Isolation of 3,11-Amorphadiene from Fabiana imbricata

Fabiana imbricata Ruiz et Pav. (Solanaceae), a review of an important Patagonian medicinal plant

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fabiana imbricata (Solanaceae) is a Patagonian medicinal plant with a long tradition of use. The aim of this review is to provide an integrative overview of the traditional uses, chemistry, bioactivity and chemical profiling of the crude drug.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information was collected from scientific databases searching with the keywords Fabiana imbricata, Fabiana species, Fabiana (Solanaceae) and includes local literature and books.

RESULTS

The indications of use reported in literature show little variation from the data published as early as 1889. The chemical studies showed a rich diversity in metabolites including phenolics, coumarins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, terpenes, alkaloids and sugars. Bioactivity studies supported the traditional use as diuretic and also the potential of the crude drug as a gastroprotective agent. The plant can be used as a source of compounds with effect on gastric ulcers and shows enzyme inhibitory activity. While the germination rate of the plant is very low, protocols were developed for the rapid in vitro propagation of the species. The toxicity of the crude drug extracts was low and did not show clastogenic effect in human lymphocytes. Further research is needed to disclose the potential of the F. imbricata sesquiterpenes on other relevant biological targets.

Identification and characterization of a novel sesquiterpene synthase, 4-amorphen-11-ol synthase, from Artemisia maritima

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone exhibiting effective antimalarial activity, is produced by only Artemisia annua plant. A key step in artemisinin biosynthesis is the cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to amorpha-4,11-diene catalyzed by amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (AaADS). Intriguingly, several non-artemisinin-producing Artemisia plants also express genes highly homologous to AaADS. Our previous functional analysis of these homologous enzymes revealed that they catalyzed the synthesis of rare natural sesquiterpenoids. In this study, we analyzed the function of another putative sesquiterpene synthase highly homologous to AaADS from A. maritima. Unlike AaADS, in vivo enzymatic assay showed that this enzyme cyclized FPP to 4-amorphen-11-ol, a precursor of several gastroprotective agents. The discovery of 4-amorphen-11-ol synthase (AmAOS) and the successful de novo production of 4-amorphen-11-ol in engineered yeast demonstrated herein provides insights into the methods used to enhance its production for future application.

Plants used against cancer - an extension of the work of Jonathan Hartwell

A survey of plants used ethnomedically against cancer was undertaken, using the NAPRALERT database currently maintained by the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois-Chicago. We report over 350 species which are reported to be used against cancer and not cited in the work of Jonathan Hartwell, "Plants used against cancer: a survey", including previously unrepresented genera and families.