Phytochemical investigation on the leaves of blumea balsamifera dc and corn silk of zea mays land in vitro evaluation of their use in urolithiasis
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Date
2004
Authors
Nessa, Fazilatun
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Abstract
The leaves of Blumea balsamifera DC and com silk of Zea mays L are
traditionally used in conditions related to urolithiasis. The crude drugs of Blumea
balsamifera were evaluated using quality control parameters, which includes
microscopic, macroscopic, gravimetric, thin layer chromatographic and gradient
reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) analysis.
Phytochemical investigation on pet-ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of
the leaves of Blumea balsamifera resulted in the isolation of two hydrocarbons, two
phytosterols and eleven flavonoids. Mixtures of four fatty acids, two phytosterols and
three flavonoids were isolated from the com silk of Zea mays. The structural identity of
these compounds was determined by means of different analytical methods such as UV,
IR, lD NMR, 2D NMR, MS, X-Ray and elemental analysis.
The antioxidant capacity of different solvent extracts and isolated flavonoids of .
Blumea balsamifera was evaluated using widely used methods. Methanol extracts
exerted higher antioxidant activity as compared to chloroform and pet-ether extracts.
The four classes of isolated flavonoids of Blumea balsam(fera exhibited various ranges
of antioxidant activities. Distinct structure-activity relationships were also revealed for
the antioxidant abilities of the flavonoids. The presence of hydroxyl substituents on the
flavonoid nucleus enhanced activity, whereas the substitution by methoxyl groups
diminished antioxidant activity. It appeared that the chemical structure of these
compounds was a dete1minant to their antioxidant activity. The results of this study
provided evidence that Blumea balsamifera leaves extract and their flavonoids exhibited
interesting antioxidant properties, expressed either by its capacity to scavenge fret
radicals or superoxide radicals or its capacity to inhibit xanthine oxidase activity, an
enzyme involved in uric acid production.
The effects of extracts of the leaves of Blumea balsamifera and corn silk of Zea
mays, and isolated flavonoids of Blumea balsamifera on the in vitro growth rate of
calcium oxalate crystals were determined using modified Schneider's gel slide method
in association with the Image Analyzer System. Methanol extracts of both plant sources
exe:ted higher inhibitory activity as compared to chloroform and pet-ether extracts on in
vitro growth of calcium oxalate crystals in absence and presence of human urine.
Flavonoids with free hydroxyl group at C-3, C-3' and C-4' position showed higher
inhibitory activity than their methoxylated compounds. In addition, in antimicrobial
screenmg test, extracts of Blumea balsamifera and corn silk, and isolated four
flavonoids of Blwnea balsamifera exerted broad-spectrum activity towards pathogenic
bacteria.
A simple, sensitive and reproducible isocratic RP-HPLC method using UV
detection was developed for the quantitative determination of five major flavonoids in
leaves of Blumea balsamifera. The developed method was applied for the simultaneous
determination of these flavonoids in rat plasma. The extraction procedure for the
flavonoids from the rat plasma was simple and the mean recoveries of these flavonoids
from plasma range from 90 to 93%. The within-day and the day-to-day variations were
within the acceptable value ( <1 0% ). The pharmacokinetic parameters of the flavonoids
were determined foilowing oral dosing of lg/kg extracts in rats. The results showed
good absorption and detectability.
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Keywords
Blumea balsamifera , Zea mays land , Urolithiasis