Isolation and measurement of quercetin glucosides in flower buds of Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus subsp. gigantea Kitam.). (1/11)

Three quercetin glucosides were isolated from flower buds of Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus subsp. gigantea Kitam.) together with caffeic acid as the ingredients that had DPPH radical scavenging activity, using the DPPH-HPLC method for measuring the radical scavenging activity. These quercetin glucosides were identified as quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin 3-O-beta-D-6''-O-acetylglucoside, and rutin, and the amounts of the glucosides in flower buds were also examined by HPLC. The flower buds were harvested from four different sites, the total amount of quercetin glucosides in each site was 100-170 mg/100 g fr. wt., and there were no great differences of the amounts between growing fields.  (+info)

Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) extract in the treatment of asthma--an open trial. (2/11)

The efficacy and tolerability of a butterbur root extract (Petadolex) for the treatment of asthma was analyzed in a prospective, non-randomized, open trial. Subjects included 64 adults and 16 children/adolescents treated for two months with the extract, followed by two months during which the intake of the extract was optional. Concomitant asthma medication was permitted. The number, duration, and severity of asthma attacks decreased, while peak flow, forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and all measured symptoms improved during therapy. In addition, more than 40 percent of patients using asthma medications at baseline reduced intake of these medications by the end of the study. This study suggests the Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of asthma.  (+info)

A novel phenylpropenoyl sulfonic acid and a new chlorophyll from the leaves of Petasites formosanus KITAMURA. (3/11)

A novel phenylpropenoyl sulfonic acid, petasiformin-A (1), and a new chlorophyll, petasiphyll-A (2), were isolated from the leaves of Petasites formosanus KITAMURA (Compositae). Their structures were established by spectral and chemical transformation methods. Petasiformin-A (1) showed the significant antioxidative activity in DPPH radical scavenging assay.  (+info)

Biosynthesis of fukinolic acid isolated from Petasites japonicus. (4/11)

The biosynthesis of fukinolic acid, which had been isolated from the Japanese fuki vegetable, Petasites japonicus, was investigated by feeding selected (13)C-labeled compounds to axenic cultures of P. japonicus. [1,2-(13)C(2)] sodium acetate and [1-(13)C] L-tyrosine were incorporated into the fukiic acid sub group, while [3-(13)C] L-phenylalanine was incorporated into the caffeic acid moiety.  (+info)

The butterbur extract petasin has no effect on skin test reactivity induced by different stimuli: a randomized, double-blind crossover study using histamine, codeine, methacholine, and aeroallergen solutions. (5/11)

BACKGROUND: Petasin (Ze 339) was recently introduced on the market as a potent herbal antiallergic drug for treatment of respiratory allergies such as hay fever. Few clinical studies have been performed so far addressing the clinical effectiveness of Ze 339. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiallergic properties of Ze 339 using skin prick tests with different stimuli, such as codeine, histamine, methacholine, and a relevant inhalant allergen. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed in which Ze 339 was compared to acrivastine, a short-acting antihistamine, in 8 patients with respiratory allergy and in 10 nonatopic, healthy volunteers. Antiallergic activity of Ze 339 was determined by analyzing inhibitory potency in skin prick tests with codeine, histamine, methacholine, and an inhalant allergen. Wheal-and-flare reactions were assessed 90 minutes after a double dose of Ze 339, acrivastine, or placebo. An interval of at least 3 days was left between the skin tests. RESULTS: Acrivastine was identified as the only substance that significantly inhibited skin test reactivity to all solutions analyzed in all study subjects. In contrast, no significant inhibition could be demonstrated for Ze 339 with any test solution. Moreover, the results of Ze 339 did not differ significantly from placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we found no antiallergic, particularly antihistaminic, effect of Ze 339 in skin tests using a variety of stimuli often used to evaluate immediate skin test reactivity. The mechanism by which Ze 339 is effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis still needs to be elucidated.  (+info)

Use-dependent block of voltage-gated Cav2.1 Ca2+ channels by petasins and eudesmol isomers. (6/11)

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Toxicogenomics applied to cultures of human hepatocytes enabled an identification of novel petasites hybridus extracts for the treatment of migraine with improved hepatobiliary safety. (7/11)

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Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effect of methanol extracts of Petasites japonicus Maxim leaves. (8/11)

The methanol extract from the leaves of Petasites japonicus Maxim (PJ) was studied for its (anti-)mutagenic effect with the SOS chromotest and reverse mutation assay. The (anti-)carcinogenic effects were evaluated by the cytotoxicity on human cancer line cells and by the function and the expression of gap junctions in rat liver epithelial cell. PJ extracts significantly decreased spontaneous beta-galactosidase activity and beta-galactosidase activity induced by a mutagen, ICR, in Salmonella (S.) typhimurium TA 1535/pSK 1002. All doses of the extract (0.08-100 mg/plate) decreased the reversion frequency induced by benzo (alpha)pyrene (BaP) in S. typhimurium TA 98. It decreased not only the spontaneous reversion frequency but also that induced by BaP in S. typhimurium TA 100. PJ extract showed greater cytotoxic effects on human stomach, colon and uterus cancer cells than on other cancer cell types and normal rat liver epithelial cells. Dye transfers though gap junctions were significantly increased by PJ extracts at concentrations greater than 200 microg/mL and the inhibition of dye transfer by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorobol-13-acetate (TPA) was obstructed in all concentrations of PJ. PJ significantly increased the numbers of gap junction protein connexin 43, and increased the protein expression decreased by TPA in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these findings, PJ is suggested to contain antimutagenic and anticarcionogenic compounds.  (+info)