Phenolic Extract from Moringa oleifera

This study was designed to determine the antioxidant properties and inhibitory effects of extract from Moringa oleifera leaves on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and arginase activities in vitro. The extract was prepared and phenolic (total phenols and flavonoid) contents, radical (nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH)) scavenging abilities, and Fe2+-chelating ability were assessed. Characterization of the phenolic constituents was done via high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the extract on Fe2+-induced MDA production in rats’ penile tissue homogenate as well as its action on ACE and arginase activities were also determined. The extract scavenged NO∗, OH∗, chelated Fe2+, and inhibited MDA production in a dose-dependent pattern with IC50 values of 1.36, 0.52, and 0.38 mg/mL and 194.23 µg/mL, respectively. Gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol were the most abundant phenolic compounds identified in the leaf extract. The extract also inhibited ACE and arginase activities in a dose-dependent pattern and their IC50 values were 303.03 and 159.59 µg/mL, respectively. The phenolic contents, inhibition of ACE, arginase, and Fe2+-induced MDA production, and radical (OH∗, NO∗) scavenging and Fe2+-chelating abilities could be some of the possible mechanisms by which M. oleifera leaves could be used in the treatment and/or management of erectile dysfunction

Fitoconstituintes isolados da fração em diclorometano das cascas do tronco de Scutia buxifolia Reissek

Fracionamento cromatográfico da fração em diclorometano obtida do extrato etanólico das cascas do tronco de Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) conduziu ao isolamento de lupeol, β-sitosterol e estigmasterol. As estruturas foram identificadas através de técnicas espectroscópicas usuais, além da comparação com dados relatados na literatura. Os compostos isolados são relatados pela primeira vez para a espécie S. buxifolia.Fractionation of the dichloromethane soluble fraction from the ethanol extract of the stem bark of Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) led to the isolation of lupeol, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. The isolated compounds are reported for the first time to the species S. buxifolia.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Antioxidant and antiulcer potential of aqueous leaf extract of Kigelia africana against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats

Ethnobotanical claims regarding Kigelia africana reported antiulcer properties as part of its medicinal application. In this work, aqueous leaf extract from K. africana was investigated for its phytochemical constituents and antiulcer potential against ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. The participation of oxidative stress on ethanol-induced ulcer and the potential protective antioxidant activity of K. africana extracts were investigated by determining vitamin C and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) contents in the gastric mucosa of rats. The HPLC analysis showed the presence of gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and also the flavonoids rutin, quercetin and kaempferol in the aqueous plant extract. Oral treatment with K. africana extract (1.75; 3.5; 7 and 14mg/kg) one hour after ulcer induction with ethanol decreased in a dose dependent manner the ulcer index. Ethanol increased significantly stomachal TBARS levels and decreased vitamin C content when compared to the control animals. K. africana blunted the ethanol-induced oxidative stress and restored vitamin C content to the control levels. The present results indicate that the aqueous leaf extract from K. africana possesses antiulcer potential. The presence of flavonoids in plant extract suggests that its antiulcerogenic potential is associated with antioxidant activity. Of particular therapeutic potential, K. africana was effective against ethanol even after the induction of ulcer, indicating that it can have protective and curative effects against gastric lesion

Chemical profile and antioxidant capacity verification of Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) fruits at different stages of maturation

Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), a common plant in Cariri region, Ceara, Brazil, as well as in various parts of the world, contains high concentrations of bioactive compounds and in many communities its parts are used for therapeutic purposes. Studies describe antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-diarrheal actions from extracts obtained from leaves, but information about the activities of the fruits and comparison of these at different maturity stages (immature, partially mature and mature) are scarce. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant properties by quantifying the levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, carotenoids and vitamin C of P. guajava fruits at different stages of maturation. The content of phenolic compounds for the immature fruit, partially mature and mature were: 22.41; 34.61 and 32.92 mg of AG/g fraction. The flavonoid content for immature fruits, intermediate and mature were: 2.83; 5.10 and 5.65 mg RUT/g fraction, respectively. Following the same standards of maturation stages, the ascorbic acid content was determined with values of 0.48; 0.38 and 0.21 mg AA/g fraction, respectively. HPLC analysis identified and quantified the presence of gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, epicatechin, rutin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, quercetin, kaempferol, glycosylated campeferol, tocopherol, β-carotene and lycopene. The antioxidant activity carried out by DPPH method showed the mature fruits bearing the best results, whereas chelation of Fe2+ ions showed higher percentage for the immature fruit. The results obtained by lipidic peroxidation were not satisfactory

