ABSTRACT
Se evaluó la actividad gastroprotectora de la infusión proveniente de las hojas de Aloysia gratissima (Verbenaceae), especie nativa de interés medicinal que se desarrolla en el sudoeste bonaerense, utilizando un modelo de inducción de úlceras gástricas con etanol en ratones. Se realizó un tamizaje fitoquímico para detectar la presencia de compuestos que podrían ser responsables de la actividad gastroprotectora de la planta. Se determinó el contenido de fenoles totales y la capacidad atrapadora de radicales libres mediante el método del Folin-Ciocalteu y del 2,2'-difenil-1-picrilhidrazilo (DPPH), respectivamente. Los ensayos demostraron que la infusión de la planta, administrada por vía oral en dosis de 100, 500 y 1000 mg/kg, ejerció una gastroprotección significativa frente a la inducción de úlceras. Se detectó una actividad atrapadora de radicales libres de 47,5%, similar a la sustancia de referencia (BHT). El estudio fitoquímico detectó la presencia de flavonoides y otros polifenoles, sustancias con reconocida capacidad antioxidante. Estos metabolitos ejercen efectos protectores en diferentes modelos experimentales de inducción de úlceras mediante mecanismos que pueden involucrar la neutralización de radicales libres, lo que podría explicar la actividad gastroprotectora de la planta. Estos hallazgos requieren estudios adicionales de A. gratissima como una posible terapia frente a la úlcera gástrica. (AU)
The gastroprotective activity of the infusion from the leaves of Aloysia gratissima (Verbenaceae), a native species of medicinal interest growing in South West Buenos Aires, was evaluated in an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice. Phytochemical screening was carried out in order to determine the presence of compounds that could be responsible for the pharmacological effects of the plant. Total phenolic content and the free radical scavenging activity of the plant were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and the 2,2'-diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, respectively. Assays demonstrated that the infusion, orally administered at 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg doses, exerted a significant gastroprotection effect against ulcer induction (P<0,05). A free radical scavenging activity of 47.5% -similar to the reference substance (BHT)- was detected. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and other phenolic compounds. These compounds exert protective effects in different experimental models of ulcer induction that could involve free radical neutralization, which could explain the gastroprotective activity of the plant. These promising results support additional studies of A. gratissima as a potential therapy against gastric ulcer. (AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Stomach Ulcer/drug therapy , Verbenaceae/drug effects , Research , Free Radicals/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The effect of exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA) on the concentration of main terpenes and density of glandular trichomes was investigated in the Mexican oregano, propagated from seeds from 3 localities. JA 1 mM was applied locally and to the whole plant. JA locally applied increased the number of trichomes, with a mean of 20 trichomes more with respect to the controls in plants from Tecomavaca and Zapotitlán Salinas, and significantly increased the thymol concentration by 185% systemically and 255% locally, compared to the control. JA applied to the whole plant decreased the number of trichomes and increased the concentration of caryophyllene from 0.79 to 1.7 mg g-1, and α-caryophyllene from 0.3 to 0.8 mg g-1 in plants from San Rafael with reference to water control. The results suggest a plasticity of morphologic and phytochemical responses, and a potential use of JA to improve phenolic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes production.
Subject(s)
Cyclopentanes/pharmacology , Oxylipins/pharmacology , Terpenes/analysis , Trichomes/drug effects , Verbenaceae/drug effects , Lippia , Mexico , Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes , Monoterpenes/analysis , Origanum/drug effects , Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes/analysis , Thymol/analysisABSTRACT
Effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, PSII photochemistry and photoinhibition were investigated in the leaves of a fast growing tropical tree species, Gmelina arborea (Verbenaceae) during summer days of peak growth season under natural light. Elevated CO2 had a significant effect on CO2 assimilation rates and maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry. Chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics were measured to determine the influence of elevated CO2 on PSII efficiency. During midday, elevated CO2-grown Gmelina showed significantly higher net photosynthesis (p<0.001) and greater F(V)/F(M) (p<0.001) than those grown under ambient CO2. The impact of elevated CO2 on photosynthetic rates and Chl a fluorescence were more pronounced during midday depression where the impact of high irradiance decreased in plants grown under elevated CO2 compared to ambient CO2-grown plants. Our results clearly demonstrate that decreased susceptibility to photoinhibition in elevated CO2 grown plants was associated with increased accumulation of active PSII reaction centers and efficient photochemical quenching. We conclude that elevated CO2 treatment resulted in easy diminution of midday photosynthetic depression.
