profile of the herbal antidepressant St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.).

UNLABELLED: This paper provides a systematic review of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with the use of extracts of the herb St. John's wort (Hypericum perfbratum L.) for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. METHODS: Searches of four computerized literature databases were performed for records of (ADRs). Manufacturers of hypericum products, the international drug monitoring centre of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the national drug safety monitoring bodies of Germany and the United Kingdom were also contacted for information. RESULTS: Information on (ADRs) originates from case reports, clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance and drug monitoring studies. Collectively, the data suggest that hypericum is well tolerated, with an incidence of adverse reactions similar to that of placebo. The most common adverse effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, dizziness/confusion and tiredness/sedation. A potential serious adverse effect is photosensitivity, but this appears to occur extremely rarely. CONCLUSIONS: Hypericum has an encouraging safety profile. However, as most of the current data originate from short-term investigations, more long-term studies are desirable.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed2004

Allocation to defense or growth in dipterocarp forest seedlings in Borneo.

We quantified the allocation of net production to plant secondary metabolites (especially condensed tannins and lignins) to evaluate the investment into defense mechanisms of three tropical forest canopy species in Borneo vis-à-vis the resource availability hypothesis. In particular, we focused on Borneo ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri, Lauraceae), which seemed to employ an extreme defensive strategy. The wood of this species is extremely durable and has a high specific gravity with a very slow growth rate. The allocation to defense by Borneo ironwood was compared to two emergent species of Dipterocarpaceae, the dominant family in this forest community. We conducted shade-house experiments on seedlings under four controlled conditions (two light levels x two nutrient levels) and showed that the growth rate of E. zwageri was much lower than those of the other two species, and it allocated more of its net production to leaves and roots than to stems. The concentrations of condensed tannins and lignins were very high in the leaves and stems of this species, at about 20 and 30%, respectively. In total, E. zwageri allocated a maximum of about 35% of its net production to defensive substances (i.e., condensed tannins + lignins). In contrast, the two dipterocarp species allocated about 20-25% of their net production to defensive substances. The condensed tannins in E. zwageri help to prolong the lifespan of the leaves, and the lignins in the stems enhance the durability of the wood. Thus, although E. zwageri grows very slowly, the allocation to defensive substances seems to be an advantageous strategy for survival under dark conditions.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Delayed greening, leaf expansion, and damage to sympatric Shorea species in a lowland rain forest.

The function of delayed greening in the seedlings of canopy tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest was examined in terms of its potential defensive value against herbivory. To explore the ecological and evolutionary backgrounds for delayed greening, we chose eight sympatric congeneric (Shorea) dipterocarp species that were either normal-greening or delayed-greening species. Expansion and toughening of leaves took approximately 30 days for all species, and did not differ between the normal- and delayed-greening species. The main factors that affected leaf damage during expansion were insect herbivory and fungal infection. Levels of leaf damage were significantly lower for delayed-greening species than for normal-greening species, but proportions of heavily damaged leaves and leaf abscission during expansion did not differ. In addition, no significant difference was found in damage levels on leaves (aged 1-2 months) of naturally occurring seedlings between normal- and delayed-greening species. Therefore, delayed greening may effectively reduce the level of leaf damage in young expanding leaves, but may not necessarily reduce leaf abscission and damage to mature leaves. The existence of delayed greening could not be simply explained by the phylogenetic and ecological backgrounds of the trees. Consequently, delayed greening may have a function in reducing damage during expansion, but more information (such as knowledge of the secondary metabolites involved in this phenomenon) is needed to explain fully why these species exhibit delayed greening.

Climate↗
PubMed2005

Selfing and inbreeding depression in seeds and seedlings of Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae).

