monografie uit cursusboek Herboristen Opleiding 'Dodonaeus'
Algemene en Botanische informatie
Familie: Violaceae
Naam: Pensée sauvage (Fr.), Stiefmütterchenkraut (D.), Wild Pansy (E.).
Etymologie: Vrij algemeen voorkomende inheemse plant in bermen, boskant, akkers
Andere species: V. tricolor ssp. vulgaris KOCH - Driekleurig viooltje, / V. tricolor ssp. arvensis MURRAY - Akkerviooltje, / V. odorata L. - Maarts viooltje,
Materia Medica, gebruikte delen van de plant
Violae tricoloris herba, De gehele bovengrondse, bloeiende plant van Viola tricolora L. ssp. vulgaris en ssp. arvensis.
Oogst: Tijdens de eerste bloei, anders te veel zaden en zaad.dozen.
Beschrijving: Karakteristiek zijn de blauwe, gele en witte bloemblaadjes tussen de lichtgroene sterk verschrompelde bladstukjes en platgedrukte, holle lichtbruin en gele stengelstukken. Verder vind je ook wat, meestal opengesprongen zaaddoos.jes (mag niet te veel zijn).
Smaak: slijmig en zoet.
Herkomst: Wordt gedeeltelijk nog in 't wild verzameld, verder geteeld in Frankrijk en Nederland.
Samenstelling
** Salicylzuurverbindingen 0,06-0,3 % (1)
** Slijmstoffen 10 %
* Looistoffen 2,5-5 %
** Flavonoïden (vlgs DAB min. 0,4 % als quercetine)
** Saponinen
* Carotinoïden (2)
* Cumarine.
* Radix bevat alkaloïde met emetische eigenschappen (V. Hellemont)
Farmacologie, algemene werking
** Depurativum vooral via de huid ook via de urine (chloriden) (4)
* Diaforeticum, diureticum en purgativum
Indicatie, medisch gebruik
Huid / Dermatologie
** Eczeemachtige huidaandoeningen
** Acné (ook uitwendig als lotion)
** Impetigo
* Pruritis (ook bejaarden)
* Urticaria
* Psoriasis
* Herpes
* Zona
** Zuigelingeczeem, melkkorstjes, kinderdermatosen
Reuma (salicylzuur)
* Pijn
Luchtwegen
* Rhinitis, hooikoorts (zie kruiden luchtwegen (weegbree)
Receptuur en Bereidingswijzen van Viola tricolor
Herba inf. 10', 1,5 g (= 1 koffielepel) tot 4 g per kopje / inf. 10', 25-60 g per 1 liter / Dosering: 3 x daags
Species / Kruidenmengsel: R./
Ononidis rad. 10
Violae tric. hb. 30
Sarsaparillae rad. 30 Ind.: eczeem.
Saponariae rad. 30 Ber.: dec. 10', 50 g/1 liter
Arctium rad. 50 Dos.: 1 liter ged. 3 dagen
Geschiedenis en Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Fuchsius: Bij huidaandoeningen.
Camérarius: Tegen syphillis.
Bauhinus C, Fuchsius: «Voor de stuipen der jonge kinderen».
Brunfelsus, Matthiolus: «Voor engborstigheid, koortsen en ontstekingen van 't Inge.wand».
Dodonaeus: «Voor Schurftigheid, wonden en zeeren».
Ravelingius: «Voor verouderde Pokken». (Gedistilleerd water om het zweten te bevorderen.)
Strack en Dillenius (1779): Viola werd tijdelijk vergeten tot Strack en Dillenius het met succes gebruikten tegen melkkorstjes, eczeem en impetigo (4 à 8 gr kruid een nacht laten trekken in 250cc
water, smorgens nuchter drinken verdund met melk)
Emmery: Adviseerde Viola tegen psoriasis.
Leclerc: Ervaringen bij jeugdpuistjes en dermatosen, vooral bij neuro-artritische diathese.
' j'ai signalé son utilité dans l' acné juvenile, on voit les papulo-pustules devenir le siège d'une vive inflammation a la suite de laquelle elles se vident de leur contenu et s'affaissent sans laisser de traces'
Décaux F.: Propriétés dermatologiques de V. tricolor. Revue phytoth. 10/24-26 - 1946.
Merck's: Action de V. tricolor dans l'acné. Report 74 - 1902.
