ABSTRACT
Phytochemical investigation of a dichloromethane-methanol [1:1] extract of the fruit pericarp of Omphalocarpum procerum which exhibited antiplasmodial activity during preliminary screening led to the isolation of the new fatty ester triterpenoid 3beta -hexadecanoyloxy-28-hydroxyolean-12-en-11-one [1], together with five known compounds 2-6. The structure of the new compound as well as those of the known compounds was established by means of spectroscopic methods and by comparison with previously reported data. Compounds 1- 4 were evaluated in-vitro for their cytotoxicity against L6 cell lines and antiprotozoal activities against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma cruzi [species responsible for human malaria, visceral leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, respectively]. The tested compounds showed weak to moderate antiprotozoal activity and, no significant effect was detected regarding their cytotoxic potency
ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To find an in vitro system for the measurement of the androgenic effects of different extracts of Hibiscus macranthus (Malvaceae) and Basella alba (Basellaceae).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The production of testosterone from testes slices incubated in two media, either Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5% Bovine serum albumin (BSA) or Dubecco's Modified Eagle's medium-F12 Ham nutrient mixture (DME/Ham F12), under a mixture of 5% CO2 in 95% air was determined either in the presence or absence of cofactors and Hibiscus macranthus plus Basella alba (HMBA) extracts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The testosterone production was increased in testes slices incubated in DME/Ham F12 medium in response to the cofactors (49%) and aqueous extracts (34%-60% according to dilutions). Under the same atmospheric conditions, there was no positive response of the testes slices to either cofactor or HMBA extract stimulation in Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5% BSA. In further investigations related to the effect of HMBA, the DME/Ham F12 medium was used. The results obtained from the in vitro test showed that the activity was present mainly in methylene chloride and methanol, since these extracts induced an increase in testosterone production by testes slices.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The testes slice system is suitable to be used for further in vitro investigations of the isolation of androgenic bioactive components of plants.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Hibiscus , Chemistry , In Vitro Techniques , Magnoliopsida , Chemistry , Plant Extracts , Pharmacology , Rats, Wistar , Testis , Metabolism , TestosteroneABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the androgenic effects of Basella alba and Hibiscus macranthus extracts in the rat and the bull, and to develop a novel in vitro test system using Leydig cells from bull testes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The effect of methanol extracts from both plants on testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells from the rat and the bull was analyzed using 125I-radioimmunoassay (125I-RIA). Rat Leydig cells were obtained by common methods, whereas a novel technique was used to purify Leydig cells from bull testes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bull testes from the slaughter house were a cheap source of pure Leydig cells. In culture, these cells produced testosterone for 5-6 days, which can be stimulated by human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Basella alba extracts significantly enhanced testosterone production in bull and rat Leydig cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Hibiscus macranthus showed no androgenic effect but was shown to inhibit testosterone production at higher concentrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Leydig cells purified from bull testes can be used as an alternative tool in experimental animal research. Certain fractions of Basella alba extract demonstrated androgenic potential whereas Hibiscus macranthus extracts did not.</p>