ABSTRACT
Schinus molle is a medicinal plant used as an anti-inflammatory and for rheumatic pain in the traditional medicine of Peru. On the other hand, Aedes aegypti is the main vector of several tropical diseases and the transmitter of yellow fever, chikungunya, malaria, dengue, and Zika virus. In this study, the aim was to investigate the antioxidant activity in vitro and the insecticidal activity in silico, in the presence of the mosquito juvenile hormone-binding protein (mJHBP) from Aedes aegypti, of the essential oil from S. molle leaves. The volatile phytochemicals were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the profile antioxidants were examined by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The evaluation in silico was carried out on mJHBP (PDB: 5V13) with an insecticidal approach. The results revealed that EO presented as the main volatile components to alpha-phellandrene (32.68%), D-limonene (12.59%), and beta-phellandrene (12.24%). The antioxidant activity showed values for DPPH = 11.42 ± 0.08 µmol ET/g, ABTS = 134.88 ± 4.37 µmol ET/g, and FRAP = 65.16 ± 1.46 µmol ET/g. Regarding the insecticidal approach in silico, alpha-muurolene and gamma-cadinene had the best biding energy on mJHBP (ΔG = -9.7 kcal/mol), followed by beta-cadinene (ΔG = -9.5 kcal/mol). Additionally, the volatile components did not reveal antioxidant activity, and its potential insecticidal effect would be acting on mJHBP from A. aegypti.
Subject(s)
Aedes , Anacardiaceae , Insecticides , Oils, Volatile , Anacardiaceae/chemistry , Animals , Antioxidants/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Insecticides/chemistry , Insecticides/pharmacology , Juvenile Hormones/analysis , Larva , Mosquito Vectors , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant known as "Bellaco-Caspi" widely distributed in Loreto, Peru. In the Peruvian traditional medicine, the latex of the plant is used for the treatment of wounds, inflammation, ulcers, and other ailments. This study aims to evaluate the wound healing effect of the latex of H. sucuuba in BALB/C albino mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty BALB/C male mice were used for wound healing study. In the experimental procedures, wound skin incision was performed at 2.0 cm in length until subcutaneous on the paravertebral of each animal. Under locally anesthetized with procaine cream, the treatment was conducted. All the mice were divided into three groups, the control group (A), zinc oxide cream (B), and H. sucuuba latex (C). The entire surface of the wound was treated for all the groups, and the treatments were performed daily for 15 days. The experiments were stopped on days 1, 7, and 15, respectively. RESULTS: The histopathological study of tissues revealed significant changes in wound healing effect in H. sucuuba latex compared to the control and B groups. Consequently, the mice treated with latex showed a significant reduction in epithelialization time and collagen formation. Furthermore, the latex showed a dose-dependent significant reduction of inflammation in the first 24 h of treatment. CONCLUSION: BALB/C mice treated with the latex of H. sucuuba possess a wound healing effect that can scientifically prove the traditional use of the plant as a wound healing agent.
ABSTRACT
Potato tocosh is a naturally processed potato for nutritional and curative purposes from traditional Peruvian medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and sub-acute toxicity of tocosh flour (TF). For sub-acute toxicity, TF was administered orally to rats daily once a day for 28 days at doses of 1000 mg/kg body weight (BW). Animals were observed for general behaviors, mortality, body weight variations, and histological analysis. At the end of treatment, relative organ weights, histopathology, hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed. For acute toxicity, TF was administered orally to mice at doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg BW at a single dose in both sexes. Body weight, mortality, and clinical signs were observed for 14 days after treatment. The results of acute toxicity showed that the median lethal dose (LD50) value of TF is higher than 2000 g/kg BW but less than 5000 mg/Kg BW in mice. Death and toxicological symptoms were not found during the treatment. For sub-acute toxicity, we found that no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of TF in rats up to 1000 g/kg BW. There were statistically significant differences in body weight, and relative organ weight in the stomach and brain. No differences in hematological and biochemical parameters were observed when compared with the control group. For sub-acute toxicity, histopathological studies revealed minor abnormalities in liver and kidney tissues at doses of 5000 mg/Kg. Based on these results, TF is a traditional Peruvian medicine with high safety at up to 1000 mg/kg BW for 28 days in rats.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Currently, gastric cancer (GC) is considered a public health problem worldwide. Using medicinal plants for the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer constitutes new alternatives in traditional medicine. Oenothera rosea (OR) could be an option, but it needs to be evaluated. AIM: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of OR extract on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced GC in rats. METHODS: In total, 80 male Holtzman rats were randomized into five groups. Group A received the saline solution (5mL/kg), group B received NMU 500 µg/kg (cancer inductor) by oral administration for 16 weeks, and groups C, D, and E were treated with OR extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, respectively) and NMU in order to evaluate the preventive effect on cancer induced by NMU for 16 weeks. Blood and histological samples of stomachs were collected to determine histopathological, biochemical, and hematological parameters between different experimental groups. RESULTS: Groups C, D, and E presented less histopathological changes such as anaplastic and hyperplastic cells, compared with group B. Hematological and biochemical parameters were recorded, and superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide levels were statistically less than those of NMU group (P<0.05, P<0.01, and P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Considering the histopathological signs and the antioxidant activity in vivo as well as hematological and biochemical parameters of ethanolic extract of OR, we concluded that its administration in rats has a protective effect on GC, which is induced experimentally. This species could be studied in clinical trials for patients with GC in the future.