Roques K.R.V.: Utilisation de V. tricolor en pédiatrie. (Croûte de lait des nourrissons). Med. Klin. 30/1016 - 1939.
Vollmer e.a.: Propriétés purgatives de V. tricolor. Naunyn - Schmied Arch. Expert. Path. Pharmakol. 186/592-605 - 1937.
Vele oude onderzoeken vragen om wetenschappelijke bevestiging
Referenties
Komorowski T. e.a.: Herba Pol. 29/5 - 1983.
Molnár P. e.a.: Phytochemistry 25/195 - 1986.
Hager: De werking bij huidaandoeningen werd bij onderzoek op ratten bevestigd. Band 6C, 484 - 1979.
Vollmer H. en Weidlich R.: Arch. exp. Pathol. Pharmacol. 186/574 - 1936.
Andere linken
http://annetanne.be/kruidenklets/uit-de-kruidenmand/kruiden-o-z/viola-sp-viooltjes/
Het driekleurig viooltje is een gemakkelijke groeier, het past zich aan bijna elke omgeving aan en kan zelfs tussen stoeptegels groeien. Meestal is het driekleurig viooltje te vinden op akkers, droge weilanden, op vuilstortplaatsen, aan de duinkust, aan de zonkant van bossen en langs wegen. Het plantje komt in heel Europa voor en kan gemakkelijk gekruist worden met verwante soorten waardoor veel verschillende “ondersoorten” ontstaan met een eigen bloemkleur en bladvorm. Viola tricolor arvensis (klein met gele bloemen) en Viola tricolor vulgaris (groter met violette bloemen) leveren beiden “herba violae tricoloris”. Het driekleurig viooltje is niet hetzelfde bloempje als het maartse viooltje (Viola odorata). Beide soorten worden ook verschillend gebruikt. Geneeskundigen passen al eeuwen lang Viola tricolor toe bij de behandeling van allerlei huidaandoeningen. Naar het exacte werkingsmechanisme en mogelijke indicaties is echter weinig wetenschappelijk onderzoek gedaan. Toch is de plant veelal een onmisbaar bestanddeel bij vele huidverzorgende producten en homeopathische geneesmiddelen. Van de bloemen maakte men vroeger een siroop tegen hoest, keelpijn en heesheid.
https://kruidwis.blogspot.com/2015/02/herbarium-viola-tricolor.html
In een moderne monografie lezen we: Heartsease, also referred to as wild pansy, is the forerunner of cultivated pansies. The flowers and leaves are edible. Heartsease has been used by herbalists for centuries in the treatment of respiratory complaints (such as asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough) and skin diseases (such as eczema and seborrhea). It has also been used for arthritis, rheumatism, and epilepsy, and for its purported anti-inflammatory, diuretic, mucus-thinning, laxative, soothing, and wound healing properties.
There is limited scientific evidence to confirm the many traditional uses of heartsease. Early research suggests that heartsease may have anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Extracts and constituents of Viola tricolor have shown antimicrobial activity in vitro. Proteins from Viola tricolor have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines in vitro.
Dosing adults (18 years and older)
An infusion of heartsease made from 1 to 4 grams dried heartsease has been used three times daily. One cup of heartsease tea (made with 1.5 grams of the above-ground parts steeped in 150 milliliters boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes and then strained) has been taken three times daily. Two to four milliliters full-strength heartsease tincture has been taken three times daily. A tea or poultice prepared with heartsease has been applied to the skin three times daily.
Heel ver terug in de geschiedenis was dit plantje een medicijn tegen liefdesverdriet of een gebroken hart. Maar het was ook een ingrediënt voor liefdesdranken! Eeuwenlang paste men het plantje toe als middel tegen huidontstekingen en “tegen korstjes en jeuk over het hele lichaam”. Homerus beschrijft in zijn boeken hoe de Atheners viooltjes namen “om kwaadheid te matigen”. Plinius adviseerde de mensen een slinger van viooltjes te dragen ter voorkoming van hoofdpijn en duizeligheid. Rond 1250 schreef Bartholomaeus Angelicus “de kleinheid van substantie wordt ruimschoots vergoed door de grootheid in smaak en verdienste”. Chinezen gebruiken een variant van de Viola tricolor: “Viola yedoensis”. Deze plant met de Chinese naam “zi hua di ding” wordt voornamelijk toegepast bij huidinfecties als steenpuisten, slangenbeten, lymfklierontstekingen en borstabcessen. Opmerkelijk is dat deze Chinese variant samen met andere planten enige tijd geleden succesvol bleek te werken bij de behandeling van ernstig eczeem bij kinderen in een Londens ziekenhuis.
