The extraction of plant constituents is essential to isolate biologically active compounds, aimed to understand their role on the treatment of diabetes.This study was designed to explore the preliminary phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of Carica papaya L., Caricaceae, leaf, and further evaluation of its hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats. C. papaya leaves were extracted using chloroform, n-hexane or ethanol. For each extract a phytochemical screening was performed. The tests were conducted in triplicate and the qualitative and quantitative determination of the various metabolites was done using analytical standards proposed by Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia. The chloroform extract, containing steroids and quinones as major components, was chosen to study C. papaya biological effects. The chloroform extract was evaporated to dryness, and doses 0, 31, 62, 125mg/kg were orally administered in 300μl polyethylene glycol to diabetic rats; and 0 and 62mg/kg to non-diabetic rats. After a 20-day treatment with the chloroform extract, the animals were sacrificed and blood was obtained for biochemical studies. The main effect observed was a decrease in serum glucose, triglycerides and transaminases in diabetic rats after the administration of C. papaya chloroform extract. These results confirm the potential beneficial action of C. papaya to treat the symptoms of diabetic patients

The aim of this study was to synthesize three nitro substituted chalcones and to evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity in the model of carrageenan induced edema in rats. The nitro chalcone were prepared by aldol condensation using of mechanical agitation and environmentally friendly solvents with 72-73% yields in approximately 2h. The three structures were evaluated on biological activity at dose of 200mg/kg and they showed anti-inflammatory protective effect by both oral and intraperitoneal administration, this effect was time dependent.

Haematoxylum campechianum is a medicinal plant employed as an astringent to purify the blood and to treat stomach problems such as diarrhea and dysentery. A bio-guided chemical fractionation of the methanolic extract obtained from this plant allowed for the isolation of five compounds: two chalcones known as sappanchalcone (1); 3-deoxysappanchalcone (2); three homoisoflavonoids known as hematoxylol A (3); 4-O-methylhematoxylol (4); and, hematoxin (5). The spasmolytic activity was determined in an in vitro model (electrically induced contractions of guinea pig ileum), and allowed to demonstrate that the methanolic extract (EC₅₀ = 62.11 ± 3.23) fractions HcF7 (EC₅₀ = 61.75 ± 3.55) and HcF9 (EC₅₀ = 125.5 ± 10.65) and compounds 1 (EC₅₀ = 16.06 ± 2.15) and 2 (EC₅₀ = 25.37 ± 3.47) of Haematoxylum campechianum present significant relaxing activity as compared to papaverine (EC₅₀ = 20.08 ± 2.0) as a positive control.