Medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and commercialized for skin conditions in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution is part of Urban Ethnobotany and includes the registry of 14 species of medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and their derived products used to treat skin affections in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print, and the Internet. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. Of the total, nine species (70%) have academic studies related to skin conditions and that are correlated with their local uses. With respect to the commercialized products, half of the species have products that are exclusive to the Bolivian immigrant sector known as “Mercado Boliviano”, Liniers neighborhood (Buenos Aires city).

Leonotis leonurus L. R. Br. (Lamiaceae): Anatomical features and recreational use survey of a possible substitute for Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae)

Leonotis leonurusL. R. Br. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant native to the South Africancontinent also employed as a recreational drug and a substitute to Cannabis sativaL. (Cannabaceae). Given the interest of the last mentioned species as a source of treatments for epilepsy among many other pathologies and its possible substitution for L. leonurus, the aim of this article is obtain anatomical and micrographical characters for its identification in chopped or powdered material and to survey the user ́s perceptions about this plant based in posts extracted from a recreational drug user Internet forum. L. leonurusleaves have pluricellular tector trichomes and two classes of pluricellular trichomes with unicellular and pluricellular heads, styloid crystals in its mesophyll among many other characters, while the flowers have wooly trichomes and characteristic pollen granules. Regarding the Internet forum survey, it was reported that L. leonurusleaves and flowers were the employed parts and that the mode of use was smoked. The reported effect was sedative. The anatomical data reported in this article may help to identify L. leonurusin pharmaceutical or forensic contexts.

Biochemical properties of some medicinal plants used as dye plants

The biochemical contents of plants may vary depending on soil and climatic conditions. Under unsuitable conditions, the resistance mechanismof plants is determined by the biochemical properties of the plants. For this reason, it is of great importance to determine thebiochemical contents of some plants that are naturally grown and generally used as dye plants. For this purpose, Salix albaL., Verbascum thapsusL., Urtica dioicaL., Digitalis lanataEhrh, Galium aparineL., Lythrum salicariaL., Hypericum perforatumL., Hypericum scabrumL., Quercus roburL. subsp. robur, Glycyrrhiza glabraL. plants were collected. Antioxidant enzyme activity, hormone, organic acid, total phenolic substance and some other biochemical analyzes were made in these plant samples. As a result of the study, depending on the plant varieties, total antioxidant, total phenolic content and organic acid levels showed significant differences. According to the results of this study, Verbascum thapsusL. plant had high antioxidant enzyme activity, while Digitalis lanataEhrh. plant was found to be higher in terms of hormone and total organic acid content. The highest amount of carotenoid, abscisic acid and hydrogen peroxide were determined in Urtica dioica L. plant. Different results were obtained in other plant varieties, and it was observed that a different biochemical content was more effective in each plant. For this reason, it has been determined that the biochemical contents of these plants, which have different uses. The usage area of this plant should be created after the main active ingredient is determined.

Medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and commercialized for skin conditions in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

This contribution is part of Urban Ethnobotany and includes the registry of 14 species of medicinal plants linked to the Andean heritage and their derived products used to treat skin affections in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Information on these species (their assigned local uses) was obtained from interviews with local informants and from other sources, such as labels, brochures and catalogs, print, and the Internet. A bibliographic review was carried out on the biological activity and effects studied in order to evaluate its correspondence with the assigned local uses. Of the total, nine species (70%) have academic studies related to skin conditions and that are correlated with their local uses. With respect to the commercialized products, half of the species have products that are exclusive to the Bolivian immigrant sector known as “Mercado Boliviano”, Liniers neighborhood (Buenos Aires city).

