Antiobesity Effects of Hydroethanolic Extract of Jacaranda decurrens Leaves

Bioactivity of aqueous extract of Jacaranda spp. (Bignoniaceae) on Plutella xylostella L. 1758 (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract The high consumption rate of vegetables stimulates the cultivation and increases the demand regarding the adequacy of the production processes. The attack of the pest Plutella xylostella causes high losses by reducing product quality, typifying a phytosanitary problem. This study aimed to verify the bioactivity of aqueous extracts of leaves of Jacaranda decurrens and Jacaranda mimosifolia at concentrations of 5, 10, and 15% on the insect. The choice test was carried out at the laboratory to determine the food effect of plant extracts and evaluate changes in the life cycle of insects exposed to active compounds through the analysis of biological parameters. Plant extracts of J. decurrens and J. mimosifolia presented with phagodeterrent classification in the choice experiments. The three J. decurrens extract concentrations promoted a prolongation of larval and pupal duration, while the duration of individuals treated with J. mimosifolia at 10% was significantly reduced. Occurred reduction in larval survival of individuals treated with aqueous extracts of J. decurrens and J. mimosifolia. Eggs from treatments with aqueous extract of J. decurrens and J. mimosifolia had reduced survival. Pupal survival of individuals treated with extract at 15% showed a significant reduction compared to the treatments at 5% and 10%. Pupae from the treatment with aqueous extract of Jacaranda mimosifolia showed a reduction in biomass in the treatment at 15% differing from the control e 5%. Thus, the aqueous extracts of the species J. decurrens and J. mimosifolia show insecticidal potential in the tests performed on P. xylostella.

Dillenia Indica Fruit Extract Suppressed Diet-induced Obesity in Rats by Down-regulating the mRNA Level of Proadipogenic Transcription Factors and Lipid Metabolizing Enzymes

Background:

Dillenia indica (Family: Dilleniaceae) is an antioxidant-rich edible fruitbearing medicinal plant. The fruit of this plant (known as elephant apple) has many uses in traditional medicine.

Objective:

By considering its antioxidant content and ameliorating effects, this study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic effects of D. indica fruit extract (DIFE) on high-fat diet (HFD) fed obese rats.

Methods:

Male Wistar rats were fed with a standard diet (SD), or high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD with 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg DIFE for 8 weeks. The fruit extract was given orally by feeding gavage. The body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, plasma lipids, and oxidative stress-related parameters were measured. The mRNA level of different adipogenesis related transcription factors, lipogenic and lipolytic enzymes was also evaluated.

Results:

Consumption of DIFE daily (400 mg/kg) for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat diet-induced body weight, liver weight, visceral fat weight, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol level. High-fat diet-mediated elevation of oxidative stress markers was also lowered, with a parallel augmentation of the activities of antioxidant enzymes, due to 400 mg/kg DIFE feeding. DIFE also down-regulated the mRNA level of important pro-adipogenic factors like PPARγ, LXRα, and SREBP1c which consequently downregulated the transcript levels of lipogenic enzymes: ACC, FAS, HMGCR, and DGAT. The transcript level of lipolytic enzyme, HSL was also down-regulated in 400 mg/kg DIFE-fed rats.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that the antioxidant-rich ethanolic extract of D. indica fruit can down-regulate the gene expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and lipid metabolizing enzymes and thus can suppress diet-induced obesity in Wistar rat.

Chemical Characterization and Wound Healing Property of Jacaranda decurrens Cham. (Bignoniaceae): An Experimental Study Based on Molecular Mechanisms

Background

Jacaranda decurrens Cham., known as carobinha, is prevalent in the Cerrado biome and presents popular use in treatment of dermatological diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the healing action of topical formulation of Jacaranda decurrens Cham. (FtEHJ) in mice cutaneous lesions.

Methods

Phytochemical analysis of J. decurrens hydroalcoholic extract was carried out by using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS and FIA-ESI-IT-MSn. Swiss mice were treated topically with formulation base (FtB) or Fibrinase® or ointment FtEHJ (15 mg/g; 50 mg/Kg). At the end of treatment periods, the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the lesions were measured by using ELISA and gene expression of TGF-β, Collagen I, and Collagen III was demonstrated by RTqPCR method and histological evaluation.

Results

Ten compounds were identified in the extract, distributed among the classes of flavonoids and triterpenes. Treatment with FtEHJ increased the wound contraction in 24 hours, such as reduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (pg/mL) cytokines in the lesion. The TGF-β and collagen gene expression was increased and the wound closure accelerated to nine days, with discrete inflammation, collagenization, and accented reepithelialization. Conclusions. The results obtained suggest chemical compounds present in the FtEHJ accelerates wound healing by being a gene expression modulator, and protein content of different molecules are involved in tissue repair.

Medicinal Plants from Brazilian Cerrado: Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential and Protection against Chemotherapy Toxicity

The use of natural antioxidants in cancer therapy has increased: first, due to the potential of natural antioxidants to kill tumour cells and second, because of their capacity to protect healthy cells from the damage caused by chemotherapy. This review article discusses the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from medicinal plants from the Brazilian Cerrado and the cell death profile induced by each of these extracts in malignant cells. Next, we describe the capacity of other medicinal plants from the Cerrado to protect against chemotherapy-induced cell toxicity. Finally, we focus on recent insights into the cell death profile induced by extracts from Cerrado plants and perspectives for future therapeutic approaches.