Anti-arthritic properties of crude extract from Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic crude extract (HCE) from Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves on the development of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and on pro-inflammatory cytokine balance. METHODS: Collagen-induced arthritis was induced in DBA1/J mice. On the 21st day, the mice were treated orally with HCE or methotrexate, daily. Six weeks after beginning the treatment, the following measures were determined: lymphoid organs cell numbers, percentage of blood cells, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 serum concentrations, activity of hepatic and kidney glutathione S-transferase, hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, bone density and histopathology. KEY FINDINGS: Treatment of CIA mice with HCE 5 mg/kg (HCE5) reduced the percentage of neutrophils and macrophages and the number of bone marrow cells and increased the lymphocyte numbers and the inguinal lymph node cellularity. This treatment inhibited the serum concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α, which may be related to the preservation of bone density and to the slight thickening of periarticular tissues, with minimal fibrosis and fibroblast proliferation in the joints. The CIA group presented advanced articular erosion and synovial hyperplasia. Phytochemical analysis showed mainly flavonols. CONCLUSIONS: HCE5 presented anti-arthritic potential and reduced IL-6 and TNF-α, which participate directly in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-inflammatory effect of diterpenes-enriched fractions from Pterodon polygalaeflorus through inhibition of macrophage migration and cytokine production.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of Pterodon polygalaeflorus hexane extract (HE) and its fractions on macrophage migration in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Hexane extract from P. polygalaeflorus fruits was fractionated and yielded four fractions. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with samples to evaluate cell viability (MTT assay), cell migration (wound healing and transwell assays), CD14 expression (flow cytometry), iNOS and cytokine mRNA expression (RT-qPCR), NO (Griess reaction) and cytokine (ELISA) production. In vivo migration was evaluated on the thioglycollate-induced peritonitis model. Qualitative analysis was performed by GC-MS. KEY FINDINGS: All fractions inhibited the NO production by LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Fr3 and Fr4 presented the lowest IC50 values. The expressions of iNOS and IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-10 cytokines were inhibited by Fr3 and Fr4, whereas the CD14 expression was only inhibited by Fr3. All the samples inhibited RAW 264.7 migration in the wound healing and transwell assays. Fr3 and Fr4 reduced the migration of Mac-1+ Gr-1- cells to the peritoneum and presented in their compositions: 6α-hydroxy-7ß-acetoxyvouacapan-17ß-oate, methyl 6α,7ß-dihydroxyvouacapan-17ß-oate, methyl 6α-acetoxy-7ß-hydroxyvouacapan-17ß-oate, geranylgeraniol and 14,15-epoxy-geranylgeraniol. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory effects of Fr3 and Fr4 involve inhibition of cell migration, iNOS expression and NO production, cytokine expression (mRNA and proteins) and CD14 expression (Fr3).

Non-Clinical Studies for Evaluation of 8-C-Rhamnosyl Apigenin Purified from Peperomia obtusifolia against Acute Edema.

Compound 8-C-rhamnosyl apigenin (8CR) induced a moderate reduction in the enzymatic activity of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) from Crotalus durissus terrificus and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), but the compound also significantly inhibited the enzymatic activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. In vitro assays showed that the compound induced a slight change in the secondary structure of sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom. In vivo assays were divided into two steps. In the first step, the 8CR compound was administered by intraperitoneal injections 30 min prior to administration of sPLA2. In this condition, 8CR inhibited edema and myonecrosis induced by the sPLA2 activity of Crotalus durissus terrificus in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and lipid peroxidation. This has been demonstrated by monitoring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat paws after the course of edema induced by sPLA2. These results, for the first time, show that sPLA2 of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom induces massive muscle damage, as well as significant edema by mobilization of cyclooxygenase enzymes. Additionally, its pharmacological activity involves increased lipid peroxidation as well as TNF-α and IL-1ß production. Previous administration by the peritoneal route has shown that dose-dependent 8CR significantly decreases the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase enzymes. This resulted in a decrease of the amount of bioactive lipids involved in inflammation; it also promoted a significant cellular protection against lipid peroxidation. In vivo experiments performed with 8CR at a concentration adjusted to 200 µg (8 mg/kg) of intraperitoneal injection 15 min after sPLA2 injection significantly reduced sPLA2 edema and the myotoxic effect induced by sPLA2 through the decrease in the enzymatic activity of cPLA2, cyclooxygenase, and a massive reduction of lipid peroxidation. These results clearly show that 8CR is a potent anti-inflammatory that inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and it may modulate the enzymatic activity of sPLA2 and cPLA2. In addition, it was shown that Crotalus durissus terrificus sPLA2 increases cell oxidative stress during edema and myonecrosis, and the antioxidant properties of the polyphenolic compound may be significant in mitigating the pharmacological effect induced by sPLA2 and other snake venom toxins.

