title: Isolation and immunomodulatory effect of flavonol glycosides from Epimedium hunanense.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vuorela
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vuorela
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hiltunen
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006027:Glycosides; D007376:Interleukin-2