Polyoxygenated steroids from the octocoral Leptogorgia punicea and in vitro evaluation of their cytotoxic activity.

Five new polyoxygenated marine steroids-punicinols A-E (1-5)-were isolated from the gorgonian Leptogorgia punicea and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, 1H, 13C and 2-D NMR). The five compounds induced in vitro cytotoxic effects against lung cancer A549 cells, while punicinols A and B were the most active, with IC50 values of 9.7 μM and 9.

Effects of Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. (yerba mate) on herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 replication.

The antiherpes effects of the crude extract obtained from Ilex paraguariensis leaves (yerba mate) and their purified fractions were investigated. The most active fraction was selected and assayed to determine the viral multiplication steps upon which it acted. In order to detect the major components of this fraction, thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis was performed.