Immunostimulating activity of the hot water/​soluble polysaccharide extracts of
Anacyclus pyrethrum, Alpinia galanga and Citrullus colocynthis.

Bendjeddou D, Lalaoui K, Satta D.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mentouri University, Constantine
25000, Algeria. bendjeddou.dalila@caramail.com

Hot water polysaccharide extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Link. (family
Compositae) Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (family Cucurbitaceae) and
Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. (family Zingiberaceae) were tested for their
immunostimulating activity in mice. The fractions from Anacyclus pyrethrum and
Alpinia galanga showed a marked stimulating effect on the reticulo/​endothelial
system (RES) and increased the number of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), and
spleen cells of mice. In this case, the optimum doses were 50 and 25 mg/kg for
the two fractions, respectively. On the other hand, the polysaccharide extracts
of both Anacyclus pyrethrum and Alpinia galanga markedly enhanced the
proliferation of the murine spleen cells in vitro using two tests (in vitro and
in vivo effect). The results of the in vivo effect at a doses of 50 and 25
mg/kg, showed a stimulation index better than obtained with the in vitro effect
at 50 and 25 microg/ml for Anacyclus pyrethrum and Alpinia galanga,
respectively. While the extract of Citrullus colocynthis showed much weaker and
variable immunostimulating activity.

PMID: 12963136 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

2: Mutat Res. 1995 May;343(1):25/​30.

Inhibition of tobacco/​induced mutagenesis by eugenol and plant extracts.

Sukumaran K, Kuttan R.

Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Inhibitory effects of eugenol, a compound present in many spices such as cloves,
cardamom etc. and the extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum and Spilanthes calva which
are traditionally used in India during the preparation of chewable tobacco, on
tobacco/​induced mutagenesis were evaluated using Ames Salmonella/microsome
assay. Eugenol significantly inhibited (P < 0.001) tobacco/​induced mutagenicity
at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/plate. Anacyclus pyrethrum extract (1
mg/plate) produced 74.33% inhibition while the extract of Spilanthes calva at 2
mg/plate inhibited tobacco/​induced mutagenesis by 86.4%. Eugenol and the plant
extracts also inhibited the nitrosation of methylurea in a dose/​dependent
manner.

PMID: 7753104 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Planta Med. 1994 Feb;60(1):37/​40.

In vitro inhibition of cyclooxygenase and 5/​lipoxygenase by alkamides from
Echinacea and Achillea species.

Muller/​Jakic B, Breu W, Probstle A, Redl K, Greger H, Bauer R.

Institut fur Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universitat Munchen, Federal Republic
of Germany.

Polyunsaturated alkamides isolated from Achillea species, Echinacea angustifolia
DC., Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Link, and Aaronsohnia pubescens (Desf.) Bremer &
Humphries, (Compositae) were shown to possess inhibitory activity in in vitro
cyclooxygenase (sheep seminal microsomes) and 5/​lipoxygenase (porcine
leukocytes) assays. Activity appeared to depend on the particular structure of
the alkamides.

PMID: 8134414 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]