Argentine folk medicine: genotoxic effects of Chenopodiaceae family.

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and Chenopodium multifidum L. (Chenopodiaceae), common name: Paico, are medicinal plants. They are aromatic shrubs growing in South America. For centuries, they have been used due to its medicinal properties. However, there are few reports in literature about the genotoxic effects of these plants. There for, the aim of these work is the evaluation of genetic damage induced by decoction and infusion of this plants which were assayed in different concentrations (1, 10, 100, 1,000 microL extract/mL culture), by addition of the extract to human lymphocyte cell cultures, negative controls were included. The endpoints evaluated were chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), cell proliferation kinetics (CPK) and mitotic index (MI). The repeated measure analysis of variance was used for statistic evaluation of the results. The results showed: (a) statistical increase in the percentage of cells with CA and in the frequency of SCE when cultures were exposed to both aromatic plants, (b) a decrease in MI of both Paicos assayed, although no modification in the CPK values was observed, (c) no effect was noticed in the analysis of Chenopodium album L., which was used as negative control of the essential oil. These results suggest a cyto and genotoxic effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides and Chenopodium multifidum aqueous extracts related to the essential oil of the plant (as Chenopodium album did not perform).

Immunobiological features of the galactoside lectin L-Lc isolated from the Argentine mistletoe Ligaria cuneifolia.

Ligaria cuneifolia has been used in Argentine folk medicine and is currently employed as substitute for the European mistletoe (Viscum album) as hypotensor agent. Extracts from V. album are widely used in cancer therapy and the antineoplasic effect is attributed to their cytostatic/cytotoxic and immunomodulatory actions. When studying immunomodulatory effects of L. cuneifolia extracts (Lc extracts), they inhibited proliferation of murine mitogen-activated lymphocytes, leukaemic lymphocytes (LB) and breast tumour cells (MMT). The aim of this work was to isolate and identify lectins from Lc extracts and investigate their immunobiological actions. A galactoside lectin (L-Lc) of 57 kDa was isolated. A polyclonal antiserum obtained against Lc extract recognised both L-Lc and MLI (V. album lectin), suggesting the possibility of shared epitopes. Treatment of LB tumour cells with L-Lc (0.01 and 0.1 microg/ml) produced up to 40.0+/-6.9% inhibition of cell growth, which seems partly mediated by apoptosis (apoptosis of L-Lc treated cells 58.4+/-10.3% versus non-treated cells 38.1+/-8.8%; P<0.05), analysed by acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining. Inhibitory effect on ConA stimulated splenocyte growth was non-significant, while a mitogenic effect was observed on normal murine splenocytes and MMT cells. L-Lc in non-cytotoxic concentrations (250 ng/ml) modified mRNA expression of IL-10 but neither that of TGF-beta nor of IL-2 produced by LB cells. In addition, 43.9+/-0.5% reduction in NO production by LPS-stimulated murine macrophages was found. Finally, survival rates of LB tumour-bearing mice treated or not with Lc extract or L-Lc failed to show significant differences.

In vitro genotoxic evaluation of the medicinal plant Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

Chenopodium ambrosioides (Chenopodiaceae) is an anthelmintic herb used in Latin-America's folk medicine. The aim of this work is to evaluate genetic damage induced by decoction and infusion of this plant which were assayed in different concentrations (1, 10, 100, 1000 microg/ml), by addition of the extract to human lymphocyte cell cultures. The endpoints evaluated were chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), cell proliferation kinetics (CPK) and mitotic indexes (MI). The repeated measure analysis of variance was used for statistic evaluation of the results. The results showed (a) a statistical increase in the percentage of cells with CA and in the frequency of SCE when cultures were exposed to both preparations of Paico, (b) a decrease in MI of both preparations assayed, although no modification in the CPK values either in the infusion or in the decoction was observed. These results suggest a possible genotoxic effect of both preparations, probably due to different active principles.

Antioxidant capacity of a 3-deoxyanthocyanidin from soybean.

