Planta Med 2007; 73(1): 59-66
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957063
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Choleretic Effects of the Mongolian Medicinal Plant Saussurea amara in the Isolated Perfused Rat Liver

Sabine Glasl1 , Damba Tsendayush2 , 3 , Usukhbayar Batchimeg2 , 3 , Nina Holec1 , 3 , Esther Wurm1 , 6 , Christa Kletter1 , Disan Gunbilig1 , 4 , Khurelbat Daariimaa5 , Samdan Narantuya5 , Theresia Thalhammer3
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 2School of Traditional Mongolian Medicine, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 3Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • 4Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 5Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 6The results of the quantitative analyses are part of the diploma thesis of Esther Wurm
Further Information

Publication History

Received: May 12, 2006

Accepted: November 1, 2006

Publication Date:
19 December 2006 (online)

Abstract

Saussurea amara is used in traditional Mongolian medicine for the treatment of hepato-biliary disorders. To determine the plant’s effect on the bile-salt independent bile flow (hydrocholeresis) as a measure of liver exocrine functions, different extracts were investigated in the isolated rat liver perfusion system. The methanolic extract (3) exerted a dose-dependent increase in bile flow (16 %, 37 %, 53 %, 61 %) in concentrations of 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L, 250 mg/L and 500 mg/L. The aqueous crude extract (1) and the ethyl acetate extract (2) also showed a dose-dependent increase, whereas at the highest concentrations (1000 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively) a continuous decrease in bile flow could be observed. Cynaropicrin also provoked a dose-dependent increase in bile flow, but caused liver damage at the highest dose tested (20 mg/L). Apigenin 7-O-glucoside, present in extracts 2 and 3, induced a dose-dependent increase of 20 %, 30 % and 40 % (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L) and showed a significantly higher effect than the reference substance cynarin. The total flavonoid content was determined by spectrophotometry. To quantify the absolute amount of cynaropicrin in the crude drug and in the tested extracts, an HLPC system was established with santonin as internal standard.

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Ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. S. Glasl

Department of Pharmacognosy

PharmaCenter Vienna

University of Vienna

Althanstraße 14

1090 Vienna

Austria

Fax: +43-1-4277-9552

Email: sabine.glasl@univie.ac.at