The addition of a new immunomodulator with the adjuvant adaptation ADAD system using fatty acid binding proteins increases the protection against Fasciola hepatica.

Fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) have shown protective immune response against Fasciola hepatica infection. We evaluated the protection induced by the Fh12 FABP from F. hepatica (Fh12) combined with the new immunomodulator the lipidic aminoalcohol OA0012 in the ADAD system in mice and sheep. In this work we introduced a lipidic aminoalcohol OA0012 as immunomodulator alone or in combination with the hydroalcoholic extract of Phlebodium pseudoaureum; PAL. Mice vaccinated with ADAD containing OA0012+Fh12 or OA0012+Qs+Fh12 had survival rates of 40-50%. Sheep ADAD-vaccinated with OA0012+Qs+Fh12 showed lower fluke recovery, less hepatic lesions and higher post-infection daily weight gain than F. hepatica infected control animals. Sheep ADAD-vaccinated with OA0012 combined PAL and Qs+Fh12 showed lower fluke recovery (42%), lower adult worms count (57%) lower faecal egg count (38%), less hepatic lesions and higher post-infection daily weight gain than F. hepatica infected control animals. Thus, the addition of a new immunomodulator of synthesis to ADAD system with FABPs increased the protection against F. hepatica.

The Schistosoma bovis Sb14-3-3zeta recombinant protein cross-protects against Schistosoma mansoni in BALB/c mice.

Current control programs against schistosomiasis could be reinforced through the use of an effective vaccine. Schistosome 14-3-3 proteins have been proposed as candidates for vaccine against the respective infections, and were seen to elicit high protection levels against Schistosoma bovis in a previous work done by our group. We have therefore investigated the protective capacity of the 14-3-3 protein from S. bovis - Sb14zeta - against Schistosoma mansoni in mice. In addition, we have addressed the influence of the co-administration of three different immunomodulators with the 14-3-3 polypeptide. Protection was high when the Sb14zeta protein was combined in two independent experiments with the AA2829 and PAL immunomodulatory molecules as regards both the reduction of worm numbers (mean: 64.8%) and egg loads in liver (mean: 73.9%) or intestine (mean: 71.5%). In contrast, the degree of protection achieved with the Sb14zeta-CpG vaccine was very low (14.9% reduction in worm numbers, and 46.6% and 32% reduction in liver and intestinal egg loads). The immune responses observed in the vaccinated animals showed that the production of IFNgamma and the absence of IL-4, accompanied by a strong humoral response, are insufficient to elicit protection against S. mansoni.

A new coumarin from the fruits of Coutarea hexandra.

A new 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one (1), together with four known compounds, one coumarin, 5-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one (2) and three cucurbitacins, 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (3), 23,24-dihydro-25-acetylcucurbitacin F (4) and 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (5) have been isolated and characterised from the ethanol extract of Coutarea hexandra fruits. Their structures have been established by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS). Interpretation of the HMQC, HMBC, COSY-45 and NOESY experiments permitted us to establish stereochemistry of the natural products. All compounds were tested in cytotoxicity assays against the breast (MCF-7), lung (H-460), and central nervous system (SF-268) human cancer cell lines.

Analgesic-antiinflammatory properties of Proustia pyrifolia.

The antiinflammatory (per os and topic) and analgesic (per os) properties of the aerial part of Proustia pyrifolia a species in danger of extinction were investigated, and the major compounds of two of its active extracts were isolated. In addition, the evaluation of cytotoxicity in three tumoral cell lines and the acute toxicity of the crude methanol extract were also assayed, together with the antioxidant activity for the different extracts of this species. The results of the evaluation of the topic antiinflammatory activities induced by arachidonic acid, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate of the different extracts showed that this species possesses active constituents that could diminish cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenases activities, the enzymes that allow the synthesis of proinflammatory endogenous substances as prostaglandin E(2) and leukotrienes, respectively. Our results corroborate the antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of Proustia pyrifolia, and could justify its use in folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic and gout illnesses. From bio-active extracts beta-sitosterol, quercetin and dihydroquercetin were obtained, and these compounds could explain in part the antiinflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities of this species. The crude methanol extract did not present acute toxicity or cytotoxic activity, however only this extract exhibited antioxidant activity.

Anti-inflammatory activity of leaf extract and fractions of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg (Burseraceae).

Seeking for new medicinal compounds in plants used in traditional medicine, which grow in Venezuela, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf hexane extract (HE) and several fractions obtained from sp. Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. (Indio desnudo) using carrageenan-induced paw edema inflammation. Oral administration of leaf HE as well I (91-100) fraction, and compounds VIII 25-26 and VIII 29, inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw edema with different capacity and time course, over a period of 7h. The anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of the reference drug phenylbutazone (80 mg/kg, p.o.). Included in fraction I (91-100), Vitamin E was identified as one of its components and compound VIII 29 was identified as a methyl-beta-peltatin A. The comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity of VIII 29 fraction with the corresponding standard of methyl-beta-peltatin A, suggest that this compound could be one of the active principles involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. leave. Our results contribute to the pharmacological support of the use of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. as anti-inflammatory in the ethnomedicinal practice.