Alchemilla Research Articles

Essential oil composition of lady's mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora Rothm.) growing wild in Alpine pastures

The volatile fraction from the aerial part of Alchemilla xanthochlora Rothm. (Rosaceae) was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition of the obtained oil was determined by GC/FID and GC/MS. Several compounds were found, belonging to the classes of aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes, esters, acids and hydrocarbons. The major constituents were cis-3-hexenol (11.20 ± 0.02%), linalool (10.36 ± 0.75%), oct-1-en-3-ol (8.98 ±1.43%), and nonanal (7.83 ± 0.93%), followed by myrtenol (4.65 ± 0.40%), hexadecanoic acid (4.59 ± 0.79%), cis-3-hexenyl acetate (3.92 ± 0.15%) and α-terpineol (3.10 ± 0.26%).

Antioxidant Activity of Some Phanerogam Plant Extracts

Nine phanerogam plants (common lady's-mantle, bear's garlic, common sweet flag, agrimony, goldenrod, common speedwell, european mistletoe, horsetail and milfoil) were evaluated regarding their total flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity. The flavonoid contents ranged from 0.72 (goldenrod) to 0.25 mmol/g dry matter (horsetail). The contents of quercetin, rutin, kaempferol and myricetin were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. Quercetin content was found to be very low in goldenrod and mistletoe extracts (0.20 µmol/g dry matter in european mistletoe) and almost undetectable in the other seven extracts. The rutin content was much higher, ranging from 96.25 (goldenrod) to 0.49 µmol/g dry matter (common sweet flag). Except for horsetail, kaempferol was found in all other eight extracts, the biggest quantity (2.15 µmol/g dry matter) being in the goldenrod extract. Myricetin was only found in goldenrod and agrimony (0.35 and 0.08 µmol/ g dry matter respectively). Goldenrod and milfoil showed the highest values for the antioxidant activity, expressed as mol quercetin equivalent, in the DPPH · (1,1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method, namely 0.00542 and 0.00532. These results suggest them to be used as natural sources of antioxidants instead of synthetic ones.

546. Alchemilla Speciosa. Rosaceae

Summary. Alchemilla speciosa Buser, a Caucasian member of Subsection Calycanthum Rothm., Series Elatae Rothm. is described and illustrated.

Treatment of Aphthous Stomatitis with Topical Alchemilla vulgaris in Glycerine

Recurrent aphthous ulceration is the most common oral mucosal disease known. It presents as three types: minor (most prevalent), major and herpetiform. However, there are no well established effective and reliable treatments of this condition. Alchemilla vulgaris (Lady's Mantle) has traditionally been used in oral hygiene and was recently shown to accelerate wound healing when used in combination with glycerine. The objective of this study was to determine whether this combination is effective in the treatment of the most prevalent form of aphthous ulcers. An open-label study was conducted in 48 otherwise healthy male and female patients aged 4-44 years to determine the putative healing properties and tolerability of a standard 3% extract of A. vulgaris in glycerine (Aphtarine) on common minor oral ulcers. Patients with major or herpetiform ulcers were excluded from the study. Topical application three times daily of Aphtarine gel to minor mouth ulcers relieved discomfort and produced complete healing in the majority of patients (60.4%) within 2 days and in 75% within 3 days, compared with 10.4% and 33.3%, respectively, without treatment and 15% and 40%, respectively, with commonly available treatments. Most patients appreciated the product's ease of application, taste and texture. Aphtarine was well tolerated locally and most patients rated the product good to excellent overall. Aphtarine is a safe, well tolerated and highly effective promising new treatment for healing common mouth ulcers.

