Showing papers in "Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz in 1991"
289 citations
TL;DR: It is observed that several plants used popularly as anti-snake venom show anti-inflammatory activity and several species selected and tested for analgesic activity and anti- inflammatory activity according to Whittle's technique demonstrated analgesic and/or anti- inflammation activities of varied intensity.
Abstract: We have observed that several plants used popularly as anti-snake venom show anti-inflammatory activity. From the list prepared by Rizzini, Mors and Pereira some species have been selected and tested for analgesic activity (number of contortions) and anti-inflammatory activity (Evans blue dye diffusion--1% solution) according to Whittle's technique (intraperitoneal administration of 0.1 N-acetic acid 0.1 ml/10 g) in mice. Previous oral administration of a 10% infusion (dry plant) or 20% (fresh plant) corresponding to 1 or 2 g/kg of Apuleia leiocarpa, Casearia sylvestris, Brunfelsia uniflora, Chiococca brachiata, Cynara scolymus, Dorstenia brasiliensis, Elephantopus scaber, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Mikania glomerata and Trianosperma tayuya demonstrated analgesic and/or anti-inflammatory activities of varied intensity.
147 citations
TL;DR: The authors concluded that histopathological patterns do not represent a stage of tegumentary leishmaniasis, thus they can not be correlated with prognosis and therapeutical response as suggested in the literature.
Abstract: In order to evaluate the reliability of histopathological classifications of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis the authors compared the histopathological patterns of two biopsies taken simultaneously from the same patient, and classified the material according to Ridley et al. (1980), to Magalhaes et al. (1986a), and to a more simplified classification with only three patterns. Distinct histopathological aspects were observed in different lesions or even in the same lesion. The authors concluded that histopathological patterns do not represent a stage of tegumentary leishmaniasis, thus they can not be correlated with prognosis and therapeutical response as suggested in the literature.
106 citations
TL;DR: A simple model comparing the costs and benefits of a programme to eliminate domestic populations of Triatoma infestans throughout its known area of distribution over the seven southernmost countries of Latin America shows that the direct financial benefits of such a programme would far outweigh the costs.
Abstract: Chagas disease transmission can be effectively interrupted by insecticidal control of its triatomine bug vectors We present here a simple model comparing the costs and benefits of such a programme, designed to eliminate domestic populations of Triatoma infestans throughout its known area of distribution over the seven southernmost countries of Latin America The model has been simplified to require only four financial estimates relating to the unit cost of housing spraying and benefits due to avoidance of premature death in the acute phase of the disease, avoidance of supportive treatment and care in the chronic phase of the disease, and avoidance of corrective digestive and cardiac surgery Except for these direct medical costs, all other potential benefits have been ignored Nevertheless, the model shows that the direct financial benefits of such a programme would far outweigh the costs, and the project would support a remarkably high internal rate of return under the least optimistic estimates
100 citations
TL;DR: Water extract of small branches of the plant (THE AUTHORS) administered to mice and rats indicates that THEY may relieve gastrointestinal disorders by reducing acid secretion and gastrointestinal hiperactivity.
Abstract: Baccharus triptera Mart, is a widespread Compositae used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal disturbances, rheumatic disease, mild fever, diabetes and as an anti-helminthic. Water extract of small branches of the plant (WE) administered to mice and rats (0.1 to 2 g/Kg, p.o) did not alter spontaneous motor activity, sleeping time induced by barbiturates or the tailflick response in mice. The extract decreased by 40 por cento the number of writhings induced by 0.8 por cento scetic acid, i.p., but did not influence paw edema induced by carrageenan or dextran in rats WE (2g/Kg, p.o.) decreased the intestinal transit of charcoal in mice by 20//. Gastric secretion in pylorus ligated rats was reduced after treatment with WE (1 and 2 g/Kg. i.p. or intraduodenal and the gastric pH was raised. The extract (1 g/Kg, p.o.) prevented gastric ulcers induced in rats by immobilization at 4oC, but not those induced by indomethacin (10 mg/Kg, s.c.). The results indicate that WE may relieve gastrointestinal disorders by reducing acid secretion and gastrointestinal hiperactivity. Neither analgesic nor anti-inflammatory activities were detectable.
89 citations
TL;DR: Lectins could play important roles in defense against pathogens, plant-microorganism symbiosis, cell organization, embryo morphogenesis, phagocytosis, cell wall elongation, pollen recognition and as reserve proteins.
