Chemical Analysis and Antidiabetic Potential of a Decoction from Roots.

A decoction of the roots (31.6-316 mg/kg) from Cav. (Asteraceae) as well as the main component (5-150 mg/kg) showed hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects in mice.

The Genus (Asteraceae) in America: An Insight into its Chemistry and Pharmacological Potential.

Background: Ageratina is an American genus of the tribe Eupatorieae (Asteraceae), comprising about 320 species. In Mexico, some species of this genus are highly valued for their medicinal properties, particularly A. pichinchensis, A.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity of compounds from Justicia spicigera (Acanthaceae).

An infusion from the aerial parts of Justicia spicigera Schltdl., an herb commonly used to treat diabetes, inhibited the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Two undescribed compounds, 2-N-(p-coumaroyl)-3H-phenoxazin-3-one, and 3″-O-acetyl-kaempferitrin, along with kaempferitrin, kaempferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, perisbivalvine B and 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone were isolated from the active extract.

Antidiabetic Sterols from Roots.

The roots of the cactus , which grows in Northern Mexico and in the south of Arizona, are highly valued by the Pima to treat diabetes and other illnesses, such as breast pain and common cold. As part of our chemical and pharmacological investigation on medicinal plants used for treating diabetes, herein we report the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic action of a decoction prepared from the roots of the plant. The active compounds were a series of cholestane steroids, namely, peniocerol (), desoxyviperidone (), viperidone (), and viperidinone ().

New Terpenoids from the Corticioid Fungus Punctularia atropurpurascens and their Antimycobacterial Evaluation.

Chemical investigation of strain HM1 (Punctulariaceae), a corticioid isolated from a decorticated piece of bark collected in Bosque de Tlalpan, Mexico City, led to the isolation of a new drimane, 1--hydroxy-isodrimenine (1: ) and a new tetrahydroxy kauranol, 16-hydroxy-phlebia--kauranol (2: ), together with the known -phenylacetamide (3: ). Structures of all compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, and the absolute configuration of 1: and 2: was confirmed via single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The isolated compounds showed modest antimycobacterial activity.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors from the fungus Malbranchea albolutea.

From solid rice-based cultures of Malbranchea albolutea, three undescribed ardeemins and sartoryglabrins analogs were discovered and named alboluteins A-C. 1H-Indole-3-carbaldehyde, and anthranilic acid were also isolated. 1D and 2D-NMR techniques, as well as DFT-calculated chemical shifts, allowed characterizing alboluteins A-C.

Flavonoids and Terpenoids with PTP-1B Inhibitory Properties from the Infusion of Ortega.

An infusion prepared from the aerial parts of Ortega inhibited the enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B) (IC~88 and 33 μg/mL, respectively). Phytochemical analysis of the infusion yielded amarisolide (), 5,6,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavone (), 6-hydroxyluteolin (), rutin (), rosmarinic acid (), isoquercitrin (), pedalitin () and a new -clerodane type diterpenoid glucoside, named amarisolide G (,). Compound , is a new natural product, and - are reported for the first time for the species.

Metabolites from the Marine-Facultative sp. MEXU 27854 and MEXU 29901 from Caleta Bay, Mexico.

During our ongoing research on fungal strains from unexplored sources, the reinvestigation of the CHCl-MeOH extract of the marine-facultative sp. MEXU 27854 yielded a new -methyl cyclic pentapeptide () along with known butyrolactone II and PF1233 A. In addition, from the marine-facultative MEXU 29901, a new alternariol glucoside, 10-[-D-(4-methoxyl-glucopyranosyl)]-4--methylalternariol () and known alternariol 4-methyl ether, alternariol and beauvericin, were isolated.

Chemistry and Biology of Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants.

Herbal medicines are an integral element of alternative medical care in Mexico, and the best testimony to their efficacy and cultural value is their persistence in contemporary Mexican marketplaces where the highest percentages of medicinal and aromatic plants are sold. This chapter summarizes current trends in research on medicinal plants in Mexico, with emphasis on work carried out at the authors' laboratories. The most relevant phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of a selected group of plants used widely for treating major national health problems are described.

Insights in Fungal Bioprospecting in Mexico.

Fungi have consistently been one of the richest sources of natural products, with unprecedented chemical scaffolds and potent biological activities. During the last 20 years, pharmacognosy researchers in Mexico, in collaboration with mycologists, have discovered many novel bioactive fungi natural products and new fungal species. To date, more than 100 bioactive secondary metabolites from 20 fungi from different ecosystems throughout Mexico have been documented in peer-reviewed literature according to Scopus and SciFinder databases.

Spasmolytic Action of Preparations and Compounds from Hofmeisteria schaffneri.

Hofmeisteria schaffneri is used in Mexican folk medicine for treating painful gastric complaints. Therefore, in this paper the smooth muscle relaxant effect of the essential oil, and an infusion of the whole plant were evaluated using the gastrointestinal transit test in mice. The results revealed that both preparations at 316 mg/kg inhibited gastrointestinal transit by 47.

