The extract, fractions, and compounds of the Bouvardia ternifolia root were evaluated as an antiarthritic using a complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) model in mice and NF-κB inhibition in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Four active compounds, including two new compounds, ternifoliol and ternifolial, were isolated by open column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, resulting in benzochromone-like structures with aromatic rings and hydroxyl groups, which could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity and inhibitory NF-κB. Changes in the joint cytokine profile monitored the antiarthritic effect. A decrement was observed in the local concentration of the following cytokines with different treatments: IL-17 by 64% and 70.3% with the aqueous extract (BtAq), ethyl acetate extract (BtAcOEt), and M3 fraction; interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) by 10.2% and 15.7% with BtAq and the M4 fraction, respectively; IL-6 with M1, M2, M3, and M4 between 42% and 64%; necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by 60.9% with M4. Conversely, the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased between 94% and 99% with M1, M2, M3, and M4. Kidney IL-6 decreased with BtAq, M1, M2, M3, and M4 between 68.9% and 85.8%. TNF-α decreased with BtAcOEt, BtAq, M1, M2, and M4 between 34% and 80.2%. The NF-κB pathway was inhibited with BtAcOEt (90.1%), M1 (85%), M2 (93.5%), M3 (84.5%), M4 (90.3%), ternifoliol (75.6%), bouvardin (20.4%), and scopoletin (89%). We conclude that B. ternifolia modulated the inflammatory response at the joint and kidney levels and the NF-κB pathway.

Microbial cellulases are industrially used enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of the glycosidic bonds of cellulose. This hydrolysis yields sugars that can be used in processes such as bioethanol production. These enzymes are mainly produced by fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma via submerged or solid state fermentation with cellulosic materials as substrates. Recent publications have increasingly demonstrated that alternatives to T.reesei enzymes in the production of second generation biofuels exist. Here, cellulolytic activities of crude extracts obtained from a native isolate of T.asperellum from coffe pulp and a strain of T.reesei were evaluated. Solid state fermentations were performed using paper and sawdust as substrates. The activities were measured after 12 days of incubation. The extracts obtained from T.reesei showed higher cellulase and endoglucanase activities (6.5 and 5.8 U/g) than those obtained using T.asperellum (5.6 and 4.1 U/g) with paper as substrate. There were no significant differences between isolates when grownon sawdust. It was possible to verify that native T.asperellum was able to produce cellulases on lignocellulosic material such as moistened paper and sawdust without having undergone a chemical pretreatment.

Bouvardia ternifolia (Cav.) Schltdl. is a shrub that belongs to the Rubiaceae family and is distributed throughout México; it has been used for its antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. This work aimed to evaluate the protective effects of B. ternifolia root extracts on the blood-brain barrier and the positive regulation of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and the characterization of compounds present in the dichloromethane (BtD) and hexane (BtH) extracts. Male ICR mice were orally administered with B. ternifolia extracts for 5 days before a single injection of LPS. Administration of BtH and BtD significantly decreased Evans blue leakage into brain tissue by 70% and 68%, respectively. Meloxicam (MX) decreased the concentration of IL-1β by 39.6%; BtM by 53.9%; BtAq by 48.4%; BtD by 31.9%, and BtH by 37.7%. BtH was the only treatment that significantly decreased the concentration of IL-6 by 32.2%. The concentration of TNF-α declined with each of the treatments. The chemical composition of BtD and BtH was characterized by GC–MS, and the cyclic hexapeptide was identified by ¹³C, ¹H NMR, and two-dimension techniques. In the BtD extract, seven compounds were found and in BtH 13 compounds were found. The methanolic (BtM) and aqueous (BtAq) extracts were not subjected to chemical analysis, because they did not show a significant difference in the BBB protection activity. Therefore, the results suggested that the extracts BtD and BtH protect the blood-brain barrier, maintaining stable its selective permeability, thereby preventing LPS from entering the brain tissue. Simultaneously, they modulate the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. It is important to note that this research only evaluated the complete extracts.

