Antiulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of leaf extract of Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Myrtaceae)

Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, Myrtaceae, é empregado na medicina popular como digestivo e antiinflamatório. A triagem fitoquímica da droga pulverizada (folhas) indicou a presença de flavonóides, taninos e óleo volátil. O extrato hidroetanólico a 70% das folhas de S. jambos foi preparado por percolação e liofilizado. O conteúdo de taninos das folhas e do extrato foi calculado, respectivamente, em 21,9% e 43,3%. O teor de flavonóides foi de 0,6% (folhas) e 1,2% (extrato). A administração oral prévia do extrato (400 mg/kg) a ratos Wistar reduziu significativamente as lesões gástricas induzidas por etanol acidificado. No modelo de úlcera subcrônica, com indução de lesão gástrica utilizando ácido acético a 30%, o tratamento com o extrato (400 mg/kg) não apresentou resultado significativo. A atividade antioxidante do extrato foi avaliada através dos modelos de lipoperoxidação e de medida de capacidade seqüestrante de radicais DPPH. Os valores obtidos de Q1/2 (MDA) e CE50 (DPPH) foram, respectivamente, 0,17 μg/mL e 5,68 μg/mL.Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, Myrtaceae, is commonly employed in folk medicine as digestive and anti-inflammatory. Phytochemical screening of the powdered dried leaves indicates the presence of flavonoids, tannins and essential oil. Hydroethanol extracts (70%) were prepared by percolation and freeze-drying. The tannin content of dried leaves and extract was, respectively, 21.9% and 43.3%. The flavonoid content was 0.6% (dried leaves) and 1.2% (extract). Previous oral administration of S. jambos leaves extract (400 mg/kg) to rats reduced significantly gastric injury induced by HCl/ethanol. At the subcronic ulcer model by induction with 30% acetic acid the results were not significant. In vitro antioxidant activity of S. jambos extract was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) and DPPH free radical method. The Q1/2 for MDA assay was 0.17 μg/mL and the EC50 for DPPH assay was 5.68 μg/mL

Brazilian flora extracts as source of novel antileishmanial and antifungal compounds

Natural products have long been providing important drug leads for infectious diseases. Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease found mainly in developing countries, and it has toxic therapies with few alternatives. Fungal infections have been the main cause of death in immunocompromised patients and new drugs are urgently needed. In this work, a total of 16 plant species belonging to 11 families, selected on an ethnopharmacological basis, were analyzed in vitro against Leishmania (L.) chagasi, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Candida krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Of these plant species, seven showed antifungal activity against C. krusei, five showed antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi and four against L. amazonensis, among them species of genus Plectranthus. Our findings confirm the traditional therapeutic use of these plants in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory disorders and also offer insights into the isolation of active and novel drug prototypes, especially those used against neglected diseases as Leishmaniasis.Instituto Adolfo Lutz Serviço de Parasitologia Laboratório de Toxinologia AplicadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da TerraInstituto Plantarum de Estudos da FloraUNIFESP, Depto. de Ciências Exatas e da TerraSciEL

AVALIAÇÃO DO EFEITO DO EXTRATO HIDROALCOÓLICO DE Zollernia ilicifolia (FABACEAE) COMO GASTROPROTETOR EM RATOS

A Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae) é uma planta nativa da Floresta Tropical Atlântica, e utilizada principalmente contra úlceras e problemas estomacais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito gastroprotetor do extrato hidroalcoólico de Zollernia ilicifolia em ratos, através dos complexos da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial e da análise histológica do estômago dos ratos submetidos a um modelo animal de gastrite induzido por indometacina. Ratos Wistar adultos foram tratados com extrato e água destilada (controle), por meio de gavagem. Os animais foram submetidos a jejum por 24h; após esse período foi administrado indometacina em dois grupos e água destilada nos outros dois grupos. Os animais foram eutanasiados após 6 horas por decapitação para exerese do estômago e observação das lesões gástricas e posteriormente para avaliação da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial. Os resultados mostraram que o extrato não foi capaz de prevenir o aumento da lesão induzida pela indometacina e também pode ser observado que o extrato não pôde reverter à inibição da atividade da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial

