Rhaponticum Carthamoides Research Articles

Freezing Resistance and Cryopreservation of Cell Strains of Rhaponticum carthamoides and Thalictrum minus

Effects of long-term (few months) culturing and short pregrowth (up to 7 days prior to deep freezing) in the presence of mannitol (5–6%), ABA (5.0–7.5 × 10–5 M), or both substances on cryogenic resistance of leusea (Rhaponticum carthamoides, strains Rhs-2 and Rhs-8) and meadow rue (Thalictrum minus L., strain B-233) cell suspension cultures were studied. Cryoprotective capacities of 48 solutions were studied at slow (0.33°C/min) freezing to the temperature of liquid nitrogen with an automatic initiation of crystallization. Cells were stored in liquid nitrogen for several days or months. ABA had a cryoprotective effect, provided that subculturing intervals were 12–14 days. At more frequent subculturing (every 7 days), pregrowth on ABA-containing medium did not increase survival percentage compared to pregrowth with mannitol. Successful cryopreservation of these strains has been achieved due to strict standardization of 7-day subculturing regime, pregrowth in the presence of mannitol prior to freezing, and cryopreservation with dimethyl sulfoxide, sucrose, trehalose, and glycerol. The cell survival rates after thawing were 60% (Rhs-8), 80% (Rhs-2), and 70% (B-233). The cell growth resumed on the third to seventh day. The growth indices and protoberberine synthesizing activity in B-233 strain reached their control values at the ninth subculturing after a post-thaw recovery.

Screening of some Siberian medicinal plants for antimicrobial activity

The antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic extracts of 16 Siberian medicinal plants was tested against five species of microorganisms: Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Of the 16 plants tested, 12 showed antimicrobial activity against one or more species of microorganisms. The most active antimicrobial plants were Bergenia crassifolia, Chelidonium majus, Rhaponticum carthamoides, Sanguisorba officinalis, and Tussilago farfara.

Effect of Extract from Rhaponticum carthamoides on RNA and Protein Biosynthesis in Mice

Effect of Extract from Rhaponticum carthamoides on RNA and Protein Biosynthesis in Mice

Rapisterone D, a phytoecdysteroid from Rhaponticum carthamoides

From Rhaponticum carthamoides seeds, a new phytoecdysteroid rapisterone D has been isolated and characterized. The structure of the new phytoecdysteroid has been proved using physical-chemical methods.

Influence of Rhaponticum carthamoides Wild on the growth of ruminal bacteria in vitro and on fermentation in an artificial rumen (Rusitec).

The fermentation of a basal diet composed of hay and barley (80:20%) was compared with fermentation of three rations in which 5 and 10% of hay and 10% of basal diet were replaced with the above-ground part of Rhaponticum carthamoides Wild in an artificial rumen (Rusitec). Results of 14 days experiments indicated that the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, detergent fibre, production of CO2 and methane, NH3-N in effluent and total and individual VFA (mmol/day) were not affected in the process of fermentation of experimental diets in comparison with the basal diet. Addition of Rhaponticum carthamoides did not modify the production, utilization and recovery of metabolic hydrogen, glucose utilization, ATP production, YATP and effectiveness of microbial biomass synthesis expressed in g of microbial N/kg of organic fermented biomass. Water extracts of Rhaponticum carthamoides had no influence on growth parameters of a mixed culture of rumen bacteria. Overall results of this experiment indicated that the above-ground part of Rhaponticum carthomoides fully replaced the 5 and 10% portions of hay or 10% portion of the whole diet.

Pharmacological investigations on Rhaponticum carthamoides.

The central neurotropic activity of an aqueous-alcoholic extract from Rhaponticum carthamoides (Willd.) (Leucea carthamoides D.C.) cultivated in Bulgaria was studied in experiments on albino mice, rats and cats. In doses up to 40 g/kg the extract was non-toxic. Administered in definite doses in mice and rats, it exerted a moderate central stimulating action: increased ambulation and rearing in rats (“open field” test); increased central nervous system excitability (“jumping” test); had a slight antinarcotic effect; improved learning and memory in rats trained in a maze; and increased the physical strength of rats subjected to exhaustive swimming. Administered intraduodenally in cats the extract exerted a hypotensive effect.