The present study provided a chemical, physical and physicochemical characterization of myrsinoic acids A (MAA) and B (MAB) isolated from stem bark of Rapanea ferruginea Mez (Myrsinaceae). In ...previous pre-clinical studies these compounds have shown important anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterasic and antimicrobial activities. A gradient stability-indicating LC–UV method was developed, and a forced degradation study was carried out. Purity, logP, solubility, and pKa were determined. Thermal analysis (DSC/TG) was conducted for both compounds. MAB was characterized by X ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When submitted to stress conditions, both markers showed degradation, with MAA presenting higher lability. The purity of MAA (oil) was 76.20%, while that of MAB (powder) was 98.90%. MAA and MAB exhibited logP values of 3.30 and 3.22, respectively. MAA was very slightly soluble in methanol and acetonitrile, while MAB was slightly soluble in both solvents. Both were practically insoluble in water. MAA and MAB showed pKa of 4.5 and 4.8, respectively. In the SEM analysis, MAB showed a semi-crystalline morphology and high purity when analyzed by XRPD and DSC. This data will contribute to the development, quality control and standardization of pharmaceuticals using MAA and MAB.
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•Different extraction conditions were performed to obtain higher content of drimanes sesquiterpenes.•An HPLC method was validated to quantify the compounds in the extracts.•The ...drimanes sesquiterpenes were active for cancer cells.•The extract does not present toxicological effects.
Stem barks of Drimys brasiliensis (Winteraceae) are consumed by the population in the form of a condiment. It is widely used to treat gastric and stomach problems and also to treat cancer. The extracts have demonstrated antiproliferative, antileishmanial and antimicrobial activities assigned to drimane sesquiterpenes. This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of the drimanes sesquiterpenes identified as 1-β-(p-coumaroyloxy)-polygodial 1, drimanial 2 and 1-β-(p-methoxycinnamoyl)-polygodial 3 in stem bark extracts. The HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the quantification of drimanes 1–3. The cytotoxic activity of these drimanes in human cancer cells, and the toxicological effects of the hydroethanolic extract, were determined. The extracts were prepared using different extractive conditions (solvents, plant: solvent ratio and time). The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated against leukemia, lymphomas, carcinomas and sarcomas cells using the tetrazolium assay (MTT). Furthermore, the acute toxicity was determined by measuring the biochemical parameters and by histopathological analysis. The hemolytic activity and micronucleus test were also performed. The method was linear, sensitive, precise and accurate for both drimanes 1–3. The best condition for extraction was using dichloromethane with plant: solvent proportion 1:10 (w/v) for six hours under dynamic maceration. Isolated drimanes exhibited cytotoxic effects with IC50 values ranging from 0.13 to 112.67 μM. Compound 1 demonstrated significant results for acute promyelocytic leukemia (NB4) and Burkitt′s lymphoma (RAMOS) cells while driamane 3 for Burkitt′s lymphoma (RAJI) and acute T cell leukemia (MOLT4) cells. No signs of toxicity was observed and neither was mutagenicity or hemolytic activity.
The aim of this study was to develop nanoemulsion containing soft extract of stem bark of
to improve the topical delivery and anti-inflammatory activity. The extract of
stem bark was incorporated ...into the oily phase of the nanoemulsion by the method of phase inversion at low energy. The developed nanoemulsion had an average droplet size of 47.88±8.20 nm and a polydispersibility index of 0.228. Uniformity of size, spherical shape of droplet, and absence of clusters were confirmed by transmission electronic microscopy. The zeta potential was -34.7±1.15 mV. The nanoemulsion showed a moderate degree of skin irritation in the agarose overlay assay in vitro. The content of the extract markers, myrsinoic acids A and B, was 54.10±0.08 and 53.03 μg/g in the formulation, respectively. The formulation demonstrated pseudoplastic and thixotropic rheological behavior. In vitro release of chemical markers was controlled by diffusion mechanism. An extract-loaded nanoemulsion showed a topical anti-inflammatory activity in a croton oil-induced edema ear model, with a decrease in tumor necrosis factor release and myeloperoxidase activity. The nanoemulsion was 160% more efficient than the conventional cream containing 0.13% of the extract. The nanoemulsion showed suitable properties as a carrier for topical use of
extract and the approach for improving the topical anti-inflammatory activity.
Synadenium grantii is frequently used for the treatment of various diseases such as allergies, gastric disorders, and especially cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible ...antiproliferative potential of the methanol extract, fractions, and pure compounds from the stems of S grantii. Phytochemical analysis was carried out by conventional chromatographic techniques, and the antiproliferative activity was analyzed using the sulforhodamine B assay and an MTT-based assay. Nonpolar fraction and its subfractions from the stems of S grantii exhibited promising cytostatic effect against several human tumor cell lines (glioma, breast, kidney, and lung), with total grown inhibition values ranging from 0.37 to 2.9 μg/mL. One of the active principles of this plant was identified as a rare phorbol diterpene ester, denoted as 3,4,12,13-tetraacetylphorbol-20-phenylacetate. This compound demonstrated antiproliferative activity against glioma, kidney, lung, and triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. These results demonstrate that S grantii stems produce active principles with relevant antiproliferative potential.
