Evaluation of the Insecticidal Potential of Heterotheca inuloides Acetonic and Methanolic Extracts against Spodoptera frugiperda and Their Ecotoxicological Effect on Poecilia reticulata.

For the management of Spodoptera frugiperda, botanical extracts have been used to reduce the environmental impacts of synthetic chemical pesticides. In the present investigation, the insecticidal activity of the acetonic and methanolic extracts of Heterotheca inuloides (Asteraceae) and of the main compound 7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocadalene on this pest as well as its ecotoxicological effect on Poecilia reticulata were evaluated. A greater insecticidal response was obtained from the acetonic extracts than from the methanolic extracts, with LC50 values of 730.4 ppm and 711.7 ppm for samples 1 and 2, respectively. Similarly, there was a lethal effect on 50% of the P. reticulata population at low concentrations in the acetonic extract compared to the methanolic extract. The sesquiterpene 7-hydroxy-3,4-dihydrocadalene has greater insecticidal activity by presenting an LC50 of 44.36 ppm; however, it is classified as moderately toxic for guppy fish.

Dose-Dependent Behavioral and Antioxidant Effects of Quercetin and Methanolic and Acetonic Extracts from Heterotheca inuloides on Several Rat Tissues following Kainic Acid-Induced Status Epilepticus.

Kainic acid (KA) has been used to study the neurotoxicity induced after status epilepticus (SE) due to activation of excitatory amino acids with neuronal damage. Medicinal plants can protect against damage caused by KA-induced SE; in particular, organic extracts of Heterotheca inuloides and its metabolite quercetin display antioxidant activity and act as hepatoprotective agents. However, it is unknown whether these properties can protect against the hyperexcitability underlying the damage caused by KA-induced SE. Our aim was to study the protective effects (with regard to behavior and antioxidant activity) of administration of natural products methanolic (ME) and acetonic (AE) extracts and quercetin (Q) from H. inuloides at doses of 30 mg/kg (ME30, AE30, and Q30 groups), 100 mg/kg (ME100, AE100, and Q100 groups), and 300 mg/kg (ME300, AE300, and Q300 groups) against damage in brain regions of male Wistar rats treated with KA. We found dose-dependent effects on behavioral and biochemical studies in the all-natural product groups vs. the control group, with decreases in seizure severity (Racine's scale) and increases in seizure latency (p < 0.05 in the ME100, AE100, Q100, and Q300 groups and p < 0.01 in the AE300 and ME300 groups); on lipid peroxidation and carbonylated proteins in all brain tissues (p < 0.0001); and on GPx, GR, CAT, and SOD activities with all the treatments vs. KA (p ≤ 0.001). In addition, there were strong negative correlations between carbonyl levels and latency in the group treated with KA and in the group treated with methanolic extract in the presence of KA (r = -0.9919, p = 0.0084). This evidence suggests that organic extracts and quercetin from H. inuloides exert anticonvulsant effects via direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.

Antioxidant capacity of "Mexican arnica" Heterotheca inuloides Cass natural products and some derivatives: their anti-inflammatory evaluation and effect on C. elegans life span.

It has been suggested that the accumulation of biomolecular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to aging. The antioxidant activity is related to the ability of certain compounds to protect against the potentially harmful effect of processes or reactions involving ROS. This ability is associated with the termination of free radical propagation in biological systems. From Heterotheca inuloides various compounds which have shown to possess antioxidant capacity and scavenging ROS. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant capacity of additional natural components isolated from H. inuloides and some semisynthetic derivatives, their anti-inflammatory activity and the effect on Caenorhabditis elegans nematode life span. Compounds showed ability to inhibit various biological processes such as lipid peroxidation, scavenge nonbiological important oxidants such as (1)O2, OH(∙), H2O2, and HOCl and scavenge non biological stable free radicals (DPPH). Some cadinane type compounds showed possess antioxidant, ROS scavenging capacity, anti-inflammatory activity, and effect on the C. elegans life span. Flavonoid type compounds increased the life of the nematode and quercetin was identified as the compound with the greatest activity. The modification of chemical structure led to a change in the antioxidant capacity, the anti-inflammatory activity, and the survival of the worm.

Chemical diversity among populations of Mikania micrantha: geographic mosaic structure and herbivory.

Populations of the same species vary in their secondary metabolite content. This variation has been attributed to biotic and abiotic environmental conditions as well as to historical factors. Some studies have focused on the geographic variation of chemical diversity in plant populations, but whether this structure conforms to a central-marginal model or a mosaic pattern remains unclear. Furthermore, assessing the chemical diversity of invasive plants in their native distribution facilitates the understanding of their relationships with natural enemies. We examined the geographic variation of chemical diversity in Mexican populations of the bittervine weed Mikania micrantha and its relationship to herbivore damage. The foliar volatile terpenoid blend was analyzed in 165 individuals of 14 populations in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico tropical watersheds. A cluster analysis grouped individuals with similar terpenoid blends into 56 compositional types. Chemical diversity was measured using the number of compounds and their concentration within the blends for individuals, and the number and frequency of compositional types for populations. A stepwise multiple regression analysis performed with geographic, climatic, and chemical diversity variables explained herbivore damage. However, population-level chemical diversity was the only variable found to be significant (ß = -0.79, P = 0.042) in the model (R(2) = 0.89). A Mantel test using Euclidean distances did not indicate any separation by geographic origin; however, four barriers were identified using Monmonier's algorithm. We conclude that variation in population-level chemical diversity follows a mosaic pattern in which geographic factors (i.e., natural barriers) have some effect and that variation is also associated with the local intensity of herbivore attack.

Antioxidant activity of Heterotheca inuloides extracts and of some of its metabolites.

Arnica (Heterotheca inuloides) is a widely used medicinal plant in México; it has been recognized as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cytotoxic, scavenger of superoxide anion and also as a preventive of lipid peroxidation. In vivo studies have demonstrated a hepatoprotective action of the methanolic extract of this plant as well as of quercetin, one of its main components, and the evidence obtained pointed out to an antioxidant mechanism. In this work, we focused on the free radical scavenging capacity of acetonic and methanolic extracts of H. inuloides in comparison with reference compounds. The two extracts were 2-12 times more effective (IC50, microg/mL) than the reference compounds to cope with the following radicals or molecules tested: 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(+)), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), superoxide (O2(-)), singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl (OH). Additionally, five secondary metabolites isolated from the methanolic extract displayed potent concentration-dependent antioxidant effects against reactive oxygen species produced in vitro (IC50 values in the range of 0.018-4.31mg/mL). d-Chiro-inositol showed the higher antioxidant effect against O2(-), H2O2 and OH while spinasterol and quercetin were the most active against (1)O(2) and ONOO(-), respectively. The antioxidant properties of the extracts and metabolites tested partially support the wide use of this plant in traditional medicine.