title: Characterization and pharmacodynamic properties of Arnica montana complex.
abstract: A dark brown polymeric complex was isolated from flowering parts of medicinal plant Arnica montana L. by hot alkaline extraction followed by neutralization and multi-step extractions with organic solvents. It was recovered in 5.7% yield, on GPC showed two peaks of molecular mass of 9 and 3.5kDa. The compositional analyses of Arnica complex revealed the presence of carbohydrates (26%), uronic acids (12%), phenolics (1.25mM or 213mg of GAE/1g), and low protein content (∼1%). The carbohydrate moiety was rich mainly in rhamnogalacturonan and arabinogalactan. The antitussive tests showed the reduction of the cough efforts by Arnica complex, however, its total antitussive effect was lower compared with that of codeine, the strongest antitussive agent. The bronchodilatory activity of Arnica complex was similar to salbutamol, a classic antiasthmatic drug, and was confirmed by significantly decreased values of specific airways resistance in vivo and by considerably attenuated the amplitude of acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions in vitro. Arnica complex did not show any cytotoxic effect on mouse fibroblast cultures and human lung cells, up to the dose of 500μg/mL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, SK-03753 Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šutovská
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Center for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: chemcape@savba.sk.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, SK-03753 Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kočmalová
authors.affiliation: Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry Department, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 29, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland; Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Research and Development Centre, H.M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pawlaczyk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zaczyńska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Rudolfa Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czarny
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry, Center for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Uhliariková
authors.affiliation: Division of Organic and Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry Department, Wrocław University of Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 29, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland; Regional Specialist Hospital in Wrocław, Research and Development Centre, H.M. Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-124 Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gancarz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, SK-03753 Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fraňová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D018650:Arnica / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000996:Antitussive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019343:Citric Acid
keywords: Antitussive activity; Arnica montana L.; Bronchodilatory activity; Cytotoxic effect; Glycoconjugate