Gloria E. Barboza

Withanolides and Related Steroids

Since the isolation of the first withanolides in the mid-1960s, over 600 new members of this group of compounds have been described, with most from genera of the plant family Solanaceae. The basic structure of withaferin A, a C28 ergostane with a modified side chain forming a δ-lactone between carbons 22 and 26, was considered for many years the basic template for the withanolides. Nowadays, a considerable number of related structures are also considered part of the withanolide class; among them are those containing γ-lactones in the side chain that have come to be at least as common as the δ-lactones. The reduced versions (γ and δ-lactols) are also known. Further structural variations include modified skeletons (including C27 compounds), aromatic rings and additional rings, which may coexist in a single plant species. Seasonal and geographical variations have also been described in the concentration levels and types of withanolides that may occur, especially in the Jaborosa and Salpichroa genera, and biogenetic relationships among those withanolides may be inferred from the structural variations detected. Withania is the parent genus of the withanolides and a special section is devoted to the new structures isolated from species in this genus. Following this, all other new structures are grouped by structural types.

Natural pharmacopoeia used in traditional Toba medicine for the treatment of parasitosis and skin disorders (Central Chaco, Argentina)

AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the knowledge and use of natural pharmacopoeia for the treatment of parasitosis and skin disorders, as well as for the control of their etiological agents or vectors, of a Toba community in Central Chaco, Argentina. MATERIALS AND METHODS Information was obtained by open, extensive and recurrent interviews and semi-structured surveys. Plant and animal pharmacopoeia was documented by collecting material in field assays carried out in the company of informers. The list of applications with the greatest consensus of uses, the list of species with most medicinal applications and the list of species with the highest reputation (according to the level of fidelity) for the aforementioned disorders were obtained using quantitative methods. RESULTS A total of 178 medicinal uses were documented corresponding to 87 species (72 plant and 15 animal species) belonging to 51 different families (39 plant and 12 animal families). The most represented families according to the number of species were Solanaceae (7 species), Asteraceae (6 species) and Fabaceae (5 species) for plants, and Bovidae (3 species) for animals. CONCLUSIONS Although the list of medicinal species includes some symbolical applications, others are supported by phytochemical information. In other cases the applications coincide with other pharmacopoeias of the Gran Chaco region indicating the presence of an active exchange of knowledge through interethnic contacts.

Resolution of deep nodes yields an improved backbone phylogeny and a new basal lineage to study early evolution of Asteraceae.

A backbone phylogeny that fully resolves all subfamily and deeper nodes of Asteraceae was constructed using 14 chloroplast DNA loci. The recently named genus Famatinanthus was found to be sister to the Mutisioideae-Asteroideae clade that represents more than 99% of Asteraceae and was found to have the two chloroplast inversions present in all Asteraceae except the nine genera of Barnadesioideae. A monotypic subfamily Famatinanthoideae and tribe Famatinantheae are named herein as new. Relationships among the basal lineages of the family were resolved with strong support in the Bayesian analysis as (Barnadesioideae (Famatinanthoideae (Mutisioideae (Stifftioideae (Wunderlichioideae-Asteroideae))))). Ancestral state reconstruction of ten morphological characters at the root node of the Asteraceae showed that the ancestral sunflower would have had a woody habit, alternate leaves, solitary capitulescences, epaleate receptacles, smooth styles, smooth to microechinate pollen surface sculpturing, white to yellow corollas, and insect-mediated pollination. Herbaceous habit, echinate pollen surface, pubescent styles, and cymose capitulescences were reconstructed for backbone nodes of the phylogeny corresponding to clades that evolved shortly after Asteraceae dispersed out of South America. No support was found for discoid capitula, multiseriate involucres or bird pollination as the ancestral character condition for any node. Using this more resolved phylogenetic tree, the recently described Raiguenrayun cura+Mutisiapollis telleriae fossil should be associated to a more derived node than previously suggested when time calibrating phylogenies of Asteraceae.

Design of Peumus boldus tablets by direct compression using a novel dry plant extract.

A solid pharmaceutical dosage formulation using a novel dry plant extract of Peumus boldus MOL. (Monimiaceae) (Pb) is proposed. The botanical evaluation of plant material, through morphological and anatomical diagnosis, is presented. This evaluation permits to identify the herb to be used correctly. The analysis of the most extractive solvent mixture and the attainment of plant extract (fluid and dry) are reported. Several formulations (tablets) containing a novel dry plant extract of Pb and common excipients for direct compression are evaluated. The following formulation: dry plant extract of Pb (170 mg), Avicel PH101 (112 mg), Lactose CD (112) and magnesium stearate (6 mg), compressed at 1000 mPa, showed the best pharmaceutical performance.

