Hedera helix (Hedera helix var. colchica, chang chun teng長春滕)

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hedera helix (Hedera helix var. colchica, chang chun
teng長春滕)

Hedera helix (Hedera helix var. colchica, chang chun teng長春滕)is a plant well-known
as ivy or English ivy, and a member of the Araliaceae family. [5]

In 1990, French researchers reported the antimutagenic activities of some saponins
extracted from Hedera helix. [1] In 2001, researchers further evaluated the
antimutagenic activities of a saponin compound - alphahederin extracted from Hedera
helix. These results demonstrated the antimutagenic activity of alphahederin withboth
desmutagenic and bioantimutagenic mechanisms. [3]

In 1997, Trute A, Gross J, Mutschler E, Nahrstedt A. from Wilhelms-Universität, Münster,
Germany, demonstrated the antispasmodic activities of dry extracts and some
saponins and phenolic compounds from Hedera helix in a test-tube study. [2] In 2003,
Hofmann D, Hecker M, and Völp A. from Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-
Universität, Germany, concluded ivy leaf extract preparations have somewhat effects
on the respiratory functions of children with chronic bronchial asthma, based from
three clinical trials. [4]

Researchers from Turkey prepared a crude saponin extract and a purified saponin
extract. They found the purified saponin extract is more potent on inflammation in rats.
[5, 7] They also found that hederasaponin-C, -E and -F, may exert their anti-
inflammatory effects by blocking bradykinin or other inflammation mediators. The latter
affect may occur via affecting prostaglandin pathways. Regarding the structure activity
relationship, it is likely that sugars at C3 position and Rha7-Glcl-6Glc moiety at C28
position are essential for the acute anti-inflammatory effect. [8]

These researchers further isolated alpha-hederin, hederasaponin-C, hederacolchiside-
E and hederacolchiside-F. They found these saponins showed 94, 86, 88 and 75%
inhibition on lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion. [6]

Reference:

[1] Elias R, De Méo M, Vidal-Ollivier E, Laget M, Balansard G, Dumenil G. Laboratoire de
Pharmacognosie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Marseille, France. Antimutagenic activity of
some saponins isolated from Calendula officinalis L., C. arvensis L. and Hedera helix L.
Mutagenesis. 1990 Jul;5(4):327-31. [2] Trute A, Gross J, Mutschler E, Nahrstedt A. In
vitro antispasmodic compounds of the dry extract obtained from Hedera helix. Planta
Med. 1997 Apr;63(2):125-9. [3] Villani P, Orsière T, Sari-Minodier I, Bouvenot G, Botta
A. Laboratoire de biogénotoxicologie In Marseille cedex 5 vitro study of the
antimutagenic activity of alphahederin Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2001 May-Jun;59(3):285-9.
[4] Hofmann D, Hecker M, Völp A.Efficacy of dry extract of ivy leaves in children with
bronchial asthma--a review of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine. 2003 Mar;10
(2-3):213-20. [5] Süleyman H, Mshvildadze V, Gepdiremen A, Elias R. Atatürk University,
Turkey, Acute and chronic antiinflammatory profile of the ivy plant, Hedera helix, in rats.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10(5):370-4. [6] Gülçin I, Mshvildadze V, Gepdiremen A, Elias R.
[igulcin@atauni.edu.tr ] Ataturk University Antioxidant activity of saponins isolated from
ivy: alpha-hederin, hederasaponin-C, hederacolchiside-E and hederacolchiside-F.
Planta Med. 2004 Jun;70(6):561-3. [7] Gepdiremen A, Mshvildadze V, Süleyman H, Elias
R. akcahan@atauni.edu.tr Atatürk University Acute and chronic antiinflammatory effects
of Hedera colchica in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Sep;94(1):191-5. [8] Gepdiremen A,
Mshvildadze V, Süleyman H, Elias R. Acute anti-inflammatory activity of four saponins
isolated from ivy: alpha-hederin, hederasaponin-C, hederacolchiside-E and
hederacolchiside-F in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. Phytomedicine. 2005 Jun;12
(6-7):440-4.

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