Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of genus Vitex (Lamiaceae).

Vitex, the genus of the family Lamiaceae, comprises of about 230 species mostly distributed in the warm regions of Europe and temperate regions of Asia. Several Vitex species have been used as folk medicine in different countries for the treatment of various kinds of diseases and ailments. The main aim of this review is to collect and analyze the scientific information available about the Vitex species regarding their chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. The phytochemical investigation of various Vitex species has resulted in the isolation of about 556 chemical constituents belong to various chemical category viz. iridoids, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, lignans, sesquiterpenoids, monoterpenoids, ecdysteroids, and others. The crude extracts of different Vitex species as well as pure phytochemicals exhibited a wide spectrum of in-vitro and in-vivo pharmacological activities. In the present review, the scientific literature data on the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological investigations on the genus Vitex are summarized. More attention should be given in future research to evaluate the pharmacological potential with detailed mechanism of actions for the pure compounds, extracts of plants from this genus. Moreover, their clinical study is needed to justify their use in modern medicine and to further exploring this genus for new drug discovery.

Predictive antidiabetic activities of plants used by persons with Diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: There are several ways to identify medicinal power of phytoconstituents, such as in silico evaluations. Furthermore, ethnopharmacological researches are important alternatives for the identification of plants with medicinal potential. Significantly, medicinal plants are widely used by persons with Diabetes mellitus (DM) to treat manifestations of this syndrome. OBJECTIVES: i) to investigate the use of medicinal plants for individuals with DM and their health profile; ii) to evaluate in silico possible antidiabetic activities for main phytoconstituents of the commonly used plants. METHODS: A questionnaire was used to measure consumption of medicinal plants. The Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) platform was employed to perform in silico evaluations. In silico predictions for antidiabetic activities were performed with the main compounds identified in a literature review which focused on the more utilized plants. RESULTS: We interviewed 105 persons with DM, most them women (73.34%). Overall mean age was 59.35 years, and 97.14% of them were diagnosed with type 2 DM. An evaluation of the routine exams of the interviewees showed that they have a poor metabolic control. Among the interviewees, 67.62% confirmed the use medicinal plants. Main forms of consumed plant preparation were infusion of leaves and in association with mate (a typical beverage of southern Brazil). Most interviewees consume five or more cups of infusion per day, and when consumed with the mate, 1.73 liters per day. Forty-six medicinal plants were mentioned, and cow's paw (Bauhinia) and jambolan (Syzygium cumini) were the most used. The main informed objective for the plant use was blood glucose control (69.01%). The PASS analysis presented six phytoconstituents with high antidiabetic prediction, especially, vicenin-2, the main phytochemical identified in Passiflora genus (Pa = 0.822). CONCLUSION: Our data show that persons with DM use many plants as a complementary treatment to the traditional medicine. Moreover, part of these plants presented phytoconstituents with antidiabetic potential. These data can serve as a basis for future investigations, with the objective of exploring in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic effects of these plants and its compounds.

In vitro and in silico antioxidant and toxicological activities of Achyrocline satureioides.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Achyrocline satureioides ("macela or marcela") is a medicinal plant, traditionally collected in "Good Friday" before sunrise. In traditional medicine, dried flowers of A. satureioides are used as anti-dyspeptic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the phytochemical profile and to present an in vitro and in silico approach about toxicity and antioxidant potential of A. satureioides flowers extract and its major phytoconstituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plant were collected according to the popular tradition. Extract were obtained by infusion and analyzed from high-performance liquid chromatography. Toxicity was evaluated in Artemia salina and human lymphocytes. Extract antioxidant activity was determined with total antioxidant capacity, DPPH• and ABTS+• scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power, deoxyribose degradation assay, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS) assay. TBA-RS inhibitions were evaluated in brain of rats for A. satureioides extract and its major phytoconstituents. Predictions of activity spectra for substances and in silico toxicity evaluation from major phytoconstituents were performed via computer simulation. RESULTS: Chromatographic data indicated isoquercitrin, quercetin and caffeic acid as main compounds in flowers extract. Toxicity tests demonstrated a very low toxic potential of A. satureioides. Extract exhibited antioxidant activities in low concentrations. Both extract and major phytochemicals standards showed protection against lipid peroxidation in brain of rats. Computer simulations pointed some biological activities in agreement with traditional use, as well as some experimental results found in this work. Moreover, in silico toxic predictions showed that the A. satureioides major compounds had low probability for toxic risk. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that A. satureioides infusion possesses low toxicological potential and an effective antioxidant activity. These findings confirm the traditional use of this plant in the folk medicine.

The influence of Bauhinia forficata Link subsp. pruinosa tea on lipid peroxidation and non-protein SH groups in human erythrocytes exposed to high glucose concentrations.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bauhinia forficata (BF) has been traditionally used as tea in folk medicine of Brazil for treatment of Diabetes mellitus (DM). AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the effects of BF leaf tea on markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant levels in an experimental model of hyperglycemia in human erythrocytes in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human erythrocytes were incubated with high glucose concentrations or glucose and BF tea for 24h and 48h. After incubation lipid peroxidation and non-protein SH levels were analyzed. Moreover, quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids, iron chelating property, scavenging of DPPH, and prevention of lipid peroxidation in isolated lipids were also assessed. RESULTS: A significant amount of polyphenols and flavonoids was observed. The main components found by LC-MS analysis were quercetin-3-O-(2-rhamnosyl) rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-(2-rhamnosyl) rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. BF tea presents important antioxidant and chelating properties. Moreover, BF tea was effective to increase non-protein SH levels and reduce lipid peroxidation induced by high glucose concentrations in human erythrocytes. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant effects of BF tea could be related to the presence of different phenolic and flavonoids components. We believe that these components can be responsible to protect human erythrocytes exposed to high glucose concentrations against oxidative damage.

Cryotherapy reduces skeletal muscle damage after ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of cryotherapy on the biochemical and morphological changes in ischemic and reperfused (I/R) gastrocnemius muscle of rats. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into control and I/R groups, and divided based on whether or not the rats were submitted to cryotherapy. Following the reperfusion period, biochemical and morphological analyses were performed. Following cryotherapy, a reduction in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and dichlorofluorescein oxidation levels were observed in I/R muscle. Cryotherapy in I/R muscle also minimized effects such as decreased cellular viability, levels of non-protein thiols and calcium ATPase activity as well as increased catalase activity. Cryotherapy also limited mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased the presence of neutrophils in I/R muscle, an effect that was corroborated by reduced myeloperoxidase activity in I/R muscle treated with cryotherapy. The effects of cryotherapy are associated with a reduction in the intensity of the inflammatory response and also with a decrease in mitochondrial dysfunction.