€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ANNALES DE DERMATOLOGIE ET DE VENEREOLOGIE***** Gral N Beani JC Bonnot D Mariotte AM Reymond JL Amblard P [Plasma levels of psoralens after celery ingestion] Etude des taux plasmatiques de psoralenes apres ingestion de celeri. In: Ann Dermatol Venereol (1993) 120(9):599-603 ISSN: 0151-9638 (Published in French) Psoralens are photosensitizing substances present in many vegetables, some of which are routinely consumed. These vegetables are responsible for contact phytophotodermatitis, but it was agreed that they did not produce photodermatitis when taken orally. Ljunggren has recently questioned this concept by reporting a case of phototoxic accident which occurred after ingestion of 450 grams of celery roots (Apium graveolens). In a study in healthy volunteers we looked for psoralens in blood and analyzed the cutaneous photosensitivity by the minimal phototoxic doses (MPD) method, after ingestion of celery in large amounts (500 grams and more). Plasma concentrations of psoralens were inexistant in all subjects and at all sampling times, and no phototoxic reaction was detected by MPD. Celery roots, therefore, do not seem to be photosensitizing, even after ingestion in large amounts, but they might increase the risk of phototoxicity in PUVA-therapy. The same applies to fennel and parsnip. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA***** Ko FN Huang TF Teng CM Vasodilatory action mechanisms of apigenin isolated from Apium graveolens in rat thoracic aorta. In: Biochim Biophys Acta (1991 Nov 14) 1115(1):69-74 ISSN: 0006-3002 The effect of apigenin, isolated from Apium graveolens, on the contraction of rat thoracic aorta was studied. Apigenin inhibited the contraction of aortic rings caused by cumulative concentra-tions of calcium (0.03-3 mM) in high potassium (60 mM) medium, with an IC50 of about 48 micro M. After pretreatment it also inhibited norepinephrine (NE, 3 microM)-induced phasic and tonic contraction in a concentration (35-140 microM)-dependent manner with an IC50 of 63 microM. At the plateau of NE-induced tonic contraction, addition of apigenin caused relaxation. This relaxing effect of apigenin was not antagonized by indomethacin (20 microM) or methylene blue (50 micro M), and still existed in endothelial denuded rat aorta or in the presence of nifedipine (2-100 micro M). Neither cAMP nor cGMP levels were changed by apigenin. Both the formation of inositol monophosphate caused by NE and the phasic contraction induced by caffeine in the Ca(2+) -free solution were unaffected by apigenin. 45Ca2+ influx caused by either NE or K+ was inhibited by apigenin concentration-dependently. It is concluded that apigenin relaxes rat thoracic aorta mainly by suppressing the Ca2+ influx through both voltage- and receptor-operated calcium channels. Registry Numbers: 51-41-2 (Norepinephrine) 58-08-2 (Caffeine) 60-92-4 (Cyclic AMP) 7440-09-7 (Potassium) 7440-70-2 (Calcium) 7665-99-8 (Cyclic GMP) 8002-66-2 (chamomile) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY***** Breiteneder H Hoffmann-Sommergruber K O'Riordain G Susani M Ahorn H Ebner C Kraft D Scheiner O Molecular characterization of Api g 1, the major allergen of celery (Apium graveolens), and its immunological and structural relationships to a group of 17-kDa tree pollen allergens. In: Eur J Biochem (1995 Oct 15) 233(2):484-9 ISSN: 0014-2956 Individuals suffering from immediate hypersensitivity (type-I allergy) to a particular pollen frequently display intolerance to several foods of plant origin. In this respect, individuals sensitized to birch pollen and/or mugwort pollen frequently display type-I allergic symptoms after ingestion of celery. In this study, we expressed the major allergenic protein of celery, Api g 1, which is responsible for the birch-celery syndrome, in the form of a non- fusion protein. The open reading frame of the cDNA of Api g 1 codes for a protein of 153 amino acids with a molecular mass of 16.2 kDa and 40% identity (60% similarity) to the major allergen of birch pollen, Bet v 1. Furthermore, Api g 1 exhibited similar characteristics to (a) two proteins in parsley induced by fungal infection, (b) the major tree pollen allergens and (c) pathogenesis- related and stress-induced proteins in other plant species. The reactivity of recombinant Api g 1 with IgE antibodies present in sera from celery intolerant patients was comparable to that of the natural celery allergen. Cross-reactivity with Bet v 1 was proven by cross- inhibition experiments, which provides further support for the existence of the birch-celery syndrome and for the suggestion that allergies to some vegetable foods are epiphenomena to allergies caused by inhalation of tree pollen. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY***** Singh A Handa SS Hepatoprotective activity of Apium graveolens and Hygrophila auriculata against paracetamol and thioacetamide intoxication in rats. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1995 Dec 15) 49(3):119-26 ISSN: 0378-8741 Seeds of Apium graveolens L. (Apiaceae) and Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum.) Heine (Syn. Astercantha auriculata Nees, Acanthaceae) are used in Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of liver ailments. The antihepatotoxic effect of methanolic extracts of the seeds of these two plants was studied on rat liver damage induced by a single dose of paracetamol (3 g/kg p.o.) or thioacetamide (100 mg/kg, s.c.) by monitoring several liver function tests, viz. serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase and bilirubin in serum. Furthermore, hepatic tissues were processed for assay of triglycerides and histopathological alterations simultaneously. A significant hepatoprotective activity of the methanolic extract of the seeds of both the plants was reported. Registry Numbers: 103-90-2 (Acetaminophen) 62-55-5 (Thioacetamide) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ Al-Hindawi MK Al-Deen IH Nabi MH Ismail MA Anti-inflammatory activity of some Iraqi plants using intact rats. In: J Ethnopharmacol (1989 Sep) 26(2):163-8 ISSN: 0378-8741 Five plants (Myrtus communis, Apium graveolens, Matricaria chamomilla, Withania somnifera and Achillea santolina) grown in Iraq were assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity on intact rats by measuring the suppression of carrageenan-induced paw edema produced by 1/10 of the intraperitoneal LD50 doses for the respective 80% ethanol extracts. Acetylsalicylic acid was used as the standard drug. Results showed that the plants possessed varying degrees of anti- inflammatory activity and were classified in the following descending order of activity: W. somnifera greater than A. graveolens greater than A. santolina greater than M. chamomilla greater than M. communis. Registry Numbers: 9000-07-1 (Carrageenan) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****NUTRITION AND CANCER***** Zheng GQ Kenney PM Zhang J Lam LK Chemoprevention of benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach cancer in mice by natural phthalides from celery seed oil. In: Nutr Cancer (1993) 19(1):77-86 ISSN: 0163-5581 Bioassay-directed fractionation of celery seed oil from the plant Apium graveolens (Umbelliferae) led to the isolation of five natural products, including d-limonene, p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol, p-mentha-8(9)- en-1,2-diol, 3-n-butyl phthalide, and sedanolide. Of these compounds p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol,3-n-butyl phthalide, and sedanolide exhibited high activities to induce the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S- transferase (GST) in the target tissues of female A/J mice. 3-n-Butyl phthalide and sedanolide (20 mg/dose every two days for a total of 3 doses) increased GST activity 4.5-5.9 and 3.2-5.2 times over the controls in the mouse liver and small intestinal mucosa, respectively. At the same dose, p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol induced GST activity about 3.7-fold above that of the controls. Thus, these compounds were further tested for their ability to inhibit benzo[a]pyrene- (BP) induced tumorigenesis in mice. After treatment with 3-n-butyl phthalide and sedanolide, the tumor incidence was reduced from 68% to 30% and 11%, respectively. About 67% and 83% reduction in tumor multiplicity was also observed with 3-n-butyl phthalide and sedanolide. p-Mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol produced only a small or no significant reduction of forestomach tumor formation. The data indicating that 3-n-butyl phthalide and sedanolide were both active in tumor inhibition and GST assays suggested a correlation between the inhibitory activity and the GST-inducing ability. The phthalides are known to determine the characteristic odor of celery. The results suggest that phthalides, as a class of bioactive natural products occurring in edible umbelliferous plants, may be effective chemopreventive agents. Registry Numbers: EC 2.5.1.18 (Glutathione Transferases) 50-32-8 (Benzo(a)pyrene) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHARMACEUTISCH WEEKBLAD. SCIENTIFIC EDITION***** Saleh MM Zwaving JH Malingre TM Bos R The essential oil of Apium graveolens var. secalinum and its cercaricidal activity. In: Pharm Weekbl [Sci] (1985 Dec 13) 7(6):277-9 ISSN: 0167-6555 The composition of the essential oil of the fresh aerial parts of Apium graveolens var. secalinum at its flowering stage, obtained from three different locations in Egypt, was investigated. The identification of the components of this oil was carried out by means of analytical GC and GC-MS. The main components in the oil are: alpha- and beta-pinene, myrcene, limonene, cis-beta-ocimene, gamma- terpinene, cis-allo-ocimene, trans-farnesene, humulene, apiol, beta- selinene, senkyunolide and neocnidilide. Data concerning the relative concentrations of the main components of the different celery oil samples are given. The cercaricidal effect of the essential oil has been examined on cercariae, being one of the stages in the life cycles of Schistosoma mansoni, which causes schistosomiasis. The essential oil showed in addition to a cercaricidal effect also a chemotactic effect. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PLANTA MEDICA***** Tsi D Das NP Tan BK Effects of aqueous celery (Apium graveolens) extract on lipid parameters of rats fed a high fat diet. In: Planta Med (1995 Feb) 61(1):18-21 ISSN: 0032-0943 The antihyperlipidemic property of aqueous celery extract was studied in rats. Two groups of Wistar rats were fed a high fat diet for eight weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. One group was supplemented with aqueous celery extract in the diet while the other group served as control. At the end of the experiment, a significant reduction was found in the serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations in the celery-treated rats. However, the concentration of hepatic TG was significantly higher in the celery-treated group than in the control group. Hepatic triacylglycerol lipase (HL) activity was found to be significantly lower in the celery-treated rats while the reverse was observed for the hepatic microsomal P450 content. Analysis of an ethereal extract of the aqueous extract of celery by thin layer chromatography (TLC) with two different solvent systems showed that the extract did not contain 3-n-butylphthalide (BuPh), a unique compound in celery that has previously been reported to have lipid- lowering action. Our study indicates that other active principle(s) could be responsible for the observed effects of aqueous celery extract on serum and hepatic lipid levels. Registry Numbers: EC 3.1.1.34 (Lipoprotein Lipase) 57-88-5 (Cholesterol) 9035-51-2 (Cytochrome P-450) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€