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Ethnopharmacological relevance Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavon (Tropaeolaceae). Sim (commonly called Mashua) is an indigenous plant that has medicinal values for various ethnic groups of the regions of the Andes mountain range of South America, which use it for the treatment of diseases venereal, lung and skin; for the healing of internal and external wounds; and as an analgesic for kidney and bladder pain. Aim of the review: We critically summarised the current evidence on the botanic characterisation and distribution, ethnopharmacology, secondary metabolites, pharmacological activities, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and toxicology of T. tuberosum. Materials and methods The relevant information on T. tuberosum was gathered from worldwide accepted scientific databases via electronic search (Google scholar, Elsevier, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, Mendeley, Scielo and Dialnet electronic databases). Information was also obtained from the literature and books as well as PhD and MSc dissertations. Plant names were validated by ‘The Plant List’ ( www.theplantlist.org ). Results T. tuberosum has diverse uses in local and popular medicine, specifically for relieving pain and infections in humans. Regarding its biological activities, polar extracts (aqueous, hydroalcoholic) and isolated compounds from the tubers have exhibited a wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities. Quantitative analysis (e.g., NMR, HPLC, GC-MS) indicated the presence of a set of secondary metabolites, including hydroxybenzoic acids, tannins, flavanols, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, phytosterols, fatty acids and alkamides in the tubers of T. tuberosum. Likewise, glucosinolates have been identified in the seeds and isothiocyanates have been detected in leaves, flowers and seeds. Conclusions T. tuberosum has been tested for various biological activities and the extracts (tubers in particular) demonstrated a promising potential as an antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and inhibitors of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A lack of alignment between the ethno-medicinal uses and existing biological screenings was observed, indicating the need to explore its potential for the treatment against respiratory affections, urinary affections and blood diseases. Likewise, it is necessary to analyse deeply the relationship that exists between the different tuber colours of T. tuberosum and its use for the treatment of certain diseases. Validation of clinical studies of the antibacterial, antioxidant/anti-inflammatory, anti-spermatogenic activities and as inhibitors of benign prostatic hyperplasia is required. Moreover, studies on the toxicity, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics, in addition to clinical trials, are indispensable for assessing the safety and efficacy of the active metabolites or extracts obtained from T. tuberosum. Other areas that need investigation are the development of future applications based on their active metabolites, such as neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease). Finally, the work purposes to motivate other research groups to carry out a series of scientific studies that can fill the gaps that exist with respect to Mashua properties, and thus be able to change the focus of T. tuberosum (Mashua) that currently has in the consumer society.

The use of herbal supplements and medicines is increasing rapidly as most people consider them to be of natural origin and therefore safe. Many herbal medications are used to treat diseases but while they are often efficacious, their safety has not sufficiently considered by physicians or users. One particular safety concern is the risk of interactions with drugs, which often lead to toxicity or loss of therapeutic efficacy. A significant number of patients combine herbal remedies with prescription medications and there is growing evidence for interactions of drugs with herbal remedies or single compound originating from plants. Current antiretroviral treatment has allowed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to become a chronic manageable condition with many HIV patients living longer. Among this HIV + community, the use of natural health products and other forms of complementary and alternative medicines is increasing. As million of patients with HIV are put on treatment with the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), drug interactions have become a major concern for healthcare providers. The use of HAART as a combination of three or four drugs creates the potential for antiretroviral drug interactions, and this is complicated by the addition of other drugs for treatment of other ailments such as comorbid chronic conditions and/or opportunistic infections. In this review, we have aimed to provide an overview of the effects of herbal medicines on antiretroviral drug-metabolizing and transporting enzymes, focusing on potential herb–antiretroviral drug interactions, as well as interactions at the pharmacodynamic level.

Natural products represent a goldmine of innovative therapeutic molecules to prevent and/or treat human diseases. For over 1,000 years, malaria has been one of the major causes of suffering and death for mankind. Artemisinin is an unusual sesquiterpene lactone (SL) endoperoxide that has been isolated as the active principle of the Chinese antimalarial herb Artemisia annua L. Since artemisinin was discovered to be the active component of A. annua in the early 1970s, hundred of papers have focused on the antiparasitic effects of artemisinin and its semi-synthetic analogues. Nowadays, artemisinin and its derivatives have become essential components of antimalarial treatment and are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat especially multidrug-resistant forms of malaria. These features have prompted various scientists around the world to evaluate the potential of artemisinin and derivatives to control other human diseases. This review will centre on the significant achievements in recent years (2000 to date) with regard the chemistry and biological properties of SL from A. annua, with particular attention on artemisinin and related compounds. The discussion will also focus on the understanding of its mechanism of action and structure/activity relationships.