We evaluated the degree of selfing and inbreeding depression at the seed and seedling stages of a threatened tropical canopy tree, Neobalanocarpus heimii, using microsatellite markers. Selection resulted in an overall decrease in the level of surviving selfed progeny from seeds to established seedlings, indicating inbreeding depression during seedling establishment. Mean seed mass of selfed progeny was lower than that of outcrossed progeny. Since the smaller seeds suffered a fitness disadvantage at germination in N. heimii, the reduced seed mass of selfed progeny would be one of the determinants of the observed inbreeding depression during seedling establishment. High selfing rates in some mother trees could be attributed to low local densities of reproductive individuals, thus maintenance of a sufficiently high density of mature N. heimii should facilitate regeneration and conservation of the species.

Ericales↗
PubMed2006

Genetic variation at AFLPs for the Dipterocarpaceae and its relation to molecular phylogenies and taxonomic subdivisions.

Genetic differentiation was investigated among 54 Indonesian species of Dipterocarpaceae, a dominant tree family in Asian tropical rainforests, using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. The tree developed from the resultant unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages clearly separated all investigated dipterocarps into two major groups that corresponded to tribe Dipterocarpeae and tribe Shoreae, respectively. These results are in accordance with the topology of molecular phylogenetic trees derived from PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of chloroplast DNA and generally support the traditional taxonomic assessments. The possibility of interspecific hybridization is also discussed.

Ericales↗
PubMed1999

Acyclic and incompletely cyclized triterpene alcohols in the seed oils of theaceae and gramineae.

The triterpene alcohol constituents of the non-saponifiable lipids of two Theaceae seed oils, sasanqua and camellia oils, and two Gramineae seed oils, wheat germ and rice bran oils, were investigated. This led to the isolation and characterization of one acyclic and eight incompletely cyclized triterpene alcohols. They are camelliol A, camelliol B, camelliol C, achilleol A, helianol, isohelianol, sasanquol, graminol A [(13R, 14R)-3,4-seco-25(10->9)abeo-8alpha,9beta,10al phapodioda-4,17,21 -trien-3-ol], and (2Z,6Z,10Z,14E,18E)-farnesyl-farnesol. Two other compounds isolated were characterized as (2Z,6Z,10E,14E)-geranylfarnesol, a sesterterpene alcohol, and phytol, a diterpene alcohol. Graminol A and (2Z,6Z,10E,14E)-geranylfarnesol are considered to be new natural products.

Alcohols↗
PubMed2006

Cytotoxic resveratrol oligomers from the tree bark of Dipterocarpus hasseltii.

A new resveratrol tetramer, named diptoindonesin E, was isolated from the acetone extract of the tree bark of Dipterocarpus hasseltii, together with five known resveratrol oligomers (-)-epsilon-viniferin, laevifonol, (-)-alpha-viniferin, vaticanol B, (-)-hopeaphenol, and a coumarin, scopoletin. The structures of these compounds were determined from spectroscopic evidence. Cytotoxicity test of the isolated compounds showed that hopeaphenol strongly inhibited murine leukemia P-388 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Acetophenone C-glucosides and stilbene O-glucosides in Upuna borneensis.

Three acetophenone C-glycosides; 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone 3-C-beta-(2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)-glucopyranoside, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone 3-C-beta-(2'-O-E-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone 3-C-beta-(2'-O-E-cinnamoyl)-glucopyranoside, and two resveratrol O-glycosides; piceid 2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoate and, piceid 2'-O-E-ferulate, together with three known compounds were isolated from the acetone soluble part of stem of Upuna borneensis (Dipterocarpaceae). The structures of isolates were determined by spectral analysis including extensive 2D-NMR spectral analyses.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed2006

Optimisation of the azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging assay for physiological studies of total antioxidant activity in woody plant germplasm.

