Species of genus Sida are used around the world for a large amount of therapeutic treatments, including hyperglycemia. α-Glucosidase inhibitors are recognized as valuable tools for reducing postprandial hyperglycemia by retarding absorption of glucose. The effect of extracts and isolated compounds of S. acuta and S. rhombifolia on inhibition of α-glucosidase as primary screening of anti-hyperglycemic activity was tested using yeast and mammalian α-glucosidases. When yeast α-glucosidase was used the acetone extracts of S. acuta and S. rhombifolia showed IC50 values of 8.49 ± 0.66 and 8.10 ± 0.34 µg mL-1, respectively, and the most active compound was p-hydroxyphenethyl trans-ferulate (IC50 19.24 ± 1.73 µmol L-1) followed by β-sitosteryl glucopyranoside (IC5032.70 ± 1.35 µmol L-1). However, the activity of extracts and isolated compounds decreased significantly when mammalian α-glucosidase was used, indicating that substrates affinity is higher for type 1 enzymes. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts and isolates were also tested since many diabetic complications are associated to the oxidative stress and inflammatory immune responses. Acetone extracts were the most active in all evaluations. p-Hydroxyphenethyl trans-ferulate, could be associated to these activities, since it was active in the three evaluations. This effect could be related to its phenolic character.

The chemical study of Roldana platanifolia led to the isolation of β-caryophyllene, five eremophilanolides, chlorogenic acid, and a mixture of β-sitosterol-stigmasterol, β-sitosteryl glucopyranoside, and sucrose. The anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts and isolated products were tested using the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) model of induced acute inflammation. The acetone and methanol extracts showed dose dependent activities (ID50 0.21 and 0.32 mg/ear, respectively), while none of the isolated compounds exhibited relevant edema inhibition. The active extracts were also evaluated with the myeloperoxidase assay technique (MPO) to determine their ability to prevent neutrophil infiltration. Results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity was related to the compound’s ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators such as neutrophils.

Quatro novos eremofilanos modificados, juntamente com dez derivados conhecidos de cacalol, dois cariofilenos, um aromadendreno e um flavonoide foram purificados a partir de Psacalium cirsiifolium. As estruturas destes compostos foram elucidadas por análise espectroscópica. A atividade anti-inflamatória dos extratos e de sete dos compostos isolados foi avaliada no modelo de 12-O-tetradecanoilforbol-13-acetato (TPA) de inflamação aguda induzida. O composto inédito 2α -hidroxiadenostin B (4) mostrou uma atividade dependente da dose (IC50 0,41 µmol por orelha) e um efeito de inibição de neutrófilos medido pelo teste de mieloperoxidase (MPO) semelhante ao efeito da indometacina, 0,31 e 1,0 µmol por orelha.

Four new modified eremophilanes, together with ten known cacalol derivatives, two caryophyllenes, one aromadendrene and one flavonoid were isolated from Psacalium cirsiifolium. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and of seven of the isolated compounds was evaluated on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) model of induced acute inflammation. The new compound 2α -hydroxyadenostin B (4) showed a dose dependent activity (IC50 0.41 µmol per ear) and a neutrophil inhibition effect as measured by the myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay similar to that of indomethacin at 0.31 and 1.0 µmol per ear.

A chemical study of Psacalium sinuatum afforded the furanoeremophilane decompostine, the modified eremophilanes: cacalol, cacalol acetate, dehydrocacalol, maturinin, cacalohastin, dehydroca-calohastin, adenostin B, cacalone-epi-cacalone mixture, dimaturin, adenostylide, radulifolin F, and epi-radulifolin F, in addition to hyperin, sucrose and a mixture of sitosterol-stigmasterol. Extracts and isolated compounds were tested for anti-inflammmatory activity. The hexanic extract of root showed a dose dependent activity (IC50 0.20 mg/ear).

