Fatty Acid Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Dabai (Canarium odontophyllum L.): Effect of Origin and Fruit Component.

In the present work, the influence of geographical location on the fatty acid profiles, antioxidant potential, as well as cytotoxicity of edible dabai fruit fractions (kernel, skin, and pulp) were analyzed. The fatty acid profiles were determined by Gas Chromatography (GC), and the antioxidant activity was quantified with free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picr/ylhdrazyl, while the cytotoxicity was assessed by the brine shrimp lethality test. The results showed that the samples from Sibu, Serian, and Kapit geographical locations had a high content of the saturated fatty acids, ranging from 46.63% to 53.31% in the three fractions. The highest mono-saturated fatty acids (MUFA) content was found in Sibu. Serian and Kapit kernel fractions MUFA, however, ranged from 21.2% to 45.91%. No fatty acid composition was detected in Bentong and Kanowit. The fatty acid composition and DPPH free radical scavenging antioxidant activity of dabai were statistically independent using a multivariate analysis in different localities in Malaysia. The skin fraction had a more appreciable antioxidant potential and toxicity level than the pulp and kernel fractions. The highest antioxidant activity (EC50 198.76 ± 1.06 µg/mL) with an LC50 value of 1387.22 µg/mL was obtained from the Sibu skin fraction. Therefore, the fatty acid composition, antioxidant, as well as cytotoxicity analyses of the extracts from different localities indicated that "geographical location" remarkably influenced fatty acid composition, antioxidant activity, and toxicity.

Urolithin M5 from the Leaves of Canarium album (Lour.) DC. Inhibits Influenza Virus by Targeting Neuraminidase.

Ganlanye (GLY), the leaf of Canarium album (Lour.) DC., is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb for warm disease treatment. We found that its aqueous extract could inhibit the influenza A virus. To find and characterize anti-influenza virus phytochemicals from GLY, we performed (1) bioassay-guided isolation, (2) a cell and animal assay, and (3) a mechanism study. Bioassay-guided isolation was used to identify the effective components. Influenza virus-infected MDCK cell and BALB/c mouse models were employed to evaluate the anti-influenza virus activities. A MUNANA assay was performed to find the NA inhibitory effect. As a result, urolithin M5 was obtained from the crude extract of GLY. It inhibited influenza virus activities in vitro and in vivo by suppressing the viral NA activity. In the MDCK cell model, urolithin M5 could inhibit an oseltamivir-resistant strain. In a PR8-infected mouse model, 200 mg/kg/d urolithin M5 protected 50% of mice from death and improved lung edema conditions. GLY was recorded as a major traditional herb for warm disease treatment. Our study identified GLY as a potent anti-influenza herb and showed urolithin M5 as the active component. We first report the in vivo activity of urolithin M5 and support the anti-influenza application of GLY.

Evaluation of Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Memory-Enhancing Activity of Garuga pinnata Roxb. Bark and Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam) Oken. Leaves.

Garugapinnata Roxb. (Burseraceae) is a medium-sized tree widely available all over the tropical regions of Asia. Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam) Oken. (Crassulaceae) is an indigenous and exotic plant grown in tropical regions. Both plants have been used for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, wound healing, antidiabetic activities, etc. This investigation was designed to explore the result shown by methanolic extract of Garuga pinnata bark and Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves, on cognitive power and retention of the memory in experimental mice along with quantification of phenolic compounds and DPPH radicals neutralizing capacity. The memory-enhancing activity was determined by the elevated plus-maze method in Scopolamine-induced amnesic mice, using Piracetam as allopathic and Shankhpushpi as ayurvedic standard drugs. Two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) of both extracts were administered to mice up to 8 consecutive days; transfer latency of individual group was recorded after 45 minutes and memory of the experienced things was examined after 1 day. DPPH assay method and the Folin-Ciocalteu method were employed to determine antioxidant potency and total phenol amount, respectively. 400 mg/kg of the methanolic B. pinnatum bark extract significantly improved memory and learning of mice with transfer latency (TL) of 32.75 s, which is comparable to that of standard Piracetam (21.78 s) and Shankhpushpi (27.83 s). Greater phenolic content was quantified in B. pinnatum bark extract (156.80 ± 0.33 µg GAE/mg dry extract) as well as the antioxidant potency (69.77% of free radical inhibition at the 100 µg/mL concentration). Our study proclaimed the scientific evidence for the memory-boosting effect of both plants.

