Anti-Inflammatory Chilean Endemic Plants.

Medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric times and continue to treat several diseases as a fundamental part of the healing process. Inflammation is a condition characterized by redness, pain, and swelling. This process is a hard response by living tissue to any injury. Furthermore, inflammation is produced by various diseases such as rheumatic and immune-mediated conditions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Hence, anti-inflammatory-based treatments could emerge as a novel and exciting approach to treating these diseases. Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and this review introduces various native Chilean plants whose anti-inflammatory effects have been evaluated in experimental studies. Fragaria chiloensis, Ugni molinae, Buddleja globosa, Aristotelia chilensis, Berberis microphylla, and Quillaja saponaria are some native species analyzed in this review. Since inflammation treatment is not a one-dimensional solution, this review seeks a multidimensional therapeutic approach to inflammation with plant extracts based on scientific and ancestral knowledge.

Royal jelly extracellular vesicles promote wound healing by modulating underlying cellular responses.

Apis mellifera royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known remedy in traditional medicine around the world and its versatile effects range from antibacterial to anti-inflammatory properties and pro-regenerative properties. As a glandular product, RJ has been shown to contain a substantial number of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and, in this study, we aimed to investigate the extent of involvement of RJEVs in wound healing-associated effects. Molecular analysis of RJEVs verified the presence of exosomal markers such as CD63 and syntenin, and cargo molecules MRJP1, defensin-1, and jellein-3. Furthermore, RJEVs were demonstrated to modulate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and secretome, as well as decrease LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In vivo studies confirmed antibacterial effects of RJEVs and demonstrated an acceleration of wound healing in a splinted mouse model. This study suggests that RJEVs play a crucial role in the known effects of RJ by modulating the inflammatory phase and cellular response in wound healing. Transfer of RJ into the clinics has been impeded by the high complexity of the raw material. Isolating EVs from the raw RJ decreases the complexity while allowing standardization and quality control, bringing a natural nano-therapy one step closer to the clinics.

A Review of Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasodilation Induced by Phytochemicals in Isolated Rat Aorta.

This review discusses the contribution of the use of the isolated rat aorta (IRA) as a model for the evaluation of extracts and metabolites produced by plants with a vasodilator effect in animals. This model continues to be a valuable approach for the search and development of new phytochemicals consumed as medicinal plants or foods. In most cases, the sources of phytochemicals have been used in folk medicine to treat ailments that include hypertension. In this model, the endothelium is emphasized as a key component that modulates the vessel contractility, and therefore the basal tone and blood pressure. Based on the functional nature of the model, we focused on studies that determined the endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatory activity of phytochemicals. We describe the mechanisms that account for aorta contraction and relaxation, and subsequently show the vasoactive effect of a series of phytochemicals acting as vasodilators and its endothelium dependence. We highlight information regarding the cardiovascular benefits of phytochemicals, especially their potential antihypertensive effect. On this basis, we discuss the advantages of the IRA as a predictive model to support the research and development of new drugs that may be of help in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the number one cause of death worldwide.

Diversidad y usos de las plantas medicinales en Panamá / Diversity and uses of medicinal plants in Panama

Panama has 10,444 species of plants, some with medicinal properties, but there is no inventory to determine the totality of medicinal plants that are used. Our goal is to perform a review of publications and research with a view to presenting an estimated on the diversity of medicinal species and types of uses. Throughout the country are used medicinal plants, but its use is increasing more rural areas, and this is due to the scarcity of health services. The species most sold in pharmacies and public markets are: Equisetum bogotense (cola de caballo), Lippia alba (tilo), Pluchea carolinensis (salvia), Cymbopogon citratus (hierba de limón), Neurolaena lobata (contragavilana), Costus spicatus (caña agria) and Momordica charantia (balsamino). Among some species of medicinal plants that are exported we have: Psychotria ipecacuana (raicilla), Smilax aspera (zarzaparrilla) and Ficus benjamina.

