Evaluation of Safety of Arrabidaea chica Verlot (Bignoniaceae), a Plant with Healing Properties

Validation of a New HPLC-DAD Method to Quantify 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins Based on Carajurin in Medicinal Plants and for Chemical Ecology Studies

Anthocyanidins are found in nature mainly as pelargonidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin derivatives. These compounds are found free or as glycoside derivatives which are responsible for the color (red, blue, and violet) of some foods and are responsible for attracting seed dispersers. They are grouped into 3-hydroxyanthocyanidins, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3D-anth), and O-methylated anthocyanidins. A new method was developed and validated to quantify 3D-anth in plant-rich extracts. To test the new method, Arrabidaea chica Verlot was selected as it is widely used in folk medicine, and it is rich in 3D-anth. The new method was developed by HPLC-DAD and expressed 3D-anth as carajurin content. Carajurin was chosen as the reference standard due to its role as a biological marker for the antileishmanial activity for A. chica. The selected method used a silica-based phenyl column, a mobile phase composed of potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, acetonitrile, and methanol, in a gradient elution mode and detection at 480 nm. The method reliability was confirmed by verifying selectivity, linearity, precision, recovery, and robustness. This method contributes to quality control and development of a possible active pharmaceutical ingredient from A. chica as well as it can be used to evaluate 3D-anth in plant extracts with chemical ecology interest.

Therapeutic Potential of Leaves from Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann: Botanical Aspects, Phytochemical and Biological, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Healing Action

Plants of the species Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L. G. Lohmann (Bignoniaceae), which are widely distributed in Brazil and named crajiru in the state of Amazonas, are known in folk medicine as a traditional medicine in the form of a tea for the treatment of intestinal colic, diarrhea, and anemia, among other diseases. The chemical analysis of extracts of the leaves has identified phenolic compounds, a class of secondary metabolites that provide defense for plants and benefits to the health of humans. Several studies have shown the therapeutic efficacy of F. chica extracts, with antitumor, antiviral, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities being among the therapeutic applications already proven. The healing action of F. chica leaf extract has been demonstrated in several experimental models, and shows the ability to favor the proliferation of fibroblasts, which is essential for tissue repair. The anti-inflammatory activity of F. chica has been clearly demonstrated by several authors, who suggest that it is related to the presence of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, which is capable of inhibiting pro-inflammatory pathways such as the kappa B (NF-kB) nuclear transcription factor pathway. Another important effect attributed to this species is the antioxidant effect, attributed to phenolic compounds interrupting chain reactions caused by free radicals and donating hydrogen atoms or electrons. In conclusion, the species Fridericia chica has great therapeutic potential, which is detailed in this paper with the objective of encouraging new research and promoting the sum of efforts for the inclusion of herbal medicines in health systems around the world.

A Review of the Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of the Genus Arrabidaea

The genus Arrabidaea, consisting of ~170 species, belongs to the family Bignoniaceae, distributed around the Neotropics and temperate zone. The center of diversity of the family is in Brazil, where 56 genera and about 340 species exist. Most species of the genus Arrabidaea are traditionally utilized as diuretics and antiseptics, as well as for treating intestinal colic, diarrhea, kidney stones, rheumatoid arthritis, wounds, and enterocolitis. The genus is chemically diverse with different substance classes; most of them are triterpenes, phenolic acids, and flavonoids, and they exhibit valuable pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, antioxidant, leishmanicidal, trypanocidal, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. This review presents information on the chemical constituents isolated from seven Arrabidaea species, and the pharmacological activities of the extracts, fractions and pure substances isolated since 1994, obtained from electronic databases. The various constituents present in the different species of this genus demonstrate a wide pharmacological potential for the development of new therapeutic agents, however its potential has been underestimated.

Arrabidaea chica chloroform extract modulates estrogen and androgen receptors on luminal breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide and, although 70% of patients are responsive to selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) modulators such as Tamoxifen (Tam), patients' survival is comprised by resistance to endocrine therapy. Brazilian flora, especially the Amazon biome, is one of the richest global sources of native species with potentially bioactive compounds. Arrabidaea chica is a plant native to the Amazon that has been used in the treatment of different diseases. However, its action on BC remains unclear.

METHODS

Herein the biological effects of the chloroform extract of A. chica (CEAC) were evaluated on BC cells and in in vivo model. After confirmation of CEAC antioxidant capacity, cells were treated with CEAC and Tam, alone and with CEAC+Tam. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT and hormone receptor transcripts levels were assessed (ESR1, ESR2 and AR). Finally, anticarcinogenicity of CEAC was recorded in Drosophila melanogaster through Epithelial Tumor Test (ETT).