The genus Artemisia L. is a member of the family Compositae, widely distributed in the warmer temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. The Artemisia species have been known since ancient times for their curative properties and used for the treatment of various ailments such as malaria, inflammation, cancer and infections by fungi, bacteria and viruses. There is a renewed interest in Artemisia species, and several scientific investigations have aimed to isolate and identify their active constituents, scientifically verify their pharmacological actions and constituents, and determine the basis for the use of Artemisia species in a range of diseases and conditions. According to the literature, over 260 Artemisia species have been investigated, and results reveal that they contain many classes of secondary metabolites with pharmacological activity, including sesquiterpene lactones. The present review will summarize some of the important reports on the chemistry and biological activities of Artemisia sesquiterpene lactones from the literature data of recent years (2000 to date). The discussion will also focus on the understanding of their mechanism of action and structure/activity relationships. The information summarized here is intended to serve as a reference tool for practitioners in the fields of ethnopharmacology and the chemistry of natural products.

Infectious diseases account for one third of all deaths worldwide. The spread of multidrug-resistant strains of microbes makes it necessary to discover new classes of antimicrobials and compounds that inhibit these resistance mechanisms. In the past few decades, the search for new anti-infective agents has occupied many research groups in the field of ethnopharmacology. Many focus on determining the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts found in folk medicine, essential oils or isolated compounds. The Anthemideae tribe of the Asteraceae comprises a large number of species that have been and are still used as medicinal plants, particularly in folk medicine. In the present review, we analyze the past, present and future of medicinal plants of the Anthemideae tribe, both as potential antimicrobial crude drugs as well as a source for natural compounds that act as new anti-infectious agents.

The oceans are unique resources that provide a diverse array of natural products, primarily from invertebrates such as sponges, tunicates, bryozoans and molluscs and from marine bacteria and cyanobacteria. Pharmacologic research with marine chemicals continue to contribute potentially novel chemical leads in the ongoing global search for therapeutic agents in the treatment of multiple diverse categories. As infectious diseases evolve and develop resistance to existing pharmaceuticals, the marine environment provides novel leads against fungal, parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases. Limitations in our current antiviral treatment options and the continuing emergence of new pathogenic viruses have contributed to a growing need for new and effective chemotherapeutic agents to treat viral diseases. The search for potent antiviral agents is urgent in view of the dramatic situation of the global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, a possible spread of avian influenza and of other viral diseases. Effective antiviral therapeutics are not available, and the presently approved therapy for HIV has been recognized to be toxic, unable to eradicate the causative virus, and to induce severe drug resistance. The marine environment provides a rich source of chemical diversity for the screening and identification of new compounds with desirable antiviral properties. Antiviral testing has revealed numerous compounds from structural classes including polysaccharides, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and peptides that potentially inhibit both RNA and DNA viruses. This review presents an account of some research directed toward the discovery of new antiviral agents from marine sources.

The ever increasing resistance of human pathogens to current anti-infective agents is a serious medical problem, leading to the need to develop novel antibiotic prototype molecules. In the case of viruses, the search for antiviral agents involves additional difficulties, particularly due to the nature of the infectious viral agents. Thus, many compounds that may cause the death of viruses are also very likely to injure the host cell that harbours them. Natural products are increasingly appreciated as leads for drug discovery and development. Screening studies have been carried out in order to find antiviral agents from natural sources, and the occurrence of antiviral activity in extracts of plants, marine organisms and fungi is frequent. The evidence indicates that there may be numerous potentially useful antiviral phytochemicals in nature, waiting to be evaluated and exploited. In addition, other plants, not previously utilized medicinally, may also reveal antivirals. Among natural antiviral agents, recent investigations have reconsidered the interest of phyto-polysaccharides, which act as potent inhibitors of different viruses. This chapter will illustrate a variety of antiviral polysaccharides from natural sources since 1990, with the aim of making this matter more accessible to drug development

Traditional herbal remedies have increased in popularity in recent years. The plant family Asteraceae (Compositae) comprises a large number of species that have been and are still used as medicinal plants, particularly in folk medicine. Baccharis is a New World genus belonging to the Compositae family consisting of more than 400 species, about 90% of which are located in South America. Many of these species have been used since ancient times as folk remedies for some treatment purposes (reducing phlegm, relieving cough, invigorating blood circulation, stopping pain, inducing diuresis, as an anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, stomachic agent, …). According to the literature, over 100 Baccharis species have been investigated to reveal that they contain many classes of secondary metabolites. The most widespread compounds reported are clerodane and labdane diterpenoids as well as triterpenoids of the oleanane series. In addition, kaurane diterpenoids, cinnamic acid esters, coumarin derivatives and flavonoids are common secondary metabolites. During the intensive investigation of the chemical components of the Baccharis genus, much attention has been paid to its bioactive constituents. Their occurrence in the genus Baccharis, as well as other constituents, and the chemical and biological relationships between them, have made them the subject of the present review. This chapter deals principally with bioactive constituents characterized from the Baccharis species in order to obtain a better understanding of the biological significance of this large genus.

