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Leonti M. Are we romanticizing traditional knowledge? A plea for more experimental studies in ethnobiology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:56. [PMID: 38797828 PMCID: PMC11128107 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00697-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In answer to the debate question "Is ethnobiology romanticizing traditional practices, posing an urgent need for more experimental studies evaluating local knowledge systems?" I suggest to follow-up on field study results adopting an inclusive research agenda, and challenge descriptive data, theories, and hypotheses by means of experiments. Traditional and local knowledge are generally associated with positive societal values by ethnobiologists and, increasingly also by stakeholders. They are seen as a way for improving local livelihoods, biocultural diversity conservation and for promoting sustainable development. Therefore, it is argued that such knowledge needs to be documented, protected, conserved in situ, and investigated by hypothesis testing. Here I argue that a critical mindset is needed when assessing any kind of knowledge, whether it is modern, local, indigenous, or traditional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Leonti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, CA, Italy.
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Krishnan SR, Skiba A, Luca SV, Marcourt L, Wolfender JL, Skalicka-Woźniak K, Gertsch J. Bioactivity-guided isolation of trypanocidal coumarins and dihydro-pyranochromones from selected Apiaceae plant species. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2023:113770. [PMID: 37331573 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Bioactivity-guided isolation of natural products from plant matrices is widely used in drug discovery. Here, this strategy was applied to identify trypanocidal coumarins effective against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Previously, phylogenetic relationships of trypanocidal activity revealed a coumarin-associated antichagasic hotspot in the Apiaceae. In continuation, a total of 35 ethyl acetate extracts of different Apiaceae species were profiled for selective cytotoxicity against T. cruzi epimastigotes over host CHO-K1 and RAW264.7 cells at 10 μg/mL. A flow cytometry-based T. cruzi trypomastigote cellular infection assay was employed to measure toxicity against the intracellular amastigote stage. Among the tested extracts, Seseli andronakii aerial parts, Portenschlagiella ramosissima and Angelica archangelica subsp. litoralis roots exhibited selective trypanocidal activity and were subjected to bioactivity-guided fractionation and isolation by countercurrent chromatography. The khellactone ester isosamidin isolated from the aerial parts of S. andronakii emerged as a selective trypanocidal molecule (selectivity index ∼9) and inhibited amastigote replication in CHO-K1 cells, though it was significantly less potent than benznidazole. The khellactone ester praeruptorin B and the linear dihydropyranochromones 3'-O-acetylhamaudol and ledebouriellol isolated from the roots of P. ramosissima were more potent and efficiently inhibited the intracellular amastigote replication at < 10 μM. The furanocoumarins imperatorin, isoimperatorin and phellopterin from A. archangelica inhibited T. cruzi replication in host cells only in combination, indicative of superadditive effects, while alloimperatorin was more active in fractions. Our study reports preliminary structure-activity relationships of trypanocidal coumarins and shows that pyranocoumarins and dihydropyranochromones are potential chemical scaffolds for antichagasic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya R Krishnan
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrianna Skiba
- Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Simon Vlad Luca
- Biothermodynamics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354, Freising, Germany; Department of Pharmacognosy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 700115, Iasi, Romania
| | - Laurence Marcourt
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Luc Wolfender
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Krystyna Skalicka-Woźniak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Jürg Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Gertsch J. Travelogues from the Rainforest: Notes on Prof. Otto Sticher's 85th birthday. PLANTA MEDICA 2021; 87:1123-1127. [PMID: 34763356 DOI: 10.1055/a-1508-0613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jürg Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Pereira CG, Moraes CB, Franco CH, Feltrin C, Grougnet R, Barbosa EG, Panciera M, Correia CRD, Rodrigues MJ, Custódio L. In Vitro Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Halophytes from Southern Portugal Reloaded: A Special Focus on Sea Fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:2235. [PMID: 34834598 PMCID: PMC8625203 DOI: 10.3390/plants10112235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marine halophytes are an outstanding reservoir of natural products and several species have anti-infectious traditional uses. However, reports about their potential use against neglected tropical ailments, such as Chagas disease, are scarce. This work evaluated for the first time the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of extracts from the aromatic and medicinal species Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco (Asteraceae, everlasting) and Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae, sea fennel). For that purpose, decoctions, tinctures, and essential oils from everlasting's flowers and sea fennel's stems, leaves, and flowers were tested against intracellular amastigotes of two T. cruzi strains. The extract from the sea fennel flower decoction displayed significant anti-trypanosomal activity and no toxicity towards the host cell (EC50 = 17.7 µg/mL, selectivity index > 5.65). Subsequent fractionation of this extract afforded 5 fractions that were re-tested in the same model of anti-parasitic activity. Fraction 1 was the most active and selective (EC50 = 0.47 μg/mL, selectivity index = 59.6) and was submitted to preparative thin-layer chromatography. One major compound was identified, falcarindiol, which was likely the one responsible for the observed anti-trypanosomal activity. This was confirmed using a commercially sourced molecule. Target-fishing studies showed falcarindiol as a ligand of T. cruzi spermidine synthase, pointing to a potential enzyme-inhibiting anti-trypanosomal mechanism of action. Overall, this work shows that sea fennel can provide effective anti-parasitic molecule(s) with potential pharmacological applications in the treatment of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina G. Pereira
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio H. Franco
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Clarissa Feltrin
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-900, SP, Brazil; (C.B.M.); (C.H.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Raphaël Grougnet
- Natural Products, Analysis, Synthesis, UMR CNRS 8038, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l’Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France;
| | | | - Michele Panciera
- Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Josue de Castro St., Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (M.P.); (C.R.D.C.)
| | - Carlos Roque D. Correia
- Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Josue de Castro St., Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (M.P.); (C.R.D.C.)
| | - Maria João Rodrigues
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
| | - Luísa Custódio
- Centre of Marine Sciences CCMAR, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (C.G.P.); (M.J.R.)
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Castillo UG, Komatsu A, Martínez ML, Menjívar J, Núñez MJ, Uekusa Y, Narukawa Y, Kiuchi F, Nakajima-Shimada J. Anti-trypanosomal screening of Salvadoran flora. J Nat Med 2021; 76:259-267. [PMID: 34529189 PMCID: PMC8732892 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-021-01562-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and in Central America, it is considered one of the four most infectious diseases. This study aimed to screen the anti-trypanosomal activity of plant species from Salvadoran flora. Plants were selected through literature search for plants ethnobotanically used for antiparasitic and Chagas disease symptomatology, and reported in Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador (MUHNES) database. T. cruzi was incubated for 72 h with 2 different concentrations of methanolic extracts of 38 species, among which four species, Piper jacquemontianum, Piper lacunosum, Trichilia havanensis, and Peperomia pseudopereskiifolia, showed the activity (≤ 52.0% viability) at 100 µg/mL. Separation of the methanolic extract of aerial parts from Piper jacquemontianum afforded a new flavanone (4) and four known compounds, 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxymethoxychroman-4-one (1), 2,2-dimethyl-6-carboxychroman-4-one (2), cardamomin (3), and pinocembrin (5), among which cardamomin exhibited the highest anti-trypanosomal activity (IC50 = 66 µM). Detailed analyses of the spectral data revealed that the new compound 4, named as jaqueflavanone A, was a derivative of pinocembrin having a prenylated benzoate moiety at the 8-position of the A ring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulises G Castillo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Av. de Mártires y Héroes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador, 1101, El Salvador
| | - Ayato Komatsu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Natural Medicines, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Morena L Martínez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Av. de Mártires y Héroes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador, 1101, El Salvador
| | - Jenny Menjívar
- Ministerio de Cultura, Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador, San Salvador, 1101, El Salvador
| | - Marvin J Núñez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales, Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Av. de Mártires y Héroes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador, 1101, El Salvador
| | - Yoshinori Uekusa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Natural Medicines, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Yuji Narukawa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Natural Medicines, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Fumiyuki Kiuchi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Division of Natural Medicines, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan.
| | - Junko Nakajima-Shimada
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8514, Japan
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