Analysis of the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil fromLippia triplinervisGardner (Verbenaceae)

Chemical characterization, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Lippia lacunosa, a species used by the Bandeirantes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Lippia lacunosa Mart. & Schauer is an endemic plant from the Serra do Espinhaço mountain range located on the Atlantic plateau, Brazil. It is known as "chá de pedestre" and "rosmaninho" in folk medicine. This species has a characteristic mango aroma and is widely used by the population for flu, colds, sinus infections, coughing, relaxing baths, and foot baths after long walks. It is often confused with and, therefore, used interchangeably with L. rotundifolia and L. pseudothea.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to increase scientific knowledge on the ethnopharmacological use of Lippia lacunosa through the evaluation of the micromolecular composition and anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the hexane and ethanolic extracts, essential oil, and fractions in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical profile of L. lacunosa extracts and fractions were obtained by chromatographic methods such as Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Column Chromatography (CC), and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Carrageenan-induced paw edema was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity in mice. Mechanical allodynia induced by carrageenan and hot plate tests were employed to evaluate the antinociceptive activity.

RESULTS

The main constituents found in the essential oil were the monoterpenes myrcene (13.81%), linalool (6.84%), ipsenone (21.2%), and myrcenone (25.44%); and sesquiterpenes elemol (7.30%) and spathulenol (3.15%). The chromatograph fractionation of essential oil yielded a fraction rich in the main compounds (F33), ipsenone and mircenone. In experimental models of paw edema and mechanical allodynia induced by carrageenan (600 μg, 30 μL, i.pl.), the administration of hexane extract, essential oil (50 or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) or majority fraction (10 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced paw edema. The ethanolic extract (100 mg/kg) reduced mechanical allodynia only in the 2 nd h of evaluation. On the other hand, the hexane extract (50 or 100 mg/kg) and essential oil (100 mg/kg), as well as the majority fraction (10 mg/kg), reduced mechanical allodynia throughout the evaluation period. The hexane extract, essential oil, and majority fraction F33 also reduced the heat-induced nociceptive response. Also, majority fraction F33 did not affect the time mice spent in the rota-rod apparatus.

CONCLUSIONS

The elucidation of the composition of the essential oil and the demonstration of the activity of L. lacunosa in experimental models of acute inflammation and also in models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain can help to increase knowledge on the ancient ethnopharmacological use by the Bandeirantes, aiming at the evaluation of the species as a candidate for herbal medicine or phytopharmaceutical in the treatment of patients with inflammatory and painful conditions.

Chemical diversity of the volatiles of Lippia rotundifolia Cham. (Verbenaceae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Lippia rotundifolia is an aromatic species, native and endemic to rocky fields, which are isolated by small mountains. It is little known about their chemical composition. Because of that we aimed to study the chemical diversity of volatiles released from rosemary leaves (Lippia rotundifolia Cham.) coming from 11 populations of the Minas Gerais, Brazil. The material for chemical analysis was obtained from the accessions in the active germplasm bank of the Instituto de Ciências agrárias of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. A total of 67 compounds were detected by HS-CG-MS. Most volatiles were detected in the São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras accession, with 40 compounds, whereas in the Santana do Riacho accession only 5 compounds were detected. Volatiles myrcene, linalool and caryophyllene were detected in the majority of the accessions. We concluded that Lippia rotundifolia presents high chemical variability. The volatiles mircene, linalool and caryophyllene are the most frequent, detected in most of the accessions. Due to some accession to present predominance of monoterpenes, others sesquiterpenes, studies of molecular analysis are necessary for associate the chemotypes, since environmental variation influence the gene expression of the secondary metabolites.

Acute and subacute toxicity and chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract of Verbena litoralis Kunth

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Verbena litoralis Kunth is a native species of South America, popularly known as gervãozinho-do-campo or erva-de-pai-caetano. It is used in gastrointestinal disorders, as detoxifying the organism, antifebrile properties and amidaglitis.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To identify the chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of V. litoralis and to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity in male and female rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The single dose (2000 mg/kg) of the extract was administered orally to male and female rats. In the subacute study the extract was given at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg during 28 days orally. Biochemical, hematological and histological analyzes were performed, oxidative stress markers were tested and chemical constituents were identified through UHPLC-ESI-HRMS RESULTS: Six classes of metabolites were identified: iridoids glycosides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids-derived, phenylethanoid-derived, cinnamic acid-derived and triterpenes. In the acute treatment, the extract was classified as safe (category 5), according to the OECD guide. Our results demonstrated that subacute administration of the crude extract of V. litoralis at 400 mg/kg resulted in an increase in AST in males, whereas ALT enzyme showed a small increase in males that received 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract.

CONCLUSIONS

The extract of the aerial parts of Verbena litoralis did not present significant toxicity when administered a single dose. However, when different doses were administered for 28 days, were observed changes in hematological, biochemical and histological parameters in rats.

A New Source of (R)-Limonene and Rotundifolone from Leaves of Lippia pedunculosa (Verbenaceae) and their Trypanocidal Properties

Investigation by GC-FID and GC-MS of the essential oil (LPOE) from the leaves of Lippia pedunculosa revealed, as the major compounds, the monoterpenes rotundifolone (71.7%) and ( R)-limonene (21.8%). These two compounds and the minor constituent piperitenone (1.2%) were also isolated from the leaves and identified by spectrometric analysis. LPOE and isolated compounds were evaluated for their trypanocidal activity against epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Significant results with IC50 values lower than 34.0 μg.mL−1 were observed against these forms of T. cruzi for LPOE and isolated compounds. Rotundifolone was the most active compound with an IC50 lower than 10.0 μg.mL–1 for both forms of T. cruzi. The effects of LPOE and isolated compounds were also evaluated in cultures of macrophages infected with T. cruzi. Treatment with ( R)-limonene and rotundifolone caused a moderate reduction in the percentage of macrophages infected by T. cruzi and in the number of intracellular parasites at concentrations non-toxic to macrophages.