No abstract

Chemical analysis, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effects of essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Piper aduncum var. ossanum from two localities Bauta (EO-B) and Ceiba (EO-C), Artemisa Province, Cuba, were determined. EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. EO-B demonstrated higher activity against S. aureus and L. amazonensis; while a lower cytotoxicity on mammalian cells was observed. Both EOs displayed the same activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania infantum. Both EOs were inactive against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

The antiviral activity of butanol- and acetic acid-soluble fractions, prepared from the leaves and stems of Phyllanthus orbicularis H.B.K., has been investigated against acyclovir-sensitive or -resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strains, using human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) and green ape kidney (Vero) cell lines. Both fractions showed antiviral selectivity indexes (SI) from 10.3 to 22.8, while their extracellular virucidal activities reached SI values ranging from 371 to 1,040. Time-addition experiments suggested that the active compounds present in the studied fractions acted on early steps of the virus replication cycle.

Plant-derived products are employed in various public health practices and have been considered as a major source of medicines. The genus Plectranthus (Lamiaceae) has been widely respected for its nutritional properties, its essential oil, and its therapeutic values. In the present work, the chemical characterization, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic properties of the essential oil from Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng and its main compound carvacrol were studied. Twenty-one components were identified in the oil by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometric detector. In this oil, carvacrol constitutes the major compound (71%), which represented the more abundant chemotype. The essential oil did not inhibit growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Trypanosoma cruzi, or Leishmania infantum, but displayed activity against Plasmodium falciparum (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 5.9 µg/mL), Trypanosoma brucei (IC50 = 34.9 µg/mL), and Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 = 58.2 µg/mL), and the human tumor-derived cell lines MCF-7 (IC50 = 29.1 µg/mL), MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 41.5 µg/mL), and 22Rv1 (IC50 = 29.6 µg/mL), but no cytotoxicity was observed against nonmalignant macrophages. The antiproliferative activity of the oil could be attributed to carvacrol. However, this compound showed certain level of cytotoxicity, which suggests unspecific activity. This study provides evidence about antimicrobial and anticancer potential of the essential oil from P. amboinicus against protozoa and neoplastic diseases, particularly as an antimalarial natural product.

Background Mimusops coriacea (A.DC.) Miq., (Sapotaceae), originated from Africa, were introduced to coastal areas in Ecuador where it is not extensively used as a traditional medicine to treat various human diseases. Different therapeutically uses of the species include: analgesic, antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, inflammation and pain relieve associated with bone and articulation-related diseases. Furthermore, Mimusops coriacea could be used as anti-oxidant agent. However, botanical, chemical or molecular barcode information related to this much used species is not available from Ecuador. In this study, morphological characterization was performed from leaves, stem and seeds. Furthermore, genetic characterization was performed using molecular barcodes for rbcL, matk, ITS1 and ITS2 using DNA extracted from leaves. Methods Macro-morphological description was performed on fresh leaves, stem and seeds. For anatomical evaluation, tissues were embedded in paraffin and transversal dissections were done following incubation with sodium hypochlorite and safranin for coloration and fixated later in glycerinated gelatin. DNA extraction was performed using a modified CTAB protocol from leaf tissues, while amplification by PCR was accomplished for the molecular barcodes rbcL, matK, ITS1 and ITS2. Sequence analysis was performed using blast in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with accessions queried in the GenBank belonging to the subfamily Sapotoideae. Results Leaf size was 13.56 ± 1.46 × 7.49 ± 0.65 cm; where is a macro-morphological description of the stem (see Methods). The peel of the seeds is dark brown. Sequence analysis revealed that amplicons were generated using the four barcodes selected. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the barcodes rbcL and matK, were not discriminated between species within the same genus of the subfamily Sapotoideae. On the other hand, the ITS1 and ITS2 were discriminative at the level of genus and species of the Sapotoideae.