AbstractPolyphenolic resol resins were obtained from an ethanolic extraction of green plantain peels (Musa paradisiaca) grown in Colombia. A synthesis was then performed by polycondensation in an alkaline pH solution in order to perform research on phenolic resin production with high mechanical performance. The polymers were characterized by DSC and TGA analyses and the resins showed a melting point of 94 °C and the typical properties of resol resins. Moreover, the synthesis was controlled using the infrared technique (FTIR) where different organic functional groups present in the polymers obtained are observed. The obtained resins were used as heavy metal adsorbents in which the content of those toxic agents is measured by Atomic Absorption Analysis (AA) indicating that these resins have a high retention affinity to Pb+2, Ni+2 and Cr+3 (79.01%, 98.48%, 94.14%, respectively) as determined by Freundlich isotherms.

O estudo fitoquímico de Calea prunifolia identificou dois compostos derivados de p-hidroxiacetofenona, a 1-(2-hidroxi-5-(1-metoxietil)fenil)-3-metilbut-2-en-1-ona apresentou atividade anti-inflamatória satisfatória (58.33%), tratando-se de um produto natural. Apesar dos dois compostos derivados serem estruturalmente semelhantes, a atividade anti-inflamatória da 1-(2-hidroxi-5-metoxifenil)-3-metilbut-2-en-1-ona não foi significativa (2.08%). O ensaio foi realizado em modelo de inflamação induzido por 12-O-tetra-decanoilforbol-13-acetato (TPA) em orelha de ratos. O controle positivo foi testado com indometacina e foram ensaiados controles negativos tratados somente com o veículo. Estes resultados possibilitam a identificação de um grupo farmacóforo que através de estudos de modelagem molecular e síntese orgânica podem resultar em compostos com atividade anti-inflamatória melhorada.

Phytochemical study of Calea prunifolia HBK identified two compounds derived from p-hydroxyacetophenone, the 1-(2-hydroxy-5-(1-methoxyethyl)phenyl)-3-methylbut-2 -en-1-one showed a satisfactory anti-inflammatory activity (58.33%), when considering that this is a natural product. Although the two derived compounds are structurally similar, the anti-inflammatory activity of 1-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylbut-2-en-1-one was not significant (2.08%). The test was conducted in a model of inflammation induced by topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in the ear of mice. The positive control was tested with indomethacin and the negative control was done only with vehicle. These results allow the identification of a pharmacophore group that through molecular modeling studies and organic synthesis can result in compounds with improved anti-inflammatory activity.

Objetivo. El objetivo del trabajo fue determinar si los extractos de la planta Lantana camara presentan actividad antifúngica frente a seis especies de Candida spp y un aislamiento humano de origen primario. Materiales. Se obtuvieron los extractos etanólicos totales por el método de percolación y se hizo fraccionamiento cromatográfico con eluyentes de diferente polaridad. Se caracterizaron los grupos funcionales mediante espectroscopía infrarroja. La actividad antifúngica se evaluó frente a seis especies de Cándida spp. (C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis y un aislamiento primario de C. albicans). La prueba de inhibición del crecimiento se hizo con un ensayo en suero humano, observando con absorbancia a 600 nm las curvas de crecimiento relacionadas. Resultados. El análisis por espectroscopía infrarroja demostró la presencia de flavonoides en los tallos y en las hojas de L. camara. Se encontró una fracción de tallo que inhibió el crecimiento de C. dublinensis y C. albicans, tanto para la cepa de referencia como para el aislamiento primario, y otra que inhibió C. guillermondii. Una fracción de hojas inhibió C. krusei. Conclusiones. Se encontraron fracciones con presencia de flavonoides y con efecto antifúngico en el tallo y en las hojas de L. camara.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine if Lantana camara extracts show antifungal activity against six Candida spp. species and one human isolate from primary origin. Methods: We extracted the total ethanol extracts by the percolation method and a chromatographic fractionation was carried out using solvents of different polarities. Functional groups were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The antifungal activity was evaluated against six species of Candida spp. (C. albicans, C. dublinienses, C. krusei, C. guilliermondii, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and a primary isolate of C. albicans). The growth inhibition test was performed in human serum and by observing growth curves at an absorbance of 600 nm. Results: Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of flavonoids in the leaves and the stem of L. camara. A fraction from the stem inhibited C. dublinensis growth and another inhibited C. albicans and C. guillermondii growth. One fraction from the leaf inhibited C. krusei. Conclusions: Chromatographic fractions obtained from the stem and leaves of L. camara contained flavonoids with antifungal effect.