ABSTRACT
Evaluar el efecto hepatoprotector del extracto hidroetanólico atomizado de Zea mays variedad morado sobre lesiones hepáticas inducidas en ratas. Diseño: Experimental. Institución: Laboratorio de Farmacología Experimental, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Material biológico: Extracto hidroetanólico atomizado de maíz morado (EAM). Intervenciones: Se formó seis grupos de ratas machos (n=10, por cada grupo), se les administró fenobarbital a concentración de 0,5 g/L en agua potable ad líbitum por 15 días; posteriormente se administró tetracloruro de carbono (CCl4) a una dosis de 0,2 mL/kg, por vía oral. El diseño experimental fue el siguiente: G1: suero fisiológico (SSF); G2: CCl4 0,2 mL/kg (T); G3: T+ silimarina 25 mg/kg; G4: T + EAM 500 mg/kg; G5: T + EAM 1 000 mg/kg; G6: T + EAM 2 000 mg/kg. Principales medidas de resultados: Perfil hepático, especies reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) en suero, índice hepático, observación histológica. Resultados: Se observó aumento significativo (p<0,05) en la actividad de alanina amino transferasa (ALT) entre el grupo G2 y los grupos G3 y G4 (p<0,001). Hubo disminución significativa (p<0,05) de fosfatasa alcalina (FAL) en el grupo G2 con respecto G1. El nivel de TBARS fue menor en el grupo que recibió 1 000 mg/kg de EAM con respecto al control. Las actividades de HDL-C y triglicéridos no mostraron diferencias significativas. Se ha observado la reducción de 60 por ciento de la lesión hepática, evidenciado con menor daño del hepatocito al estudio histológico. Conclusiones: El extracto hidroetanólico atomizado de maíz morado a la dosis de 1 000 mg/kg disminuyó las lesiones hepáticas inducidas en ratas...
To evaluate the hepatoprotector effect of hydroalcoholic extract atomized of Zea mays against hepatic injuries induced in rats. Design: Experimental. Institution: Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, Faculty of Human Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biological material: Hydroethanolic extract atomized of purple corn (EAM). Interventions: To six groups of male rats (n = 10, for each group) phenobarbital 0.5 g/L in drinkable water ad libitum was administered for 15 days, followed by carbon tetrachloride 0.2 mL/kg p.o. The experimental design was a follow: G1: normal; G2: CCl4 0.2 mL/kg (T); G3:T+ silimarina 25 mg/kg; G4: T+ EAM 500 mg/kg; G5: T + EAM 1 000 mg/kg; G6 T + EAM 2 000 mg/kg. Main outcome measures: Hepatic profile, reactive species to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), liver index, and histological observation. Results: Significant increase (p<0.05) in ALT activity was observed between group G2 in comparison to groups G3 and G4 (p<0.001). There was significant decrease (p<0.05) of alkaline phosphatase (AP) in group G2 with respect to G1. TBARS level was less in the group that received 1 000 mg/kg of EAM regarding to control. HDL-C and triglycerides activities did not show significant differences. Reduction in 60 per cent of hepatic injury was observed, evidencing less damage of the hepatocyte by histological study. Conclusions: The purple corn atomized hydroethanolic extract at 1 000 mg/kg dose decreased induced hepatic injuries in rats...
