Extraction and characterization of volatile compounds in Maytenus ilicifolia, using high-pressure CO2

Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of Korean Black Soybean (Glycine max L.) Landraces

Black soybean (Glycine max L.) has been used as a traditional medicine because its seed coat contains various natural phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins. The objective of this study was to reveal the genetic variation in the agricultural traits, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity of 172 Korean black soybean landraces (KBSLs) and establish a relationship among them. The evaluation of three agricultural traits (days to 50% flowering, maturity, and 100-seed weight), six phytochemicals (delphinidin-3-glucoside, cyaniding-3-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, daidzin, glycitin, and genestin), and four antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the total polyphenol content (TPC) of 172 KBSLs were analyzed in 2012 and 2015. The agricultural traits, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities of the 172 KBSLs showed wide variation among the accessions and years. In correlation analysis, the agricultural traits and phytochemicals showed positive and negative correlations with phytochemicals and antioxidant activity, respectively. The principal component analyses result indicated that phytochemicals accounted for most of the variability in the KBSLs. In clustering analysis, the 172 KBSLs were classified into four clusters. These results could lead to expanding the knowledge of the agricultural traits, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity of the KBSLs, which are valuable materials for the development of new soybean varieties.

A chemophenetic study of the genus Maytenus s.l. (Celastraceae): contribution to the rational search of its bioactive metabolites

Abstract Maytenus s.l. is a genus of the Celastraceae family and many of its species are used in traditional medicine. Most of the substances responsible for the biological activities of plants come from their secondary metabolism, such as terpenoids and flavonoids, which have multiple functions in the plant and can occur in a similar way in plant groups. Chemophenetics analyzes the occurrence of these substances in a taxon and can infer evolutionary trends and contribute to the rational search for new drugs. Chemosystematic parameters were used to analyze the data obtained through a bibliographic survey. The species of Maytenus s.l. were separated into three groups: species with accepted names, synonymous species with the genus Monteverdia and synonymous species with the genus Gymnosporia. Due to their great occurrence and structural variety in Maytenus s.l., triterpenes were chosen as chemosystematic markers, with friedelanes and quinone methide triterpenes being the most expressive types. Studies have already demonstrated the analgesic potential of quinone methides and the antitumor potential of phenolic triterpenes and dimers of these units. Together, the three classes assist in the circumscription of Maytenus s.s. and Monteverdia, while lupanes can be used in the separation of these genera. Oleanans are representative of Gymnosporia.

Friedelin Synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia: Leucine 482 Plays an Essential Role in the Production of the Most Rearranged Pentacyclic Triterpene

Among the biologically active triterpenes, friedelin has the most-rearranged structure produced by the oxidosqualene cyclases and is the only one containing a cetonic group. In this study, we cloned and functionally characterized friedelin synthase and one cycloartenol synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae). The complete coding sequences of these 2 genes were cloned from leaf mRNA, and their functions were characterized by heterologous expression in yeast. The cycloartenol synthase sequence is very similar to other known OSCs of this type (approximately 80% identity), although the M. ilicifolia friedelin synthase amino acid sequence is more related to β-amyrin synthases (65-74% identity), which is similar to the friedelin synthase cloned from Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Multiple sequence alignments demonstrated the presence of a leucine residue two positions upstream of the friedelin synthase Asp-Cys-Thr-Ala-Glu (DCTAE) active site motif, while the vast majority of OSCs identified so far have a valine or isoleucine residue at the same position. The substitution of the leucine residue with valine, threonine or isoleucine in M. ilicifolia friedelin synthase interfered with substrate recognition and lead to the production of different pentacyclic triterpenes. Hence, our data indicate a key role for the leucine residue in the structure and function of this oxidosqualene cyclase.

Development and physical evaluation of Maytenus ilicifolia effervescent granules using factorial design

The medicinal plant Maytenus ilicifolia is a commonly used phytomedicine for the treatment of gastritis. The high dose required and low density of these extracts make necessary a daily intake of several capsules, hindering adherence to the medication. The purpose of this work was to develop a suitable dosage form for the administration of Maytenus ilicifolia using effervescent granules. A 23 factorial design was used to study the physical characteristics of the granules (particle size distribution, repose angle, Carr index, scanning electron microscopy and disintegration time). Moisture stability was also determined. According to the experimental design, granule size is the most important factor in determining the flow characteristics of effervescent granules. In turn, the disintegration time is controlled by the content of sodium bicarbonate present in the effervescent mixture as well as the granule size. The stability of formulations when exposed to moisture is strongly influenced by the percentage of effervescent mixture present in the vegetal granules. Precautions in handling and storage should be taken to ensure the stability of these preparations. The effervescent granules produced from Maytenus ilicifolia met the pharmacopoeial quality parameters, with appropriate mechanical and physical characteristics and proved to be a promising vehicle for plant extracts.

