Abstract
Gui Zhen Cao is an herbal formulation that has been documented in Chinese traditional medicine as a remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, inflammation, and toxicity. The sources of this formulation (Bidens pilosa L., Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. & Sherff, Bidens bipinnata L.) are also listed in ethnomedicinal reports all over the world. In this study, all these plants are tested for in vitro anticandida activity. A quantitative evaluation of the phytochemicals in all these plants indicated that their vegetative parts are rich in tannins, saponins, oxalates, cyanogenic glycoside and lipids; moreover, the roots have high percentages of alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols. The results indicated significant anticandida activity, especially for the hexane extract of B. bipinnata leaves which inhibited C. albicans (42.54%), C. glabrata (46.98%), C. tropicalis (50.89%), C. krusei (40.56%), and C. orthopsilosis (50.24%). The extract was subjected to silica gel chromatography and 220 fractions were obtained. Purification by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC–DAD) and Gas Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis led to the identification of two anticandida compounds: dehydroabietic and linoleic acid having an inhibition of 85 and 92%, respectively.
Highlights
Since prehistoric times, human beings have used plants as a source of medicine; they were the only source of medicine until the arrival of iatrochemistry in the 16th century [1]
In the manual under Gui Zhen Cao, these plants are all widely reported to be used for treating different ailments all around the world (Table 2)
Fractionation Procedure The dried active extract was adsorbed onto silica gel (70–230 mesh) and loaded on a silica gel column (600 mm height × 55 mm diameter) Sigma–Aldrich (Hamburg, Germany) which was eluted (Waters Gradient Chromatography Calculator, model 600, Sigma–Aldrich (Hamburg, Germany) with a step gradient of hexane–dichloromethane that increased in polarity: 9.5:0.5, 9:1, 8.5:0.5, 8:2, 7:3; 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9, and 0:10
Summary
Human beings have used plants as a source of medicine; they were the only source of medicine until the arrival of iatrochemistry in the 16th century [1]. In the book Thousand Formulas and Thousand Herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is reported to remove heat from the gastrointestinal tract and cure diarrhea, dysentery, and stomach ache of the heat type (Table 1). Sore throat, feeling warm and/or agitated (whether or not there is a fever), yellow or green-colored phlegm, and aversion to heat are some indications of wind-heat. Common cold of the wind-heat type, influenza; clear away heat and toxic materials: sore throat, appendicitis, snake bite, and centipede bite. In the Chinese-English Manual of Common-Used Herbs, this formulation is said to cure the common cold, sore throat, appendicitis, centipede bite and snake bite, and prevent influenza [5]. In the manual under Gui Zhen Cao, these plants are all widely reported to be used for treating different ailments all around the world (Table 2). Reference [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [17] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [19] [21] [31] [27] [32] [29] [12] [33] [34] [35] [17]
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