Evaluation of chemical composition and antiedematogenic activity of the essential oil of Hyptis martiusii Benth

Evaluations of the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants and their components have been the subject of many studies. Furthermore, the biological activities of various plant species have been reported in various pieces of literature. Hyptis martiusii Benth (Lamiaceae), popularly known as "mad balm" is commonly found in the North, Southeast, and Northeast of Brazil. Its leaves are used ethnobiologically as antiulcerogenic, antimicrobial, antitumor and as insecticide. This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oil of H. martiusii Benth (OEHM) by GC/MS as well as its possible topical activity as an antiedematogenic. This is verified by the models of ear edema induced by single (acute edema) and multiple (chronic edema) applications of croton oil topically, and systemically verified through the model of paw edema induced by carrageenan 1%. Doses of 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg OEHM were used in all tests. Chemical analysis of the oil revealed the 1,8-cineole (34.58%) and δ-carene (21:58%) as major components present in the essential oil. On the model of ear edema, acute and chronic OEHM in all the tested doses showed no significant antiedematogenic activity (p < 0.05). The systemic model of paw edema induced by carrageenin showed that a dose of 100 mg/kg effectively reduced swelling by 55.37% in the second hour evaluation when compared to the saline group. The anti-inflammatory systemic effect can give greater bioavailability of the components present in the essential oil and your interference in cytokines and leukotriene, thromboxane and prostaglandin biosynthesis. It is therefore concluded that OEHM presents systemic antiedematogenic activity but not topical activity at these doses.

The use of herbs against neglected diseases: Evaluation of in vitro leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart

The evaluation of the leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the bark of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. (EHCSR) was carried out to find an alternative treatment for parasitic diseases. EHCSR was prepared and used at four different concentrations (1000, 500, 250, 125 μg/mL) in in vitro assays for activity against Leishmania promastigotes using the species Leishmania brasiliensis and Leishmania infantum and for trypanocidal activity using the epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. We also tested EHCSR for cytotoxicity against adhered cultured Murine J774 fibroblasts. The tests were performed in triplicate, and the percent mortality of parasites, IC₅₀ and percent toxicity were determined. With regard to anti-leishmania activity against L. infantum, there was a mean mortality of 45% at all concentrations, and against L. brasiliensis, a substantial effect was seen at 1000 μg/mL with 56.38% mortality, where the IC₅₀ values were 1338.76 and 987.35 μg/mL, respectively. Trypanocidal activity was notably high at 1000 μg/mL extract with 82.31% mortality of epimastigotes. Cytotoxicity at the highest extract concentrations of 500 and 1000 μg/mL was respectively 75.12% and 94.14%, with IC₅₀ = 190.24 μg/mL. Despite that the extract has anti-parasitic activity, its substantial cytotoxicity against fibroblasts cells makes its systemic use nonviable as a therapeutic alternative.

Analysis of bioactivities and chemical composition of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. using HPLC-DAD

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. (HELZJ). The antioxidant DPPH and FRAP assays and chemical profile were determined by colorimetric methods and HPLC/DAD. The antiparasitic, antibiotic and antibiotic-modifying activity were evaluated by microdilution assays. The HPLC-DAD assay showed the presence of mostly tannins and flavonoids, such as caffeic acid and quercetin. The levels of polyphenols and flavonoids were 183.136 mg/g extract and 7.37 mg/g extract, respectively. DPPH and FRAP showed low antioxidant activity for the extract. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were not of clinical relevance, showing MIC>1024 μg/mL. However, synergism was observed between HELZJ and the antibiotics amikacin and gentamicin, which resulted in decreased bacterial drug resistance. EHFZJ showed low toxicity in fibroblasts in vitro, while antiparasitic results against Trypnosoma cruzi, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum were not clinically relevant. Thus, our results indicate that Z. joazeiro Mart. (HELZJ) could be a source of plant-derived natural products that could lead to the development of promising new antibiotic compounds for infectious diseases.