Calceolarioside A, a Phenylpropanoid Glycoside from Calceolaria spp., Displays Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

Phenylpropanoid glycosides are a class of natural substances of plant origin with interesting biological activities and pharmacological properties. This study reports the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of calceolarioside A, a phenylpropanoid glycoside previously isolated from various Calceolaria species. In models of acute nociception induced by thermal stimuli, such as the hot plate and tail flick test, calceolarioside administered at doses of 1, 5, and 10 µg in the left cerebral ventricles did not modify the behavioral response of mice. In an inflammatory based persistent pain model as the formalin test, calceolarioside A at the high dose tested (100 µg/paw) reduced the licking activity induced by formalin by 35% in the first phase and by 75% in the second phase of the test. In carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia, calceolarioside A (50 and 100 µg/paw) was able to significantly reverse thermal hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory activity of calceolarioside A was then assessed using the zymosan-induced paw edema model. Calceolarioside A (50 and 100 µg/paw) induced a significant reduction in the edema from 1 to 4 h after zymosan administration. Measuring IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1ß pro-inflammatory cytokines released from LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells, calceolarioside A in a concentration-dependent manner reduced the release of these cytokines from THP-1 cells. Taken together, our results highlight, for the first time, the potential and selective anti-inflammatory properties of this natural-derived compound, prompting its rationale use for further investigations.

Stemarane Diterpenes and Diterpenoids.

: In this article the scientific activity carried out on stemarane diterpenes and diterpenoids, isolated over the world from various natural sources, was reviewed. The structure elucidation of stemarane diterpenes and diterpenoids was reported, in addition to their biogenesis and biosynthesis. Stemarane diterpenes and diterpenoids biotransformations and biological activity was also taken into account. Finally the work leading to the synthesis and enantiosynthesis of stemarane diterpenes and diterpenoids was described.

In Silico Studies on Compounds Derived from Calceolaria: Phenylethanoid Glycosides as Potential Multitarget Inhibitors for the Development of Pesticides.

An increasing occurrence of resistance in insect pests and high mammal toxicity exhibited by common pesticides increase the need for new alternative molecules. Among these alternatives, bioinsecticides are considered to be environmentally friendly and safer than synthetic insecticides. Particularly, plant extracts have shown great potential in laboratory conditions. However, the lack of studies that confirm their mechanisms of action diminishes their potential applications on a large scale. Previously, we have reported the insect growth regulator and insecticidal activities of secondary metabolites isolated from plants of the Calceolaria genus. Herein, we report an in silico study of compounds isolated from Calceolaria against acetylcholinesterase, prophenoloxidase, and ecdysone receptor. The molecular docking results are consistent with the previously reported experimental results, which were obtained during the bioevaluation of Calceolaria extracts. Among the compounds, phenylethanoid glycosides, such as verbascoside, exhibited good theoretical affinity to all the analyzed targets. In light of these results, we developed an index to evaluate potential multitarget insecticides based on docking scores.

Comparative Study of Different Polar Groups of EPA-Enriched Phospholipids on Ameliorating Memory Loss and Cognitive Deficiency in Aged SAMP8 Mice.

SCOPE: Recent studies have shown that omega-3 PUFAs enriched phospholipids (n-3 PUFA-PLs) have beneficial effects on memory and cognition. However, most reports only attribute the benefit to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and pay little attention to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). METHODS AND RESULTS: We investigate the effect of EPA-enriched phospholipids on cognitive deficiency in senescence-accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse. Ten-month-old SAMP8 mice are fed with 2% (w/w) EPA-enriched phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidyl ethanolamine (EPA-PC/PE; EPA:DHA = 46.8:3.01) or 2% EPA-enriched phosphatidylserine (EPA-PS; biosynthesized from EPA-PC/PE) for 8 weeks; we then test the behavioral performances in the Barnes maze test and Morris maze test; the changes of oxidative stress, apoptosis, neurotrophic factors, tau phosphorylation, and Aß pathology are also measured. The results of behavior tests indicate that both EPA-PC/PE and EPA-PS significantly improve memory and cognitive deficiency. It is found that remarkable amelioration of oxidative stress and apoptosis occurs in both EPA-PC/PE and EPA-PS groups. EPA-PS shows more ameliorative effects than EPA-PC/PE on neurotrophic activity by decreasing hyper-phosphorylation of tau and depressing the generation and accumulation of ß-amyloid peptide (Aß). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that EPA-PS exhibits better effects than EPA-PC/PE on ameliorating memory and cognitive function, which might be attributed to the phospholipid polar groups.

Efecto antioxidante del extracto hidroalcohólico de Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" in vivo en ratones con lesión hepática / In vivo antioxidant effect of Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" hydro-alcoholic extract in mice with hepatic injury

Objetivos. Evaluar el efecto antioxidante del extracto hidroalcohólico de Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" in vivo mediante el uso de ratones con lesión hepática inducida por tetracloruro de carbono (CCL4). Materiales y métodos. Estudio experimental. Se utilizó cuatro grupos de seis ratones albinos Mus musculus - cepa Balb/c/CNPB: un grupo blanco, un grupo control que recibió vitamina E (Vitesol® E 400 U.I) y dos grupos a los que se les administró extracto hidroalcohólico de Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" en dosis de 50 y 300 mg/kg. Para la evaluación del efecto antioxidante in vivo se sometió a los ratones a un modelo experimental de hepatotoxicidad por tetracloruro de carbono (CCL4) antes y durante las intervenciones. Mediante la reacción del ácido tiobarbitúrico se cuantificó el malonaldialdehido (MDA) formado y se calculó el porcentaje de inhibición de peroxidación lipídica (POL) con el que se establecieron diferencias por grupos. Resultados. El tamizaje fitoquímico mostro la presencia muy abundante de flavonoides. Los porcentajes de inhibición de la POL obtenidos fueron de un 22 y 45%, para las dosis de 50 y 300 mg/kg del extracto hidroalcohólico. Si bien se encontraron diferencias significativas en la comparación entre grupos (p>0,05), las intervenciones experimentales no superaron los resultados del grupo control con vitamina E (60%). Conclusiones. En las condiciones experimentales, el extracto hidroalcohólico de Calceolaria engleriana Kraenz "wawillay" a dosis de 50 y 300 mg/kg presenta actividad antioxidante, siendo esta aun menor a la mostrada por el estándar (vitamina E).

Objetive. To evaluate the in vivo antioxidant effect of Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" hydro-alcoholic extract through the use of mice with hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCL4). Materials and methods. An experimental study. Four groups of 6 albino Mus musculus ­ strain Balb/c/CNPB mice were used: a no-intervention group; a control group, which received Vitamin E (VITESOL® E 400 U.I); which Calceolaria engleriana Kraenzl "wawillay" hydro-alcoholic extract in doses of 50 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of the extract. To evaluate in vivo antioxidant effect, mice were subjected to an experimental model of hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) before and during experimental interventions. Through the thiobarbituric acid reaction, the malonalmaldehyde (MDA) formed was quantified and the percentage inhibition of lipid peroxidation (POL) was calculated. With this data, statistical differences were established by groups. Results. Phytochemicalscreening showed "very abundant" presence of flavonoids. The percentages of POL inhibition obtained were 22% and 45%, for the doses of 50 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of hydro-alcoholic extract. Although significant differences were found in the comparison between groups (p> 0.05), the experimental interventions did not surpass the results of control group intervened with Vitamin E (60%). Conclusions. Under the experimental conditions, the Calceolaria engleriana Kraenz "wawillay" hydro-alcoholic extract (at doses of 50 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) has antioxidant activity, but the effect found were lower than the standard (Vitamin E).