Gen-Respri™

Gen-Respri™ — (tonic) — This compound gives your immune system extra support during bronchial infection. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties to fight infectious diseases. 1,2,3,4,5,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,20,21,22,23 The broad-spectrum herbs used in Gen-Respri™ open up sinuses and relax airways, reduce phlegm, relieves cough, and are often used to treat asthma and bronchitis.8,9,16,18,24,25,26.

2. Argentine Medicinal Plants: Antiviral Screening
G. Ferraro, A. Broussalis, V. Martino, G. Garcia, R. Campos, J.D. Coussio
ISHS Acta Horticulturae 306: International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, XXIII IHC

4. Plant extracts with functional properties obtained using supercritical technology: use of CO2 and CO2 + H2O.
Produção Científica da Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos Production of the Faculty of Engineering Science of Food

6. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
J River Jones
Amazon Thaerapeutic Laboratories
Unpublished field journals 1994-2005
Used for respiratory ailments, and asthma, throughout Latin America.
Guaco ‘Mikania guaco’

8. Analgesic sesquiterpene dilactone from Mikania cordata.
Ahmed M, Rahman MT, Alimuzzaman M, Shilpi JA.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. phardu@citechco.net
Fitoterapia 2001 Dec;72(8):919-21
PMID: 11731117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Avenca ‘Adiantum capillus-veneris’

24. Volatile constituents of Minthostachys setosa (Briq.) Epl. (Lamiaceae) from Peru
Felice Senatore *
Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Università di Napoli Federico II , Via D. Montesano 49, 80131
Napoli, Italy
*Correspondence to Felice Senatore, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali, Università di Napoli Federico
II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Received: 17 June 1997; Accepted: 30 September 1997
1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

25. Amazon Medicines of Brazil, Columia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador
J River Jones
Amazon Thaerapeutic Laboratories
Unpublished field journals 1994-2005

26. Medical Anthropology field notes and databases
Amazon Therapeutic Laboratories
Unpublished 2003-2004.

1. Chemical Compositions, and Antioxidant activities of extracts from Achyrocline alata and Achyrocline satureioides
Patrica F. Leal*,Carmen L. Queiroga#, Marili V. N. Rodrigues#, Ilio
Montanari Jr# and M. Angela A. Meireles
*LASEFI, DEA/FEA (College of Food Engineering), UNICAMP (State University of Campinas), Caixa Postal 6121, 13083-862, Campinas, SP, Brazil, #CPQBA, Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas, Estrada PLN 393, 999 Vila Betel, Caixa Postal 6171, 13081-970 Paulínia, São Paulo, Brazil
Telephone 55 19 3788 4033; fax 55 19 3788 4027; e-mail- meireles@fea.unicamp.br).
ABSTRACT - Extracts from leaves and thin branches of Achyrocline alata and Achyrocline satureioides were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction, hydrodistillation, and low-pressure ethanol extraction. The supercritical extractions were done at pressures of 100, 200, and 300 bar and temperatures of 30 and 40 oC. The chemical constituents of the extracts and volatile oil were identified by GC-MS and quantified by GC-FID. The antioxidant activity was determined using the coupled oxidation of linolenic acid and β-carotene. Larger yields were detected at 200 bar and 300C. Low-pressure ethanol extraction yield was 2.96% (m/m, dry basis) for A. satureioides and 3.98% (m/m, dry basis.) for A. alata. The major compounds of the extracts were trans-caryophyllene and α- humulene; the content of trans-caryophyllene in the A. alata extract obtained at 200 bar and 300 C was 5 times larger than that of the A. satureioides extracts. All extracts exhibited antioxidant activity stronger than β - carotene.
Pharmacognosy Magazine, ISSN: 0973-1296, Vol 2, Issue 7, Jul-Sep, 2006 p153, PHCOG MAG., An official Publication of Phcog.Net

2. Argentine Medicinal Plants: Antiviral Screening
G. Ferraro, A. Broussalis, V. Martino, G. Garcia, R. Campos, J.D. Coussio
ISHS Acta Horticulturae 306: International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, XXIII IHC
Screening for antiherpetic activity of 30 Argentine medicinal plants is reported. Five of them, all belonging to the Compositae, showed a clear antiviral activity: Achyrocline alata, A. flaccida, A. vautheriana, Eupatorium buniifolium and Flaveria bidantis.

