Effect of Argemone mexicana (L.) against lithium-pilocarpine induced status epilepticus and oxidative stress in wistar rats.

Argemone mexicana (L.) has a role in the treatment of epileptic disorders in Indian traditional system of medicine. We studied its effect on induced status epilepticus (SE) and oxidative stress in rats. SE was induced in male albino rats by administration of pilocarpine (30 mg/kg, ip) 24 h after injection of lithium chloride (3 mEq/kg, ip). Different doses of the ethanol extract of A. mexicana were administered orally 1 h before the injection of pilocarpine. The severity of SE was observed and recorded every 15 min for 90 min and thereafter at every 30 min for another 90 min, using the Racine scoring system. In vivo lipid peroxidation of rat brain tissue was measured utilizing thiobarbiturate-reactive substances. Both in vitro free radical nitric oxide and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl scavenging activities of the extract were also determined. The SE severity was significantly reduced following oral administration of the extract at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg doses. None of the animals from groups 3 to 5 (with A. mexicana extract) have exhibited forelimb clonus of stage 4 seizure. The extract also exhibited both in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activities.

Antimicrobial activity of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Chicalote) / Actividad antimicrobiana de Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Chicalote)

Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Papaveraceae) is used to treat eye infection, respiratory and dermatological disorders in Tepotzotlán, State of México (México). The aim of this work was to investigate antimicrobial activity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from aerial parts of A. ochroleuca. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against thirteen bacteria and nine fungal strains. Only methanol extract showed antimicrobial activity. S. aureus (MIC= 125 ug/mL) and C. neoformans (MIC= 500 ug/mL) were the most sensitive strains. The bioassay-guide purification of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation and identification of the isoquinoline alkaloid berberine. The present study confirms the antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of A. ochroleuca.

Infusiones de la parte aérea de Argemone ochroleuca Sweet (Papaveraceae) son utilizadas por los pobladores de Tepotzotlán, Estado de México, para el tratamiento de infecciones en los ojos, enfermedades respiratorias y dermatológicas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar la actividad antimicrobiana de los extractos hexánicos, acetato de etilo y metanólico de la parte aérea de A. ochroleuca. La actividad antimicrobiana fue evaluada frente a trece cepas bacterianas y nueve cepas fúngicas. Solo el extracto metanólico presentó actividad antimicrobiana. S. aureus (MIC= 125 ug/mL) y C. neoformans (MIC= 500 ug/mL) fueron las cepas que presentaron mayor sensibilidad. La purificación biodirigida del extracto metanólico dio como resultado el aislamiento e identificación del alcaloide isoquinolínico berberina. El presente estudio confirma la actividad antimicrobiana del extracto metanólico de A. ochroleuca.

Polyphenolic and biological activities of leaves extracts of Argemone subfusiformis (Papaveraceae) and Urtica urens (Urticaceae)

Nowadays there is a resurgence of interest in wild plants for their possible medicinal value in diets, since some epidemiological studies have demonstrated their effectiveness against important diseases. Generally, foods of plant origin contain many bioactive compounds, proteins, energy, vitamins and specific minerals; in addition, the popular wild plant species provide fibre, essential fatty acids and enhance the taste and colour in diets. We studied the nutritional and medicinal potential of leaves of A. subfusiformis and U. urens, collected in Alice, South Africa in November 2006. To asses this we analyzed the phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of leaves in acetone, methanol and water extracts, using standard analytical methods. The proximate analysis showed that the leaves of both plant species contained appreciable percentages of moisture; ashes; carbohydrates; crude proteins, lipids and fibres. Elemental analysis of macro and microelements showed higher values for U. urens that contained in decreasing order: iron>manganese>zinc>copper>calcium>potassium>nitrogen>magnesium> phosphorus>sodium, for A. subfusiformis resulted in iron>zinc>manganese>coppe r>calcium>potassium>nitrogen>magnesium>phosphorus>sodium. Besides, the chemical composition showed higher concentration of alkaloids, saponins and phytates in A. subfusiformis. The extracts also caused 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2-azinobis-3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities which were comparable to those of ascorbic acid. The extracts of both plants contained appreciable levels of polyphenols and also caused varied inhibition of some bacterial strains used in this study. When the nutrient and chemical constituents of these plants were compared with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the results revealed that the leaves contain an appreciable amount of nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals and low levels of toxicants. Since the plants also exhibited some level of antibacterial activities, their use for medicinal purposes is to some extent being justified. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1517-1531. Epub 2010 December 01.

En la actualidad se ha dado un resurgimiento del interés en las plantas silvestres por su posible valor en la dieta, como consecuencia de algunos estudios epidemiológicos que han demostrado efectividad contra importantes enfermedades. En general, los alimentos de origen vegetal contienen muchos compuestos bioactivos, proteínas, energía, vitaminas y minerales específicos; además, las especies silvestres populares proporcionan fibras, ácidos grasos esenciales y aditivos para mejorar el sabor y color de los alimentos. Estudiamos el potencial nutricional y medicinal de las hojas de A. subfusiformis y U. urens, recolectados en Alice, Sudáfrica, en noviembre de 2006. Analizamos los compuestos químicos y antioxidantes de estas plantas, la actividad antibacteriana de las hojas en extractos acuosos, con acetona y metanol, utilizando los métodos estándares de análisis. Encontramos que las hojas de ambas especies contienen apreciables porcentajes de humedad, cenizas, carbohidratos, proteínas, lípidos y fibras. El análisis de los macro y microelementos mostró valores altos para U. urens en el siguiente orden decreciente: >hierro>manganeso>zinc>cobre>calcio>potasio>nitrógeno>magnesio>fósforo>sodio y para A. subfusiformis fue: hierro>zinc>manganeso>cobre>calcio> potasio>nitrógeno>magnesio>fósforo>sodio. Además, la composición química mostró una alta concentración de alcaloides, saponinas y fitatos en A. subfusiformis. Estos extractos 1, 1 - difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) y 2, 2-azinobis-3 ácido etilbenzotiazolina-6-ácido sulfúrico (ABTS) también causaron actividad en el barrido de radicales comparables con los del ácido ascórbico. Los extractos de ambas especies contienen niveles apreciables de polifenoles y también causaron una variada inhibición de algunas cepas bacterianas utilizadas en el estudio. Cuando los nutrientes y compuestos químicos de estas plantas se compararon con los valores dietéticos recomendados (RDA), los resultados revelaron que las hojas contenían una apreciable cantidad de nutrientes, minerales, compuestos químicos y bajos niveles de sustancias tóxicas. Dado que las plantas también mostraron un cierto nivel de actividad antibacteriana, su utilización para fines medicinales en cierta medida está justificada.

Antibacterial potentiality of Argemone mexicana solvent extracts against some pathogenic bacteria

The sensitivity of two Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria was tested against the crude extracts (cold aqueous, hot aqueous, and methanol extracts) of leaves and seeds of Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae) by agar well diffusion method. Though all the extracts were found effective, yet the methanol extract showed maximum inhibition against the test microorganisms followed by hot aqueous extract and cold aqueous extract.