Moringa oleifera leaves flour is amply used to treat metabolic conditions. The aim was to assess the M. oleifera flour (MOF) on metabolic changes induced by fructose. Phenolic compounds were ...determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Wistar rats were distributed in groups: 1) Control (normal-chow + water); 2) Fructose (normal-chow + fructose (20%) in water) and 3) Feed with MOF20% + fructose (20%) in water. At the end of the 4th week of treatment, the animals were submitted to insulin resistance (IR) test, blood collection and histological evaluation. MOF contains phenolic compounds such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid. MOF supplementation promotes reduction in glycemia, insulin, triglycerides. The supplementation improved the insulin sensitivity. In the histological analysis, MOF supplementation reduced the adipocyte hypertrophy and the lipid deposition in the liver. The data obtained showed that MOF supplementation presented a protective effect against the harmful consequences of excessive fructose consumption. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, fructose, mice
The present work evaluated the chemical composition and antiulcerogenic potential of the crude extract, fractions and pure compounds isolated of roots barks from Maytenus robusta Reiss, using ...different pharmacological models in mice. 3,12-Dioxofriedelane (1) and 11-hydroxylup-20 (29)-en-3-one (2) were isolated from the n-hexane fraction, and mayteine (3) and 3,7-dioxofriedelane (4) from the dichloromethane fraction. The crude extract (50, 259, 500 mg/kg), all the fractions (250 mg/kg) and cimetidine (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced the lesion index, total lesion area, and percentage of lesions, in comparison with the control group (p< 0.05), by ethanol and NSAID-induced ulcer models. All the isolated compounds also presented significant pharmacological effects at 30 mg/kg. These results show that the root bark of M. robusta may be a promising source of molecules with applicability in the treatment of gastric disorders.
This study evaluates the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide extracts obtained from the fruit of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) on the development of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, 1797 ...(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), from the larval period until the insect adulthood. For this purpose, a laboratory-scale extraction unit was operated at 60 °C and 200 bar. Larval mortality increased by raising the extract concentration tested: the value of LC50 calculated by Probit analysis was 376.74 mg kg-1, and at a concentration of 5000 mg kg-1, the mortality was 100%. The extract exhibited insect growth inhibitory activity in the higher concentrations (500 mg kg-1, 1000 mg kg-1 and 5000 mg kg-1), due to antifeedant action, resulting in larvae and pupae with mass and body length significantly smaller than the control. At the lowest concentration tested (100 mg kg-1), bioactive effects from the adult stage of the insect were observed, with low viability pupal and adults presenting morphological deformities, hence indicating chronic toxicity effect.
Este estudo avaliou os efeitos do extrato de frutos de Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) obtido através do solvente dióxido de carbono supercrítico sobre o desenvolvimento de Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, 1797 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), desde o período larval até a fase adulta do inseto. Para obtenção do extrato, uma unidade de extração em escala laboratorial foi operada a 60 °C e 200 bar. O extrato, quando adicionado à dieta artificial das larvas, demonstrou ação inseticida, a CL50 calculada através da análise de Probit foi de 376,74 mg kg-1, na concentração de 5000 mg kg-1 e a mortalidade foi de 100%. Nas concentrações mais elevadas (500, 1000 e 5000 mg kg-1) o extrato apresentou também atividade inibitória de crescimento nos insetos, devido à ação antialimentar, resultando em larvas e pupas com massa e comprimento corporal significativamente menores que o controle. Na menor concentração testada (100 mg kg-1) foram observados efeitos bioativos a partir da fase adulta do inseto, como baixa viabilidade de pupas e adultos com deformações morfológicas, indicando, portanto, efeito de toxicidade crônica.
Maytenus robusta (Celastraceae) is used in folk medicine for the treatment of stomach ulcers and is very well adapted to the South of Brazil.
Maytenus ilicifolia is the main species of the ...Celastraceae family, and is used in the treatment of gastric ulcers. However,
Maytenus ilicifolia is presently at the stage of extinction, due to indiscriminate use in Brazil. Thus, the use of
Maytenus robusta in phytotherapeutic preparations, instead of
Maytenus ilicifolia, is suggested. However, there have been no reports regarding the antiulcer activity of
Maytenus robusta extract. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the antiulcerogenic property of the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of
Maytenus robusta. The antiulcer assays were performed using the following protocols: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced ulcer, ethanol-induced ulcer, and stress-induced ulcer. The effects of the extract on gastric content volume, pH and total acidity, using the pylorus ligated model, were also evaluated. In the ethanol-induced ulcer model, it was observed that the treatment with
Maytenus robusta extract significantly reduced the lesion index in 75.1
±
8.6, 85.0
±
9.2, 86.6
±
7.4 and 75.5
±
5.3 for the groups treated with 50, 250 and 500
mg/kg of
Maytenus robusta and positive control (omeprazole 30
mg/kg), respectively. Also were observed significant inhibition in lesion index in the indomethacin-induced ulcer model, being the decrease of the 62.5
±
7.1, 62.5
±
6.1, 63.6
±
5.5 and 96.2
±
3.6 for groups treated with 50, 250 and 500
mg/kg of
Maytenus robusta and positive control (cimetidine 100
mg/kg), respectively. Results similar were observed in the stress-induced ulcer model, where the inhibition of ulcer lesions were 71.3
±
5.5, 72.7
±
6.3, 76.5
±
7.1 and 92.3
±
7.5 for the groups treated with 50, 250 and 500
mg/kg of
Maytenus robusta and positive control (cimetidine 100
mg/kg), respectively. Regarding the model of gastric secretion, a reduction in the volume of gastric juice volume and total acidity was observed, as well as an increase in gastric pH. The results of the present study showed that
Maytenus robusta hydroalcoholic extract displays gastroprotective activity. These results were similar to those obtained in studies carried out with
Maytenus ilicifolia, which indicate that this species could be used in phytotherapeutic preparations as a substitute for
Maytenus ilicifolia. This work also corroborates the traditional indication of
Maytenus robusta, contributing to its pharmacological validation.
