Scyphocephalione A isolated from the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa (Myristicaceae) attenuate acute and chronic pain through the antiinflammatory activity.

In the treatment of cancer, patients that receive anti-cancer drugs such as Vincristine develop peripheral neuropathic pain. Scyphocephalione A is a new bioactive compound isolated from Scyphocephalium ochocoa (Myristicaceae), a medicinal plant traditionally used in African countries. Recently, an in vitro study has shown its anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities on MCF-7 cell line of mammary carcinoma. The purpose of the present study was to assess the in vitro anti-inflammatory and in vivo anti-nociceptive activities of Scyphocephalione A. In vitro tests were carried out on cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activities, and on protein denaturation; while in vivo tests were performed on acute and chronic pain models. It was noticed that Scyphocephalione A (1000 µg/ml), inhibits proteins denaturation, cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activities respectively by 74.21%, 75.80% and 64.43%. The dose 50 mg/kg of Scyphocephalione A, inhibits acetic acid (63.43%, p < 0.001) and formalin (42.12%, p < 0.001) within first phase and 67.53% (p < 0.001) within second phase)-induced pains. At the same dose, Scyphocephalione A significantly inhibited mechanical and heat hyperalgesia, as well as cold allodynia induced by vincristine. In addition, the compound restored haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters which were altered following Vincristine administration. These results suggest that Scyphocephalione A is endowed with anti-inflammatory potential and antinociceptive properties. Therefore, Scyphocephalione A can be classified as a promising molecule for the management of peripheral neuropathic pain triggered by anti-cancer drug.

A new dibenzofuran derivative from the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities.

The phytochemical investigation of the dichloromethane/methanol (1:1) extract of the stem bark of Scyphocephalium ochocoa, led to the isolation of one new dibenzofuran derivative, named scyphocephalione A (1), along with three other compounds, including epicatechin (2), gentisic acid (3) and myo-inositol (4). The structures of all the compounds were established with help of spectroscopic data including IR, UV, MS, 1 D- and 2 D-NMR, as well as by comparison with previously reported data in literature, and chemical modification. All the compounds were obtained from the genus Scyphocephalium for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity (using chemiluminescence technique) of the crude extract and compound 1, together with NO inhibition (using ELISA), TNF-α (using ELISA) and MCF-7 cells cytotoxicity effects (using MTT assay) of compound 1 were assessed. From the results obtained, compound 1 could be considered as a promising chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Ethnopharmacological surveys and pharmacological studies of plants used in traditional medicine in the treatment of HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases in Gabon.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ethnopharmacological surveys were conducted in two regions of Gabon. This led to highlighting some of the medicinal plants used by local populations in the management of HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases. Two regions with the highest occurrence of HIV/AIDS cases were visited and ethnopharmarcological data was gathered. These regions were the Estuaire Province (Libreville and its neighborhood) and the Haut-Ogooué Province (Franceville and its neighborhood). The opportunistic diseases and symptomatic conditions considered during this study were: diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, cough, tuberculosis, abscesses, stomach ache, skin rashes, venereal diseases, typhoid fever, anemia, general tiredness, hepatitis and vomiting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The reported species were evaluated through three parameters: specificity, reliability and frequency. Plant parts of relevant species were harvested and extracted with an aqueous alcohol solution (ethanol/water: 1/1). The extracts obtained were submitted to phytochemical screening and in vitro microbiological assays on some clinical isolates and ATCC strains, involved in HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases through the Agar well diffusion and Microbroth dilution methods. RESULTS: Among the 52 species identified during this survey, Coelocaryon klainei Pierre ex Heckel (Myristicaceae), Dacryodes klaineana (Pierre) H.J. Lam (Bursecaceae), Phyllanthus diandrus Pax (Euphorbiaceae), Saccoglotys gabonensis (Baill.) Urb. (Humiriaceae) and Tetrorchidium didymostemon (Baill.) Pax & K. Hoffm. (Euphorbiaceae) were submitted to in vitro microbiological assays. Phyllanthus diandrus bark and leaves show best antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae with MIC value of 0.25 respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence in all the plant parts extracts of potentially bioactive molecules, including polyphenols, especially flavonoids and tannins. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that some of these plants might be submitted to further scientific studies, including the identification and isolation of bioactive principles, that could be developed to drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS opportunistic diseases.