ITS1 Barcode and Phytochemical Analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Corynaea crassa Hook. f (Balanophoraceae) from Ecuador and Peru.

The use of medicinal plants is the basis of traditional healthcare. Recently, the use of herbal medicine has been increasing among consumers due to availability, economy, and less side effect. For instance, the hemiparasite plant Corynaea crassa has medicinal properties and could be found in some regions of America, from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Phytochemical and genetic characterization of medicinal plants is needed for proper identification of metabolites responsible for medicinal properties and for genotyping, respectively. Moreover, characterization of medicinal plants through the use of DNA barcodes is an important tool for phylogenetic analysis and identification of species; furthermore, complemented with phytochemical analysis, both are useful for identification of plant species and quality control of medicinal products. The objective of this study was to analyze the species of C. crassa collected in Ecuador and Peru from the phylogenetic and phytochemical point of view. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for amplification of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region after DNA extraction of samples of C. crassa. Blast analysis was performed in the GenBank database with the ITS1 sequences obtained from two accessions of C. crassa from Ecuador (GenBank accession numbers OM471920 and OM471919 for isolates CIBE-17 and CIBE-18, respectively) and three from Peru (GenBank accession numbers OM471921, OM471922, and OM471923 for isolates CIBE-13, CIBE-14, and CIBE-15, respectively). The accessions available in the GenBank were used for phylogenetic analysis. For the phytochemical analysis, hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained by maceration using 80% ethanol as solvent, followed by a derivatization process and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the C. crassa samples, the ITS1 sequence could be used to differentiate C. crassa of different locations. The samples of C. crassa from Ecuador and Peru are more similar between them than with other clades including Helosis spp. The phytochemical study revealed differences in the presence and relative abundance of some metabolites; mainly eugenol, 1,4-lactone arabinonic acid, dimethoxyrabelomycin and azelaic acid, which are reported for the first time for the species under study and the genus Corynaea. These results are the first findings on the combined analysis using genetic and phytochemical analysis for C. crassa, which could be used as a useful tool for quality control of the C. crassa species in medicinal products.

Actividad expectorante y toxicológica de una formulación elaborada a partir de Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Borago officinalis L, Y Sambucus Nigra L / Expectorant and toxicological activity of a formulation made from Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Borago officinalis L., and Sambucus Nigra L

Introducción: Eucalyptus globulus Labill., (eucalipto), Borago officinalis L. (Borraja) y Sambucus nigra L. (saúco) son especies vegetales de amplio uso popular por sus propiedades antitusígenas y mucolíticas. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos farmacológico y toxicológico de un fitofármaco elaborado con el extracto de la mezcla de las tres plantas. Métodos: a partir de las hojas secas de cada especie, se elaboraron dos extractos fluidos de las tres plantas: E. globulus B. officinalis y S nigra, mezcladas en proporción 25:25:50, respectivamente, se empleó el método de percolación y como disolventes etanol de concentraciones al 30 y 70 por ciento. Para la evaluación del efecto mucolítico se empleó el modelo de Rojo Fenol en secreciones de ratón y se ensayaron los extractos de concentraciones alcohólicas al 30 y 70 por ciento. El estudio toxicológico se realizó al extracto de concentración alcohólica al 70 por ciento. Resultados: en la evaluación farmacológica se encontró que los extractos hidroalcohólicos al 30 y 70 por ciento presentaron efecto mucolítico, con una efectividad ligeramente superior para el extracto en alcohol al 70 por ciento. Cuando se evaluó toxicológicamente, este extracto no presentó efecto tóxico en el ensayo de toxicidad aguda a dosis límite. Conclusiones: las formulaciones elaboradas con los extractos fluidos de las plantas empleando etanol al 30 y 70 por ciento, mostraron efecto mucolítico en el modelo de rojo fenol en secreciones de ratón y con las condiciones experimentales del estudio. El extracto de las plantas en etanol al 70 por ciento no presentó efecto tóxico en el ensayo de toxicidad aguda a dosis límite(AU)

