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Although diuretics have been widely used to treat hypertension along with others cardiovascular and renal disorders, no scientific data have been recorded to support the diuretic properties of Rubus rosaefolius Sm. (Rosaceae), a plant popularly used in Brazil to treat hypertension. Male Wistar rats were orally treated with: vehicle; hydrochlorothiazide; aqueous (AERR) and methanolic (MERR) extracts; dichloromethane (DCM), hexane (HEX) and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions; and the isolated compounds 2α,3β,19α-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (TUA) and 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF). At the end of the experiment (after 8 or 24 h), urine volume and other urine or plasma parameters were measured. AERR and MERR, at 100 and 30 mg/kg, respectively, induced diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic effect. Additionally, the DCM and HEX, but not EA, at 10 mg/kg, also increased urine volume and Na and K excretion. Both active constituents, TUA and PMF, at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg, showed an augmented diuretic and natriuretic index. While TUA revealed a kaliuretic action, PMF did not interfere with potassium excretion. The compounds increased urinary creatinine, but not urea, levels. TUA was able to decrease calcium excretion, as well as HCTZ, while PMF effect was associated with increased urinary prostaglandin E levels. The non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine) prevented TUA-induced diuresis. In addition, indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and atropine, exhibited the ability to block the diuretic effects prompted by PMF. Our study demonstrates the diuretic effect of extracts, fractions and two natural compounds obtained from R. rosaefolius leaves in rats.

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Here, we evaluate the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects of methanolic crude extract obtained from aerial parts (leaves and branches) of Rubus imperialis Chum. Schl. (Rosaceae) and the pure compound niga-ichigoside F1. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined in vivo and in vitro, and the healing effect was evaluated in surgical lesions in mice skin. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay and HO-induced oxidative stress were used to determine antioxidant activity. The efferocytosis activity was also determined. The data obtained show that the extract of R. imperialis promote reduction in the inflammatory process induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or carrageenan in the air pouch model; the effects could be reinforced by nitric oxide reduction in LPS-stimulated neutrophils, and an increase in the efferocytosis. The extract showed wound healing property in vitro and in vivo, scavenging activity for DPPH, and cytoprotection in the HO-induced oxidative stress in L929 cells. In addition, the compound niga-ichigoside F1 was able to reduce the NO secretion; however, it did not present wound-healing activity in vitro. Together, the data obtained point out the modulatory actions of R. imperialis extract on leukocyte migration to the inflamed tissue, the antioxidant, and the pro-resolutive activity. However, the R. imperialis anti-inflammatory activity may be mediated in parts by niga-ichigoside F1, and on wound healing do not correlated with niga-ichigoside F1.

This study shows the evaluation the antiproliferative effect of the extract, fractions, and uncommon compounds isolated from R. rosaefolius leaves. The compounds were identified by conventional spectroscopic methods such as NMR-H1 and C13 and identified as 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8,4′-trimethoxyflavonol (1), 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (2), and tormentic acid (3). Both hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed selectivity for multidrug-resistant ovary cancer cell line (NCI-ADR/RES) with total growth inhibition values of 11.1 and 12.6 μg/ml, respectively. Compound 1 also showed selective activity against the same cell line (18.8 μg/ml); however, it was especially effective against glioma cells (2.8 μg/ml), suggesting that this compound may be involved with the in vitro antiproliferative action.

Natural products are considered important sources of potential chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity and the toxicological effects of the methanolic extract and a pure compound obtained from Solanum capsicoides seeds. The phytochemical profile was analyzed by chromatographic and spectroscopy methods. The acute toxicity was assessed in mice orally treated with the extract (2000 mg/kg), in vitro hemolytic activity and micronucleus test. The mutagenicity, developmental toxicity, and lethal dose (LD50) of carpesterol were estimated by the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (TEST) software. A sulforhodamine B assay was employed to evaluate the antiproliferative activity. The toxicological assays did not observe signs of toxicity, either during the behavioral observations or in the autopsies, as well as no mutagenicity and hemolytic activity. The carpesterol did not present mutagenic effect and hemolytic activity but presents developmental toxicology and LD50 of 410 mg/kg in toxicity estimations by the TEST software. The S. capsicoides extract exhibited antiproliferative activity mainly in leukemia (K562) cell lineage. However, carpesterol presented antiproliferative activity in glioma (U251), breast (MCF-7), kidney (786-0), ovary (OVCAR-03), and K562 cell lineages. The data obtained show that S. capsicoides extract presents antiproliferative and does not present toxicological effects. In addition, it was shown for the first time the antiproliferative and toxicological parameters of carpesterol.

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