Background/Objectives: Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and reperfusion (BCCAO/R), cause extensive neuronal damage and cognitive impairment. Bouvardia ternifolia (BtD), a plant known for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, may offer therapeutic benefits against ischemic injury. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of BtD root extract on neuronal integrity, oxidative stress, and p53 protein expression following global cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to the BCCAO/R procedure for 60 min, followed by six days of reperfusion. Experimental groups included BCCAO/R+BtD, BCCAO/R+silymarin (reference control), BCCAO/R+vehicle, and sham controls. Neuronal morphology in the cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum was assessed histologically. Oxidative stress markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were measured, along with the expression of p53 protein. Results: Treatment with BtD significantly decreased oxidative stress markers—LPO (82.2%), ROS (88.2%), GSH (66.5%), and SOD (54%)—and reduced p53 expression levels by 75%. Histological evaluation revealed that neurons in the BCCAO/R+BtD and BCCAO/R+silymarin groups maintained normal morphology, characterized by elongated cells and well-defined nuclei. In contrast, the BCCAO/R+vehicle group exhibited marked neuronal damage, including pyknosis, nuclear fragmentation, and interstitial edema, particularly in the hippocampal CA1 and cortical regions. BtD treatment significantly preserved neuronal structure and enhanced antioxidant defenses. Conclusions:Bouvardia ternifolia extract demonstrates neuroprotective potential in cerebral ischemia by maintaining neuronal architecture, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating p53 expression, supporting its therapeutic relevance in ischemia–reperfusion injury.

Sida rhombifolia L. is traditionally used for the treatment of conditions associated with inflammation. In this study, hexane (SrHex), ethyl acetate (SrAcOEt), and methanolic (SrMeOH) extracts were evaluated in a TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced auricular edema assay in male CF-1 mice. SrHex, the most active extract, was fractionated into H-F1–H-F5. Selected fractions were further evaluated by histological analysis and in RAW-Blue™ macrophage-derived cells stimulated with TPA or LPS (lipopolysaccharide). Cell viability and NF-κB/AP-1-driven SEAP reporter activity were determined, and fractions H-F3 and H-F5 were chemically characterized by GC-MS. SrHex showed the greatest anti-inflammatory activity among the extracts, whereas H-F3 was the most active fraction in the TPA-induced edema model. Histological and morphometric analyses showed that SrHex and fractions H-F1–H-F3 attenuated TPA-induced increases in epidermal/subcutaneous tissue thickness and collagen layer thickness. In TPA-stimulated RAW-Blue™ cells, SrHex and H-F1–H-F3 reduced NF-κB/AP-1-driven SEAP reporter activity without a substantial loss of cell viability. In LPS-stimulated cells, SrHex and H-F2–H-F5 produced concentration-dependent reductions in SEAP reporter activity while largely preserving cell viability. H-F5 showed the highest apparent potency in the reporter assay, with an IC₅₀ of 20.63 µg/mL and an Emax of 98.04%. H-F1 also reduced SEAP reporter activity, although the effects at higher concentrations should be interpreted cautiously because of the concomitant reduction in the cell viability signal. A preliminary analysis by GC-MS enabled the identification of dihydroactinidiolide, 2-methylene-5α-cholestan-3β-ol, and hexanedioic acid, mono(2-ethylhexyl) ester in H-F3, whereas in the H-F5 fraction, cyclopropanetetradecanoic acid, 2-octyl-methyl ester, and 3′,8,8′-trimethoxy-3-piperidyl-2,2′-binaphthalene-1,1′,4,4′-tetrone were identified. Overall, S. rhombifolia showed anti-inflammatory activity in the TPA model and modulated NF-κB/AP-1-associated reporter activity in the stimulated RAW-Blue™ cells.

Salvia elegans Vahl. is used to treat inflammatory conditions; however, its direct anti-inflammatory activity has been scarcely investigated. This study evaluated the ethyl acetate extract (SeAcOEt) in vivo and in vitro, using the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model, and the effects of selected isolated metabolites on inflammatory signaling by measuring NF-κB/AP-1-dependent SEAP reporter activity in LPS-stimulated RAW-Blue™ macrophages. Phytochemical characterization was performed using thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). SeAcOEt yielded the following three fractions: SeFA, containing the terpene mixture rosifoliol (1)/agarospirol (2); SeFB, ursolic acid (3) and 7α-hydroxysandaracopimaric acid (4); and SeFC, jaceosidin (5) and isosakuranetin-5-O-rutinoside (6). SeAcOEt inhibited TPA-induced ear edema by 87.3%, whereas SeFB showed the highest activity (97.4%), comparable to indomethacin. The terpene mixture and 7α-hydroxysandaracopimaric acid reduced NF-κB/AP-1-dependent SEAP reporter activity in LPS-stimulated RAW-Blue™ macrophages. The anti-inflammatory activity of S. elegans could be associated with the combined contribution of phytochemicals enriched in the bioactive fraction SeFB rather than with a single active constituent. This study expands the phytochemical knowledge of S. elegans by reporting 7α-hydroxysandaracopimaric acid and provides pharmacological evidence supporting the traditional use of this species for inflammatory conditions.