Simultaneous determination of cucurbitacins B, D, and E in Cucurbita seed oils by HPLC-DAD.

Cucurbitacins are triterpene bioactive constituents of natural products, particularly in the Cucurbitaceae plant family. The presence of cucurbitacins in seeds of the Cucurbita genus (pumpkin) has been only little studied. In this work, the content of cucurbitacins B, D, and E in seed oils from three cucurbits (Cucurbita moschata Duch, Cucurbita pepo Linn, and Cucurbita maxima Linn) was studied. An analytical method based on HPLC-DAD for the detection and quantification of these three cucurbitacins in seed oils was developed and validated according to ICH guidelines. The method showed good linearity, accuracy, and precision for the simultaneous quantification of cucurbitacins B, D, and E using C.moschata seed oil as a reference. When applied to C.pepo and C.maxima seed oils, cucurbitacin B and D were quantified but to a lesser extent. This is the first report of a simple, repeatable, and reproducible analytical tool to identify cucurbitacins in oilseeds from Cucurbita spp.

Actividad antipirética de un extracto acuoso de Cecropia peltata L. en ratas de la línea Wistar como modelo experimental / Antipyretic activity of an aqueous extract of Cecropia peltata L. in Wistar rats as experimental model

La especie Cecropia peltata L es una planta muy utilizada por la población; se ha mencionado su uso en afecciones que involucran episodios asmáticos o catarrales. El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de comprobar experimentalmente, por primera vez, el efecto antipirético atribuible al extracto acuoso de Cecropia peltata L en ratas; para cumplirlo se realizó un estudio experimental, de ensayo preclínico a doble ciego aleatorizado, mediante la inyección intraperitoneal de una suspensión acuosa de levadura de cerveza en cloruro de sodio al 0,9 por ciento como pirógeno exógeno en cuatro grupos de ocho animales cada uno en el Centro de Toxicología de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas Dr Serafín Ruiz de Zárate Ruiz, de la Ciudad de Santa Clara, Provincia de Villa Clara, en febrero de 2013. Tres grupos recibieron dosis de 200, 400 y 800mg/Kg del extracto, respectivamente, y un grupo control positivo recibió ibuprofeno (100mg/Kg). Se aplicaron como estadígrafos descriptivos la media y la desviación estándar. La comparación entre los grupos se realizó mediante la aplicación de técnicas no paramétricas y se utilizaron las pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis y Mann-Whitney para muestras independientes, con un intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento. Se comprobó el efecto antipirético del extracto de Cecropia peltata L a través de la técnica descrita, en dosis de 200, 400 y 800mg/Kg, con temperaturas finales similares a las del grupo control positivo utilizado. Se pudo concluir que el extracto acuoso de Cecropia peltata L presentó una actividad antipirética considerable en dosis de 400mg/Kg de peso al compararlo con el fármaco de referencia(AU)

Chemical analysis and antioxidant activity of the essential oils of three Piperaceae species growing in the central region of Cuba.

The present study describes the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of the essential oils of three Piperaceae species collected in the central region of Cuba. The essential oils of Piper aduncum, P. auritum and P. umbellatum leaves, obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main components of P. aduncum oil were piperitone (34%), camphor (17.1%), camphene (10.9%), 1,8-cineol (8.7%) and viridiflorol (7.4%), whereas that of P. auritum and P. umbellatum was safrole (71.8 and 26.4%, respectively). The antioxidant properties of the essential oils were also evaluated using several assays for radical scavenging ability (DPPH test and reducing power) and inhibition of lipid oxidation (ferric thiocyanate method and evaluation against Cucurbita seed oil by peroxide, thiobarbituric acid and p-anisidine methods). P. auritum showed the strongest antioxidant activity among the Piper species investigated, but lower than those of butylated hydroxyanisol and propyl gallate.

Chemical composition, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Murraya paniculata leaves from the mountains of Central Cuba.

The essential oil of Murraya paniculata L leaves from the mountains of the Central Region of Cuba, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eighteen compounds, accounting for 95.1% of the oil were identified. The major component was beta-caryophyllene (ca. 30%). The antioxidant activity of essential oil was evaluated against Cucurbita seed oil by peroxide, thiobarbituric acid and p-anisidine methods. The essential oil showed stronger antioxidant activity than that of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene, but lower than that of propyl gallate. Moreover, this antioxidant activity was supported by the complementary antioxidant assay in the linoleic acid system and 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The essential oil also showed good to moderate inhibitory effects against Klebsiellapneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis.

Classification of pumpkin seed oils according to their species and genetic variety by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), followed by multivariate treatment of the spectral data, was used to classify seed oils of the genus Cucurbita (pumpkins) according to their species as C. maxima, C. pepo, and C. moschata. Also, C. moschata seed oils were classified according to their genetic variety as RG, Inivit C-88, and Inivit C-2000. Up to 23 wavelength regions were selected on the spectra, each region corresponding to a peak or shoulder. The normalized absorbance peak areas within these regions were used as predictors. Using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), an excellent resolution among all categories concerning both Cucurbita species and C. moschata varieties was achieved. The proposed method was straightforward and quick and can be easily implemented. Quality control of pumpkin seed oils is important because Cucurbita species and genetic variety are both related to the pharmaceutical properties of the oils.