Absolute Configuration of a Rare Sesquiterpene: (+)-3-Ishwarone.

To determine the absolute configuration of 3-ishwarone, the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD), electronic dissymmetry factor (EDF), optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and vibrational dissymmetry factor (VDF) spectra of (+)-3-ishwarone are analyzed with the corresponding density functional theoretical predictions for different diastereomers. ECD and ORD spectra by themselves could not facilitate the determination of the absolute configuration of this molecule. However, the magnitude of the experimental EDF of (+)-3-ishwarone is found to match better with that predicted for the (1R,2S,4S,5R,9R,11R) diastereomer. The analyses of similarity measures between experimental and predicted spectra for VCD and VDF clearly suggested that the absolute configuration of (+)-3-ishwarone is (1R,2S,4S,5R,9R,11R).

3-Ishwarone, a rare ishwarane sesquiterpene from Peperomia scandens Ruiz & Pavon: structural elucidation through a joint experimental and theoretical study.

3-Ishwarone, (1), a sesquiterpene with a rare ishwarane skeleton, was isolated from Peperomia scandens Ruiz & Pavon (Piperaceae). Its structure was unambiguously determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR and infrared analyses, as well as by comparative theoretical studies which involved calculations of 13C-NMR chemical shifts, using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the mPW1PW91 hybrid functional and Pople's 6-31G(d) basis set, and of vibrational frequencies, using the B3LYP hybrid functional and triple ζ Dunning's correlation consistent basis set (cc-pVTZ), of (1) and three of its possible diastereomers, compounds 2-4.

Pterodon polygalaeflorus essential oil modulates acute inflammation and B and T lymphocyte activation.

The increased life expectancy of the population has led to increasing incidences of cancer, chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus the continuous search for new drugs is necessary because ineffectiveness and adverse effects have been described for standard drugs. Essential oils are important sources of bioactive metabolites and several clinical trials have been developed using them. The Pterodon genus has been used in traditional medicine to treat rheumatic disorders, thus this work investigated the properties of essential oil from Pterodon polygalaeflorus fruits (EsOPpg) on acute inflammation and lymphocyte activation. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and its components were identified by GC/MS. The anti-inflammatory response was assessed using the air pouch model. Antinociceptive potential was evaluated using the writhing model. Lymphocyte phenotyping, cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. EsOPpg promoted a reduction in leukocyte counts and protein concentration in the exudate, and reduced vasodilatation and inflammatory cell infiltrate in air pouch tissue. No antinociceptive effect was demonstrated for the doses tested. EsOPpg inhibited lymphocyte proliferation, arresting the cell cycle in G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in these cells. EsOPpg downregulated both the total number of CD8(+) T cells and the activated subpopulation (CD8(+)CD69(+)), while promoting upregulation of the total number of CD19(+) and CD19(+)CD69(+) B cells. In conclusion, Pterodon polygalaeflorus essential oil diminished the acute inflammatory response and inhibited lymphocyte proliferation, reducing neutrophil recruitment into the cavity and air pouch tissue and promoting distinct modulations of the activation level of each lymphocyte subpopulation.

