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Adaptogenic effect of black and fermented leaves of Bergenia crassifolia L. in mice

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Abstract

The adaptogenic effect of Bergenia crassifolia black and fermented leaves was examined based on the forced swimming capacity and the change of biochemical parameters in mice. The treatment groups were orally administered infusions of black and fermented leaves of 3 populations of B. crassifolia, while the control group received distilled water for 7 days. Infusions from black leaves of B. crassifolia insignificantly enhanced the maximum swimming capacity of mice by increasing fat utilization, and by delaying the accumulation of plasma lactate while infusions from fermented leaves of B. crassifolia significantly enhanced the maximum swimming capacity of mice without change of the body weight by increasing glucose utilization and decreasing lactate level compared to the control group.

Introduction

The term adaptogen was introduced in 1947 to describe any substance which, when chronically administered, can increase an organism’s ability to cope with atypical physical or chemical insult (Lazarev, 1947). Adaptogens should possess three main demonstrable characteristics, namely (i) non-specific activity, (ii) normalising effect irrespective of the nature of the pathology and be innocuous and (iii) not influencing normal physiological functions greater than required (Breckhman and Dardymov, 1969, Panossian et al., 1999). In Russia a number of plants are considered to be adaptogens, e.g. Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim., Rhodiola rosea L., and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. among others. They are predominantly prescribed to increase general stamina and well-being and non-specific resistance to stress (Panossian and Wikman, 2005).

Bergenia crassifolia L. (Syn.: Saxifraga crassifolia) (Saxifragaceae) is commonly known as Siberian tea or elephant ear and is widely used as a beverage in Russia (Vereschagin et al., 1959). Buryats and Mongols used B. crassifolia L. leaves as a tea. However, old blackened wintered leaves are used for this purpose because green leaves are full of tanins. The tea is popular as a health beverage as it contains no harmful stimulants such as caffeine (Vereschagin and Sobolevskaya, 1959, Tanaka, 1976, Kunkel, 1984). Black leaves which have passed two winters are used as the adaptogen (Panossian and Wikman, 2005).

B. crassifolia leaves are known to contain phenolic acids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids and bergenin (Shikov et al., 2007) and their content varies depending on the type of leaves analyzed (Ivanova et al., 2007, Pozharitskaya et al., 2007). B. crassifolia L. leaves have been shown to possess antidiarrheal (Vereschagin et al., 1959), anti-inflammatory (Churin et al., 2005), antimicrobial (Kokoska et al., 2002), antioxidant (Pozharitskaya et al., 2007), diuretic (Briukhanov and Fedoseeva, 1993) and immunostimulating (Popov et al., 2005) properties.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible adaptogenic effects of tea of black and fermented B. crassifolia L. leaves using a rodent forced swimming capacity test, and correlate any observed activity with the chemical composition of the leaves as determined by reverse-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography.

Section snippets

Plant material

Green and black (over wintered) leaves of B. crassifolia of three different populations were harvested in October 2007 from the plantation of MTT Agrifood Research Finland (Mikkeli, Finland). Samples were identified by Mr. Bertalan Galambosi and vouchers specimens were deposited at the St-Petersburg Institute of Pharmacy (St-Petersburg, Russia).

Green leaves were fermented in soft conditions similar to tea fermentation (Shikov et al., 2006). Briefly, green leaves were withered for approximately

Results and discussion

The effects of different B. crassifolia infusions on the forced swimming capacities of mice are shown in Fig. 1. There were significant differences in the swimming time to exhaustion between the control group and treatment groups. The swimming times to exhaustion were longer in the groups treated with Rhodiola and infusions of fermented leaves. Maximal time was observed for 1-F group (1147 ± 70 s) compared to the control (519 ± 56 s), P < 0.05. On the other hand, the swimming times to exhaustion of the

Conclusions

From the experimental data, it is possible to propose that fermented leaves of B. crassifolia have adaptogenic effects associated with presence of arbutin and a biosynthesis of protocatechuic acid. The leaves displayed adaptogenic effect whilst not affecting the parameter of change of body weight. Infusions from black leaves of B. crassifolia insignificantly enhanced the maximum swimming capacity of mice by increasing fat utilization, and by delaying the accumulation of plasma lactate while

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Open Joint-Stock Company DIOD (Moscow, Russia) for financial support.

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