WERKING
Werkzame bestanddelen:
Saponinen, flavonoïden, gaultherine (methylsalicylaat), looistoffen, slijmstoffen, etherische oliën
Werkingsmechanisme
Het werkingsmechanisme van de Viola tricolor is nog nauwelijks onderzocht, hoewel vele artsen en therapeuten de plant al tientallen jaren met goede resultaten toegepassen bij allerlei huidaandoeningen. Zo is de werkzaamheid van Viola tricolor onder andere aangetoond bij de behandeling van luieruitslag, zuigelingen eczeem, kinderdermatosen, droge eczemateuze uitslag, impetigo, acné, pruritus, psoriasis en ulcus cruris. Men bereidt producten uit de bovengrondse plantendelen, de bloemen bevatten een kleine hoeveelheid vitamine E. Auteurs beschrijven dat de saponinen en de flavonoïden de belangrijkste werkzame bestanddelen zijn. Deze werkzame bestanddelen hebben met name ontstekingsremmende, diuretische en slijmoplossende eigenschappen. Preparaten met Viola tricolor stimuleren de nierfunctie, daarnaast versterken zij de haarvaten.
De slijmstoffen werken als een milde laxans. Hoewel de belangrijkste indicatie huidaandoeningen is, zetten deskundigen plantenextracten als adjuvans ook in bij reuma, jicht en artritis vanwege de ontstekingsremmende eigenschappen en bij hoest, bronchitis en slijmvliesontstekingen vanwege de slijmvliesverzachtende, slijmvliesregenererende en slijmoplossende werking.
CONTRA-INDICATIES
Oraal gebruik tijdens de zwangerschap en lactatieperiode wordt ontraden. Uitwendige toepassing bij mogelijke overgevoeligheid voor één der bestanddelen (salicylzuur) dient men te vermijden.
BIJWERKINGEN
Hoge doses kunnen misselijkheid, braken en allergische huidreacties veroorzaken door het hoge saponinengehalte.
Anca Toiu 1, E Muntean, Ilioara Oniga, O Voştinaru, M Tămaş. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2009 Jan-Mar;113(1):264-7.
In this study we analyzed the chemical composition and we evaluated the diuretic activity of aerial parts of V. tricolor L.
Material and methods: For saponins and mucilages we have performed gravimetric methods, whereas for carotenoids, spectrophotometric determinations and HPLC analysis were performed. We studied the diuretic activity of tincture, using furosemide as the reference drug in male Wistar-Bratislava rats.
Results: We established the content in saponins (5.98%), mucilages (14.20%) and total carotenoids (18.46 mg/100 g). In fresh vegetal drug we have determined by HPLC 8 carotenoids: violaxanthin (352 microg/100 g), antheraxanthin (711 microg/100 g), lutein (1575 microg/100 g), zeaxanthin (1488 microg/100 g), alpha-cryptoxanthin (66 microg/100 g), beta-carotene 5,6-epoxide (133 microg/100 g), beta-carotene (1678 microg/100 g) and 9Z-beta-carotene (312 microg/100 g). We observed a moderate diuretic effect of tincture (diuretic index 1.103, saluretic index of Na+ 1.181, and saluretic index of K+ 1.365).
Conclusions: Violae tricoloris herba contains a high amount of saponins and mucilages and it can be recommended to complete the diuretic treatment.
Amanda Koike 1, João C M Barreira 2, Lillian Barros 3, Celestino Santos-Buelga 4, Anna L C H Villavicencio 5, Isabel C F R Ferreira 6. Food Chem. 2015 Jul 15;179:6-14. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.01.123. Epub 2015 Jan 31.
