Phytochemical investigation of the Mongolian medicinal plant Saussurea amara (L.) DC (Asteraceae)

In Mongolia, the genus Saussurea is represented by 42 different species [1]. Among them, some species such as S. amara (L.) DC, S. involucrata (TCSaul) Kar. & Kir. and S. salicifolia (L.) DC are frequently used as medicinal plants. In traditional Mongolian medicine the herbal parts of Saussurea species are considered to be useful to treat fever, infectious diseases, rheumatism, indigestion and haemorrhages [2, 3]. S. amara is added to medical preparations which are applied to treat hepato-biliary disorders. To determine the effect of this plant on liver functions, four different extracts (crude water – extract 1, ethyl acetate – extract 2, methanol – extract 3, water – extract 4) were investigated for their potential to stimulate bile secretion (choleresis). Extract 3 exerted a dose-dependent increase in bile flow (16%, 37%, 53%, 61%) in the applied isolated rat liver perfusion system in concentrations of 50mg/L, 100mg/L, 250mg/L and 500mg/L. Extracts 1 and 2 also showed a dose-dependent increase, but at the highest concentrations (1000mg/L and 100mg/L, respectively) a continuous decrease in bile flow could be observed. However, in order to trace the active, liver-affecting principles in S. amara the respective extracts were investigated phytochemically. We identified the flavonoids apigenin, luteolin, genkwanin, quercitrin and apigenin-7-O-glucoside besides the terpenoids taraxasterol, taraxasterol-acetate, cynaropicrin and desacylcynaropicrin.

Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Enebishiin Ganbold, Institute of Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for his participation in the expeditions and for the identification of the plant species. We are greatly thankful to Peter Wyskovsky, Centre for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University Vienna, for his technical assistance in the liver perfusion tests.

References: 1. Grubov, V.I. (1982), Key to the vascular plants of Mongolia. Leningrad. 2. Ligaa, U. (1996), Medicinal plants of Mongolia used in Mongolian traditional medicine. KCA Press Korea. 3. Khaidav, T., Altanchimeg, B., Varlamova T.S. (1985), Medicinal plants in Mongolian medicine, State Printing House, Ulaanbaatar.