3. Taking of plant extracts with functional properties via technology supercrítica: use of CO2 and CO2 + H2O.
Leal, Patricia Franco
28/02/2005
Advisor: Meireles, Angela Maria de Almeida , Department of Food Engineering (DEA)
Summary: This work has studied the process for obtaining statements of Ocimum basilicum (manjericão), Achyrocline alata and Achyrocline satureioides (macela) per extraction supercrítica, using CO2 with or without the co - solvent H2O; were determined as isotermas of total income of extracts, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the same. Tests were conducted of extraction in the range of pressure of 100 to 300 bar in temperatures of 30 and 50 ° C with different percentages of co - solvent H2O. For each condition of extraction, extraction of the tests were conducted in duplicate. The identification of compounds present in the extracts was done by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The levels (% by area) of the main compounds in the extracts were determined by CG-DIC. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by the coupled response of beta-carotene and acid linolênico. The biggest overall income in extract of manjericão was 2% (on a dry-bs) to 100 bar, 30 C and 1% of the co - solvent H2O (v / v), 11% (bs) at 100 and 150 bar, 30 ° C and 10% of H2O (v / v), 24% (bs) to 300 bar, 30 ° C and 20% of H2O (v / v) and 4% (bs) in extracts of Achyrocline alata to 200 bar and 30 oC and 2% (bs) in extracts of Achyrocline satureioides to 200 bar and 30 oC. The main components volatile detected in extracts (via CSE) from manjericão were Eugenol, germacreno De EPI-alpha-cadinol; in extracts of A. Alata and A. Satureiodes were trans-cariofileno and alpha-humuleno. The results were compared with the process of extraction with organic solvent (ethanol) and hidrodestilação. On the antioxidant activity, some extracts of manjericão not have antioxidant activity higher than beta-carotene, but others arrived to 99% of activity. The antioxidant activity of extracts from A. Alata ranged from 28% to 100% obtained by hidrodestilação (HD) and extraction supercrítica (CSE) respectively and for the statements of A. Satureioides ranged from 12 to 98% respectively for HD and CSE.

4. Plant extracts with functional properties obtained using supercritical technology: use of CO2 and CO2 + H2O.
Abstract: In this work supercritical fluid extraction was used to obtain extracts from Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil), Achyrocline alata, and Achyrocline satureioides; for sweet basil extracts, water was used as cosolvent at 1, 10, and 20% (v / v). The extract’s overall yield isotherms, chemical compositions, and antioxidant activities were determined. The extraction assays were done for pressures of 100 to 300 bar at temperatures of 30 to 50 oC. All the experiments were duplicated. The identification of the compounds present in extracts was made by GC-MS. The antioxidant activity of extracts was determined using the coupled reaction of beta-carotene and linolenic acid. The larger overall yield of sweet basil extract was 2% (dry basis-db) at 100 bar, 30 C and 1% of cosolvent H2O (v / v), 11% (db) at 100 and 150 bar, 30 ° C and 10 % of H2O (v / v), and 24% (db) at 300 bar, 30 ° C and 20% H2O. The larger overall yield of A. Alata extract was 4% (db) and for A. Satureioides extract was 2% (db), both at 200 bar and 30 oC. The main components detected in the sweet basil extracts were Eugenol, germacrene-D and epi-alpha-cadinol. And, in the A. Alata and A. Satureioides extracts were trans-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene. The results were compared with low-pressure solvent extraction with ethanol and hydrodistillation. Sweet basil extracts exhibited antioxidant activity smaller as well as larger (99%) than the control (beta-carotene). The antioxidant activity of A. Alata extracts obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction varied from 28% to 100% respectively; the antioxidant activity of A. Satureioides extracts obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction varied from 12 to 98%.
Produção Científica da Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos Production of the Faculty of Engineering Science of Food

