Panamanian biodiversity: a valuable source of novel lead compounds of economic and medical potential

The rich plant diversity of developing countries in globalization era is a reservoir of unexplored sources of drugs and aromatic plants. Despite the intensive investigation of terrestrial flora, it is estimated that only 6% of the approximately 300,000 species (some estimates are as high as 500,000 species) of higher plants have been systematically investigated pharmacologically, and only some 15% phytochemically.1 The endophytic microorganisms that reside between living plant cells have received little attention. Historically, natural products have provided an endless source of medicines, and despite reduced funding for natural products-based drug discovery, natural products remain an undiminished source of new pharmaceuticals

Investigaciones farmacognósticas sobre la flora panameña

Plants represent an extraordinary reservoir of novel molecules and currently there is a renewed interest in plant kingdom as a source of novel lead compounds for screening libraries. The flora of Panama is one of the richest in the world, whose medical and economic potential has not been fully explored. Results from multinational projects financed by the Organization of American States, European Union, International Foundation for Science, CYTED Program, and International Biodiversity Cooperative Groups (ICBG) reveal that the Panamanian flora is undoubtedly a valuable source of lead molecules for the pharmaceutical industry. Historical development and the current status of pharmacognostic research on Panamanian flora carried out during the last 30 years are presented. Specifically, ethnobotanical inventories of three Amerindians groups Kuna, Ngöbe-Buglé and Teribes (Naso), pharmacological evaluation of plants used in folk medicine and screening of plants for anticancer, antifungal and antiparasitic activities and isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds are described. To date over 390 compounds have been isolated from the Panamanian Flora, of which 111 are new to world literature.Las plantas representan un reservorio extraordinario de moléculas novedosas y hoy en día hay un renovado interés en el reino vegetal como una posible fuente de nuevas moléculas cabezas de serie por su introducción en los programas de cribado. La flora de Panamá es una de las más ricas en el mundo y su potencial económico y medicinal aún no se ha explotado completamente. Los resultados más sobresalientes logrados en los proyectos multinacionales financiados por la Organización de los Estados Americanos, la Unión Europea, la Fundación Internacional para la Ciencia, el Programa CYTED, y el Programa Internacional Colaborativo de Grupos de Biodiversidad (ICBG), indican que la Flora de Panamá es, sin duda alguna, una fuente valiosa de moléculas líderes para la industria farmacéutica. Se presentan el desarrollo histórico y el estado actual de las investigaciones farmacognósticas sobre la flora panameña realizadas durante los últimos treinta años. Específicamente se discutirán los estudios etnobotánicos sobre Amerindios de las etnias Kuna, Ngöbe Buglé y Teribes o Naso; la evaluación farmacológica de las plantas medicinales usadas en la medicina folklórica y cribado de plantas para actividades inter alia anticáncer, antiparasitarias y antifúngicas de centenares de plantas y el aislamiento y caracterización de moléculas bioactivas. Se han aislado más de 390 compuestos químicos de los cuales 111 corresponden a nuevos compuestos no reportados en la literatura mundial

Potential of Panamanian aromatic flora as a source of novel essential oils

Flora of Panama is one of the richest in the world and occupies fourth place in vascular plant diversity in the American content. Many plants of the families interalia Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Lauraceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Rutaceae, Rosaceae and Sapindaceae have yielded essential oils (EOs). A summary of results on chemical composition and biological activities of 20 EOs from selected Panamanian plants is provided here, which shows the potential of aromatic flora of Panama. Six species of Piper had sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as major components, three were characterized by monoterpene hydrocarbons, and one by a phenylpropanoid, dillapiole. EOs of P. hispidum and P. longipsicum at a concentration of 250μg/ml showed larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, while P. multiplinervium against Helicobacter pylori (IC50 = 0.1μg/mL). The main components of EOs from 9 species belonging to 4 genera: Eugenia, Calyptranthes, Eugenia, Plinia, and Myrcia were sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (E-caryophyllene) or oxygenated sesquiterpenes (α-bisabolol). EO of E. acapulensis showed strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=125μg/mL) and Mycobacteria smegmatis (MIC=250μg/mL)

Constituents of talisia nervosa with potential utility against metabolic syndrome

© 2019, The Author(s). As coral cover has declined on Caribbean reefs, space has become occupied by other benthic taxa, including sponges, which may affect the recruitment of new corals, thereby affecting the ability of reefs to recover to coral-dominated states. Sponges may inhibit coral recruitment by pre-empting potential recruitment space, overgrowing recruits, or through allelopathy. This study examined coral recruitment across six coral reef sites surrounding St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and the impact of one species of sponge and the sponge community as a whole on coral recruitment. To test the effect of a single species of sponge on coral recruitment, fragments of living or non-living Aplysina cauliformis were attached to terracotta recruitment tiles and deployed at all six sites, along with unoccupied tiles as controls. At two of the sites, a community-level experiment consisted of deploying recruitment tiles in 1 m2 plots that were either cleared of the entire sponge community or control plots where no sponges were removed. Recruitment rates showed a consistent difference among sites over multiple years and experiments. Results of the species-specific experiment showed that the proximity of live or dead A. cauliformis did not affect coral recruitment. However, results of the community-level experiment found greater coral recruitment rates in plots cleared of sponges, suggesting that the presence of the sponge community negatively affected coral recruitment. This study is one of the first to experimentally test and find a significant impact of sponges on coral recruitment, and highlights the need for additional research in this area

