Cuauhtémoc Pérez

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Waltheria americana, Commelina coelestis and Alternanthera repens

The antidiarrhoeal activity of the hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Waltheria americana, Commelina coelestis and Alternathera repens, was tested on mice with diarrhoea induced by castor oil and MgSO4. The methanol extract of C. coelestis and A. repens and aqueous extract of A. repens, presented antidiarrhoeal effect, monitored by number of liquid feces defecated and intestinal transit of a suspension of graphite with castor oil in Wistar rats.

Hypoglycemic effects of lactucin-8-O-methylacrylate of Parmentiera edulis fruit.

Hypoglycemic activity-guided fractionation together with chemical analysis led to the isolation of one guaianolide (lactucin-8-O-methylacrylate) from the chloroform extract of the dried fruits of Parmentiera edulis. Identification was based on spectroscopic methods. The compounds lowers blood sugar levels after administration to alloxan-diabetic mice.

Chemical composition and antispasmodic effect of Casimiroa pringlei essential oil on rat uterus.

The Casimiroa pringlei essential oil was analyzed to determine its chemical composition. Its effect on rat uterine smooth muscle was studied and compared with verapamil. Pure commercial piperitone, eucalyptol, and alpha-terpineol, the major constituents of C. pringlei essential oil, were tested on the uterine tonic contraction induced by high-potassium depolarizing solution (KCl 60 mM).

Antiprotozoal activity of (8-hydroxymethylen)-trieicosanyl acetate isolated from Senna villosa.

A white solid compound was isolated from the chloroform extract of the leaves of Senna villosa. The material was identified by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, IR and EM methods as (8-hydroxymethylen)-trieicosanyl acetate, a new compound with biological activity, which was tested in vitro at concentrations of 1.65, 3.3 and 6.6 microg/ml for inhibition of the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and tripomastigotes. We observed inhibition of growth at all concentrations tested, and the effect at concentrations of 3.3 and 6.6 microg/ml was greater than that of gentian violet (positive control). At the concentration of 6.6 microg/ml, the compound showed the greatest inhibitory effect against the growth of both forms of the parasite.

Study of the Gastrointestinal Properties of Acalypha aff. mollis

ABSTRACT The antidiarrheal activity of hexane, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acalypha aff. mollis was evaluated in mice with diarrhea induced by castor oil and MgSO4. Both the aqueous and methanol extracts of the plant significantly inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhea (maximum inhibition was 54.35 and 30.57 percent, respectively), but failed to inhibit MgSO4-induced diarrhea. The aqueous extract also inhibited small intestine transit in both untreated and castor oil-treated rats. This antidiarrheal activity was not associated with an antimicrobial effect. Instead, tannins detected in phytochemical screening could probably contribute to the antidiarrheal action. Acalypha aff. mollis extracts did not modify normal defecation patterns.