Qiong Li1, Kun-Xian Yang2, Yun-Li Zhao3, Xu-Jie Qin3, Xing-Wei Yang3, Lu Liu1, Ya-Ping Liu4, Xiao-Dong Luo5. 1. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, PR China. 2. First People Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, PR China. 3. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China. 4. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China. Electronic address: liuyaping@mail.kib.ac.cn. 5. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, PR China. Electronic address: xdluo@mail.kib.ac.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: "Pimacao" (the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum taliense Loes.) has been used as traditional folk medicine in Yunnan province (PR China) for the treatment of pain, swelling, and inflammation. It is the main component of the renowned traditional Chinese medicine, "Yunnan Baiyao". Previous investigations and clinical research have shown significant analgesic activity of Pimacao. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to find out the compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity present in V. taliense. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total alkaloids were the subject of phytochemical investigation and the compounds were isolated by multiple step chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced paw oedema and analgesic activity was assessed using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. RESULTS: Three new steroidal alkaloids, veratralines A-C (1-3), together with five known analogs, were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. All the compounds had the analgesic activity and significantly decreased the number of writhes caused by acetic acid much better than Dolantin. All the alkaloids except 8, possessed anti-inflammatory activity, in which 3, 5, and 7 significantly inhibited the paw oedema caused by carrageenan compared with Indomethacin. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of jervine-type alkaloids responsible for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Pimacao. We provide scientific evidence to support that the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense are useful in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: "Pimacao" (the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum taliense Loes.) has been used as traditional folk medicine in Yunnan province (PR China) for the treatment of pain, swelling, and inflammation. It is the main component of the renowned traditional Chinese medicine, "Yunnan Baiyao". Previous investigations and clinical research have shown significant analgesic activity of Pimacao. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to find out the compounds responsible for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity present in V. taliense. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total alkaloids were the subject of phytochemical investigation and the compounds were isolated by multiple step chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced paw oedema and analgesic activity was assessed using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. RESULTS: Three new steroidal alkaloids, veratralines A-C (1-3), together with five known analogs, were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense. All the compounds had the analgesic activity and significantly decreased the number of writhes caused by acetic acid much better than Dolantin. All the alkaloids except 8, possessed anti-inflammatory activity, in which 3, 5, and 7 significantly inhibited the paw oedema caused by carrageenan compared with Indomethacin. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of jervine-type alkaloids responsible for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Pimacao. We provide scientific evidence to support that the roots and rhizomes of V. taliense are useful in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation.
Authors: Amir Taldaev; Roman P Terekhov; Elizaveta V Melnik; Maria V Belova; Sergey V Kozin; Andrey A Nedorubov; Tatyana Ya Pomerantseva; Galina V Ramenskaya Journal: Toxins (Basel) Date: 2022-07-15 Impact factor: 5.075