Panamá tiene 10.444 especies de plantas, algunas con propiedades medicinales, pero no existe un inventario para determinar la totalidad de plantas medicinales que se emplean. Nuestro objetivo consistirá en realizar una revisión de las publicaciones e investigaciones con el fin de presentar un estimado sobre la diversidad de especies medicinales y tipos de usos. En todo el país se usan las plantas medicinales, pero su uso se incrementa más áreas rurales, y esto se debe a la escasez de servicios de salud. Las especies que más se comercializan en farmacias y mercados públicos son: Equisetum bogotense (cola de caballo), Lippia alba (tilo), Pluchea carolinensis (salvia), Cymbopogon citratus (hierba de limón), Neurolaena lobata (contragavilana), Costus spicatus (caña agria) y Momordica charantia (balsamino). Entre algunas especies de plantas medicinales que se exportan tenemos: Psychotria ipecacuana (raicilla), Smilax aspera (zarzaparrilla) y Ficus benjamina.

Chemical composition by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS: Estrogenic and antioxidant effects of Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" leave extracts on ovariectomized rats / Composición química por HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS: efectos estrogénicos y antioxidantes de extractos de Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" en ratas ovariectomizadas

The chemical composition of Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" leaves was determined by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Polyphenolic compounds characterized as benzophenone derivatives were the main components found in extracts (1, maclurin 3-C-(2-O-galloyl)-D- glucoside isomer; 2, maclurin 3-C---D-glucoside; 3, iriflophenone 3-C---D-glucoside; 5, maclurin 3-C-(2,3-di-O-galloyl)---D-glucoside; 6, iriflophenone 3-C-(2-O-galloyl)---D-glucoside; 7, methyl-iriflophenone 3-C-(2,6-di-O-galloyl)---D-glucoside) and xanthones (4, mangiferin and 8, 6-O-galloyl-mangiferin). The estrogenic and antioxidant effects of aqueous extracts from Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" leaves on ovariectomized rats were determined by uterotrophic assay and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in erythrocytes, bone, liver, and stomach. We conclude that the polyphenolic compounds from extracts act as exogenous antioxidant agents against oxidative damage in ovariectomized rats.

La composición química de las hojas de Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" se determinó por HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Compuestos polifenólicos caracterizados como derivados de benzofenona fueron los componentes principales encontrados en los extractos (1, isómero de la maclurina 3-C-(2-O-galoyil)-D-glucósido; 2, maclurina 3-C-ß-D-glucósido; 3, iriflofenona 3-C-ß-D-glucósido; 5, maclurina 3-C-(2,3-di-O-galloíl)-ß-D-glucósido; 6, iriflofenona 3-C-(2-O-galloil)-ß-D-glucósido; 7, metil-iriflofenona 3-C-(2,6-di-O- galloyl)-ß-D-glucósido) y xantonas (4, mangiferina y 8, 6-O-galoyil-mangiferina). Los efectos estrogénicos y antioxidantes de los extractos acuosos de hojas de Mangifera indica L. cv. "Kent" en ratas ovariectomizadas se determinaron mediante ensayo uterotrófico y la medición de los niveles de malondialdehído (MDA) en eritrocitos, huesos, hígado y estómago. Concluimos que los compuestos polifenólicos de los extractos actúan como agentes antioxidantes exógenos contra el daño oxidativo en ratas ovariectomizadas.

Histidine 140 plays a key role in the inhibitory modulation of the P2X4 nucleotide receptor by copper but not zinc.

To elucidate the role of extracellular histidines in the modulation of the rat P2X4 receptor by trace metals, we generated single, double, and triple histidine mutants for residues 140, 241, and 286, replacing them with alanines. cDNAs for the wild-type and receptor mutants were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and examined by the two electrode and patch clamp techniques, respectively. Whereas copper inhibited concentration-dependently the ATP-gated currents in the wild-type and in the single or double H241A and H286A receptor mutants, all receptors containing H140A were insensitive to copper in both cell systems. The characteristic bell-shaped concentration-response curve of zinc observed in the wild-type receptor became sigmoid in both oocytes and human embryonic kidney cells expressing the H140A mutant; in these mutants, the zinc potentiation was 2.5-4-fold larger than in the wild-type. Results with the H140T and H140R mutants further support the importance of a histidine residue at this position. We conclude that His-140 is critical for the action of copper, indicating that this histidine residue, but not His-241 or His-286, forms part of the inhibitory allosteric metal-binding site of the P2X4 receptor, which is distinct from the putative zinc facilitator binding site.