Background The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus and the human disease caused by this virus has been described in the Americas in 2015. ZIKV has been identified as an etiological agent of acute ...exanthematous disease in Brazil. In the same year, an epidemic of microcephaly with images suggestive of congenital infection raised the suspicion of a relationship between these alterations and ZIKV infection. Epidemiological and histopathological studies point to a strong relationship between prenatal Zika virus infection and microcephaly. Newborns with microcephaly, may also present auditory and visual changes, seizures and severe neurodevelopmental impairment. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus (ZIKV) infection a public health emergency of international concern. Aims Clinical observation in the ambulatory school of ABRAH (Brazilian Association of Recycling and Homeopathy Assistance) of patients with encephalopathy of various origins, using the medicine Helleborus niger as equalizer of the NS (Nervous System), as described in the Complex Systems of Carillo, shows improvement in motor, cognitive and seizure disorders. Based on this observation, we propose to use this method in patients with ZIKV congenital infection. Methodology To evaluate 15 patients in follow-up at the AFR (Fluminense Rehabilitation Association), through homeopathic anamnesis, clinical, diathesic, biotypological and temperamental classification. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) will be used. All patients will receive Helleborus niger 6 Ch daily for 6 months. Results and discussion This study was forwarded to the research ethics committee and will begin in July 2019.
Will be evaluated the use of Helleborus niger in patients with congenital infection by ZIKV, as equalizer of NS. The expected result is overall neurological improvement. Conclusion Helleborus niger, probably stimulating self-regulation through uninjured neurological pathways, will promote autopoiesis and construction of new programs of action, and will enable the improvement of patients with congenital ZIKV infection.
Species of the genus Helleborus are used in ornamental horticulture as garden plants, potted plants for outdoor use, as species for interior decoration, and are increasingly sought after as a cut ...flower species for winter. The aim of this paper is to describe the basic morphological characteristics and growing conditions of Helleborus species and to provide an overview of the range of species and cultivars of late autumn and winter flowering. A review of the literature revealed that Helleborus niger L., Christmas Rose, is becoming an increasingly sought-after ornamental plant on the market, followed by hybrids between H. orientalis and other species of this genus (H. × hybridus). Although poorly represented in ornamental horticulture, other species (H. viridis, H. foetidus, H. purpurascens, H. tibethanus, H. vesicarius and H. multifidus) and an increasing number of cultivars are also used. Helleborus niger L. is the best known species for flowering at the beginning of winter, especially at Christmas time, and interspecific hybrids are also becoming more and more commercialized. Of particular importance are the crosses between the species H. niger L., H. argutifolius Viv. and H. lividus Aiton. Propagation is possible by seed, division and tissue culture. It is grown in pots 12-14 cm in diameter in which it is planted from 50th to 18th weeks. It needs a substrate pH of 5.8 to 6.0, does not tolerate high levels of salt in the soil, and for sale in early winter is grown in green houses from mid-October. It is sensitive to high humidity, which with high temperatures potentiates the appearance of diseases (Fusarium, Pythium and Phytophtora).
Glacial refugia of alpine and subnival biota have been intensively studied in the European Alps but the fate of forests and their understory species in that area remains largely unclear. In order to ...fill this gap, we aimed at disentangling the spatiotemporal diversification of disjunctly distributed black hellebore
Helleborus niger
(Ranunculaceae). We applied a set of phylogeographic analyses based on restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) data and plastid DNA sequences to a range-wide sampling of populations. These analyses were supplemented with species distribution models generated for the present and the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). We used exploratory analyses to delimit genomically coherent groups and then employed demographic modeling to reconstruct the history of these groups. We uncovered a deep split between two major genetic groups with western and eastern distribution within the Southern Limestone Alps, likely reflecting divergent evolution since the mid-Pleistocene in two glacial refugia situated along the unglaciated southern margin of the Alps. Long-term presence in the Southern Limestone Alps is also supported by high numbers of private alleles, elevated levels of nucleotide diversity and the species’ modeled distribution at the LGM. The deep genetic divergence, however, is not reflected in leaf shape variation, suggesting that the morphological discrimination of genetically divergent entities within
H. niger
is questionable. At a shallower level, populations from the Northern Limestone Alps are differentiated from those in the Southern Limestone Alps in both RADseq and plastid DNA data sets, reflecting the North-South disjunction within the Eastern Alps. The underlying split was dated to ca. 0.1 mya, which is well before the LGM. In the same line, explicit tests of demographic models consistently rejected the hypothesis that the partial distribution area in the Northern Limestone Alps is the result of postglacial colonization. Taken together, our results strongly support that forest understory species such as
H. niger
have survived the LGM in refugia situated along the southern, but also along the northern or northeastern periphery of the Alps. Being a slow migrator, the species has likely survived repeated glacial-interglacial circles in distributional stasis while the composition of the tree canopy changed in the meanwhile.