Supercritical CO2 extraction, chemical characterisation and antioxidant potential of Brassica oleracea var capitata against HO·, O2(·-) and ROO·

In this work were extracted bioactive compounds from Brassica oleracea var capitata using supercritical CO2 and evaluated the antioxidant potential of the extracts. Five extractions were accomplished to investigate the influence of pressure (10-25 MPa) and temperature (20-60 °C) in the extraction yield, chemical composition and antioxidant potential towards peroxyl, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. The highest extraction yield was obtained at 60 °C and 25 MPa, which was 0.47 wt% (run 2). In the characterisation of the extracts obtained was possible the identification of sulforaphane and iberin nitrile that present known biological properties. The extracts of all runs presented antioxidant activities towards the three radicals, but the highest activities for all radicals were using the extracts obtained in the run 2. The use of supercritical CO2 extraction to obtain bioactive compounds of B. oleracea var capitata showed to be a promising alternative to conventional extraction methods, since allowed the extraction of compounds with scientific and industrial interest.

Antioxidant and cytotoxic studies for kaempferol, quercetin and isoquercitrin

The aim of the present study was to investigate a cytotoxic oxidative cell stress related and the antioxidant profile of kaempferol, quercetin, and isoquercitrin. The flavonol compounds were able to act as scavengers of superoxide anion (but not hydrogen peroxide), hypochlorous acid, chloramine and nitric oxide. Although flavonoids are widely described as antioxidants and this activity is generally related to beneficial effects on human health, here we show important cytotoxic actions of three well known flavonoids. They were able to promote hemolysis which one was exacerbated on the presence of hypochlorous acid but not by AAPH radical. Therefore, despite they expected scavenger action over free radicals an oxidants, these compounds could be very lesive to living organisms by acting over erythrocytes and maybe other cellular types.

Chemical variation of tannins and triterpenes in Brazilian populations of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. Ex Reiss

Maytenus ilicifolia and Maytenus aquifolia species are widely used as a cicatrisation agent, an anti-spasmodic, contraceptive, antiulcerogenic, diuretic and analgesic. Considering the importance of these species in popular medicine, this work is focused on the determination of the chemical content of tannins and the triterpenes friedelan-3-one, friedelan-3-ol and friedelin in 15 native populations of Maytenus ilicifolia distributed in the south and mind-west regions of Brazil. Correlation of the concentration of these compounds with the environmental parameters such as average annual temperature, climate, vegetation, geomorphology, latitude and altitude was determined using Pearson's coefficient. Results showed that average annual temperature and climate have significant effect on tannin content at a 95% confidence level. The highest tannin concentration was found in Ponta Porã population, and for the triterpenes investigated, a significant correlation between their concentrations with the environmental variables studied was not verified.

The use of Maytenus ilicifolia to prevent cisplatin-induced ototoxicity

Maytenus ilicifolia is a native plant from South America, with several medicinal properties including antioxidant effects.

AIM

using an original cisplatin induced ototoxicity model, we evaluated a possible otoprotection caused by Maytenus ilicifolia extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

clinical and experimental study design with female albino guinea pigs divided in groups as follows: 9 animals receiving cisplatin only (three doses of 7.5mg/kg/day), 4 animals receiving the plant extract only, 10 animals receiving the cisplatin protocol and 1g/kg/day of extract for 8 days, 5 animals with cisplatin and 3g/kg/day of extract for 8 days, and 5 animals receiving extract for 3 weeks and cisplatin in the last week. The tests were distortion product otoacoustic emissions, brainstem auditory response, before and after medication and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

the animals receiving cisplatin plus plant extract, had alterations in all the tests, showing lesions on the basal cochlear region under electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite of the plant extract's antioxidant effect, it was not sufficient to protect the cochlea against cisplatin ototoxicity.

Leishmanicidal activity of Maytenus illicifolia roots

In vitro evaluation of leishmanicidal activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Maytenus illicifolia against three species of Leishmania. The root extracts showed differential activity against parasites, whereas the aerial part of the extracts was inactive.

Antioxidant activity of Maytenus ilicifolia root bark

Maytenus ilicifolia is an important plant with potential on cancer treatment and has been largely used in Brazil and other countries. We have evaluated the crude ethanolic extract of M. ilicifolia as a potential antioxidant source using an assay based on the bleaching of the radical monocation 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(*+)) and by HOCl scavenger capacity. Trolox and uric acid were used as positive controls. The results indicated M. ilicifolia root bark as a great source of antioxidants based on its potential as scavenger of radicals.