Identification of phenolic compounds in Equisetum giganteum by LC-ESI-MS/MS and a new approach to total flavonoid quantification.

Equisetum giganteum L., commonly called "giant horsetail", is an endemic species of Latin America. Its aerial parts have been widely used in ethnomedicine as a diuretic and in herbal medicine and food supplements as a raw material.

Assay of caffeoylquinic acids in Baccharis trimera by reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Baccharis trimera commonly named 'carqueja', is wide-spread in South America and are used as raw material for herbal medicines. A reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RP-LC) method coupled to diode array detector was developed for the analysis of caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), the main compounds responsible for its digestive activity. The identity of the quinic acids was established by mass spectrometry and were them: 5-O-[E]-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-O-[E]-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-[E]-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-[E]-dicaffeoylquinic acid and a tricaffeoylquinic acid.

Toward establishing structure-activity relationships for oxygenated coumarins as differentiation inducers of promonocytic leukemic cells.

The presumption that some coumarins might be lead compounds in the search for new differentiation agents against leukemia is based on the fact that natural coumarins, 5-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C-2) and 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C-1) inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation in U-937 cells [Riveiro, M. E.; Shayo, C.

Anti-inflammatory activity of berenjenol and related compounds.

Berenjenol (1), isolated from Oxandra cf. xylopioides (Annonaceae), was tested on two different experimental models of inflammation. The compound showed anti-inflammatory activity in the test of acute mouse ear edema induced by TPA (54% inhibition, 1 micromol/ear) as well as in the test of subchronic inflammation induced by repeated application of TPA (57% inhibition, 7x1 micromol/ear).

Triterpenic acids and flavonoids from Satureja parvifolia. Evaluation of their antiprotozoal activity.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a Satureja parvifolia MeOH extract led to the isolation of eriodictyol, luteolin and ursolic and oleanolic acids as its active components against Plasmodium falciparum K1. This is the first time these compounds are reported as constituents of S. parvifolia.

Induction of cell differentiation in human leukemia U-937 cells by 5-oxygenated-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarins from Pterocaulon polystachyum.

The present study focused on the effect of a series of extracts and two 5,6,7-trioxygenated coumarins isolated from Pterocaulon polystachyum on the proliferation and differentiation of human promonocytic U-937 cells. The petroleum ether extract was the only extract that significantly reduced cell proliferation and induced cell differentiation. Treatment with pure 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C1) and 5-(3-methyl-2-butenyloxy)-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin (C2), present in the petroleum ether extract, showed a time and concentration-dependent inhibition on cell proliferation.

Antifungal activity of Terminalia australis.

Dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Terminalia australis were evaluated for their antifungal activity. The methanol and aqueous extracts were found to be effective against the tested Aspergillus and Candida strains.