Essential Oil Composition of Pleurothyrium cinereum Leaves

The essential oil of jigua (Pleurothyrium cinereum, Lauraceae) leaves was extracted by steam distillation and analysed by GC (gas chromatography) and GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Seventeen compounds were identified. The main components detected were β-caryophyllene (21.3%), caryophyllene oxide (18.7%), guaiol (15.5%), α-cadinene (7.3%), and germacrene-D (6.8%). The composition of essential oil from P. cinereum leaves is in agreement with the chemical composition of several neotropical Lauraceae plants

Steroid-Related Metabolites from Edible Mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus

Eighteen steroid-related compounds were found to be chemical constituents for a steroidal fraction obtained from the fruiting body of the edible mushroom Laetiporus sulphureus on the basis of GC-MS analyses. Compounds were found to be mostly associated to the ergostane and lanostane moieties. Lanost-8,25-dien- 3β-ol 3 (8.8%), lanost-7,9(11),24-trien-3β,15α-diol (polycarpol) 11 (12.7%), 15-norlanost-9(11)-en-3β,14,15-triol 13 (15.3%), and 3β,15α-dihydroxy-24-methylenelanost-8-en-21-oic acid (sulphurenic acid) 18 (15.4%), were found to be the main compounds

LC-ESI-HRMS-Based Chemical Characterization of Lupinus bogotensis Roots

Plants of the genus Lupinus (Fabaceae) have been studied due to the occurrence of different compounds, especially those possessing quinolizidine and isoflavone-like structures. These kinds of compounds are characterized by both medical and industrial applications, providing various benefits to human being. However, organs such as roots have not been equally studied and there is a lack of such records for native species. Therefore, in the present study, the chemical composition of nodulated roots from greenhouse-established L. bogotensis plants was determined. The resulting crude ethanolic extract was then analyzed by LC/HRMS and chemical nature of most compounds was determined by analyzing the high resolution mass spectra. Recorded profile showed adequate separation allowing tentative identification of detected compounds. 47 secondary metabolites (mainly isoflavones and quinolizidine-type compounds) were thus identified. Most phenolic compounds were found to be conjugated flavonoids (e.g., genistin and genistein malonylglucoside) and lupanine, sparteine and hydroxylupanine were noticed as the main alkaloids. Among alkaloid-like compounds, dehydromitomycin C, a compound produced by Streptomyces caespitosus was identified. Lupadienediol (a lupane-type triterpene recognized for being involved in rhizobacteria:legumes symbiosis) was the only terpene-related component identified in the extract. The present work corresponds to the first report on the chemical composition of L. bogotensis root and constitutes an adequate basis for phytoconstituents finding from nature to support the use of native species

Phenolics with Leishmanicidal and Immunomodulatory Properties

La leishmanioisis permanece actualmente como un problema de salud pública que ha cobrado gran rele­vancia, sobre todo en países en vía de desarrollo, en cuya mayoría, la enfermedad es endémica. El incremento de reportes de fallo terapéutico por la aparición de cepas resistentes así como la severidad de los efectos adversos conocidos para los tratamientos actuales, han hecho imperativa la búsqueda de nuevos agentes antileishmaniales. En ésta búsqueda se ha establecido que, adicional al efecto parasitocida, un potencial in­munomodulador podría contribuir significativamente en la terapéutica contra leishmaniosis. Una observación importante, a través de los resultados relacionados con compuestos que poseen efecto inmunomodulador, es la actividad parasitocida selectiva contra la forma amastigote internalizada en macrófagos, ya que la ac­ción contra promastigotes es prácticamente nula. No obstante, en la literatura se encuentran muy pocos ejemplos de este tipo de acciones aunque son muy interesantes. Por lo tanto, el presente trabajo muestra una revisión acerca de compuestos fenólicos con potencial antileishmanial, cuyo mecanismo sugerido es la inmunomodulación

Género Nectandra: "Fitoquímica y Actividad Biológica"

El género Nectandra pertenece al complejo Ocotea y estas especies (Nectandra) son por lo general árboles. Se considera endémica en el Neotrópico. Este género se ha informado de usos en medicina popular como antifúngico, anti-inflamatorio, antimalárico, analgésico, el tratamiento de las úlceras, y febrífugo, entre otros; También se han informado de algunos ensayos de actividad biológica, incluyendo: antitumoral y actividad antipalúdica, actividad contra las enfermedades cardiovasculares, entre otros. El género Nectandra contiene diferentes metabolitos secundarios y se han reportado alcaloides; tales como aporfinas, proaporfina, benzylisoquinolina, y del tipo morfinandienona; lignanos y neolignanos, furofuran, benzofurano, tetrahidrofurano y dihidrofurano, y del tipo 3,3-neolignanos; terpenos y sesquiterpenoide (monocíclicos y bicíclicos); Los fitoesteroles se derivan de aquellos (3-hidroxi y los compuestos pentacíclicos 3-cetona); flavonoides, particularmente O-glicosilada; xantonas, ácidos fenólicos, polialcohol, y alqueno-alquino, especialmente rubrenolide y rubrynolida

