In Vitro Cultures of Some Medicinal Plant Species (Cistus × incanus, Verbena officinalis, Scutellaria lateriflora, and Scutellaria baicalensis) as a Rich Potential Source of Antioxidants—Evaluation by CUPRAC and QUENCHER-CUPRAC Assays

Comparative estimations of the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts from biomasses of different types of in vitro cultures of Cistus × incanus, Verbena officinalis, Scutellaria lateriflora, and S. baicalensis and also from plant raw materials were performed. The antioxidant measurements were based on the modern assays—cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and quick, easy, new, cheap, and reproducible CUPRAC (QUENCHER-CUPRAC). The total extractable antioxidants (CUPRAC assay) ranged from 10.4 to 49.7 mmol (100 g)−1 of dry weight (DW) expressed as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and the global antioxidant response (QUENCHER-CUPRAC assay) ranged from 16.0 to 79.1 mmol (100 g)−1 DW for in vitro cultures, whereas for plant raw materials the total extractable antioxidants ranged from 20.9 to 69.5 mmol (100 g)−1 DW, and the global antioxidant response ranged from 67.2 to 97.8 mmol (100 g)−1 DW. Finally, the in vitro cultures could be regarded as an antioxidant-rich alternative resource for the pharmaceutical, health food and cosmetics industries.

Tarczyca bocznokwiatowa (Scutellaria lateriflora) – znaczenie w medycynie tradycyjnej i pozycja we współczesnej fitoterapii

American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) has long been used as a medicine by North American Indian tribes. A monograph of Scutellariae lateriflorae herba was included in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia in 2009. This raw material is very popular in North America because of its sedative action. It is also highly valued in Australia, while in Europe, it has been widely used until now in the United Kingdom. The main components of the herb of this plant species include flavonoids specific for the Scutellaria genus, mostly baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, scutellarin. They are accompanied by other groups of compounds: diterpenoids – neoclerodan derivatives, γ-aminobutyric acid, melatonin, serotonin, catalpol, phenolic acids, phenylpropanoid glycosides (mostly verbascoside) and essential oil. Studies of chemical composition and investigation of medicinal activity of this raw material confirmed its uses known from North American folk medicine. Study results proved most of all a significance of flavonoid compounds present in the raw material for its documented biological activity. The aim of the paper is to review the present knowledge on chemical composition and medicinal significance of this very valuable plant. The research team from the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany JU MC initiated biotechnological studies of this species. Its microshoots successfully grown in vitro produce considerable amounts of specific flavonoids (mostly baicalin and wogonoside) and verbascoside, and in future they can be an alternative rich source of these compounds for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Tarczyce – roślinne adaptogeny z różnych kontynentów

Roślinne adaptogeny wykazują wiele efektów farmakologicznych w organizme ludzkim, charakteryzując się jednocześnie dużym bezpieczeństwem stosowania. Liczne substancje roślinne, obdarzone właściwościami adaptogennymi, wywodzą się z Tradycyjnej Medycyny Chińskiej (TCM). Część z nich znalazła również zastosowanie w konwencjonalnej medycynie zachodniej. Celem niniejszej publikacji jest przybliżenie potencjału terapeutycznego trzech gatunków roślin z rodzaju Scutellaria L. (tarczyca), charakteryzujących się aktywnością adaptogenną. Tarczyce: bajkalska (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi.) oraz brodata (Scutellaria barbata D.Don.) to dwa gatunki azjatyckie wykorzystywane w TCM, natomiast tarczyca bocznokwiatowa (Scutellaria lateriflora L.) jest taksonem rodzimym flory Ameryki Północnej, stosowanym pierwotnie w medycynie ludowej Indian. Głównymi składnikami tarczyc, którym przypisuje się właściwości adaptogenne są składniki polifenolowe z grupy flawonów (głównie: bajkaleina, bajkalina, wogonina). Wyciągi z tarczyc, bogate w te związki, stanowią środki lecznicze o silnym działaniu przeciwzapalnym, wykazujące szeroką aktywność antybiodegeneracyjną (neuro- hepato- i kardioprotekcyjną) oraz przeciwnowotworową. Ponadto, jako adaptogeny, flawony tarczyc wykazują normalizujący wpływ na OUN, łagodząc dolegliwości natury psychicznej, w tym reakcje lękowe, stany napięcia nerwowego czy zaburzenia snu.

Production of Bacalin, Bacalein and Wogonin in Hairy Root Culture of American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)by Auxin Treatment

ABSTRACT: The hairy root culture of American Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) was studied to investigate the biomass and flavonoids content (baicalin, baicalein and wogonin) in response of various auxin concentrations.The growth rates of the hairy roots varied significantly only at IBA 0.1 mg/L and for all other auxin treatments did not vary significantly. The biomass of hairy roots was 8% higher when treated with IBA 0.1 mg/L and biomass was almost similar and slightly lower levels when treated with various IAA concentration and NAA, respectively. However, the auxins treatments responsed positively to increase flavone production in American Skullcaphairy root culture. The auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 1 mg/L performed the best for the accumulation of baicalin and wogonin. The auxin IBA at 1 mg/L accumulated 1.64 and 2.92 times higher baicalin and wogonin, respectively compared to control treatment. Meanwhile, the highest levels of baicalein were observed for hair root cultures in the presence of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0.1 mg/L achieving 2.38 times higher than that of accumulated in the control. These findings indicate that hairy root cultures of S. lateriflorausing liquid 1/2MS medium supplemented with auxin could be a valuable alternative approach for flavonoid production.