Phytochemical Characterization of Cannabis sativa L. Roots from Northeastern Brazil.

This article describes the phytochemical study of Cannabis sativa roots from northeastern Brazil. The dried plant material was pulverized and subjected to exhaustive maceration with ethanol at room temperature, obtaining the crude ethanolic extract (Cs-EEBR). The volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which allowed to identify 22 compounds by comparing the linear retention index (LRI), the similarity index (SI) and the fragmentation pattern of the constituents with the literature. By this technique the major compounds identified were: friedelan-3-one and ß-sitosterol. In addition, two fractions were obtained from Cs-EEBR by classical column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. These fractions were analyzed by NMR and IR and together with the mass spectrometry data allowed to identify the compounds: epifriedelanol, friedelan-3-one, ß-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The study contributed to the phytochemical knowledge of Cannabis sativa, specifically the roots, as there are few reports on the chemical constituents of this part of the plant.

Bioguided Purification of Active Compounds from Leaves of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul.

Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil (Griseb.) Altschul is a medicinal plant found throughout the Brazilian semi-arid area. This work performed a bioguided purification of active substances present in ethyl acetate extract from A. colubrina leaves. The anti-Staphylococcus aureus and antioxidant actions were used as markers of bioactivity. The extract was subjected to flash chromatography resulting in five fractions (F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5). The fractions F2 and F4 presented the highest antimicrobial action, with a dose able to inhibit 50% of bacteria growth (IN50) of 19.53 µg/mL for S. aureus UFPEDA 02; whereas F4 showed higher inhibitory action towards DPPH radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) [dose able to inhibit 50% of the radical (IC50) = 133 ± 9 µg/mL]. F2 and F4 were then subjected to preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), resulting in the identification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and hyperoside as the major compounds in F2 and F4, respectively. Hyperoside and p-hydroxybenzoic acid presented IN50 values of 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL against S. aureus UFPEDA 02, respectively. However, the hyperoside had an IN50 of 62.5 µg/mL against S. aureus UFPEDA 705, a clinical isolate with multidrug resistant phenotype. Among the purified compounds, the proanthocyanidins obtained from F2 exhibited the higher antioxidant potentials. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of A. colubrina leaves as an alternative source of biomolecules of interest for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

Gastroprotective activity of methanol extract and marrubiin obtained from leaves of Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the gastroprotective properties of the methanol extract and the diterpene marrubiin obtained from the leaves of M. vulgare. METHODS: Assays were performed using different protocols in mice. Studies focusing on mechanisms of gastroprotection were also undertaken. KEY FINDINGS: In the model of ethanol-induced ulcers, we observed a significant reduction in all the parameters analysed; the curative ratios obtained were 49.31±0.57, 74.31±0.91 and 79.86±0.59 for the groups treated with 50 and 100mg/kg of extract of M. vulgare and omeprazole (30mg/kg), respectively. For indomethacin-induced ulcers, the percentages of ulcer inhibition were 50.32±5.60, 66.24±4.30, 82.17±04.09 and 67.52±4.38, for the groups treated with 25, 50 and 100mg/kg M. vulgare and positive control (cimetidine), respectively. In both models, the marrubiin (25mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in all the parameters when compared with the control group (P<0.01). There was also a significant increase in pH and mucus production in the groups treated with M. vulgare extract and marubiin. The results also demonstrated that the gastroprotection induced by the extract and marubiin is related to the activity of nitric oxide and endogenous sulfhydryls, which are important gastroprotective factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that the extract of M. vulgare and marrubiin displays antiulcer activity and that this effect can be partly attributed to the isolated diterpene.