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Species of Copaifera genus (Fabaceae – Caesalpinoiodidaeae) produces an important commercial oleoresin that displays many medicinal properties. Copaifera oleoresins (COR) are composed mainly of a mixture of diterpenes and sequiterpenes, and the main reported acid diterpenes for this genus are kaurenoic, copalic, hardwickiic and polyaltic acids. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for identification and quantification of nine acid diterpenes. The developed method was applied in the analyses of 10 authentic COR samples collected in the North and Southeast of Brazil and six commercial COR samples. Samples preparation consisted of simple dilution of oleoresins in methanol followed by filtration. Validation parameters of the method for nine acid diterpenes were satisfactory: selectivity/specificity was defined by retention time and MS/MS analyses for each analyte; generally all analytical curves presented r 2 > 0.99, Lack-of-fit test not significant and RSD < 20% for all concentration levels; limit of detection and limit of quantification were on the scale of nanogram per milliliter; inter- and intra-day precision and accuracy were adequate. Regarding the robustness, the method was sensible to small deliberate variations of temperature and additives to the mobile phase, such as formic acid and ammonium hydroxide. Results of 16 analyzed samples of COR showed qualitative and quantitative differences of acid diterpenes among all samples. The diterpenes ent -kaurenoic acid 1 , ent -polyalthic acid 3 , ent -copalic acid 5 and, ent -3- β -acetoxy copalic acid 9 were found with more frequency in COR analyzed samples. Additionally, the content of the acid diterpenes found in 16 Copaifera oleoresin samples was analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), suggesting a botanical origin for the commercial samples. The developed UPLC method was shown to be reliable for the analysis of acid diterpenes in commercial Copaifera oleoresins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clerodane diterpenes from Casearia sylvestris are antiulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory. The finding that they may undergo acid degradation or hepatic metabolization led to an investigation of their degradation products. Purified clerodane diterpenes (casearins J and O) were subjected to in vitro assays to simulate their oral administration. Resulting derivatives were identified using chromatographic and spectrometric techniques. Nitric oxide synthesis by LPS-stimulated macrophages was assayed to verify whether structural modifications alter the anti-inflammatory activity of diterpenes. Nine compounds (1–9) were identified after acid degradation remaining 5.05% of casearin J. Besides the remaining casearin O (13.1%), eight compounds (10–17) were identified. The dialdehydes from each casearin were the major constituents. S9 rat liver treatment of casearins J and O generated two compounds identical to some of those produced by acid degradation, which remained 36.8% and 36.5% intact, respectively. Both casearins and its derivatives were not cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 0.312 μg/mL (0.555 μM for casearin J and 0.516 μM for casearin O) and did not inhibit the nitric oxide production in this concentration. Thus, the structural modifications conducted did not alter the activity of casearins and the anti-inflammatory pathway of diterpenes probably is not involved on nitric oxide modulation. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. is a medicinal plant used by many ethnic groups in Brazil to treat respiratory diseases, hepatitis and the bites of venomous animals. A methanolic extract of E. prostrata (MEEP), the major components of which are wedelolactone (WED) and demethylwedelolactone (DMW), exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in acute asthma models but the effects on lung inflammation and the mechanisms of action of MEEP in a chronic asthma model are not known. To study the effects of MEEP in vivo using a chronic ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model in mice. The identities of WED and DMW in MEEP were confirmed and the concentrations determined by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Male Balb/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA and experimental animals were treated with MEEP (100, 250 or 500 mg/kg) while control animals were treated with dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) or normal saline. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and the production of Th2 cytokines in lung homogenates were assessed. Lung inflammation and mucus production were evaluated by histological analysis while nuclear factor kappa -B (NF-κB) activation was assessed immunohistochemically. Concentrations of WED and DMW in MEEP were 5.12% and 1.04%, respectively. Treatments with MEEP (250 or 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased bronchial hyperresponsiveness, reduced total cell and eosinophil counts in BAL and IL-4 concentrations in lung homogenate, and inhibited NF-κB activation. Treatment with MEEP at 500 mg/kg reduced the level of IL-5 in lung homogenates but did not decrease IL-13 concentration or mucus production. MEEP attenuated bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decreased lung and airway inflammation in a chronic asthma model in mice. The mechanism of action involves inhibition of NF-κB activation, most likely associated with the presence of the coumestans WED and DMW. These results support the ethnopharmacological evidence for the use of E. prostrata against asthma and other respiratory inflammatory diseases. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance The number of bacterial strains that are resistant to multiple conventional antimicrobial agents is increasing. In this context, natural products have been widely used as a strategy to treat diseases caused by bacteria. Infections by Helicobacter pylori have attracted attention because they are directly related to severe gastric medical conditions. Casearia sylvestris Swartz, popularly known as guaçatonga, is largely employed to treat gastric disorders in Brazilian folk medicine. This plant species has aroused much interest mainly because it displays anti-inflammatory activity and can act as an antiulcer agent. Aim of the study To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti- H. pylori action of C. sylvestris leaf derivatives incorporated or not in a nanostructured drug delivery system. Materials and methods The essential oil (obtained by hydrodistillation) and ethanolic extract (obtained by maceration) were obtained from C. sylvestris leaves. The ethanolic extract was submitted to fractionation through solid phase extraction and column chromatography, to yield the ethanolic fractions. Hydrolyzed casearin J was achieved by submitting isolated casearin J to acid hydrolysis. The derivatives were chemically characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses. A nanostructured lipid system was used as drug delivery system. To assess the in vitro antibacterial activity of C. sylvestris leaf essential oil, ethanolic extract, and derivatives, microdilution, biofilm, and time-kill assays were performed against H. pylori ATCC 43504. Finally, the in vivo action was investigated by employing male Wistar rats experimentally infected with H. pylori. Results Many C. sylvestris leaf derivatives presented significant in vitro activity against H. pylori. Among the derivatives, fraction 2 (F2) was the most effective. In vivo tests showed that both the ethanolic extract and F2 decreased the ulcerative lesion size, but only the ethanolic extract eradicated H. pylori from the gastric lesions. Incorporation of plant derivatives in nanostructured lipid system blunted the in vitro action, as demonstrated by the microdilution assay. However, this incorporation improved the ethanolic extract activity against biofilms. Conclusion C. sylvestris leaf derivatives are effective against H. pylori both in vitro and in vivo. According to phytochemical analyses, these derivatives are rich in terpenoids, which could be related to the anti- H. pylori action. Synergism could also underlie C. sylvestris efficacy judging from the fact that the sub-fractions and isolated compounds had lower activity than the extract. Incorporation in a nanostructured lipid system did not improve the activity of the compounds in our in vivo protocol. Graphical abstract fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Verbenaceae) has been used in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat asthma and other respiratory diseases. To investigate the effects of different doses of standardized hydro-ethanolic (SCH) and aqueous (SCA) extracts of aerial parts of S. cayennensis using a murine ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. The major constituents of the plant extracts were identified and standardized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Balb/c mice were challenged with OVA solution and treated concomitantly by intraperitoneal injection of standardized SCH or SCA extracts at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg concentrations. OVA-challenged control animals were treated with either dexamethasone (OVA-DEX) or saline solution (OVA-SAL). After challenge, we assessed in vivo bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation (number of cells), peribronchial inflammation (histological analysis) and production of OVA-specific IgE and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 (ELISA). Acteoside, isoacteoside, and ipolamiide were the major constituents of SCH and SCA. The respective concentrations of acteoside in SCH and SCA were 78 and 98 μg/mL, while those of ipolamiide were 30 and 19 μg/mL. Treatment with 200 mg/kg of SCH or SCA decreased IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in lung homogenates. These reductions were accompanied by a lower influx of inflammatory cells (eosinophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages) to the airways and lungs. