Adonis vernalis, known as the Bird’s eye, Pheasant’s eye or False Hellebore, is a perennial, dry grassland plant species distributed in the Eurasian region along a 4698-km longitudinal transect from Russia to Spain.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It is listed in the German Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia (Shikov et al., 2014). Historically, it was used to treat edema by local people of the former Soviet Union. Extracts of the plant were first introduced into medicine as a cardiac stimulant in 1879 by the Russian medical doctor, N. O. Buhnow.
In 1898, a mixture of this medicine with sodium bromide (or potassium bromide) or codeine was suggested to treat light forms of epilepsy and heart diseases (Bekhterev, 1898; Shikov et al., 2014). Over the intervening years, an ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of A. vernalis was prepared as an alternative cardiac agent in the former Soviet Union. The biological activity of this extract was defined as 50–66 frog units or 6.3–8.0 cat units (Chiang and Mi, 1958; Wagler, 2001). Now, in Russia, the aerial part as a cardiotonic, was applied in the clinics for internal use at the dose of 1 tablespoon of the infusion (7:200) 3–5 times per day (Sokolov et al., 2000; Shikov et al., 2014).
One thousand years ago, plants belonging to the Adonis genus in China (Chinese name: Binglianghua or Fushoucao) were recorded in the ancient book “Gui Hai Yu Heng Zhi” written by Fan Chengda, a notable historical figure from the Song dynasty. The well-known classical book of Chinese materia medica, “Ben Cao Gang Mu,” also noted the effect (Keshan Research Group of Jilin Medical University, First Clinical College, Second Clinical College, Third Clinical College of Jilin Medical University, 1977), and raw materials have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of heart diseases and edema (Bae, 2000). During the 1950s, due to the shortage of cardiac agents, Adonis sp. distributed throughout China were widely studied and developed. These efforts resulted in the isolation and further study of the cardenolide-enriched extracts of A. amurensis. After comprehensive pharmacological tests, the extracts were prepared and developed in a new preparation that was used to clinically treat human heart failure (Coronary Disease Control Group of Liaoning TCM College’s Hospital, 1971). In 1975, the raw material of this plant was listed in the Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic of China (Committee for the Pharmacopoeia of P. R. China, 1975). In Siberia, the aqueous extract of the aerial parts was used to treat malaria, kidney disease and other heart-related diseases (Utkin, 1931; Nosal and Nosal, 1960).
Since the first compound was isolated from Adonis plants in the early 19th century, more than 120 compounds have been isolated and identified to date. Fifty-four cardiac glycoside compounds were identified as active components. Additionally, flavones, carotenoids, coumarins and other compounds were also isolated and reported
In 1918, a method for the preparation of an active digitalis-like glucoside from A. vernalis was developed (Heyl et al., 1918). Cymarin (1), adonitoxin (2), 16-hydroxy-strophanthidin (3), acetyladonitoxin (4), vernadigin (5) and 3-acetylstrophadogenin (6) were subsequently isolated (Katz and Reichstein, 1947; Pitra and Čekan, 1961; Poláková and Čekan, 1965). In 1965, a new glycoside, substance N (7), was isolated from the leaves of A. vernalis (Büchner et al., 1965). Additional isolated compounds include strophanthidine fucoside (8), 3-epi-periplogenin (9), 17β-(2′,5′-dihydro-5′-oxo-3′-furyl)-5β-14β-androstane-3α,5β,14β-triol (10), adonit oxigenin 2-O-acetylrhamnosidoxyloside (11), adonitoxigenin 3-O-acetylrhamnosidoxyloside (12), adonitoxigenin rhamnosid oxyloside (13) and cymarin (Franz, 1971; Wichtl et al., 1972; Mathe and Mathe, 1979a,b; Junior and Wichtl, 1980; Winkler and Wichtl, 1985).
In 2010, five new pregnane tetraglycosides known as amurensiosides A–E (65–69); two new pregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides F (70) and I (71); two new 18-norpregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides G (72) and H (73); and two new pregnane octaglycosides, amurensiosides J (74) and K (75), were isolated from the MeOH extracts of the roots of A. amurensis (Kuroda et al., 2010). A new pregnane hexaglycoside was isolated from the whole plant (Baek et al., 2015).
