Mauro Ballero

Quantitative ethnopharmacological study of the Campidano Valley and Urzulei district, Sardinia, Italy

A new method has been developed for quantitative, phytotherapeutical analysis with a goal to create a general tool suitable for a wide range of research situations. This tool would allow one to gather data in such a format as to facilitate comparison with studies from other areas. The method was applied to data gathered from two sites in Sardinia, Italy (Campidano and Urzulei). Analysis was performed on 2635 responses (a) by plant, (b) by plant part, (c) by medicinal preparation and (d) by therapeutic use. This yielded specificity indexes which proved useful in comparing phytotherapeutic applications in the two geographic areas under study. In Urzulei the original phytotherapeutic heritage is deeply rooted in the local socio-economic history and clearly reflects the areas geographic isolation. Indeed, in this area, there is little reliance on modern health care. On the other hand, in Campidano, the body of phytotherapeutic application is more extensive. Indeed, due to migration-and to a lesser extent isolation- the latter area has been more affected by technological interference and cultural overlapping. In this area attention is widely focused on such modern ailments as glycemia, hypertension and constipation.

Ethnobotanical research in the territory of Fluminimaggiore (south-western Sardinia).

The results of an ethnobotanical survey in the territory of Fluminimaggiore (south-western Sardinia) are presented. Sixty-five species with medicinal properties used for different pathologies, such as diseases of the skin and of the gastro-intestinal system have been recorded.

Antioxidant activity of oligomeric acylphloroglucinols from Myrtus communis L

The use of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) as a culinary spice and as a flavoring agent for alcoholic beverages is widespread in the Mediterranean area, and especially in Sardinia. Myrtle contains unique oligomeric non-prenylated acylphloroglucinols, whose antioxidant activity was investigated in various systems. Both semimyrtucommulone (1) and myrtucommulone A (2) showed powerful antioxidant properties, protecting linoleic acid against free radical attack in simple in vitro systems, inhibiting its autoxidation and its FeCl3- and EDTA-mediated oxidation. While both compounds lacked pro-oxidant activity, semimyrtucommulone was more powerful than myrtucommulone A, and was further evaluated in rat liver homogenates for activity against lipid peroxidation induced by ferric-nitrilotriacetate, and in cell cultures for cytotoxicity and the inhibition of TBH- or FeCl3-induced oxidation. The results of these studies established semimyrtucommulone as a novel dietary antioxidant lead.

Polyacetylenes from Sardinian Oenanthe fistulosa: A Molecular Clue to risus sardonicus

An investigation of Oenanthe fistulosa from Sardinia afforded oenanthotoxin (1a) and dihydrooenanthotoxin (1b) from the roots and the diacetylenic epoxydiol 2 from the seeds. The absolute configuration of 1a and 1b was established as R by the modified Mosher’s method, and the structure of 2 by chemical correlation with (+)-(3R,8S)-falcarindiol. Oenanthotoxin (1a) and dihydrooenanthotoxin (1b) were found to potently block GABAergic responses, providing a molecular rationale for the symptoms of poisoning from water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata) and related plants. These observations bear relevance for a series of historical and ethnopharmacological observations on the identification of the Sardonic herb and the molecular details of the facial muscular contraction caused by its ingestion (risus sardonicus).

Polycyclic diterpenoids from Euphorbia characias.

In addition to widespread flavonoids, a collection of Euphorbia characias from Sardinia afforded 13 oxygenated diterpenoids of the atisane, abietane, pimarane, and kaurane type. Four of these compounds (1, 3a, 7a,b) are new. The accumulation of substantial amounts of biologically active diterpenoids of limited availability, like ent-atisanes endowed with anti-HIV activity and ent-abietanolides active on the central nervous system, makes E. characias an interesting source of lead compounds for biomedical research.

Pterocarpans from Bituminaria morisiana and Bituminaria bituminosa.

The aerial parts of Mediterranean papilionaceous plants Bituminaria morisiana and B. bituminosa afforded, along with known phenolics, the prenylated pterocarpans bitucarpin A and B, whose structure was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. A known isoflavonoid (8-prenyldaidzein) was also obtained for the first time as a genuine plant constituent. The accumulation of pterocarpans at the expense of biogenetically more primitive shikimate metabolites like furanocoumarins or isoflavonoids supports the inclusion of this plant, once part of the genus Psoralea, into the distinct genus Bituminaria.

Daucane esters from Ferula arrigonii

Abstract F. arrigonii gave one C-10 hydroxylated and two C-2 oxygenated jaeskeanadiol esters. Sesquiterpene-coumarin ethers were also isolated. The relationship between F. communis and F. arrigonii is discussed.

Cardioprotective potential of myricetin in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats.

The study aimed to evaluate the protective role of myricetin obtained from Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) on heart rate, electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns, vascular reactivity to catecholamines, cardiac marker enzymes, antioxidant enzymes together with morphological and histopathological changes in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in male Wistar rats. Rats treated with isoproterenol (85 mg/kg, administered subcutaneously twice at an interval of 24 h) showed a significant increase in heart rate and ST elevation in ECG, and a significant increase in the levels of cardiac marker enzymes – lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum. Isoproterenol significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity and increased vascular reactivity to various catecholamines. Pretreatment with myricetin (100 mg/kg, p.o. and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) for a period of 21 days significantly inhibited the effects of ISO on heart rate, levels of LDH, CK, AST, SOD, CAT, vascular reactivity changes and ECG patterns. Treatment with myricetin (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) alone did not alter any of the parameters compared with vehicle treated Wistar rats. Myricetin treated animals showed a lesser degree of cellular infiltration in histopathological studies. Thus, myricetin (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) ameliorates the cardiotoxic effects of isoproterenol and may be of value in the treatment of MI. Copyright

Antimicrobial Phenolics and Unusual Glycerides from Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum

During a large-scale isolation campaign for the heterodimeric phloroglucinyl pyrone arzanol (1a) from Helichrysum italicum subsp. microphyllum, several new phenolics as well as an unusual class of lipids named santinols (5a-c, 6-8) have been characterized. Santinols are angeloylated glycerides characterized by the presence of branched acyl- or keto-acyl chains and represent a hitherto unreported class of plant lipids. The antibacterial activity of arzanol and of a selection of Helichrysum phenolics that includes coumarates, benzofurans, pyrones, and heterodimeric phloroglucinols was evaluated, showing that only the heterodimers showed potent antibacterial action against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates. These observations validate the topical use of Helichrysum extracts to prevent wound infections, a practice firmly established in the traditional medicine of the Mediterranean area.

Influence of environmental factors on composition of volatile constituents and biological activity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don (Asteraceae)

The biovariability of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don grown wild in Calabria and Sardinia (Italy) was reported. This species has been characterized through the detection, isolation and quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (α-terpinolene, trans-cariophyllene and neryl acetate) by GC and GC-MS. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic H. italicum extracts using DPPH and β-carotene bleaching test showed that the Calabrian samples were more active than those from Sardinia. The antibacterial activity of all extracts evidenced the best performance on the Gram positive bacteria particularly on Micrococcus luteus. Moreover, antifungal activity of all extracts was also tested evidencing important results particularly on the phytopathogene fungus Pythium ultimum. In general, as regards the antifungal activity, the extracts from Sardinia were more active than those from Calabria. The phytochemical analysis and the biological activity data suggested a possible use of these plant matrices in alimentary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields.