Genotoxicity of polar and apolar extracts obtained from Qualea multiflora and Qualea grandiflora.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The species Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora, which belong to the Vochysiaceae family, are common in the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado biome), and the local inhabitants use these species to treat external ulcers and gastric diseases and as an anti-inflammatory agent. Studies have demonstrated that these plants contain compounds that exhibit pharmacological activities; however, the risks associated with their consumption are not known.

Material And Methods: In the present study, the mutagenicity of polar and apolar extracts from Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora were assessed by employing the Ames assay with and without metabolic activation.

Gastroprotective and antisecretory effects of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb).

Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb), an Egyptian medicinal species highly important for treating numerous diseases, was investigated against experimentally induced gastric ulcer in rodents. We evaluated the gastroprotective effect of four extracts (petroleum ether, diethyl ether, chloroform, and methanol) of A. excelsa bark by using the ethanol-induced gastric lesion model.

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids and 2-deoxyribonolactones from Aristolochia arcuata.

2-Deoxyribonolactones and four tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from the acetone extract of the leaves of Aristolochia arcuata Mast., together with pinitol, sequoyitol, glycerol, fructose, sucrose, eupomatenoid-7, salsolinol, and 6,7-dihydroxy-1,1-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods, mainly using 1H, 13C, 15N, and 31P NMR.