12α-hydroxy-N-demethyl-sauroxine, a lycodane type alkaloid from Phlegmariurus saururus.

12α-hydroxy-N-demethyl-sauroxine (1), another new Lycopodium alkaloid from the Lycodane group, was isolated from Phlegmariurus saururus (Lam.) B. Øllg. (Lycopodiaceae). Elucidation of the chemical structure and relative stereochemistry were stated by spectroscopic data and chemical correlation. In addition, the inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase for 1 was determined as well as for N-methyllycodine (2), a derivative with the same nucleus, previously identified in P. saururus (IC50 = 33.8 ± 0.8 µM and 547.5 ± 0.5 µM, respectively) and N-demethylsauroxine (3) whose inhibition in the actual conditions was better than the previously informed.

Estudio descriptivo sobre la utilización de plantas como alternativas terapeuticas / No disponible

Objetivo: Conocer el grado de utilización, Prevalencia (P) de uso, de Plantas Medicinales (PM) como alternativa terapéutica en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio Transversal aplicando una encuesta autoadministrada en 12 barrios de la ciudad de Córdoba elegidos aleatoriamente, 4 de cada clase social. El estudio se llevó a cabo entre mayo y agosto de 2009. Los datos fueron procesados utilizando el programa Epi info 3.5.1 y cuando fue factible se aplicó el test Chi cuadrado (χ2) para determinar asociación entre variables. Resultados: La P de uso de PM como alternativa terapéutica fue de 53,30% (IC95%= 49,10% - 57,40%). Luego del análisis del χ2 se determinó que las PM son más usadas por el sexo femenino (54,60%), las personas de clase media (56,85%) y en forma similar por los grupos etarios correspondientes a Senectud (67,59%) y Adultez Media (62,50%). El 69,36% de los consumidores fueron inducidos por familiares o conocidos y sólo el 23,12%, por un profesional del equipo de salud. El 86,07% (IC95%= 83,57% - 88,57%) de las personas que consumieron PM refieren haber obtenido un buen resultado; sólo el 4,9% (IC95%= 2,87% - 6,87%) de los encuestados respondieron haber padecido efectos adversos luego de la utilización de diversas PM. Conclusiones: Si se suma al 53,30% de personas que usan PM un 29,17% que aunque respondió que no usa PM afirma que consume diversas especies para “ayudar a la digestión”, la P asciende a 81,90%, resultado coherente con el mencionado por la OMS (AU)

Aim: To known the degree of utilization, Prevalence (P) of use, of Medicinal Plants (MP) as therapeutic alternative in Córdoba city, Argentina. Material and methods: It was carried out a Transversal study applying an auto administered survey in 12 randomly selected neighborhoods in Córdoba city, being 4 of each social class. The study was performed between May and August 2009. Data were processed by using the Epi info Program version 3.5.1, and when it was possible, Chi Square Test (χ2) was calculated in order to determine association among variables. Results: MP P of use as therapeutic alternative was 53.30% (CI95%= 49.10% - 57.40%). After χ2 analysis it was determined that MP are mostly used by Female sex (54.60%), Middle Class persons (56.85%) and in a similar proportions by the etary groups correspondent to Senescence (67.59%) and Middle Adulthood (62.50%). The 69.36% of the MP consumers were induced by relatives or acquaintances and only the 23.12% was advised by a professional of the health team. The 86.07% (CI95%= 83.57% - 88.57%) of persons that consumed MP refer to have obtained a good result; only the 4.90% (CI95%= 2.87% - 6.87%) of the polled answered to have suffered from adverse effects after diverse MP use. Conclusions: If it is added to the 53.30% of the persons that use MP a 29.17% of those people that even when declare that don’t consume MP affirm that consume diverse species to “help the digestion”, the P increase to 81.90%, coherent result with that mentioned by the WHO (AU)

Study of the interaction of Huperzia saururus Lycopodium alkaloids with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme.

In the present study, we describe and compare the binding modes of three Lycopodium alkaloids (sauroine, 6-hydroxylycopodine and sauroxine; isolated from Huperzia saururus) and huperzine A with the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Refinement and rescoring of the docking poses (obtained with different programs) with an all atom force field helped to improve the quality of the protein-ligand complexes. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the complexes and the alkaloid's binding modes. The combination of the latter two methodologies indicated that binding in the active site is favored for the active compounds. On the other hand, similar binding energies in both the active and the peripheral sites were obtained for sauroine, thus explaining its experimentally determined lack of activity. MM-GBSA predicted the order of binding energies in agreement with the experimental IC50 values.

