New phytochemical markers and pharmacological activity of dendrobium chrysotoxum flowers

Some Dendrobium species are known to be used in Chinese materia and have pharmacological properties. Mitochondria regulate the energetic level of human cells via their respiratory chain. Aging and senescent cells allow a decreased energetic synthesis network. The phytochemical analysis of Dendrobium chrysotoxum (orchidaceae) flower ethanol-water 70/30 extract reveals the presence of mono, oligo, polysaccharides, terpenoids, lipids and phenolic compounds. A focus on flavonoid fraction was made using HPLC/LC-MS/RMN and HPTLC-AMD (automated multiple development) method with a methanol/diisopropylether/heptan gradient, isocratic elution and revelation using Neu + Peg reagents and detection at 254 and 366nm. For the first time the presence of 4 different isorhamnetine3-O glycosides derivatives is described. A specifically designed human mitochondria PCR array centered on specific genes involved in energy synthesis was used on normal human skin cells cultures treated with Dendrobium chrysotoxum flavonoid extract. This identified extract at12.5µg/ml stimulates (X 2.55) the gene SLC25A7 which manages the importation of H+ ions in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Our study suggests that this Dendrobium flower extract can be used to restore or boost senescent cell respiratory chain function.