Quinones constitute a structurally diverse class of phenolic compounds with a wide range of pharmacologial properties, which are the basis for different applications in the broad field of pharmacy and medicine. In traditional medicine all over the world, plants which are rich in quinones are used for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Besides the classical applications of these plants in industry (dyestuffs) and pharmaceutical (laxatives) practice, the relatively new field of biologically active quinones will be discussed. This review gives an account of the work done on naturally occurring bioactive quinones from 1992 to the present date. The biological activity detected in quinones from natural and synthetic sources has been discussed in relation to chemical structure under the respective titles.

Four sesquiterpenes isolated from Jasonia glutinosa D.C. (Asteraceae), namely lucinone, glutinone, 5-epi-kutdtriol and kutdtriol, have been evaluated for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in cellular systems generating cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) metabolites. None of the compounds assayed had a significant effect on leukotriene C4 (LTC4)-release from calcium ionophore-stimulated mouse peritoneal cells. However, the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by mouse peritoneal cells stimulated with calcium ionophore was inhibited by these compounds, although with less potency than the reference drug indomethacin (IC50=0.24 microM). The IC50 values of the active compounds were: lucinone 42.69 microM, glutinone 3.61 microM, 5-epi-kutdtriol 1.28 microM and kutdtriol 39 microM. Of the tested compounds, only glutinone (IC50=24 microM) showed a significant effect on thromboxane B2 (TXB2)-release induced by calcium ionophore in human platelets, although with less potency than the reference drug ibuprofen (IC50=1.27 microM).

Both the aerial parts and the roots of Bupleurum rigidum L. subsp. Rigidum have been thoroughly investigated. From the BuOH extract of the aerial parts of B. rigidum an already known and six new saponins have been isolated and their structures have been studied by Ms, IR and NMR spectroscopy and chemical degradations. Six of them are related to saikogenin F and one to saikogenin D. They were given the trivial namesof sandrosaponins I-VI. All bore a trisaccharide moiety, namely β- D-Glcp(l→2)[β-D-Glcp(l→)]β-D-Fucp, in which the second Glcp unit was sulphated at position O-4, in all the compounds but one (buddlejasaponin IV). From the roots of B. rigidum five new saponins have been isolated and identified, of which three were saikosaponins, two related to saikogenin F andone to saikogenin D. One of them was also found in the aerial parts. Two saponins were related to oleanolic acid. Trivial names of sandrosaponins VII-X were given to them. Additional compounds also isolated and identified were two acetylenic derivatives (falcarinol and diynene) and a phenolic glycoside (osmantolide). Buddlejasaponin IV and sandrosaponin I present a potent in vivo antiinflamatory effect on mouse ear edema induced by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The effects of these compounds on swelling and other inflamatory parameters are described. In screening for in vitro effects of thosesaikosaponins on cellular systems generating cyclooxygenase (COX)and lipooxygenase (LOX)metabolites, most saikosaponins showed a significant effect. The action is more marked on LOX metabolite LTC4.

Three phenylpropanoid glycosides (salidroside, syringin and coniferin) and one lignan (phillyrin) isolated from the leaves of Phillyrea latifolia L. (Oleaceae) were tested for interactions with the cyclo-oxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism in calcium-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages and human platelets, and for their effects on cell viability. These compounds are capable of exerting inhibitory actions on enzymes of the arachidonate cascade. Phillyrin, salidroside and syringin exert a preferential effect on the cyclo-oxygenase pathway, inhibiting release of the cyclo-oxygenase metabolites prostaglandin E2 (IC50 values 45.6 microM, 72.1 microM and 35.5 microM, respectively) and to a lesser extent reducing thromboxane B2 levels (IC50 values 168 microM, 154 microM and 29.3 microM, respectively). In contrast, coniferin can be classified as a "dual inhibitor", since it produces reduction in generation of both cyclo-oxygenase (IC50 values 75.2 microM for prostaglandin E2 and 619 microM for thromboxane B2) and 5-lipoxygenase metabolites, but the effects are greater against leukotriene C4 (IC50 value 63.6 microM). Structure-activity relationships of the three phenylpropanoid glycosides are discussed. Thus, like some other compounds found in medicinal herbs, our molecules possess an array of potentially beneficial anti-eicosanoid properties which may, alongside other constituents, contribute to the claimed therapeutic properties of the plant from which they are derived.

The essential oils of Nepeta coerulea subsp. coerulea, Nepeta nepetella subsp. aragonensis and Nepeta cataria. - Essential oil composition of three iberian Nepeta were studied by chromatographic and spectrometric methods. The essential oils are constituted mainly of diasteroisomers of nepetalactone. These compounds may be used as chemosystematic characters.