Root Extracts of Two Cultivars of Paeonia Species: Lipid Composition and Biological Effects on Different Cell Lines: Preliminary Results.

Natalia Calonghi,Christian Bergamini,Carla Boga,Erika Faraci,Stefano Cerini,Nicola Rizzardi,Lucia Romani,Elena Fini,Gabriele Micheletti,Giovanna Farruggia,Dario Telese

doi:10.3390/molecules26030655

Natalia Calonghi, Christian Bergamini + Show 9 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030655

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Abstract

The roots of two cultivars of Paeonia, namely Paeonia officinalis “Rubra Plena” and Paeonia “Pink Hawaiian Coral”, have been extracted with chloroform. The composition of the lipid fraction, analyzed by GC–MS technique, revealed the absence of paeonol and the presence of phenol, benzoic acid, fatty acid—and some sterol—derivatives. The chloroformic extracts have been tested on normal and several cancer cell lines but showed antiproliferative activity only on the ovarian carcinoma and the osteosarcoma. The biological activity of extracts was investigated mainly by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and quantum phase imaging. The results indicated that the root extracts induced a hyperpolarization of mitochondria and an increase in reactive oxygen species levels, without inducing cell death. These effects are associated to an increased doubling time and a retarded confluence.

Highlights

IntroductionHerbaceous peonies are perennial herbs that comprise 24 wild species distributed in the temperate climates of Eurasia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and eight species with four subspecies widely distributed in China [3,4]
Received: 30 December 2020The genus Paeonia L. (Paeoniaceae family) comprises about 35 species divided into two groups: the herbaceous kinds and the tree peony [1,2].Herbaceous peonies are perennial herbs that comprise 24 wild species distributed in the temperate climates of Eurasia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and eight species with four subspecies widely distributed in China [3,4].Many species of this single genus have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine
Plena” and “Pink Hawaiian Coral” roots are hereinafter indicated as SCO and SCH, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Herbaceous peonies are perennial herbs that comprise 24 wild species distributed in the temperate climates of Eurasia, northwestern Africa, and North America, and eight species with four subspecies widely distributed in China [3,4]. Many species of this single genus have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine. An interesting study analyzed the nucleotide sequence of DNA and the contents of eight main bioactive constituents obtained from different Paeonia species, demonstrating that white and red Paeonia roots were geographically isolated, and genetically and chemically separated [15]

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