Abstract: Lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immune origin, that agglutinate cells or precipitate polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, are well distributed in nature, mainly in the Plant Kingdom. The great majority of the plant lectins are present in seed cotyledons where they are found in the cytoplasm or in the protein bodies, although they have also been found in roots, stems and leaves. Due to their peculiar properties, the lectins are used as a tool both for analytical and preparative purposes in biochemistry, cellular biology, immunology and related areas. In agriculture and medicine the use of lectins greatly improved in the last few years. The lectins, with few exceptions, are glycoproteins, need divalent cations to display full activity and are, in general, oligomers with variable molecular weight. Although the studies on lectins have completed a century, their role in nature is yet unknown. Several hypotheses on their physiological functions have been suggested. Thus, lectins could play important roles in defense against pathogens, plant-microorganism symbiosis, cell organization, embryo morphogenesis, phagocytosis, cell wall elongation, pollen recognition and as reserve proteins. A brief review on the general properties and roles of the lectins is given.
82 citations
TL;DR: Mice chronically infected with the Colombian strain and treated with MK-436, was parasitologically cured in 5/6 cases and showed mild inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis, and mice treated with Benznidazole (Colombian strain) did not cure and showed moderate fibrosis and inflammation.
Abstract: This investigation was performed to verify the effect of specific chemotherapy (Benznidazole or MK-346) on the inflammatory and fibrotic cardiac alterations in mice chronically infected with the strains 21 SF (Type II) and Colombian (Type III) of Trypanosoma cruzi. To obtain chronically infected mice, two groups of 100 Swiss mice each, were infected with either the 21 SF or the Colombian strain (2x 10 [raised to the power of] 4 and 5x 10 [raised to the power of] 4 blood forms respectively). The rate of morality in the acute phase was of 80% for both groups. Twenty surviving mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain and 20 with the Colombian strain were then divided in treated and untreated groups. Excluding those that died during the course of treatment, 14 mice chronically infected with the 21 SF strain and 15 with the Colombian strain were evaluated in the present study. Chemotherapy was performed with Benznidazole (N-benzil-2-nitro-1-imidazolacetamide) in the dose of 100mg/k.b.w/day, for 60 days, or with the MK-436(3(1-methyl-5 nitroimidazol-2-yl) in two daily doses of 250 mg/k.b.w, for 20 days. Parasitological cure tests were performed (xenodiagnosis, haemoculture, subinovulation of the blood into newborn mice), and serological indirect immunofluorescence test. The treated and untreated mice as well as intact controls were killed at different periods after treatment and the heart were submitted to histopathological study with hematoxilineosin and picrosirius staining; ultrastructural study; collagen immunotyping, fibronectin and laminin identification by immunofluorescence tests. Results: the untreated controls either infected with 21 SF or Colombian strain, showed inflammatory and fibrotic alterations that were mild to moderate with the 21 SF strain and intense with the Colombian strain. Redpicrosirius staining showed bundles of collagen in the interstitial space and around cardiac fibers. Increased deposits of mitritial components and collagen fibers, macrophages and fibroblasts appeared at the ultra structural examination. Deposits of fibronectin, laminin, pro-III and IV collagens were seen, most intense in those infected with the Colombian strain. Treated nice, parasitologically cured, presented clear-cut regression of the inflammatory lesions and of the interstitial matrix thickening. Mice infected with the Colombian strain and treated with MK-436, was parasitologically cured in 5/6 cases and showed mild inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis. The mice treated with Benznidazole (Colombian strain) did not cure and showed moderate fibrosis and inflammation. Treatment of the nice infected with the 21 SF with Benznidazole determined parasitological cure of all animals, that showed mild inflammation and fibrosis of the myocardium. The cured mice of all groups and treated but uncured showed collagen degradation at electronmicroscopy and decrease of immunofluorescence pattern of the matrix.
81 citations
TL;DR: The hemocytes of Rhodnius and Dipetalogaster are more similar to each other than those from Triatoma and Panstronglus which in turn closely resemble each other.
Abstract: The objective of this work was to characterize, and compare different morphological types of hemocytes of Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius, Rhodnius neglectus, Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, and Dipetalogaster maximus. This information provides the basis for studying the cellular immune systems of these insects. Seven morphological hemocyte types wereidentified by phase-contrast microscopy: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular cells, cytocytes, oenocytoids, adipohemocytes and giant cells. All seven types of hemocytes are not present in every species. For example, adipohemocytes and oenocytoids were not observed in P. megistus and P. infestans, and giant cells were rarely found in any of the species studied. The hemocytes of rhodnius and Dipetalogaster are more similar to each other than those from Triatoma and Panstrongylus which in turn closely resemble each other. Emphasis is placed on methodological problems arising in this work wicah are discussed in detail.