Effect of acaricidal activity of Solanum nigrum on Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions

Tetranychus urticae is an economically important pest for different commercial crops and is traditionally controlled with synthetic chemical products that are usually toxic. Therefore, alternative strategies are implemented to allow producers to meet the phytosanitary requirements demanded by quality seals. One of these alternatives is the use of plant extracts. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of median lethal dose of Solanum nigrum extracts on the mortality and fertility of T.urticae females under laboratory conditions. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS)-based chemical characterization of the ethanol extract of S. nigrum leaves was also conducted. The immersion technique and direct application on rose leaves were used to evaluate the effects of seven doses (1 to 1000 μg/mL) of the ethanol extract of S. nigrum leaves on T. urticae females under laboratory conditions. The mortality and oviposition of spider mites were recorded at 24, 48 and 72 h. The effects of seven concentrations of ethanol extract were evaluated on phytophagous females. The LC50 value was 279.69±20.59 μg/mL after 72 h. The test extract also caused a reduction in oviposition. The main components in the leaf extract of S. nigrum were found to be flavonoid and alkaloid-related compounds. The ethanol extract of leaves of S. nigrum showed high potential as an effective management strategy against T. urticae under laboratory conditions.Key words: Spider mites, LC50, rose crop, ethanol extracts, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS)

Diversidad de los compuestos orgánicos bioactivos de origen natural: una singularidad manifestada por la plasticidad en el metabolismo secundario

El uso de compuestos orgánicos de origen natural (i.e., metabolitos secundarios) es una de las formas de aprovechamiento de los organismos más comunes e importantes, entre los que se destacan plantas y microorganismos. La utilidad de estos compuestos se enfoca a diversos escenarios, en el que se resaltan los productos bioactivos, los cuales marcan una fuerte presencia en el control de enfermedades y dolencias. Aunque ya se cuenta con información substancial y significativa relativa a la función que cumplen tales metabolitos secundarios en los organismos que los producen, todavía se desconoce mucho al respecto, sobretodo en el caso de las plantas. Esto se debe quizá a que, en cierta medida, el metabolismo secundario se suele a menudo considerar aparte de las funciones esenciales de la célula. No obstante, existe evidencia de la clara y estrecha relación que se presenta entre metabolismo celular fundamental y las vías bioquímicas que conducen a la síntesis de metabolitos secundarios. Lo anterior permite que el metabolismo secundario se regule por una sofisticada red de comunicación y señalización a escala celular y tisular, lo que le permite manifestarse con el nivel de plasticidad requerido para adaptarse e interactuar con su entorno. Por tanto, debido al hecho que el metabolismo secundario sea tan versátil, permite la biosíntesis de diversos grupos de estructuras biológicamente activas que, por consiguiente, trasciende en la acción y roles de tales productos secundarios, como es el caso de los compuestos fenólicos y las sesquiterpenlactonas

Antifungal Activity and Chemical Constituents of the Essential Oil from Leaves of Nectandra longifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Nees.

“Yellow moena” (Nectandra longifolia: Lauraceae) is a fragrant leaves-possessing plant commonly used for timber purposes. Nevertheless, so far, there is not available information about its chemical composition. Thus, in the present work is described the components of the essential oil from N. longifolia leaves. The oil was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC/FID  and GC/MS. Twenty eight compounds were therefore identified. The main components were found to be terpinen-4-ol (53.1%), α-terpinene (6.8%), α-phellandrene (4.5%), and β-pinene (3.8%). The chemical composition of essential oil from N. longifolia leaves was consequently in agreement to that of several neotropical Lauraceae plants. In addition, the oil exhibited good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum through dose-dependent mycelial growth inhibition (using amended media and fumigant assays).“Yellow moena” (Nectandra longifolia: Lauraceae) is a fragrant leaves-possessing plant commonly used for timber purposes. Nevertheless, so far, there is not available information about its chemical composition. Thus, in the present work is described the components of the essential oil from N. longifolia leaves. The oil was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC/FID  and GC/MS. Twenty eight compounds were therefore identified. The main components were found to be terpinen-4-ol (53.1%), α-terpinene (6.8%), α-phellandrene (4.5%), and β-pinene (3.8%). The chemical composition of essential oil from N. longifolia leaves was consequently in agreement to that of several neotropical Lauraceae plants. In addition, the oil exhibited good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum through dose-dependent mycelial growth inhibition (using amended media and fumigant assays)

Alquilresorcinoles: Compuestos Naturales con Importancia Biológica

Los alquilresorcinoles (AR) son un grupo de metabolitos secundarios no isoprenoides, pertenecientes a la familia de los fenoles, a los que se les confieren propiedades biológicamente importantes tales como: antifúngica, antibacterial, citotóxica, antitumoral, antioxidante y como biomarcadores. Estos metabolitos han sido encontrados en diferentes organismos tales como: plantas, hongos, metazoos y bacterias; siendo las rizobacterias una fuente importante de AR. En la presente revisión se presentan algunas de las características más importantes de estos metabolitos con un enfoque descriptivo con el propósito de reseñar la importancia biológica de estos compuestos naturales