Atheroprotective Properties of Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. in Female Rats

Authentication and Quality Control of the Brazilian Traditional Herb "Espinheira-Santa" (Monteverdia ilicifolia) by Morpho-Anatomy and Microscopy

The leaves of Monteverdia ilicifolia (syn. Maytenus ilicifolia), commonly called espinheira-santa, are widely used in South American traditional medicines to treat gastritis and ulcers. Several products labeled as espinheira-santa are sold as dietary supplements in retail stores and via e-commerce. Many different species with similar leaf morphology are often mistaken for Monteverdia ilicifolia and used as espinheira-santa, including Monteverdia aquifolia (Celastraceae), Citronella gongonha (Cardiopteridaceae), Jodina rhombifolia (Santalaceae), Sorocea bonplandii (Moraceae), and Zollernia ilicifolia (Fabaceae). This study aimed to characterize M. ilicifolia and distinguish it from adulterants using morphological and microscopic techniques. In addition, foreign matter and powder characteristics of botanical materials sold as "espinheira-santa" were analyzed. The morphoanatomical studies of the leaves and stems of M. ilicifolia and its five adulterant species have revealed noteworthy features that can help species identification and quality control of commercial espinheira-santa. This study showed that many commercial espinheira-santa materials were adulterated and of inferior quality.

Nephroprotective plant species used in traditional Mayan Medicine for renal-associated diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The prevalence of kidney disease has increased rapidly in recent years and has emerged as one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Natural products have been suggested as valuable nephroprotective agents due to their multi-target and synergistic effects on modulating important proteins involved in kidney injury. There is a large number of plant species that have been used traditionally for kidney-related conditions in Mesoamerican medicine by different cultural groups that could provide a valuable source of nephroprotective therapeutic candidates and could lead to potential drug discovery.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review aims to provide an overview of the currently known efficacy of plant species used traditionally in Mesoamerica by Mayan groups to treat kidney-related conditions and to analyze the phytochemical, pharmacological, molecular, toxicological, and clinical evidence to contribute to public health efforts and for directing future research.

METHODS

Primary sources of plant use reports for traditional kidney-related disorders in Mesoamerica were searched systematically from library catalogs, theses, and scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar; and Science Direct), and were filtered according to usage frequency in Mayan groups and plant endemism. The database of traditional plants was further analyzed based on associations with published reports of the phytochemical, pharmacological, molecular, toxicological, and clinical evidence.

RESULTS

The most reported kidney-related conditions used traditionally in Mayan medicine involve reducing renal damage (a cultural interpretation that considers an inflammatory or infectious condition), cleaning or purifying the blood and kidney, reducing kidney pain, and eliminating kidney stones. A total of 208 plants used for kidney-related problems by 10 Mayan groups were found, representing 143 native species, where only 42 have reported pharmacological activity against kidney damage, mainly approached by in vitro and in vivo models of chemical- or drug-induced nephrotoxicity, diabetes nephropathy, and renal injury produced by hypertension. Nephroprotective effects are mainly mediated by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory response, fibrosis mechanisms, and apoptosis in the kidney. The most common nephroprotective compounds associated with traditional Mayan medicine were flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids. The most widely studied traditional plants in terms of pharmacological evidence, bioactive compounds, and mechanisms of action, are Annona muricata L., Carica papaya L., Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Lantana camara L., Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw., Tagetes erecta L., and Zea mays L. Most of the plant species with reported pharmacological activity against kidney damage were considered safe in toxicological studies.

CONCLUSION

Available pharmacological reports suggest that several herbs used in traditional Mayan medicine for renal-associated diseases may have nephroprotective effects and consistent pharmacological evidence, nephroprotective compounds, and mechanisms of action in different models of kidney injury. However, more research is required to fully understand the potential of traditional Mayan medicine in drug discovery given the limited ethnobotanical studies and data available for most species with regards to identification on bioactive components, pharmacological mechanisms, and the scarce number of clinical studies.

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels and nitric oxide/cGMP pathway mediate cardioprotective effects of Croton urucurana Baill. In hypertensive rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae), popularly known as 'sangue de dragão' is a Brazilian species widely used in traditional medicine for cardiovascular ailments.

AIM

To investigate the cardiovascular effects of the C. urucurana extract in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Leaves from C. urucurana were collected and morphoanatomically characterized. The ethanol-soluble fraction (ESCU) was obtained and analyzed by LC-DAD-MS. Using female Wistar rats we investigated the acute toxicity of ESCU. Then, SHRs (six months old) received vehicle, hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg), or ESCU (30, 100, 300 mg/kg) for 28 days. At the beginning and at the end of treatments, urine samples were obtained to assess renal function. At the end of the trial period, the blood pressure, mesenteric vascular beds (MVBs) reactivity, and electrocardiographic profile were evaluated. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, as well as urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, nitrite, malondialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, and aldosterone levels were determined. Relative organ weights and histopathological analysis were performed. Finally, the cardiac function on a Langendorff system, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the vasodilator effects of ESCU in MVBs were also investigated.

RESULTS

The compounds annotated from ESCU by LC-DAD-MS included mainly phenylpropanoid derivatives, alkaloids, O-glycosylated megastigmanes, glycosylated flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, and others, such as quercetin O-deoxyhexosyl-hexoside, magnoflorine, reticuline, and taspine. None of the animals showed any signs of toxicity. Male SHRs treated only with the vehicle showed important cardiovascular changes, including a reduction in renal function, increase in serum oxidative stress, and hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, and morphological changes typical of hypertensive disease. Moreover, parameters of cardiac function, including left ventricular developed pressure, peak rate of contraction, peak rate of relaxation, and the rate pressure product were significantly altered, showing a significant impairment of ventricular function. All ESCU-doses presented a significant cardioprotective effect in SHRs rats. The 28-day treatment normalized the hemodynamic, electrocardiographic, morphological, and renal impairments, as well as reversed the changes in ventricular function induced by hypertension. In MVBs with an intact endothelium, ESCU (0.1, 0.3, and 1 mg) dose-dependently induced vasodilation. Endothelium removal or the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase prevented the vasodilatory effect of ESCU. Perfusion with a physiological saline solution that contained KCl, tetraethylammonium, or apamin also abolished the vasodilatory effect of ESCU.

CONCLUSION

Prolonged ESCU-treatment showed significant cardioprotective effects in SHRs. Moreover, the data showed the role of nitric oxide and calcium-activated small conductance potassium channels in the cardiovascular effects of ESCU.