5. ATIVIDADE ANTIVIRAL DO EXTRATO BRUTO E FRAÇÕESOBTIDAS DE Achyrocline alata
(Kuntz) DC. VOLPE, Adriana Valente Teixeira*; UEDANAKAMURA, Tânia**; DIAS FILHO, Benedito Prado**;
CORTEZ, Diógenes Aparício Garcia***; NAKAMURA, Celso Vataru**
*Estudante de PósGraduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas; **Departamento de Análises Clínicas; ***Departamento de
Farmácia e Farmacologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá.
Arq. Apadec, 8(supl.): Mai, 2004 ISSN 14147149. 211
Infecções virais são um importante problema na saúde em todo planeta. Produtos naturais podem ser fonte de drogas com atividade antiviral. Achyrocline alata , popularmente conhecida como “guiraguira”, é utilizada pela medicina popular no tratamento de infeções respiratórias e resfriados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar atividade do extrato bruto e de 7 frações de A. alata em herpesvírus e poliovírus. Células Hep2 (20.000 células/poço) foram cultivadas em placas de 96 poços à 37ºC por 24 h. Partículas de herpesvírus bovino ou poliovírus foram adicionadas e incubadas por 60 min. Diferentes concentrações do extrato bruto e das frações foram adicionadas, as microplacas foram incubadas por 48 h e o conteúdo celular analisado pelo método colorimétrico da sulforodamina B a 0,4% em 530 nm (BioTek FL600 Microplate Fluorescence Reader). Células não infectadas e não tratadas e células infectadas e não tratadas foram utilizadas como controle. O efeito antiviral foi determinado através da concentração do extrato bruto e das frações que protegeu a célula contra a destruição viral. O extrato bruto 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml e 100 mg/ml apresentaram uma proteção celular de 89,8%, 91,2% e 80,9%, para herpevírus e de 98,9%,78,6% e 54,2% para poliovirus, respectivamente. As frações F4 e F5 foram as que apresentaram maior proteção celular. A fração F4 apresentou 79,9% de proteção para herpesvirus e de 73,2% para poliovírus. A fração F5 apresentou 81% e 79,1 % de proteção para herpesvírus e poliovírus, respectivamente. Estudos estão sendo realizados para identificar o componente ativo responsável pela atividade.

7. Bronchodilator activity of Mikania glomerata Sprengel on human bronchi and guinea-pig trachea.
Soares de Moura R, Costa SS, Jansen JM, Silva CA, Lopes CS, Bernardo-Filho M, Nascimento da Silva V, Criddle DN, Portela BN, Rubenich LM, Araujo RG, Carvalho LC.
J Pharm Pharmacol 2002 Feb;54(2):249-56
Departamento de Farmacologia, IB-UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. demoura@uerj.Br The effects of aqueous extracts and hydro-alcoholic extract (HAE), and of a dichloromethane fraction (MG1) obtained from the HAE of Mikania glomerata leaves on isolated respiratory and vascular smooth muscle have been investigated. Aqueousextracts and HAE induced a significant inhibition on the histamine contractions on the isolated guinea-pig trachea. HAE extract induced a concentration-dependent relaxation on guinea-pig trachea pre-contracted with histamine (IC50 0.34 (0.29-0.39) mg mL(-1)), acetylcholine (IC50 0.72 (0.67-0.77) mg mL(-1)) or K+ (IC50 1.41 (1.18-1.64) mg mL(-1)) and on isolated human bronchi precontracted with K+ (IC50 0.34 (0.26-0.42) mg mL(-1)). The dichloromethane fraction induced a concentration dependent relaxation in guinea-pig trachea precontracted with K+ (IC50 0.017 (0.012-0.022) mg mL(-1)).
The dichloromethane fraction had also a small vasodilator effect on the isolated mesenteric vascular bed and on the isolated rat aorta, and a significant reduction of the oedema induced by subplantar injections of Bothropsjararaca venom in mice. When tested on plasmid DNA, MG1 did not damage the DNA. Chromatographic analysis showed the presence of 11.4% w/w coumarin in MG1. The results supported the indication of M. glomerata products for the treatment of respiratory diseases where bronchoconstriction is present.
PMID: 11858213 [PubMed - in process]

