Elfriede Marianne Bacchi

Antiulcer activity of Sapindus saponaria L. in the rat.

Extracts of leaves and fruits of Sapindus saponaria L. were orally administered to rats and the parameters of gastric secretion (volume, pH and acidity) were evaluated after pylorus ligature. The inhibitory effect of the extracts on lesions induced by stress was compared to that of cimetidine. The volume and concentration of hydrochloric acid were reduced after oral administration of the extracts. A significant reduction of the lesion index was observed in the acute assays. No significant alteration in body or organ weight was detected in animals treated orally for 30 days with the extracts. These results suggest that S. saponaria fruits have an anti-gastric ulcer potential.

Cytotoxicity of cashew flavonoids towards malignant cell lines

The leaves of the Cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale L.) are used by the folk medicine in South America and West Africa. This plant is rich in flavonoids, which are polyphenolic compounds widespread in plants, and that have diverse physiological effects. In a sub-acute toxicity assay it was found that an ethanolic extract of Cashew leaves elicited lymphopenia in rats. The extract was also found to be cytotoxic and to induce apoptosis in Jurkat (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) cells. The crude ethanolic extract was fractionated and resolved by HPLC. One of the four fractions obtained led to the isolation of the biflavonoid agasthisflavone. [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation assays and flow cytometry analysis showed that the isolated compound displayed a high anti-proliferative effect in Jurkat cells with an IC(50) of 2.4 μg/ml (4.45 μM). The effect of agathisflavone on the acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60, Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells and Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cells was also tested. The two latter ones were only mildly affected by agathisflavone. It is also shown that agathisflavone induces apoptosis in Jurkat cells and it this proposed that this is the likely mechanism of agathisflavone specific cytotoxicity.

Antibacterial activity of Apocynaceae extracts and MIC of Tabernaemontana angulata stem organic extract

Trinta e oito extratos orgânicos e aquosos obtidos de 11 especies de Apocynaceae foram submetidos a triagem utilizando o metodo da microdiluicao em caldo contra Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Candida albicans. O extrato orgânico obtido do caule de Tabernaemontana angulata apresentou atividade contra a bacteria Gram positiva S. aureus. A concentracao inibitoria minima verificada para esse extrato variou de 2,50 a 1,25 mg/mL. Cloranfenicol foi utilizado como antimicrobiano padrao. A analise fitoquimica indicou a presenca de triterpenos e alcaloides no extrato ativo.

Antiulcer action of Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) Sota

Microgramma squamulosa (Kaulf.) Sota (Polypodiaceae) is commonly used as an antiulcer agent in the state of São Paulo, mainly in the upper land. The present work aims to study the antiulcer action of the crude extract of the plant rhizome and its toxicity. The effective dose was determined through acute ulcer induction test by stress. Using a determined dose, we performed a test against ulcer through acute induction by ethanol and hydrochloric acid, using cimetidine and misoprostol as reference drugs in both tests. The same extract, its ethanol and ethanol + water (1:1) fractions and the reference drug cimetidine were tested through subchronic induction test with acetic acid. The subchronic toxicity test was performed using a dose of 800 mg/kg of the crude extract, orally administered for 30 days. Finally the extracts and fractions were analysed in order to determine the main chemical groups of substances.

Ação anti-úlcera e cicatrizante de algumas plantas brasileiras

This paper is a review of some brazilian plants, growing at the region of Sao Paulo and known for its anti-ulcer and cicatrization action. The species mentioned in this article are: sucupira, juca, erva de bugre, taiuia, cipo-chumbo, cipo-caboclo, carobinha, saiao, cordao de frade, aroeira e estoraque do campo.

Optimization of Pothomorphe umbellata (L.) Miquel topical formulations using experimental design

Pothomorphe umbellata is a native plant widely employed in the Brazilian popular medicine. This plant has been shown to exert a potent antioxidant activity on the skin and to delay the onset and reduce the incidence of UVB-induced skin damage and photoaging. The aim of this work was to optimize the appearance, the centrifuge stability and the permeation of emulsions containing P. umbellata (0.1% 4-nerolidylchatecol). Experimental design was used to study ternary mixtures models with constraints and graphical representation by phase diagrams. The constraints reduce the possible experimental domain, and for this reason, this methodology offers the maximum information while requiring the minimum investment. The results showed that the appearance follows a linear model, and that the aqueous phase was the principal factor affecting the appearance; the centrifuge stability parameter followed a mathematic quadratic model and the interactions between factors produced the most stable emulsions; skin permeation was improved by the oil phase, following a linear model generated by data analysis. We propose as optimized P. umbellata formulation: 68.4% aqueous phase, 26.6% oil phase and 5.0% of self-emulsifying phase. This formulation displayed an acceptable compromise between factors and responses investigated.

Atividades antiúlcera e antioxidante do extrato de folhas de Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (Myrtaceae)

Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, Myrtaceae, e empregado na medicina popular como digestivo e antiinflamatorio. A triagem fitoquimica da droga pulverizada (folhas) indicou a presenca de flavonoides, taninos e oleo volatil. O extrato hidroetanolico a 70% das folhas de S. jambos foi preparado por percolacao e liofilizado. O conteudo de taninos das folhas e do extrato foi calculado, respectivamente, em 21,9% e 43,3%. O teor de flavonoides foi de 0,6% (folhas) e 1,2% (extrato). A administracao oral previa do extrato (400 mg/kg) a ratos Wistar reduziu significativamente as lesoes gastricas induzidas por etanol acidificado. No modelo de ulcera subcronica, com inducao de lesao gastrica utilizando acido acetico a 30%, o tratamento com o extrato (400 mg/kg) nao apresentou resultado significativo. A atividade antioxidante do extrato foi avaliada atraves dos modelos de lipoperoxidacao e de medida de capacidade sequestrante de radicais DPPH. Os valores obtidos de Q1/2 (MDA) e CE50 (DPPH) foram, respectivamente, 0,17 μg/mL e 5,68 μg/mL.

Applying design of experiments (DOE) to flavonoid extraction from Passiflora alata and P. edulis

The Passifloraceae family is extensively used in native Brazilian folk medicine to treat a wide variety of diseases. The problem of flavonoid extraction from Passiflora was treated by application of design of experiments (DOE), as an experiment with mixture including one categorical process variable. The components of the binary mixture were: ethanol (component A) and water (component B); the categorical process variable: extraction method (factor C) was varied at two levels: (+1) maceration and (-1) percolation. ANOVA suggested a cubic model for P. edulis extraction and a quadratic model for P. alata.These results indicate that the proportion of components A and B in the mixture is the main factor involved in significantly increasing flavonoid extraction. In regard to the extraction methods, no important differences were observed, which indicates that these two traditional extraction methods could be effectively used to extract flavonoids from both medicinal plants. The evaluation of antioxidant activity of the extract by ORAC method showed that P. edulis displays twice as much antioxidant activity as P. alata. Considering that maceration is a simple, rapid and environmentally friendly extraction method, in this study, the optimized conditions for flavonoid extraction from these Passiflora species is maceration with 75% ethanol for P. edulis and 50% ethanol for P. alata.

Extração por fluido supercrítico

The present study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the 70% hydroalcoholic extract from Leonurus sibiricus l., Lamiaceae. The antimicrobial activity was determined throught the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The extract of Leonurus sibiricus l. was active against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Analgésicos e antipiréticos

Revisao sobre os analgesicos e antipireticos existentes no mercado com os respectivos mecanismos de acao, bem como a perspectiva do uso de plantas medicinais brasileiras.