Antimicrobial Activity of a Crude Extract and Fractions from Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O. Kuntze Leaves

SUMMARY. Aqueous EtOH (70%) crude extract of Alternanthera brasiliana leaves and dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions of the crude extract were tested against a panel of microrganisms by the broth microdilution method to determine the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The results demonstrate that the crude extract and some fractions showed moderate activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisae and Prototheca zopffi. All samples did not present activity against the bacteria Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. The strongest effect occurred with dichloromethane fraction against the algae P. zopfii, (MIC= 312.5 μg.mL -1 ). These results demonstrate that A. brasiliana have a weak antimicrobial activity that not support the ethno-pharmacological indication of the plant for the treatment of infection diseases nor it's popular names such as "penicillin" and "terramycin" in Brazil . RESUMEN. "Actividad Antimicrobiana del Extracto Bruto y Fracciones de las Hojas de Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) O. Kuntze". El extracto etanólico crudo (70%) y las fracciones diclorometánica, de acetato de etilo y butanólica de las hojas de A. brasiliana fueron analizados en relación a su actividad antimicrobiana. Las concentraciones inhibitorias mínimas (MIC) fueron determinadas usando el método de microdilución en caldo. Los experimentos demostraron que el extracto y algunas fracciones exhibieron moderada acción antimicrobiana, particularmente contra Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisae y Prototheca zopffi. El efecto más fuerte ocurrió con la fracción diclorometánica frente a P. zopfii (MIC 312,5 μg.mL -1 ). La bacteria Escherichia coli y las leveduras Candida albicans y C. glabrata no fueron inhibidas por ninguno de los extractos probados. La baja actividad antimicrobiana de la planta no respalda las indicaciones planteadas por la comunidad para su uso en el tratamiento de procesos infecciosos, ni tampoco sus nombres populares en Brasil, tales como "penicilina" y "terramicina"

Analysis of bioactivities and chemical composition of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. using HPLC–DAD

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. (HELZJ). The antioxidant DPPH and FRAP assays and chemical profile were determined by colorimetric methods and HPLC/DAD. The antiparasitic, antibiotic and antibiotic-modifying activity were evaluated by microdilution assays. The HPLC–DAD assay showed the presence of mostly tannins and flavonoids, such as caffeic acid and quercetin. The levels of polyphenols and flavonoids were 183.136mg/g extract and 7.37mg/g extract, respectively. DPPH and FRAP showed low antioxidant activity for the extract. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were not of clinical relevance, showing MIC>1024μg/mL. However, synergism was observed between HELZJ and the antibiotics amikacin and gentamicin, which resulted in decreased bacterial drug resistance. EHFZJ showed low toxicity in fibroblasts in vitro, while antiparasitic results against Trypnosoma cruzi, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum were not clinically relevant. Thus, our results indicate that Z. joazeiro Mart. (HELZJ) could be a source of plant-derived natural products that could lead to the development of promising new antibiotic compounds for infectious diseases

Composição química e estudo da atividade antibacteriana de Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth (Sucupira) – Fabaceae – Papilonoidae

Bowdichia virgilioides (Fabaceae - Papilionoidea), popularmente conhecida como Sucupira-preta, é uma espécie arbórea nativa do Brasil utilizadas na medicina popular para infecções de garganta. Com base nessas evidências, e com o interesse para justificar o uso popular, este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a atividade antibacteriana in vitro de extratos brutos e fracionados de cascas e cerne da planta. Observou-se pela conclusão do levantamento fitoquímico a presença de taninos e flavonóides nas cascas e no cerne, e alcalóides apenas encontrados na casca. A análise por HPLC revelou a presença de flavonóides e ácidos fenólicos, produtos naturais, com diversas atividades biológicas, incluindo a atividade modificadora antibiótica. Todos os microorganismos foram inibidos apenas com o CIM ≥ 1024 μg/mL. No entanto, quando associado a antibióticos aminoglicosídeos, foi demonstrada potenciação destes em quase todos os produtos testados e em pelo menos uma bactéria foi observada uma atividade moduladora significativa