Introduction: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (eucalyptus), Borago officinalis L. (borage) and Sambucus nigra L. (elder) are plant species commonly used in folk medicine for their antitussive and mucolytic properties. Objective: Evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological effects of a drug made with an extract obtained from a mixture of the three plants. Methods: Two fluid extracts were obtained from dry leaves of the three species, E. globulus, B. officinalis and S. nigra, mixed in a 25:25:50 proportion. The method used was percolation and the solvents were 30 percent and 70 percent ethanol. The mucolytic effect was evaluated with the phenol red model in mouse secretions, and assays were conducted of the 30 percent and 70 percent alcoholic extracts. Toxicological analysis was performed on the 70 percent alcoholic extract. Results: Pharmacological evaluation found that 30 percent and 70 percent hydroalcoholic extracts display a mucolytic effect, effectiveness being slightly higher in the 70 percent alcoholic extract. When evaluated toxicologically, this extract did not show any toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity test. Conclusions: The formulations developed with fluid plant extracts using 30 percent and 70 percent ethanol were found to have a mucolytic effect in the red phenol model in mouse secretions under experimental test conditions. The 70 percent ethanolic plant extract did not have a toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity tes(AU)

Actividad expectorante y toxicológica de una formulación elaborada a partir de Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Borago officinalis L, Y Sambucus Nigra L / Expectorant and toxicological activity of a formulation made from Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Borago officinalis L., and Sambucus Nigra L

Introducción: Eucalyptus globulus Labill., (eucalipto), Borago officinalis L. (Borraja) y Sambucus nigra L. (saúco) son especies vegetales de amplio uso popular por sus propiedades antitusígenas y mucolíticas. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos farmacológico y toxicológico de un fitofármaco elaborado con el extracto de la mezcla de las tres plantas. Métodos: a partir de las hojas secas de cada especie, se elaboraron dos extractos fluidos de las tres plantas: E. globulus B. officinalis y S nigra, mezcladas en proporción 25:25:50, respectivamente, se empleó el método de percolación y como disolventes etanol de concentraciones al 30 y 70 por ciento. Para la evaluación del efecto mucolítico se empleó el modelo de Rojo Fenol en secreciones de ratón y se ensayaron los extractos de concentraciones alcohólicas al 30 y 70 por ciento. El estudio toxicológico se realizó al extracto de concentración alcohólica al 70 por ciento. Resultados: en la evaluación farmacológica se encontró que los extractos hidroalcohólicos al 30 y 70 por ciento presentaron efecto mucolítico, con una efectividad ligeramente superior para el extracto en alcohol al 70 por ciento. Cuando se evaluó toxicológicamente, este extracto no presentó efecto tóxico en el ensayo de toxicidad aguda a dosis límite. Conclusiones: las formulaciones elaboradas con los extractos fluidos de las plantas empleando etanol al 30 y 70 por ciento, mostraron efecto mucolítico en el modelo de rojo fenol en secreciones de ratón y con las condiciones experimentales del estudio. El extracto de las plantas en etanol al 70 por ciento no presentó efecto tóxico en el ensayo de toxicidad aguda a dosis límite(AU)

Introduction: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (eucalyptus), Borago officinalis L. (borage) and Sambucus nigra L. (elder) are plant species commonly used in folk medicine for their antitussive and mucolytic properties. Objective: Evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological effects of a drug made with an extract obtained from a mixture of the three plants. Methods: Two fluid extracts were obtained from dry leaves of the three species, E. globulus, B. officinalis and S. nigra, mixed in a 25:25:50 proportion. The method used was percolation and the solvents were 30 percent and 70 percent ethanol. The mucolytic effect was evaluated with the phenol red model in mouse secretions, and assays were conducted of the 30 percent and 70 percent alcoholic extracts. Toxicological analysis was performed on the 70 percent alcoholic extract. Results: Pharmacological evaluation found that 30 percent and 70 percent hydroalcoholic extracts display a mucolytic effect, effectiveness being slightly higher in the 70 percent alcoholic extract. When evaluated toxicologically, this extract did not show any toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity test. Conclusions: The formulations developed with fluid plant extracts using 30 percent and 70 percent ethanol were found to have a mucolytic effect in the red phenol model in mouse secretions under experimental test conditions. The 70 percent ethanolic plant extract did not have a toxic effect in the dose-limiting acute toxicity tes(AU)