8. Analgesic sesquiterpene dilactone from Mikania cordata.
Ahmed M, Rahman MT, Alimuzzaman M, Shilpi JA.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. phardu@citechco.net
Fitoterapia 2001 Dec;72(8):919-21
The crude extract of Mikania cordata (1 and 3 g/kg, p.o.) and deoxymikanolide (1) (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Three other sesquiterpene dilactones isolated from the same plant, namely mikanolide, dihydromikanolide and scandenolide, did not show significant analgesic activity.
PMID: 11731117 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

9. Antimicrobial activity of some important Adiantum species used traditionally in indigenous systems of medicine.
Singh M, Singh N, Khare PB, Rawat AK.
Pharmacognosy & Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jan 17;115(2):327-9. Epub 2007 Sep 29
Adiantum Linn. of Adiantaceae family is one of the most common and widely distributed species. Ethnomedicinally, the genus is important and popularly known as “Hansraj” in Ayurvedic System of Medicine. It has been used in cold, tumors of spleen, liver and other viscera, skin diseases, bronchitis and inflammatory diseases. It is also considered as tonic and diuretic. In the present study its four important species, i.e. Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum peruvianum, Adiantum venustum and Adiantum caudatum were collected and extracted with methanol. These extracts were tested for their antimicrobial agents against five gram positive, six gram negative (including multiresistant bacteria Staphylococcus aureus) and eight fungal strains using standard microdilution assay. The maximum activity was exhibited by the methanolic extract of Adiantum venustum followed by Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum peruvianum and Adiantum caudatum. The methanolic extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris had very low MIC value (0.48mug/ml) against Escherichia coli whereas, Adiantum venustum extract against Aspergillus terreus with MIC of 0.97mug/ml. Total phenolic constituents of Adiantum species viz. Adiantum venustum, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum peruvianum and Adiantum caudatum were 0.81% (w/w), 0.83% (w/w), 0.71% (w/w) and 0.52% (w/w), respectively (as gallic acid equivalent); implying that the observed activity could be related to the amount of phenolics.
PMID: 17997240 [PubMed - in process]

10. A new triterpenoid from the fern Adiantum lunulatum and evaluation of antibacterial activity.
Reddy VL, Ravikanth V, Rao TP, Diwan PV, Venkateswarlu Y.
Organic Chemistry Division-I, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad. Phytochemistry. 2001 Jan;56(2):173-5.
A new triterpenoid, 22,29xi-epoxy-30-norhopane-13beta-ol (1) was isolated together with six known compounds viz., fern-9(11)-en-6alpha-ol. fern-9(11)-ene, fern-9(11)-en-25-oic acid, fern-9(11)-en-28-ol, filicenol-B, adiantone and oxidation product of fern-9(11)-en-6alpha-ol obtained as 6-oxofern-9(11)-ene from the whole plant of Adiantum lunulatum, and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis and antibacterial evaluation of these compounds were conducted.
PMID: 11219810 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

11. Muscodor albus E-6, an endophyte of Guazuma ulmifolia making volatile antibiotics: isolation, characterization and experimental establishment in the host plant.
Strobel GA, Kluck K, Hess WM, Sears J, Ezra D, Vargas PN.
Department of Plant Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. uplgs@montana.edu
Microbiology. 2007 Aug;153(Pt 8):2613-20.
Muscodor albus is an endophytic fungus, represented by a number of isolates from tropical tree and vine species in several of the world’s rainforests, that produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with antibiotic activity. A new isolate, E-6, of this organism, with unusual biochemical and biological properties, has been obtained from the branches of a mature Guazuma ulmifolia (Sterculiaceae) tree growing in a dry tropical forest in SW Ecuador. This unique organism produces many VOCs not previously observed in other M. albus isolates, including butanoic acid, 2-methyl-; butanoic acid, 3-methyl-; 2-butenal, 2-methyl-; butanoic acid, 3-methylbutyl ester; 3-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl; guaiol; 1-octene, 3-ethyl-; formamide, N-(1-methylpropyl); and certain azulene and naphthalene derivatives. Some compounds usually seen in other M. albus isolates also appeared in the VOCs of isolate E-6, including caryophyllene; phenylethyl alcohol; acetic acid, 2-phenylethyl ester; bulnesene; and various propanoic acid, 2-methyl- derivatives. The biological activity of the VOCs of E-6 appears different from the original isolate of this fungus, CZ-620, since a Gram-positive bacterium was killed, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani were not. Scanning electron micrographs of the mycelium of isolate E-6 showed substantial intertwining of the hyphal strands. These strands seemed to be held together by an extracellular matrix accounting for the strong mat-like nature of the mycelium, which easily lifts off the agar surface upon transfer, unlike any other isolate of this fungus. The ITS-5.8S rDNA partial sequence data showed 99 % similarity to the original M. albus strain CZ-620. For the first time, successful establishment of M. albus into its natural host, followed by recovery of the fungus, was accomplished in seedlings of G. ulmifolia. Overall, isolates of M. albus, including E-6, have chemical, biological and structural characteristics that make them potentially useful in medicine, agricultural and industrial applications.
PMID: 17660425 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

12. Antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antioxidant activity of five plants used in Izabal for infectious diseases.
Navarro MC, Montilla MP, Cabo MM, Galisteo M, Caceres A, Morales C, Berger I.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Spain. cnavarro@platon.ugr.es
Phytother Res. 2003 Apr;17(4):325-9.
Methano l and aqueous extracts from fi ve plant species, used in traditional medicine in Guatemala for the treatment of microbial infections, were tested in vitro for their ability to scavenge DPPH, OH(.) and O(2) (-) radicals and to inhibit lipoperoxidation (LPO) in order to establish a relationship between their antioxidant activities and their effects against infectious agents. Acalypha guatemalensis, Ocimum micranthum and Smilax spinosa possessed a significant activity against both the three free radicals assayed and LPO; Guazuma ulmifolia showed effects against DPPH and OH(.). Piper auritum showed no activity. These extracts were also evaluated for antibacterial and antiprotozoal activities. A. guatemalensis showed activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; S. spinosa was active against Salmonella typhi, and A. guatemalensis, and S. spinosa against Trypanosoma cruzi or Leishmania spp. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 12722133 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

13. Antiviral Effect of Guazuma ulmifolia and Stryphnodendron adstringens on Poliovirus and Bovine Herpesvirus.
Felipe AM, Rincão VP, Benati FJ, Linhares RE, Galina KJ, de Toledo CE, Lopes GC, de Mello JC, Nozawa C.
Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL).
Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Jun;29(6):1092-5.
Crude extract (CE) and aqueous (AqF) and ethyl acetate (EtOAcF) fractions of Guazuma ulmifolia LAM., Sterculiaceae and the corresponding AqF, EtOAcF of Stryphnodendron adstringens (MART.) COVILLE, Leguminosae were tested for their antiviral activity against poliovirus 1 (P-1) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) in HEp-2 cultured cells. The antiviral activity was monitored by plaque assay and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) under virucidal and therapeutic protocols. The therapeutic protocol demonstrated statistically significant positive results with both plants and for both virus strains. The highest percentages of viral inhibition were found for G. ulmifolia EtOAcF which inhibited BHV-1 and P-1 replication by 100% and 99%, respectively (p<0.05, Student’s t-test). For S. adstringens, AqF was the most efficient, inhibiting BHV-1 and P-1 by 97% and 93%, respectively (p<0.05). In the virucidal protocol, G. ulmifolia CE inhibited the replication of BHV-1 and P-1 by 60% and 26%, respectively (p<0.05), while, for S. adstringens, inhibition of 62% (p<0.05) was demonstrated only with EtOAcF for P-1. IFA demonstrated that the greatest reduction in fluorescent cell number occurred with G. ulmifolia, under the therapeutic protocol for both virus strains. However, AqF and EtOAcF of S. adstringens were most efficient with the virucidal protocol for P-1. In conclusion, we demonstrated that G. ulmifolia and S. adstringens inhibited BHV-1 and P-1 replication, as well as, blocked the synthesis of viral antigens in infected cell cultures.
PMID: 16754999 [PubMed - in process]