Aristolactams from roots of Ottonia anisum (Piperaceae).

The Piperaceae species are known worldwide for its medicinal properties and its chemical compounds. In Brazil, many species of this family are distributed mainly in Amazon Region and in the Atlantic Forest. The genus Ottonia is known as source of amides, flavonoids, arilpropanoids and terpenes with record biological activities. Six aristolactams, including, aristolactam BII, piperolactam C, goniothalactam, stigmalactam, aristolactam AII and aristolactam BIII were isolated from roots of this species. GC-MS, 1H NMR and NOESY techniques were used to characterize these compounds. This is the first report about the occurrence of aristolactams in the Ottonia anisum Sprengel.

Chemistry and biological activity of essential oils from Piper claussenianum (Piperaceae).

Analyses of essential oils obtained from fresh and dried leaves and inflorescences of Piper clausenianum were performed using GC-FID, GC-MS and NMR techniques. Forty compounds were detected for these four oils with the total of identified constituents ranging from 88.7% for the dried inflorescences to 97.7% for the dried leaves. Sesquiterpenes were the main constituents in the volatile fraction from leaves with a high percentage of (E)-nerolidol (up to 83%). However, monoterpenes were identified in greater amount in the inflorescences, with linalool percentages from 50% up. The essential oils from fresh leaves and inflorescences were submitted to anti-parasitic activity against a strain of Leishmania amazonensis. Both samples showed biological activity, but the essential oil from P. claussenianum fresh leaves, which was rich in (E)-nerolidol, showed effective growth inhibition of L. amazonensis due to the high percentage of this metabolite in the mixture.

C-glycosyl flavones from Peperomia blanda.

The methanol extract from aerial parts of the Peperomia blanda (Piperaceae) yielded two C-glycosyl-flavones. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, chemical transformation and comparison with the related known compounds. The structure of the new flavonoids were established as 4'-methoxy-vitexin 7-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (1) (7-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-8-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4'-methoxy-apigenin) and vicenin-2 (2). The antioxidant activity of both compounds was investigated using the DPPH assay. Both compounds showed only modest activity, with IC50 values of 357.2 microM for 1, and 90.5 microM for 2.

Caracterização de derivado arilbutanoídico em folhas e raízes de Ottonia anisum Sprengel / Characterization of an arylbutanoic derivative from leaves and roots of Ottonia anisum Sprengel

The family Piperaceae encompasses 5 genera, Piper, Peperomia, Pothomorphe, Ottonia and Sarcorhachis, and approximately 2,000 species widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most of the Ottonia species are native to Brazil and they are used in folk medicine as diuretic, salivating, and anaesthetic. Chemical studies of non-polar fractions from leaves and roots of Ottonia anisum Sprengel lead to the isolation of an arylbutanoic metabolite, the 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybezene.

A família Piperaceae é formada por 5 gêneros, Piper, Peperomia, Pothomorphe, Ottonia e Sarcorhachis, com cerca de 2000 espécies de ampla distribuição nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais do mundo. Das 23 espécies descritas para o gênero Ottonia, a maioria é nativa do Brasil. Essas plantas são popularmente utilizadas no país como diuréticas, salivantes e anestésicas. O estudo químico dos extratos apolares de folhas e de raízes de Ottonia anisum Sprengel levou aoisolamento de um componente majoritário identifi cado como o derivado arilbutanoídico: 1-butil-3,4-metilenodioxibeneno.

Unusual chromenes from Peperomia blanda.

From the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Peperomia blanda (Piperaceae), two chromenes were isolated and characterized mainly through application of 2D-NMR spectroscopy. The structures were 2S-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-6-formyl-8-hydroxy-2,7-dimethyl-2H-chromene and 2S-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-5-hydroxy-6-formyl-2,7-dimethyl-2H-chromene named as blandachromenes I and II, respectively.