Pharmaceutical properties and toxicology of Dioclea grandiflora.

CONTEXT: Since the beginning of civilization, herbal medicines have been an important source for human beings to treat their ailments. Despite the large number of synthetic remedies available in the market, the use of plants is seen as a great challenge in the search for new substances endowed with therapeutic properties. One example is Dioclea grandiflora Mart. ex Benth. (Leguminosae) employed in traditional medicine to treat prostate disorders and kidney stones. OBJECTIVES: This work presents a brief overview of D. grandiflora, including a description of the plant, its chemical composition and pharmacological properties. METHODS: This review gathers information available in the scientific literature compiled from databases such as Science Direct, PubMed, Dr. Dukes Phytochemical and Ethnobotany, Missouri Botanical Garden and The International Plant Names Index. RESULTS: The information found in the literature showed that flavonoids are the major constituents of D. grandiflora that account for most of the pharmacological properties so far disclosed. Several studies have revealed that D. grandiflora possesses antinociceptive, cardiovascular, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. CONCLUSION: Research shows that D. grandiflora is a potential source of compounds pertaining medicinal applications. It provides an interesting subject in the search for new drugs of natural origin.

Application of UV/VIS spectrophotometry and multivariate analysis to characterization of the species of Solanum sect. Erythrotrichum CHILD.

The UV/VIS spectral characteristics of the standardized extracts of the leaves of 22 Solanum species of the Leptostemonum clade were investigated in the presence of shift reagents with the aid of multivariate analysis, to obtain data in support of the interspecific and subsectional delimitation proposed for Solanum sect. Erythrotrichum. Of these species, 20 belong to the section Erythrotrichum, S. paniculatum is assigned to the section Torva, and S. robustum is not attributed to a defined section. The results indicated characteristic λ(max) (absorbance maxima) for each species as well as the presence of phenolic compounds like flavonoids such as 5-hydroxy flavonols. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of the data obtained by UV/VIS analysis of the extracts or the extracts with the added shift reagents AlCl3 and HCl showed a cophenetic correlation coefficient above 0.92 and the classification of the data into three groups. The principal-component analysis (PCA) revealed that the first three principal components accounted for over 98% of the total variance and showed results similar to those obtained by HCA. The present results supported the current proposal for interspecific delimitation of the studied species and partially supported the division of the section into two subsections. The UV/VIS spectral characteristics along with multivariate analysis appear to be a useful approach for distinguishing among species of the genus Solanum.

Antinociceptive activity of the chloroform fraction of Dioclea virgata (Rich.) Amshoff (Fabaceae) in mice.

Acute treatment with the chloroform fraction of Dioclea virgata (Rich.) Amshoff (CFDv) in mice produced decreased ambulation and sedation in the behavioral pharmacological screening. Doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg CFDv decreased latency of sleep onset in the test of sleeping time potentiation. In the open field, animals treated with CFDv reduced ambulation and rearing (250 mg/kg), as well as defecation (125; 250 mg/kg). Regarding the antinociceptive activity, CFDv (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) increased latency to first writhing and decreased the number of writhings induced by acetic acid. In the formalin test, CFDv (250 mg/kg) decreased paw licking time in the first and second phases indicating antinociceptive activity that can be mediated both peripherally and at the central level. CFDv did not affect motor coordination until 120 minutes after treatment. CFDv shows psychopharmacological effects suggestive of CNS-depressant drugs with promising antinociceptive activity.

Antinociceptive and toxicological effects of Dioclea grandiflora seed pod in mice.

The acute treatment of mice with an ethanolic extract from the seed pod of Dioclea grandiflora (EDgP) at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg by intraperitoneal administration produced a significant antinociceptive effect as displayed by the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the formalin test. The antinociception was observed through the first (neurogenic pain) and second (inflammatory pain) phases in the formalin test. The hot plate test did not show an increase in the antinociceptive latency whereas the motor performance was affected by the administration at 300 mg/kg at the beginning (30 minutes) of the observation period but not at later periods (60 and 120 minutes). These results suggest that EDgP has a central antinociceptive action and a possible anti-inflammatory activity in mice.

