RESUMO
Ascariasis affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, mainly in developing countries, causing substantial morbidity. Current treatments for Ascaris infection are based on mass drug administration (MDA) with synthetic anthelmintic drugs such as albendazole, however continual re-infection and the threat of drug resistance mean that complementary treatment options would be highly valuable. Here, we screened ethanolic extracts from 29 medicinal plants used in Africa (Ghana) and the Caribbean (US Virgin Islands) for in vitro anthelmintic properties against Ascaris suum, a swine parasite that is very closely related to the human A. lumbricoides. A wide variety of activities were seen in the extracts, from negligible to potent. Extracts from Clausena anisata, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Punica granatum were identified as the most potent with EC50 values of 74, 97 and 164 µg/mL, respectively. Our results encourage further investigation of their use as complementary treatment options for ascariasis, alongside MDA.
Assuntos
Anti-Helmínticos/farmacologia , Ascaris suum/efeitos dos fármacos , Medicinas Tradicionais Africanas/métodos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Plantas Medicinais/química , Animais , Anti-Helmínticos/uso terapêutico , Ascaríase/tratamento farmacológico , Gana , Intestinos/parasitologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Suínos , Ilhas Virgens AmericanasRESUMO
The chemical composition of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Microlicia graveolens DC., Melastomataceae, growing wild in the mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was investigated for the first time. A pale orange to colourless oil was obtained in a yield of 4.8%. The oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The main components were (+)-trans-pinocarvyl acetate (78.9%), (-)-trans-pinocarvyl acetate (5.5%) and β-pinene (3.8%).
RESUMO
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Envenomation causes an estimated 1.8-2.5 million incidences per year with a mortality level of 100-125,000 persons annually and more than 100,000 individuals suffer from severe complications, which may end in amputation of the attacked limb. The use of plants is a major part of the traditional practitioners' treatment of snakebites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database was created for plants used to treat snakebites worldwide. From this database, we selected five countries with a high number of entries and representing different cultures, geography and floristic zones: Brazil, Nicaragua, Nepal, China and South Africa. The datasets were analysed by regression and binominal analysis to see if any family or genus used against snakebites was overrepresented in the respective traditional medicinal systems relative to the abundance in the local flora. The families from the different geographical areas were compared to ascertain whether the same plant families are preferred by different peoples. RESULTS: Three 'hot' families (Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae and Rubiaceae) were recovered in at least two of the five compared countries in the regression analyses and one 'hot' family (Zingiberaceae) was recovered in two of the compared countries in the binomial analyses. Four out of five floras possess families identified as outliers in both regression and binomial analyses. Eight families were recovered by both the binomial and the regression analysis (40-62% of all highlighted families respectively). At the genus level, only Piper (Piperaceae) was recovered as a 'hot' genus in at least two floras. Seven genera were highlighted by both analyses (25-44% of the highlighted genera). CONCLUSIONS: Cross-cultural comparison of medicinal floras used against snakebites appears to be useful for highlighting candidate families and genera for further studies.
Assuntos
Magnoliopsida , Medicina Tradicional , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Plantas Medicinais , Mordeduras de Serpentes/tratamento farmacológico , Apocynaceae , Brasil , China , Comparação Transcultural , Humanos , Lamiaceae , Nepal , Nicarágua , Piper , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Rubiaceae , África do Sul , ZingiberaceaeRESUMO
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Brassicaceae) is a wild herb with high nutritional value that can be eaten raw or cooked. A metabolomic study was performed with different extracts of its aerial parts that were tested concerning their antiradical, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antibacterial activities. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD, organic acids and amino acids were determined by HPLC-UV, while free fatty acids and sterols were analysed by GC-ITMS. The vegetal material was rich in kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (mean value 2247.09 mg/kg of dry plant), quinic acid (95628.00 mg/kg of dry plant), arginine (mean value of 1.18 mg/kg of dry plant), palmitic acid (284.48 mg/kg) and β-sitosterol (28 percent). The extracts presented a concentration-dependent antiradical activity (against DPPH, O2- and LOO), being most effective against NO (EC25 0.20 µg/mL). In addition, the extracts were also acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and antibacterial active, revealing that, besides the plant's good nutritional value, it presents important biological properties as well.