Detection of synergistic combinations of Baccharis extracts with terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum with high throughput screening synergy assay (HTSS) followed by 3D graphs. Behavior of some of their components.

Forty four extracts from nine Baccharis spp. from the Caulopterae section were tested in combination with terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum with the HTSS assay at six different ratios with the aim of detecting those mixtures that produced a ≥50% statistically significant enhancement of growth inhibition. Since an enhanced effect of a combination respective of its components, does not necessarily indicate synergism, three-dimensional (3D) dose-response surfaces were constructed for each selected pair of extract/antifungal drug with the aid of CombiTool software. Ten extracts showed synergistic or additive combinations which constitutes a 22% hit rate of the extracts submitted to evaluation. Four flavonoids and three ent-clerodanes were detected in the active Baccharis extracts with HPLC/UV/ESI-MS methodology, all of which were tested in combination with terbinafine. Results showed that ent-clerodanes but not flavonoids showed synergistic or additive effects. Among them, bacchotricuneatin A followed by bacrispine showed synergistic effects while hawtriwaic acid showed additive effects.

Caracteres morfoanatómicos y micrográficos de la corteza de Croton urucurana Baillon (Euphorbiaceae) / Morfoanatomic and micrographic characters of Croton urucurana crust Baillon (Euphorbiaceae)

Croton urucurana Baillon (Euphorbiaceae) es una especie de amplia distribución en regiones tropicales y subtropicales de las Américas. En la corteza caulinar tiene células productoras de un látex que es ampliamente utilizado en la medicina tradicional para tratar afecciones de la piel, y también como antidiarreico, antioxidante, inmunomodulador y analgésico. Numerosos estudios validan su uso etnomedicinal, pero los estudios anatómicos y ecológicos son escasos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar por medio de transcorte y maceración, los caracteres morfoanatómicos y micrográficos de la corteza de C. urucurana, para su aplicación como material de referencia en el control de calidad de la droga cruda, entera o fragmentada. Se concluyó que la especie aquí estudiada puede ser identificada mediante una combinación de caracteres cualitativos, morfológicos y micrográficos. (AU)

Isolation of antifungal saponins from Phytolacca tetramera, an Argentinean species in critic risk.

The methanolic extract of the berries of Phytolacca tetramera, an Argentinean species submitted to a great anthropic impact, and therefore in critic risk of extinction, not previously studied, showed antifungal activity against opportunistic pathogenic fungi. Through fractionation of the extract followed by agar dilution assays, three monodesmosidic triterpenoid saponins have been isolated from the butanolic extract of P. tetramera. The structures were established as phytolaccosides: B [3-O-beta-D-xylopiranosyl-phytolaccagenin], E [3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-xylopiranosyl-phytolaccagenin]. and F [3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-phytolaccagenic acid]. The three saponins belong to the olean-type triterpenoid saponins, with 28,30 dicarboxylic groups and an olefinic double bond on C-12. Phytolaccosides B and E but not phytolaccoside F, showed antifungal activities against a panel of human pathogenic opportunistic fungi. Phytolaccoside B was the most active compound and showed the broadest spectrum of action. The most sensitive fungus was Trichophyton mentagrophytes.