Plantas alimentícias não convencionais: revisão / Non-conventional food plants: review / Plantas alimenticias no convencionales: revisión

As plantas alimentícias não convencionais (PANCs) são hortaliças nativas, normalmente encontradas em calçadas ou terrenos abandonados, sempre fizeram parte do cardápio dos antepassados. No entanto, com a modernização da agricultura e do êxodo rural, seu consumo foi esquecido de ser repassado para as gerações futuras. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em realizar um levantamento bibliográfico sobre as plantas alimentícias não convencionais (PANCs), sua importância na alimentação e farmacológica. A metodologia consistiu na realização de levantamento bibliográfico, com as principais plantas utilizadas como alimento pelos antepassados sendo as plantas Pereskia aculeata Miller, Basella alba, Sonchus oleraceus, Stachys byzantina, Taraxacum Officinale, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Dioscorea bulbifera, Physalis angulata, Acmella oleracea, Tropaeolum majus. Através deste estudo pode-se constatar que estas plantas são úteis, pois além de apresentar valor nutricional e a sua utilização na alimentação, também são utilizadas como como plantas medicinais, devido à presença de compostos ativos responsáveis pela ação biológica.

Unconventional food plants (PANCs) are native vegetables, usually found on sidewalks or abandoned land, have always been part of the ancestors' menu. Nonetheless, with the modernization of agriculture and the rural exodus, its consumption was forgotten to be passed on to future generations. The objective of this study was to carry out a bibliographic survey on unconventional food plants (PANCs), their importance in food and pharmacology. The methodology consisted of carrying out a bibliographic survey, with the main plants used as food by the ancestors being the plants Pereskia aculeata Miller, Basella alba, Sonchus oleraceus, Stachys byzantina, Taraxacum Officinale, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Dioscorea bulbifera, Physalis angulata, Acmella oleracea, Tropaeolum majus. Through this study it can be seen that these plants are useful, because in addition to presenting nutritional value and their use in food, they are also used as medicinal plants, due to the presence of active compounds responsible for biological action.

Las plantas alimenticias no convencionales (PANC, por sus siglas en inglés) son vegetales nativos, que generalmente se encuentran en las aceras o en terrenos abandonados, y siempre han sido parte del menú de los antepasados. Sin embargo, con la modernización de la agricultura y el éxodo rural, su consumo quedó en el olvido para pasar a las generaciones futuras. El objetivo de este estudio fue realizar un levantamiento bibliográfico sobre las plantas alimenticias no convencionales (PANCs), su importancia en la alimentación y farmacología. La metodología consistió en realizar un levantamiento bibliográfico, siendo las principales plantas utilizadas como alimento por los ancestros las plantas Pereskia aculeata Miller, Basella alba, Sonchus oleraceus, Stachys byzantina, Taraxacum Officinale, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Dioscorea bulbifera, Physalis angulata, Acmella oleracea , Tropaeolum mayor. A través de este estudio se puede apreciar que estas plantas son útiles, pues además de presentar valor nutritivo y su uso en la alimentación, también son utilizadas como plantas medicinales, debido a la presencia de compuestos activos responsables de la acción biológica.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Six Halophytes in Korea

The aim of this study was to measure and compare polyphenol content, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of six halophytes (Limonium tetragonum, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda japonica, Salicornia europaea, Triglochin maritimum, and Sonchus brachyotus). Depending on the total polyphenol content, the plants were categorized into two groups: (1) a high total polyphenol content group that included L. tetragonum, S. brachyotus, and S. europaea, and, (2) a low total polyphenol content group consisting of S. glauca, T. maritima, and S. japonica. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, and by measuring ROS. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by measuring NO and PGE₂. L. tetragonum and S. brachyotus, that have high polyphenol content, also showed strong antioxidant activity. In addition, L. tetragonum, S. brachyotus, and S. europaea showed good anti-inflammatory activity. Consequently, the total polyphenol content was thought to be related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, S. brachyotus and L. tetragonum are good candidates for use in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

Sonchus asper extract inhibits LPS-induced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in RAW264.7 macrophages

