A U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) overview of Pan American botanicals used in dietary supplements and herbal medicines.

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a nonprofit, scientific, standard-setting organization, and world leader in establishing quality, purity, and testing standards for medicines, foods, and dietary supplements. USP quality standards are used in more than 140 countries and are legally recognized by more than 40 countries. Currently, there is renewed interest in herbal medicines globally, and health policies are being implemented worldwide for the use of complementary and traditional medicine.

Antibacterial properties of a glycolipid-rich extract and active principle from Nunavik collections of the macroalgae Fucus evanescens C. Agardh (Fucaceae).

This study investigated the antibacterial activity of glycolipid-rich extracts of the brown macroalga Fucus evanescens in cell culture. Accessions were collected on the Arctic coast of Ungava Bay, Nunavik, Quebec. The crude ethyl acetate extract of these accessions showed strong antibacterial activity (≥4 log(10) cfu) against Hemophilus influenzae , Legionella pneumophila , Propionibacterium acnes (ATCC and clinical isolate), and Streptococcus pyogenes at 100 µg/mL.

Disruption of fungal cell wall by antifungal Echinacea extracts.

In addition to widespread use in reducing the symptoms of colds and flu, Echinacea is traditionally employed to treat fungal and bacterial infections. However, to date the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of Echinacea extracts remains unclear. We utilized a set of ∼4,600 viable gene deletion mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify mutations that increase sensitivity to Echinacea.

Acylated anthocyanins in inflorescence of spider flower (Cleome hassleriana).

Five anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-(2''-(6'''-caffeoyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6''-(E-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside)-5-beta-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-(2''-(6'''-E-sinapoyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6''-(E-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside)-5-beta-glucopyranoside, cyanidin 3-(2''-(6'''-feroyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6''-(E-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside)-5-beta-glucopyranoside, pelargonidin 3-(2''-(6'''-E-sinapoyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6''-(E-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside)-5-beta-glucopyranoside, and pelargonidin 3-(2''-(6'''-E-p-coumaroyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6''-(E-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside)-5-beta-glucopyranoside, together with five known anthocyanins have been identified in flowers of Cleome hassleriana Queen line. One monoacylated and four diacylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides were identified as the main anthocyanins in flowers with mauve colouration, while a homologous glycosidic pattern based on pelargonidin was found in the five main anthocyanins from flowers with pink colouration. The anthocyanins identified in C.

Antifungal and antioxidant activities of the phytomedicine pipsissewa, Chimaphila umbellata.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W. Bart (Pyrolaceae) ethanol extracts led to the identification of 2,7-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (chimaphilin) as the principal antifungal component.

Phytochemistry and antifungal properties of the newly discovered tree Pleodendron costaricense.

Gas chromatography analysis of the essential oils of leaves and bark collected from the newly discovered tree Pleodendron costaricense identified alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-myrcene, beta-thujene, and beta-caryophyllene as their major constituents. Phytochemical analysis of P. costaricense parts led to the isolation and identification of delta-tocotrienol, beta-sitosterol, four known drimane-type sesquiterpenes, cinnamodial (1), cinnamosmolide (2), polygodial (3), and mukaadial (4), and two new compounds, a drimane-type sesquiterpene, parritadial (5), and an eremophilane-type sesquiterpene, pleodendione (6).