Molecular Markers Associated With Chemical Analysis: A Powerful Tool for Quality Control Assessment of Copalchi Medicinal Plant Complex

The copalchi complex, Hintonia latiflora, H. standleyana, and Exostema caribaeum, is widely used in Mexico for treating diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. The first therapeutic use for H. latiflora bark was registered in the “Florentine Codex” in the sixteenth century. The latest pharmacological and phytochemical studies revealed that the infusion of the leaves have hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and gastroprotective activities. For these reasons the monograph of the main copalchi species, H. latiflora, was recently added to the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, quality control parameters are focused to the bark but not to the leaves. Moreover, information about other Rubiaceae species is needed. The main goal of this study was to generate molecular and chemical markers for quality control of the copalchi complex raw material. In addition, the resolution of the taxonomical ambiguity between H. latiflora and H. standleyana, as well as the testing of the molecular and chemical markers in different geographical batches, were aims of this study. The molecular markers and chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were generated considering three different populations for H. latiflora and separate individuals of the three species (HL, n = 10; HS, n = 3; EC, n = 4). The molecular markers matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 were tested for their discriminating capabilities. Chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were obtained by means of HPLC analyses using chlorogenic acid and 4-phenylcoumarins as chemical markers. The concatenated sequence of the molecular markers trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 clearly distinguished the three taxa, clarifying the taxonomical ambiguity of the Hintonia genus. Additionally, the chemical profiles allowed the unequivocal identification of each species supporting the molecular results; the geographical origin of the samples did not modify neither the chemical profiles nor the concatenated sequence of H. latiflora, suggesting that it is a robust identity test. The complementary use of molecular and chemical markers will assure the quality of plant material used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes, and should be valuable new information for the National Health authorities as a part of the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Traditional herbal medicine in Mesoamerica: toward its evidence base for improving universal health coverage

The quality of health care in Mesoamerica is influenced by its rich cultural diversity and characterized by social inequalities. Especially indigenous and rural communities confront diverse barriers to accessing formal health services, leading to often conflicting plurimedical systems. Fostering integrative medicine is a fundamental pillar for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for marginalized populations. Recent developments toward health sovereignty in the region are concerned with assessing the role of traditional medicines, and particularly herbal medicines, to foster accessible and culturally pertinent healthcare provision models. In Mesoamerica, as in most regions of the world, a wealth of information on traditional and complementary medicine has been recorded. Yet these data are often scattered, making it difficult for policy makers to regulate and integrate traditionally used botanical products into primary health care. This critical review is based on a quantitative analysis of 28 survey papers focusing on the traditional use of botanical drugs in Mesoamerica used for the compilation of the "Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database" (MAMPDB), which includes a total of 12,537 use-records for 2188 plant taxa. Our approach presents a fundamental step toward UHC by presenting a pharmacological and toxicological review of the cross-culturally salient plant taxa and associated botanical drugs used in traditional medicine in Mesoamerica. Especially for native herbal drugs, data about safety and effectiveness are limited. Commonly used cross-culturally salient botanical drugs, which are considered safe but for which data on effectiveness is lacking constitute ideal candidates for treatment outcome studies

Euphorbia dioeca Kunth as a novel source for -glucosidase inhibitors

Euphorbia dioeca Kunth belongs to the Wanderer’s herb complex that is traditionally used for skin diseases and recently as antidiabetic. The methanol and aqueous extracts were evaluated for their in vitro -glucosidase inhibitory activity and an oral starch tolerance test. These extracts showed an IC50 of 0.55 and 0.85 mg/mL, respectively. In diabetic Long Evans rats, the methanol and aqueous extracts reduced significantly the postprandial hyperglycemia peak in 15.2% and 12.8%, respectively. The -glucosidase inhibitory activity is related with the presence of glycosides, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Additionally, the safety parameters of both extracts were assessed by means of an acute toxicity test, being classified as innocuous. The traditional use of E. dioeca to control type 2 diabetes was confirmed, being an important source of -glucosidase inhibitors

Image_1_Molecular Markers Associated With Chemical Analysis: A Powerful Tool for Quality Control Assessment of Copalchi Medicinal Plant Complex.tif

<p>The copalchi complex, Hintonia latiflora, H. standleyana, and Exostema caribaeum, is widely used in Mexico for treating diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. The first therapeutic use for H. latiflora bark was registered in the “Florentine Codex” in the sixteenth century. The latest pharmacological and phytochemical studies revealed that the infusion of the leaves have hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and gastroprotective activities. For these reasons the monograph of the main copalchi species, H. latiflora, was recently added to the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, quality control parameters are focused to the bark but not to the leaves. Moreover, information about other Rubiaceae species is needed. The main goal of this study was to generate molecular and chemical markers for quality control of the copalchi complex raw material. In addition, the resolution of the taxonomical ambiguity between H. latiflora and H. standleyana, as well as the testing of the molecular and chemical markers in different geographical batches, were aims of this study. The molecular markers and chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were generated considering three different populations for H. latiflora and separate individuals of the three species (HL, n = 10; HS, n = 3; EC, n = 4). The molecular markers matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 were tested for their discriminating capabilities. Chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were obtained by means of HPLC analyses using chlorogenic acid and 4-phenylcoumarins as chemical markers. The concatenated sequence of the molecular markers trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 clearly distinguished the three taxa, clarifying the taxonomical ambiguity of the Hintonia genus. Additionally, the chemical profiles allowed the unequivocal identification of each species supporting the molecular results; the geographical origin of the samples did not modify neither the chemical profiles nor the concatenated sequence of H. latiflora, suggesting that it is a robust identity test. The complementary use of molecular and chemical markers will assure the quality of plant material used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes, and should be valuable new information for the National Health authorities as a part of the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia.</p