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sonchus asper is used extensively as an herbal anti-inflammatory for treatment of bronchitis, asthma, wounds, burns, and cough; however, further investigation is needed in order to understand the underlying mechanism. To determine its mechanism of action, we examined the effects of an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of S. asper on nitric oxide (NO) production and prostaglandin-E2 levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro culture of RAW264.7 macrophages was treated with LPS to induce inflammation. RESULTS: Treatment with EAF resulted in significant suppression of oxidative stress in RAW264.7 macrophages as demonstrated by increased endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and intracellular glutathione levels, decreased generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential. To confirm its anti-inflammatory effects, analysis of expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta and IL-6 was performed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. EAF treatment resulted in significantly reduced dose-dependent expression of all of these factors, and enhanced expression of the antioxidants MnSOD and heme oxygenase-1. In addition, HPLC fingerprint results suggest that rutin, caffeic acid, and quercetin may be the active ingredients in EAF. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, findings of this study imply that the anti-inflammatory effect of EAF on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells is mediated by suppression of oxidative stress.

Tissue injuries of wistar rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Sonchus oleraceus L / Lesões dos tecidos de ratos Wistar tratados com extrato hidroalcoólico de Sonchus oleraceus L

The use of plant species is emerging as an important alternative in the treatment of injuries. Therefore, the extract of Sonchus oleraceus 10 percent was employed in the repair of skin lesions. A total of 36 male Wistar rats were subjected to a punch injury and divided into three groups: a negative control, receiving no treatment, a positive control, treated with Dersani, and the experimental group treated with the extract. The injury was assessed macroscopically and microscopically. Morphometric data was collected at the 3rd, 5th and 7th postoperative day, and the experimental group showed greater changes in shrinkage of the lesion compared to control groups. On the 3rd postoperative day, the injury in the experimental group showed less necrotic tissue, lower slough and more granulation tissue in relation to the positive control group. On the 7th and 10th postoperative day, the injury in the experimental group showed lower slough compared to the positive control group. Microscopic analysis of lesions on the 5th postoperative day revealed increased fibroplasia in the experimental group compared to control groups, while on the 14th postoperative day less neovascularization was evident in the experimental group and increased formation of hair follicles in the negative control group. The extract of S. oleraceus provided tissue repair in accordance with normal physiological patterns thus confirming empirical evidence for its use.

O emprego de espécies vegetais vem surgindo como alternativa no tratamento de lesões. Dessa forma, foi utilizado o extrato hidroalcoólico de Sonchus oleraceus a 10 por cento na reparação de lesões cutâneas. Trinta e seis ratos machos Wistar, foram submetidos a uma lesão com "punch" e distribuídos em três grupos: controle negativo, não recebeu tratamento; controle positivo, tratado com Dersani; e o experimental, tratado com extrato. A lesão foi avaliada macroscopicamente e microscopicamente. Os dados morfométricos mostraram que no 3º, 5º e 7º dia pós-operação (DPO), o grupo experimental apresentou maior evolução na retração da lesão em relação aos grupos controles. No 3° DPO a lesão do grupo experimental apresentou menor tecido necrótico, menor esfacelo e maior tecido de granulação em relação ao grupo controle positivo. No 7° e 10º DPO, a lesão do grupo experimental apresentou menor esfacelo em relação ao grupo controle positivo. A análise microscópica das lesões revelou no 5º DPO maior fibroplasia no grupo experimental em relação aos grupos controles; no 14º DPO ocorreu menor neovascularização no grupo experimental e maior formação de folículos pilosos no grupo controle negativo. O extrato hidroalcoólico de S. oleraceus propiciou reparo tecidual obedecendo a padrões fisiológicos normais e confirmando os dados empíricos de sua utilização.

Effect of Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.)DC on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in pancreas of male albino rats

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the efficacy of n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia (E. sonchifobia) against ethanol induced pancreatic dysfunction in the young Wistar albino rats.@*METHODS@#The rats were divided into four groups. Control rats in group received distilled water orally, group received oral administration of 20% (w/v) ethanol dissolved in drinking water, group received oral administration of 20% (w/v) ethanol in distilled water+n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight), and group received oral administration of n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight) alone. Liver marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), pancreatic enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, non-enzymatic antioxidants glutathione and vitamin C were measured and compared.@*RESULTS@#Administration of 20% ethanol for 16 weeks significantly increased the liver marker enzymes AST, ALT(P<0.05), reduced the pancreatic enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and vitamin C(P<0.05). Histopathological examination showed that the ethanol provoked the oxidative stress which was demonstrated as pancreatic necrosis and oedema. Simultaneous administration of n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia (250 mg/kg body weight) protected the pancreas against the damage induced by ethanol which was confirmed by the histopathological studies and the normalization of biochemical parameters.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Thus n-hexane extract of E. sonchifolia shows a promise in therapeutic use in alcohol induced oxidative stress.

