ABSTRACT
Microsechium helleri (Cucurbitaceae) has been used in ethnopharmacological as a lotion to prevent hair loss, diuretic and cathartic, in the region of central Veracruz, Mexico is used as antidiabetic. The antioxidant properties of the hexanic (EHex), chloroformic (ECHCl3) and ethanolic (EEtOH) extracts, were evaluated by 2,2diphenyl-1-pychrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, the Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and the total phenolic content test. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in the acute ear edema induced with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) in mouse and the hypoglycemic and cardioprotective effects of the EEtOH were determined in rats. The EEtOH was the most active in the antioxidant potential DPPH test and the ECHCl3 was the best in the FRAP assay and the total polyphenols content. In the anti-inflammatory assay, the ECHCl3 showed the most activity. The EEtOH had the decreased the glucose levels and reduced myocardial damage. The results support the use of this plant in folk medicine in Mexico as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and cardioprotective.
Microsechium helleri (Cucurbitaceae) se utiliza en etnofarmacología como una loción para prevenir la caída del cabello, como diurético y catártico, en la región del centro de Veracruz, México es usado como antidiabético. Las propiedades antioxidantes de los extractos hexánico (EHex), clorofórmico (ECHCl3) y etanólico (EEtOH), se evaluaron mediante la prueba de 2,2difenil-1-psililhidrazilo (DPPH), el poder reductor férrico/poder antioxidante (FRAP) y el contenido fenólico total. El efecto anti-inflamatorio se evaluó en el edema agudo de la oreja inducido con forbol 12-miristato 13-acetato (TPA) en ratones y se determinaron los efectos hipoglucémicos y cardioprotectores del EEtOH en ratas. El EEtOH fue el más activo en la prueba DPPH de potencial antioxidante y el ECHCl3 fue el mejor en el ensayo FRAP y el contenido total de polifenoles. En el ensayo antiinflamatorio, el ECHCl3 mostró la mayor actividad. El EEtOH disminuyó los niveles de glucosa y redujo el daño miocárdico. Los efectos hipoglucémicos y cardioprotector del extracto de EEtOH se determinaron en ratas, donde el extracto disminuyó los niveles de glucosa y redujo el daño miocárdico. Los resultados apoyan el uso de esta planta en la medicina popular en México como antioxidante, anti-inflamatorio, hipoglucemiante y cardioprotector.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Cardiotonic Agents/pharmacology , Cucurbitaceae/chemistry , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Cardiotonic Agents/chemistry , Free Radical Scavengers , Phenolic Compounds/analysis , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Medicine, Traditional , Mexico , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistryABSTRACT
Euphorbia dioeca Kunth belongs to the Wanderers herb complex that is traditionally used for skin diseases and recently as antidiabetic. The methanol and aqueous extracts were evaluated for their in vitro alpha-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 percent and 12.8 percent, respectively. The alpha-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 alfa-glucosidase inhibitors.
Euphorbia dioeca Kunth, pertenece al complejo de plantas medicinales denominado Hierba de la Golondrina; el cual se utiliza para diversos padecimientos, destacando su uso como antidiabético. En dicho marco, se evaluó tanto la actividad inhibitoria de alfa-glucosidasa in vitro, como su desempeño en una prueba de tolerancia a una carga de almidón postprandial. Los extractos inhibieron la actividad de la alfa-glucosidasa con una CI50 de 0.55 y 0.85 mg/mL, respectivamente. Los extractos metanólico y acuoso disminuyeron significativamente el pico hiperglucémico postprandial en un 15.2 por ciento y un 12.8 por ciento, respectivamente, cuando se evaluó en ratas diabéticas. La actividad inhibitoria de alfa-glucosidasa, reflejada en ambas pruebas, está relacionada con la presencia de glicósidos, compuestos fenólicos y flavonoides. De manera adicional, ambos extractos fueron evaluados en una prueba de toxicidad aguda, siendo clasificados como inocuos. Se corroboró el uso tradicional de E. dioeca para el control de la diabetes tipo 2, siendo una importante fuente de compuestos inhibidores de alfa-glucosidasa.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , /drug therapy , Euphorbia/chemistry , Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Hyperglycemia/drug therapy , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
The term “nervios” is referred as a folk illness recognized by Mexican Traditional Medicine, and also widely reported across many countries in Latin America. “Nervios” are characterized by a “state of bodily and mental unrest”, which decreases the ability to achieve daily goals. The causes are varied; in fact, any situation that alters the emotional state or mood is interpreted as a possible triggering agent. Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders, which share symptoms, or can be included in the same group of disorders with “nervios”. The therapies are designed to reassure health, i.e. “calm the nerves”. For this propose, the oral administration of plants infusions is common. In this review we compile information regarding the plants used for the treatment of “nervios” in México, along with those for which reports of anxiolytic or/and antidepressive activity exist. We found 92 plant species used in folk medicine for the treatment of “nervios”, among these, sixteen have been studied experimentally. The most studied plant is Galphimia glauca Cav., Malpighiaceae, which current clinical studies have validated its efficacy in patients, and their active components, the triterpenes galphimine A, B, and C, identified. Interestingly only nine plants were found to be reported in folk medicine for the treatment of sadness or/and depression, but their antidepressant activity has not been investigated. However, among the plants used in folk medicine for treatment of “nervios”, several, as Litsea glaucescens Kunth, Lauraceae, have been proven to show antidepressant activity in experimental models, and some of their active compounds have been determined. These species could be a potential source of compounds with activity in the central nervous system.