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This study is the first investigation on the bioactive components of D. ciliolata, P. sanctae-crucis, and T. tricostata. Although compounds 1-3 were described previously, the pharmacological activity of compound 4 is presented here for the first time.

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Polysaccharides extracted from Rhodymenia pseudopalmata, Solieria filiformis, Hydropuntia cornea (Rhodophyta) and Sargassum fluitans (Phaeophyceae) were evaluated for its cytotoxic and antiviral activities against Herpes simplex virus (HSV-Type 1). Chemical structures were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and 13 C-NMR analyses. Polysaccharides from Sargassum fluitans (EC 50 = 42.8 μg/ml) and Solieria filiformis (EC 50 = 136.0 μg/ml) showed antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type-I in vitro at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01 ID 50 /cells without cytotoxicity (1-200 μg/mL). The activity observed suggests that sulphation, molecular weight and carbohydrate nature of these polysaccharides may be involved in this activity. To better understand the antiviral activity of the polysaccharides evaluated, it seems important to study the mechanism of action involved. These polysaccharides could be studied further to evaluate their potential use as antiviral drugs.

Abstract:The plant Aeschynomene fascicularis (Fabaceae) has been used in Mayan traditional medicine in the Yucatan peninsula. However, the compounds present in the plant responsible for its curative properties have not yet been investigated. Aeschynomene fascicularis root bark was extracted with 100% methanol to obtain a crude extract. The methanol extract was partitioned successively with solvents with increasing polarity to obtain the corresponding hexane (Hx), dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate fractions (EtOAc), as well as a residual water-alcoholic fraction. These fractions were tested for their cytotoxic activities using an MTT assay against Hep-2 cancer cell lines. The Hx fraction led to the isolation of spinochalcone C (1), spinochalcone A (2), isocordoin (3) and secundiflorol G (4). Their structures were identified based on spectroscopic evidence and chemical properties. All compounds were subjected to cytotoxicity and antiproliferative assays against a panel of seven cell lines, including one normal-type cell line. Spinochalcone A (2) exhibited cytotoxic activity against DU-145 cell line and antiproliferative activity against the KB cell line. Secundiflorol G (4) showed strong cytotoxic activity towards KB and Hep-2 cell lines. In