Vasorelaxant action of the total alkaloid fraction obtained from Solanum paludosum Moric. (Solanaceae) involves NO/cGMP/PKG pathway and potassium channels.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Solanum paludosum Moric. (jurubeba-roxa) is commonly used to treat hypertension as a substitute for Solanum paniculatum L. (jurubeba verdadeira). The total ethanolic extract from the root bark of Solanum paludosum have been found to cause hypotension in rats. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the mechanism by which the total alkaloid fraction obtained from the root bark of Solanum paludosum (FAT-SP) acts as a vasorelaxant agent on rat thoracic aorta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rings of rat aorta were suspended in organ bath containing Krebs solution at 37°C, bubbled with carbogen mixture (95% O(2) and 5% CO(2)) under a resting tension of 1 g. Isometric contractions were measured using a force transducer coupled to an amplifier and a microcomputer. RESULTS: FAT-SP has been found cause relaxation of the aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (Phe) in a concentration-dependent manner, in the presence and absence of endothelium. This effect was more potent on the endothelium-intact aorta. In the presence of endothelium, neither indomethacin (non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor) nor atropine (non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist), produced significant changes on the relaxation response. On the other hand, in the presence of calmidazolium (a calmodulin inhibitor), N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), hydroxocobalamin (HDX) (scavenger of free-radical nitric oxide), 1-H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3a]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, selective blocker of soluble guanylate cyclase), Rp-8-bromo-ß-phenyl-1,N(2)-ethenoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate sodium salt hydrate (Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS, competitive inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase G) or TEA(+) (tetraethylammonium, nonselective potassium channel blocker), the vasorelaxant effect was significantly reduced, suggesting the involvement of NO/sCG/PKG pathway and potassium channel opening in vasorelaxant action of the FAT-SP. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of vasorelaxant activity of the FAT-SP on rat aorta involves both NO/sCG/PKG pathway and potassium channels.

Central nervous system effects of Dioclea grandiflora pods on mice / Efectos en el sistema nervioso central de la vaina de Dioclea grandiflora en camundongos

Many plant substances are known for their interference with the central nervous system (CNS). Dioclea grandiflora Mart. Ex. Benth (Fabaceae) is a plant used in folk medicine to treat prostate disorders and kidney stones whose extracts from its seeds and root barks were reported to have a significant activity on the CNS and analgesic effect in rodents. In this study, the psychopharmacological activities of D. grandiflora were investigated, using the pods of this plant. Swiss mice were submitted to acute treatments with ethanol extract from the pods of D. grandiflora (EDgP) at doses of 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg by intraperitoneal administration followed by the evaluation of anxiety, depressant and anticonvulsant-related responses. The treatment with EDgP produced a depressant activity on the CNS and a sedative effect in mice. These findings suggest that EDgP has a central activity in mice, indicating an anxiogenic effect.

Varias sustancias de plantas son conocidas por su acción en el sistema nervioso central (SNC). La Dioclea grandiflora Mart. Ex. Benth (Fabaceae) es una planta utilizada en la medicina popular para tratar enfermedades en la próstata y piedras en los riñones, cuyos extractos de sus semillas y de las cáscaras de sus raíces presentan una actividad significativa sobre el SNC y efecto analgésico en roedores. En este estudio, las actividades psicofarmacológicas de D. grandiflora fueron investigadas, utilizando la vaina de la planta. Camudongos Swiss fueron sometidos a tratamientos agudos por la administración intraperitoneal del extracto etanólico de la vaina de D. grandiflora (EDgP) en dosis de 75, 150 y 300 mg/kg administrados intraperitonealmente seguida por la evaluación de respuestas relacionadas con la ansiedad, depresión y anticonvulsivo. El tratamiento con EDgP produjo una actividad depresora sobre el sistema nervioso central y un efecto sedante en camundongos. Estos resultados sugieren que EDgP tiene una actividad central en camundongos, indicando un efecto ansiogénico.

Constituents of Encyclia longifolia Schltr. (Orchidaceae) / Constituintes de Encyclia longifolia Schltr. (Orchidaceae)

A detailed chemical analysis of the non-volatile secondary metabolites of Encyclia longifolia Schltr. syn. Epidendrum longifolium Barb. Rodr. was carried out in an attempt to lend a chemotaxonomic support for the recent separation of the genus Encyclia into Encyclia Hook and Prosthechea Knowles & Westc.

Uma análise química detalhada dos metabólitos secundários não voláteis de Encyclia longifolia Schltr. Sin. Epidendrum longifolium Barb. Rodr. foi realizada na tentativa de prestar suporte quimiotaxonômico para a recente separação do gênero Encyclia em Encyclia Hook e Prosthechea Knowles & Westc.

Studies on the alkaloids of Solanum of northeastern Brazil

In our continued studies on the genus Solanum for detecting a good source of soladodine, the steroid alkaloid potentially important for the manufacture of steroid hormones, as well as other compounds of potential therapeutic value, we investigated the fruits of Solanum crinitum, S. rhytidoandrum, and S. jabrense belonging to the subgenus Leptostemonum and S. stipulaceum, belonging to the subgenus Brevantherum, allof which are native of the northeastern region of Brazil and yielded solasodine in moderate to high yield.

Constituents of Ipomoea horrida Humber ex ducke: spectroscopic identification of the flavonoids

As part of a systematic investigation of the Ipomoea species of Northeastern Brazil, a mixture of 7,4'-di­O-methylkaempferol and 7,3',4'-tri-O­methylquercetin were identified in extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Ipomoea horrida.

Como parte de uma investigação sistemática das espécies de Ipomoea do Nordeste do Brasil, foi identificado uma mistura de 7,4' -di­O-methilkaempferol e ,3',4'-tri-O­methilquercetina isoladas das partes aéreas de Ipomoea horrida.