Identification and Characterization of Glucosyltransferase That Forms 1-Galloyl-ß-d-Glucogallin in Canarium album L., a Functional Fruit Rich in Hydrolysable Tannins.

Hydrolysable tannins (HTs) are useful secondary metabolites that are responsible for pharmacological activities and astringent taste, flavor, and quality in fruits. They are also the main polyphenols in Canarium album L. (Chinese olive) fruit, an interesting and functional fruit that has been cultivated for over 2000 years. The HT content of C. album fruit was 2.3-13 times higher than that of berries with a higher content of HT. 1-galloyl-ß-d-glucose (ßG) is the first intermediate and the key metabolite in the HT biosynthesis pathway. It is catalyzed by UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs), which are responsible for the glycosylation of gallic acid (GA) to form ßG. Here, we first reported 140 UGTs in C. album. Phylogenetic analysis clustered them into 14 phylogenetic groups (A, B, D-M, P, and Q), which are different from the 14 typical major groups (A~N) of Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression pattern and correlation analysis showed that UGT84A77 (Isoform0117852) was highly expressed and had a positive correlation with GA and ßG content. Prokaryotic expression showed that UGT84A77 could catalyze GA to form ßG. These results provide a theoretical basis on UGTs in C. album, which will be helpful for further functional research and availability on HTs and polyphenols.

Quali-Quantitative Characterization of Volatile and Non-Volatile Compounds in Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand Resin by GC-MS Validated Method, GC-FID and HPLC-HRMS2.

Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand (PH) trees are endemic to the tropical region of South America, mostly Brazil. Antibacterial, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antidepressant and anti-hyperlipidemic/anti-hypercholesterolemic effects were reported for its resinous exudate Protiumheptaphyllum resin (PHR). This work aims to provide a qualitative and quantitative consistent chemical profiling of the major constituents of this resin and two extracts enriched in acid (acidic triterpene concentrated extract, ATCE) and neutral triterpenes (α and ß-amyrin concentrated extract, AMCE). GC-MS/GC-FID was used for volatile terpene fraction, a validated GC-MS method was developed for quantification of neutral α and ß-amyrin and HPLC-APCI HRMS2 was used for acidic triterpenes analysis. The chemical investigation reported 29 molecules, including 14 volatile terpenes, 6 neutral triterpenes and 11 acid triterpenes. The most abundant compounds were α-amyrin (251.28 g kg-1, 123.98 g kg-1 and 556.82 g kg-1 in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively), ß-amyrin (172.66 g kg-1, 95.39 g kg-1 and 385.58 g kg-1 in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively), 3-oxo-tirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid (80.64 g kg-1, 157.10 g kg-1 and 15.31 g kg-1 in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively) and 3α-hydroxy-tirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (77.71 g kg-1, 130.40 g kg-1 and 11.64 g kg-1 in PHR, ATCE and AMCE, respectively). Results showed specific enrichment of acidic and neutral triterpenoids in the two respective extracts.

Secondary Metabolites Found among the Species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd.

Plant-derived products may represent promising strategies in the treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). From this perspective, it is observed that the Amazon phytogeographic region contains the tribe Canarieae of the Burseraceae family, composed of trees and shrubs supplied with resin channels. Its uses in folk medicine are related to aromatic properties, which have numerous medicinal applications and are present in reports from traditional peoples, sometimes as the only therapeutic resource. Despite its economic and pharmacological importance in the region, and although the family is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, most of the scientific information available is limited to Asian and African species. Therefore, the present work aimed to review the secondary metabolites with possible pharmacological potential of the species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd, popularly known as "Breu sucuruba". To this end, an identification key was created for chemical compounds with greater occurrence in the literature of the genus Trattinnickia. The most evident therapeutic activities in the consulted studies were antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, anesthetic and antiparasitic. An expressive chemical and pharmacological relevance of the species was identified, although its potential is insufficiently explored, mainly in the face of the NTDs present in the Brazilian Amazon.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracted Dabai Pulp Oil and Its Defatted Pulp.

