Passiflora actinia hydroalcoholic extract and its major constituent, isovitexin, are neuroprotective against glutamate-induced cell damage in mice hippocampal slices.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether Passiflora actinia hydroalcoholic extract and its major constituent, isovitexin, protect mice hippocampal brain slices from glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: Neuroprotective effect of the extract against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity (10 mm) was evaluated through cell viability of hippocampal slices. The extract or its flavonoids were directly applied to hippocampal slices and then subjected to glutamate-induced toxicity. Alternatively, hippocampal slices from extract-treated mice were also subjected to the same toxicity protocol. KEY FINDINGS: Mice supplementation with the extract protected hippocampal slices from in-vitro neurotoxicity. When directly applied to hippocampal slices, the extract showed a higher neuroprotective potential than a commercial dry extract of Passiflora incarnata, which was related to P. actinia extract which had higher isovitexin and total flavonoid content expressed as isovitexin. Isovitexin, but not apigenin, induced a similar neuroprotective response when applied alone, at a concentration equivalent to that found in the extract. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights new neuropharmacological activity of the Passiflora genus, suggesting that it can act as modulator of the glutamatergic system. The search for improved pharmacotherapies with novel mechanisms of action has been shown of great importance for the treatment of resistant neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Comparative study of Passiflora taxa leaves: I. A morpho-anatomic profile

AbstractDetermining the authenticity and quality of plant raw materials used in the formulation of herbal medicines, teas and cosmetics is essential to ensure their safety and efficacy for clinical use. Some Passiflora species are officially recognized in the pharmaceutical compendia of various countries and have therapeutic uses, particularly as sedatives and anxiolytics. However, the large number of Passiflora species, coupled with the fact that most species are popularly known as passion fruit, increases the misidentification problem. The purpose of this study is to make a pharmacognostic comparison between various Passiflora species to establish a morpho-anatomical profile that could contribute to the quality control of herbal drug products that contain passion fruit. This was conducted by collecting samples of leaves from twelve Passiflora taxa (ten species and two forms of P. edulis): P. actinia, P. alata, P. amethystina, P. capsularis, P. cincinnata, P. edulisf. flavicarpa, P. edulis f. edulis, P. incarnata, P. morifolia, P. urnifolia, P. coccinea and P. setacea, from different locations and their morpho-anatomical features were analyzed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Microscopic analysis allowed to indicate a set of characters that can help to differentiate species. These include midrib and petiole shape, midrib and petiole vascular pattern, medium vein shape, presence of trichomes, presence of blade epidermal papillae and sclerenchymatic cells adjoining the vascular bundles. These characters could be used to assist in the determination of herbal drug quality and authenticity derived from a species of Passiflora.

Inhibition of gastric H+, K(+)-ATPase activity by compounds from medicinal plants.

H+, K(+)-ATPase enzyme is a therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric disturbances. Several medicinal plants and isolated compounds inhibit the acid gastric secretion through interaction with the proton pump. In order to add new properties to some natural constituents, five compounds, a benzylated derivative of vincoside, a diterpene (abietic acid) and three alkaloids (cephaeline, vinblastine and vindoline), were tested for their activities on gastric H+, K(+)-ATPase isolated from rabbit stomach. All the compounds inhibited H+, K(+)-ATPase activity with varied potency. The IC50 value for benzylvincoside was 121 (50-293) microM, and for abietic acid 177 (148-211) microM. The alkaloids cephaeline, vinblastine and vindoline inhibited the H+, K(+)-ATPase activity with IC50 values of 194, 761 and 846 microM, respectively. The results suggest that benzylvincoside, abietic acid and cephaeline can be important sources for the development of anti-secretor agents.

Pharmacobotanic characterization of young stems and stem barks of Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg., Apocynaceae / Caracterização farmacobotânica de novos talos e cascas do caule de Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg., Apocynaceae

Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg. (Apocynaceae), a Brazilian native tree rich in indole alkaloids, is known as "pau-pra-tudo" and popularly used as hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic and antihypertensive. The aim of this work was to study the anatomy of the young stems and stem barks of this medicinal plant, in order to contribute to the identification of the species as a drug. The plant material was fixed and prepared according to standard microtechniques. The young stems have remaining epidermis, but a suberified peridermis is evident. The phellogen is located in the cortical region, forming suber externally. Underneath the phellogen, lies the phelloderm and collenchymatic region. In the cortex, there are numerous laticifers and some fibers. There is an incomplete sclerenchymatic sheath, consisting of several groups of fibers and stone cells. The stem has internal phloem ordered as isolated groups side by side. Numerous laticifers, calcium oxalate crystals, idioblasts and amyloplasts are found in the cortex, phloem, xylem and pith. The stem bark has many layers of suber and cortical parenchyma, a sheath composed of fibers and stone cells totally lignified, and external phloem. These anatomical characteristic, taken together, can be used as quality control parameters for this species.

Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg. (Apocynaceae), uma árvore nativa brasileira rica em alcaloides indólicos, é conhecida como "pau-pra-tudo" e utilizada popularmente como hipocolesterolêmica, hipoglicêmica e anti-hipertensiva. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar anatomicamente o caule jovem e a casca caulinar dessa planta medicinal, a fim de contribuir para a identificação e autenticidade da droga. O material vegetal foi fixado e submetido às microtécnicas usuais. O caule jovem possui epiderme remanescente, porém uma periderme suberificada é observada. O felogênio instala-se na região cortical, formando súber externamente. Subjacentes ao felogênio são observadas a feloderme e uma região colenquimática. No córtex, há numerosos laticíferos e algumas fibras. Há uma bainha esclerenquimática incompleta, constituída de vários grupos de fibras e células pétreas. O caule mostra floema interno organizado em grupos isolados lado a lado. Numerosos laticíferos, cristais de oxalato de cálcio, idioblastos e amiloplastos são encontrados no córtex, no floema, no xilema e na medula. A casca do caule possui várias camadas de súber e parênquima cortical, uma bainha composta de fibras e células pétreas totalmente lignificadas, e floema externo. Estes caracteres anatômicos, quando analisados em conjunto, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros para controle de qualidade desta espécie.

Alkaloid-rich fraction of Himatanthus lancifolius contains anti-tumor agents against leukemic cells

The effects of the alkaloid-rich fraction of Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg) Woodson on normal marrow cells and leukemic cell lines were investigated. After 48 h exposure, the proliferation assay showed significant cell growth inhibition for Daudi (0.1-10 µg/mL), K-562 (1-10 µg/mL), and REH cells (10-100 µg/mL), yet was inert for normal marrow cells. A similar inhibition profile was observed in clonogenic assays. This alkaloid-rich fraction, in which uleine is the main compound, showed no signs of toxicity to any cells up to 10 µg/mL. Cell feature analyses after induction of differentiation showed maintenance of the initial phenotype. Flow cytometric expression of Annexin-V and 7-AAD in K-562 and Daudi cells has indicated that the cells were not undergoing apoptosis or necrosis, suggesting cytostatic activity for tumor cells.

Os efeitos da fração rica em alcalóides indólicos de Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg) Woodson sobre células normais de medula óssea e linhagens celulares leucêmicas foram investigados. Após 48 horas de exposição, os ensaios de proliferação demonstraram efeitos inibitórios significativos para as linhagens Daudi (0,1-10 µg/mL), K-562 (1-10 µg/mL) e REH (10-100 µg/mL), enquanto mostrou-se inerte sobre células normais de medula óssea. Os perfis de inibição se repetiram nos ensaios clonogênicos. A fração rica em alcalóides, na qual a uleína é a substância majoritária, não demonstrou toxicidade até a dose de 10 µg/mL para nenhuma das células incluídas no estudo. Da mesma forma, não se observou influência dessa fração sobre a diferenciação celular dessas linhagens, mas manutenção de seu estado maturacional inicial. O conjunto de dados descritos associado à baixa co-expressão de anexina-V e 7-AAD sugerem que esta fração exerce atividade citostática para células tumorais.

The uleine-rich fraction of Himatanthus lancifolius blocks proliferative responses of human lymphoid cells.

The purpose of the present work is to report the effects shown by the uleine-rich fraction extracted from the barks of Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in which we were able to inhibit the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes by blocking their transformation into blast-dividing cells. Furthermore, it inhibited the proliferation of Daudi and Reh cells, two leukemic cell lines of lymphoid origin. The present study widens the biological applications of H. lancifolius' alkaloids to include its possible use as a modulator of the immune system.

Comparison of chemical constituents of Chamomilla recutita (L) rauschert essential oil and its anti-chemotactic activity

Several essential oil samples from dried flower-heads of Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert, grown and commercially available around Curitiba metropolitan area, South of Brazil, were analyzed by GC-MS and the chemical constituents were compared with an Egyptian sample obtained under similar conditions and used as a control. The local grown herbs showed levels of essential oil below the standards recommended by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. Also, differences in their composition as well as in the quantity of several components were found such as the unexpected inversion of the relative constitution of the A and B alpha-bisabolol oxides. Of particular interest was the striking effect of the chamomile extracts upon human leukocyte chemotaxis, a biological anti-inflammatory activity not reported before, in which cell migration was in vitro inhibited at the same level as showed by dexamethasone.