AVALIAÇÃO DO EFEITO DO EXTRATO HIDROALCOÓLICO DE Zollernia ilicifolia (FABACEAE) COMO GASTROPROTETOR EM RATOS

A Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae) é uma planta nativa da Floresta Tropical Atlântica, e utilizada principalmente contra úlceras e problemas estomacais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito gastroprotetor do extrato hidroalcoólico de Zollernia ilicifolia em ratos, através dos complexos da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial e da análise histológica do estômago dos ratos submetidos a um modelo animal de gastrite induzido por indometacina. Ratos Wistar adultos foram tratados com extrato e água destilada (controle), por meio de gavagem. Os animais foram submetidos a jejum por 24h; após esse período foi administrado indometacina em dois grupos e água destilada nos outros dois grupos. Os animais foram eutanasiados após 6 horas por decapitação para exerese do estômago e observação das lesões gástricas e posteriormente para avaliação da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial. Os resultados mostraram que o extrato não foi capaz de prevenir o aumento da lesão induzida pela indometacina e também pode ser observado que o extrato não pôde reverter à inibição da atividade da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial

Biological Properties of Essential Oils from the Piper Species of Brazil: A Review

Piperaceae, a Latin name derived from Greek, which in turn originates from the Arabic word babary—black pepper, is considered one of the largest families of basal dicots, found in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. The species that belong to this family have a primarily pantropical distribution, predominantly herbaceous members, occurring in tropical Africa, tropical Asia, Central America and the Amazon region. The Piperaceae family includes five genera: Piper, Peperomia, Manekia, Zippelia and Verhuellia. Brazil has about 500 species distributed in the Piper, Peperomia and Manekia genera. The Piper genus, the largest of the Piperaceae family, has about 4000 species. Within the Piper genus, about 260–450 species can be found in Brazil. Piper species have diverse biological activities and are used in pharmacopeia throughout the world. They are also used in folk medicine for treatment of many diseases in several countries including Brazil, China, India, Jamaica and Mexico. Pharmacological studies of Piper species point toward the vast potential of these plants to treat various diseases. Many of these species are biologically active and have shown antitumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, enzyme inhibitor, antiparasitic, antiplatelet, piscicide, allelopathic, antiophidic, anxiolytic, antidepressant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, amebicide and diuretic possibilities

Variaciones circadiana de aceite esencial de Piper marginatum Jacq

La composición del aceite esencial de hojas de Piper marginatum (Piperaceae) muestra una variación circadiana y un mayor  rendimiento durante la mayor incidencia solar. Las muestras de aceites esenciales se investigaron por GC-FID y GC-MS, lo que permitió la  identificación de 29 compuestos. El análisis de componentes principales y el análisis de conglomerados mostraron una variación cuantitativa  significativa en la composición química de las muestras estudiadas, así como una correlación entre los perfiles del aceite esencial y el  tiempo de recolección. Se observaron dos grupos principales, con predominio de fenilpropanoides o sesquiterpenos. Los compuestos  predominantes fueron los fenilpropanoides, (Z)-asarona y (E)-asarona

A study of Antimicrobial Activity, Acute Toxicity and Cytoprotective Effect of a Polyherbal Extract in a Rat Ethanol-HCl Gastric Ulcer Model.

The decoction of the aerial parts of Rhynchosia recinosa (A.Rich.) Bak. [Fabaceae] is used in combination with the stem barks of Ozoroa insignis Del. (Anacardiaceae), Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell. [Celastraceae] Entada abyssinica Steud. ex A.Rich [Fabaceae] and Lannea schimperi (Hochst.)Engl. [Anacardiaceae] as a traditional remedy for managing peptic ulcers. However, the safety and efficacy of this polyherbal preparation has not been evaluated. This study reports on the phytochemical profile and some biological activities of the individual plant extracts and a combination of extracts of the five plants. METHODS: A mixture of 80% ethanol extracts of R. recinosa, O. insignis, M. senegalensis, E. abyssinica and L. schimperi at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body wt were evaluated for ability to protect Sprague Dawley rats from gastric ulceration by an ethanol-HCl mixture. ytoprotective effect was assessed by comparison with a negative control group given 1% tween 80 in normal saline and a positive control group given 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. The individual extracts and their combinations were also tested for antibacterial activity against four Gram negative bacteria; Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella typhi (NCTC 8385), Vibrio cholerae (clinical isolate), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical isolate) using the microdilution method. In addition the extracts were evaluated for brine shrimp toxicity and acute toxicity in mice. Phytochemical tests were done using standard methods to determine the presence of tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids in the individual plant extracts and in the mixed extract of the five plants. RESULTS: The combined ethanolic extracts of the 5 plants caused a dose-dependent protection against ethanol/HCl induced ulceration of rat gastric mucosa, reaching 81.7% mean protection as compared to 87.5% protection by 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. Both the individual plant extracts and the mixed extracts of 5 plants exhibited weak to moderate antibacterial activity against four G-ve bacteria. Despite Ozoroa insignis being toxic to mice at doses above 1000 mg/kg body wt, the other plant extracts and the combined extract of the 5 plants were tolerated by mice up to 5000 mg/kg body wt. The brine shrimp test results showed the same pattern of toxicity with Ozoroa insignis being the most toxic (LC50 = 10.63 mug/ml). Phytochemical tests showed that the combined extract of the five plants contained tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids are known to have antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: The combined extract of the five plants exhibited a dose-dependent protective activity in the rat ethanol-HCl gastric ulcer model. The extracts also exhibited weak antibacterial activity against four Gram negative bacteria and low acute toxicity in mice and brine shrimps. Although the results support claims by traditional healers who use a decoction of the five plants for treatment of peptic ulcers, more models of gastric ulceration and proper animal toxicity studies are needed to validate possible clinical use of the polyherbal extract. It is also evident that the doses of the crude extracts showing protection of the gastric mucosa are too large for realistic translation to direct clinical application, but further studies using bioassay guided fractionation are important to either identify more practical fractions or active compound/s