All food scientists must utilize plants for their application as functional foods to reduce hypercholesterolemia incidence through diet. Canarium odontophyllum (dabai) is a novel source for new healthy oil and functional foods. In this work, we evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extracted dabai pulp oil (DPO) and defatted dabai pulp (DDP) against hypercholesterolemia elicited by a high-cholesterol diet in rats. Our results show that DPO and DDP supplementation exerted beneficial hypocholesterolemic effects against the high-cholesterol diet-fed rat. Nevertheless, supplementation with DDP revealed superior total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and HMG-CoA reductase lowering efficacy (p < 0.05). Supplementation of either DPO or DDP did not significantly affect AST and ALT levels than normal rats (p > 0.05). Therefore, DDP and DPO are considered as having no toxicological significance. The histological section of rats treated with DPO and DDP showed improved steatosis in hepatocytes. HPLC analysis revealed that DPO and DDP contained syringic acid, which plays an important role in the beneficial effect. In conclusion, our results support the hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects of DPO and DDP in the hypercholesterolemic rats model.

Isocorilagin, isolated from Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch, as a potent neuraminidase inhibitor against influenza A virus.

Canarium album (Lour.) Raeusch (C. album) as a normally medicinal and edible plant has been used widely in Asian countries and is considered a source of phytochemicals that are beneficial to human health. Here, we showed at the first time isocorilagin, a polyphenolic compound isolated from C. album, displayed antiviral activity against diverse strains of influenza A virus (IAV), including A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1), A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) and NA-H274Y (H1N1) with IC50 value of 9.19 ±â€¯1.99, 23.72 ±â€¯2.51 and 4.64 ±â€¯3.01 µM, respectively. Further mechanistic studies revealed that it clearly inhibited neuraminidase activity of IAV and directly influenced the virus release. The molecular docking studies presented isocorilagin could bind to the highly conserved residues in the active sites of NA, implying that isocorilagin may be effective against various influenza strains and not susceptible to produce drug resistance. Taken together, the results strongly suggest that isocorilagin has potential to be an effective, safe and affordable neuraminidase inhibitor against a diverse panel of IAV strains. More importantly, our work expands the biological activities of C. album extracts and provide a new option for the development of anti-influenza drug.

The Dispersion of Diaspores of Protium icicariba (Burseraceae) - a Networked or Multifactorial System?

The adaptive radiation of the angiosperms was strongly affected by fruit and seed dispersal since the establishment of the seedlings is a fundamental process for the recruitment of juveniles to the populations. Among the species of Burseraceae, seeds with fleshy attachments and high caloric value suggest mammaliochory as an ancestral dispersal way. In Protium icicariba, at the same time as there is a visual pattern typical of ornithochory, with a report of effective demonstration, the diaspores present the highest levels of essential oils of the whole plant, suggesting other dispersion processes by olfactory guided vectors. This work aims to monitor the diasporic dispersal process in P. icicariba in situ, aiming to identify dispersers and to investigate the role of the essential oil in the dispersion of diaspores of this plant species. The natural dispersion was monitored in situ, in weekly campaigns throughout eight months, using visual and photographic records, in daily shifts of six hours, distributed along the dawn, morning, afternoon, dusk, and night. We used both direct observation and continuous picture capturing along 43 days with photographic traps. Mature diaspores removed from pseudocapsules were pooled to determine potential dispersers. Artificial models of the diaspores, in white and green colors, were also used to test hypotheses on the role of scent in the dispersion, added 1%, weight/weight, of the essential oil extracted from the mature diaspores, which chemical composition determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Besides, the analysis of stomach contents of lizards collected in adjacent area was also performed. In daytime and nighttime monitoring in nature, no vertebrates were recorded dispersing diaspores. The most common was the primary wind-facilitated autochory of diaspores to the substrate, near the plant matrices. Secondarily, workers of the ant species Atta robusta can remove the pseudoarils or move the pyrenes to the anthills. The lizard species Tropidurus torquatus ingests pyrenes with the pseudoarils, and the sclerified pericarp of the pyrene is potentially resistant to chemical action of the digestive juices. Ants and lizards have also accessed the caves with natural diaspores. Concerning the artificial diaspore models, ants accessed, indistinctly, white and the green models that contained essential oils. The lizards accessed the white models, with or without essential oils, and showed insignificant access to green ones, with or without essential oil. The ingestion of pyrenes by lizards was also confirmed through analysis of stomach contents. The aggregate spatial pattern of P. icicariba at the study site, associated with clumps, may be derived from germination in the substrate near the matrices, or in the anthills or after diaspora defecation and / or regurgitation of the lizard, which is a species strongly associated with clumps of this vegetation. As the access to the diaspores by ants and lizards depends on the primary autochory, and no impediments to the germination near to the matrix plant were found, the dispersion is compatible with a multifactorial characteristic of the diplochory.

