title: On the mechanism of action of plant adaptogens with particular reference to cucurbitacin R diglucoside.
abstract: Cucurbitacin R diglucoside (DCR), one of the active principles of Bryonia alba L. root was found to have an effect on the production of corticosteroids and the biosynthesis of eicosanoids in the adrenal cortex, isolated adrenocortical cells, blood plasma, and leukocytes under stress and stress-free conditions in vitro and vivo. DCR prevents stress-induced alterations of eicosanoids in blood and moderately stimulates the adrenal cortex to adapt organism to stress, because a moderate increase in corticosteroid secretion protects the defense system of organisms from becoming hyperactive. DCR enhances sensitivity to stress due to the effects of eicosanoids and corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: C. Guelbenkian Research Laboratories of Armenian Drug Agency, Yereven, Armenia. phanos@ipia.sci.am
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panossian
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gabrielian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015777:Eicosanoids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014315:Triterpenes; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C054202:cucurbitacin R 2,25-diglucoside; D002784:Cholesterol; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone