Effect of ethanol Adiantum capillus-veneris extract in experimental models of anxiety and depression

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of 15%-25%. Monoamine aminotransferases, in particular, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, change in the brain of depressed people. Adiantum capillus-veneris is one of the species of the maidenhair fern genus that have traditionally been used to treat cough, cold symptoms, and local hair loss.In this experimental study, white male rats weighing 250-300 g were assigned to 5 groups of 10 each; group 1: Receiving normal saline; groups 2-4: Receiving A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively; and group 5: Receiving fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was induced by 3-week exposure to chronic stress. The forced swim test and plus maze were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant capacity in the serum and brain were measured. Treatment with A.capillus-veneris extract at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the duration of immobility. In the group given extract at 200 mg/kg, a significant increase in the number of open arm entries was observed when compared to the control group. A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in the time spent in the open arm. A.capillus-veneris extract reduced MDA levels and increased antioxidant levels of serum and brain in rat. A.capillus-veneris has significant antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects in rat, probably due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Interference of aqueous and ethanolic solutions of Adiantum latifolium Lam. (Pteridaceae) leaves on in vitro Ceratocystis cacaofunesta mycelial growth / Interferência de soluções aquosas e alcoólicas de folhas de Adiantum latifolium Lam. (Pteridaceae) no crescimento micelial de Ceratocystis cacaofunesta in vitro

Ceratocystis cacaofunesta is the etiologic agent of "Ceratocystis wilt of cacao", an irreversible disease that affects the vascular system of the plant. The management of the disease is difficult and economic and alternative solutions are needed. The medicinal plants compounds are known to have antimicrobial activity, and they could be an alternative choice in the C. cacaofunesta control. Considering this, this work aimed to verify the in vitro antifungal activity of aqueous and alcoholic solutions of Adiantum latifolium leaves on C. cacaofunesta. Plant material was collected at Atlantic Forest biome in cacao cultivation area in South of Bahia state. Aqueous and ethanolic solutions were made by boiling and maceration in 70% ethanol, respectively. After filtration, they were added to culture medium at 1, 5 and 10% dilution. A 7 mm disc colony of C. cacaofunesta was inoculated in the middle of the well containing Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and the mycelial growth was observed. Controls consisted on SDA with sterile water or 70% ethanol at the same dilution of treatments, and Tebuconazole at 4 µg.mL-1. Neither aqueous nor ethanolic solutions inhibited the mycelial growth. However, aqueous solution presence induced a higher mycelial growth rate. Conversely, aqueous solution treatment induced mycelial growth. Tebuconazole showed important mycelial growth inhibition and it could be considered in C. cacaofunesta propagation control in areas where genetic selection or handling management still fail.(AU)

A espécie Ceratocystis cacaofunesta é o agente etiológico do mal-do-facão, patogenia caracterizada por danos irreversíveis no sistema vascular da planta. O controle da doença é difícil e a busca por soluções alternativas e econômicas é necessária. Sabe-se que os compostos das plantas medicinais possuem atividade microbiana e podem ser uma opção alternativa no controle de C. cacaofunesta. Baseado nisso, esse trabalho se propôs a verificar in vitro o potencial antifúngico das soluções aquosa e alcóolica de Adiantum latifolium sobre C. cacaofunesta. O material vegetal foi coletado no bioma Mata Atlântica em área de plantio de cacau, no sul da Bahia. Solução aquosa foi obtida por decocção e solução etanólica por maceração em etanol 70%. As soluções foram filtradas e adicionadas ao meio de cultura em diluições de 1, 5 e 10%. Inocularam-se fragmentos de 7 mm de colônia de C. cacaofunesta no centro do meio de cultura contendo ágar Sabouraud dextrose (ASD) e se observou o crescimento do disco micelial. Os controles consistiram em SDA com água estéril ou etanol a 70% na mesma diluição de tratamentos e o antifúngico Tebuconazol a 4 µg.mL-1. Nenhuma concentração das soluções aquosa e alcóolica inibiu o crescimento micelial. Entretanto, a presença de solução aquosa induziu maior crescimento micelial. O antifúngico Tebuconazol apresentou efeito redutor importante do crescimento micelial e pode ser uma alternativa no controle da propagação do C. cacaofunesta em locais onde a seleção genética e o manejo adequado de instrumentos no momento da poda apresentam falhas.(AU)

A simple technique for tracking individual spore and gametophyte development in Adiantum lunulatum Burm. f. using modified extra thin alginate film technique.

