Chemical constituents of Cardiospermum corindum L. and their distribution in Sapindaceae

AbstractPhytochemical investigation on the aerial parts of Cardiospermum corindum L. led to the isolation of two triterpenes [friedelin (1) and friedelinol (2)], two coumarins, [umbelliferone (4) and scopoletin (5)], three methoxylated flavones [umuhengerin (3), luteolin 3’,4’-dimethyl ether (6) and chrysoeriol (7)], one non-cyanogenic glucoside [epidermin (8)] and one cyclitol [(L)-quebrachitol (9)]. To our knowledge, 2, 3, 6 and 8 were isolated for the first time within Sapindaceae. Of these classes of metabolites, the distribution of methoxylated flavonoids in Cardiospermum is reviewed, including the new records, indicating that polymethoxylated flavonoid (3) may be value as chemotaxonomic markers for this genus

Alkaloids and biological activity of beribá (Annona hypoglauca)

ABSTRACT Annona hypoglauca Mart., Annonaceae, popularly known as “beribá”, was collected in flooded areas of the Amazonian Rain Forest. The crude extract obtained from this species was found to be cytotoxic against human cancer cells. Chemical information on A. hypoglauca is scarce. So, the present work aimed the isolation and identification of its alkaloids and to test their cytotoxic activity. Alkaloids were obtained from stem by acid–base partitioning and the remaining alkaloid-free extract was partitioned with organic solvents. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry GC/MS analysis of total alkaloids allowed the identification of four aporphine alkaloids: actinodaphnine, anonaine, isoboldine and nornuciferine. Total alkaloids were fractionated by column chromatography and were purified by preparative thin-layer-chromatography, which allowed the isolation of two aporphine alkaloids, actinodaphnine and isoboldine, characterized by NMR and CG–MS analyses. This is the first report for the occurrence of actinodaphnine in Annona species. All the samples were tested in cytotoxic and antibacterial assays. Total alkaloid extract and its fractions showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. In the cytotoxicity assay, the crude extract showed a lethal effect against breast and colon cancer cells. Isoboldine-containing FA5 and actinodaphnine-containing FA6 showed activity against breast cancer cell line, while the alkaloid-free fractions did not show significant activity against cancer cell lines

Evaluation of gastroprotective activity of Passiflora alata

AbstractPassiflora alata Curtis, Passifloraceae, is a liana popularly known in Brazil as ‘maracujá-doce’ that has been used for treating different illnesses. Its leaves are described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, but the gastroprotective activity has never been investigated. In the present study a freeze-dried crude 60% ethanol–water extract of P. alata aerial parts was prepared. Total flavonoid content, expressed as vitexin, was 0.67% ± 0.01. The hemolytic activity was 32 units for P. alata, using Saponin (Merck®) as reference. P. alata presented EC50 of 1061.2 ± 8.5 µg/ml in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl assay and 1076 ± 85 µmol Trolox/g in the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity assay. P. alata, its solvent fractions and a P. alatananopreparation were investigated for gastroprotective activity. The test samples exhibited gastroprotective activity on HCl/ethanol induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. P. alata at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, using the necrotizing agent at 150 mmol/l, inhibited 100% of ulcer formation (compared to the negative control), while lansoprazole (30 mg/kg) 77%. When tested against a more concentrated necrotizing agent (300 mmol/l), fractions of P. alata at 100 mg/kg reduced 57% (n-hexane), 34% (ethyl acetate) and 72% (aqueous fraction) the ulcer formation. In this assay, lansoprazole (30 mg/kg) inhibited 47%. When encapsulated, P. alata inhibited ulcer formation at 55%, 94% and 90% for dosages of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. These results suggest the potential use of P. alata as a gastroprotective herbal medicine