Guaiacum Toxicity: An Unusal Poisoning.

Guaiacum is a homeopathic medicine used for arthritis, syphilis and tonsillitis. Its use as a substance abuse is not properly described in literature. Its excess intake may be life threatening and can damage the vision permanently.

Hepatoprotective and antidiabetic effect of Guaiacum officinale in diabetes induced male albino wistar rats.

The aim of present study is to evaluate the antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effect of Guaiacum officinale in streptozotocin induced male albino rats. The methanolic bark extract of Guaiacum officinale was administered at a dose of 500 mg/kg and Glibenclamide was used as a standard drug at a dose of 0.5mg/kg for 28 days. The animals were divided in to four groups. Control group n=12, received distilled water. Positive control group (STZ group) n=12 received streptozotocin at 30 mg/kg dose through I/P route. Standard group (STZ+ GLB group): n=12 received Glibenclamide. Treated group (STZ+ extracted group): n=12 received bark extract of Guaiacum officinale. Blood glucose level was significantly reduced after oral adminstration of bark extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The SGOT level significantly reduced in Guaiacum officinale treated group as compare to control, pronounced reduction of ALT level as compared to GLB and the ALP levels was highly significantly reduced in Guaiacum officinale treated group while GLB is unable to improve ALP levels in GLB treated diabetic albino rats. The level of direct bilirubin in Guaiacum officinale treated group was found to be insignificant as compared to control and STZ treated group while the level of indirect bilirubin was significantly reduced in STZ treated group as compare to control. Histopathological studies showed that Guaiacum officianle have hepatoprotective effect in experimental induced male albino rats.

Evaluation of allelopathic potential of leaf extract of Kielmeyera coriacea on Lactuca sativa L / Avaliação do potencial alelopático de extrato de folhas de Kielmeyera coriácea sobre Lactuca sativa L

Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. (Clusiaceae), popularly known as "pau-santo", is a typical Brazilian cerrado tree known due to its varied secondary metabolites. This study aimed to determine the allelopathic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of K. coriacea through bioassays of seed germination, seedling growth and mitotic index of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce). In addition it was done the tetrazolium assay and a phytochemical screening. The extract concentrations caused alterations in germination parameters, in root growth and in the mitotic index. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of triterpenes, coumarins, steroids, flavonoids and condensed tannins, compounds known to confer allelopathic characteristics upon other species. These data indicate that K. coriacea presents an allelopathic potential because its leaf extracts interfere with germination and growth without any interference of pH and osmotic potential in the results.

Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. (Clusiaceae), conhecida popularmente como "pau-santo", é uma árvore típica do cerrado brasileiro, conhecida pelos seus variados metabólitos secundários. O estudo teve como objetivo determinar o potencial alelopático do extrato hidroalcoólico de folhas de K. coriacea por meio dos bioensaios de germinação, crescimento de plântulas e índice mitótico de Lactuca sativa L. (alface). Além disso, foi feito o teste de tetrazólio e uma triagem fitoquímica. As concentrações de extrato causaram alterações nos parâmetros de germinação, no crescimento radicular e no índice mitótico. A triagem fitoquímica mostrou a presença de triterpenos, cumarinas, esteroides, flavonoides e taninos condensados, compostos conhecidos por conferir características alelopáticas sobre outras espécies. Estes dados indicam que K. coriacea apresenta potencial alelopático pois o extrato de sua folha interfere na germinação e no crescimento da planta alvo, sem qualquer interferência do pH e do potencial osmótico.

Anti-rheumatoid and anti-oxidant activity of homeopathic Guaiacum officinale in an animal model.

BACKGROUND: Homeopathy is a popular form of complementary and alternative medicine. Guaiacum extract is said to be useful for pain and inflammation, but there appears to be no scientific evidence to support this. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-rheumatic and anti-oxidant activity of homeopathic preparations of Guaiacum officinale (Gua) on experimental animal model. DESIGN: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced in male albino rats by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) at a dose of (0.25 mg heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis/ml of emulsion). Gua mother tincture (MT) (prepared from the latex part of the plant) (MT), Gua 30cc and 200cc were purchased commercially from King Company, Kolkata, India. Male albino Wistar rats (130 ± 10 g) were divided into 6 groups: Sham control; Arthritis control; Standard treatment indomethacin (0.25 mg 100 g(-1) p.o. × 5 alternative days), Gua MT (1 ml kg(-1) p.o. × 5 days) treated; Gua (30c 1 ml kg(-1) p.o. × 5 days) treated; Gua (200c; 1 ml kg(-1) p.o. × 5 days) treated. Anti-rheumatic activity was examined through physical, urinary, serum parameters. All the results were expressed in terms of mean ± SEM (statistical error of mean n = 6) at each dose level. The level of significance was determined through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: It was observed that body weight, ankle and knee diameter, urinary parameters (hydroxyproline (OH-P), glucosamine, calcium (Ca(2)(+)), creatinine (CRE), phosphate (PO4(3)(-))), serum ACP (acid phosphatase)/ALP (alkaline phosphatase)/Ca(2+)/CRE/PO4(3-)/gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)/Lipid peroxidation (LPO)/Glutathione (GSH)/Superoxide dismutase (SOD)/Catalase, serum GGT, serum interleukins like IL-1ß/CINC-1/PGE2/TNF-α/IL-6, IL-12/IL-4/IL-6 levels were significantly affected. After treatment with Guaiacum in all 3 regimes was associated with normalization of these parameters compared to control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that homeopathic G. officinale possesses anti-rheumatic and anti-oxidant activity in experimental animal and these activities may be more significant in higher potencies.

Spirocyclic lignans from Guaiacum (Zygophyllaceae) induce apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines.

We investigated the composition of extracts derived from Guaiacum spp. (Zygophyllaceae), a group of neotropical tree species with varied uses in Central and South American traditional medicine. Activity-guided fractionation of Guaiacum heartwood extracts led to the identification of four new spirocyclic lignans, named ramonanins A-D (1-4). The ramonanins exhibit cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 18 µM and induce cell death via apoptotic mechanisms. The ramonanins are derived from four units of coniferyl alcohol and feature an unusual spirocyclic ring system.

Separation and identification of a new saponin from the flowers of Guaiacum officinale L.

A triterpenoid saponin, guaianin O (1), oleanolic acid 3-O-{α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside}-28- O-[ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-ester, was isolated from the n-butanol extract of flowers of Guaiacum officinale L. The structural elucidation of 1 was accomplished by extensive studies of both one and two dimensional ¹H, ¹³C-NMR spectra, the FAB mass spectrum, and alkaline and acid hydrolyses.