Isolation and immunomodulatory effect of flavonol glycosides from Epimedium hunanense

Planta Med. 1997 Aug;63(4):316-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957690.

Abstract

The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions from aerial parts of E. hunanense were initially screened to find active fractions with immunomodulatory activity. Nine compounds, tricin (1), luteolin (2), thalictoside (3), icariin I (4), baohuoside I (5), quercitrin (6), icariin (7), epimedin C (8), and B (9) were isolated from this species for the first time, and 3 was isolated for the first time from flavonoid extracts of the genus. Their structures were established by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The immunomodulatory effects of the n-butanol fraction and epimedin C isolated from the fraction were investigated. Hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) was used as an immunosuppressant to inhibit the immune response of mice. The n-butanol fraction and epimedin C significantly enhanced the response of spleen antibody-forming cells (SAFC) to near normal in the mice treated with HCA. They also significantly enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and caused a significant recovery of interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in the mice inhibited with HCA. In conclusion, they are active principles with immunoenhancing effects.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / isolation & purification*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antibody-Producing Cells / drug effects
  • Antibody-Producing Cells / immunology
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Glycosides / isolation & purification*
  • Glycosides / pharmacology
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Glycosides
  • Interleukin-2