Pili Tree (Canarium ovatum) Resin's Antibacterial Essential Oil and Hydrosol as Rich Sources of (S)-Phellandrenes Derivatives.

Five batches of resin from the Pili tree (Canarium ovatum Engl.) were distilled, and their essential oils and hydrosols were analyzed by gas chromatography. The oils, obtained in yields of 13.4-19.7 % v/m, featured α-phellandrene in high proportions (50-65 %), alongside limonene, ß-phellandrene and para-cymene. Chiral GC analysis confirmed that both phellandrenes were in fact >95 % (S)-(+) enantiomers, while the other monoterpenes featured less pronounced enantiomeric excesses. The hydrosols were rich in α-phellandrene oxidation products including cis-α-phellandrene epoxide and a series of para-menth-5-ene-1,2-diol isomers. Both essential oils and hydrosols were tested for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and exhibited MIC90 of less than 5 and 0.5 mg/mL of total volatiles, respectively. The essential oil features some potential as a source of readily available natural (S)-(+)-α-phellandrene.

Larvicide Activity on Aedes aegypti of Essential Oil Nanoemulsion from the Protium heptaphyllum Resin.

The aim of this work was to prepare a nanoemulsion containing the essential oil of Protium heptaphyllum resin and to evaluate the larvicidal activity and the residual larvicidal effect against Aedes aegypti. The essential oil was identified by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer, and the nanoemulsions were prepared using a low-energy method and characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy. The results indicated the major constituents as p-cimene (27.70%) and α-Pinene (22.31%). Nanoemulsions had kinetic stability and a monomodal distribution in a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of 14 with particle diameters of 115.56 ± 1.68 nn and zeta potential of -29.63 ± 3.46 mV. The nanoemulsion showed larvicidal action with LC50 = 2.91 µg∙mL-1 and residual larvicidal effect for 72 h after application to A. aegypti larvae. Consequently, the nanobiotechnological product derived from the essential oil of P. heptaphyllum resin could be used against infectious disease vectors.

Effects of leaf extracts of Protium spruceanum against adult and larval Rhipicephalus microplus.

Rhipicephalus microplus is the ectoparasite responsible for large economic losses in cattle herds. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro action of leaf extracts of Protium spruceanum on resistant strains of this tick. Ethanolic extracts (EE) and ethyl acetate extracts (EAE) of P. spruceanum leaves were used against engorged females and larvae by biocarrapaticidogram and larval package (TPL) tests. Chromatographic analyses were performed using a gas chromatograph and showed the presence of the flavonoid catechin in both extracts and the terpenoid ß-amirine only in EAE. EE and EAE were not effective in altering the mortality of engorged females; however, 92% of females treated with the extracts reduced the postures and > 90% of larval hatching was inhibited at 100 mg/ml of extracts. Acaricidal efficacies were > 80% for 100 mg/ml EE and > 90% for EAE at 50 mg/ml. In TPL tests, EE and EAE promoted larval mortality > 88% at 100 mg/ml. In this study, EAE was more effective against adult females and larvae than EE, representing an alternative agent for the integrated control of R. microplus.

Antioxidant, α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and Potential Constituents of Canarium tramdenum Bark.