A new technique was developed for accurate calculation of percent germination and tracking of individual spores from germination to gametophyte development in Adiantum lunulatum. High percentage of ETAF immobilized spore germination (72.4%) was followed by development of gametophytic clumps. The ETAF immobilized clumps were cut into pieces and multiplied en masse. Apomictic sporophytes developed from the gametophytes. This indicated the potential of ETAF for mass propagation of A. lunulatum without the need to start from spores. Since individual spores can be tracked from germination to gametophyte development, the ETAF technique has the potential to be used for (i) harvesting uniformly developed plants of similar age for extensive experimentations and commercial utilization and (ii) detailed study on developmental and reproductive biology of different ferns and fern allies.

Eliciadores proteicos e glicídicos de Adiantum capillus-veneris L. para fitoalexinas em sorgo Sorghum bicolor (L. ) Moench / Proteinaceous and carbohydrate elicitors from Adiantum capillus-veneris inducing phytoalexins in sorghum

Este trabalho objetivou a purificação parcial, por precipitação com sulfato de amônio (SA) e cromatografia de filtração em gel (CFG), de compostos presentes no decocto de Adiantum capillus-veneris (avenca) eficientes na indução de fitoalexinas em mesocótilos de Sorghum bicolor sorgo. Decocto de A. capillus-veneris a 1% (peso seco/volume) foi precipitado com concentrações de SA variando de 0 a 100% (em intervalos de 20%), e essas frações foram submetidas à CFG. Para o decocto não precipitado foram obtidos nove picos proteicos e um pico glicídico com massas moleculares variando de 0,61 à 0,01 KDa. Para a precipitação fracionada obteve-se: na fração 0-20% dois picos proteicos (menores que 0,01 KDa) e dois glicídicos com concentração de açúcares variando de 4,1 a 17,5 µg mL-1; na fração 20-40% três picos proteicos (111,5 à 0,98 KDa) e cinco glicídicos (11,3 a 73,7 µg de açúcares mL-1); na fração 40-60% dois picos proteicos (111,5 à 0,09 KDa) e dois glicídicos (5,6 a 7, 5 µg de açúcares mL-1); na fração 60-80% seis picos proteicos (menores que 0,02 KDa) e dois glicídicos (16,5 a 51,3 µg de açúcares mL-1); e na fração 80-100% três picos proteicos (menores que 0,09 KDa). Mesocótilos de sorgo foram tratados com as frações provenientes da CFG, além do decocto a 1%, acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM) (125 mg L-1 do i.a. como eliciador de referência) e tampão fosfato de sódio 10 mM pH 6,0. O pico proteico II (0,09 KDa) do decocto não precipitado induziu fitoalexinas, 6,68% superior a ASM. Entre os precipitados, a fração 60-80% de SA induziu 76% mais que ASM. Dessa forma, pôde-se obter frações proteicas e/ou glicídicas indutoras de fitoalexinas em sorgo de maneira superior ao extrato (decocto) do qual é originária, indicando o potencial dessas moléculas para trabalhos futuros sobre indução de resistência.

This study aimed to partially purify the compounds present in decoction of Adiantum capillus-veneris, which are efficient in the induction of phytoalexins in sorghum mesocotyl, by ammonium sulphate (AS) fractionation and gel filtration chromatography (GFC). The decoction of A. capillus-veneris at 1% (weight/volume) was precipitated with AS at the concentration of 0-20%, 20-40%, 40-60%, 60-80% and 80-100%, and these fractions were subjected to GFC. For the decoction not precipitated with AS, nine protein peaks and one carbohydrate peak were obtained with molecular weights ranging from 0.61 to 0.01 KDa. For the AS precipitation, we obtained: for the fraction 0-20%, two protein peaks (0.01 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks with concentration of sugars ranging from 4.1 to 17.5 µg of sugar mL-1; for the 20-40%, three protein peaks (0.98 to 111.5 KDa) and five carbohydrate peaks (11.3 to 73.7 µg sugar mL-1); for the 40-60%, two protein peaks (0.09 to 111.5 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (5.6 to 7.5 µg of sugar mL-1); for the 60-80%, six protein peaks (lower than 0.02 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (16.5 to 51.3 µg of sugar mL-1); and for the 80-100%, three protein peaks with molecular weight equivalent to 0.09 KDa. The sorghum mesocotyls were treated with GFC fractions, decoction (1%), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) (125 mg L-1 a.i. as elicitor reference) and sodium phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 6.0). The protein peak II (0.09 KDa) from the decoction not precipitated was effective in inducing phytoalexin, exceeding in 6.68% the ASM. Among the fractions, the one with 60-80% of AS increased in 76% the induction of phytoalexin compared to ASM. According to the results, we could obtain protein and/or carbohydrate fractions capable of inducing phytoalexins in sorghum better than the decoction from which they are derived from, showing the potential of these molecules for future research studies on the induction of resistance.

Avaliação do potencial da planta Adiantum capillus-veneris (L) no controle de fitopatógenos / Evaluation of the potential of the medicinal plant Adiantum capillus veneris (L) for the control of phytopathogens

O uso de compostos secundários de plantas medicinais, com propriedades antimicrobianas, pode ser uma alternativa para o controle de fitopatógenos. Diante disso, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana de derivados obtidos da planta Adiantum capillus-veneris (avenca) contra fungos e bactérias fitopatogênicos. Os derivados, obtidos do pó de folhas de avenca secas ao ar, foram preparados por infusão, maceração e decocção, autoclavados ou não, nas concentrações de 0,1%, 0,25%, 0,5%, 1%, 1,25%, 2,5%, 5%, 10% e 20%. Foram avaliadas a germinação de esporos dos fungos Phakopsora euvitis e Pseudocercospora vitis, o crescimento micelial dos fungos Colletotrichum musae e Sclerotium rolfsii e a multiplicação das bactérias Erwinia sp. e Bacillus subtilis. O extrato obtido por maceração não autoclavado foi o que apresentou maior efeito sobre P. euvitis e P. vitis com reduções de 75% e 99% na germinação de esporos na concentração de 20%, respectivamente. O menor crescimento micelial de C. musae e S. rolfsii foi obtido pelo macerado autoclavado, com redução de 39% e 83%, respectivamente. Para Erwinia sp., o maior efeito inibitório foi obtido com o macerado autoclavado que, na concentração de 25%, inibiu 99% a multiplicação bacteriana. Para B. subtilis, não houve inibição significativa. Esses resultados indicam o potencial de derivados de avenca para o controle de fitopatógenos.

The use of secondary compounds of medicinal plants, with antimicrobial properties, can be an alternative for the control of phytopathogens. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of derivatives obtained from the medicinal plant Adiantum capillus-veneris (maidenhair fern) against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. The derivatives, obtained from the powder of shadow-dried maidenhair fern leaves, were prepared by infusion, maceration and decoction, autoclaved and non-autoclaved, in the concentration of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%. The germination of Phakopsora euvitis and Pseudocercospora vitis spores, the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum musae and Sclerotium rolfsii, and the multiplication of Erwinia sp. and Bacillus subtilis bacteria were evaluated. The extract obtained by non-autoclaved maceration presented the best effect against P. euvitis, with reduction of 75% on uredospores germination in the concentration of 20%. Against P. vitis, the derivative obtained by non-autoclaved maceration was more effective, presenting 99% of reduction on conidia germination in the concentration of 20%. The smallest mycelial growth of C. musae and S. rolfsii was obtained by autoclaved maceration with 39% and 83% reduction, respectively. For Erwinia sp., the greatest inhibitory effect was obtained with the 25% autoclaved maceration that inhibited the bacterial growth at 99%. For B. subtilis, there was no significant inhibition. These results indicate the potential of maidenhair fern derivatives for the control of phytopathogens.

Qualitative and quantitative studies on qianliebeixi capsules / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method of quality control on qianliebeixi capsules.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>To clarify semen vaccarine by TLC, to determinate the contents of quertin and kaempferol in prepations, by HPLC. Chromatographic conditions: C18 column with METH-0.2%H3PO4(47:53) as mobile phase; the temperature of column was 40 degrees C, and quercetin was detected at 370 nm with flowing rate 1 ml/min.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The spots of semen vaccarine were clear in TLC, no interference in negative contrast. The average recovery rate of quertin was 98.9% and the RSD was 2.2%; the average recovery rate in kaempferol was 100.4% and the RSD was 1.7%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The resolution of spots were perfect in TLC, the spots were easy to distinguish, The method is simple, rapid as well as reproducible and can control the quality of qianliebeixi capsules effectively.</p>