Antibacterial activity of metanolic extract of 12 herbal species on 6 bacterial strains using cylinder-plate method

Resistance to antibacterial agents and sensivity reaction to such chemical compounds are the main reasons for investigators to develop new antibiotics from herbal sources. Antimicrobial effects of Metanolic extract of 12 herbal species Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia, Cuscuta epthymum, Ephedra procera, Salsola boryosm, Sameraria armena, Scabiosa olivier, Scorzonera tortuosissima, Lepyrodielis holosteoidea, Vaccaria pyramidata, Sonchus oleraceam and Silene conoidema on 6 bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureas, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Echerichia colt, Kelebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeroginos and Bacillus subtilis were, separately, studied using Cylinder-plate method. In this laboratory study, methanolic extracts of herbal strains were prepared by maceration and after concentrating the extracts were dried. Then the concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 mg/ml of the extracts were prepared using 1:1 solution of DMSO/methanol. The standard bacteria with certain concentration [0.5 MacFarland] were inoculated on to the Muller-Hinton agar medium. Prepared extracts were dropped into cylinders and 18-24 hours after incubation and penetration of extract into the culture medium, the antibacterial effects and growth inhibitory zone [mm] were measure and values were expressed as [Mean +/- SEM]. The least and the most amount of effective concentration were 3.125 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml, respectively. The most inhibitory diameter belonged to methanolic extract of Amygdalus scoparia on Staphylococcus epidermidis which was equal to 19 +/- 0.3mm. Metanolic extracts of herbal species of Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia and Ephedra procera had the most antibacterial effects compared to gentamicin as positive control. Regarding the side effects of the synthetic drugs and also benefits of such herbal extracts, extracts of these herbs as antibacterial agents after further investigations seems to be useful

The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Sonchus oleraceus L. extracts

This study investigated in vitro antioxidant activity of Sonchus oleraceus L. by extraction solvent, which were examined by reducing power, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity(HRSA) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. 70% MeOH extract had the greatest reducing power while EtOH extract had the greatest HRSA. The antioxidant activity of S. oleraceus extracts was concentration dependent and its IC50 values ranged from 47.1 to 210.5 microgram/ml and IC50 of 70% MeOH, boiling water and 70% EtOH extracts were 47.1, 52.7 and 56.5 microgram/ml, respectively. 70% MeOH extract of S. oleraceus contained the greatest amount of both phenolic and flavonoid contents. The extracts tested had greater nitrite scavenging effects at lower pH conditions. The cytotoxic activity showed that EtOH extract had the best activity against the growth of stomach cancer cell. These results suggest that S. oleraceus extract could be used as a potential source of natural antioxidants.

separation and study of the biological activity of glycan of sonchus oleraceus l. herb family asteraceae

The wide biological and therapeutic applications of Asteraceae family motivated our attention to search on plant related to this family in our local flora. So, Sonchus oleraceus L was the chosen plant. The monomeric composition of the partially and completely hydrolysates ofS. oleraceus L. herb crude polysaccharide complex was determined using GC/MS analysis. The obtained results revealed the presence of mannose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. To determine the polymeric composition of the polysaccharide complex, different methods of fractionation were used. Demineralization was done first, then saponification. The demineralized glycan was chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose column, Elution being monitored spectrophotometrically using phenol-sulphuric acid reagent. The result revealed that the demineralized glycan composed of I major polymer. Both acidic and neutral monomers of the partially hydrolysed fractions were subjected to silylation and GC/MS analysis which provide qualitative and quantitative determination of the monomeric composition of each fraction. The polysaccharide complex was an acidic heterogenous polysaccharide. The crude glycan of S. oleraceus L. herb showed significant anti-inflammatory effect and powerful hepatoprotective action against CCl[4] induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Further investigation of hepatoprotective effect of demineralized, fraction I and fraction II glycans were done and the results were compared with that of the crude glycan. All of these glycans had powerful hepatoprotective action against CC l[4] induced hepatotoxicity. Fraction I glycan [containing glucuronic acid] had the highest hepatoprotective activity