The fruits of Canarium tramdenum are commonly used as foods and cooking ingredients in Vietnam, Laos, and the southeast region of China, whilst the leaves are traditionally used for treating diarrhea and rheumatism. This study was conducted to investigate the potential use of this plant bark as antioxidants, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Five different extracts of C. tramdenum bark (TDB) consisting of the extract (TDBS) and factional extracts hexane (TDBH), ethyl acetate (TDBE), butanol (TDBB), and water (TDBW) were evaluated. The TDBS extract contained the highest amount of total phenolic (112.14 mg gallic acid equivalent per g dry weight), while the TDBB extract had the most effective antioxidant capacity compared to other extracts. Its IC50 values were 12.33, 47.87, 33.25, and 103.74 µg/mL in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (ABTS), reducing power (RP), and nitric oxide (NO) assays, respectively. Meanwhile, the lipid peroxidation inhibition of the four above extracts was proximate to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a standard antioxidant. The result of porcine pancreatic α-amylase inhibition showed that TDB extracts have promising effects which are in line with the commercial diabetic inhibitor acarbose. Interestingly, the inhibitory ability on α-glucosidase of all the extracts was higher than that of acarbose. Among the extracts, the TDBB extract expressed the strongest activity on the enzymatic reaction (IC50 = 18.93 µg/mL) followed by the TDBW extract (IC50 = 25.27 µg/mL), TDBS (IC50 = 28.17 µg/mL), and TDBE extract (IC50 = 141.37 µg/mL). The phytochemical constituents of the TDB extract were identified by gas chromatography⁻mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The principal constituents included nine phenolics, eight terpenoids, two steroids, and five compounds belonging to other chemical classes, which were the first reported in this plant. Among them, the presence of α- and ß-amyrins were identified by GC-MS and appeared as the most dominant constituents in TDB extracts (1.52 mg/g). The results of this study revealed that C. tramdenum bark possessed rich phenolics and terpenoids, which might confer on reducing risks from diabetes. A high quantity of α- and ß-amyrins highlighted the potentials of anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-tumor, and hepatoprotective properties of C. tramdenum bark.

[Effects of Dacryodes edulis fruit oil on anxiety symptoms and cognitive performance in mice, after prolonged administration]. / Effets de l'huile des fruits de Dacryodes edulis sur les symptômes de l'anxiété et les performances cognitives chez la souris, après administration prolongée.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of prolonged administration of Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam (HDE) fruit oil on the symptoms of anxiety and cognitive performance in mice. METHODS: Anxiolytic activity and effects of HDE (5 and 10 ml/kg) on cognitive performance were evaluated in male mice after oral administration for 45 days. Anxiolytic effects were investigated in open field test, elevated plus Maze and hole board test. The Morris Water Maze test was used to evaluate cognitive performance in mice. Efficacy of HDE (5 and 10 ml/kg) was compared with that of fluoxetine (2 mg/kg p.o). RESULTS: HDE decreases the total distance traveled, significantly increases the number of adjustments and the number of entries in the central area of open field. In the elevated cross labyrinth test, HDE increases the number of entries and the time spent in the open arms. HDE significantly increases the number of head insertion into the holes. In the Morris Water Maze test, HDE reduces latency before finding the platform and increases the time spent in the target quadrant. CONCLUSION: The results confirm anxiolytic effects and improved cognitive performance after prolonged oral administration of HDE in rodents.

Novel Terpenoids with Potent Cytotoxic Activities from Resina Commiphora.

A novel sesquiterpene dimer, spirocommiphorfuran A (1); two new cadinane sesquiterpenoids, commiphorenes A (2) and B (3); along with three known terpenoids (4⁻6), were isolated from Resina Commiphora. The structures of these new compounds were characterized by NMR, HRESIMS, quantum chemical computation, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 features a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-ene core, representing the first example of germacrane-type sesquiterpene dimer fused via a spiro ring system. Compound 2 is a novel sesquiterpene with a completely new carbon skeleton, which is characteristic of an additional carbon attaching to the cadinane backbone via a carbon⁻carbon bond. Additionally, compounds 2 and 4 exert acceptable cytotoxicity toward normal cells and high selectivity in cancer cells, especially in HepG2 cells.

Effect of A Polyphenol-Rich Canarium album Extract on the Composition of the Gut Microbiota of Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

This study investigated the influence of Canarium album extract (CAext) on intestinal microbiota composition of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Kun Ming (KM) mice were fed either a normal chow diet or a HFD for six weeks. At the seventh week, HFD-fed mice were gavaged daily with saline, or a different dose of CAext for four weeks, respectively. Then, the composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. Analysis of fecal microbial populations, grouped by phyla, showed significant increases of Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia, but a decrease of Bacteroidetes in all CAext-fed mice. Particularly, CAext gavage in a low dose or a medium dose caused a significant increase in the proportion of Akkermansia. These findings suggested that CAext can alter the gut microbiota composition of HFD-fed mice, and had a potential prebiotic effects on Akkermansia.

