ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils as well as the anatomy of the aerial parts from Baccharis aracatubaensis, Baccharis burchellii, and Baccharis organensis owing to the therapeutic potential of Baccharis. The volatile constituents were analyzed using GC/MS, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACFL ) and DPPH assays, and the antimicrobial activity by a microdilution technique. Of the 56 compounds identified, only seven (ß-caryophyllene, γ-muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, ß-germacrene, spathulenol, τ-muurolol, and α-cadinol) were common in the three specimens studied. Of these, γ-muurolene was found abundantly in B. aracatubaensis, while bicyclogermacrene was abundant in B. burchellii and B. organensis. The essential oils exhibited antioxidant activity in the ORACFL (>500.0â µmol TE g-1 ) and DPPH assays. However, they did not exhibit any antimicrobial activity. Secretory ducts and flagelliform glandular trichomes were observed in the anatomical study of all the Baccharis species studied.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Baccharis/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Plant Components, Aerial/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification , Antifungal Agents/chemistry , Antifungal Agents/isolation & purification , Antioxidants/chemistry , Antioxidants/isolation & purification , Biphenyl Compounds/antagonists & inhibitors , Candida albicans/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Molecular Structure , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/isolation & purification , Picrates/antagonists & inhibitors , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Structure-Activity RelationshipSubject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Antimutagenic Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Asteraceae/chemistry , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry , Antimutagenic Agents/chemistry , Antioxidants/chemistry , Coumarins/chemistry , Coumarins/pharmacology , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Hydroxybenzoates/chemistry , Hydroxybenzoates/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Immunologic Factors/chemistry , Immunologic Factors/pharmacology , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Terpenes/chemistry , Terpenes/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Several species of the genus Piper are known in Brazilian folk medicine as having diuretic activity. So, we propose to investigate the acute diuretic activity and the possible toxic effects of Piper glabratum Kunth, popularly known as false Jaborandi. Additionally, we propose to check whether there is any correlation between the biological activities of the crude extract (MEPG) and its 2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-trans-cinnamoyl-pyrrolidine (MMCP) in Wistar rats. The MEPG was fractioned by chromatography column and the MMCP was identified by analyses of (1)H and (13)C RMN spectral data and correlations. Both MEPG and MMCP were assayed for diuretic activity. The preparations obtained were orally administered in a single dose to rats. The urine excretion, pH, density, conductivity, and content of Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), and HCO3 (-) were measured in the urine of saline-loaded animals. Additionally, acute toxicity of the extract was also evaluated. MMCP at doses of 30 mg/kg was able to increase the urine volume, pH, and HCO3 (-) excretion. Moreover, high dosage of MEPG showed important liver toxicity and elevated mortality when injected intraperitoneally. The results indicate that the MMCP shows important diuretic properties when administered in Wistar rats. Additionally, MEPG can induce important acute toxicity if given in high doses.
