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Due to the widespread use of Maytenus ilicifolia leaves in the treatment of gastric ulcers, herbal medicines derived from such species are distributed by the national health system in Brazil. A related species, Maytenus aquifolium, is also used for the same disorders, and both are popularly known as Espinheira-santa. Due to their popular use, the quality and efficiency of the herbal medicines derived from these species is an important public health issue. The purpose of this study was to develop and test an analytical method that could quantify the content of catechin and epicatechin in dry Maytenus spp. leaves and simultaneously obtain their chemical profile to determine authenticity of the leaf samples. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) was used to quantify these isomers, in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, while simultaneously analyzing the extract in full-scan mode. This approach was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial and authentic samples of Maytenus spp. Fewer than half the samples presented the minimum epicatechin content of 2.8 mg per g of dry leaf mass, as specified in the 6th Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (2019) for M. ilicifolia. Furthermore, by using untargeted metabolomics, it was observed that the chemical profile of most the samples was not compatible with M. ilicifolia leaves, indicating the need for stricter quality control of this material. The method described herein could be used for this control; moreover, its concept could be adapted and used for an ample variety of medicinal plant products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of leaf extracts to reduce pesticide applications that harm the environment and cause environmental disorder can be an alternative to the control of fungi during propagation of eucalyptus. The experiment tested the effect of leaf extracts from two species of espinheira-santa on Cylindrocladium clavatum. The extraction of plant material was carried out through percolation at 28 °C for 7 days using column liquid chromatography with hexane, chloroform, and methanol as solvents. Evaluations of antifungal activity were performed with a fixed extract concentration of 2,000 mg L-1. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts, sporulation, and control of C. clavatum in eucalyptus leaves were evaluated using concentrations of 500, 250, 125, and 100 mg L-1 after 5 and 15 days of incubation. The concentration of 500 mg L-1 of chloroform extract from leaves of M.ilicifolia and M.aquifolium resulted in a better control of Cylindrocladium clavatum. In the evaluation of sporulation, the crude and methanolic extracts obtained the best performances, with emphasis on the concentrations of 500 and 250 mg L-1, which resulted in the lowest number of spores. For the evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration, it was observed that the fungus is not 100% controlled, but that the greatest effect lies on the reduction of fungus growth. In the image tests with eucalyptus leaves, the crude extract resulted in the smallest lesion area at concentrations of 500 and 250 mg L-1. The extract was more effective when applied in its raw form and with greater concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek, Celastraceae, is popularly known as "espinheira-santa" and used to treat pathologies related to the stomach. However, in popular culture, this species has also been used to treat other disorders such as diabetes, but without scientific evidence, requiring more phytochemical and pharmacological studies on the plant. This work aims to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic potential of ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves from two different accessions of Maytenus ilicifolia (MIA and MIB) in normal hyperglycemic rats. The animals were divided into different experimental groups: normal hyperglycemic (negative control); MIA (treatment of Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 116); MIB (treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia extract from access 122; and glipizide (positive control). At 30 min after treatment, all animals received glucose overload orally. Blood collection occurred at different periods for the assessment of blood glucose (0, 60, 90 and 210 min after treatment) and at the end of the experiment blood was collected through cardiac puncture and the liver, muscle, pancreas and intestine were dissected for further analysis. Chromatographic analysis identified oleic and palmitic acid as the most common constituents, and both extracts of Maytenus ilicifolia caused a reduction in blood glucose levels within 60 min after administration of glucose overload when compared to the normal hyperglycemic group. No significant changes were observed in hepatic and muscular glycogen levels, plasma insulin concentration and disaccharidases activity with none of the extracts in the model employed. However, hyperglycemic rats treated with the extracts showed a marked increase in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels. Our data suggest that Maytenus ilicifolia extracts from different locations showed differences in chemical composition which did not reflect significant differences in the results of biological tests. In addition, it was possible to conclude that the treatment with Maytenus ilicifolia had a discreet anti-hyperglycemic effect; however, it was not possible to identify the responsible mechanism, being necessary, therefore, new studies using different technologies in order to determine the possible mechanisms of action of the extract. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]