Amino acid content and acetylcholinesterase inhibition of Huperzia saururus infusion and decoction.

UNLABELLED: CONTEXT. Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae), an autochthonous plant species in Argentina, is used as a memory improver in traditional medicine. It was studied for this reason and the purified alkaloid extract did show significant activity on learning and memory. The species is mostly consumed in the form of infusions and decoctions. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the activity of the H. saururus infusion and decoction as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and to determine the amino acid content in both extracts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Infusion and decoction were purified by ionic exchange chromatography and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography HPLC-UV, and the AChE inhibition of these extracts was evaluated by using the Ellman method. RESULTS: Both infusion and decoction exerted strong AChE inhibitory activities (IC50=7.2 ± 0.4 and 22.7 ± 5.6 µg/mL, respectively). Among nine amino acids, arginine (Arg) was identified in a concentration greater than 9 mg/100 g of dried aerial parts in both extracts. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This high content of Arg could be considered a contributing factor to the activity on memory previously demonstrated for the H. saururus alkaloid extract, since Arg is implicated indirectly in mnemonic processes as a precursor in nitric oxide synthesis. Thus, the central effect of H. saururus could involve two different mechanisms, the cholinergic mechanism and the nitric oxide pathway.

Estudio descriptivo sobre la utilización de plantas como alternativas terapéuticas / Descriptive study on the use of plants as therapeutic alternatives

Objetivo: Conocer el grado de utilización, Prevalencia (P) de uso, de Plantas Medicinales (PM) como alternativa terapéutica en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio Transversal aplicando una encuesta autoadministrada en 12 barrios de la ciudad de Córdoba elegidos aleatoriamente, 4 de cada clase social. El estudio se llevó a cabo entre mayo y agosto de 2009. Los datos fueron procesados utilizando el programa Epi info 3.5.1 y cuando fue factible se aplicó el test Chi cuadrado (χ2 ) para determinar asociación entre variables. Resultados: La P de uso de PM como alternativa terapéutica fue de 53,30% (IC95%= 49,10% - 57,40%). Luego del análisis del χ2 se determinó que las PM son más usadas por el sexo femenino (54,60%), las personas de clase media (56,85%) y en forma similar por los grupos etarios correspondientes a Senectud (67,59%) y Adultez Media (62,50%). El 69,36% de los consumidores fueron inducidos por familiares o conocidos y sólo el 23,12%, por un profesional del equipo de salud. El 86,07% (IC95%= 83,57% - 88,57%) de las personas que consumieron PM refieren haber obtenido un buen resultado; sólo el 4,9% (IC95%= 2,87% - 6,87%) de los encuestados respondieron haber padecido efectos adversos luego de la utilización de diversas PM. Conclusiones: Si se suma al 53,30% de personas que usan PM un 29,17% que aunque respondió que no usa PM afirma que consume diversas especies para "ayudar a la digestión", la P asciende a 81,90%, resultado coherente con el mencionado por la OMS.

Prenylated flavanones with anti-tyrosinase activity from Dalea boliviana.

Three new prenylated flavanones, (2S)-5,7,2'-trihydroxy-5'-(1''',1'''-dimethylallyl)-8-prenylflavanone (1), (2S)-5,7,2'-trihydroxy-8,3'-diprenylflavanone (2), and (2S)-5,2'-dihydroxy-6'',6''-dimethylchromeno-(7,8:2'',3'')-3'-prenylflavanone (3), and a known chromeno (dimethylpyrano) flavanone, obovatin (4), were isolated from the n-hexane extract of Dalea boliviana roots. The compounds were evaluated in vitro in relation to their inhibitory effect on the tyrosinase activity by using a spectrophotometric method.

Two new alkamides from roots of Acmella decumbens.

From the roots of Acmella decumbens (Sm) R.K. Jansen three compounds belonging to the alkamide family were isolated: (2E, 4E)-N-hydroxiphenylethyl-2,4-decadien-9-inamide (1); (4E, 6E)-N-isobutyl-4,6-undecen-10-inamide; (2) and (2Z)-N-phenylethyl-2-nonane-6,8-diinamide (3). The structures were determined by means of IR, MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, DEPT 135 and COSY. Compounds 1 and 2 are reported for the first time, while 3 was previously isolated from Spilanthes acmella L.