Phylogenetic relationships, diversification and expansion of chili peppers (Capsicum, Solanaceae)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Capsicum (Solanaceae), native to the tropical and temperate Americas, comprises the well-known sweet and hot chili peppers and several wild species. So far, only partial taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses have been done for the genus. Here, the phylogenetic relationships between nearly all taxa of Capsicum were explored to test the monophyly of the genus and to obtain a better knowledge of species relationships, diversification and expansion. METHODS Thirty-four of approximately 35 Capsicum species were sampled. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were performed using two plastid markers (matK and psbA-trnH) and one single-copy nuclear gene (waxy). The evolutionary changes of nine key features were reconstructed following the parsimony ancestral states method. Ancestral areas were reconstructed through a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis. KEY RESULTS Capsicum forms a monophyletic clade, with Lycianthes as a sister group, following both phylogenetic approaches. Eleven well-supported clades (four of them monotypic) can be recognized within Capsicum, although some interspecific relationships need further analysis. A few features are useful to characterize different clades (e.g. fruit anatomy, chromosome base number), whereas some others are highly homoplastic (e.g. seed colour). The origin of Capsicum is postulated in an area along the Andes of western to north-western South America. The expansion of the genus has followed a clockwise direction around the Amazon basin, towards central and south-eastern Brazil, then back to western South America, and finally northwards to Central America. CONCLUSIONS New insights are provided regarding interspecific relationships, character evolution, and geographical origin and expansion of Capsicum A clearly distinct early-diverging clade can be distinguished, centred in western-north-western South America. Subsequent rapid speciation has led to the origin of the remaining clades. The diversification of Capsicum has culminated in the origin of the main cultivated species in several regions of South to Central America.

Karyotype characterization of Andean Solanoideae (Solanaceae)

Abstract Solanaceae has a center of diversity in South America, with several genera endemic to the Andes. Molecular studies recognize the “x = 12” clade, including subfamily Solanoideae, Nicotiana, and Anthocercideae. Solanoideae is the largest group in the family having still many members cytologically unexplored. The mitotic chromosomes and karyotypes of 16 species and two varieties of Andean Solanoideae are here reported, from Brugmansia, Datura, Jaborosa, Latua, Leucophysalis, Lycianthes, Nolana, Salpichroa, Saracha, Solanum, and Witheringia. All species presented 2n = 24, being the numbers of ten taxa reported for the first time. In addition, the diploid number found for Latua pubiflora differed from the previous meiotic one. Average chromosome sizes varied from 1.64 to 4.92 μm. Karyotypes for the genera Saracha (the first for tribe Iochrominae), Leucophysalis, Nolana, and Salpichroa and the Regmandra clade of Solanum were heretofore unknown. In general, karyotypes showed low asymmetry, predominance of m and sm chromosomes, and one satellited pair. The exception was Salpichroa tristis, with no m chromosomes and four st pairs. Karyotype data were useful to single out the species and some of the genera examined. Data are discussed to dilucidate its value in the understanding of the phylogeny and the systematics of the group. The first karyotype for Nolana showed that it is typical of a Solanaceae and very close of Lycium and Grabowskia, as suggested by molecular phylogenies.

Antiproliferative activity of withanolide derivatives from Jaborosa cabrerae and Jaborosa reflexa. Chemotaxonomic considerations.

Three withanolides were isolated from the aerial parts of Jaborosa reflexa Phil. Jaborosa cabrerae Barboza yielded five sativolide withanolides (including jaborosalactones R, S, 38, and 39) and two trechonolide withanolides epimeric at C-23 (trechonolide A and jaborosalactone 32). In addition, five derivatives were obtained by chemical derivatization of jaborosalactone 38, and all compounds were fully characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of the major natural withanolides and the semisynthetic derivatives were examined against HBL-100, HeLa, SW1573, T-47D, and WiDr human solid tumor cancer cell lines. Some chemotaxonomic considerations are discussed.

New Endemic Species of Capsicum (Solanaceae) from the Brazilian Caatinga: Comparison with the Re-Circumscribed C. parvifolium

Abstract Two new species of Capsicum from the Caatinga Biome (Brazil) are described and illustrated. The two species are endemic to the north-eastern states of Brazil ( C. caatingae : Bahia, Pernambuco, and north of Minas Gerais; C. longidentatum : center of Bahia and Pernambuco) and are morphologically similar to another caatinga species, C. parvifolium. Lectotypification and a complete description for C. parvifolium, which has been confused in the literature and herbaria, are also provided. The karyotype for the three species (2n = 2x = 24) is analyzed and discussed, and a key to differentiate the endemic Capsicum species from Brazil is included.

Withanolides with Antibacterial Activity from Nicandra john-tyleriana

Eleven new withanolides (1-11) were isolated and characterized from the aerial parts of Nicandra john-tyleriana. Five of these withanolides have an unmodified skeleton (1-5), two are acnistins (6, 7), and four are withajardins (8-11). These new isolates were fully characterized using a combination of spectroscopic techniques (including multidimensional NMR) and mass spectrometry. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Bacillus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Listeria, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus strains.

Morpho-histological studies in the aromatic species of Chenopodium from Argentina

A morpho-histological study of the vegetative organs (stem and leaf) of the aromatic species of Chenopodium L. from Argentina [C. ambrosioides L., C. burkartii (Aellen) Vorosch., C. carinatum R. Br., C. chilense Schrad., C. graveolens Willd. var. bangii (Murr) Aellen, C. haumanii Ulbr., C. multifidum L., C. oblanceolatum (Speg.) Giusti, C. pumilio R. Br., C. retusum (Moq.) Moq., and C. venturii (Aellen) Cabrera] was carried out. Classifications for the glandular and non-glandular trichomes are established and their presence among species is presented. A variant in both the dorsiventral and isobilateral mesophyll is reported; some data are valuable for systematic purposes and for the identification of dried and smashed material used as vegetal drug.