14.Screening of anti-bacterial activity of medicinal plants from Belize (Central America).
Camporese A, Balick MJ, Arvigo R, Esposito RG, Morsellino N, De Simone F, Tubaro A.
Clinical Microbiology and Antibiotic Therapy Unit, S. Maria degli Angeli General Hospital, Via Montereale 24, 33170, Pordenone, Italy.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Jul;87(1):103-7.
Twenty-one extracts from seven herbal drugs, Aristolochia trilobata (Aristolochiaceae) leaves and bark, Bursera simaruba (Burseraceae) bark, Guazuma ulmifolia (Sterculiaceae) bark, Hamelia patens (Rubiaceae) leaves and Syngonium podophyllum (Araceae) leaves and bark, used in traditional medicine of Belize (Central America) as deep and superficial wound healers, were evaluated for their anti-bacterial properties. Activity was tested against standard strains of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Almost all the extracts were able to inhibit the growth of one or more of the bacterial strains, except that of Enterococcus faecalis. For the first time an anti-microbial activity is reported for Aristolochia trilobata as well as for Syngonium podophyllum. The hexane extracts of Aristolochia trilobata leaves and bark were the most active extracts against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=0.31 and 0.625mg/ml, respectively).
PMID: 12787962 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

15. Antibacterial constituents in the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.)
Stapf.Onawunmi GO, Yisak WA, Ogunlana EO.
Nippon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi. 2003;44(4):285-91
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf., commonly known as lemon grass and used, over many years, for medicinal purposes in West Africa, produces a volatile oil on steam extraction of its leaves. The antibacterial properties of the essential oil have been studied. These activities are shown in two of the three main components of the oil identified through chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. While the alpha-citral (geranial) and beta-citral (neral) components individually elicit antibacterial action on gram-negative and gram-positive organisms, the third component, myrcene, did not show observable antibacterial activity on its own. However, myrcene provided enhanced activities when mixed with either of the other two main components identified.
PMID: 6442749 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

16. Polyphenol-enriched extract of oil palm fronds (Elaeis guineensis) promotes vascular relaxation via endothelium-dependent mechanisms.
Abeywardena M, Runnie I, Nizar M, Suhaila M, Head R; Suhaila Momamed.
CSIRO, Health Sciences and Nutrition, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Department of Food Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2002;11 Suppl 7:S467-72.
Plant-based polyphenolic compounds have been reported to possess cardiovascular health benefits. Several dietary sources, including herbs and spices, fruits and vegetables, and tea and wine, contain an array of biologically active compounds that have been shown to be effective in retarding oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and promoting vascular relaxation. In the present study four different plant sources, both edible and non-edible, were evaluated for potential activity. Organic extracts enriched in polyphenols were prepared from palm fronds (Elaesis guineensis); lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates); papaya shoots (Carica papaya) and green chilli (Capsicum frutescenes) and tested for their ability to prevent in vitro oxidation of LDL, and for potential vascular relaxation actions. Rings of rat thoracic aorta and isolated perfused mesenteric vascular beds were mounted in organ baths, contracted using a half-maximal dose of noradrenaline and exposed to cumulative additions of test extracts. Palm frond extract resulted in considerable relaxation (>75%) in both preparations and was found to be endothelium-dependent as removal of endothelium or inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) led to a total loss in relaxant activity. Lemongrass extract caused a greater relaxation action in the mesenteric preparation compared to aortic rings, and appears to be mediated via NO-independent and non-prostanoid mechanisms. Of the extracts tested, palm fronds also demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity, as determined by the ferric reducing activity/potential assay, and resulted in a significant delay (P < 0.05) in the oxidation of LDL. Collectively, these preliminary findings lend further support to the potential cardiovascular actions of plant polyphenols and also identify oil palm fronds as containing constituents that promote vascular relaxation via endothelium-dependent mechanisms.
PMID: 12492636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