(339) Preemergence Weed Control in Container-grown Herbaceous Perennials

During the 2004 season, preemergence herbicide was applied to 12 container-grown herbaceous perennials and woody plants and evaluated for weed control, phytotoxicity, and effect on plant growth. The herbicide and rates were: pendimethalin (Pendulum 2G) 908 g (label rate), 1816 g, and 3632 g/acre a.i. Herbicides were applied to lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis), purple rock cress (Aubretia species), blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis), pink pussytoes (Antennaria dioica var. rosea), common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), redhot poker (Kniphofia uvaria), showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), blue flax (Linum perenne), catmint (Nepeta ×faassenii), and hen and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum). At 32 and 117 days after application, plants were evaluated for phytotoxicity. No phytotoxicity symptoms were apparent on any of the plants tested. Weed control was good in most cases with this herbicide but it did not control all weeds. Increasing the rates from 1× (label rate) did not significantly improve weed control.

First Report of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne ardenensis on Lady's Mantle in Norway

In August 2000, several small galls were observed on roots of lady's mantle (Alchemilla acutiloba Opiz) from an old grassland near Kristiansund in northern Norway. These plants, without clear above-ground symptoms, were infected with an unknown root-knot nematode. Soil and plant samples were collected in July 2001 at the previous year's location and sent for identification to the Plant Protection Service in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The smooth elongated galls included several males, swollen adult females with protruding small egg masses and hatching second-stage juveniles. Males and second-stage juveniles also were isolated from adhering soil. The root-knot nematode was identified as Meloidogyne ardenensis Santos (1). Identification was based on female, male, and second-stage juvenile morphology and female isozyme electrophoresis with malate dehydrogenase and esterase. M. ardenensis parasitizes several dicotyledonous hosts, primarily herbaceous and woody plants, and is distributed throughout Europe, with Scotland the most northern area (2). To our knowledge, this is not only the first published report of M. ardenensis in Scandinavia, but also the first report of this species on lady's mantle.

Micro-propagation of Alchemilla mollis

Alchemilla mollis (common name Lady's Mantle, family Rosaceae) is widespread throughout temperate Europe and Asia and in parts of North America. Due to the plants inability to withstand the Israeli hot summer, propagation through chilled corms or cutting is impossible. A method for large-scale propagation of Alchemilla mollis through meristem culture is described in this manuscript. Best conditions for propagation were using MS salt medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) sucrose 1 mg l−1 NAA, 3 mg l−1 BA and 0.1 mM FeNaEDTA under 16 h of cool fluorescent light. Hundreds of rooted plants were successfully acclimatized after propagating on this medium within a short time. The propagation via tissue culture did not affect plant's presentation but did not contribute to selecting heat tolerant plants.

Traditional plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice

The effects on glucose homeostasis of eleven plants used as traditional treatments for diabetes mellitus were evaluated in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Dried leaves of agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), blackberry (Rubus fructicosus), celandine (Chelidonium majus), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris), and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis); seeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativum); dried berries of juniper (Juniperus communis); bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum) and roots of liquorice (Glycyrhizza glabra) were studied. Each plant material was supplied in the diet (6.25% by weight) and some plants were additionally supplied as decoctions or infusions (1 g/400 ml) in place of drinking water to coincide with the traditional method of preparation. Food and fluid intake, body weight gain, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in normal mice were not altered by 12 days of treatment with any of the plants. After administration of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg i.p.) on day 12 the development of hyperphagia, polydipsia, body weight loss, hyperglycaemia and hypoinsulinaemia were not affected by blackberry, celandine, lady's mantle or lily of the valley. Garlic and liquorice reduced the hyperphagia and polydipsia but did not significantly alter the hyperglycaemia or hypoinsulinaemia. Treatment with agrimony, alfalfa, coriander, eucalyptus and juniper reduced the level of hyperglycaemia during the development of streptozotocin diabetes. This was associated with reduced polydipsia (except coriander) and a reduced rate of body weight loss (except agrimony). Alfalfa initially countered the hypoinsulinaemic effect of streptozotocin, but the other treatments did not affect the fall in plasma insulin. The results suggest that certain traditional plant treatments for diabetes, namely agrimony, alfalfa, coriander, eucalyptus and juniper, can retard the development of streptozotocin diabetes in mice.