Amphipterygium adstringens (Schltdl.) Schiede ex Standl (Anacardiaceae): An Endemic Plant with Relevant Pharmacological Properties.

Diseases, such as cancer, peptic ulcers, and diabetes, as well as those caused by drug-resistant infectious agents are examples of some of the world's major public health problems. Amphipterygium adstringens (Schltdl.) Schiede ex Standl is an endemic tree to Mexico. Its stem bark has been used medicinally since pre-Hispanic times, but in recent decades it has been scientifically proven that it has properties that help counteract some diseases; extracts with organic solvents of the plant are outstanding for their anticancer, gastroprotective, and antimicrobial properties; terpenes and long-chain phenols have been identified as the main active compounds. Currently, overharvesting is causing a sharp reduction in natural populations due to an increase in demand for the stem bark by people seeking to improve their health and by national and transnational companies seeking to market it. Because of the growing interest of the world population and the scientific community, we reviewed recent studies on the bioactive properties of A. adstringens. Through the orderly and critical compendium of the current knowledge of A. adstringens, we provide a reference for future studies aimed at the rational use and protection of this valuable endemic natural resource.

The antineoplastic agent anacardic 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid produces immunomodulation in vivo via the activation of MAPKs.

Anacardic 6-pentadecyl salicylic acid (6SA) is the active component of Amphipterygium adstringens, a plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria and vascular diseases and as an anti-bacterial and immune-modulatory agent. However, the effect of 6SA on the immune system remains unclear. In this study, we examined the immune-stimulatory activity of 6SA in 6-8-week-old female BALB/c mice. We found that treatment with 2 mg/kg of 6SA increased the proportions of macrophages after 7 and 14 days of treatment and of natural killer (NK) cells after 14 days of treatment in circulating blood. In lymph nodes, treatment with 6SA for 14 days increased the number of macrophages. In addition, 6SA increases in the systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-6 and IL-1ß and of nitric oxide (NO). We observed an increase in the secretion of Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor (GM-CSF) that could explain the increase in the proportion of macrophages. Moreover, 6SA induced the classical activation of macrophages by increasing their expression of MHC-II and their production of TNF-α. These M1-polarised macrophages presented enhanced phagocytosis and NO secretion. This activation was due to induction of the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as ERK, JNK and p38 because specific inhibitors of the phosphorylation of these MAPKs reduced the 6SA-induced phagocytosis and NO and particularly, the secretion of GM-CSF in macrophages by inhibition of ERK. Despite these effects on macrophages, 6SA does not have any direct effect on the proportion of lymphocytes.

Antimycobacterial activity of an anthracycline produced by an endophyte isolated from Amphipterygium adstringens.

The search for new compounds effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still a priority in medicine. The evaluation of microorganisms isolated from non-conventional locations offers an alternative to look for new compounds with antimicrobial activity. Endophytes have been successfully explored as source of bioactive compounds. In the present work we studied the nature and antimycobacterial activity of a compound produced by Streptomyces scabrisporus, an endophyte isolated from the medicinal plant Amphipterygium adstringens. The active compound was detected as the main secondary metabolite present in organic extracts of the streptomycete and identified by NMR spectroscopic data as steffimycin B (StefB). This anthracycline displayed a good activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 strain, with MIC100 and SI values of 7.8 µg/mL and 6.42, respectively. When tested against the rifampin mono resistant M. tuberculosis Mtb-209 pathogen strain, a better activity was observed (MIC100 of 3.9 µg/mL), suggesting a different action mechanism of StefB from that of rifampin. Our results supported the endophyte Streptomyces scabrisporus as a good source of StefB for tuberculosis treatment, as this anthracycline displayed a strong bactericidal effect against M. tuberculosis, one of the oldest and more dangerous human pathogens causing human mortality.

Análisis morfológico comparativo de las estructuras reproductivas masculinas de los géneros Orthopterygium y Amphipterygium (Anacardiaceae)

Se presenta una descripción detallada de la inflorescencia y flor masculina del género Orthopterygium (A. Gray) Hemsl. en comparación con su género hermano Amphipterygium Standl., ambos anteriormente ubicados en la familia Julianiaceae, con la finalidad de corroborar sus estatus taxonómicos. Se incluyen todas las especies de ambos géneros, O. huaucui, A. molle, A. adstringens, A. simplicifolium y A. glaucum. Se realizaron medidas de las piezas florales (longitud de la flor, longitud y número de sépalos, longitud de las anteras y longitud de los filamentos) así como la longitud de la inflorescencia, éstas fueron sometidas a un análisis de componentes principales. Las estructuras diferenciales más significativas entre ambos géneros corresponden a la longitud y número de sépalos. Esta observación soporta y corrobora los resultados ya reportados por otros autores y constituye el primer avance en el establecimiento del actual estatus taxonómico de Orthopterygium, se sostiene por tanto la consideración de ambos géneros como entidades independientes.

We present a descriptive study on the male inflorescence and flowers of the genus Orthopterygium (A. Gray) Hemsl. in comparison with their sister genus Amphipterygium Standl., formerly recognized as Julianiaceae, with the aim of corroborate their current taxonomic status. We included all species of both genera O. huaucui, A. adstringens, A. molle, A. simplicifolium and A. glaucum. We measured floral pieces (flower length, sepal length, anther length and filament length) and inflorescence. These data were compared in a principal component analysis. Sepals length and sepals number are the most significant discriminant characters between both genera. This work supports and corroborates the results obtained by other authors and comprises the first initiative on the evaluation of the actual taxonomic status of Orthopterygium and establishes the distinction of both genera as independent entities.

Amphypterygium adstringens anacardic acid mixture inhibits quorum sensing-controlled virulence factors of Chromobacterium violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of bacterial cell-cell communication that controls a large number of systems affecting pathogenicity. Interrupting this communication system can provide nonvirulent pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) potential of an anacardic acids mixture isolated from Amphipterygium adstringens, a medicinal plant known as "cuachalalate", to prevent the onset of bacterial infections as an alternate to antibiotics. METHODS: Initially we investigated the anti-QS activity of A. adstringens hexane extract (HE) by the inhibition of violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum. From the active HE, an anacardic acid mixture (AAM) was obtained. The anti-quorum sensing activity of AAM was investigated by the rhamnolipid and pyocyanin production constraint as well as decrease of elastase activity, all being quorum sensing-controlled virulence factors expressed in the pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESULTS: HE induced a 91.6% of inhibition of the violecin production at 55 µg/mL concentration, whereas AAM showed 94% of inhibition at 166 µg/mL. In both cases, inhibition of violacein production did not affect the viability of the bacterium. AAM inhibited pyocyanin (86% at 200 µg/mL) and rhamnolipid (91% at 500 µg/mL) production in a dose/response form and decrease the elastase (75% at 500 µg/mL) activity in P. aeruginosa without affecting its development. CONCLUSIONS: Because an anacardic acids mixture isolated from A. adstringens demonstrated anti-QS, it could be further exploited for novel molecules to treat the emerging infections of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.