Evaluation of Gastroprotective Activity of the Methanolic Extract of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (Acanthaceae).

INTRODUCTION: Justicia pectoralis Jacq. is traditionally applied in folk medicine in Brazil and in several Latin American countries. The leaves are used in tea form, especially in the treatment of respiratory disorders, acting as an expectorant. It also has activity in gastrointestinal disorders, and it is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative, and estrogenic, among others. AIMS: To investigate the gastroprotective activity of the methanol extract of the leaves of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (MEJP) in different experimental models of gastric ulcers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The adult leaves of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. were collected and cultivated in beds, with an approximate spacing of 40 × 40 cm, organic fertilization, irrigation with potable water and without shelter from light. The MEJP was prepared from the dried and pulverized leaves and concentrated under reduced pressure in a rotary evaporator. For the experimental model of gastric ulcer, Swiss male albino mice were used. The inputs used in the experiment were MEJP at three different concentrations (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg p.o.), cimetidine (50 mg/kg p.o.), indomethacin (50 mg/kg s.c.) and vehicle (10 mL/kg p.o.). RESULTS: MEJP (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg p.o.) demonstrated gastroprotective activity, with levels of protection of 45.65%, 44.80% and 40.22%, respectively, compared to the control (vehicle). Compared with cimetidine (48.29%), MEJP showed similar gastroprotective activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the gastroprotective activity of MEJP and contributes to validate the traditional use the species for gastric disorders and provides a pharmacological basis for its clinical potential.

Overview of the Justicia Genus: Insights into Its Chemical Diversity and Biological Potential.

The genus Justicia has more than 600 species distributed in both hemispheres, in the tropics and temperate regions, and it is used in the treatment of numerous pathologies. This study presents a review of the biological activities of plant extracts and isolated chemical constituents of Justicia (ACANTHACEAE), identified in the period from May 2011 to August 2022. We analyzed over 176 articles with various biological activities and chemical compound descriptions present in the 29 species of Justicia. These have a variety of applications, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial, with alkaloids and flavonoids (e.g., naringenin) the most frequently identified secondary metabolites. The most observed species were Justicia gendarussa Burm., Justicia procumbens L., Justicia adhatoda L., Justicia spicigera Schltdl, and Justicia pectoralis Jacq. The frontier molecular orbitals carried out using density functional theory (M062X and basis set 6-311++G(d,p) indicate reactive sites for naringenin compound and a chemical reaction on phytomedicine activity. The energy gap (206.99 kcal/mol) and dimer solid state packing point to chemical stability. Due to the wide variety of pharmacological uses of these species, this review points toward the development of new phytomedicines.

Flavonoids from Brazilian Cerrado: Biosynthesis, Chemical and Biological Profile.

Flavonoids are highly bioactive compounds with very low toxicity, which makes them attractive starting points in drug discovery. This study aims to provide information on plant species containing flavonoids, which are found in the Brazilian Cerrado. First, we present the characterization and plant diversity with emphasis on the families of flavonoid-producing plants, and then we describe the phenylpropanoid pathway which represents the flavonoids' main route biosynthesis-generally conserved in all species. Chemical structures and biological activities of flavonoids isolated from the Cerrado's plant species are also described based on examples from the relevant literature studies. Finally, research on the biodiversity of the Cerrado biome should be encouraged, due to the discovery of new sources of flavonoids which can provide several benefits to human health and the possibility of developing new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry.