71 citations
66 citations
TL;DR: A trypanosome strain isolated from a sylvatic rodent from Santa Catarina Island was characterized by the following methods, leading to the identification of the isolate as T. rangeli in southern Brazil, increasing the geographical distribution of this parasite.
Abstract: A trypanosome strain isolated from a sylvatic rodent (Echimys dasythrix) from Santa Catarina Island (Santa Catarina State, Brazil) was characterized by the following methods: experimental transmission and development in invertebrate hosts, morphometry, cross protection, complement sensitivity, lectin agglutination and isoenzyme profiles. Comparasions were made with standard Trypanosoma cruzi and T. rangeli strains. All methods except isoenzyne analysis led to the identification of the isolate as T. rangeli. The isoenzyme differences found could be explained on the basis of polymorphism. Therefore this is the first report of T. rangeli in southern Brazil, increasing the geographical distribution of this parasite.
66 citations
TL;DR: In the present work, the in vivo antimalarial activity of six different plants are described and chemically defined molecules are studied and some of them showed antimalaria activity in vitro.
Abstract: In the present work we have described the in vivo antimalarial actrivity of six different plants. Two of them (Verninia brasiliana and Eupatorium squalidum) were tested in a randomic approach among 273 crude extracts from plants; four (Acanhospermum australe, Esenbeckia febrifuga, Lisianthus specious and Tachia guianensis) were selected after screening 22 crude extracts from different medicinal and some of them showed antimalarial activity in vitro. Some aspects of recent research with natural products aiming to produce drugs are discussed.
TL;DR: A new case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. naiffi is described from the Manaus area, making a total of three known cases of human infection by this parasite.
Abstract: Leismania naiffi was isolated from 10 out of 64 armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) examined in Amazonas, Para and Rondonia States in the Brazilian Amazon Region The isolates were obtained in culture from samples of liver (3), spleen (3), lymph nodes (2), skin (1) and blood (1) from the infected animals Heavy infections with the same parasite were detected for the first time in Psychodopygus squamiventris, a common man-biting phlebotomine, in amazonas and Para A new case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L naiffi is described from the Manaus area, making a total of three known cases of human infection by this parasite
TL;DR: The present study confirmed the heterogeneity found by isoenzyme and k-DNA patterns among the strains of T. cruzi isolated from chagasic patients in Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brasil.
Abstract: The development in C3H mice of thirteen strains of Trypanosoma cruzi belonging to different zymodemes and schizodemes was studied. Host mortality, virulence, histiotropism, parasitemia and polymorphism of the parasites were recorded. The strains were grouped into: a) high virulence--causing 100% mortality and characterized by predominance of very broad trypomastigotes in the bloodstream at the end of infection; b) medium virulence--causing no mortality and with a predominance of broad trypomastigotes; c) low virulence--causing no mortality with blood forms not described due to the very low parasitemia. During 18 months maintenance the parasitemia curves were kept constant for all strains except one. A direct correlation between either zymodeme or schizodeme and experimental biological properties of T. cruzi strains was not found. However, the parasitemia was subpatent and patent for strains from zymodeme C and the others respectively. Furthermore the high virulence seems to be related to one of two schizodemes found within zymodeme B strains. All strains presenting patent parasitemia independent of shizodeme and zymodeme showed a myotropism towards heart and skeletal muscle with variable inflammatory intensity. The present study confirmed the heterogeneity found by isoenzyme and k-DNA patterns among the strains of T. cruzi isolated from chagasic patients in Bambui, Minas Gerais State, Brasil.
TL;DR: In a study on putative vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Baturité, Ceará State, Brazil, six sandfly species were identified, L. whitmani and L. migonei were the predominant species and were collected in periodomiciliary areas and were attracted by man and equines.
Abstract: In a study on putative vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Baturite, Ceara State Brazil, six sandfly species were identified: Lutzomya longipalpis, L. wellcomei, L. peresi, L. whitmani, L. shannoni and L. migonei. In general L. whitmani and L. migonei were the predominant species. They were collected in periodomiciliary areas and were attracted by man and equines L. whitmani was the most anthropophilic species. Studies using animals as bait showed that blood-feeding occurs throughout the night. Previously L. whitmani had been found infected with a Leishmania species of the braziliensis complex and L. migoney was infected with peripylarian flagellates. In combination these findings suggest that they may be responsible for periodomestic transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
TL;DR: Plant cell and tissue culture in a simple fashion refers to techniques which utilize either single plant cells, groups of unorganized cells (callus) or organized tissues or organs put in culture, under controlled sterile conditions.