The aim of this study was to describe, for the first time, the microscopic characteristics of Piper mosenii C. DC. (Piperaceae) leaves and the phytochemical composition of the aerial parts of the ...species grown wild in Brazil. Macroscopic analysis of the leaves was made with naked eye and supplemented with stereomicroscopy. The leaves showed similar venation than observed for other Piper species, but with a greater amount of colenchyma cells. The absence of endoderm was observed in the cross section of the leaf, which is a characteristic not reported for other Piper species. The phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of four benzoic acid derivatives (1-4), two chromanones (5, 6) and a dihydrochalcone (7). Compound 6, 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxychroman-4-one acid is being described for the first time in Piperaceae, and the compound (4) 3-(1'-oxo-3'-methyl-2'-butenyl)-4-methoxy-benzoic acid is being reported for the first time in the literature.
Dragon's blood is a dark-red sap produced by species from the genus Croton (Euphorbiaceae), which has been used as a famous traditional medicine since ancient times in many countries, with scarce ...data about its safe use in humans. In this research, we studied genotoxicity and clastogenicity of Croton palanostigma sap using the comet assay and micronucleus test in cells of mice submitted to acute treatment.
HPLC analysis was performed to identify the main components of the sap. The sap was administered by oral gavage at doses of 300mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg. For the analysis, the comet assay was performed on the leukocytes and liver cells collected 24h after treatment, and the micronucleus test (MN) on bone marrow cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed by scoring 200 consecutive polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes (PCE/NCE ratio).
The alkaloid taspine was the main compound indentified in the crude sap of Croton palanostigma. The results of the genotoxicity assessment show that all sap doses tested produced genotoxic effects in leukocytes and liver cells and also produced clastogenic/aneugenic effects in bone marrow cells of mice at the two higher doses tested. The PCE/NCE ratio indicated no cytotoxicity. The data obtained suggest caution in the use of Croton palanostigma sap by humans considering its risk of carcinogenesis.
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The triterpenes friedelin (
), β-friedelinol (
) and 3,15-dioxo-21α-hydroxyfriedelane (
) in the aerial parts of
, a Brazilian medicinal plant with antiulcer potential, were seasonally quantified by ...gas chromatography flame-ionization detection (GC-FID) using an external standard. The method was found to be linear, precise and sensitive. Compounds
and
were found in
leaves and branches, with highest concentrations in the leaves collected in autumn, i.e. 3.21 ± 0.16 and 12.60 ± 1.49 mg g
dry weight of
and
, respectively. On the other hand, compound
was found only in the branches, with the highest concentrations in winter and autumn (0.21 ± 0.01 and 0.20 ± 0.02 mg g
). The results allow to define the optimal season and plant parts for the collection of
as a phytotherapeutic drug.
In Brazil, a phytotherapeutic preparation produced from a standardized tincture of Cinchona calisaya Weddel such that each mL of product contains 400µg of quinine, known in Portuguese as Água ...Inglesa® (English water), is indicated by the manufacturer as a tonic, appetite stimulant, and digestive. However, this preparation has long been used in folk medicine as a female fertility stimulant. Despite its widespread use in folk medicine to stimulate female fertility, no study has been undertaken to assess the potential teratogenic and genotoxic effects of this phytotherapeutic preparation. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible toxic reproductive effects in mice caused by exposure to Água Inglesa®, either before mating or during the pre- and post-embryo implantation periods. The genotoxic potential was evaluated using the micronucleus assay.
Virgin female mice, with at least one estrous cycle evidenced by vaginal cytology, were divided into five groups of 15 individuals each (Group I – control, Group II – treated with ethanol solution at 16%, Groups III, IV and V treated with phytotherapeutic preparation at 1.5mL/kg/day, 3.0mL/kg/day and 4.5mL/kg/day, respectively). After the first 28 days of treatment, females were caged individually with adult fertile males. Pregnant females continued to receive treatment for seven days (preimplantation period). Body weight was recorded weekly during treatment. Signs of toxicity (weight loss, food intake, piloerection, apathy, prostration, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and locomotion) were also observed. The females were sacrificed on the 15th day of pregnancy, uterine horns were evaluated for implantation, and the placental index was recorded. In the micronucleus test, 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) per animal, obtained from bone marrow, were scored. Results The results showed that exposure of the females during the pre- and post-implantation periods did not significantly alter the reproductive capacity (p<0.05); however, in higher dose (three times human dose)reduction of fetal weight was observed . There was no difference between the control and phytotherapeutic preparation (p>0.05) in terms of the average number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes.
Although folk medicine suggests that the Água Inglesa® preparation is useful as a female fertility stimulant, no such effect was confirmed in mice.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: “Água Inglesa®”, a phytotherapic preparation produced from standardized tincture of Cinchona calisaya Weddel such that each mL of product contains 400µg of quinine, is used along time in folk medicine as feminine fertility stimulant. A quick Internet search using the terms “água inglesa” and “gravidez” (portuguese term for pregnance) found more than 270,000 websites relating to the popular use of this phytotherapic preparation as female fertility stimulant.
Aim of the study: To investigate possible toxic reproductive effects caused by exposition to the “água inglesa®” in period early (before of mating), pre and post-embryo implantation in mice, in order for corroborate, or not, the validity of this product as female fertility stimulant, as well as, to colaborate with your secure use. Besides, clastogenic potential was evaluated using micronucleus assay. Display omitted
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