An essential oil was distilled with 0.25% yield from fresh flowers of Dalea mutisii Kunth, a native species mainly growing in the Andean region of Ecuador. A total of 50 compounds were identified, and most of them were quantified. The chemical composition was characterized by the prevalence of monoterpene hydrocarbons (>90%). Major components were α-pinene (42.9%), β-pinene (15.1%), β-phellandrene (12.6%), myrcene (6.7%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (5.4%). The essential oil was then submitted to enantioselective analysis, with a 2,3-diethyl-6-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-cyclodextrin-based capillary column. An enantiomeric excess was measured for (1R,5R)-(+)-α-pinene (91.6%), (1R,5R)-(+)-β-pinene (15.2%), (R)-(−)-α-phellandrene (4.8%), and (R)-(−)-β-phellandrene (88.8%), whereas (R)-(+)-limonene was enantiomerically pure. A gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) analysis was additionally carried out on this pleasantly fragrant essential oil, following an aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) approach. Main odorants were α-pinene, β-pinene, α-phellandrene, and (Z)-β-ocimene, with dilution factors (FD) of 8, 4, 2, and 2, respectively.

The aim of the present research was to study the effects of an ethanolic extract ofSalvia sagittataRuiz & Pav (SSEE), an endemic Ecuadorian plant traditionally used to treat inflammation and different intestinal affections, on primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells (pAECs). pAECs were cultured in the presence of different concentrations (1-200 μg/mL) of SSEE for 24 h, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. SSEE did not negatively affect cellular viability at any concentration tested. Cell cycle was analyzed and no significant change was observed. Then, the anti-inflammatory effects of SSEE on pAECs were analyzed using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the inflammatory stimulus. Different markers involved in the inflammatory process, such as cytokines and protective molecules, were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. SSEE showed the ability to restore pAEC physiological conditions reducing interleukin-6 and increasing Heme Oxygenase-1 protein levels. The phytochemical composition of SSEE was also evaluated via HPLC-DAD and spectrophotometric assays. The presence of different phenolic acids and flavonoids was revealed, with rosmarinic acid as the most abundant component. SSEE possesses an interesting antioxidant activity, as assessed through both the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. In conclusion, results suggest that SSEE is endowed with anin vitroanti-inflammatory effect. This represents the initial step in finding a possible scientific support for the traditional therapeutic use of this plant.

Oreocallis grandiflora (Lam.) R. Br. is an Ecuadorian species belonging to the Proteaceae family, commonly known as cucharillo (Loja and Zamora provinces), cucharilla (Sierra region), gañal (Bolívar province), and algil (Chimborazo province). Its leaves and flowers, collected during blooming, are traditionally used for oral administration to treat liver diseases, vaginal bleeding, and ovary/uterus inflammation and as digestive, diuretic, and hypoglycemic remedy. Related literature does not report any scientific evidences regarding the chemical composition of the used parts of this species (leaves and flowers), while few indications are reported about the healthy properties of their preparations. Based on these premises, the present research was performed with the objectives to fill the gaps of the chemical and biological knowledge about this species, enriching the knowledge related to the plant biodiversity of Amazonian Ecuador and to the ethnobotanical tradition of Andean communities. Chemical and biological investigation (in vitro antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity) of flower and leaf hydroalcoholic extracts shed a light on the functional metabolites putatively involved in healthy properties of the O. grandiflora traditional preparations. The chemical fingerprinting achieved by HPTLC and ¹HNMR analyses showed the presence of flavonoids, subsequently quantitatively estimated by AlCl₃ complexation assay and HPLC‐DAD. Silica gel chromatography allowed the isolation of the main compounds of the flower extract: quercetin 3‐O‐β‐glucuronide and myricetin 3‐O‐β‐glucuronide. RP‐HPLC‐DAD‐MS analyses showed the presence of quercetin 3‐O‐rutinoside and isorhamnetin 3‐O‐rutinoside, in addition to the above‐mentioned molecules, in the leaf extract. Regarding the antioxidant (DPPH test, a radical scavenging assay) and anti‐inflammatory (WST‐1 assay, an oxidative burst test) activities, leaf extract showed the most promising results when compared to the positive controls. The same extract, however, exhibited a higher cytotoxicity compared to the flower extract, indicating the latter preparation as the most interesting anti‐inflammatory crude drug.

Natural products are one of the main sources for developing new drugs. The alkaloids obtained from the plant family Amaryllidaceae have interesting structures and biological activities, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential, which is one of the mechanisms used for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Herein we report the alkaloidal profile of bulbs and leaves extracts of Crinum × amabile collected in Ecuador and their in vitro inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) enzymes. Using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), we identified 12 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids out of 19 compounds detected in this species. The extracts from bulbs and leaves showed great inhibitory activity against AChE and BuChE, highlighting the potential of Amaryllidaceae family in the search of bioactive molecules.

Objective: The aim of this research was to assess the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract and total alkaloid extract obtained from leaves and bulbs of Crinum x amabile (CA) growing in Ecuador.Methods: Methanolic extracts of dry powered leaves and bulbs of CA obtained by cold maceration method were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. Total alkaloid extracts of leaves and bulbs of CA were obtained by conventional extraction of alkaloids base with an organic solvent. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of the four extracts were investigated by in vitro isolated neutrophils model using stable tetrazolium salt (WST-1).Results: Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extracts revealed the major classes of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes, and steroids, but no proteins or saponins could be detected on leaves extract. Extracts obtained from bulbs both methanolic and total alkaloids of CA show an interesting anti-inflammatory activity, although it was not significant compared to the standard anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin. Cytotoxicity of bulb alkaloid extract was lower compared with all of the other extracts.Conclusion: Based on the results of this research, it could be concluded that CA is a very interesting source of natural anti-inflammatory compounds (especially alkaloids) which could be used to prevent many chronic disorders. Further, phytochemical studies are necessary to identify the chemical compounds responsible for the significant anti-inflammatory activity showed.

Essential oils of Cannabis sativa (cannabis) and Baccharis latifolia (chilca), were used as anti-inflammatory ingredients in an ointment for topical application. Different formulations designed based on these two essential oils were evaluated in-vivo to measure efficacy, using the feet swelling induction method in rats, and an over-the counter formulation with 1% diclofenac active ingredient was used as a positive control. The chemical evaluation of the two oils yielded the following main components, for chilca oil: liguloxide 14.02%, andro encecalinol 9.84%, kesane 7.53%, limonen 5.6% and Z-cadin-4-en-7-ol with 5.03%; while for cannabis essential oil: E-caryophyllene 27.91%, myrcene 21.19%, a-pinene 8.05%, a-humulene 8.03%, limonene 7.18%, terpinolene 7.12% and B-pinene 4.68%. The results of the research indicate that those formulas that combined two essential oils in the formulation at 1%, are the ones with the highest anti-inflammatory activity. Statistically, the significance is high in relation to the positive control in those whose oil composition is essential oil of cannabis 75% and chilca oil 25%; and essential oil of cannabis 50% and chilca oil 50%. The other formulas have activity, but this is similar to the commercial formula used as control. Based on the results, it is possible to propose both natural products as anti-inflammatories, and to foresee the design and commercialization of topical pharmaceutical drugs using these two essential oils.