Development of a UHPLC-PDA Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of 4‑Phenylcoumarins and Chlorogenic Acid in <i>Exostema caribaeum</i> Stem Bark

Potential toxic effects in mice of an infusion prepared from the stem bark of <i>Exostema caribaeum</i> was assessed by means of the Lorke procedure. The preparation was not found to be toxic, with the LD₅₀ value estimated to be more than 5 g/kg. This preparation at 100, 300, and 500 mg/kg also caused a significant hypoglycemic effect and a reduction in the postprandial glycemia peak in both normal and nicotinamide/streptozotocin (NA/STZ)-diabetic mice in an oral sucrose tolerance test. Phytochemical analysis of the infusion revealed that the major active principles are 4-phenylcoumarins (<b>2</b>–<b>8</b>) and chlorogenic acid (<b>1</b>). During this process, a new 4-phenylcoumarin was isolated along with several known analogues. The structure of the new compound was established as 5-<i>O</i>-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-7,3′,4′-trihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin (<b>2</b>) by spectroscopic means. A simple, efficient, fast, and reliable UHPLC-PDA analytical method for quantifying 4-phenylcoumarins and chlorogenic acid (<b>1</b>) was developed and validated. Parameters assessed for the method validation were selectivity, linearity, the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), precision, and accuracy. It was found that all calibration curves showed good linearity (<i><i>R</i></i>² > 0.9931), within the range of concentrations tested

Seminario Virtual de la Red SIAL México: Los Jardines Etnobiológicos y su papel en la promoción y la conservación de los recursos bioculturales

Alejandro Davila, Especialista AIR-SIAL, Representación del IICA en México William Rolando Cetzal, Profesor Investigador del Tecnológico Nacional de México Sol Cristians, experto en Biología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Edelmira Linares, Premio de Botánica Económica Distinguida de la Sociedad de Botánica Económica Marie Christine Renard, representante del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (México) Jose Viccon Ezquivel, expositor Bertin Gallardo, Representante IICA MexicoLos Jardines Etnobiologicos son espacios donde se conservan especies de flora y fauna, con el fin de preservar fauna nativa, así como el conocimiento sobre sus especies. Se revisan temas de Etnobotanica, Etnobiologia y sistemas agroalimentarios localizados, entre otros

Sustaining Medicinal Barks: Survival and Bark Regeneration of <i>Amphipterygium adstringens</i> (Anacardiaceae), a Tropical Tree under Experimental Debarking

Commercial harvests can threaten tree species harvested for their bark. Amphipterygium adstringens is a dioecious tree, endemic to the tropical dry forests of Mexico, where it is intensively harvested for its medicinal bark. Limited information hinders developing sustainable management strategies for A. adstringens. We assessed bark regeneration for male and female trees, and evaluated the effect of tree sex and diameter, debarking treatments and cutting seasons on bark regeneration and tree survival rates. Bark regeneration was higher for wet season harvested trees (vs. dry), regardless of their sex. Bark regeneration was higher on female than on male trees. There were significant interactions of harvest season, harvest treatment and tree sex diameter on bark regeneration and survival. Overall, the highest bark regeneration rates occurred in female trees with ≥20.1 cm diameter that were wet season harvested with a 50% debarking intensity. Consequently, wet season and intermediate intensity harvests appear to foster sound management, but we recommend against targeting exclusively a single demographic group (i.e., large female trees) due to potential negative impacts on species demography and bark supply. A grounded strategy for sustaining bark harvest would also need to take into account relevant aspects of local socio-ecological context, including harvest interactions with other land uses

Sustaining Medicinal Barks: Survival and Bark Regeneration of Amphipterygium adstringens (Anacardiaceae), a Tropical Tree under Experimental Debarking

Commercial harvests can threaten tree species harvested for their bark. Amphipterygium adstringens is a dioecious tree, endemic to the tropical dry forests of Mexico, where it is intensively harvested for its medicinal bark. Limited information hinders developing sustainable management strategies for A. adstringens. We assessed bark regeneration for male and female trees, and evaluated the effect of tree sex and diameter, debarking treatments and cutting seasons on bark regeneration and tree survival rates. Bark regeneration was higher for wet season harvested trees (vs. dry), regardless of their sex. Bark regeneration was higher on female than on male trees. There were significant interactions of harvest season, harvest treatment and tree sex diameter on bark regeneration and survival. Overall, the highest bark regeneration rates occurred in female trees with ≥20.1 cm diameter that were wet season harvested with a 50% debarking intensity. Consequently, wet season and intermediate intensity harvests appear to foster sound management, but we recommend against targeting exclusively a single demographic group (i.e., large female trees) due to potential negative impacts on species demography and bark supply. A grounded strategy for sustaining bark harvest would also need to take into account relevant aspects of local socio-ecological context, including harvest interactions with other land uses