Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species (original) (raw)
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The preliminary phytochemical analysis of Ephedra alata indicated the presence of cardiac glycosides, reducing sugars, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and alkaloids. Ephedra species contain alkaloids ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, and methylpseudoephedrine. Beside the E-type alkaloids, ephedroxane, and macrocyclic spermidines called ephedradine AD , were isolated from some Ephedra species. The total amount of alkaloids isolated from Ephedra alata aerial parts was 0.2-0.22%. Phenolic compounds included chlorogenic acid, rutin, catechin, quercetin, coumaric acid, flavonoid (Vicenin II, lucenin III, kaempferol 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside, herbacetin 7-glucoside, herbacetin 8-methyl ether 3-O-glucoside-7-O-rutinoside and herbacetin 7-O-6″-quinylglucoside) and furanofuran ((±)-syringaresinol, digalloylglucose, nilocitin, p-coumaric acid) were isolated from Ephedra alata. Ephedra foliata also produced ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The total alkaloids contents of Ephedra foliata (ephedrine and psudoephedrine) were 0.04-0.2%. Previous pharmacological studies revealed that Ephedra species possessed antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and cardiovascular effects. This review discussed the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Ephedra alata and Ephedra foliata.
Review of Pharmacological Activity of Ephedra Gerardiana
Scientific inquiry and review, 2023
Ephedra gerardiana (E. gerardiana,), commonly known as "Ma-huang," is a medicinal plant native to the Himalayan region. Historically, it has a long traditional use in various indigenous systems for medicinal purpose. The current review aims to summarize the present knowledge on the botanical description, phytochemistry, traditional uses, and pharmacological properties of E. gerardiana. This study was thoroughly based on previous literature and was conducted by using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Relevant studies and recently published articles up till 2020 were included in this review. E. gerardiana is a small shrub-like plant characterized by jointed stems, scale-like leaves, and cylindrical cones. It belongs to the family Ephedraceae and is commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions. Phytochemical analysis has revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds in Ephedra gerardiana, including ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, norephedrine, and methyl ephedrine. These alkaloids are primarily responsible for their pharmacological activities. In traditional medicine, Ephedra gerardiana has been used for its bronchodilatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, and thermogenic properties. Additionally, it has been employed for the treatment of respiratory disorders, namely, asthma and nasal congestion, as a stimulant. Its bioactive alkaloids, particularly ephedrine, have been extensively studied for their potential therapeutic applications. However, caution should be exercised due to the potential side effects associated with ephedrinecontaining products. Further research can explore its mechanisms of action, optimize dosage regimens, and investigate potential drug interactions to ensure its safe and effective use in clinical settings.
TheScientificWorldJournal, 2017
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, screening the phytogenic chemical compounds, and to assess the alkaloids present in the E. intermedia to prove its uses in Pakistani folk medicines for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. Antioxidant activity was analyzed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay. Standard methods were used for the identification of cardiac glycosides, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and alkaloids. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for quantitative purpose of ephedrine alkaloids in E. intermedia. The quantitative separation was confirmed on Shimadzu 10AVP column (Shampack) of internal diameter (id) 3.0 mm and 50 mm in length. The extract of the solute in flow rate of 1 ml/min at the wavelength 210 nm and methanolic extract showed the antioxidant activity and powerful oxygen free radicals scavenging activities and the IC50 for the E. intermedia plant was near to the reference standard ...
Journal of Institute of Science and Technology
The northern areas of Nepal are rich in biodiversity and contain a large number of medicinal plant species including the Genus Ephedra of evergreen gymnosperm, belonging to the family Ephedraceae. The plants have been used by the peoples of the Himalayan region for the treatment of asthma, blood pressure, and gastritis for many years. This study was aimed for the evaluation of phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n-hexane extracts, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) profiling of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Ephedra pachyclada Boiss from Mustang district of Nepal. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by 2,2-dipheny-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and antimicrobial activity by the agar well diffusion method. Total phenolics and total flavonoid content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric method, respectively. The methanol extract contained ...
Pharmacological studies on Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo
Planta Medica, 2008
As a part of our endeavour to screen Mediterranean medicinal plants for 15 various pharmacological activities, we evaluated antihistaminic, adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, hypotensive and locomotor properties and antioxidant potential of Ephedra nebrodensis. 1 H-NMR spectroscopy was carried out to identify the plant metabolites, which confirmed the presence of ephedrinic skeleton alkaloids. The ethanol : acetone (1 : 1) extract exhibited 20 dose-related antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, hypotensive, antioxidant and locomotor stimulant activity. The plant bears a potential for further studies.
