Mountain lovage represents the plant Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz or Meum mutellina (L.) Gaert, Apiaceae. It naturally grows in alpine areas, and is known as an antitumoral ethnobotanic remedy. Also, the roots are used in the production of a type of Schnapps in Bayern, Germany [1]. The present study consists of an analysis of some pharmacognostic parameters describing the aerial part of the plant, harvested from mountains in northern Serbia. Polyphenolic compounds were determined in the methanolic extract performing HPLC MS analysis. Microelements and heavy metals were quantified through the SAA technique [2,3]. The antimicrobial activity of an ethanolic extract was estimated and an evaluation of the antiproliferative potential was done by the phytobiologic test on Lepidium sativum. Effects on the angiogenic process were determined by performing the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay [4]. 6 polyphenolic structures were revealed in the nonhydrolyzed sample; rutoside was found in high concentration (79.23ug/ml). In the hydrolyzed sample 4 polypheolic compounds were evidenced with quercetin being the most concentrated compound (13.83ug/ml). The vegetal product is in conformity with the official quality parameters concerning the content of heavy metals. The ethanolic extract proved to be active on the selected bacterial cultures. The aqueous extracts in concentrations between 0,35% and 6% expressed an inhibitory effect of 70–89%. The CAM assay showed possible antiangiogenic activity, dependent on the concentration of the extractive solution. The results obtained indicate an antimicrobial and a possible antiproliferative effect of different extracts of Ligusticum mutellina (L.) Crantz.

Betulin is a pentacyclic triterpenic compound, found in important quantities in the bark of birch trees, widespread in northern latitude areas. It is known to possess multiple biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anticancer effects [1] and acting as an antimelanoma agent by binding to the melanocortin receptor subtype 1 (also expressed by endothelial cells) [2], which represented an indication to a possible angiogenic – modulator activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of betulin on tumor cell lines – A431 (skin epidemoid carcinoma), HeLa (cervix crcinoma), and MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma) – using the MTT assay, and on the angiogenesis process by performing the in ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay [3]. The formulation with cyclodextrin (Oktakis (2,6di-O-pentyl)-gamma cyclodextrin) was prepared applying a specific technique: dissolution with an organic solvent (chloroform) and polysorbate 20, stirring and evaporation under vacuum. Different dilutions of a 0,01mg/ml betulin stock solution showed on tumor cells antiproliferative properties. Inhibition rate ranged for A431 between 72–80%, for MCF7 between 35–55% and for HeLa between 75–82%. We applied nanoformulations of cyclodextrin complexed with betulin onto the rapid growing CAM. Histological and morphometric evaluation of treated specimens showed modifications both of the CAM epithelium, mesenchyme and of the capillaries, indicating an indirect inhibition of the angiogenic process. The in vitro and in vivo results suggest that betulin can represent a possible antitumor as well as an antimetastatic compound.

The vegetal products used in the pharmaceutical and food area from the wild rose (Rosa canina, L. Rosaceae) are the fruits and the seeds, Cynosbati fructus and Cynosbati semen. The fruits contain vitamins (C, B, PP, K), carotenoids, pectins, tannins, carbohydrates, while the seeds contain fats, oil and vitamin F [1,2]. The present study aims to analyze two types of 6% extractive solutions (hydroalchoolic maceration and hydro – infusion) of dried and 6 months – frozen wild rose fruits, by determining the content of: vitamin C (titrimetric analysis), total polyphenols (Folin Ciocâlteu method), total carotenoids (spectrophotometrically) as well as by establishing the antioxidant activity (DPPH method and ORAC method) [3,4]. The vegetal products were harvested in October 2009 from the hills in the Danube river area, Moldova Noua, Romania. Dried wild rose fruits showed the highest concentration of vitamin C (154.20mg/100g). The content of total polyphenols was similar for both dried and frozen samples. The antioxidant activity of the extractive solutions was not significantly influenced by the type of extraction or extractive solvent, but higher values were obtained in the case of frozen wild rose fruits (71,27 Eq Trolox/1ml comparing to the extractive solutions of dry fruits 41,03 Eq Trolox/1ml by ORAC method).