17. Antimicrobial agents from plants: antibacterial activity of plant volatile oils.
Dorman HJ, Deans SG.Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Group, Scottish Agricultural College, Auchincruive, South Ayrshire, UK.
J Appl Microbiol. 2000 Feb;88(2):308-16.
The volatile oils of black pepper [Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae)], clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry (Myrtaceae)], geranium [Pelargonium graveolens L’Herit (Geraniaceae)], nutmeg [Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae), oregano [Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Letsw. (Lamiaceae)] and thyme [Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae)] were assessed for antibacterial activity against 25 different genera of bacteria. These included animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning and spoilage bacteria. The volatile oils exhibited considerable inhibitory effects against all the organisms under test while their major components demonstrated various degrees of growth inhibition.
PMID: 10736000 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

18. Antispasmodic activity of Thymus vulgaris extract on the isolated guinea-pig trachea: discrimination between drug and ethanol effects.
Meister A, Bernhardt G, Christoffel V, Buschauer A.
Institut fur Pharmazie, Universitat Regensburg, Germany.
Planta Med. 1999 Aug;65(6):512-6.
The effect of an extract of Thymus vulgaris on induced spasms was investigated on guinea-pig trachea preparations. By the experimental setup used, effects of ethanol as the vehicle could be differentiated from the activity of the herbal constituents. The extract reversibly and concentration-dependently antagonized the contraction of the Musculus transversus tracheae, provoked by four different spasmogens (BaCl2, carbachol, histamine, prostaglandin F2 alpha). The degree of the antispasmodic activity was dependent on the individual spasmogen with prostaglandin F2 alpha being most efficiently antagonized.
PMID: 10483369 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

19. A novel approach to study antibacterial properties of volatile components of selected Indian medicinal herbs.
Agnihotri S, Vaidya AD.C.B.
Patel Research Centre, Vile Parle (West), Bombay, India.
Indian J Exp Biol. 1996 Jul;34(7):712-5.
The aromatic substances of natural origin are used medicinally in Ayurveda, and can have diverse bio-dynamic actions. The existing methods like agar-cup method or disc diffusion method are not adequate to study the exclusive antibacterial effects of the volatile components of aromatic oils due to lack of ideal diffusion and evaporation from the surface. Hence an attempt is made to develop a novel approach to assess the antibacterial activity of few aromatic herbs like Eugenia caryophyllus, Thymus vulgaris, Cinnamonum zeylanium, Cuminum cyminum; these were extracted with hexane filled in tiny sterile tubes and the volatile components were tested for their antibacterial properties using standard strains of gram +ve and gram -ve bacteria grown on agar slants. The results are expressed as a percent of inhibition of the area on the slants, from the top of the extract tube. Of the four herbs selected, volatile components of Thymus vulgaris were most effective againsts all the seven test organisms.
PMID: 8979514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

20. Antibacterial activity of eight Brazilian annonaceae plants.
Takahashi JA, Pereira CR, Pimenta LP, Boaventura MA, Silva LG.
Departamento de Química -- ICEx -- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP 31270-901,
Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. jacfab@dedalus.lcc.ufmg.br
Nat Prod Res. 2006 Jan;20(1):21-6.
Sixteen extracts, obtained from eight Brazilian plants of Annonaceae family, were screened for their antibacterial activity: Xylopia frutescens, X. aromatica, X. amazonica, X. benthamii, Annona ambotay, A. crassiflora, A. muricata and A. cherimolia. Amongst the investigated extracts, six showed antibacterial activity against at least one of the tested organisms at the concentration of 100 microg/mL. The most active extracts were those prepared from X. frutescens, X. amazonica, and A. ambotay. A phytochemical screening showed the presence of anonaceus acetogenins in some active extracts. Eleven diterpenoids were also tested for comparison purposes. Six were natural products, previously isolated from Xylopia sp. (kaurenoic, frutoic, xylopic, 15beta-hydroxy-kaurenoic and trachylobanic acids plus kaurenol) and five were derivatives of such compounds, obtained by esterification or reduction reactions. Trachylobanic acid showed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus.
PMID: 16286303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

