Human Gene Expression as a Tool To Determine Horticultural Maturity in a Bioactive Plant (Echinacea purpurea L. Moench)

A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. P...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2005-10, Vol.53 (21), p.8156-8161
Main Authors: Brovelli, Ernesto Antonio, Rua, Diego, Roh-Schmidt, Haeri, Chandra, Amitabh, Lamont, Erin, Noratto, Giuliana Doris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
bioassays
Biological and medical sciences
biomarkers
Biomarkers - analysis
biosynthesis
Caffeic Acids - analysis
Cell Line
cell lines
chemical constituents of plants
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
cichoric acid
cytokines
Echinacea - chemistry
Echinacea - growth & development
Echinacea purpurea
Food industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression
Humans
Immunity - drug effects
Interferon-gamma - metabolism
interferons
interleukins
macrophages
Macrophages - drug effects
Macrophages - immunology
maturity stage
medicinal plants
messenger RNA
monocytes
plant development
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
polysaccharides
Polysaccharides - analysis
Succinates - analysis
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism
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Summary:A phenological study was conducted to determine the impact of harvest maturity on the immune-modulating properties of Echinacea purpurea. The aerial parts of this plant were collected during seven stages of development and were assayed for a common botanical marker for this species, cichoric acid. Plants of selected development stages were also assayed for total polysaccharides and compared for their immune-modulating effects on the THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line by means of a gene expression study. Although the concentration of cichoric acid did not change significantly during the course of the study, stage 1 (advanced vegetative) had the highest concentration of total polysaccharides and exhibited the most potent induction activity on immune-modulating cytokines such as interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α. These findings suggest that the use of gene expression may be an effective tool not only to standardize botanical extracts but also to optimize harvest time. Keywords: Harvest maturity; Echinacea; botanical marker; cichoric acid; polysaccharides; immune-modulating effects; gene expression
ISSN:0021-8561
1520-5118
DOI:10.1021/jf0505372