Effectiveness of Herbal Medicine in Renal Lithiasis: a Review

Homoisoflavonoids constitute a rare subclass of flavonoids restricted to only some plant species, including members of the genus Caesalpinia. This research focused on homoisoflavonoids from Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam., Fabaceae, a medicinal plant used in Cuban traditional medicine and known as “brasilete.” An hydroalcoholic extract was prepared from the stem, followed by liquid-liquid partition and further chromatographic separations, resulting in the isolation and structure elucidation by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry of an undescribed 3-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)chromane-4,7-diol, for which the name metasappanin was proposed. Graphical abstract

Mosquitoes represent the most important agent disseminating infectious diseases like yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and malaria, among others. An essential strategy for its control is killing them at immature stages using industrial insecticides. However, those chemicals often generate resistance and affect the environment and human health. Agricultural and plant by-products constitute a new sustainable option to obtain harmless and eco-friendly bioinsecticides to prevent mosquitoes from spreading. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) seed extracts and their insecticide activity against Aedes aegypti at larval and pupal stages. The ethanol extracts from avocado seeds were obtained by Maceration/stirring (MaE) and Soxhlet extraction (SE) methods. The main chemical profile was determined by quantitative and UPLC assays. Insecticide activity was assessed by the exposition of mosquitoes at larval and pupal stages to seed extracts. Human cell lines were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity. Soxhlet methodology was more efficient in the extraction of P. americana seeds metabolites (42.13±1.76 mg/mL) compared with MaE (20.46±1.66 mg/mL) (p< 0.05). Additionally, SE showed a higher amount of polyphenols (5.12±0.18 mg/mL). The UPLC spectra analysis revealed the presence of polyphenols, mainly catechin, and neolignan constituents. Both extracts showed larvicidal and pupicidal effects, but SE was more active at lower concentrations. Moreover, no significant toxic effects on human monocytes and fibroblast cell lines were found after treatment. In sum, avocado seed by-products can be considered an eco-friendly insecticide and its use may help to substantially decrease the vector-transmitted diseases in developing countries.

Introduction: The leaves and barks of Guettarda calyptrata have been attributed to the property of healing wounds on the skin and mucous membranes. However, the scientific information about the phytochemical composition and biological properties is scarce. This research evaluates the chemical composition, dermal safety, and wound healing properties of a hydroalcoholic extract of G. calyptrata. Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of G. calyptrata was obtained from leaves. The phytochemical profile was analyzed by phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and quantification of phenols and flavonoids by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. An acute dermal toxicity test was performed in rats, and the healing activity was evaluated using the excision wound model at 100 mg/kg of the extracts. Statistical significance (P < 0.05) was determined by an analysis of variance followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. Results: The presence of alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, rutin, and quercetin flavonoids, among others, was suggested. The extract did not cause toxicity at the dose of 2000 mg/kg and was able to reduce the size of the wounds during the seven days of the test, with a healing effect comparable to the silver sulfadiazine cream used as a positive control, favoring collagen deposition and re-epithelialization. Conclusion: This work makes an important contribution to the chemical composition and provides the first findings on the efficacy in the healing of topical wounds, which justify the use of G. calyptrata in traditional Cuban medicine.

Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl. is traditionally used in Cuba as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antilithiatic and diuretic remedy. Here we studied the pharmacognostic parameters of the leaves of X. caeruleum, the preliminary phytochemical composition, diuretic activity and acute oral toxicity of the aqueous extracts from the leaves of plants collected in the vegetative (VE) and flowering (FE) stages. The morphological characteristics and physicochemical parameters of leaves and extracts were determined. The phytochemical composition was assessed by phytochemical screening, TLC, UV, IR and HPLC/DAD profiles. The diuretic activity was evaluated in Wistar rats and compared to furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone. Epidermal cells, stomata and crystals were observed on the leaf surface. Phenolic compounds were identified as the main metabolites, including phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, ferulic and cinnamic acids) and flavonoids (catechin, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and quercetin). VE and FE showed diuretic activity. The activity of VE was similar to furosemide, and the activity of FE resembled spironolactone. No acute oral toxicity was observed. The presence of flavonoids and phenols in VE and FE may explain at least in part the traditional use and provide some insight into the reported ethnomedical use as a diuretic. Because of the differences in polyphenol profiles between VE and FE, further studies should be carried out to standardize the harvesting and extraction conditions in order to use X. caeruleum leaf extract as herbal medicine.

Introduction: corynaea crassa is a hemiparasitic plant, traditionally used in Ecuador and Peru as a male aphrodisiac, but scientific evidence is required to validate its use. Especially, the species from Ecuador has not been studied for this purpose.Objective: compare the chemical composition and aphrodisiac activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of C. crassa collected in Ecuador and Peru.Methods: the chemical composition of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts was determined through the quantification of phenols by Folin-Ciocalteu, flavonoids by the aluminum trichloride technique, alkaloids and carbohydrates by the bromocresol green and phenol-sulfuric methods, respectively. The aphrodisiac activity of the extracts was tested at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg in male Wistar rats, using sildenafil (50 mg/kg) as a positive control. Parameters of sexual behavior, nitric oxide concentration in plasma and corpus cavernosum, and testosterone concentration in blood serum were evaluated.Results: significant differences were seen in the content of each metabolite. The hydroalcoholic extracts showed the highest concentration of phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids, higher for the Ecuadorian sample. The aqueous extract from Peru recorded the highest concentration of carbohydrates. All extracts promoted sexual activity in rats, increasing the levels of nitric oxide and testosterone, highlighting the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts (300 mg/kg) with a behavior comparable to sildenafil. Conclusions: the study justified the popular use of C. crassa as a male aphrodisiac, given the variety of chemical compounds quantified, providing the first scientific evidence of the Ecuadorian species.