Ethnomedical uses and pharmacological activities of most prevalent species of genus Piper in Panama: A review

Ethnopharmacogical relevance: Piperaceae is the fifth largest family of plants in Panama. This review focuses on the ethnomedical uses of the most prevalent Panamanian species and biological activities of their extracts and/or constituents both in Panama and worldwide. Many species have a plethora of ethnomedical uses such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-Helicobacter pylori, antiulcer, antiprotozoal, estrogenic, insecticidal, local anesthetic, diuretic, and for women’s health conditions. Aim of the review: The aim of this review is to compile all ethnomedical uses of most prevalent species of Piper in Panama, and their extracts or phytoconstituents worldwide, through a complete literature search, so that it may allow selection of potential unexplored Piper species for future research and development of phytotherapeuticals for important ailments

Beneficial effects of omega-3-fatty acids in cardiovascular disease

his chapter discusses the chemistry, metabolism, and biological properties of omega-3- fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), mainly eicosopentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Specifically, the current state of knowledge on effects of ω-3 PUFAs on plasma lipids, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, and obesity, plateled function, blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia at molecular level is provided. This review also discusses the evidence from basic and clinical studies that propose the use of ω-3 PUFAs as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The use of ω-3 PUFAs in CVD may be recommended, but caution should be kept in mind when used with other drugs

Anti-malarial activity and HS-SPME-GC-MS chemical profiling of Plinia cerrocampanensis leaf essential oil

Plinia cerrocampanensis is an endemic plant of Panama. The leaf essential oil of this plant has shown antibacterial activity. However, anti-malarial activity and chemical profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS of this essential oil have not been reported before. Anti-malarial activity of the essential oil (EO) was evaluated in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive HB3 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Synergistic effect of chloroquine and the EO on parasite growth was evaluated by calculating the combination index. A methodology involving headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mPlinia cerrocampanensis is an endemic plant of Panama. The leaf essential oil of this plant has shown antibacterial activity. However, anti-malarial activity and chemical profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS of this essential oil have not been reported before. Anti-malarial activity of the essential oil (EO) was evaluated in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive HB3 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Synergistic effect of chloroquine and the EO on parasite growth was evaluated by calculating the combination index. A methodology involving headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-

Anti-malarial activity and HS-SPME-GC-MS chemical profiling of Plinia cerrocampanensis leaf essential oil

Plinia cerrocampanensis is an endemic plant of Panama. The leaf essential oil of this plant has shown antibacterial activity. However, anti-malarial activity and chemical profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS of this essential oil have not been reported before. Anti-malarial activity of the essential oil (EO) was evaluated in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive HB3 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Synergistic effect of chloroquine and the EO on parasite growth was evaluated by calculating the combination index. A methodology involving headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mPlinia cerrocampanensis is an endemic plant of Panama. The leaf essential oil of this plant has shown antibacterial activity. However, anti-malarial activity and chemical profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS of this essential oil have not been reported before. Anti-malarial activity of the essential oil (EO) was evaluated in vitro against chloroquine-sensitive HB3 and chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Synergistic effect of chloroquine and the EO on parasite growth was evaluated by calculating the combination index. A methodology involving headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-

Pharmacognostic evaluation of ten species of medicinal importance of cecropia: current knowledge and therapeutic perspectives

This work covers a systematic review of literature about the genus Cecropia from 1978 to 2020, emphasizing the analysis of 10 of the most relevant species and their associated biological activities. Cecropia is a neotropical genus, which comprises about 61 native species in the American continent where it is known to be part of the traditional medicine of numerous countries. Secondary metabolites described for this genus showed an elevated structural and functional diversity, where polyphenols have been the most abundant. Based on this diversity, Cecropia phytochemicals represent an important source of potential therapeutic agents yet to be exploited. This review also highlights the effectiveness of combining chemometrics and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry as a novel approach to successfully single out Cecropia species phytochemicals. While the medicinal use of Cecropia species is officially recognized in National Pharmacopoeias and Formularies of several Latin American countries, it is important to recognize that these phytomedicines are complex mixtures requiring a thorough understanding of their chemical composition and their correlation with biological activities to guarantee their quality, safety, and efficacy