Vitexin flavonoid information and medical benefits

Vitexin is a flavonoid glycoside found in certain herbs including hawthorn herb.

Cancer benefit
Vitexins, nature-derived lignan compounds, induce apoptosis and suppress tumor growth.
lin Cancer Res. 2009 Aug 15; Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
Lignans such as secoisolariciresinol diglucoside in flaxseed, are metabolizes to bioactive mammalian lignans of END and ENL. Because mammalian lignans have chemical structural similarity to the natural estrogen, they are thought to behave like selective estrogen receptor modulators and therefore have anticancer effect against hormone-related cancers. We isolated a series of lignan compounds, named as Vitexins, from the seed of Chinese herb Vitex Negundo. We purified several Vitexin lignan compounds. Cytotoxic and antitumor effects were analyzed in cancer cells and in tumor xenograft models. In vivo metabolism of Vitexins was determined in rat. Vitexin is a class of nature lignan compounds, whose action and anticancer effect is mediated by the mechanisms different from the classic lignans. Vitexin-induced antitumor effect and cytotoxic activity is exerted through proapoptotic process, which is mediated by a decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratio and activation of caspases.

Aloysia citriodora Palau
Aloysia citriodora Palau, Verbenaceae is widely used for gastrointestinal disorders and as eupeptic in South America. The flavonoid vitexin is partially responsible for the spasmolytic effect, since it non-competitively inhibits acetylcholine but not the Ca(2+) influx. Isovitexin is devoid of activity on the duodenum.

Hawthorn herb
Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.) leaves have vitexin-2"-O-glucoside, vitexin-2"-O-rhamnoside, rutin, and hyperoside.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) have flavonoids that include dihydrochalcones aspalathin and nothofagin and their flavone analogues, orientin and isoorientin, and vitexin and isovitexin, respectively, as well as luteolin, chrysoeriol, catechin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside and rutin.

Sophora tonkinensis
Sophora tonkinensis herb has bayin, vitexin, lupeol and tonkinensisol.

Trollius ledibouri Reichb. flower
Trollius ledibouri flower has 2''-O-beta-L-galactopyranosylorientin, 2''-O-beta-arabinopyranosylorientin, orientin and vitexin.

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