Abstract: Plant cell and tissue culture in a simple fashion refers to techniques which utilize either single plant cells, groups of unorganized cells (callus) or organized tissues or organs put in culture, under controlled sterile conditions.
TL;DR: Aqueous extracts of seven species used in Brazilian popular medicine were screened to the presence of mutagenic activity in the Ames test and positive results were obtained for A. satureoides, B. anomala and L. divaricata with microsomal activation.
Abstract: Aqueous extracts of seven species used in Brazilian popular medicine (Achyrocline satureoides, Iodina rhombifolia, Desmodium incanum, Baccharis anomala, Tibouchina asperior, Luehea divaricata, Maytenus ilicifolia) were screened to the presence of mutagenic activity in the Ames test (Salmonella/microsome). Positive results were obtained for A. satureoides, B anomala and L. divaricata with microsomal activation. As shown elsewhere (Vargas et al., 1990) the metabolites of A. satureoides extract also show the capacity to induce prophage and/or SOS response in microscreen phage induction assay and SOS spot chromotest.
TL;DR: Genomic DNA fragments from males of Psychodopygus wellcomei were isolated and shown to be useful as sensitive diagnostic probes for positively separating individuals of this species from those of Ps.
Abstract: Genomic DNA fragments from males of Psychodopygus wellcomei were isolated and shown to be useful as sensitive diagnostic probes for positively separating individuals of this species from those of Ps complexus These two members of the Ps squamiventris series are found sympatrically in foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the hill forests of southern Para State Of the two species, only Ps wellcomei is thought to be an important vector of Leishmania braziliensis sensu stricto, but this is based on circumstantial evidence because of the difficulties of identifying female sandflies within the series The diagnostic probes were isolated from a library of Ps wellcomei built by ligating short fragments of Sau 3A-restricted, genomic DNA into the plasmid vector pUC 18 Differential screening of 1316library clones with total genomic DNA of Ps wellcomei and Ps complexus identified 5 recombinants, with cross-hybridizing inserts of repetitive DNA, that showed strong specificity for Ps wellcomei As little as 04% of the DNA extracted from an individual sandfly (= ca 05 nanograms) was specifically detected The diagnostic probes were used to identify as Ps wellcomei a wild-caught female sandfly found infected with L braziliensis ss, providing only the second positive association between these two species
TL;DR: Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberaceae family, known popularly as "colony" (colônia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertension and the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction is determined.
Abstract: Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberaceae family, known popularly as "colony" (colonia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertension. We have determined the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction. They contained 51.0 mEq Na+, and 132 mEq K+ in the extract, and 0.0 mEq of Na+ and 26 mEq K+ in the tea. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves demonstrated the presence of catecquic tanins, phenols and alkaloids, and also some essential oils. When injected intra-peritoneally the hydroalcoholic extract, in a dose range of 100 to 1400 mg/kg, (or 2500-18000 mg/kg orally) produced in mice: writhing, psychomotor excitation, hypokinesis and pruritus. The LD50 by ip was 0.760 +/- 0.126 g/kg and 10.0 +/- 2.5 g/kg by oral administration for the hydroalcoholic extract. Subacute toxicity made by injecting daily for 30 days the LD10 in rats caused an increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas other parameters such as blood glucose, urea and creatinine were normal. A histopathological analysis of liver, spleen, gut, lung and heart showed no alterations. The drug also produced a prolongation of the sleeping time. The hydroalcoholic extract induced in the rat and in the dog a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in doses of 10 to 30 mg/kg. In isolated atria the extract induced a reduction of the frequency and in the inotropic responses. Neither the extract nor the tea had an effect on the diuresis of the rat.
TL;DR: Oral administration of the CEE of dry M. charantia leaves administered orally was ineffective up to 500 mg/kg in lowering the parasitemic levels of malarious mice, but strong antimalarial activity following oral administration was observed.