En el conocimiento etnofarmacológico, Ambrosia peruviana es conocida como una planta antiinfecciosa y antihelmíntica. Dados los altos índices de resistencia bacteriana y parasitaria, se realizó la tamización fitoquímica preliminar siguiendo la metodología de Sanabria, y ensayos biológicos frente a aislamientos clínicos bacterianos, parásitos caninos y Artemia salina. Los ensayos de citotoxicidad en A. salina se realizaron por exposición de los adultos a concentraciones variables de los extractos. La actividad antibacteriana se realizó por los métodos de difusión en disco y concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM). Se determinó el porcentaje de huevos que tenían el embrión del parásito, en el medio de cultivo se mantuvieron en lactato de Ringer con suplemento al 10% de RPMI y 1X ATM. Se determinó el porcentaje de huevos con embrión, o fecundados, liberados en el medio de cultivo con adición de extracto etanólico y acuoso secos de A. peruviana. Los ensayos de la especie vegetal frente a helmintos se realizaron al sumergir los adultos en medio con suplemento de extracto etanólico seco (usando diferentes concentraciones) y con fracciones ricas en alcaloides. Se identificó la presencia de alcaloides, glucósidos cardiotónicos, quinonas, flavonoides, carbohidratos, taninos y saponinas. La concentración letal media para el extracto etanólico seco fue 64,2 µg/ml, mientras que para el extracto acuoso fue de 840,4 µg/ml. Los extractos no presentaron actividad antibacteriana. Los ejemplares adultos de T. canis presentaron disminución de la motilidad frente a extractos secos, mientras que en la fracción de alcaloides murieron luego de 4 horas de exposición. Los extractos de A. peruviana sobre huevos de T. canis permitieron una disminución en el porcentaje de huevos con embrión que no dependía del extracto observado sino de la concentración empleada.

Ambrosia peruviana has been reported as an anti-infective and anti-parasitic plant in the ethno-pharmacological environment. Given the high rates of bacterial and parasitic resistance against commercial drugs recorded, we performed the preliminary phytochemical screening following Sanabria´s method and biological tests against clinical bacterial isolates, dog parasites, and Artemia salina. Cytotoxicity tests in Artemia salina were carried out by exposing adults to extracts of varied concentrations. The antibacterial activity was performed using the disk diffusion method and CIM. Toxocara canis nematodes were kept in Ringer´s lactate supplemented with 10% RPMI and 1X ATM. The embryo generation percentage of eggs released into the culture medium was evaluated adding ethanol and aqueous extracts of dried A. peruviana. The tests of A. peruviana against helminths were performed by immersing adults in a medium supplemented with dried ethanol extract (at various concentrations) and fractions rich in alkaloids. Phytochemical screening allowed preliminary identification of alkaloids, cardiotonic glucosides, quinones, flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins and saponins. The LC50 for dry ethanol extract was 64.2µg/ml, while for the aqueous extract was 840.4µg/ml. The extracts did not show antibacterial activity. T. canis adults showed motility decrease against dried extracts, not so in alkaloid fraction where they died after a 4h exposure. The use of extracts from A. peruviana over Toxocara canis eggs caused a decrease in the percentage of embryo generation, which did not depend on the extract observed but on the concentration used.