Pollen extracts fractionation

Cemilton , a product obtained from rye pollen, is an effective agent in the treatment of prostatic inflammatory disease and benign prostatic hyperplasia [139]. In 1995, DIBOA was identified as a constituent of the water soluble pollen extract [66]. The purified active fraction of Cemilton showed dose-dependent effects on DNA-synthesis in epithelial cells. At low concentrations, DNA synthesis was stimulated, indicated by a 300% increase in radiolabelled thymidine incorporation. Concentrations larger than 1 pg/ml resulted in an inhibition up to 80% after 5 days of exposure. Fibroblast cells react in a similar way and prostate DU 145 cells showed the same inhibition after treatment with the active fraction as they do after exposure to synthetic DIBOA. From the studies is was clear, that DIBOA must be causative for the effects of Cemilton. Cell growth inhibition was thought to be due to the chelating properties of the compound [67]. As demonstrated MCF-7 breast cancer-and COS-7-cells were inhibited as well [140]. From the morphology of treated DU-145 cells the authors concluded DIBOA-induced cell death. 

Mitchell s search for biological activity in pollen led in 1970 to the first published report on the biologically active fraction, termed brassins, from an ethyl ether extract of pollen of the rape plant (Brassica napus L.) (7). ... 

The partially purified biologically active extract from rape pollen will be referred to as "brassins" in this Chapter. The extract was partially purified via a thin layer silica gel chromatographic procedure. Biologically active fractions were detected and monitored via the "bean 2nd internode bioassay" (6). Fractions from the... 

An enzyme which will catalyse the glycosylation of anthocyanidin has yet to be described, but one which will do this for flavonols has been found in several plants. In an earlier communication, Larson pointed out that maize pollen is a particularly rich source of a glucosyltransferase capable of converting kaempferol and quercetin to their 3-glucosides. The enzyme has now been extracted with distilled water and purified four-fold by (NH4>2S04 fractionation. It has a requirement for UDP-glucose, mercaptoethanol, and Ca and possesses an optimum pH of 8.2. The for quercetin was found to be 0.6 X 10- moir . 

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