ABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of the uleine-rich fraction extracted from the barks of Himatanthus lancifolius (Muell. Arg.) Woodson (Apocynaceae). To achieve this, we focused on its in vitro effects on some steps of the inflammatory response using peripheral human leukocytes. The results presented herein show that the uleine-rich fraction significantly inhibits the migration of casein-induced granulocytes and their adhesion to fibronectin and vitronectin, along with mononuclear cells, by down-regulating the expression of alpha 4beta1 and alpha5beta1 integrins. The data suggest that H. LANCIFOLIUS has the potential of interferring with leukocyte trafficking through its uleine-rich fraction, emphasizing its usefulness in inflammatory conditions. DEXA:dexamethasone disodium phosphate FN:fibronectin PMN:polymorphonuclear URF:uleine-rich fraction VN:vitronectin.
Subject(s)
Alkaloids/pharmacology , Apocynaceae/chemistry , Bridged-Ring Compounds/pharmacology , Chemotaxis/drug effects , Inflammation/drug therapy , Leukocytes/drug effects , Alkaloids/isolation & purification , Alkaloids/therapeutic use , Bridged-Ring Compounds/isolation & purification , Bridged-Ring Compounds/therapeutic use , Caseins/pharmacology , Cell Adhesion/drug effects , Cell Migration Assays, Leukocyte , Fibronectins/metabolism , Humans , Integrin alpha4beta1/metabolism , Integrin alpha5beta1/metabolism , Phytotherapy , Plant Bark/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Vitronectin/metabolismABSTRACT
Plectranthus neochilus Schltr. is an aromatic herb named " boldo" or " boldo-gambá" and employed for treating hepatic insufficiency and dyspepsia in folk medicine. This paper has investigated its stem and leaf anatomy, in order to contribute for the medicinal plant identification. The botanical material was prepared according to standard microtechniques. The stem has quadrangular transection and, in secondary growth at the level analyzed, shows uniseriate epidermis and numerous trichomes. The glandular ones are capitate and peltate. The former has short unicellular or long multicellular stalk and uni- or bicellular head. The latter presents short stalk and eight-celled ovoid head. The non-glandular trichomes are multicellular, uniseriate and coated with granular cuticle. It is observed angular collenchyma, cambia forming phloem outward and xylem inward, and perivascular fiber caps next to the phloem. The blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with striate cuticle, diacytic stomata on both surfaces, numerous trichomes similar to the stem ones, and homogeneous mesophyll. The midrib shows one or two collateral bundles and the petiole has many of them distributed as an open arc.
Plectranthus neochilus Schltr. é uma erva aromática denominada boldo ou " boldo-gambá" e empregada no tratamento de insuficiência hepática e dispepsia na medicina popular. Este trabalho investigou a anatomia caulinar e foliar, com a finalidade de contribuir na identificação dessa planta medicinal. O material botânico foi preparado de acordo com microtécnicas usuais. O caule tem secção transversal quadrangular e, em crescimento secundário no nível analisado, exibe epiderme unisseriada e numerosos tricomas. Os tricomas glandulares são capitados e peltados. Os primeiros têm pedicelo curto e unicelular ou longo e pluricelular e cabeça uni ou bicelular. Os peltados apresentam pedicelo curto e cabeça ovóide com oito células. Os tricomas tectores são pluricelulares, unisseriados e recobertos com cutícula granulosa. Observam-se colênquima angular, câmbio vascular formando floema em direção centrífuga e xilema para o centro, e calotas de fibras perivasculares apostas ao floema. A lâmina foliar tem epiderme uniestratificada revestida por cutícula estriada, estômatos diacíticos em ambas as superfícies, numerosos tricomas similares aos do caule e mesofilo homogêneo. A nervura central possui um ou dois feixes vasculares colaterais e o pecíolo apresenta vários feixes colaterais em arco aberto.
