ABSTRACT This study assesses the anti-arthritic effect of the affinin-enriched (spilanthol, main alkamide) hexane extract from the roots of Heliopsis longipes (A. Gray) S.F. Blake, Asteraceae, on a Freund adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rodents. The extract was orally administered at a dose of 2, 6.6, or 20 mg/kg; a significant edema-inhibitory activity in the acute and chronic phases was observed with a dose of 2 and 20 mg/kg, respectively. The extract showed higher anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects than the reference drug phenylbutazone (80 mg/kg). Moreover, the extract prevented the occurrence of secondary lesions associated to this pharmacological model.

ABSTRACT In Mexican Traditional Medicine 187 plant species are used in the treatment of respiratory conditions that may be associated with tuberculosis. In this contribution, we review the ethnobotany, chemistry and pharmacology of 63 species whose extracts have been assayed for antimycobacterial activity in vitro. Among these, the most potent is Aristolochia brevipes (MIC= 12.5 µg/mL), followed by Aristolochia taliscana, Citrus sinensis, Chrysactinia mexicana, Persea americana, and Olea europaea (MIC<64 µg/mL). Other potent extracts (inhibition > 95%, 50 µg/mL) include: Amphipterygium adstringens, Larrea divaricata, and Phoradendron robinsoni. Several active compounds have been identified, the most potent are: Licarin A (isolated from A. taliscana), and 9-amino-9-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]-chromen-2-one (transformation product of 9-methoxytariacuripyrone isolated from Aristolochia brevipes), both with MIC= 3.125 µg/mL, that is 8-fold less potent than the reference drug Rifampicin (MIC= 0.5 µg/mL). Any of the compounds or extracts here reviewed has been studied in clinical trials or with animal models; however, these should be accomplished since several are active against strains resistant to common drugs.

Justicia spicigera is a native plant from Mexico used since prehispanic times to treat dysentery. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract (EE) and its hexanic fraction (HEE) on bacteria causing dysentery, as well as on Staphylococcus aureus and the yeast Candida albicans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by resazurin assay. The EE inhibited the growth of Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus MIC ≤ 2.5 mg/mL. The HEE inhibited bacterial growth MIC ≤ 1.25 mg/mL. This fraction also inhibited Candida albicans with MIC = 0.25 mg/mL. These results support the empirical use of Justicia specigera to dysentery treatment. The volatile compounds of the HEE, a fragrant yellow oil, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and identified by the NIST library: 3-pentenal,4-methyl; butanoic acid, 2-hydroxi-2-methyl-,methyl ester; ethanone, 1-(3-ethyloxiranyl)-; 1-butanol,4-(1-methylethoxy)-; 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid; 3-butene-1,2-diol, 1-(2-furanyl)-; 2-hexenoic acid ethyl ester; 3-thiopheneacetic acid; 1,2-benzendicarboxilic acid, mono (2-ethylhexyl) ester; benzene, 1,1'-(-1-phenyl-1,2-ethenediyl) bis[4-methoxy]. None of these compounds have been reported previously from Justicia spicigera.

Justicia spicigera es una planta nativa de México que se emplea desde la época prehispánica para tratar la disentería, por lo que objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar el efecto del extracto etanólico y su fracción hexánica sobre microorganismos causantes de la disentería bacteriana así como en Staphylococcus aureus y la levadura Candida albicans. Se determinó la concentración mínima inhibitoria (MIC) del extracto etanólico y su fracción mediante el método de la resazurina. El extracto etanólico en concentraciones ≤ 2.5 mg/mL inhibió el crecimiento de Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli y Staphylococcus aureus. La fracción hexánica inhibió el crecimiento de las bacterias en concentraciones ≤ 1.25 mg/mL, así como el de Candida albicans (0.25 mg/mL). Estos resultados apoyan el uso empírico de Justicia spicigera en el tratamiento de la disentería. La fracción hexánica es un líquido amarillo, aromático y se analizó por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas, se compararon los espectros con la colección NIST y se detectaron los siguientes compuesto: 4-metil-3-pentenal; 2-hidroxi-2-metil-butanoato de metilo; 3,4-epoxi-2-hexanona; 1,2-diol-(2-furanil)-3-buteno; 3,4-epoxi-2-hexanona; 4-(1-metiletoxi)-1-butanol; ácido 2-hidroxi-2-metil-butanoíco; 2-hexenoato de etilo; ácido 3-tiofen-acético; ácido ftálico-2-etil-butil éster; 1-fenil-1,2-di-(4-metoxifenil)-eteno. Estos compuestos no se han reportado previamente en Justicia spicigera.