Safety pharmacology and subchronic toxicity of jinqing granules in rats.

BACKGROUND: Jinqing granules which are made of a mixture extract that contains Radix Tinosporae and Canarii fructus in proportions according to a longstanding formula have a good effect on the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcer disease. It has not been through safety through systematic toxicological studies, however. To provide basis for clinical application, we performed safety pharmacology and subchronic toxicity experiments in specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: In safety pharmacology experiments, Jinqing granules had no evident adverse effects on the central nervous, cardiovascular, or respiratory systems. In subchronic toxicity study, 2-8 g/kg of Jinqing granules induced no evident adverse effects on Clinical signs, body weight changes, food and water intake, death daily, indicators of urine, hematological assay, serum biochemistry, organ coefficient and histopathological examination. However, the 16 g/kg dose was associated with slightly slowed weight growth, decreased number of sperm in seminiferous tubules and increased values of serum aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin. During the 30-day feeding test, 3 rats that received the 16 g/kg dose died, but the deaths were most likely due to trauma of oral gavage, not to drug toxicity. CONCLUSION: Jinqing granules given to Sprague-Dawley rats orally for 30 days at a dose of 8 g/kg or less appears safe, but higher doses were not proven safe. The significance of these observations with respect to animal usage of Jinqing granules deserves thorough investigation.

Amyrins from Protium heptaphyllum Reduce High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice via Modulation of Enzymatic, Hormonal And Inflammatory Responses.

Obesity remains a global problem. In search of phytochemicals that have antiobesity potential, this study evaluated α,ß-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protium heptaphyllum, on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Groups of mice (n = 8) were fed a normal diet or a high-fat diet, and were orally treated or not treated with either α,ß-amyrin (10 or 20 mg/kg) or sibutramine (10 mg/kg) for 15 weeks. Variables measured at termination were body weight, visceral fat accumulation, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions in adipose tissue, the levels of plasma glucose and insulin, the satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin, the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase, and the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, interleukin-6, and MCP-1. Results showed that α,ß-amyrin treatment resulted in lower high-fat diet-induced increases in body weight, visceral fat content, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions, and blood glucose and insulin levels. Additionally, the markedly elevated leptin and decreased ghrelin levels seen in the high-fat diet-fed control mice were significantly modulated by α,ß-amyrin treatment. Furthermore, α,ß-amyrin decreased serum TNF-α and MCP-1. These results suggest that α,ß-amyrin could be beneficial in reducing high-fat diet-induced obesity and associated disorders via modulation of enzymatic, hormonal, and inflammatory responses.

In vitro antiparasitic activity and chemical composition of the essential oil from Protium ovatum leaves (Burceraceae).

Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are globally widespread parasitic diseases which have been responsible for high mortality rates. Since drugs available for their treatment are highly hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and cardiotoxic, adherence to therapy has been affected. Thus, the search for new, more effective and safer drugs for the treatment of these diseases is necessary. Natural products have stood out as an alternative to searching for new bioactive molecules with therapeutic potential. In this study, the chemical composition and antiparasitic activity of the essential oil from Protium ovatum leaves against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi and the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis were evaluated. The essential oil was promising against trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi (IC50= 28.55 µg.mL-1) and L. amazonensis promastigotes (IC50 = 2.28 µg.mL-1). Eighteen chemical constituents were identified by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in the essential oil, whose major constituents were spathulenol (17.6 %), caryophyllene oxide (16.4 %), ß-caryophyllene (14.0 %) and myrcene (8.4 %). In addition, the essential oil from P. ovatum leaves had moderate cytotoxicity against LLCMK2 adherent epithelial cell at the concentration range under analysis (CC50 = 150.9 µg.mL-1). It should be highlighted that this is the first report of the chemical composition and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Leishmania amazonensis activities of the essential oil from Protium ovatum leaves.

Analgesic-Like Activity of Essential Oil Constituents: An Update.

The constituents of essential oils are widely found in foods and aromatic plants giving characteristic odor and flavor. However, pharmacological studies evidence its therapeutic potential for the treatment of several diseases and promising use as compounds with analgesic-like action. Considering that pain affects a significant part of the world population and the need for the development of new analgesics, this review reports on the current studies of essential oils' chemical constituents with analgesic-like activity, including a description of their mechanisms of action and chemical aspects.