Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: identification and partial characterization of montanine production in Rhodophiala bifida plant

Rhodophiala bifida (R. bifida) is a representative of the Amaryllidaceae plant family and is rich in montanine, an alkaloid with high pharmaceutical potential. Despite the interest in these compounds, many steps of the biosynthetic pathway have not been elucidated. In this study, we identified the alkaloids produced in different organs of R. bifida under different growth conditions, set up the conditions for in vitro R. bifida regeneration and initiated the molecular characterization of two R. bifida genes involved in alkaloids biosynthesis: the Norbelladine 4'-O-Methyltransferase (RbN4OMT) and the Cytochrome P450 (RbCYP96T). We show that montanine is the main alkaloid produced in the different R. bifida organs and developed a direct organogenesis regeneration protocol, using twin-scale explants cultivated on media enriched with naphthalene acetic acid and benzyladenine. Finally, we analyzed the RbN4OMT and RbCYP96T gene expressions in different organs and culture conditions and compared them to alkaloid production. In different organs of R. bifida young, adult and regenerated plants, as well as under various growing conditions, the transcripts accumulation was correlated with the production of alkaloids. This work provides new tools to improve the production of this important pharmaceutical compound and for future biotechnological studies.

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-containing hydrogel enhances skin formononetin permeation/retention

OBJECTIVES

This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro permeation potential of hydrogel formulations containing the isoflavones formononetin and biochanin A and cyclodextrins in different combinations.

METHODS

The permeation assay was performed using porcine skin discs on Franz diffusion cells model. The isoflavone contents of the formulations were quantified in the different layers of the skin using a validated HPLC-PDA method.

KEY FINDINGS

The isoflavones individually incorporated into the formulations showed high permeation potential, especially formononetin, after the incorporation of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin that enhanced its permeation in the epidermis and dermis. Biochanin A showed 2.7 times of permeation capacity in the epidermis and dermis mainly after incorporation of cyclodextrins in the formulations. Formononetin showed reduction in its permeation when incorporated in the formulations together to biochanin A, showing the absence of synergism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated a noticeable skin permeation promoting effect of HPβCD in formononetin formulation. Furthermore, formononetin and biochanin A can permeate the skin being mostly retained in the epidermis and dermis, revealing its potential use in cosmetic preparations intended to prevent skin aging.

Anti-dermatophyte activity of Leguminosae plants from Southern Brazil with emphasis on Mimosa pigra (Leguminosae)

BACKGROUND

Intensive prophylactic use of antifungals leads to the increase of drug resistance and the need for new and more effective treatments are real. Plants from Leguminosae family are rich in flavonoids, for which numerous biological activities have been described, including antifungal effects.

PURPOSE

To screen methanolic extracts from Leguminosae species looking for alternative sources for antifungal agents (anti-dermatophyte and anti-Candida) and their innocuity.

METHODS

Antifungal activity was evaluated using the strains Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and, Microsporum gypseum in the broth microdilution method. Later, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Mimosa pigra, Eriosema heterophyllum, and Chamaecrista nictitans was determined. The most promising extract was fractionated and cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the most active fraction were also assayed.

RESULTS

Fungicide and/or fungistatic activity against dermatophyte strains were presented by 60% of the methanolic extracts assayed. M. pigra, E. heterophyllum, and C. nictitans methanolic extracts could inhibit dermatophyte strains at concentrations ranging from 1.9 to 1000μg/mL. M. pigra showed the lowest MIC values for a dichloromethane fraction (1.9μg/mL) without DNA damage at 10 and 50μg/mL and 100% of cell viability of human leukocytes.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that methanolic extracts from Leguminosae plants are potential sources of antifungal compounds, mainly the extract and fractions from M. pigra. The dichloromethane fraction from M. pigra did not showed in vitro toxicity according to the applied assays.