Abstract: Crude ethanolic extracts (CEEs) from two species of Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita maxima and Momordica charantia (commonly called "abobora moranga" and melao de Sao Caetano", respectively) were assayed for antimalarial activity by the 4-d suppressive test. The CEE of dry C. maxima seeds showed strong antimalarial activity following oral administration (259 and 500 mg/kg), reducing by 50% the levels of parasistemia in Plasmodium berghey-infected mice. Treatment of normal animals with 500 mg/Kg of the extract three days before intravenous injection of P. berghei caused a significant 30% reduction in parasitemic levels. No effect was observed when the animals were treated with the CEE only on the day of inoculation. Oral administration of the CEE of dry M. charantia leaves adminstered orally was ineffective up to 500 mg/Kg in lowering the parasitemic levels of malarious mice.
TL;DR: It is concluded therefore that deltamethrin is an efficient insecticide for reducing the number of phlebotomine sandflies inside houses.
Abstract: The effect of deltamethrin of the sandfly population in a focus of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Viana, Espirito Santo State is desvribed. The phlebotomine population density was determined inside and outside houses during a one year period in a treated and untreated area. The results showed a significant reduction in the number of sandflies inside houses in the treated area compared with both the untreated area and the same area before sparying. Despite having a residual action for 12 months after spraying the insecticide was ineffective outside houses. It is concluded therefore that deltamethrin is an efficient insecticide for reducing the number of phlebotomine sandflies inside houses.
TL;DR: Further studies showed that silymarin enhanced HDL-C but didn't affect HDL-B, a property of this component which is beneficial to treatment of atherosclerosis, and reduced plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C in hyperlipemic rats.
Abstract: Silymarin is the flavonoids extracted from the seeds of Silybum marianum (L) Gearth as a mixture of three structural isomers: silybin, silydianin and silychristin, the former being the most active component. Silymarin protects liver cell membrane against hepatotoxic agents and improves liver function in experimental animals and humans. It is generally accepted that silymarin exerts a membrane-stabilizing action preventing or inhibiting membrane peroxidation. The experiments with soybean lipoxygenase showed that the three components of silymarin brought about a concentration-dependent non-competitive inhibition of the lipoxygenase. The experiments also showed an analogous interaction with animal lipoxygenase, thus showing that an inhibition of the peroxidation of the fatty acid in vivo was self-evident. Silybin almost completely suppressed the formation of PG at the highest concentration (0.3 mM) and proved to be an inhibitor of PG synthesis in vitro. In our experiments, silybin at lower dose (65 mg/kg) decreased liver lipoperoxide content and microsomal lipoperoxidation to 84.6% and 68.55% of those of the scalded control rats respectively, and prevented the decrease of liver microsomal cytochrome p-450 content and p-nitroanisole-O-demethylase activity 24 h post-scalding. Effects of silymarin on cardiovascular system have been studied in this university since 1980. P. O silymarin 800 mg/kg/d or silybin 600 mg/kg/d reduced plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C. They however, enhanced HDL-C in hyperlipemic rats. Further studies showed that silymarin enhanced HDL-C but didn't affect HDL-C, a property of this component which is beneficial to treatment of atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: These are some bioactive glycosides discovered from Chinese medicines in recent years that have been developed into new drugs and found to contain anti-epilepsy and anti-tumor glycoside components.
Abstract: Glycosides are the bioactive components of many famous Chinese medicines. Here reported are some bioactive glycosides we discovered from Chinese medicines in recent years. (1) Phenolic glycosides from Chinese medicines: Gastrodia elata, Aconitum austroyunanense and Helicia erratica, three bioactive phenolic glycosides were discovered and two of them have been developed into new drugs. (2) Terpenoidal glycosides: a) Monoterpenoid: the sweroside from Swertia moleensis has been developed into an anti-hepatitis drug; b) Diterpenoid: Phlomis betonicoides contains sweet glycosides; c) Triterpenoid: many biologically active triterpenoid glycosides were isolated from Panax plants and Siraitia grosvenorii. (3) Steroidal glycosides: a) C21-steroid: Cynanchum otophyllum and C. atratrum contain anti-epilepsy and anti-tumor glycosides; b) C27-steroid Hemostatic saponins were found in Paris polyphylla.
TL;DR: Some anti-inflammative or anti-pyretic herbs such as Tripterygium wilfordii, Aconitum and Artemisiae species were proved to have immunosuppressive principles, some of them were now used clinically for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosis and various skin disorders.
