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Planta Med 2015; 81(12/13): 1154-1162
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545929
Natural Product Chemistry
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

HPLC-Based Activity Profiling for hERG Channel Inhibitors in the South African Medicinal Plant Galenia africana [*]

Kun Du   #
1   Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Maria De Mieri   #
2   Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
,
Priyanka Saxena
3   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Khanya V. Phungula
1   Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Anke Wilhelm
1   Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Madalina Marina Hrubaru
1   Department of Chemistry, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Elmarie van Rensburg
4   National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Pieter C. Zietsman
4   National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
5   Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Steffen Hering
3   Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
Jan H. van der Westhuizen
6   Directorate Research Development, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
,
Matthias Hamburger
2   Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 19 December 2014
revised 09 March 2015

accepted 14 March 2015

Publication Date:
29 April 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel is a voltage-activated K+ channel involved in cardiac action potential. Its inhibition can lead to QT prolongation, and eventually to potentially fatal arrhythmia. Therefore, it is considered a primary antitarget in safety pharmacology. To assess the risk of human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel inhibition by medicinal plants, 700 extracts from different parts of 142 medicinal plants collected in Southern Africa were screened on Xenopus laevis oocytes. A CH2Cl2 extract from the stems and leaves of Galenia africana (Aizoaceae) reduced the peak tail human ether-a-go-go-related gene current by 50.4 ± 5.5 % (n = 3) at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. By means of high-performance liquid chromatography-based activity profiling, nine flavonoids were identified in the active time windows. However, the human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel inhibition of isolated compounds was less pronounced than that of extract and active microfractions (human ether-a-go-go-related gene inhibition between 10.1 ± 5 and 14.1 ± 1.6 at 100 µM). The two major constituents, 7,8-methylenedioxyflavone (1) and 7,8-dimethoxyflavone (13), were quantified (4.3 % and 9.4 %, respectively, in the extract). Further human ether-a-go-go-related gene inhibition tests for compounds 1 and 13 at 300 µM showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory activity (33.2 ± 12.4 and 30.0 ± 7.4, respectively). In a detailed phytochemical profiling of the active extract, a total of 20 phenolic compounds, including six new natural products, were isolated and identified.

Key words

hERG channel inhibition - herbal extract - Galenia africana - Aizoaceae - HPLC-based activity profiling - flavonoids

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Adolf Nahrstedt on the occasion of his 75th birthday.


# These authors contributed equally to this work.


Supporting Information

 

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