Comparison of the use of Solidago chilensis (Arnica) and low-level laser therapy for the prevention of oral mucositis in patients submitted of head and neck radiotherapy and/or high toxicity chemotherapy

The oral mucositis is an adverse event of radiotherapy and/or high toxicity chemotherapy. The Solidago chilensis (Arnica) has been used for its antiseptic, analgesic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uses of Arnica for oral mucositis prevention in patients submitted to radiotherapy for head and neck tumors treatment and/or high toxicity chemotherapy. Methodology: The determination of the cytotoxicity index of the aqueous extract was determined in vitro. The oral mucosa was evaluated in days 0, 10 and 14 of patients in the groups: treated with lasertherapy (L, n=18), treated with Arnica (A, n=24) and, treated with lasertherapy associated with Arnica (LA, n=4). It was considered significant p<0.05. Results: It was determined IC50=90,74 μg/mL of Arnica’s aqueous extract in SCC-4 cells. The development of oral mucositis was associated with the type of treatment for oral mucositis prevention: L, A, and LA (χ2 = 24,72, p<0.0001). The level of oral mucositis had significant interaction with the type of prevention treatment [F(2) = 9.545, p<0.0001] and, within 14 days [F(2) = 11.995, p<0.0001]. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest which the use of Solidago chilensis (Arnica) can be an important therapeutic option for treatment with low-level laser therapy for oral mucositis prevention in patients submitted of head and neck radiotherapy and/or high toxicity chemotherapy.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Chemical Analysis of Different Fractions from Solidago chilensis Inflorescence

Solidago chilensis Meyen (Compositae) is a species native to South America (Brazil) popularly known as arnica. In Brazilian popular medicine, inflorescences and rhizomes of this plant have been used since the end of the 19th century to replace the exogenous and hepatotoxic Arnica montana L. in the treatment of edema and inflammatory pathologies. Although the anti-inflammatory activity of S. chilensis is evidenced in the literature, there is a lack of studies with enriched fractions or compounds isolated from it. The objective of the current study was to characterize phytochemically and to evaluate the pharmacological action in vivo and in vitro of the crude extract and the different fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, acetal, butanolic, and aqueous) isolated from the inflorescence of S. chilensis. The inflorescence crude extract (ScIE) and fractions were administered by intraperitoneal route to mice at different doses. In an LPS-induced pleurisy model, inhibition of leukocyte influx was observed for the ScIE and all fractions tested, as compared to controls. Dichloromethane (ScDicF), butanolic (ScButF), and aqueous (ScAquF) were selected for further analysis as they showed the best inhibitory effects in leukocyte migration and inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production: TNF-α, CXCL1/KC, CXCL2/MIP-2, and CCL11/eotaxin-1. In LPS-stimulated J774A.1 cell line, ScIE and the ScDicF exhibited an inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production and downmodulated the COX-2 expression; ScAquF failed to modulate NO production and COX-2 expression. In phytochemical analysis, HPLC-UV-DAD chromatograms of ScDicF and ScAquF showed the main peaks with UV spectrum characteristics of flavonoids; chlorogenic acid and isoquercetin were the most present phytochemicals identified in the ScAquF, and a high number of n-alkanes was found in ScHexF. Our study was the first to address biological effects and correlate them to phytochemically characterized fractions from inflorescences of S. chilensis.

A administração sistêmica de extratos de arnica é segura? Uma revisão sistemática de ensaios pré-clínicos