Antinociceptive pharmacological profile of Dysphania graveolens in mouse.

This work evaluates the potential antinociceptive activity of Dysphania graveolens, traditional medicinal plant used in Mexico to treat stomach pain. A CHCl-MeOH extract, infusion and essential oil from aerial parts of Dysphania graveolens were evaluated in hot plate and writhing tests in mice. The metabolites pinostrobin, pinocembrin and chrysin were isolated from the Dysphania graveolens infusion; next, they were evaluated in both nociceptive tests.

Antidiabetic and Antihyperalgesic Effects of a Decoction and Compounds from Acourtia thurberi.

The purpose of this research was to examine the preclinical efficacy of a decoction from the roots of as a hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperalgesic agent using well-known experimental models in mice. Acute oral administration of decoction did not produce toxic effects in mice, according to the Lorke procedure. decoction (31.

α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from Preussia minimoides ‡.

Extensive fractionation of an extract from the grain-based culture of the endophytic fungus Preussia minimoides led to the isolation of two new polyketides with novel skeletons, minimoidiones A (1) and B (2), along with the known compounds preussochromone C (3), corymbiferone (4), and 5-hydroxy-2,7-dimethoxy-8-methylnaphthoquinone (5). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR data analysis, along with DFT calculations of H NMR chemical shifts. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and TDDFT-ECD calculations.

Antinociceptive activity of the essential oil from Artemisia ludoviciana.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Aerial parts of Artemisia ludoviciana are widely used in Mexico for treating gastrointestinal disorders, painful complaints and diabetes.

Aim Of The Study: To establish the preclinical efficacy as antinociceptive agent of the essential oil (EO) from the aerial parts of A. ludoviciana using well-known animal models.

Hypoglycemic properties of some preparations and compounds from Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia ludoviciana, commonly known as "estafiate", plays an important role in contemporary Mexico for treating several diseases including diabetes. To establish the preclinical efficacy of Artemisia ludoviciana as hypoglycemic and/or antihyperglycemic agent using well-known animal models.

Materials And Methods: Acute hypoglycemic as well as oral glucose (OGTT) and sucrose (OSTT) tolerance tests were used to demonstrate the value of the plant for treating diabetes.

Chemical composition, potential toxicity, and quality control procedures of the crude drug of Cyrtopodium macrobulbon.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cyrtopodium macrobulbon ("cañaveral") has been long used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of painful urinary ailments ("mal de orin") in men. This study was conducted (i) to establish the potential acute toxicity and the antinociceptive activity of some preparations of Cyrtopodium macrobulbon, in order to demonstrate its preclinical efficacy for treating symptoms of "mal de orin"; and (ii) to determine the chemical composition and quality control parameters of this medicinal orchid.

Materials And Methods: The antinociceptive effect was assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing and the hot-plate tests.

Quality control tests for the crude drug of Conyza filaginoides.

Context: Conyza filaginoides (D.C.) Hieron (Asteraceae) is a medicinal Mexican plant highly prized in contemporary Mexico for the treatment of upset stomach and diabetes.

Mexican antidiabetic herbs: valuable sources of inhibitors of α-glucosidases.

Type II-diabetes mellitus (TII-DM) has been regarded as one of the most important public health problems in all nations in the 21st century. Although allopathic therapies remain the most important for the initial management of TII-DM, herbal remedies have gained wide acceptance for treating this condition. These alternative therapies are particularly valued in countries such as Mexico, rich in medicinal plants strongly attached to the cultural values of the population.

HPLC determination of the major active flavonoids and GC-MS analysis of volatile components of Dysphania graveolens (Amaranthaceae).

Introduction: Dysphania graveolens is used mainly in Mexican traditional medicine against gastrointestinal ailments. Previous investigations revealed that its flavonoids are important active principles; however, there is not a reliable and accurate analytical method for determining these compounds in the crude drug or preparations of the plant. In addition, its volatile chemical composition remains unknown.

The natural xanthone alpha-mangostin reduces oxidative damage in rat brain tissue.

The antiperoxidative properties of alpha-mangostin, a xanthone isolated from mangosteen fruit, were tested for the first time in nerve tissue exposed to different toxic insults. Two reliable biological preparations (rat brain homogenates and synaptosomal P2 fractions) were exposed to the toxic actions of a free radical generator (ferrous sulfate), an excitotoxic agent (quinolinate), and a mitochondrial toxin (3-nitropropionate). alpha-Mangostin decreased the lipoperoxidative action of FeSO(4) in both preparations in a concentration-dependent manner, and completely abolished the peroxidative effects of quinolinate, 3-nitropropionate and FeSO(4) + quinolinate at all concentrations tested.

ROS scavenging capacity and neuroprotective effect of alpha-mangostin against 3-nitropropionic acid in cerebellar granule neurons.

Alpha-mangostin is a xanthone with antioxidant properties isolated from mangosteen fruit. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity and the potential protective effect of alpha-mangostin against the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) were studied in the present work. It was found that alpha-mangostin was able to scavenge in a concentration-dependent way singlet oxygen, superoxide anion and peroxynitrite anion.