Oleos essenciais extraídos de amostras de Chamomilla recutita (l.) Rauschert cultivadas e comercializadas na região metropolitana de Curitiba, sul do Brasil, foram analisadas por cromatografia com fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa e seus constituintes químicos comparados com uma amostra egípcia, usada como controle. A quantidade de óleo essencial obtida das amostras locais foi abaixo do padrão recomendado pela Farmacopéia Brasileira IV. Observou-se, também, diferenças na composição química desses óleos, assim como na quantidade relativa dos constituintes, como os óxidos A e B do alfa-bisabolol. De particular interesse foram os efeitos inibidores dos extratos de camomila sobre a quimiotaxia de leucócitos humanos induzida por caseína, efeito biológico descrito pela primeira vez e semelhante ao promovido pela dexametasona.

Sedative and anxiolytic effects of methanolic extract from the leaves of Passiflora actinia

Leaves from several Passiflora species are largely employed in the Brazilian folk medicine as anxiolytic and sedative. In this work the anxiolytic, sedative-like properties and liquid chromatography analysis of methanolic extract of Passiflora actinia were evaluated. The methanol extract and all of its fractions presented significant sedative-like effect in elevated plus-maze and open field tests. Only the aqueous fraction of the methanol extract showed selective anxiolytic activity (30 mg/kg). Chromatographic analysis of the active fractions showed the presence of isovitexin and absence of the classical Passiflora beta-carboline alkaloids or flavonoids such as vitexin, rutin, swertisin, hesperidin and orientin. The tincture obtained from P. actinia leaves presented 0.27 mg/ml of isovitexin and absence of vitexin.

Folhas de diversas espécies de Passiflora são amplamente empregadas na medicina popular brasileira como ansiolítica e sedativa. Neste trabalho, as propriedades ansiolíticas e sedativas e análise por cromatografia líquida dos extratos metanólicos de Passiflora actinia foram avaliados. O extrato metanólico e todas as suas frações apresentaram efeitos sedativos significativos nos testes de labirinto em cruz elevada e campo aberto. Somente a fração aquosa do extrato metanólico mostrou seletiva atividade sedativa (30 mg/kg). Análise cromatográfica das frações ativas mostraram a presença de isovitexina e ausência dos alcalóides beta-carbolínicos clássicos de Passiflora ou flavonóides como vitexina, rutina, swertisina, hesperidina e orientina. A tintura obtida de P. actinia (folhas) apresentou 0,27 mg/ml de isovitexina e ausência de vitexina.

Stem morpho-anatomy of Baccharis cylindrica (Less.) DC. (Asteraceae)

Baccharis cylindrica (Less.) DC. (Asteraceae) is a three-winged stem species, which belongs to the Trimera group and is commonly named as carqueja, as well as several other species of Baccharis. It is employed in the traditional medicine as stomachic and diuretic. This work has carried out the stem morpho-anatomical analysis of the medicinal plant, in order to contribute to its identification and to the knowledge for the Trimera group. Stem fragments were collected, fixed and prepared according to usual optical and scanning electron microtechniques. The epidermis is uniseriate, coated by striated cuticle and has anomocytic stomata, pluricellular glandular and non-glandular trichomes...

Parâmetros para o controle da qualidade de folhas de Casearia sylvestris SW. - Guaçatonga / Parameters to control the quality of leaves of Casearia sylvestris SW. - Guaçatonga

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estabelecer parâmetros farmacognósticos de Casearia sylvestris Sw., Flacourtiaceae, conhecida na medicina popular como guacatonga, para melhorar o controle de qualidade da droga. A espécie é oficializada na Farmacopéia Brasileira I, onde estão descritas apenas as características macroscópicas e microscópicas. São sugeridos novos parâmetros para determinação de resíduo de incineração, extrato seco e doseamento de taninos, como também um perfil cromatográfico em camada delgada.

The aim of this work was to establish pharmacognostic parameters of Casearia sylvestris Swartz, known in the folk medicine as guaçatonga, to improve the quality control of the drug. The species is official in the Farmacopéia Brasileira I, where only macroscopic and microscopic characters are described. We suggest new parameters for ash content, water extract and evaluation of tannins, as well as its profile in thin layer chromatography.

Parâmetros para o controle de qualidade de Fucus vesiculosus L., Fucaceae / Parameters for the quality control of Fucus vesiculosus L., Fucaceae

O propósito deste trabalho é estabelecer parâmetros para o controle de qualidade de Fucus vesiculosus L. Os resultados das análises de onze amostras da droga para cinzas totais, cinzas insolúveis em ácido e doseamento de iodo, como tambérn seu perfil cromatográfico, são sugeridos como novos parâmetros para a droga.

The aim of this work was to establish parameters for the quality control of Fucus vesiculosus L. The results from the analyses of eleven samples of the drug for total ash, ash insoluble in acid and evaluation of iodine content, as well as its profile in thin layer chromatography, are suggested as new parameters for the drug.