Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart: neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in a Parkinson's disease model in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Aspidosperma species are used for several diseases, especially for malaria in Brazil. Although the genus is object of pharmacological studies, almost none are found on Aspidosperma pyrifolium. We investigate neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the APSE-Aq fraction (benzoic acid glycosylated derivative) on Parkinson's disease model. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a 6-hydroxydopamine injection into the right striatum and treated or not with APSE-Aq (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.). The sham-operated group was injected with saline. Two weeks later, animals were subjected to behavioural, neurochemical and immunohistochemical evaluation. The data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey test. KEY FINDINGS: The APSE-Aq-treated group shows a partial recovery of behavioural changes as compared with the untreated-6-hydroxydopamine group. A partial recovery was also observed in nitrite contents and lipid peroxidation. APSE-Aq treatments significantly reversed decreases in striatal dopamine and metabolites in the untreated 6-hydroxydopamine group. Immunostainings for markers as tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter decreased in the untreated 6-hydroxydopamine group and values recovered after APSE-Aq treatments. Similar data were seen for TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: APSE-Aq presents neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Considering that APSE-Aq is chemically related to salicylic acid, it may act on similar targets.

A New Alkamide with an Endoperoxide Structure from Acmella ciliata (Asteraceae) and Its in Vitro Antiplasmodial Activity.

From the aerial parts of Acmella ciliata (H.B.K.) Cassini (basionym Spilanthes ciliata Kunth; Asteraceae), three alkamides were isolated and identified by mass- and NMR spectroscopic methods as (2E,6E,8E)-N-isobutyl-2,6,8-decatrienamide (spilanthol, (1)), N-(2-phenethyl)-2E-en-6,8-nonadiynamide (2) and (2E,7Z)-6,9-endoperoxy-N-isobutyl-2,7-decadienamide (3). While 1 and 2 are known alkamides, compound 3 has not been described until now. It was found that the unusual cyclic peroxide 3 exists as a racemate of both enantiomers of each alkamide; the 6,9-cis- as well as the 6,9-trans-configured diastereomers, the former represents the major, the latter the minor constituent of the mixture. In vitro tests for activity against the human pathogenic parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum revealed that 1 and 3 possess activity against the NF54 strain of the latter (IC50 values of 4.5 and 5.1 µM, respectively) while 2 was almost inactive. Compound 3 was also tested against multiresistant P. falciparum K1 and was found to be even more active against this parasite strain (IC50 = 2.1 µM) with considerable selectivity (IC50 against L6 rat skeletal myoblasts = 168 µM).

Redox-Active Profile Characterization of Remirea maritima Extracts and Its Cytotoxic Effect in Mouse Fibroblasts (L929) and Melanoma (B16F10) Cells.

Remirea maritima is a tropical plant with a reticulated root system belonging to the family Cyperaceae, also known to have biologically active secondary metabolites. However, very few data on R. maritima's biological actions are available and there are no reports regarding the redox-active profile of this plant. In this study, we examined the total phenolic content of Remirea maritima hydroalcoholic (RMHA) extracts, redox properties against different reactive species generated in vitro and their cytotoxic effect against fibroblasts (L929) and melanoma (B16F10) cells. Total reactive antioxidant potential index (TRAP) and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) results revealed that RMHA at all concentrations tested showed significant antioxidant capacity. RMHA was also effective against hydroxyl radical formation, reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ and in scavenging nitric oxide (NO) radicals. In vitro, the level of lipid peroxidation was reduced by RMHA extract and the data showed significant oxidative damage protection. The RMHA cytotoxicity was evaluated by a neutral red assay in fibroblast (L929) and melanome (B16F10) cells. The obtained results showed that the RMHA (40 and 80 µg/mL, respectively) reduced 70% of the viable cells. In conclusion, this study represents the first report regarding the antioxidant and anti-proliferative potential of R. maritima against B16F10 melanoma cells.

Chromenes from leaves of Calea pinnatifida and evaluation of their leishmanicidal activity

Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less., Asteraceae, is popularly known as “quebra-tudo”, “cipó-cruz” or “aruca”. This species is used in the folk medicine for the treatment of stomach pain, giardiasis and amoebiasis. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify chromenes from leaves of C. pinnatifida and evaluate their leishmanicidal activity. A fraction from leaves of C. pinnatifida was analyzed for their chemical constituents, resulting in the isolation and characterization of four known chromenes: 6-acetyl-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylchromene (1), 6-acetyl-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene (2), 6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene (3) and 6-(1-ethoxyethyl)-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene (4). Structure identification of isolated compounds involved analysis of spectral data of 1D and 2D-NMR. The isolated compounds are here reported for the first time in C. pinnatifida, and the chromenes 1 and 3 show a moderate leishmanicidal activity.