Subject(s)
Photosynthesis/drug effects , Verbenaceae/metabolism , Atmosphere , Carbon Dioxide/pharmacology , Chlorophyll/chemistry , Chlorophyll A , Photosystem II Protein Complex/drug effects , Photosystem II Protein Complex/metabolism , Plant Leaves/drug effects , Plant Leaves/metabolism , Trees/metabolism , Verbenaceae/drug effectsABSTRACT
Glandularia perakii is a perennial species with beautiful violet flowers that grows in the stony soil of Mendocine pedemont. A plentiful and prolonged flowering confers it an important ornamental potential. In this paper, a method of propagation of G. perakii from nodal segments is reported. Proliferating microshoot cultures were obtained by placing nodal segment on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 20 g.L-1 of sucrose without growth regulators. In this medium multiplication rate after 20 days was 7.9. Rooted plants were acclimatized successfully.
Subject(s)
Botany/methods , Plant Physiological Phenomena , Verbenaceae/growth & development , Acclimatization , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism , Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology , Plant Shoots/drug effects , Plant Shoots/growth & development , Plant Shoots/physiology , Reproduction , Verbenaceae/drug effects , Verbenaceae/physiologyABSTRACT
Glandularia perakii is a perennial species with beautiful violet flowers that grows in the stony soil of Mendocine pedemont. A plentiful and prolonged flowering confers it an important ornamental potential. In this paper, a method of propagation of G. perakii from nodal segments is reported. Proliferating microshoot cultures were obtained by placing nodal segment on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 20 g.L-1 of sucrose without growth regulators. In this medium multiplication rate after 20 days was 7.9. Rooted plants were acclimatized successfully. (AU)
Subject(s)
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOVT , Botany/methods , Plant Physiological Phenomena , Verbenaceae/growth & development , Acclimatization , Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism , Indoleacetic Acids/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Plant Shoots/drug effects , Plant Shoots/growth & development , Plant Shoots/physiology , Reproduction , Verbenaceae/drug effects , Verbenaceae/physiologyABSTRACT
Glandularia perakii is a perennial species with beautiful violet flowers that grows in the stony soil of Mendocine pedemont. A plentiful and prolonged flowering confers it an important ornamental potential. In this paper, a method of propagation of G. perakii from nodal segments is reported. Proliferating microshoot cultures were obtained by placing nodal segment on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 20 g.L-1 of sucrose without growth regulators. In this medium multiplication rate after 20 days was 7.9. Rooted plants were acclimatized successfully.
Subject(s)
Botany/methods , Plant Physiological Phenomena , Verbenaceae/growth & development , Acclimatization , Plant Shoots/drug effects , Plant Shoots/growth & development , Plant Shoots/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Culture Media , Indoleacetic Acids , Reproduction , Verbenaceae/drug effects , Verbenaceae/physiologyABSTRACT
The in vivo sedative property of the total aqueous extract of the aerial portion of Vervain hastata (Verbenaceae) (TAEV) was studied in male rats to establish its scientific basis in herbal medicine. The investigation was conducted using electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis, and the barbituric-hypnosis test. The results showed that TAEV potentiated the pentobarbital-induced hypnosis significantly by reducing sleep latency and increased sleeping time in a dose-dependent manner that was reversed by flumazenil. The EEG data demonstrated that extract administration augmented total sleep time, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep at the expense of wakefulness. The study's results clearly showed the scientific validity for the use of this plant as a sedative and possibly as a nerve tonic substance.
