Extracts from the Mongolian traditional medicinal plants Dianthus versicolor Fisch. and Lilium pumilum Delile stimulate bile flow in an isolated perfused rat liver model

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2010-10, Vol.131 (3), p.555-561
• Main Authors: Obmann, Astrid, Tsendayush, Damba, Thalhammer, Theresia, Zehl, Martin, Vo, Thanh Phuong Nha, Purevsuren, Sodnomtseren, Natsagdorj, Damdinsuren, Narantuya, Samdan, Kletter, Christa, Glasl, Sabine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal models; bile; bile salts; bile secretion; Biological and medical sciences; choleresis; Dianthus; Dianthus versicolor; dosage; flavonoids; General pharmacology; hepatotoxicity; Lilium; Lilium pumilum; liver; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; osmotic pressure; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; phytochemicals; plant extracts; rats; solvents; species differences; sugars; taurocholic acid; tissue culture; traditional medicine
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.07.029

Aim of the study: Dianthus versicolor (Caryophyllaceae) and Lilium pumilum (Liliaceae) are two medicinal plants used in traditional Mongolian medicine to treat hepatic and gastrointestinal disorders. In this study aqueous (AE) and methanolic (ME) extracts of Dianthus versicolor and Lilium pumilum were investigated for their influence on the bile flow. The aqueous extracts of both plants were tested in absence and presence of 10μM taurocholic acid at three different concentrations (100, 250, and 500mg/L). The aqueous extract of Dianthus versicolor was further purified in order to locate the active principles. Two resulting fractions, one enriched in flavonoids and the other in sugars, were investigated for their influence on the bile flow in absence of taurocholic acid at 10, 20, and 40mg/L. The aqueous extracts of both plants were analysed qualitatively by LC-MSn and quantitatively by UV-spectrophotometry. Materials and methods: The bile flow experiments were performed in the isolated perfused rat liver. The compounds were identified by LC-DAD-MSn and TLC using references. The UV-spectrophotometric analysis was based on the monograph “Passiflorae herba” of the European Pharmacopoeia, and the total flavonoid contents were calculated and expressed as vitexin. Results: AE and ME of both plants increased the bile flow dose-dependently (between 9% and 30%), and no hepatotoxic effect was seen even during longer perfusions. Stimulation of bile secretion was comparable in the presence and in the absence of taurocholic acid. The flavonoid fraction of Dianthus versicolor increased the bile flow by 18% (p