Short communicationAdaptogenic effect of black and fermented leaves of Bergenia crassifolia L. in mice
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.
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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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2016, Industrial Crops and ProductsCitation Excerpt :For instance, water leaf extracts of B. crassifolia and B. × ornate were strong antioxidants in DPPH and ABTS+ scavenging assays (Hendrychová et al., 2014); B. crassifolia rhizomes strongly inhibited human pancreatic lipase activity in vitro (Ivanov et al., 2011), while ethanolic extracts of green leaves exhibited antioxidant properties in monitoring oxygen uptake rate in a gasometric system with 2,2′–azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)–initiated oxidation of isopropyl benzene (Shilova et al., 2006). More than 100 chemical components have been reported in B. crassifolia, including tannins, benzanoids (hydroquinone), flavonoids, polysaccharides, terpenes, aldehydes, etc. (Shikov et al., 2014), however bergenin, arbutin, hydroquinone, gallic, protocatechuic and ellagic acids were proposed as key compounds in leaf extracts (Shikov et al., 2010, 2012). Literature survey shows that there is a need of more systematic studies of antioxidant properties of B. crassifolia leaves and roots in order to obtain more comprehensive information required for the valorisation of their processing and wider applications in human nutrition and other purposes.
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2012, PhytomedicineCitation Excerpt :Infusions from fermented leaves of B. crassifolia significantly enhanced the maximum swimming capacity of mice by increasing glucose utilization and decreasing lactate levels compared with the control group (Shikov et al. 2008). It was suggested that infusions of B. crassifolia leaves could increase fat utilization in mice during swimming and a decrease in body weight of 15–18% was observed in groups treated with black and fermented leaves (Shikov et al. 2010). However, there are no reports regarding the effects of B. crassifolia in high-fat diet-induced obesity.
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