Abstract: Traditional Chinese medicine always pays close attention to the strengthening of the patient's general resistance against illness, there are many Chinese herbs used for thousands of years are considered as tonics. Animal experiments and modern clinical trails have shown that quite a number herbs are immunologically active, and most of the tonics are excellent immunomodulating agents, such as polysaccharides or saponins isolated from Astragalus mongholicus, Acanthopanax senticosus and Panax notoginseng, which stimulated macrophages, promoted antibody formation, activated complement and increased T lymphocyte proliferation. Moreover, some of them were proved to be anti-irradiative and protected animals from liver intoxications. On the other hand, some anti-inflammative or anti-pyretic herbs such as Tripterygium wilfordii, Aconitum and Artemisiae species were proved to have immunosuppressive principles, some of them were now used clinically for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic nephritis, systemic lupus erythematosis and various skin disorders. Pharmacological studies revealed that they have depressant effect on most of the humoral-immunity but not on the cell-mediated immunity. Some of them stimulated adrenal cortex functions and prolonged the survival time of transplanted allograft tissues.
TL;DR: The results indicate that the analgesic activity of S. dulcis L.o. may be explained by an anti-inflammatory activity probably related to the triterpene Glutinol.
Abstract: Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of water (WE) and ethanolic (EE) extracts of Scoparia dulcis L. were investigated in rats and mice, and compared to the effects induced by Glutinol, a triterpene isolated by purification of EE. Oral administration (p.o.) of either WE or EE (up to 2 g/kg) did not alter the normal spontaneous activity of mice and rats. The sleeping time induced by sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was prolonged by 2 fold in mice pretreated with 0.5 g/kg EE, p.o. Neither extract altered the tail flick response of mice in immersion test, but previous administration of EE (0.5 g/kg, p.o.) reduced writhings induced by 0.8% acetic acid (0.1 ml/10 g, i.p.) in mice by 47%. EE (0.5 and 1 g/kg, p.o.) inhibited the paw edema induced by carrageenan in rats by respectively 46% and 58% after 2 h, being ineffective on the paw edema induced by dextran. No significant analgesic or anti-edema effects were detected in animals pretreated with WE (1 g/kg, p.o.). Administration of Glutinol (30 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced writhing induced by acetic acid in mice by 40% and the carrageenan induced paw edema in rats by 73%. The results indicate that the analgesic activity of S. dulcis L. may be explained by an anti-inflammatory activity probably related to the triterpene Glutinol.
TL;DR: The CD spectra showed that A/B ring of all compounds have trans configuration as same as tripdiolide and triptolide determined by X-ray diffraction.
Abstract: (1) Pseudolaric acids--Novel diterpenes, Pseudolaric acid A, B, C and D were isolated from Pseudolarix kaempferi Gorden (pinaceae) Their structures were assigned by spectroscopic data and chemical correlations In the continuous studies, the absolute configurations, the conformations in the solutions, the fragmentation mechanisms of MS and assignments of all NMR spectral signals were also reported They showed the antifungal and cytotoxic activities (2)--Daphnane diterpenes--In the further studies on the plants of Thymelaeaceae, besides 10 known diterpenes, 16 new daphnane diterpenes were isolated from Daphne genkwa, D tangutica, D giraldii, Wikstroemie chamaedaphne They showed the antifertilities activities (3) Tripterygium diterpenes--14 new diterpenes were isolated from Triperygium wilfordii, T regeli and T hypoglaucum Some of them showed the antitumour activities The CD spectra showed that A/B ring of all compounds have trans configuration as same as tripdiolide and triptolide determined by X-ray diffraction (4) Pregnane glycosides from Marsdenia koi--Two new pregnane glycosides marsdenikoiside A and marddenikoiside B which can terminate the early pregnancy were isolated from Marsdeia koi Their structures were elucidated by hydrolysis and spectroscopic methods
TL;DR: A trial administration was carried out in ten healthy volunteers and the effects compared to the those of a placebo and the only significant findings was a slight diuresis with Alpinia speciosa, which also lowered the diastolic and systolic blood pressures.
Abstract: In order to evaluate the potential diuretic effect of two natural products, Elephantopus scaber and Alpinia speciosa, a trial administration was carried out in ten healthy volunteers and the effects compared to the those of a placebo. The substances were given on different days, with a seven day interval between doses. The amount of substance administered to the subjects was five times the usual dose i.e. 7.5 g/100 ml and 0.8 g/100 ml respectively. The following parameters were measured: urinary and plasma sodium, potassium, uric acid, calcium, phosphate, urea, creatinine. The subjects were also examined clinically and total urinary volume was assessed. The only significant findings (p < 0.05) was a slight diuresis with Alpinia speciosa, which also lowered the diastolic (p < 0.05) and systolic (p < 0.01) blood pressures. No effect on electrolytes or renal function parameters was observed, and this probably excludes any renal tubular or glomerular effect from these substances.