Withanolides from Whitania aristata and their diuretic activity.

Aim Of The Study: Withania aristata is an endemic plant used traditionally in Canary Islands as a diuretic. In this paper, we report on this pharmacological activity in several extracts of the dry vegetal material collected and the identification and diuretic activity of two withanolides, one of them previously not reported, isolated from the most active fraction.

Material And Methods: Four Whitania aristata extracts at 100 mg/kg were orally administered to laboratory animals to evaluate their diuretic activity.

Diuretic activity of some Withania aristata Ait. fractions.

We previously reported on the significant dose-dependent diuretic effects produced in laboratory rats by hot water infusions and methanol extracts of Withania aristata Ait., where notable increases were observed in the excretion of water and sodium, with an interesting potassium-saving effect. The present study gives the results of the diuretic effects in rats of the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol-water fractions of the previously studied methanol extract.

Progressive facial hemiatrophy with associated osseous lesions.

Progressive facial hemiatrophy (PFH) is a rare condition characterized by the slow, progressive appearance of a unilateral facial atrophy that affects the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and bone. We report the case of a 60-year-old female patient whose cutaneous symptoms commenced in 1987 in the form of a purplish erythema on the left side of her face and neck, which subsequently remitted giving rise to an indurated region in the left maxillary region. Since 1995 until the present day, she has developed facial hemiatrophy on the left side accompanied by progressive osseous reabsorption of the upper maxilla and left mandible with atrophy of soft tissue.

Unambiguous 13C NMR assignment of acnistins and absolute configuration of acnistin A.

Carbon and proton atoms were fully assigned in this new type of withanolide by HMQC and HMBC experiments. The absolute configuration of acnistin A was determined by X-ray diffraction. Proton and 13C NMR measurements are particularly useful in identifying members of this group of natural products.