Efectos de la ingestión crónica de una infusión de Ruta chalepensis sobre las respuestas vasomotoras de anillos de aorta de rata

Ruta chalepensis se utiliza en la medicina tradicional como emenagogo, abortivo y analgésico. Se analizaron, en ratas Wistar macho, los efectos de la ingesta crónica de una infusión de Ruta chalepensis (20 g /L), sobre las respuestas vasomotoras de anillos de aorta con y sin endotelio, a la fenilefrina o al carbacol Se observaron efectos significativos sólo en anillos con endotelio. La infusión indujo un desplazamiento a la izquierda de la curva de concentración-respuesta a fenilefrina y un incremento en la tensión máxima desarrollada. Estos efectos fueron abolidos por la indometacina. La inhibición de la síntesis de óxido nítrico, en presencia de indometacina, produjo un desplazamiento a la izquierda de la curva de concentración-respuesta a la fenilefrina, así como un incremento en la tensión máxima. Estos resultados sugieren que la ingesta crónica de una infusión de Ruta chalepensis induce un incremento en la síntesis/liberación de prostanoides vasoconstrictores dependientes de la ciclooxigenasa y un aumento en la síntesis /liberación basal de óxido nítrico

Protective effect of topical Cordia verbenacea in a rat periodontitis model: immune-inflammatory, antibacterial and morphometric assays

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effects of C. verbenacea essential oil topically administered in a rat periodontitis model. METHODS: Periodontitis was induced on rats in one of the mandibular first molars assigned to receive a ligature. Animals were randomly divided into two groups: a) non-treatment group (NT) (n = 18): animals received 1mL of vehicle; b) C. verbenacea group (C.v.) (n = 18): animals received 5mg/Kg of essential oils isolated from C. verbenacea. The therapies were administered topically 3 times daily for 11 days. Then, the specimens were processed for morphometric analysis of bone loss. The ligatures were used for microbiological assessment of the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis using PCR. The gingival tissue was collected to Elisa assay of interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-10 levels. RESULTS: Bone loss was inhibited by C. verbenacea when compared to the NT group (p < 0.05). A decrease in the levels of IL-1α and increase in the IL-10 amounts was observed in the C.v. group as compared to NT group (p < 0.05). A lower frequency of P. gingivalis was found in C.v. group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: C. verbenacea essential oil topically administered diminished alveolar bone resorption, promoting a positive local imbalance in the pro/anti-inflammatory system and reducing the frequency of detection of P. gingivalis

In vitro activity of certain drugs in combination with plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus infections

This study has been done to evaluate the interaction between ethanolic extracts of Rhus coriaria (leaf), Psidium guajava (Leaf), Lawsonia inermis (Leaf), and Sacropoterium spinosum (seed) and antimicrobialdrugs including oxytetracyclin HCl, enrofloxacin, gentamicin sulphate, and sulphadimethoxin against 4 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This evaluation was done by well-diffusion method. Results of this study showed that crude extracts from these plants increase the inhibition zones of oxytetracyclin HCl, gentamicin sulphate, and sulphadimethoxin, while combination between the plant extracts and enrofloxacin decreases inhibition zone