Evaluation of anti-tussive activity of Chamaedorea tepejilote.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluate the potential inhibition of cough in a mouse model induced by sulfur dioxide gas of methanol and chloroform extracts of aerial parts of Chamaedorea tepejilote. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The antitussive effect was examined using the Ogyhara method. The extracts and theobromine were orally administered to mice. Each extract was administered to one group (400mg/Kg) and theobromine (2mg), and negative control received PVP. The frequency of cough was measured at 60, 90min after the administration of chloroform extract. RESULTS: The water extract of C. tepejilote had no effect on the pharmacological model used in this study. The effects of the methanol and chloroform extracts of this plant on sulfur-dioxide-induced cough in experimental animals show activity dose-dependently in the range between 100 to 500mg/Kg. At doses of 400mg/kg, the methanol and chloroform extracts inhibited cough by 41.72% and 49.1%, respectively; these results are comparable to the effect produced by the antitussive agent theobromine (53.4% inhibition). CONCLUSIONS: Both extracts exhibited significant antitussive activity, and the effect of the chloroform extract was dose dependent. The antitussive activity of this extract was comparable to that of theobromine. The effect of chloroform extract on the trachea was also tested; it did not relax pre-contractions in guinea pig trachealis induced KCl, carbachol or histamine.

Antimicrobial study of bark from five tree species.

The antimicrobial activities of chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of the bark of Gymnanthes lucida, Gliricidia sepium, Lysiloma divaricata, Lysiloma tergemina and Coccolaba cozumelensis were tested against S. lutea, E. coli, S. epidermidis, L. monocytogenes, S. choleraesuis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, B. pumillus, S. typhimurium, P. vulgaris, V. cholerae and C. albicans. It was found that methanol extracts of the two Lysiloma species and G. sepium had antimicrobial effects against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, B. pumillus and V. cholerae at doses of 200 microg. The major inhibitory effect was observed with L. tergemina which showed a bacteriostatic effect on S. epidermidis at doses of 400 microg/mL.

Antidiabetic effect of compounds isolated from plants.

This review shows some of the compounds isolated and identified from the plants that previously demostrated a hypoglycemic effect. These compounds have been classified in appropiate chemical groups and data are reported on their pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, and other properties. This paper reviews mucilages, glycans, proteins, pectins, flavonoids, steroids and triterpenoids, alkaloids, other nitrogen compounds and miscellaneous substances with hypoglycemic effect.

Effect of triterpenoids of Bouvardia terniflora on blood sugar levels of normal and alloxan diabetic mice.

Hypoglycemic activity-guided fractionation together with chemical analysis led to the isolation of two triterpenes (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid) from the chloroform extract of the dried stem of B. terniflora. Identification was based on spectroscopic methods. The compounds lowered blood sugar levels in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice.