The goal of this study was to verify whether association of aromatherapy with essential oils of Satureja brevicalyx or Satureja boliviana and mindfulness meditation can reduce anxiety levels in humans. A randomized experimental trial was carried out with 108 participants who were divided into 6 groups, comprising a waiting list control group and five experimental groups. Aromatherapy was carried out by inhalation of essential oils while mindfulness intervention program was focused on “flow meditation”. The anxiety index was evaluated by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Measures were taken two times: pretest and posttest. State and Trait anxiety scores showed a decrease in posttest study phase in comparison with pretest in all experimental groups (p < 0.005), especially in those where aromatherapy and mindfulness meditation were used together. All Cohen's d scores were over to 1 that means a large size effect in anxiety variable. Percentages of change showed reductions of anxiety variable ranging between 20% and 47%. All treatments used isolated or associated, may be considered alternative treatment options for anxiety.

Since Rhinella sp. toads produce bioactive substances, some species have been used in traditional medicine and magical practices by ancient cultures in Peru. During several decades, the Rhinella horribilis toad was confused with the invasive toad Rhinella marina, a species documented with extensive toxinological studies. In contrast, the chemical composition and biological effects of the parotoid gland secretions (PGS) remain still unknown for R. horribilis. In this work, we determine for the first time 55 compounds from the PGS of R. horribilis, which were identified using HPLC-MS/MS. The crude extract inhibited the proliferation of A549 cancer cells with IC50 values of 0.031 ± 0.007 and 0.015 ± 0.001 µg/mL at 24 and 48 h of exposure, respectively. Moreover, it inhibited the clonogenic capacity, increased ROS levels, and prevented the etoposide-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the effect of R. horribilis poison secretion was by cell cycle blocking before of G2/M-phase checkpoint. Fraction B was the most active and strongly inhibited cancer cell migration. Our results indicate that the PGS of R. horribilis are composed of alkaloids, bufadienolides, and argininyl diacids derivatives, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of A549 cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory potential of sulfated polysaccharides from the marine algae Macrocystis integrifolia characterized by FTIR. The cytotoxicity of sulfated polysaccharides was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Antiangiogenic activity was evaluated using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Immunomodulatory activity was determined on macrophage functionality and allergic response. The results showed that sulfated polysaccharides significantly decreased angiogenesis in chicken chorioallantoic membranes (p < 0.05). Likewise, they inhibited in vivo chemotaxis and in vitro phagocytosis, the transcription process of genes that code the enzymes cyclooxygenase−1 (COX−1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS-2) and the nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), showing immunomodulatory properties on the allergic response, as well as an in vivo inhibitory effect in the ovalbumin-induced inflammatory allergy model (OVA) and inhibited lymphocyte proliferation specific to the OVA antigen in immunized mice. Finally, these compounds inhibited the histamine-induced skin reaction in rats, the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in mice, and the passive response to skin anaphylaxis in rats. Therefore, the results of this research showed the potential of these compounds to be a promising source for the development of antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory drugs.

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide infectious parasitic disease caused by different species of protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which are transmitted to animals and humans through the bite of insects of the Psychodidae family. In the present work, the antileishmanial activity of an alkaloid extract of the bulbs of Clinanthus milagroanthus S. Leiva & Meerow (Amaryllidaceae) was evaluated in vitro, in vivo, and in silico against the parasite Leishmania braziliensis, and the chemical profile of the sample was determined by GC-MS analysis. At concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 µg·mL−1, the alkaloid extract presented inhibition percentages of 8.7%, 23.1%, and 98.8%, respectively, against L. braziliensis with a p < 0.05, and IC50 values of 18.5 ± 0.3 µg·mL−1. Furthermore, at a dose of 1.0 mg·kg−1, a greater decrease in lesion size was observed (90%) for in vivo assays, as well as a decrease in infection (96%), finding no significant differences (p > 0.05) in comparison with amphotericin B (92% and 98%, respectively). Eleven alkaloids were identified in C. milagroanthus bulbs: galanthamine, vittatine/crinine, 8-O-demethylmaritidine, anhydrolycorine, 11,12-dehydroanhydrolycorine, hippamine, lycorine, 2-hydroxyanhydrolycorine, 7-hydroxyclivonine, 2α-hydroxyhomolycorine, and 7-hydroxyclivonine isomer. A molecular model of Leishmania braziliensis trypanothione reductase (TRLb) was built using computational experiments to evaluate in silico the potential of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid identified in C. milagroanthus toward this enzyme. The structures galanthamine, 7-hydroxyclivonine isomer, and crinine showed better estimated free energy of binding than the reference compound, amphotericin B. In conclusion, this is the first in vitro, in vivo, and in silico report about the antileishmanial potential and alkaloid profiling of the extract of C. milagroanthus bulbs, which could become an interesting source of bioactive molecules.

Introduction:The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of Satureja brevicalyx essential oil inhalation on premenstrual syndrome. Methods: The oils were extracted by hydro-distillation using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus and chemical composition was performed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, a quasi-experimental study was conducted, where 61 participants were divided in two groups, comprising an experimental with essential oils and a control group with no treatment. Main psychological symptoms were assessed with the used of Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) as well as total score of premenstrual syndrome was evaluated with Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS). Results: chemical analysis showed that linalool (17.6%) was the main component. All variables showed a decrease in posttest study phase in comparison with pretest in experimental group (p<0.05). A large size effect was observed for anxiety (d = 1.25; Δ = 1.35). Besides, moderate changes were found for depression (d = 0.79; Δ= 0.81) and premenstrual syndrome total score (d = 0.62; Δ = 0.56). Conclusion: The essential oil of Satureja brevicalyx exerts a potencial use, especially for the treatment of psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Introduction: Essential oils are complex substances used widely extended in the form of aromatherapy or phytotherapy, some of them as agents to relieve anxiety and stress. In this sense this study was conducted to examine the anxiolytic-like effect of Luma chequen essential oil. Methods: The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and the chemical composition was investigated by Gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Moreover, a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted, where 48 participants were divided into two groups, comprising a control group (CG) treated with placebo, and an experimental group (EG) treated with aromatherapy based on Luma chequen essential oil. The anxiety index was evaluated by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Measures were taken at two times: pretest and posttest. Results: The chemical analysis showed that α-pinene was the main component (56.5%). State and Trait anxiety scores showed a decrease in posttest study phase in comparison with pretest in experimental group compared to placebo (p<0.005 for state anxiety and p<0.05 for trait anxiety). Cohen`s d score was 0.84 in State anxiety, while it was 0.52 for Trait anxiety. Percentages of change showed reductions of anxiety variable ranging between 14.94% for State anxiety and 13.60% for Trait anxiety. Conclusions: These results suggest that aromatherapy based on essential oil of Luma chequen was moderately effective in improving anxiety.

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