Comparative analysis of Sambucus nigra and Sambucus australis flowers: development and validation of an HPLC method for raw material quantification and preliminary stability study

This work was designed to develop a simple, effective, and reliable LC system to identify a chemical marker and compare Sambucus nigra L. and Sambucus australis Cham. et Schltdl. flower extracts (American and European elder). Rutin was the main constituent of both species. The developed method showed a linear response in the range of 10 to 45 microg x mL(-1) for rutin and 1.75 to 3.25 microg x mL(-1) for samples of the Sambucus species. Precision was determined and the relative standard deviations were 1.75 % for HSN and 1.28 % for HSA for intraday precision and 1.28 % and 1.51 % for inter-day precision, respectively, while accuracy was 97.9 % for HSN and 99.41 % for HSA. Quantification and detection limits as well as robustness were determined, presenting adequate results. The LC method showed an adequate performance for the separation of flavonoid glycosides in S. nigra and S. australis extracts, since the presence of interference had been previously evaluated. The analysis of thirty different samples of S. NIGRA and S. australis of different origins did not show significant variability among them. An accelerated stability study revealed a significant decrease in the first 30 days reaching 57 % in 90 days for S. australis samples and a total decrease of 25 % in 90 days for S. nigra samples, considering rutin as the chemical marker. These results will contribute to quality control analysis routines of these raw materials in pharmaceutical production facilities.

Evidence for the efficacy of anti-inflammatory plants used in Brazilian traditional medicine with ethnopharmacological relevance

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

When exacerbated, inflammatory processes can culminate in physical and emotional disorders and, if not stopped, can be lethal. The high prevalence of inflammation has become a public health problem, and the need for new drugs to treat this pathology is imminent. The use of medicinal plants has emerged as an alternative, and a survey of data that corroborates its application in inflammatory diseases is the starting point. Furthermore, Brazil harbors a megadiversity, and the traditional use of plants is relevant and needs to be preserved and carefully explored for the discovery of new medicines.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review sought to survey the medicinal plants traditionally used in Brazil for the treatment of inflammatory processes and to perform, in an integrative way, a data survey of these species and analysis of their phytochemical, pharmacological, and molecular approaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Brazilian plants that are traditionally used for inflammation (ophthalmia, throat inflammation, orchitis, urinary tract inflammation, ear inflammation, and inflammation in general) are listed in the DATAPLAMT database. This database contains information on approximately 3400 native plants used by Brazilians, which were registered in specific documents produced until 1950. These inflammatory disorders were searched in scientific databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Scielo, Virtual Health Library), with standardization of DECS/MESH descriptors for inflammation in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, without chronological limitations. For the inclusion criteria, all articles had to be of the evaluated plant species, without association of synthesized substances, and full articles free available in any of the four languages searched. Duplicated articles and those that were not freely available were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 126 species were identified, culminating in 6181 articles in the search. After evaluation of the inclusion criteria, 172 articles representing 40 different species and 38 families were included in the study. Comparison of reproducibility in intra-species results became difficult because of the large number of extraction solvents tested and the wide diversity of evaluation models used. Although the number of in vitro and in vivo evaluations was high, only one clinical study was found (Abrus precatorius). In the phytochemical analyses, more than 225 compounds, mostly phenolic compounds, were identified.

CONCLUSION

This review allowed the grouping of preclinical and clinical studies of several Brazilian species traditionally used for the treatment of many types of inflammation, corroborating new searches for their pharmacological properties as a way to aid public health. Furthermore, the large number of plants that have not yet been studied has encouraged new research to revive traditional knowledge.

Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activities of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Pouteria guianensis: A Pharmacological Investigation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The investigation of Brazil's vast plant biodiversity is crucial. The genus Pouteria, though minimally explored chemically and pharmacologically, has numerous ethnopharmacological reports.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, angiogenic, and cytotoxic properties of hydroethanolic extract from the leaves of P. guianensis, as well as to characterize its chemical composition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Several extracts from P. guianensis leaves were evaluated for antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction model. Chromatographic analyses and chemometric correlations were also applied. The 80% hydroethanolic extract was selected and dereplicated using spectrometric techniques, and its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities were assessed through carrageenan-induced paw edema, pain models, and the hot plate test. Antiangiogenic properties were evaluated using the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) technique and cytokines levels were also measured.

RESULTS

Chemometric analyses identified myricitrin as a potential active marker for antioxidant activity, with mass spectrometry revealing a high phenolic content, particularly flavonoids quantified at 2.47% and tannins at 17.19%. Previous oral administration (p.o.) of the 80% hydroethanolic extract of P. guianensis demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects without impairing the animals' motor function. The hydroethanolic extract reduced TNF-α and IL-1β levels and also exhibited antiangiogenic properties, suggesting potential mechanisms for its anti-inflammatory action. Furthermore, no toxicity was observed in the CAM model.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the significant pharmacological activities of P. guianensis hydroethanolic extract, warranting further investigation into its mechanisms of action. Additionally, it provides the first chemical characterization of the species, revealing a high phenolic content.