Edible flowers are used in food preparations, being also recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. Nevertheless, these species are highly perishable, and irradiation treatment might be applied to ensure food quality and increase their shelf life. Viola tricolor L. is a typical edible flower, with multiple applications and biological properties, mainly provided by the flavonoid content. In the present work, the phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using biochemical assays. Linear discriminant analyses (LDA) were performed in order to compare the results obtained with flowers submitted to different irradiation doses and technologies (cobalt-60 and electron-beam). In general, irradiated samples (mostly with 1 kGy) showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the significant differences observed in the LDA allow determination of which dose and/or technology is suitable to obtain flowers with higher antioxidant potential.
Mariana Piana 1, Mariane Arnoldi Silva, Gabriela Trevisan, Thiele Faccim de Brum, Cássia Regina Silva, Aline Augusti Boligon, Sara Marchesan Oliveira, Marina Zadra, Carin Hoffmeister, Mateus Fortes Rossato, Raquel Tonello, Luciane Varini Laporta, Robson Borba de Freitas, Bianca Vargas Belke, Roberta da Silva Jesus, Juliano Ferreira, Margareth Linde Athayde. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Nov 25;150(2):458-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.08.040. Epub 2013 Sep 3.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Viola tricolor, popularly known as heartsease has been empirically used in several skin disorders, including burns.
Aim of the study: The objective of this study was investigate the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effect of a gel containing extract of Viola tricolor flowers on thermal burn induced by UVB irradiation and to perform gel stability study.
Methods: The antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effect were evaluated by static and dynamic mechanical allodynia model, paw edema, and neutrophilic cell infiltration. Metabolites compounds were quantified by HPLC. The gel stability study was performed analyzing organoleptical aspects, besides pH, viscosity, and quantification of rutin by HPLC.
Results: In the results were evidenced changes in threshold in statical and dynamic mechanical allodynia (I(max)=100 ± 10% and 49 ± 10%, respectively), paw edema (I(max)=61 ± 6%), and myeloperoxidase activity (I(max)=89 ± 5%). Such effects may be attributed, in part, to rutin, salicylic and chlorogenic acids, and others compounds found in this species. No important changes were detected in the stability study, in all aspects analyzed in temperature below 25 °C.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that Viola tricolor gel has an antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effect in the ultraviolet-B-induced burn, since maintain the temperature below 25 °C.
Bisset NG and Wichtl M, editors. Violae herba cum flore. In: Herbal drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, 2nd ed. CRC Press 2001:646-9.
Bradley P. Heartsease - Violae tricoloris herba. In: British Herbal Compendium - A handbook of scientific information on widely used plant drugs, Volume 2. Bournemouth: British Herbal Medicine Association, 2006:207-10.
Carnat AP, Carnat A, Fraisse D, Lamaison JL, Heitz A, Wylde R, Teulade JC. Violarvensin, a new flavone di-C-glycoside from Viola arvensis. J Nat Prod 1998;61:272-4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np9701485
Claeson P, Göransson U, Johansson S, Luijendijk T, Bohlin L. Fractionation protocol for the isolation of polypeptides from plant biomass. J Nat Prod 1998;61:77-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np970342r
Fraisse D, Carnat A, Carnat AP, Texier O, Elias R, Balansard G, Lamaison JL. Principaux constituants des parties aériennes fleuries de pensée sauvage. Ann Pharm Fr 2001;59:119-24.