21. Antitumor and Antiviral Activity of Colombian Medicinal Plant Extracts
LA Betancur-Galvis/+, J Saez*, H Granados*, A Salazar**, JE Ossa
Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina *Departamento de
Química **Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia, Apartado
1226, Medellín, Colombia
531 Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 94(4): 531-535, Jul./Aug. 1999
Extracts of nine species of plants traditionally used in Colombia for the treatment of a variety of diseases were tested in vitro for their potential antitumor (cytotoxicity) and antiherpetic activity. MTT (Tetrazolium blue) and Neutral Red colorimetric assays were used to evaluate the reduction of viability of cell cultures in presence and absence of the extracts. MTT was also used to evaluate the effects of the extracts on the lytic activity of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and the 50% inhibitory concentration of the viral effect (EC50) for each extract were calculated by linear regression analysis. Extracts from Annona muricata, A. cherimolia and Rollinia membranacea, known for their cytotoxicity were used as positive controls. Likewise, acyclovir and heparin were used as positive controls of antiherpetic activity. Methanolic extract from Annona sp. on HEp-2 cells presented a CC50 value at 72 hr of 49.6x103 g/ ml. Neither of the other extracts examined showed a significant cytotoxicity. The aqueous extract from Beta vulgaris, the ethanol extract from Callisia grasilis and the methanol extract Annona sp. showed some antiherpetic activity with acceptable therapeutic indexes (the ratio of CC50 to EC50). These species are good candidates for further activity-monitored fractionation to identify active principles.
PMID: 10446015 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

22. Concentration of isoflavones and other phenolics in the aerial parts of Trifolium species.
Oleszek W, Stochmal A, Janda B.
Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute, ul. Czartoryskich
8, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland. wo@iung.pulawy.pl
J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Oct 3;55(20):8095-100. Epub 2007 Sep 12.
Some species of the genus Trifolium are well-known for their content of isoflavones, which are natural compounds showing health-promoting activities. Until recently, only a few species of this genus have been characterized with respect to their composition. In the present study, 57 Trifolium species have been analyzed for their contents of isoflavones, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and clovamides. The cluster analysis of experimental data allowed us to identify a number of species, which should be of interest as potential sources of these metabolites. The isoflavone contents of the three species ( T. heldreichianum, T. scabrum, and T. subterraneum) had extremely high amounts of these compounds, reaching 7-9% of dry matter, and the concentration in a number of other species was higher or at least comparable to the amounts occurring in T. pratense, one of the major isoflavone sources for the nutraceutical industry. Several species contained high amounts of all four analyzed groups of phenolics (isoflavones, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and clovamides). These species may also be of great interest as the association of several groups of active molecules is highly desired for effective disease prevention.
PMID: 17848086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

23. Anti-HIV, anti-poxvirus, and anti-SARS activity of a nontoxic, acidic plant extract from the Trifollium species Secomet-V/anti-vac suggests that it contains a novel broad-spectrum antiviral.
Kotwal GJ, Kaczmarek JN, Leivers S, Ghebremariam YT, Kulkarni AP, Bauer G, De Beer C, Preiser W, Mohamed AR.
Division of Medical Virology, IIDMM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town
7925, South Africa. gjkotw01@yahoo.com
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Nov;1056:293-302.
Enveloped animal viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papillomavirus, Marburg, and influenza are major public health concerns around the world. The prohibitive cost of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for most HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa and the serious side effects in those who have access to ARV drugs make a compelling case for the study of complementary and alternative therapies. Such therapies should have scientifically proved antiviral activity and minimal toxic effects. A plant extract, Secomet-V, with an anecdotal indication in humans for promise as an anti-HIV treatment, was investigated. Using a previously described attenuated vaccinia virus vGK5, we established the antiviral activity of Secomet-V. Chemical analysis showed that it has an acidic pH, nontoxic traces of iron (<10 ppm), and almost undetectable levels of arsenic (<1.0 ppm). The color varies from colorless to pale yellow to dark brown. The active agent is heat stable at least up to sterilizing temperature of 121 degrees C. The crude plant extract is a mixture of several small molecules separable by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The HIV viral loads were significantly reduced over several months in a few patients monitored after treatment with Secomet-V. Secomet-V was also found to have antiviral activity against the SARS virus but not against the West Nile virus. Secomet-V, therefore, is a broad-spectrum antiviral, which possibly works by neutralizing viral infectivity, resulting in the prevention of viral attachment.
PMID: 16387696 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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