Bioprospecção no cerrado: fitoquímica foliar de Justicia Nodicaulis (Nees) Leonard (Acanthaceae) ocorrente em cerrado goiano / Foliar Phytochemistry of Justicia Nodicaulis (Nees) Leonard (Acanthaceae) occurrent in cerrado from Goias

O gênero Justicia L. pode ser considerado o maior gênero de Acanthaceae, com cerca de 600 espécies. No gênero Justicia são relatados a presença de lignanas, flavanóides, terpenóides e alcaloides, que possuem grande importância na farmacologia. Neste estudo, o objetivo consistiu em observar e registrar as principais classes de metabólitos secundários das estruturas foliares da espécie Justicia nodicaulis (Nees) Leonard, ocorrente na área de Preservação Ambiental na Unidade Experimental do Centro Universitário de Anápolis ­ GO. Foram reunidas porções de folhas jovens (proporção de tamanho menor) e adultas (proporção de tamanho maior), sendo preferivelmente extraídas descensionalmente do terceiro nó, identificadas logo abaixo da extremidade da espécime, coletou-se amostras de 10 espécimes de J. nodicaulis (Nees) Leonard ao longo do córrego da área experimental do Centro Universitário de Anápolis. Materiais que foram adquiridos com o objetivo de realizar a prospecção fitoquímica e levantamento dos óleos essenciais. Para a análise qualitativa das classes de metabólicos secundários mais ocorrentes na espécie, utilizou-se metodologias descritas nas literaturas da ciência da fitoquímica. Entre os resultados, foram obtidos nas folhas novas e adultas, cumarinas, taninos, heterosídeos antraquinônicos, flavonóides, cardioativos e saponínicos. Entre o levantamento dos óleos essenciais foram obtidos 49 integrantes mais ocorrentes da literatura analisada.

The genus Justicia L. can be considered the largest genus of Acanthaceae, with about 600 species. In the Justicia genus, the presence of lignans, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids are reported, which are of great importance in pharmacology. The objective of this study was to observe and record the main classes of secondary metabolites of the leaf structures of the species Justicia nodicaulis (Nees) Leonard, occurring in the area of Environmental Preservation at the University Center of Anápolis - GO. Portions of young leaves (proportion of smaller size) and adults (larger size ratio) were collected, preferably being extracted descendingly from the third node, identified just below the end of the specimen, samples were collected from 10 specimens of J. nodicaulis (Nees ) Leonard along the creek of the experimental area of the University Center of Anápolis. Materials that were purchased for the purpose of performing the phytochemical prospecting and survey of the essential oils. For the qualitative analysis of the classes of secondary metabolites most present in the species, we used methodologies described in the literature of the science of phytochemistry. Among the results, new and adult leaves, coumarins, tannins, anthraquinone heterosides, flavonoids, cardioactive and saponin were obtained. Between the survey of the essential oils, 49 members were obtained more occurring in the analyzed literature.

EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE ON THIRD-STAGE LARVAE OF Lagochilascaris minor IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MICE.

Lagochilascariosis, a disease caused by Lagochilascaris minor, affects the neck, sinuses, tonsils, lungs, the sacral region, dental alveoli, eyeballs and the central nervous system of humans. A cycle of autoinfection may occur in human host tissues characterized by the presence of eggs, larvae and adult worms. This peculiarity of the cycle hinders therapy, since there are no drugs that exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal and vermicidal activity. Given these facts, we studied the action of levamisole hydrochloride on third-stage larvae in the migration phase (G1) and on encysted larvae (G3) of L. minor. To this end, 87 inbred mice of the C57BL/6 strain were divided into test groups comprising 67 animals (G1-37; G3-30) and a control group (G2-10; G4-10) with 20 animals. Each animal was inoculated orally with 2,000 infective eggs of the parasite. The animals of the test groups were treated individually with a single oral dose of levamisole hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.075 mg. The drug was administered either 30 minutes prior to the parasite inoculation (G1 animals) or 120 days after the inoculation (G3 animals). The mice in the control groups were not treated with the drug. After the time required for the migration and the encysting of L. minor larvae, all the animals were euthanized and their tissues examined. The data were analyzed using the Student's unpaired t-test and the Levene test. The groups showed no statistically significant difference. Levamisole hydrochloride was ineffective on third-stage larvae of L. minor. These findings explain the massive expulsion of live adult worms, as well as the use of long treatment schemes, owing to the persistence of larvae and eggs in human parasitic lesions.