Armando Cuéllar

Anti-inflammatory activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition of iridoid lamiide isolated from Bouchea fluminensis (Vell.) Mold. (Verbenaceae).

Anti-inflammatory activity of an ethanolic extract from Bouchea fluminensis leaves was demonstrated. From de ethanolic extract, the active compound was isolated and characterized as the iridoid lamiide. The activity of lamiide on rat-brain phospholipid peroxidation showed a powerful effect (IC(50)=0.92+/-0.01 mM) and an anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenin-induced paw edema test (ED(50)=62.3+/-7 mg/kg weight).

Antileishmanial Activity of the Essential Oil from Bixa orellana

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania protozoa. There is currently no vaccine against leishmaniasis, and chemotherapy remains the only effective control. However, conventional drugs are toxic, expensive, and require long periods of treatment, and resistance to clinical chemotherapeutic agents is emerging. Recent research on plants has shown a successful approach to obtain new antileishmanial alternatives. Herein, the in vitro and in vivo effects of the essential oil from Bixa orellana seeds against Leishmania amazonensis were evaluated. A total of 73 compounds were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, of which ishwarane (18.6%) and geranylgeraniol (9.1%) were the major components. The oil showed activity against intracellular amastigote form (IC50 = 8.5 µg/mL), while the cytotoxic concentration was sevenfold higher for the host cells. The ability of Bixa oil to control disease progression of established cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice was demonstrated, after a treatment with 30 mg/kg by intraperitoneal administration over 14 days. The present study reports for the first time the antileishmanial potentialities of the essential oil from B. orellana. Copyright

New Phytochemical Profile of Ethanolic Extract from Talipariti elatum (Sw.)

Genus Talipariti has long history of use in various traditional medicine therapeutic applications in Cuba, especially in treatment of bronchial asthma and flu. Petals of genus Talipariti are rich source of secondary metabolites and most of these metabolites are reported to possess expectorant, antasthmatic, appetitive, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Hence, in our study, we present a validated, sensitive, reliable, and cheap narrow-bore UHPLC-UV-ESI-MS/MS coupled to PDA (photodiode array detectors) method for the simultaneous isolation and identification of flavonoids and their glycosidic derivatives in this flower drug. In addition, about twelve compounds were identified in this specie based on chromatography retention time (tR), UV and MS/MS spectra and compared with those of isolated authentic compound and literature data. About eighth constituents were reported for the first time from Talipariti elatum. Our results demonstrated the developed method could be employed as a rapid and versatile analytical technique for identification of chemical constituents and quality control of Talipariti elatum.

Antiprotozoal screening of the Cuban native plant Scutellaria havanensis

Abstract Context: Scutellaria havanensis Jacq. (Lamiaceae) is a native medicinal herb with a history of use in Cuba. Objective: This study screens the antiprotozoal activity of S. havanensis. Materials and methods: Chloroform and methanol extracts from leaves and stems were evaluated in vitro at doses between 0.015 and 200 μg/mL against protozoan parasites: Plasmodium berghei, Trichomonas vaginalis and Leishmania amazonensis. Chloroform and methanol extracts were characterized by GC/MS. Cytotoxicity against mouse peritoneal macrophages was tested in parallel. Results: Scutellaria havanensis extracts exhibited IC50 values between 7.7 and 32.2 μg/mL against trophozoites of P. berghei and T. vaginalis; while the extracts were inactive against L. amazonensis promastigotes. Trichomonicidal activity of methanol extract exhibited the best selectivity but chloroform extract showed the highest antiplasmodial, trichomonicidal and cytotoxic activity. The majority of compounds in the chloroform extract were hydroxy and/or methoxyflavones (77.96%), in particular, wogonin (48.27%). In methanol extract, wogonin (5.89%) was detected. Trichomonicidal effect of wogonin was moderate (IC50 = 56 μM) and unspecific with respect to macrophages (SI = 2). On the contrary, antiplasmodial activity of wogonin were particularly active (IC50 = 15 μM) demonstrating a higher selectivity index (SI = 7.4). Conclusions: Wogonin is an active principle compound of the chloroform extract of S. havanensis against P. berghei and T. vaginalis trophozoites, whereas the methanol extract of S. havanensis should be investigated more deeply as a trichomonicide. Our findings suggest that wogonin is potentially useful for the development of antimalarial alternative treatments.