Especificidad de la cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para evaluar estabilidad química basada en partenina del follaje seco pulverizado de Parthenium hysterophorus L (escoba amarga) / Specificity of HPLC to assess the chemical stability based on partenine from Parthenium hysterophorus L powdered dry foliage (escoba amarga)

INTRODUCCIÓN: se requiere una técnica de análisis específica que permita dar seguimiento al estudio de la estabilidad intrínseca del follaje seco pulverizado de Parthenium hysterophorus L. (escoba amarga), para la obtención de una forma farmacéutica de utilidad antiparasitaria con los requisitos de calidad, seguridad y eficacia exigidos. OBJETIVO: demostrar la especificidad de la técnica analítica de cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para la cuantificación de partenina en el polvo de P. hysterophorus para su aplicación en estudios de estabilidad. MÉTODOS: se aplicó cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia a muestras degradadas de P. hysterophorus, bajo condiciones degradativas en medio ácido, básico y oxidativo. Se evaluó la especificidad de la técnica de análisis para detectar el componente de interés sin interferencias de sus productos de degradación y su posible utilidad en estudios de estabilidad del polvo de la planta. RESULTADOS: la cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para cuantificar partenina en el polvo de P. hysterophorus resultó específica en las condiciones de trabajo establecidas y puede emplearse en estudios de estabilidad del sólido en el polvo de la planta. CONCLUSIONES: la técnica de cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia propuesta es específica y se recomienda su utilización en los estudios de estabilidad del sólido en polvo de la planta(AU)

INTRODUCTION: it is required a specific analysis technique allowing the follow-up to stability study intrinsic of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (escoba amarga) powdered dry foliage to achieve in a pharmaceutical way a antiparasitic usefulness with the quality, safety and effectiveness demanded requirements. OBJECTIVE: to demonstrate the specificity of analytical technique of high-performance liquid chromatography for quantization of partenine in the powder of P. hysterophorus for its application in stability studies. METHODS: high performance liquid chromatography was applied to P. hysterophorus degraded samples under degradation conditions in an oxidative, basic and acid medium.The analysis technique specificity was assessed to detect the interest component without interferences of its degradation products and its possible usefulness in studies on solid stability in the plant powder. RESULTS: high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify the presence of partenine in the P. hysterophorus powder was specific in established work conditions and may be used in solid stability studies of plant powder. CONCLUSIONS: the high-performance proposed is specific and it is recommended in solid stability studies of solids in plant powder(AU)

Especificidad de la cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para evaluar estabilidad química basada en partenina del follaje seco pulverizado de Parthenium hysterophorus L (escoba amarga) / Specificity of HPLC to assess the chemical stability based on partenine from Parthenium hysterophorus L powdered dry foliage (escoba amarga)

INTRODUCCIÓN: se requiere una técnica de análisis específica que permita dar seguimiento al estudio de la estabilidad intrínseca del follaje seco pulverizado de Parthenium hysterophorus L. (escoba amarga), para la obtención de una forma farmacéutica de utilidad antiparasitaria con los requisitos de calidad, seguridad y eficacia exigidos. OBJETIVO: demostrar la especificidad de la técnica analítica de cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para la cuantificación de partenina en el polvo de P. hysterophorus para su aplicación en estudios de estabilidad. MÉTODOS: se aplicó cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia a muestras degradadas de P. hysterophorus, bajo condiciones degradativas en medio ácido, básico y oxidativo. Se evaluó la especificidad de la técnica de análisis para detectar el componente de interés sin interferencias de sus productos de degradación y su posible utilidad en estudios de estabilidad del polvo de la planta. RESULTADOS: la cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia para cuantificar partenina en el polvo de P. hysterophorus resultó específica en las condiciones de trabajo establecidas y puede emplearse en estudios de estabilidad del sólido en el polvo de la planta. CONCLUSIONES: la técnica de cromatografía líquida de alta eficacia propuesta es específica y se recomienda su utilización en los estudios de estabilidad del sólido en polvo de la planta.

INTRODUCTION: it is required a specific analysis technique allowing the follow-up to stability study intrinsic of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (escoba amarga) powdered dry foliage to achieve in a pharmaceutical way a antiparasitic usefulness with the quality, safety and effectiveness demanded requirements. OBJECTIVE: to demonstrate the specificity of analytical technique of high-performance liquid chromatography for quantization of partenine in the powder of P. hysterophorus for its application in stability studies. METHODS: high performance liquid chromatography was applied to P. hysterophorus degraded samples under degradation conditions in an oxidative, basic and acid medium.The analysis technique specificity was assessed to detect the interest component without interferences of its degradation products and its possible usefulness in studies on solid stability in the plant powder. RESULTS: high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify the presence of partenine in the P. hysterophorus powder was specific in established work conditions and may be used in solid stability studies of plant powder. CONCLUSIONS: the high-performance proposed is specific and it is recommended in solid stability studies of solids in plant powder.