Soybean cotyledons directly exposed to UV-C (190-280 nm) contained a colored pigment in those areas of the epidermis directly exposed to UV-C. Ethanolic extracts from UV-C irradiated cotyledons showed a significant peak at 532 nm at pH=10, but not seen at pH=6, successive changes in pH were accompanied by reversible changes in the spectra. The identity of the pigment isolated from soybean cotyledons was established as apigeninidin by comparing the features of standard of a apigeninidin (from sorghum) previously characterized by FAB-MS, UV, HPLC, 1H NMR, and IR spectroscopy. To characterize antioxidant activity of this compound, its ability to scavenge radical species in vitro was tested. In the concentration range tested (up to 200 microg ml (-1)), apigeninidin did not show any scavenger activity towards hydroxyl radical, quinones or NO. However, ascorbyl radical and lipid radicals were effectively quenched in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, UV-C radiation triggers molecular signals that lead in soybean cotyledons to the synthesis and accumulation of an antioxidant pigment, apigeninidin, that shows scavenger activity against ascorbyl and lipid radicals in in vitro studies.

Cytogenetic effects of aqueous extracts of the medicinal plant paico (chenopodium multifidum L.).

The cytogenetic effects of aqueous extracts of Chenopodium multifidum L. (Paico) were determined by addition of the extracts and fractions to human lymphocyte cultures. Toxicity was evaluated by analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), mitotic (MI) and replication (RI) indexes. The results showed an increase in CA frequency in cultures exposed to infusion decoction, no modification in the CPK values either in the decoction or in the infusion, and a decrease in the MI of lymphocyte cultures exposed to the decoction. These results suggested genotoxic effects of "Paico" aqueous extracts.

Comparative anatomical study on argentine species of lippia known as "poleo".

Nine species belonging to the genus Lippia - Verbenaceae - are used in Argentine folk medicine. Four of them are known under the trivial name "poleo": L. turbinata Griseb., L. fissicalyx Troncoso, L. integrifolia (Griseb.) Hieron. and L. grisebachiana Mold. Mainly, their leaves are employed as digestive, stomaquique, tonic, nervine, diuretic and emenagoge. The Argentine Pharmacopoeia includes a monography of "poleo", restricted only to L. turbinata and L. fissicalyx . Because of possible sustitutions of the official species with the others, due to their common names, an anatomical comparative research was performed to determine which features could provide a start point to distinguish them. The results of this survey show that hairs not only are different in size and shape within the species but also in their density. Thus, they are a useful feature to identify each one. When transverse sections are compared, some differences in their shape, the number of palisade layers and the presence of fibers can provide other start points to distinguish these species among them.

Study of an Argentine mistletoe, the hemiparasite Ligaria cuneifolia (R. et P.) Tiegh. (Loranthaceae).

Ligaria cuneifolia (R. et P.) Tiegh. is an hemiparasite species used in Argentine folk medicine as a substitute for the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) based on its putative activity of decreasing high blood pressure. This paper analyzes flavonoid composition, protein constituents and the possible immunomodulatory and antitumoral effects of this species. Micromolecular study disclosed quercetin-free, quercetin-glycosylated and proanthocyanidins corresponding to cyanidin monomers, which implies a particular metabolic pathway. Proteins present in L. cuneifolia extracts analyzed by SDS-PAGE presented multiple bands with molecular weights ranging from 14 to 90 kD. These features contribute to the characterization of the native mistletoe. As V. album is being used in cancer treatment due to its immunomodulatory and antitumoral activity, the action of aqueous L. cuneifolia extracts on murine lymphocytes was investigated. Culture of murine spleen cells alone or stimulated with Concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide in presence of L. cuneifolia extracts indicated a certain stimulation of splenocytes alone and an inhibition of splenocytes stimulated with Concanvalin A or lipopolysaccharide. An inhibitory effect was also observed on the proliferation of murine leukemia cells. In addition, aqueous extracts increased nitric oxide production by murine macrophages. These results suggest that L. cuneifolia extracts exert an immunomodulatory effect on the mouse immune system.

Ritual and medicinal plants of the Ese'ejas of the Amazonian rainforest (Madre de Dios, Perú).

The Ese'eja is a hunter-fisher-gatherer tribe of Amerindians which occupies the south-eastern part of Perú. Their culture cannot be disassociated from religious beliefs. Disease can be caused by accident, distraction or indolence, or by evil powers. These evil powers come either from the direct action of a harmful shaman or by interactions with the Devil. A description of shamanic practices is given to elucidate the position of health practices in Ese'eja culture, which includes the use of medicinal and ritual plants. Aspects of ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce) Morton, Malpighiaceae) ritual in shaman initiation and in healing rituals are presented. Diagnosis and treatment include invocation to the ayahuasca spirit. Plants used as medicine or invoked for healing are presented.