Franz G. Untersuchungen über die Schleimpolysaccharide von Tussilago farfara L., Symphytum officinale L., Borago officinalis L. und Viola tricolor L. Planta Med 1969;17:217-20. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1055/s-0028-1099849
Göransson U, Luijendijk T, Johansson S, Bohlin L, Claeson P. Seven novel macrocyclic polypeptides from Viola arvensis. J Nat Prod 1999;62: 283-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np9803878
Göransson U, Svangård E, Claeson P, Bohlin L. Novel strategies for isolation and characterization of cyclotides: the discovery of bioactive macrocyclic plant polypeptides in the Violaceae. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2004;5:317-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389203043379495
Hänsel R, Keller R, Rimpler R, Schneider G, editors. Viola. In: Hagers Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5th ed. Volume 4: Drogen P-Z. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York-London: Springer-Verlag 1994:1141-53. Hansmann P and Kleinig H. Violaxanthin esters from Viola tricolor flowers. Phytochemistry 1982;21:238-9. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/0031-9422(82)80058-7 Hellinger R, Koehbach J, Fedchuk H, Sauer B, Huber R, Gruber CW, Gründemann C. Immunosuppressive activity of an aqueous Viola tricolor herbal extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2014;151:299-306 http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.10.044 Izzo AA, Capasso R, Senatore F, Seccia S, Morrica P. Spasmolytic activity of medicinal plants used for the treatment of disorders involving smooth muscles. Phytother Res 1996;10(Suppl 1):S107-8. Komorowski T, Mosiniak T, Kryszczuk Z, Rosinski G. Phenolic acids in the Polish species Viola tricolor L. and Viola arvensis Murr. Herba Pol 1983;29:5-11, through Chem Abstr 1984;100:153820. Lindholm P, Göransson U, Johansson S, Claeson P, Gullbo J, Larsson R et al. Cyclotides: a novel type of cytoxic agents. Mol Cancer Ther 2002;1:365-9. Lindholm P, Gullbo J, Claeson P, Göransson U, Johansson S, Backlund A et al. Selective cytotoxicity evaluation in anticancer drug screening of fractionated plant extracts. J Biomol Screen 2002;7:333-40. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1177/108705710200700405 Molnar P and Szabolcs J. Occurrence of 15-cis-violaxanthin in Viola tricolor. Phytochemistry 1980;19:623-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ 0031-9422(80)87027-0 Molnar P, Szabolcs J, Radics L. Naturally occurring di-cis-violaxanthins from Viola tricolor: isolation and identification by 1 H NMR spectroscopy of four di-cis-isomers. Phytochemistry 1986;25:195-9. http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)94528-X Pápay V, Molnár B, Leprán I, Tóth L. Study of chemical substances of Viola tricolor L. Acta Pharm Hung 1987;57:153-8. Piana M., Silva MA, Trvisan G, de Brum TF, Silva CR, Bolignon AA, Oliveira SM, Zadra M et al. Antiinflammatory effects of Viola tricolor.gel in a model of sunburn in rats and the gel stability study. J Ethnopharmacol 2013;150:458-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2013.08.040 Piana M., Zadra M, de Brum TF, Bolignon AA, Gonçalves AFK, da Cruz RC, de Freitas RB, do Canto GS, Athayde ML. Analysis of rutine in the extract and gel of Viola tricolor. J Chromatogr Sci 2013;51:406-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chromsci/bms155 Rimkiene S, Ragazinskiene O, Savickiene N. The cumulation of wild pansy (Viola tricolor L.) accessions: the possibility of species preservation and usage in medicine. Medicina (Kaunus) 2003;39:411-6. Sadeghnia HR, Hesari TG, Mortazavian SM, Mousavi SH, TayaraniNajaran Z, Ghorbani A. Viola tricolor induces apoptosis in cancer cell and exhibits antiangiogenic activity in chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Biomed Res Int 2014;2014:625792. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1155/2014/625792 Saito N, Timberlake CF, Tucknott OG, Lewis IAS. FAB-MS of the anthocyanins violanin and platyconin. Phytochemistry 1983;22:1007-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(83)85043-2 Schilcher H und Dorsch W. Windeldermatitis. In: Phytotherapie in der Kinderheilkunde, Aufl.4. WVG mbh Stuttgart 2006:14. Schöpke T, Hasan Agha MI, Kraft R, Otto A, Hiller K. Hämolytisch aktive Komponenten aus Viola tricolor L. und Viola arvensis Murray. Sci Pharm 1993;61:145-53.
