[ANTISEIZURE ACTIVITY OF C EPHALARIA GIGANTEA ROOT EXTRACT].

Antiseizure activity of Cephalaria gigantea root extract was studied using PTZ- and/or audiogenic seizure models in outbred Wistar and inbred Krouchinsky- Molodkina rats respectively. In PTZ - model onset of tonic- clonic seizures, latencies to the beginning of the seizure activity, and mortality, and similarly in audiogenic seizures behavioral convulsive reactions , facial automatisms and latency to wild running were evaluated. The extract is used traditionally in Georgian folk medicine as anticonvulsant drug.

Ivy water extracts as gastric ulcer preventive agents.

In folk medicine the ivies (Hedera L. Fam.Araliaceae) are known as plants possessing diverse curative properties.

New triterpenoid saponins from Leontice smirnowii.

Three new triterpene saponins, leonticins I (1), J (2) and L (3) were isolated from the tubers of Leontice smirnowii. On the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR experiments (DEPT, gs-COSY, gs-HMQC, gs-HMBC and gs-HSQC-TOCSY), mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) and chemical degradation, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-1 → 2)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3β-hydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (1), 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3β-hydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (2) and 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-28-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-3β-hydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (3), respectively. The aglycone 3β-hydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid was observed for the first time in Leontice species.

Triterpenoid saponins from leaves of Hedera pastuchowii.

Five new triterpenoid saponins, pastuchoside A (1), B (3), C (5), D (7) and E (9), were isolated from the leaves of Hedera pastuchowii. They have oleanolic acid or hederagenin as aglycone. The structures were established by NMR spectroscopy including gs (gradient selected)-COSY, gs-HSQC, gs-HSQC-TOCSY and gs-HMBC experiments, and mass spectrometry (ESI-HR-MS).

Triterpenoid saponins from berries of Hedera colchica.

Fifteen triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the berries of Hedera colchica and their structures established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. Among them, two are new compounds: coichiside A (3) and colchiside B (15) and four are described for the first time in the berries of Hedera colchica (compounds 1, 8, 9 and 11).

In vitro antileishmanial activity of three saponins isolated from ivy, alpha-hederin, beta-hederin and hederacolchiside A(1), in association with pentamidine and amphotericin B.

The in vitro antileishmanial activity of three saponins isolated from ivy, alpha-hederin, beta-hederin and hederacolchiside A(1), was investigated on parasites of the species Leishmania mexicana, in their promastigote and amastigote forms compared with their toxicity versus human monocytes. The results showed that saponins exhibited a strong antiproliferative activity on all stages of development of the parasite but demonstrated a strong toxicity versus human cells. Association of subtoxic concentrations of saponins with antileishmanial drugs such as pentamidine and amphotericin B demonstrated that saponins could enhance the efficiency of conventional drugs on both the promastigote and the amastigote stages of development of the parasite.

Antileishmanial activity of three saponins isolated from ivy, alpha-hederin, beta-hederin and hederacolchiside A1, as compared to their action on mammalian cells cultured in vitro.

The in vitro antileishmanial activity of three saponins isolated from ivy, alpha-hederin, beta-hederin and hederacolchiside A1, was investigated on Leishmania infantum. The assessment of possible targets (membrane integrity, membrane potential, DNA synthesis and protein content) was performed in both Leishmania promastigotes and human monocytes (THP1 cells). Results observed in Leishmania showed that the saponins exhibited a strong antiproliferative activity on all stages of development of the parasite by altering membrane integrity and potential: hederacolchiside A1 appeared to be the most active compound against both promastigotes and amastigotes.