Volume 69, August 2014, Pages 214–221
Characterization and pharmacodynamic properties of Arnica montana complex
Highlights
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- Polyphenolic-polysaccharide complex from A. montana showed new pharmacodynamic properties.
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- The bronchodilatory activity of Arnica complex was similar to salbutamol.
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- Arnica complex did not show cytotoxic effect up to the dose of 500 μg/mL.
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- Arnica complex showed a slight cytotoxic effect in doses 1000-2000 μg/mL.
Abstract
A dark brown polymeric complex was isolated from flowering parts of medicinal plant Arnica montana
L. by hot alkaline extraction followed by neutralization and multi-step
extractions with organic solvents. It was recovered in 5.7% yield, on
GPC showed two peaks of molecular mass of 9 and 3.5 kDa. The
compositional analyses of Arnica complex revealed the presence
of carbohydrates (26%), uronic acids (12%), phenolics (1.25 mM or 213 mg
of GAE/1 g), and low protein content (∼1%). The carbohydrate moiety was
rich mainly in rhamnogalacturonan and arabinogalactan. The antitussive
tests showed the reduction of the cough efforts by Arnica
complex, however, its total antitussive effect was lower compared with
that of codeine, the strongest antitussive agent. The bronchodilatory
activity of Arnica complex was similar to salbutamol, a classic
antiasthmatic drug, and was confirmed by significantly decreased values
of specific airways resistance in vivo and by considerably attenuated the amplitude of acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions in vitro. Arnica complex did not show any cytotoxic effect on mouse fibroblast cultures and human lung cells, up to the dose of 500 μg/mL.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Arnica montana L.;
- Glycoconjugate;
- Antitussive activity;
- Bronchodilatory activity;
- Cytotoxic effect
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