Svangård E, Göransson U, Hocaoglu Z, Gullbo J, Larsson R, Claeson P, Bohlin L. Cytotoxic cyclotides from Viola tricolor. J Nat Prod 2004;67:144-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np030101l Tamas M, Grecu L, Rosca M. Investigations on triterpene saponins in Viola tricolor L. Farmacia (Bucuresti) 1981;29:99-103. Toiu A, Muntean E, Oniga I, Voştinaru, Tămaş M. Pharmacognostic research on Viola tricolor L. (Violaceae). Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi 2009;113:264-7. Van Hellemont J. Viola tricolor L. In: Fytotherapeutisch compendium. Bohn Stafleu Van Loghum, Houten/Zaventem 1988:647-7. Vukics V, Kery A, Bonn GK, Guttman A.Major flavonoid components of heartsease (Viola tricolor L.) and their antioxidant activities. Anal Bioanal Chem 2008b;390:1917-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216- 008-1885-3
Vukics V, Toth BH, Ringer T, Ludanyi K, Kery A, Bonn GK, Guttman A. Quantitative and qualitiative investigation of the main flavonoids in heartsease (Viola tricolor L.). J Chromatogr Sci 2008a;46:97-101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chromsci/46.2.97 Wagner H, Rosprim L, Düll P. Die Flavon-C-glykoside von Viola tricolor L. Z Naturforsch 1972;27b:954-8. Wild Pansy (flowering aerial parts) - Violae herba cum flore. European Pharmacopoeia, Council of Europe. Witkowska-Banaszczak E, Bylka W, Matlawska I, Goslinska O, Muszynski Z. Antimicrobial activity of Viola tricolor herb. Fitoterapia 2005;76:458-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2005.03.005 Zabaznaya EI. Polysaccharides of Viola tricolor. Khim. Prir. Soedin 1985;(1):116 (Russian), translated into English as: Chem Nat Compd 1985;21:113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00574266
The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of a gel containing a dried ethanolic (70%) extract of V. tricolor flower (at 1%, 3% and 10%) was investigated in adult male Wistar rats with UVB-induced sunburn. The extract (3% in gel) prevented static (100%) and dynamic (49%) mechanical allodynia and paw oedema (61%). The induced increase in myeloperoxidase activity was inhibited (89%) by the gel (3%). The results were comparable to those obtained with a 1% silver sulfadiazine cream [Piana 2013]. A tincture of V. tricolor herb (1:10, ethanol 70%) orally administered to adult male rats (1 mL/100 g) showed a moderate diuretic effect (diuretic index: 1.103; saluretic index Na+: 1.181; saluretic index K+: 1.365) [Toiu 2009]. In old experiments wild pansy showed anti-inflammatory activity in animals [Papay 1987] and improvement of induced eczema in rats when the fresh herb was added to their diet for 2 months [Hänsel 1994].
Antimicrobial activity
An infusion, a decoction and an ethanolic extract from V. tricolor herb exhibited antimicrobial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans with MIC and MBC ranging from 0.15 to 5 mg/ml [Witkowska-Banaszczak 2005].
Cytotoxic activity
A 70% ethanolic extract of V. tricolor herb and its ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions were examined for cytotoxic potential on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, Neuro2a mouse neuroblastoma and normal murine fibroblast cells. The ethyl acetate fraction significantly inhibited cell proliferation in MCF-7 (about 50% ; p<0.001 at 200 µg/mL) and in Neuro2a cells (about 25% ; p<0.01 at 200 µg/mL). In contrast it was less toxic in normal cells at concentrations up to 400 µg/mL.
Further investigation showed induction of apoptosis by increased sub-G1 peak, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-3 level [Sadeghnia 2014]. An aqueous fraction of a dichloromethane : methanol (1:1) extract of V. tricolor inhibited proliferation of activated lymphocytes by reducing IL-2 cytokine secretion, as well as reducing production of IFN-g and TNF-a. IL-2 receptor expression and degranulation capacity remained unaffected.
Bioassay-guided purification led to 2 active fractions containing cyclotides [Hellinger 2014]. In initial cytotoxicity screening the polypeptide fraction of V. arvensis exhibited cytotoxic activity against human embryonic lung tumour cells and T cells. In further screening the fraction exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic activity against 10 human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 15-45 µg/ml [Lindholm 2002]. The isolated cyclotides varv A and varv F were tested against the same 10 cell lines and were also found to have cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values of 2.7-6.4 µM and 2.6-7.4 µM respectively. When varv A was subsequently tested in lymphocytic leukaemia cells from patients and in healthy lymphocytes it exhibited selective toxicity against the leukaemia cells (IC50 of 1.34 µM, compared to 12.13 µM in healthy lymphocytes) [Lindholm, Göransson 2002].
Correlation analysis showed that the activity profiles of the polypeptide fraction and the two isolated cyclotides differed significantly from those of antitumour drugs in clinical use, suggesting a new mechanism for cytotoxicity [Lindholm, Gullbo 2002; Lindholm, Göransson 2002]. The cyclotides vitri A, varv A and varv E (isolated from V. tricolor) exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic activity against human lymphoma and myeloma cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.6 and 1 µM respectively for vitri A, 6 and 3 µM respectively for varv A, and 4 µM in both cell lines for varv E, compared to 0.1 µM in both cell lines for doxorubicin [Svangard 2004].