RESULTS

The study confirmed the antioxidant activity of CEAC. CEAC was selective for MCF-7, downregulating ESR2 and AR transcripts and upregulating ESR2 expression. The modulatory effects of CEAC on ERs did not differ between cells treated with Tam and with CEAC+Tam. Interestingly, previous treatment with CEAC, followed by treatment with Tam promoted a significant decrease in cell viability. The extract also presented anticarcinogenic effect in in vivo assay.

CONCLUSION

The bioassays on breast tumor cells demonstrated the antiproliferative activity of the extract, which modulated the expression of hormone receptors and sensitized luminal tumor cells to Tam. These results suggest that CEAC could be a complementary treatment for BC.

Carajurin: a anthocyanidin from Arrabidaea chica as a potential biological marker of antileishmanial activity

Leishmaniasis is a group of neglected tropical diseases whose treatment with antimonials bears limitations and has changed little in over 80 years. Medicinal plants have been evaluated as a therapeutic alternative for leishmaniasis. Arrabidaea chica is popularly used as a wound healing and antiparasitic agent, especially as leishmanicidal agent. This study examined the leishmanicidal activity of a crude extract (ACCE), an anthocyanidin-rich fraction (ACAF), and three isolated anthocyanidins from A. chica: carajurin, 3'-hydroxy-carajurone, and carajurone. We evaluated the antileishmanial activity against promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and determined cytotoxicity in BALB/c peritoneal macrophages, as well as nitrite quantification, using the Griess method. Molecular docking was carried out to evaluate interactions of carajurin at the nitric oxide synthase enzyme. All compounds were active against promastigotes after 72 h, with IC₅₀ values of 101.5 ± 0.06 μg/mL for ACCE and 4.976 ± 1.09 μg/mL for ACAF. Anthocyanidins carajurin, 3'-hydroxy-carajurone, and carajurone had IC₅₀ values of 3.66 ± 1.16, 22.70 ± 1.20, and 28.28 ± 0.07 μg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxicity assay after 72 h showed results ranging from 9.640 to 66.74 µg/mL for anthocyanidins. ACAF and carajurin showed selectivity against intracellular amastigote forms (SI> 10), with low cytotoxicity within 24 h, a statistically significant reduction in all infection parameters, and induced nitrite production. Molecular docking studies were developed to understand a possible mechanism of activation of the nitric oxide synthase enzyme, which leads to an increase in the production of nitric oxide observed in the other experiments reported. These results encourage us to suggest carajurin as a biological marker of A. chica.

Hibiscus acetosella extract protects against alkylating agent-induced DNA damage in mice

Hibiscus acetosella was shown to exert beneficial effects in humans and animal models however, the effects of this plant on DNA are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of H. acetosella extracts on alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in vivo in mice. Initially, we performed analysis of phenolic compounds in extracts of H. acetosella by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Next, mice were divided into 8 groups and treated with distilled water or plant extract (0.1 ml/10 g) by gavage for 15 days, followed by intraperitoneal (ip) administration of saline solution or MMS (40 mg/Kg b.w) on day 16. Caffeic acid, following by gallic acid, gallocatechin, coumaric acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were found to be present in extracts of H. acetosella leaves. In peripheral blood analysis of groups receiving pretreatment with H. acetosella at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg plus MMS decreased DNA damage as evidenced by comet assay and Micronucleus assays relative to MMS alone. These results suggested that H. acetosella extracts exerted protective effects dose dependent against genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by alkylating agents.

Genome Damage in Rats after Transplacental Exposure to Jatropha dioica Root Extract

Jatropha dioica is traditionally used owing to its antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. But, toxicological information regarding J. dioica root total extract is currently limited. The aim of this work was to evaluate in a rat model, the transplacental genotoxicity effect of J. dioica aqueous root total extract. Three different J. dioica aqueous root total extract doses (60, 100, and 300 mg/kg) were administered orally to Wistar rats during 5 days through the pregnancy term (16-21 days). Pregnant rats were sampled every 24 h during the last 6 days of gestation, and pubs were sampled at birth. Genome damage in dams and their newborn pups transplacentally exposed to J. dioica was evaluated by in vivo micronuclei assay. We evaluated the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE), micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), and polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) in peripheral blood samples from pups and MNPCE and PCE in pregnant rats. No genotoxic effect was observed after oral administration of the three different doses of aqueous root total extract of J. dioica in pregnant or in their newborn pubs, after transplacental exposure. A significant decrease in PCE frequency was noted in samples from pubs of rats treated with the highest dose of J. dioica extract. The aqueous total root extract of J. dioica at the highest dose tested in our research do have cytotoxic effect in pups transplacentally exposed to this plant extract. Moreover, neither a genotoxic nor a cytotoxic effect was observed in pregnant rats. In the present work, there was no evidence of genome damage in the rat model after transplacental exposure to J. dioica aqueous root total extract.

Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol 28-day treatment

Myrciaria dubia is a native plant from the Amazon region which produces red-purplish fruit rich in antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic. M. dubia fruit is used to prepare juices considered to possess high nutritional content providing health benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of M. dubia juice to protect DNA against genomic instability induced by sub-acute ethanol consumption attributed to oxidative stress. Mice were treated for 28 days with juice at 25% and 50% diluted in distilled water or with the diluted combination juice plus ethanol (5 g/kg). The genotoxic/antigenotoxic and mutagenic/antimutagenic effects were assessed using comet assay in blood, liver, and kidney and micronucleus (MN) test with bone marrow. In addition, the mutagenicity was also evaluated using Salmonella/microsome assay. Phytochemical compounds were determined using HPLC/PDA/MS/MS. The juice did not induce genotoxic effects in blood, kidney, and liver cells at both doses. In combination with ethanol, the juice reduced the alcohol-mediated DNA damage in all tissues analyzed. Further, the juice did not produce mutagenic effects and decreased mutagenicity induced by ethanol in the bone marrow. The anthocyanins were major compounds detected by HPLC/PDA/MS/MS, which modulated genotoxic and mutagenic effects initiated by ethanol and at least in part appeared responsible for the observed antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of M. dubia juice.

Antimutagenic evaluation of traditional medicinal plants from South America Peumus boldus and Cryptocarya alba using Drosophila melanogaster

Peumus boldus Mol. ("Boldo") and Cryptocarya alba Mol. Looser ("Peumo") are medicinal shrubs with wide geographical distribution in South America. Their leaves and fruits are commonly used in traditional medicine because they exhibit natural medicinal properties for treatment of liver disorders and rheumatism. However, there are no apparent data regarding potential protective effects on cellular genetic components. In order to examine potential mutagenic and/or antimutagenic effects of these medicinal plants, the Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) wing-spot test was employed. This assay detects a wide range of mutational events, including point mutations, deletions, certain types of chromosomal aberrations (nondisjunction), and mitotic recombination. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenolic and anthocyanin compounds were carried out using biochemical and high-performance liquid chromatography methodologies. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of P. boldus and C. alba leaf extracts was also analyzed. P. boldus and C. alba extracts did not induce significant mutagenic effects in the D. melanogaster model. However, simultaneous treatment of extracts concurrently with the mutagen ethyl methane sulphonate showed a decrease of mutant spots in somatic cells of D. melanogaster, indicating desmutagenic effects in this in vivo model. Flavonoids and anthocyanins were detected predominantly in the extracts, and these compounds exerted significant antioxidant capacity. The observed antimutagenic effects may be related to the presence of phytochemicals with high antioxidant capacity, such as flavonoids and antohocyanins, in the extracts.

Testing of Schefflera vinosa extract in mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo for potential toxicity, genetic damage, and role of oxidation

The aim of this study was to examine the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of a hydroethanolic extract of Schefflera vinosa (SV), a plant with schistosomicidal activity, as well as its influence on DNA damage induced by different mutagens, methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), in V79 cells and Swiss mice. Schefflera vinosa extract produced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 312.5 µg/ml or higher using the XTT cell proliferation assay kit. Treatment of V79 cell cultures with the highest SV concentration tested (150 µg/ml) significantly increased the frequency of micronuclei (MN) compared to controls. All SV concentrations significantly reduced the frequency of MN induced by hydrogen peroxide in V79 cell cultures. Further, SV was able to scavenge free radicals in the DPPH assay. In the in vivo test system, treatment with the highest dose tested (1,000 mg/kg body weight) induced a significant rise in frequency of DNA damage using the comet assay. However, animals treated with different doses of SV demonstrated absence of genotoxicity in the bone marrow MN test. For assessment of modulatory effects, the lower concentration of SV (250 mg/kg body weight) administered to MMS-treated mice significantly reduced frequency of DNA damage compared to the positive control (MMS alone). In contrast, the highest concentration tested (1,000 mg/kg body weight) significantly increased the rate of MN induced by MMS. The lack of genotoxic damage at biologically relevant SV concentrations, as well as the SV-mediated antigenotoxic and antioxidant activities, indicate the potential therapeutic usefulness of this plant extract. These activities may be attributed, at least in part, to the flavonoid quercitrin, its major component.