Artemisia cina is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for parasitic diseases. This study describes the isolation and chemical characterization of anthelmintic compounds of A. cina against Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L₃) through lethal testing. Previously, three extracts—n-hexane (HexAc), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOAc)—were evaluated at concentrations of 4 to 0.5 mg/mL, resulting in the HexAc extract with the greatest effect of 76.6% mortality of the larvae at 4 mg/mL. Then, this was chemically fractioned by polarity, obtaining seven fractions (C1F1–C1F7), and, when evaluated at concentrations from 2 to 0.25 mg/mL, the 2 mg/mL C1F5 fraction produced an effect against the nematode H. contortus of 100% mortality of the larvae. Thus, this fraction was fractionated again by column chromatography, obtaining twelve subfractions (C2F1–C2F12) which were evaluated from 1 to 0.125 mg/mL, with the C2F5 subfraction causing a nematicidal effect of 100% mortality. NMR analysis of one (¹H, ¹³C and DEPT) and two dimensions (COSY, HSQC and HMBC) and mass spectrometry of this fraction allowed us to identify the mixture of 3′-demethoxy-6-O-demethylisoguaiacin and norisoguaiacin. Therefore, it can be assumed that the mixture of these compounds is responsible for the anthelmintic effect. These results indicate that A. cina containing anthelmintic compounds and might be used as an antiparasitic drug against H. contortus.

Aristolochia odoratissima L. is employed for the treatment of pain and as an antidote against the poison of venomous animals in traditional medicine. However, reports have not been found, to our knowledge, about the evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of extracts nor about the presence of compounds associated with this activity. Thus, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of extracts and compounds isolated from the stems of Artistolochia odoratissima L. The extracts were obtained with solvents of increasing polarity and the compounds were isolated and characterized by column chromatography, HPLC, and NMR. The antinociceptive activity was carried out by the formalin test in mice. Ethyl acetate (AoEA) and methanolic (AoM) extracts decreased the paw licking in both phases of the formalin test. The isolated compounds (kaurenoic acid and hinokinin) from AoEA showed the highest antinociceptive activity in both phases of the formalin test. These results confirmed the analgesic effect of this specie described in traditional medicine and provided a base for a novel analgesic agent. They also allowed an approach for the development of standardized plant extracts with isolated metabolites.

There are two major global morbidity and mortality problems in the health sector: inflammation, which is the physiological process that, in acute and chronic conditions, gradually causes the loss of the body’s functionality, leading to severe damage to health; and microbial diseases, which are caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects of three extracts of mesquite (Prosopis laevigata)—n-hexane (PH), dichloromethane (PD), and methanol (PM)—were assessed in a mouse model of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear oedema, and the antimicrobial effects against 14 microorganisms were assessed using the broth microdilution method. The extracts inhibited ear oedema by 60.81% (PH), 75.96% (PD), and 60.29% (PM). The most active anti-inflammatory extract (PD) was fractionated through chromatography, and three fractions (PDR3, PDR6, and PDR7) were evaluated. One of the most active fractions (PDR7) was purified via column chromatography, and ethyl veratrate (VE, 1) was isolated and identified. VE inhibited ear oedema by 85.1%. The anti-inflammatory effect is evidenced by the quantification of two pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TNF-α). The PD extract, the PDR7 fraction, and the compound present an IL-10 concentration of 11.8, 18.9, and 36.5 pg/mg of protein, values significantly higher than the group that received only phorbol ester (* p < 0.05). These treatments also significantly decreased the concentration of TNF-α (* p < 0.05) to 197.6, 241.9, and 247.0 pg/mg protein, respectively. The PM extract showed the most pronounced antimicrobial effect, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of <12.5 µg/mL for almost all the 14 tested strains, followed by the PD and PH extracts. Chromatographic fractionation of the PM extract yielded the PMR6, PMR7, and PMR10 fractions that inhibited all tested microorganisms with a MIC between 6.25 and 200 µg/mL. Compound 1 was active on five strains, with a concentration between 2 and 8 µg/mL. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis and comparison with commercial standards allowed for the identification of rutin (2) and quercetin 3-O-glucoside (3). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the PH and PD extracts allowed for the identification of fatty acids, terpenes, and phenols.

Antimicrobial resistance and inflammation remain two of the most persistent global health problems. Due to the growing limitations of current treatment, new and safer therapeutic substances are increasingly needed. In this work, the biological potential of the ethyl acetate extract from Prosopis laevigata was investigated. Three fractions (R4, R7 and R9) were tested for antimicrobial activity against fourteen microorganisms and their anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated using a model of edema-induced TPA in mice. The fraction R9 showed the strongest antimicrobial effect with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values below 25 μg/mL against several clinically significant strains. The same fraction also reduced inflammation in vivo and reached inhibitory levels similar to those produced by indomethacin. These results suggest that P. laevigata contains active metabolites with dual biological activity, which underlines its importance as a possible natural source of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents.

This work describes the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a 4-aminochalcone–salicylic acid azo conjugate (6) as a potential colon-targeted mutual prodrug. Two synthetic routes were evaluated: one through 4-aminochalcone (4), which afforded compound 6 in 32% overall yield, and an alternative route through the 4-aminoacetophenone–salicylic acid azo intermediate (7), which afforded compound 6 in 33% overall yield. The structure of compound 6 was supported by ¹H and DEPTQ NMR data, including olefinic signals consistent with a trans-configured α,β-unsaturated chalcone system, and by UV–Vis absorptions associated with the aromatic, carbonyl, and azo chromophores. Because azo-bond reduction, gastrointestinal stability, and biological activity were not evaluated in this study, compound 6 is presented as a synthetic and spectroscopic candidate for future assessment as a colon-targeted prodrug platform for inflammatory bowel disease. The ¹H NMR spectrum of compound 6 showed the expected olefinic protons of the α,β-unsaturated system and the corresponding aromatic signals, supporting formation of the proposed conjugated structure. Compound 6 was obtained as a synthetic platform for future prodrug development in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Its potential relevance is based on the hypothesis that colonic azoreductases could reduce the azo bond and release the chalcone-derived fragment 4, which has reported antimicrobial activity, and salicylic acid derivative 5, an anti-inflammatory scaffold related to agents used in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.