Sesquiterpene lactone content in leaves of in vitro and field cultivated Arnica montana.

On the basis of GC and GC/MS analyses we report on the full qualitative and quantitative sesquiterpene lactone (STL) content of in vitro cultivated A. montana plantlets consisting of helenalin and 11alpha,13-dihydrohelenalin esters in approximately equal amounts. The accumulation of STL was shown to be correlated with tissue differentiation in the above-ground parts.

Studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of phytopharmaceuticals prepared from Arnica flowers.

Phytopharmaceuticals prepared from flowerheads of Arnica montana of Spanish origin and of the new type "Arbo", which can be easily and economically cultivated, were studied for their capability to impair activation of the transcription factors NF-kappa B and NF-AT. Both proteins are responsible for the transcription of genes encoding various inflammatory mediators. Additionally, their influence on the release of the cytokines IL-1 and TNF-alpha were examined.