Argentine plant extracts active against polymerase and ribonuclease H activities of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts of four Argentine plants (Gamochaeta simplicaulis Cabr. 1, Achyrocline flaccida Wein. D. C. 2, Eupatorium buniifolium H. et A. 3, and Phyllanthus sellowianus Muell. Arg. 4) were examined in vitro for their ability to inhibit the polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) (wild and Y181C mutant types). The active extracts were also examined as inhibitors of viral replication in HLT4LacZ-1IIIB cell cultures, evaluating their cytotoxicity in parallel. Infusions 2I and 4I, among the crude extracts, showed the highest activity. These extracts were refractioned into four fractions; 2I4 and 4I4 were active as inhibitors of DNA-polymerase (wild and Y181C types) and RNase H activities. These fractions were potent as inhibitors of viral replication and were not cytotoxic. Refractionation of 2I4 yielded five new fractions, two of which, 2I4-4 and 2I4-5, showed notable activity. Refractionation of 4I4 yielded for new fractions; of these, 4I4-3 and 4I4-4 were active. The marked biological activity found in the infusion of A. flaccida and P. sellowianus makes them sufficiently attractive to be considered in the combined chemotherapy of the disease

Thermal analysis of lipoic acid and evaluation of the compatibility with excipients

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used as a screening technique for assessing the compatibility of lipoic acid with some currently employed cosmetic excipients. In the first phase of the study DSC was used as a tool to detect any interaction. Based on the DSC results alone, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, butylated hydroxytoluene, non ionic self emulsifying wax, propylene glycol and acetylated lanolin were found to exhibit interaction with lipoic acid. Stressed binary mixtures (stored at 50 °C for 1 week) of lipoic acid and excipients were evaluated by HPLC. Binary mixtures were evaluated by IR spectroscopy.Fil: Moyano, María A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Broussalis, Adriana M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Segall, Adriana Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Insecticidal effects of Lamiaceae species against stored products insects

Se seleccionaron algunas especies de Lamiaceae para evaluar su actividad biológica potencial sobre Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), cepa CIPEIN. Se efectuó un screening con Ocimum basilicum L, Mentha rotundifolia L, Origanum vulgare L ssp.vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis L y Thymus vulgaris L comparando la eficacia de sus extractos con la de extractos de Lavandula spica L. Se aplicaron extractos en diclorometano e infusiones de cada planta a la dieta de larvas de primer estadio de T. castaneum en una concentración de 5000 ppm. Se evaluó su efecto sobre demoras en el desarrollo y la mortalidad hasta la emergencia de adultos utilizando ANoVA, LSD y análisis Probit (p<0.05). El más alto efecto letal se obtuvo con el extracto en diclorometano de M. rotundifolia L mientras que sólo se produjo efecto subletal con O. vulgare L ssp.vulgare

In vitro antiplasmodial activity of extracts of Argentinian plants

Fifteen extracts from nine selected Argentine medicinal plants were tested for their antiplasmodial activity in vitro by assessing their ability to inhibit the uptake of [3H]-hypoxanthine into the Plasmodium falciparum K1 pyrimethamine/chloroquine resistant strain. The methanol extract of Satureja parvifolia showed good antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) 3 microg/ml). Inhibition of the growth of P. falciparum was also observed with aqueous extracts of Buddleja globosa and S. parvifolia

Multicenter experience with the new SOFIA Plus catheter as a primary local aspiration catheter for acute stroke thrombectomy

Introduction The direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) has been introduced as a rapid and safe endovascular treatment strategy in patients with ischemic stroke. Objective To determine the technical feasibility, safety, and functional outcome with ADAPT using the new large-bore 6F SOFIA Plus catheter. Methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from six university hospitals was performed. The following parameters of all acute stroke procedures (June 2015- January 2016) using the SOFIA Plus catheter were analyzed: accessibility of the thrombus with the catheter, recanalization success (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction >= 2b), time to recanalization, procedure-related complications. Furthermore, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at presentation and discharge and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at 90 days were recorded. Results 85 patients were treated using the SOFIA Plus catheter. The occlusion site was the anterior circulation in 94.1%. Median baseline NIHSS score was 18. In 64.7%, ADAPT alone was successful after a median procedure time of 21 min. With additional use of stent retrievers in the remaining cases, the recanalization rate was 96.5%. No catheter-related complications such as dissections were observed. Thrombus migration to a new vascular territory occurred in 4.7% and symptomatic hemorrhage in 4.7%. After 3 months, mRS 0-2 was achieved in 49.4%. Mortality rate was 20%. Conclusions In the majority of cases, thrombus aspiration using the SOFIA Plus catheter results in successful recanalization after a short procedure time. With additional use of stent retrievers, a high recanalization rate can be achieved (96.5%). The complication rate was in line with those of previous publications