Aqueous and polyphenol-rich Larrea divaricata Cav. extracts as potential skin care agents

Skin cells are affected by UV-induced oxidative stress resulting in photoaging and diseases. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of an aqueous extract of Larrea divaricata(Aq) and a flavonoid rich fraction (EA), obtained by liquid/liquid fractionation, on the proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts by the tritiated thymidine uptake assay and on cell viability by the trypan blue exclusion assay. The in vitro sun protection factor (SPF), peroxidase (Px)-like and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities were determined by kinetic spectrophotometric assays, and the phytochemical composition was determined by HPLC-UV and HPLC MS/MS.Aq and EA induced keratinocytes and fibroblast proliferation, protected fibroblasts from H2O2-induced apoptosis and exerted SOD-like and Px-like activities. Aq and EA had a high sun UVB protection factor. So, L. divaricatacould be used in a future for the development of new dermocosmetic or phytotherapy adjuvant in skin oxidative damage.

Development of bioactive/active additives based on essential oils: A review

The use of bioactive/active additives has been increasing in recent years, especially those derived from medicinal plants such as essential oils. However, due to essential oil oxidation it is necessary to protect it by encapsulation techniques such as: emulsion, spray- and/or freeze-drying as the most economical techniques. On the other hand, an important factor is to determine the appropriate wall material to obtain a prolonged or controlled release in the food or in the organism. Therefore, several factors affect the release of the compounds such as the type, amount of wall material and/or combination of wall materials. Therefore, the knowledge of all the aforementioned factors is important in order to make an adequate selection for the development of a bioactive/active additive based on essential oils.

HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS based phytochemical characterization: estrogenic and antioxidant effect of Mangifera indica L. cv. Kent on vaginal and bone tissue of ovariectomized rats

The phytochemical characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract of Mangifera indica leaves L. cv. Kent (MS2) was determined by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Eight metabolites were identified, these include: benzophenone derivatives and xanthones. Using ovariectomized rats (OVX), our findings suggest that EM2 exhibited an estrogenic effect by increasing the number of cornified cells in vaginal tissue. Furthermore, EM2 demonstrated a high antioxidant effect by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in OVX rat bone. We conclude that the polyphenolic compounds present in EM2 could increase the number of cornified cells and act as exogenous antioxidant agents against oxidative damage in OVX rats.

Phytotherapy for colorectal cancer: about some phytochemicals and their mechanisms of action]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is very common in both men and women. Phytochemicals such as polysaccharide alkaloids, polyphenols, diterpenoids among others, have been used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. The mechanisms of action of these compounds on cancer cells include molecular targets in the apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. At the level of the whole organism, they improve the intestinal microbiota, which plays an important role in the initiation and progression of CRC. Recent research is aimed at obtaining and modifying phytochemicals to improve their effectiveness, safety and their inclusion in functional foods, but more studies are needed to validate their properties.

Comparison of health-promoting metabolite antioxidant effects in Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst extracts

Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Anacardiaceae) is a savannah tree that has long been used in sub-Saharan Africa as a medicinal remedy for numerous ailments. The purpose of this study was to increase the scientific knowledge about this plant by evaluating the total content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins in the extracts of the root, leaves and bark, as well as their in vitro antioxidant activit. The chemical characterization was carried out by HPLC-MS/MS. Results reported the presence of glycoside flavonoids in Sclerocarya birrea leaves and procyanidins in roots and bark. The presence of procyanidins conferred the highest antioxidant activity of root extract form Sclerocarya birrea.

Traditional knowledge for the improvement of their health, with medicinal species in the indigenous communities of the Shawi ethnic group, in Peruvian Amazon

Shawi ethnic group located in the Peruvian Amazon know and apply medicinal plants to their health. The study was carried out in communities of Buenos Aires, Nuevo Cachiyacu and Santa Cruz in the Balsapuerto district, Alto Amazonas province, Loreto region; in workshops, visits to their farms and local forests. 27% were women and 73% male, ages in the range of 19 to 70 years old. The objective was to document the knowledge of uses of medicinal plants, with open interviews. Analyzed data included species common names, type of most common diseases, how they cure them and methods of plant preparation. Information of 24 species which they consider the most used was collected. Those corresponded to 17 botanical families and they use them for treatment of 22 diseases. The largest number in treatments were diarrhea, stomach colic and external wounds with five species, and the rest of diseases with three, two to one species. The leaves are the most used in infusions.