Pharmacological activities on Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo
Natural product research, 2010
As a part of our endeavour to screen Mediterranean medicinal plants for various pharmacological activities, we evaluated antihistaminic, adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, hypotensive and locomotor properties, and antioxidant potential of Ephedra nebrodensis. (1)H-NMR spectroscopy was carried out to identify the plant metabolites, which confirmed the presence of ephedrinic skeleton alkaloids. The ethanol : acetone (1 : 1) extract exhibited dose-related antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, hypotensive, antioxidant and locomotor stimulant activity. The plant bears potential for further studies.
The Relative Safety of Ephedra Compared with Other Herbal Products
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2003
In their Brief Communication concerning the safety of the dietary supplement ephedra (1), Bent and colleagues compared the 2001 Toxic Event Surveillance System (TESS) report with ephedra sales data provided to them by various sources (2). The design and conclusions of their study have several fundamental flaws. Clinical trials of drugs and herbal products provide a basis for understanding the potential for serious adverse events as well as the intended population. The TESS data indicate that 55.5% of all reports related to ma huang (ephedra) alone or in combination with another herb involved people younger than 19 years of age. In addition, 27.9% of exposures were in children younger than 6 years of age (3). People younger than 19 years of age should not take ephedra; there simply have been no studies performed on the herb ephedrine in that age group. Bent and colleagues' data are therefore misleading to the intended consumer. Furthermore, Bent and colleagues mistakenly stated that ephedra accounts for 64% of all herb-related adverse reactions. However, hundreds of herbal products are sold in the United States, not 12 as the TESS report stated (Watson B. Personal communication. 22 February 2003). It is important to know the direct evidence about the safety of ephedra. We must not fail to use the available published, peerreviewed clinical studies. According to the TESS data, ephedra has a mortality rate of 0.000757% (6 deaths in 7927 exposures), while kava has a mortality rate of 0.002976% (1 death in 336 exposures). Using these data, one could conclude that kava is 3.9 times more likely to cause death than ephedra. Gingko biloba and ephedra had similar adverse reaction frequency (13.7% vs. 14%), while the adverse reaction frequency for kava was much higher (17.5%). Perhaps a less negative conclusion would not have served the purpose of Bent and colleagues' study. The manipulative presentation of their data appears to have influenced media reports regarding the potential danger of ephedra compared with other herbs. The audience, both the scientific and lay press, deserves the absolute facts. Disclosure: Mr. Kalman has testified in cases related to ephedra on behalf of Cytodyne Technologies, Inc. Dr. Antonio is also employed by MET-Rx, a dietary supplement company that formerly sold ephedra products. Dr. Kreider has served as an expert in litigation for Metabolife.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 2022
This study was conducted to determine the mineral, phytochemical constituents and nutritive worth of (leaf Ephedra)which grows in AL-Salman desert, south of Iraq. The nutritional properties and elemental values of this (medicinal plant) were evaluated by leaves aqueous extract that showed high amounts of proteins 12% and carbohydrates 41%, with low amounts of fats. The Results of the phyto-composition in mg/100 g ((DW)) revealed variable contents of TPC, TFC and (TAC)in Ephedra extract leaves obtaining a yield of (48.15±0.6,33.3±0.1,8.8±0.5) respectively. The mineral investigation indicated that this plant leaf has relatively high mineral content like (Cu, K, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn,) and Mg. Therefore, the present results of phytochemistry, minerals and nutritional content in this promising herb plant promote the leaf's use as nutrition materials or as pharmaceutical supplements and for clinical treatments.
2021
Ephedra alata Decne. (Ephedraceae) is a medicinal species commonly used to treat cancers, respiratory diseases, fever, and hypertension. The present study aimed to establish a phytochemical profile, evaluate the antioxidant potential and estimate the anti-inflammatory activities of .. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of E. alata aerial parts were phytochemically investigated using standard methods. DPPH, phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity and reducing power assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity was determined using total antioxidant capacity, the scavenging activity of the stable DPPH free radical and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using egg albumin membrane denaturation and human red blood cells membrane stabilizing assays. The anti-inflammatory potential of E. alata extracts was evaluated using human red blood cells membrane stabilization, egg albumin and BSA albumin denaturatio...
Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Algerian Ephedra alata
Environmental Science Archives, 2024
The aim of this study was to investigate phytochemicals, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hemolysis assay of Ephedra alata Qualitative analysis of phytochemicals and quantitative analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids were prepared by using standard protocols. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed that the aqueous extract show richness in flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, reducing compound, tannins, phenols and alkaloids. Total phenol and flavonoid content show highest concentration in aqueous extract of E. alata (68.009mg GA Eq/gm, 4mg QEq/gm). In vitro, the DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, Hemolysis assay studies show that aqueous extract of Ephedra alata showed higher antioxidant activity property and important anti-inflammatory. The results conclude that Ephedra alata contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds which protects cells against degenerative effects of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). This study showed that the Ephedra alata is valuable source of natural agents beneficial for human health.