multiflorin-a and quercitrin

Dried achene or anthocarpous accessory fruits of Rosa multiflora Thunb., Rosae fructus ("Eijitsu" in Japanese), have been used in clinical practice to improve constipation within traditional Japanese medicine. Recently, it has been claimed that the efficacy of this crude drug is decreasing, and multiflorin A, the purgative component, was not detected within the tested samples. In order to clarify the causes of this issue, we investigated Rosa section Synstylae (Rosaceae), including R. multiflora, growing in Japan and South Korea with a focus on the secondary metabolite, multiflorin A. We recognize that there are two chemotypes based on the presence (Type I) or absence (Type II) of multiflorin A. Type I contains quercitrin, multinoside A, multiflorin B, and multinoside A acetate as major index compounds. Type II contains hyperin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3-O-glucuronide, and 3'-methoxy-isoquercitrin as the major index compounds. The chemotype of Rosa section Synstylae (Rosaceae) plants collected in Japan (excluding Tsushima Island) were all classified as Type I with exception of two species, R. luciae and R. sambucina. On the other hand, both Type I and Type II were detected within Rosae fructus obtained from R. multiflora collected in South Korea and Tsushima Island, Japan. The results indicate that Rosae fructus from R. multiflora (Type I) from Japan, excluding Tsushima Island, should be employed clinically, which we describe as purgative.

Topics: Chromones; Flavonols; Fruit; Glycosides; Japan; Medicine, Traditional; Phytochemicals; Quercetin; Republic of Korea; Rosa

Chemical investigation of the 80% Me(2)CO extract from the seeds of Prunus tomentosa led to the isolation and identification of six flavonoids: kaempferol (1), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2; afzelin), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-(6-acetyl)-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3; multiflorin A), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4; multiflorin B), quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (5; quercitrin), and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (6; multinoside A). Anti-oxidative and inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) production in interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells in vitro (COX-2) of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 exhibited potent anti-oxidative activity in the DPPH radical scavenging assay with IC(50) values of 57.2, 59.4, and 54.3 microg/mL respectively. The positive control, ascorbic acid, had an IC(50) of 55.5 mug/mL. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 also reduced COX-2 levels in a dose dependent manner with IC(50) values of 10.2, 8.7, and 9.6 microg/mL respectively, with the positive control, indomethacin, having an IC(50) of 5.1 microg/mL. All six compounds inhibited NO production in a dose dependent manner with IC(50) values of 35.1, 42.8, 40.0, 44.8, 43.7, and 43.9 microg/mL respectively, while the positive control, L-NMMA, had an IC(50) of 42.1 microg/mL.

Topics: Animals; Cell Survival; Chromones; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Dinoprostone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Flavonoids; Free Radical Scavengers; Glycosides; Indomethacin; Interferon-gamma; Kaempferols; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Mannosides; Mice; Molecular Structure; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; omega-N-Methylarginine; Proanthocyanidins; Prunus; Quercetin; Seeds