Os extratos de “Arnica” são amplamente usados ​​na medicina popular para tratar doenças inflamatórias agudas e crônicas. No entanto, seus efeitos tóxicos mediante uso sistêmico ainda não são totalmente compreendidos. Portanto, este trabalho fornece uma revisão sistemática sobre a segurança de extratos de arnica em ensaios pré-clínicos cobrindo sua administração oral e intraperitoneal em modelos animais. Para tanto, a diretriz PRISMA foi seguida e o protocolo do estudo foi registrado no PROSPERO (CDR42020167112). As pesquisas foram realizadas nas bases de dados PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science (Science Citation Index) e Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde (BVS); enquanto a ferramenta de risco de viés do SYRCLE e o checklist CAMARADES foram usadas para avaliar a qualidade científica. De 382 artigos, cinco estudos atenderam aos critérios de elegibilidade e foram submetidos à análise qualitativa. Dados de toxicidade aguda foram relatados em todos os artigos selecionados, e o tempo de tratamento foi de até 14 dias. Além disso, as seguintes espécies foram relatadas: Solidago chilensis (categorias de perigo de 4 e 5 para administração i.p e v.o, respectivamente); Solidago microglossa (categoria de perigo de 3, i.p); Lychnophora trichocarpha (categoria de perigo ≥ 4, i.p); e Lychnophora pinaster (categoria de perigo ≥ 4, v.o). Os extratos alcoólicos apresentaram maior potencial tóxico, que aumentou de forma dose-dependente após 100 mg/Kg. Com relação à toxicidade órgão-específico, os artigos relataram hepatotoxicidade e nefrotoxicidade após análise histopatológica. No entanto, a segurança de S. chilensis, L. pinaster, L. trichocarpha e S. microglossa após a administração sistêmica permanece incerta devido à qualidade experimental limitada dos artigos incluídos, bem como a falta de relatos sobre toxicidade crônica, farmacocinética e estudos de mutagenicidade.

Assessment of Native and Endemic Chilean Plants for Removal of Cu, Mo and Pb from Mine Tailings

In Chile, 85% of tailings impoundments are inactive or abandoned and many of them do not have a program of treatment or afforestation. The phytoremediation of tailings with Oxalis gigantea, Cistanthe grandiflora, Puya berteroniana and Solidago chilensis have been tested in order to find plants with ornamental value and low water requirements, which enable reductions in molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu) or lead (Pb) concentrations creating an environmentally friendly surrounding. Ex-situ phytoremediation experiments were carried out for seven months and Mo, Cu and Pb were measured at the beginning and at the end of the growth period. The capacity of these species to phyto-remedy was evaluated using the bioconcentration and translocation factors, along with assessing removal efficiency. Solidago chilensis showed the ability to phytoextract Mo while Puya berteroniana showed potential for Cu and Mo stabilization. The highest removal efficiencies were obtained for Mo, followed by Cu and Pb. The maximum values of removal efficiency for Mo, Cu and Pb were 28.7% with Solidago chilensis, 15.6% with Puya berteroniana and 8.8% with Cistanthe grandiflora, respectively. Therefore, the most noticeable results were obtained with Solidago chilensis for phytoextraction of Mo.

New records and amendments on Colombian Asteraceae

Due to herbaria studies and recent field work carried out in Colombia, we record six species of Asteraceae new to the Colombian flora: Artemisia verlotiorum, Othonna capensis, Paragynoxys steyermarkii, Pentacalia disciformis, Senecio tamoides, and Solidago chilensis. Morphological discussions, distribution information, and nomenclatural notes if required are provided for each species, as well as pictures of living plants when available.

Chemical composition and antinociceptive activity of volatile fractions of the aerial parts of Solidago chilensis (Compositae)

Thirty-six compounds were identified from aerial parts of Solidago chilensis cultivated at PAF/FIOCRUZ campus in Rio de Janeiro city (RJ) using solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. These compounds are mainly non-oxygenated mono and sesquiterpenes. Germacrene D is the major compound of two the essential oil analyzed samples (12 to 23%) and of two of the volatiles samples analyzed by SPME (central stems and dry inflorescences samples). Limonene is the major compound in the fresh inflorescences sample (about 21%). The bornil acetate is present in both volatile fractions (16%) and essential oils (7-8%). All the essential oils samples evaluated shown a great antinociceptive activity, considering the used dose of the samples (1 mg/kg) and the standard substance (50 mg/kg). Solidago chilensis is one of Brazil arnicas and it is a medicinal plant widely used by the brazilian population. Other plants of the genus Solidago are also used in traditional medicine in North America and Europe. This is the first report of SPME analysis from Solidago genus and of the antinociceptive effect from Solidago chilensis essential oil.