Antioxidant activity of different extracts of Argentinian medicinal plants against arsenic-induced toxicity in renal cells.

Chronic toxicity of arsenic resulting from drinking water is a health problem encountered in humans, especially in South America and Asia, where a correlation between oxidative stress, tumor promotion, and arsenic exposure has been observed. Differential solvent extraction (petroleum ether (PE); dichloromethane (DCM); methanol (OL) and water (W)) was performed to compare the protective (antioxidant) activity of five Argentinian medicinal plants on arsenite-induced oxidative stress in Vero cells, assayed by hydroperoxide measurement. The results were analyzed using ANOVA followed by the LSD Fisher test. The data showed that arsenite was a pro-oxidant agent which acts in a time-dose-dependent manner. Extracts from Eupatorium buniifolium (PE), Lantana grisebachii (PE, W), Mandevilla pentlandiana (PE, W), and Sebastiania commersoniana (DCM, OL, W) prevented the formation of both aqueous and lipid hydroperoxides, but Heterothalamus alienus only impeded lipid ones. Therefore, antioxidant extracts are potentially beneficial and may have a protective activity against arsenite-induced renal injury. Among these, the aqueous extract of L. grisebachii may represent the most suitable preparation for humans since the traditional usage of this plant in popular medicine is through consumption of tea.

Medicinal plants from the "Sierra de Comechingones", Argentina.

Argentina is a country with both rich floral biodiversity and cultural diversity. Traditional herbal medicines are important in the health care of most people, and rely heavily on the use of indigenous plants. An ethnobotanical survey of the "Sierra de Comechingones" made over a 26-year period (1979-2005), indicated that 65 families and 149 different genuses were used in traditional medicines. The use of these medicines was observed to be widespread and prevalent over orthodox medicine. Medicinal native plants from this mountain range make up 31% of the total Argentina medicinal native flora. In addition, there are 15 endemic species that grow only in the region. The botanical name, popular uses, parts utilized, as well as the distribution of these medicinal plants from the "Sierra de Comechingones", Argentina, were summarized. Previous reports on phytochemical and biological activities in relation to cancer, antimicrobials and pesticides were also included.