Filip R, Ferraro G E
Chair of Pharmacognosy, IQUIMEFA, (Institute of Drug Chemistry and Metabolism), UBA-CONICET-National Research Council, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Junín 956-1113, Argentina.
Eur J Nutr. 2003 Jan;42(1):50-4. doi: 10.1007/s00394-003-0399-1.
Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire (Aquifoliaceae) ("Mate" or "Yerba mate") is one of the most commercialized plants of South America which grows naturally in NE Argentina, Uruguay, SE Brazil and E Paraguay, where it is also cultivated. It is used to prepare a tea-like beverage (infusions or decoctions) appreciated for its peculiar flavor, stimulation and nutritional properties. Ilex brevicuspis Reisseck grows in the same habitat and is widely used as a substitute or adulterant of Ilex paraguariensis. In a previous work, methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine and theophylline) were not detected in it by HPLC.
This study was undertaken in order to isolate, identify and quantify the polyphenolic compounds (caffeoyl derivatives and flavonoids) and to investigate some of the pharmacological activities of I. brevicuspis, related with the traditional use of the "Mate" (choleretic, intestinal propulsion and antioxidant activities). Acute toxicity was also investigated.
Decoctions, like extracts, were prepared in order to compare the results with preparations commonly used by the local people. For the phytochemical analysis, the extracts were analyzed by HPLC with a diode array detector. Choleretic and intestinal propulsion activities were assayed in rats. Sodium dehydrocholate (DHC) was used as a choleretic reference standard. Antioxidant activity was tested in liposomes that were oxidized by the free radical generator 2,2'-azobis [amidinopropane] chloride (AAPH).
For the first time in I. brevicuspis the following compounds were isolated and quantified: A) caffeoyl derivative compounds (chlorogenic acid; caffeic acid; 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid; 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. B) flavonoids (rutin, quercetin and kaempferol). Biological activity assays demonstrated that I. brevicuspis extracts produced a significant increase of bile flow (BF) in rats in the first 30 min period and in the percentage of BF increase accumulated at 120 min. It also produced an increase in the intestinal propulsion activity. Moreover, this species showed a high antioxidant activity. The acute toxicity test showed that Ilex brevicuspis did not produce any sign of toxicity at the analyzed doses.
An Argentinean Ilex specie ( I. brevicuspis) has choleretic, intestinal propulsion, antioxidant activities and these results may lead to the potential development of a new "Yerba Mate" and/or phytopharmaceutical products, without central nervous system (CNS) stimulant activity.
巴拉圭冬青（冬青科）（“马黛茶”或“巴拉圭茶”）是南美洲商业化程度最高的植物之一，它自然生长于阿根廷东北部、乌拉圭、巴西南部和巴拉圭东部，在这些地方也有人工种植。它被用于制备一种类似茶的饮品（冲泡液或煎剂），因其独特的风味、提神作用和营养特性而受到喜爱。短尖冬青生长在相同的栖息地，被广泛用作巴拉圭冬青的替代品或掺假物。在之前的一项研究中，通过高效液相色谱法未在短尖冬青中检测到甲基黄嘌呤（咖啡因、可可碱和茶碱）。
本研究旨在分离、鉴定和定量多酚类化合物（咖啡酰衍生物和黄酮类化合物），并研究短尖冬青的一些与“马黛茶”传统用途相关的药理活性（利胆、肠道推进和抗氧化活性）。还对急性毒性进行了研究。
制备煎剂，如同提取物一样，以便将结果与当地人常用的制剂进行比较。对于植物化学分析，提取物通过配备二极管阵列检测器的高效液相色谱法进行分析。在大鼠身上测定利胆和肠道推进活性。脱氢胆酸钠（DHC）用作利胆参考标准。在由自由基发生器2,2'-偶氮二[脒基丙烷]氯化物（AAPH）氧化的脂质体中测试抗氧化活性。
首次在短尖冬青中分离并定量了以下化合物：A）咖啡酰衍生物化合物（绿原酸、咖啡酸、3,4-二咖啡酰奎尼酸、3,5-二咖啡酰奎尼酸和4,5-二咖啡酰奎尼酸）。B）黄酮类化合物（芦丁、槲皮素和山奈酚）。生物活性测定表明，短尖冬青提取物在最初30分钟内使大鼠胆汁流量（BF）显著增加，并且在120分钟时累积的BF增加百分比也显著增加。它还使肠道推进活性增加。此外，该物种表现出较高的抗氧化活性。急性毒性试验表明，在分析剂量下短尖冬青未产生任何毒性迹象。
一种阿根廷冬青物种（短尖冬青）具有利胆、肠道推进、抗氧化活性，这些结果可能会促使开发新的“马黛茶”和/或植物药产品成为可能，且无中枢神经系统（CNS）刺激活性。