The medicinal plant Helleborus niger L. (Ranunculaceae) found in the European Alps has been valued as an effective remedy for numerous diseases for centuries. Recent preclinical evaluations showed ...pharmacologic potential of the plant extract for cancer treatment. Furthermore, several compounds extracted from H niger exhibited potent pharmacological effects. Thus, the renaissance of this old and proven medicinal herb requires better knowledge of its bioactive ingredients. A key ingredient of H niger is protoanemonin which is responsible for its burning hot taste and vesicant effect. Protoanemonin possesses antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and antimutagenic activity, and its isolation, synthesis, and preparation as a therapeutically valuable medicinal product are well elaborated. Anemonin, the dimer of protoanemonin, has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antimalarial activity, whereas (−)-ranunculin, a protoanemonin glycoside, possesses cytotoxicity and antimutagenic activity. (+)-Ranuncoside, another protoanemonin glycoside, has a spiro acetal molecular scaffold, a feature that is responsible for the biological activity of a multitude of natural products. Furthermore, the flavonoids kaempferol glycoside, quercetin glycoside, and glucosyl-phenyllactic acid have been isolated, and other phenolics with complex structures were detected as well. The main active ingredient of H niger rhizomes is the bufadienolide hellebrin. It is a steroidal cardiac diglycoside with utility for heart failure treatment. Hellebrin and its aglycon hellebrigenin are patented as lead compounds to treat cancer. Recently, additional bufadienolides as well as ecdysteroids were isolated from H niger whole plants and showed potent cytotoxicity on human cancer cell lines. Finally, various saponins have been determined by mass spectrometry, of which 4 compounds isolated from the rhizome are awaiting pharmacological assessment. This review gives an overview of the current knowledge of the isolation, synthesis, structure elucidation, derivatization, and biological activities of known H niger constituents. Furthermore, recent advances concerning the development of pharmaceuticals from these constituents and their derivatives are described.
Vrste roda Helleborus se u ukrasnoj hortikulturi koriste kao vrtne biljke, lončanice za primjenu u vanjskom prostoru, kao vrste za uređenje interijera, a sve se više traže kao cvjetna vrsta za rez ...tijekom zime. Cilj ovog rada je opisati osnovne morfološke značajke i uvjete uzgoja vrsta roda Helleborus te dati pregled asortimana vrsta i kultivara kasnojesenske i zimske cvatnje. Pregledom literature utvrđeno je da Helleborus niger L., crni kukurijek, na tržištu postaje sve traženija ukrasna biljka, a prate ga i križanci između vrste H. orientalis i drugih vrsta ovoga roda (H. × hybridus). Iako tržišno slabo zastupljene u ukrasnoj hortikulturi se primjenjuju i druge vrste (H. viridis, H. foetidus, H. purpurascens, H. tibethanus, H. vesicarius te H. multifidus) te sve veći broj kultivara. Za cvatnju početkom zime, posebno u vrijeme Božića, najpoznatija je vrsta Helleborus niger L., a sve se više komercijaliziraju i međuvrsni križanci. Pri tome osobit značaj imaju križanci između vrsta H. niger, H. argutifolius Viv. i H. lividus Aiton. Razmnožavanje je moguće sjemenom, dijeljenjem te kulturom tkiva. Uzgaja se u uzgojnim posudama 12- 14 cm promjera u koje se sadi od 50. do 18. tjedna. Potreban mu je supstrat pH od 5,8 do 6,0, ne podnosi visoku razinu soli u tlu, a za prodaju početkom zime uzgaja se u zaštićenim prostorima od sredine listopada. Osjetljiv je na visoku vlagu, koja uz visoke temperature potencira pojavu bolesti (Fusarium, Pythium i Phytophtora).
Species of the genus Helleborus are used in ornamental horticulture as garden plants, potted plants for outdoor use, as species for interior decoration, and are increasingly sought after as a cut flower species for winter. The aim of this paper is to describe the basic morphological characteristics and growing conditions of Helleborus species and to provide an overview of the range of species and cultivars of late autumn and winter flowering. A review of the literature revealed that Helleborus niger L., Christmas Rose, is becoming an increasingly sought-after ornamental plant on the market, followed by hybrids between H. orientalis and other species of this genus (H. × hybridus). Although poorly represented in ornamental horticulture, other species (H. viridis, H. foetidus, H. purpurascens, H. tibethanus, H. vesicarius and H. multifidus) and an increasing number of cultivars are also used. Helleborus niger L. is the best known species for flowering at the beginning of winter, especially at Christmas time, and interspecific hybrids are also becoming more and more commercialized. Of particular importance are the crosses between the species H. niger L., H. argutifolius Viv. and H. lividus Aiton. Propagation is possible by seed, division and tissue culture. It is grown in pots 12-14 cm in diameter in which it is planted from 50th to 18th weeks. It needs a substrate pH of 5.8 to 6.0, does not tolerate high levels of salt in the soil, and for sale in early winter is grown in green houses from mid-October. It is sensitive to high humidity, which with high temperatures potentiates the appearance of diseases (Fusarium, Pythium and Phytophtora).
