Estrogenic and serotonergic butenolides from the leaves of Piper hispidum Swingle (Piperaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Our previous work has demonstrated that several plants in the Piperaceae family are commonly used by the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala to treat amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and pain. Extracts of Piper hispidum Swingle (Piperaceae), bound to the estrogen (ER) and serotonin (5-HT7) receptors. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the estrogenic and serotonergic activities of Piper hispidum extracts in functionalized assays, identify the active chemical constituents in the leaf extract, and test these compounds as agonists or antagonists of ER and 5-HT7. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of the Piper hispidum leaf extracts were investigated in estrogen reporter gene and endogenous gene assays in MCF-7 cells to determine if the extracts acted as an estrogen agonist or antagonist. In addition, the active compounds were isolated using ER- and 5-HT7 receptor bioassay-guided fractionation. The structures of the purified compounds were identified using high-resolution LC-MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. The ER- and 5-HT7-agonist effects of the purified chemical constituents were tested in a 2ERE-reporter gene assay in MCF-7 cells and in serotonin binding and functionalized assays. RESULTS: Three butenolides including one new compound (1) were isolated from the leaves of Piper hispidum, and their structures were determined. Compound 1 bound to the serotonin receptor 5-HT(7) with IC(50) values of 16.1 and 8.3 microM, respectively, and using GTP shift assays, Compound 1 was found to be a partial agonist of the 5-HT(7) receptor. The Piper hispidum leaf extracts, as well as Compounds 2 and 3 enhanced the expression of estrogen responsive reporter and endogenous genes in MCF-7 cells, demonstrating estrogen agonist effects. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of Piper hispidum act as agonists of the ER and 5-HT(7) receptors. Compound 1, a new natural product, identified as 9,10-methylenedioxy-5,6-Z-fadyenolide, was isolated as the 5-HT(7) agonist. Compounds 2 and 3 are reported for the first time in Piper hispidum, and identified as the estrogen agonists. No inhibition of CYP450 was observed for any of these compounds in concentrations up to 1 microM. These activities are consistent with the Q'eqchi traditional use of the plant for the treatment of disorders associated with the female reproductive cycle.

Estudio de la vegetaciõn del volcán San Pedro, Reserva de usos múltiples de la cuenca del lago de Atitlán, Sololá / Study of the San Pedro volcano vegetation, multipurpose room of the Lake Atitlán Sololá

El presente estudio analizó la distribución de la vegetación en el volcán San Pedro en términos de su riqueza, composición, estructura, y abundancia, con base en la posible relación que esta guarde con los cambios de exposición y altitud observados en el volcán. Para el efecto, el área con cobertura vegetal se dividió en tres pisos de altitud a partir de los 2,400 msnm hasta la cumbre a 3,020 msnm y en cuatro secciones verticales en relación a los cuatro puntos cardinales, dando como resultado el arreglo del área en 12 sub-áreas o estratos relativamente más homogéneos(en cuanto a altitud y exposición). En total se obtuvo una muestra de 36 unidades (parcelas de Whittaker de 0.1 Ha), correspondiendo tres parcelas por cada estrato...

La familia Zamiaceae en Guatemala / The family Zamiaceae in Guatemala

La actualización del conocimiento de las Coniferas de Guatemala comprende 57 especies de plantas, de las cuales 28 especies son nativas y 29 son exóticas, agrupadas en diferentes familias, una de ellas, la familia Zamiaceae, que es un grupo de plantas parecidas a las palmas y que se estudiaron a través del Proyecto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas PUICB.057 Actualización de la flora de Guatemala, capítulo I Pinophyta. Se colectaron y georeferenciaron ejemplares de las distintas especies que conforman las Zamiáceas, ello permitió preparar mapas de distribución de las especies nativas, incluidas en los géneros Ceratozamia (1 especie) y Zamia (4 especies) además se documentaron especies exóticas como Dioon mejiae y Zamia furfuraceae, empleadas como ornamentales...

Medical potential of plants used by the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala for the treatment of women's health complaints.

Investigation on the medical ethnobotany of the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Izabal, Guatemala, was undertaken in order to explore Q'eqchi perceptions, attitudes, and treatment choices related to women's health. Through participant observation and interviews a total of 48 medicinal plants used to treat conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, menstruation, and menopause were collected and identified followed by the evaluation of 20 species in bioassays relevant to women's health. Results of field interviews indicate that Q'eqchi cultural perceptions affect women's health experiences while laboratory results (estrogen receptor and serotonin receptor binding assays) provide a scientific correlation between empirical medicinal plant use among the Q'eqchi and the pharmacological basis for their administration. These data can contribute to Guatemala's national effort to promote a complementary relationship between traditional Maya medicine and public health services and can serve as a basis for further pharmacology and phytochemistry on Q'eqchi medicinal plants for the treatment of women's health conditions.

Symptoms, attitudes and treatment choices surrounding menopause among the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston, Guatemala.

The present study explored symptoms, attitudes and treatments surrounding women's health and menopause among the Q'eqchi Maya of the eastern tropical lowlands of Guatemala. Data were obtained through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and plant walks with 50 Q'eqchi community members from the state of Izabal, Municipality of Livingston, including five midwives, five traditional male healers and eight postmenopausal women. Results indicate that the Q'eqchi Maya of Livingston possess their own cultural perceptions of women's health which affect attitudes, symptoms and treatment choices during the menopausal transition. Since discussions of menstruation and menopause are considered cultural taboos among the Q'eqchi, many women mentioned experiencing excessive preoccupation when unanticipated and unfamiliar symptoms occurred. Furthermore, many women suffered from additional hardship when their spouse misinterpreted menopausal symptoms (vaginal dryness, sexual disinterest) as infidelity. Seven of the eight postmenopausal women interviewed indicated experiencing one or more symptoms during the menopausal transition, including headaches, anxiety, muscular pain, depression, and hot flashes. These results differ from the lack of symptomatology reported in previous studies in Mexico, but are in line with the result of menopausal research conducted among other Maya groups from the highlands of Guatemala. Although the Q'eqchi did not use a specific term for "hot flash", three Q'eqchi women used the expression "baja presion" or a "lowering of blood pressure" to explain symptoms of profuse sweating followed by chills, heart palpitations, and emotional instability. The Q'eqchi Maya mentioned a number of herbal remedies to treat menopausal symptoms. Further research on these botanical treatments is needed in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy for continued use.