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects, administration of SCA, but not SCH, ameliorated the parameters of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decreased levels of circulating OVA-specific IgE. The results presented herein demonstrate for the first time the anti-asthmatic activity of S. cayennensis extracts in a murine model, thereby supporting the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copaifera spp oleoresins have been used in folk medicine for centuries; nevertheless, its immunomodulatory action has not been investigated. Thus, the goal of this study was to characterize different oleoresins and to verify their action on human monocytes regarding pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α and IL-10, respectively). The chemical composition of Brazilian Copaifera reticulata , Copaifera duckey and Copaifera multijuga oleoresins was analyzed by HPLC-MS. Cell viability was assessed by MTT method after incubation of cells with Copaifera spp. Noncytotoxic concentrations of oleoresins were incubated with human monocytes from healthy donors, and cytokine production was determined by ELISA. HPLC-MS analysis for terpenes allowed the identification of six diterpene acids and one sesquiterpene acid. Oleoresins exerted no cytotoxic effects on human monocytes. All oleoresins had a similar profile: LPS-induced TNF-α production was maintained by oleoresins, while a significant inhibitory action on IL-10 production was seen. Copaifera oleoresins seemed to exert an activator profile on human monocytes without affecting cell viability. Such effect may be due to the presence of either diterpene or sesquiterpene acids; however, further studies are necessary to determine the involvement of such compounds in Copaifera immunomodulatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The metalloporphyrin-mediated simazine oxidation was investigated, in order to evaluate whether metalloporphyrins were good biomimetic models for the oxidation of this herbicide. The commercially available second-generation metalloporphyrins: 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin metal(III) chloride, [M(TDCPP)]Cl; 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin metal(III) chloride, [M(TFPP)]Cl; and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin metal(III) chloride, [M(TMPyP)]Cl5 (metal=Fe or Mn), and the oxidants iodosylbenzene (PhIO), hydrogen peroxide, and 3-chloroperoxy benzoic acid (m-CPBA) were employed in this study. Results demonstrated that these metalloporphyrins can mimic both the in vivo and in vitro action of cytochrome P450 for simazine oxidation, with formation of the dechlorinated metabolites OEET and OEAT mainly, as well as production of two other unknown compounds, identified by HPLC/mass spectrometry as ODET and ODDT. Among the systems, [Fe(TDCPP)]Cl/m-CPBA was the most efficient for simazine oxidation, giving up to 49% total conversion. Although hydrogen peroxide did not afford the best results (about 14% simazine conversion), it can be considered the most efficient oxidant from the point of view of toxicity, because it leads to less toxic products, namely OAAT and OEAT. The effect of some reaction conditions was investigated, and product evolution as a function of time was also monitored. Based on these results, simplified reaction mechanisms have been proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Coumarin and umbelliferone are the active principles of Justicia pectoralis , a native Brazilian medicinal plant that is threatened by overexploitation and habitat fragmentation. Considering that its cultivation under appropriate conditions would be more sustainable than wild collection, here we examined how season, developmental stage, harvesting frequency, and light intensity affect the agronomical characteristics and chemical profile of a high-yield J. pectoralis genotype. Plants were propagated from cuttings, transplanted to experimental plots, and grown on under full sunlight or 50% and 80% shading. Plants were harvested after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of growth, or pruned at these time points in a manner that allowed their regrowth over further 3 months. Chemical analysis of extracts from the aerial parts was performed by UPLC and HPLC. Cultivation under full sunlight or 50% shade promoted plant growth and production of coumarins the most effectively. Accumulation of coumarin and fresh and dry biomass were maximal in 12-month-old plants harvested in the summer, when the temperature was high, rainfall abundant, and flowering had terminated. The highest levels of umbelliferone were detected in 6-month-old flowering plants harvested in the winter, when the temperature was low and rainfall limited. The capacity of plants to accumulate biomass and coumarins did not decline with successive pruning and regrowth; hence, the genotype could be exploited in a continuous and systematic manner without frequent replanting. The results presented herein contribute to the large-scale cultivation of J. pectoralis and preparation of phytomedicines of quality. • Full sunlight or 50% shade favor Justicia pectoralis growth and coumarin production. • Coumarin accumulation peaks in 12-month-old plants harvested in the summer. • Umbelliferone accumulation peaks in 6-month-old plants harvested in the winter. • Fresh and dry biomass are maximal in 12-month-old plants harvested in the summer. • Successive pruning and regrowth do not affect accumulation of biomass and coumarins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]