Antitumoral photoinduced effects of crude extract, fractions, and naphthoquinones from Sinningia magnifica (Otto & A. Dietr.) Wiehler (Gesneriaceae) in a bioguided study.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been used for various purposes, including as an antitumor resource in a noninvasive therapy with minimal side effects. Sinningia magnifica (Otto & A. Dietr.) Wiehler is a rupicolous plant found in rock crevices in Brazilian tropical forests. Initial studies indicate the presence of phenolic glycosides and anthraquinones in species of the genus Sinningia (Generiaceae family). It is known that anthraquinones are natural photosensitizers with potential PDT applications. This led us to investigate the potential compounds of S. magnifica for use as a natural photosensitizer against the melanoma (SK-MEL-103) and the prostate cancer (PC-3) cell lines in a bioguided study. Our results showed that singlet oxygen production by the 1,3-DPBF photodegradation assay greatly increased in the presence of crude extract and fractions. The biological activity evaluation showed photodynamic action against melanoma cell line SK-MEL-103 and prostate cell line PC-3. These results suggest the presence of potential photosensitizing substances, as demonstrated in this in vitro antitumor PDT study by the naphthoquinones Dunniol and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-α-dunnione for the first time. Naphthoquinones, anthraquinones and phenolic compounds were identified in the crude extract by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, motivating us to continue with the bioguided phytochemical study aiming to discover more photochemically bioactive substances in Gesneriaceae plants.

Effects of Moquiniastrum polymorphum ssp floccosum ethnolic extract on colorectal carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Moquiniastrum polymorphum ssp floccosum ethanolic extract (MPEE) on 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice. Forty-two male Swiss mice (Mus musculus) were subdivided into six groups (N = 7/group): negative control, DMH, MPEE, pre-treatment, simultaneous, and post-treatment. Results showed that MPEE has antigenotoxic potential on the tested protocols pre- and silmultaneous treatment, and the percent damage reductions (%DRs) were 81.88 and 93.12%, respectively. The micronucleus test demonstrated that MPEE has great antimutagenic activity, with %DRs higher than 77.09 in the associated groups. The aberrant crypt focus assay demonstrated anticarcinogenic potential of MPEE as the associated groups showed %DRs that ranged from 62.13 to 95.14%. The study shows that MPEE is nontoxic and has chemopreventive and anticarcinogenic activity, thus it may prove to be a promising medicinal plant in view of its demonstrated properties.

Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp floccosum extract: screening for mutagenic and antimutagenic activity.

Moquiniastrum polymorphum subsp floccosum (Cabrera) G. Sancho is used in traditional Brazilian medicine to treat inflammation and infection, which is supported by scientific data. However, only one study has been conducted on the mutagenic activity of the extract, which has important safety implications. This study evaluated the mutagenic/antimutagenic activity of M. polymorphum ethanolic extract (MPEE) in Allium cepa meristematic cells. Commercial A. cepa seeds were cultured for 120 h. Treatments were performed for 48 h with MPEE (10 mg/mL), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS; 0.01 mg/mL), or in combination (MPEE + MMS). All of the experiments were performed in triplicate. A total of 15,000 cells per treatment were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations and the mitotic index. The results showed that MPEE was not mutagenic. In combination with MMS, MPEE decreased the number of damaged cells and the mitotic index. Interestingly, the most pronounced effect was observed post-treatment when the mitotic index also decreased, suggesting that MPEE may affect the cell cycle. MPEE exhibited antimutagenic activity, and may induce cell cycle arrest in A. cepa.

Composição do óleo essencial de Sinningia aggregata / Composition of essential oil of Sinningia aggregata

O óleo essencial de Sinningia aggregata (Ker. Gawl.) Wiehler (Gesneriaceae) foi extraído por hidrodestilação e analisado por CG e CG/EM. Foram identificados 17 compostos, representando 91,8 por cento do óleo. O óleo é constituído principalmente por compostos alifáticos de cadeia longa (49,8 por cento) e sesquiterpenos oxigenados (40,2 por cento). Os principais componentes foram: linoleato de metila (28,4 por cento), 1-octadecanol (16,9 por cento), acetato de (Z)-nerolidila (8,8 por cento), espatulenol (7,8 por cento) e (E)-nerolidol (6,7 por cento). Monoterpenos e fenilpropanóides não foram encontrados. Este é o primeiro relato de estudo de óleo essencial na família Gesneriaceae.

The essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Sinningia aggregata (Ker. Gawl.) Wiehler (Gesneriaceae) was analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Seventeen components were identified, representing 91,8 percent of the total oil. The oil was characterized by a high content of long-chain aliphatic compounds (49,8 percent) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (40,2 percent). The two major components were methyl linoleate (28,4 percent) and 1-octadecanol (16,9 percent). Among the sesquiterpenes, (Z)-nerolidol acetate (8,8 percent), spathulenol (7,8 percent) and (E)-nerolidol (6,7 percent) are present in appreciable amounts. Monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids were not found in the oil.