Por medio de un estudio químico de Psacalium sinuatum se aislaron el furanoeremofilano decompostina, los eremofilanos modificados: cacalol, acetato de cacalol, deshidrocacalol, maturinina, cacalohastina, deshidrocacalohastina, adenostina B, mezcla de cacalona-epi-cacalona, dimaturina, adenostilida, radulifolina F, y epi-radulifolina F, además de hiperina, sacarosa y mezcla de sitosterol-estigmasterol. Los extractos y los compuestos aislados fueron sometidos a pruebas de actividad anti-inflamatoria. El extracto hexánico de raíz presentó actividad dependiente de la dosis (IC50 0.20 mg/oreja).

Several extracts of aerial parts of Leonotis nepetaefolia showed anti-inflammatory activity on TPA-induced edema model. The chromatography of the extracts led to the isolation of stigmasterol and leonotinin. Although the presence of leonotinin is in agreement with previous phytochemical studies of this species, this is the first time that its anti-inflammatory activity is determined.

Diversos extractos de las partes aéreas de Leonotis nepetaefolia mostraron poseer propiedades antiinflamatorias en el modelo de edema inducido por TPA en oreja de ratón. La cromatografía de los extractos permitió el aislamiento de estigmasterol y leonotinina. La presencia de leonotinina está de acuerdo con estudios previos de esta especie. Sin embargo, es la primera ocasión que se informa la actividad antiinflamatoria de este compuesto.

The acetone and methanol extracts of aerial parts of Salvia mexicana L. var. minor showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in the TPA y DPPH models respectively. The chromatography of these extracts led the isolation of β-sitosterol, betulinol, betulinic acid, ursolic acid and arbutin. The presence of these triterpenes is in agreement with previos phytochemical studies of Salvia, however this is the first time that arbutin is isolated from a species of this genus. On the other hand, since none or the isolated compound showed antioxidant properties in the DPPH model, it can be inferred that minor compounds not isolated or synergism effects could account for the antioxidant properties of the extracts. It is known that some pentacyclic triterpene derivatives with an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl in the ring A showed a better nitric oxide synthase inhibition activity that the natural triterpenes. It was decided to synthesize the methyl ester of 2-formyl-3-oxo-urs-28-oic and 2-formil-3-oxo-urs-1-en-28-oic acids from ursolic acid and evaluate them using the DPPH and TPA models. The results showed that both compounds have anti-inflammatory activity, but only the 2-formyl-3-oxo-ursol-28-oic acid methyl ester was active in DPPH assay, which is in agreement with the proposed mechanism of this test. This is the first chemical study of Salvia mexicana L. var. minor (Benth).

Los extractos acetónico y metanólico de las partes aéreas de Salvia mexicana L. var. minor, mostraron poseer propiedades antiinflamatorias y antioxidantes en los modelos de TPA y DPPH, respectivamente. La cromatografía de estos extractos permitió el aislamiento de β-sitosterol, betulinol, ácido betulínico, ácido ursólico y arbutina. La presencia de estos triterpenos está de acuerdo con estudios previos de Salvia, sin embargo, es la primera vez que se aísla arbutina de una especie de éste género. Posiblemente las propiedades antiinflamatorias de los extractos se deban a la presencia del β-sitosterol y ácido ursólico, compuestos con probadas actividades antiinflamatorias. Por otro lado, es probable que las propiedades antioxidantes de estos extractos, se deban a la presencia de compuestos minoritarios o a efectos sinérgicos, ya que ninguno de los compuestos aislados fue activo en el modelo de DPPH. Datos recientes en la literatura señalan que algunos derivados de triterpenos pentacíclicos con una cetona α,β-insaturada en el anillo A, presentan una mayor inhibición de la enzima óxido nítrico sintetasa que los triterpenos naturales, por lo que se decidió obtener los ésteres metílicos de los ácidos 2-formil-3-oxo-urs-28-oico y 2-formil-3-oxo-urs-1-en-28-oico a partir del ácido ursólico, y evaluarlos en los modelos de DPPH y TPA. Los resultados muestran que ambos tienen propiedades antiinflamatorias, pero solo el éster metílico del ácido 2-formil-3-oxo-ursol-28-oico fue activo en el modelo de DPPH, resultado que está de acuerdo con el mecanismo asociado a esta prueba. Este es el primer estudio químico de la especie Salvia mexicana L. var. minor (Benth).