In 1980, Gu et al. (1980) studied the effect of the cardenolide-enriched extract of A. amurensis on the central nervous system
Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiviral Activities
The hydro-methanolic extract of A. wolgensis was particularly effective against Gram-negative Salmonella enteritidis (48 ± 1.56 μg/mL) and Escherichia coli (50 ± 1.94 μg/mL) and against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (50 ± 1.83 μg/mL), but no activity was observed against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (Mohadjerani et al., 2014). Das et al. (2007) reported a significant inhibitory effect by the 50% methanol extract of A. vernalis on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in whole blood cell culture. The 10% aqueous extract of A. vernalis aerial part also presented the antiviral activity with inhibition zone over 30 mm for Herpes virus Hominis HVP 75 (type2), influenza virus A2 (Manheim 57), Vaccini virus and poliovirus type1 (May and Willuhn, 1978).
- vernalishas been become a well-known herbal medicine for cardioprotection, especially in Russia, Bulgaria,
Due to their cardiac-enhancing effects, Adonis spp. have long been used in European and Chinese folk medicine. These plants have been widely investigated since the late 19th century, when the cardiovascular activity of Adonis vernalis L. was noted in Europe. The present paper provides a review of the phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicology in order to highlight the future prospects of the genus. More than 120 chemical compounds have been isolated, with the most important components being cardiac glycosides as well as flavones, carotenoids, coumarins and other structural types. Plants of the genus, especially A. vernalis L. and A. amurensis Regel & Radde, their extracts and their active constituents possess broad pharmacological properties, including cardiovascular, antiangiogenic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and acaricidal activities, and exhibit both diuretic effects and effects on the central nervous system.
Two crystalline cardiac glycosides, adonitoxin and adonitoxol have been isolated from the ethanol extracts of the dry plants of Pheasant’s eye (Adonis vernalis L.) through counter-current distribution in the system toluene—butanol—water 2 1:3 and chromatography over alumina. Adonitoxol (C29H44O10) was determined to be L-rhamnosideadonitoxologenin. The structure of adonitoxol isolated from the natural material was proved by comparing analysis with adonitoxol prepared from adonitoxin by sodium borohydride reduction.
Clinical features of Adonis Vernalis
A good heart medicine, after rheumatism or influenza, Bright’s disease, where the muscles of the heart are in stage of fatty degeneration. It regulates the pulse and increase the power of heart contractions. Polyuria. Cardiac dropsy. Low vitality, with weak heart and slow, weak pulse. Hydrothorax, ascites. Anasarca. Head feels light; Severe frontal headache (from occiput around temples to eyes). Vertigo on rising. Vertigo turning head quickly or lying down. Tinnitus. Scalp feels tight. Pupils dilated.
Mitral and aortic regurgitation. Chronic aortitis, Fatty heart pericarditis. Rheumatic Endocarditis. Precordial pain, palpitation, and dyspnea. Marked venous engorgement. Cardiac asthma. Fatty heart. Myocarditis, irregular cardiac action, constriction and vertigo. Pulse rapid, irregular. Frequent desire to take a long breath. Feeling of weight on chest.
GIT: Feelings of heavy weight in stomach. Gnawing hunger. Faint feeling in epigastrium. Better out doors. Tongue dirty yellow, sore, feels scalded and slimy.
Urine: Oily pellicle on urine. Scanty, aluminous.
Sleep: Restlessness, with horrible dreams.
Extremities: Aching in nape. Spine stiff and aching. Edema.
For consultation, about your disease and Treatment, Diet etc; visit our clinic.
To order medicine by courier, please send your details at WhatsApp– +92319884588
Dr Sayyad Qaisar Ahmed (MD {Ukraine}, DHMS, Isl. Jurisprudence); Works at “senior research officer Dnepropetrovsk state medical academy Ukraine”; is a leading Homeopathic physician practicing in
Al-Haytham clinic Risalpur. K.P.K, Pakistan.
(0923631023, 03119884588), K.P.K, Pakistan.
www.YouTube.com/Dr Qaisar Ahmed
www.facebook.com/ahmed drqaisar