Other activities
A 50%-methanolic extract from V. tricolor was tested for antispasmodic activity using isolated guinea-pig ileum. However, at concentrations ranging from 100 to 800 µg/ml the extract actually exhibited spasmogenic activity [Izzo 1996]. A 70% ethanolic extract of V. tricolor flower showed antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 16.0 µg/mL versus 16.6 µg/mL for ascorbic acid) [Piana 2013]. Flavonoid fractions from a methanolic extract and rutin demonstrated antioxidant activity in the Trolox (IC50 from 0.12 µg/mL to 17.9 µg/mL) and DPPH assays (IC50 from 4.0 µg/mL to 53.0 µg/mL) [Vukics 2008b]. An ethyl acetate fraction from a 70% ethanolic extract of V. tricolor herb significantly decreased the diameter of blood vessels on chicken chorioallantoic membrane (p<0.05 at 40 µg/egg), while the number of newly formed blood vessels was not suppressed [Sadeghnia 2014]. I
Wild Pansy (Flowering Aerial Parts)
Wild pansy consists of the dried flowering aerial parts of Viola arvensis Murray and/or Viola tricolor L. It contains not less than 1.5 per cent of flavonoids, expressed as violanthin (C27H30O14; Mr 578.5) (dried drug). The material complies with the monograph of the European Pharmacopoeia [Wild Pansy]. Fresh material may also be used provided that when dried it complies with the monograph of the European Pharmacopoeia.
CONSTITUENTS
The characteristic constituents include • Flavonoids (up to 2.9%), mainly rutin (up to 1%) and other flavonolO-glycosides together with flavone-C-glycosides, principally apigenin di-C-glycosides including violanthin (up to 0.8%), violarvensin (up to 0.7%) and vicenin-2, and the luteolin mono-C-glucosides isoorientin and orientin [Fraisse 2001, Carnat 1998, Wagner 1972, Glasl 1984, Hänsel 1994, Bradley 2006, Vukics 2008a]. The flowers also contain anthocyanins such as violanin [delphinidin 3-(6-p-coumaroyl-rhamnosylglucoside)-5- glucoside] [Saito 1983]. • Phenolic acids (up to 0.5%), mainly salicylic acid and its derivatives methyl salicylate and violutin (methyl salicylate arabinosylglucoside) [Fraisse 2001, Komorowski 1983, Hänsel 1994]. • Carotenoids of the xanthophyll type (up to 0.1%) in the yellow flowers, principally 9-cis-violaxanthin (ca. 50%) and all-trans violaxanthin (ca. 30%) together with other cis- and di-cis-violaxanthins. They are mainly present as di-esters, esterified with saturated C12-C18 fatty acids and/or b-hydroxy C12-C18 fatty acids [Molnar 1980 & 1986, Hansmann 1982]. • Polysaccharides, from ca. 10% [Franz 1969, Zabaznaya 1985] to ca. 25% [Fraisse 2001], consisting mainly of glucose, galactose and arabinose together with xylose and galacturonic acid. • Cyclotides (about 0.02%): these are macrocyclic peptides containing about 30 amino acids linked in a head-to-tail cyclic backbone constrained by 3 disulfide bonds. The proteins violapeptide I [Schöpke 1993, Göransson 2004] and varvs A-H [Claeson 1998, Göransson 1999] have been isolated from V. arvensis while vitri A, varv A and varv E have been isolated from V. tricolor [Svangard 2004].
Other constituents include tannins, ascorbic acid, tocopherol and minerals (mainly potassium salts) [Rimkiene 2003, Fraisse 2001, Hänsel 1994, Wichtl 2001]. Saponins were not detected in V. tricolor [Schöpke 1993] nor in V. arvensis [Schöpke 1993, Fraisse 2001], contrary to an earlier report of about 5% saponins in V. tricolor [Tamas 1981].
CLINICAL PARTICULARS
Therapeutic indications. Skin disorders such as eczema, seborrhoea, impetigo and acne, as well as cradlecap and nappy-rash of infants [Bradley 2006, Rimkiene 2003, Hänsel 1994, Wichtl 2001, Van Hellemont 1988, Schilcher 2006]. In these indications, the efficacy is plausible on the basis of human experience and long-standing use.