This study evaluated extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from some selected Brazilian medicinal plants against strains of promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and L. brasiliensis in vitro. ...The cell viability was determined, comparing the results with reference standards. The dichloromethane fractions of the roots, stems, and leaves of Allamanda schottii showed IC50 values between 14.0 and 2.0 μg/mL. Plumericin was the main active compound, with IC50 of 0.3 and 0.04 μg/mL against the two species of Leishmania analyzed. The hexane extract of Eugenia umbelliflora fruits showed IC50 of 14.3 and 5.7 μg/mL against L. amazonensis and L. brasiliensis, respectively. The methanolic extracts of the seeds of Garcinia achachairu and guttiferone A presented IC50 values of 35.9 and 10.4 μg/mL, against L. amazonensis, respectively. The ethanolic extracts of the stem barks of Rapanea ferruginea and the isolated compound, myrsinoic acid B, presented activity against L. brasiliensis with IC50 of 24.1 and 6.1 μg/mL. Chloroform fraction of Solanum sisymbriifolium exhibited IC50 of 33.8 and 20.5 μg/mL, and cilistol A was the main active principle, with IC50 of 6.6 and 3.1 μg/mL against L. amazonensis and L. brasiliensis, respectively. It is concluded that the analyzed plants are promising as new and effective antiparasitic agents.
Garcinia achachairu Rusby (Clusiaceae) is popularly known as “achachairu”, and is used in Bolivian folk medicine for its healing, digestive, and laxative properties, and in the treatment of ...gastritis, rheumatism and inflammation. Despite its widespread therapeutic use, there is a lack of data regarding its in vivo genotoxic effects. Therefore, in this study, we used the comet assay and the micronucleus test, respectively, to evaluate the possible genotoxic and clastogenic effects of Garcinia achachairu seed extract (GAE) on different cells of mice.
The GAE was administered by oral gavage at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000mg/kg. For the analysis, the comet assay was performed on the leukocytes (collected 4 and 24h after treatment), liver, bone marrow and testicular 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 results showed that GAE did not induce significant DNA damage in leukocytes (4h and 24h samples), liver, bone marrow and testicular cells (24h samples). GAE also did not show any significant increase in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) at the three tested doses. The PCE/NCE ratio indicated no cytotoxicity. Under our experimental conditions, the data obtained suggest that a single oral administration of G. achachairu extract does not cause genotoxicity and clastogenicity in different cells of mice.
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The triterpenes friedelin (1), β-friedelinol (2) and 3,15-dioxo-21α-hydroxyfriedelane (3) in the aerial parts of Maytenus robusta, 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 1 and 2 were found in M. robusta 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-1 dry weight of 1 and 2, respectively. On the other hand, compound 3 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-1). The results allow to define the optimal season and plant parts for the collection of M. robusta as a phytotherapeutic drug.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the gastroprotective properties of seed, leaf, and branch methanolic extracts and guttiferone A obtained from
Garcinia achachairu
(Clusiaceae). Mice were used in ...all the models, and treatments were administered orally only in pylorus-ligated model of the extracts, and drugs were administered intraduodenally. Treatment with different extracts (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the ulcerative lesions in the ethanol/HCl-induced model; however, the seed extract was most active. When tested in different doses (50, 250, or 500 mg/kg), the seed extract of
G. achaicharu
showed a dose-dependent effect with a percentage of inhibition of gastric lesions of 41, 49, and 85 %, respectively. The seed extract also significantly reduced the ulcerative lesions in the indomethacin/bethanechol-induced ulcer. In this model, the percentage of inhibition of ulcer was 24, 58, and 90 %, respectively. Regarding the model of gastric secretion, a reduction of gastric juice volume and total acidity was observed, as well as an increase in gastric pH. Considering that the seed extract was the most active, it was subjected to silica gel column chromatography, leading to the isolation of guttiferone A. The isolated compound and omeprazole were evaluated in the HCl/ethanol-induced ulcer model. In this assay, both compounds at a dose of 30 mg/kg reduced the ulcerative lesions by about 75 %. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that extracts obtained from
G. achachairu
and guttiferone A produce gastroprotective effects, corroborating ethnomedicinal use of this plant.
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