A robust spectroscopic method for determining total antioxidant activity in aqueous extractions has been applied to tissues from diverse woody plant species, including seeds of Coffea arabica and in vitro shoots from Ribes nigrum, Picea sitchensis and Shorea leprosula. The assay involves scavenging of an ABTS [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] radical generated by the reaction of potassium persulphate with ABTS to produce an ABTS*(+) chromophore (lambda=734 nm). Antioxidants reduce ABTS*(+) back to ABTS with a concomitant decrease in absorbance. Aqueous extractions from C. arabica and S. leprosula had considerably higher (110-205 micromol Trolox eq. g(-1) FW) total antioxidant activities than P. sitchensis and R. nigrum (6-11 micromol Trolox eq. g(-1) FW). Further studies in two of these species showed that the inclusion of water-insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone during aqueous tissue extraction enabled the combined phenolic and alkaloid antioxidant activity to be determined. These fractions accounted for 85% and 60% of total antioxidant activity for C. arabica seeds and R. nigrum shoots, respectively. The ABTS radical scavenging assay is presented herein as a robust method for determining total antioxidant activity in germplasm from diverse woody plant tissues and species. Its applicability to study oxidative stress in tissue cultures and germplasm employed in plant biotechnology, breeding and stress physiology programmes is discussed.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed1999

Neuroendocrine evidence for dopaminergic actions of hypericum extract (LI 160) in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: We studied the effect of a single dose of a formulation of a methanolic extract of Hypericum perforatum (HP), also known as St. John's wort, on plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and cortisol (CORT) in 12 healthy male volunteers. METHODS: Subjects received 9 tablets of the finished product Jarsin 300 and placebo in a double-blind, balanced-order, cross-over design. RESULTS: Following HP relative to placebo, there was a significant increase in plasma GH and a significant decrease in plasma PRL. Plasma CORT levels were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together with data from animal experimental studies, the findings suggest that this dose of HP may increase some aspects of brain dopamine function in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prokinetic effect of black tea on gastrointestinal motility.

The gastrokinetic effects of hot water extract of black tea [Camellia sinensis, (L) O. Kuntze (Theaceae)] on gastrointestinal motility were studied both in vivo and in vitro. The extract significantly accelerated the gastrointestinal transit (GIT) in vivo in mice. These facilitatory effect was reduced after pretreatment with atropine, hemicholinium-3, morphine, indomethacin, McN-A-343 and L-arginine. In guinea pig ileum, the extract facilitated the peristaltic reflex in response to pressures in normal preparation. The black tea extract and L-NMMA (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) significantly reduced the electrical field stimulated nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) relaxation of isolated rat fundal strips. The extract markedly enhanced the tonic ('hump') responses to transmural stimulation in longitudinal muscle of guinea pig ileum which was unaltered in the presence of atropine. These findings suggest a cholinergic involvement and a partial role of prostaglandin and nitric oxide in the mechanism of action of black tea extract on gastrointestinal motility. To determine the effective constituents in black tea responsible for this activity, the effect of black tea polyphenols on GIT were also studied. Thearubigin fraction (but not theaflavin) accelerated GIT significantly which suggests its involvement in the prokinetic effect of black tea.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Two oleanane triterpenoids from gordonia ceylanica and their conversions to taraxarane triterpenoids.

Chemical investigation of the hot hexane extract of the stem bark of Gordonia ceylanica afforded two new oleanane triterpenoids, 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha, 13beta-dihydroxyolean-12-one and 3beta,11alpha-diacetoxy-13beta-hydroxyolean-12-one (2) The attempted acid hydrolysis of these two compounds resulted the dehydration and subsequent methyl group migration to afford the taraxarane triterpenoids 3beta,11alpha-dihydroxytaraxer-14-en-12-one (4) and 3beta-hydroxy-11alpha-acetoxytaraxer-14-en-12-one (5), respectively. These taraxaranes have not been previously reported.

Ericales↗
PubMed2001

Biflavonoids from Ochna afzelii.

The stem bark of Ochna afzelii furnished three biflavonoids among which two are new. Their structures were established from spectroscopic and chemical evidences.

Biological Factors↗
PubMed2002

Triflavonoids of Ochna calodendron.

Phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of Ochna calodendron leaves resulted in the isolation and identification of three known isoflavones, irilone, 3'-methoxyirilone and prunetin, one cyanoglucoside, menisdaurin, in addition to two new triflavonoid constituents, namely caloflavans A and B. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic methods (EI-MS, FAB-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HMBC and HMQC).

Ericales↗