Floral nectar is mainly a reward in the form of food for pollinators. In early spring, when snow can still be present, pollinators have trouble finding food. The composition and productivity of ...nectar in flowers play an important role in a pollinator’s life. It is known that low temperatures and lower humidity cause lower nectar secretion. Some studies have also shown that the quality of nectar can differ because of lower temperatures. In our research, we analysed whether abiotic factors affect nectar secretion, as well as the nectar composition of the early spring plant species Galanthus nivalis L. and Helleborus niger L. in February 2024. The study was conducted in two locations in nature. Nectar from H. niger was sampled in Tomišelj, Slovenia, whereas nectar from G. nivalis was sampled in Ljubljana, Slovenia. On four different days at three different times of day, we sampled nectar from flowers using microcapillaries. In total, we sampled 48 nectar samples from one species. We analysed soil humidity and temperature, air temperature and humidity, and UVB radiation. Our results show that nectar productivity is highest in the morning for both species. H. niger has sucrose-dominant nectar, while G. nivalis has hexose-dominant nectar. Proline, which is an important amino acid for bees, has the highest level in both species, as does the phenolic compound rutin. Environmental factors do affect nectar secretion. Soil and air temperature affect G. nivalis nectar secretion, while soil humidity affects H. niger nectar secretion. Soil and air temperature also have an effect on higher levels of sugars in both researched nectars. UVB, air humidity, and air and soil temperature seem to have an effect on phenolic compounds, but abiotic factors do not affect amino acids.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer with a dismal prognosis. Viscum album extracts (VAE) have strong immune stimulatory properties, cytotoxic effects, can downregulate cancer genes ...and inhibit angiogenesis. VAE are often used as an adjunct treatment in cancer patients but have rarely been investigated in MPM. Helleborus niger extracts (HNE) have been used in anticancer therapy since antiquity, and also show tumor specific cytotoxic effects. We present a case of a 64-year old woman with epithelioid MPM of the right chest with node involvement (T2N1M0, stage III). Deciding against the recommended radio-chemotherapy, surgery and pleurodesis, she opted for an integrative treatment approach and was treated with VAE and HNE. After 6 weeks' treatment, the pleural and nodal MPM manifestations were reduced by about 15%. Subsequent tumor growth was slow, and the patient remained in good health, enabling her to remain physically active until shortly before her death 56 months after the initial diagnosis. This is a rare case of an MPM patient not receiving any standard anticancer treatment; it still shows an extraordinary long survival and good performance status. We presume that VAE and HNE might had an impact on this clinically relevant outcome and therefore should be further investigated in MPM.
A new bufadienolide (
1
), two new bufadienolide glycosides (
2
and
3
), a new ecdysteroid (
4
), and four known compounds (
5
–
8
), were isolated from the whole plants of
Helleborus niger
L. ...(Ranunculaceae). The structures of the new compounds (
1
–
4
) were determined by spectroscopic analysis, including 2D NMR spectral data, and hydrolytic studies. Compounds
1
–
6
showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 human leukemia cells, A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells, and SBC-3 human small-cell lung cancer cells, with IC
50
values ranging from 0.0055 to 1.9 µM. HL-60 cells treated with either
3
or
4
showed apoptosis characteristics, such as nuclear chromatin condensation, accumulation of sub-G
1
cells, and activation of caspase-3/7.
Gibberellins (GAs) were identified and quantified during flower and fruit development in the Christmas rose (
Helleborus niger
L.), a native of southeastern Europe with a long international ...horticultural tradition. Physiologically, the plant differs from popular model species in two major respects: (1) following anthesis, the initially white or rose perianth (formed in this species by the sepals) turns green and persists until fruit ripening, and (2) the seed is shed with an immature embryo, a miniature endosperm, and a prominent perisperm as the main storage tissue. GA
1
and GA
4
were identified by full-scan mass spectra as the major bioactive GAs in sepals and fruit. LC-MS/MS system in accord with previously verified protocols also afforded analytical data on 12 precursors and metabolites of GAs. In the fruit, GA
4
peaked during rapid pericarp growth and embryo development and GA
1
peaked during the subsequent period of rapid nutrient accumulation in the seeds and continued pericarp enlargement. In the sepals, the flux through the GA biosynthetic pathway was highest prior to the light green stage when the photosynthetic system was induced. Unfertilized, depistillated, and deseeded flowers became less green than the seed-bearing controls; chlorophyll accumulation could be restored by applying GA
1
, GA
4
, and, less efficiently, GA
3
to the deseeded fruit. The sepals of unfertilized and depistillated flowers indeed contained very low levels of GA
4
and gradually decreasing levels of GA
1
. However, the concentrations of their precursors and metabolites were less affected. These data suggest that a signal(s) from the fruit stimulates GA biosynthesis in the sepals resulting in greening. The fruit-derived GAs appear to be mainly involved in pericarp growth and seed development.
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