@article {468, title = {Bioassay-guided In vitro Study of the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Properties of the Leaves from Excoecaria Lucida Sw}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {November 2017}, pages = {396-400}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {396}, abstract = {

Background: Excoecaria lucida Sw. (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant conventionally used throughout the Caribbean in the treatment of infectious diseases. Objective: To evaluate, using bioassay-guided fractionation, the in vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of E. lucida leaves. Materials and Methods: A 95\% ethanol crude extract was dried and fractionated by solid-liquid separation in four phases (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol). Antimicrobial activity (3 bacteria, 6 yeasts, and 2 fungi) was evaluated by the dilution method with resazurin (2048, 512, 128, 32, and 8 {\textmu}g/mL). The cytotoxicity assays were evaluated in two cell lines: MRC-5 and RAW 264.7; calculating the selectivity index. Assays were performed for the total extract, the isolated compound with the highest yield, and the ethyl acetate and butanol phases. Isolated compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry techniques. Results: Fractionation process led to the isolation of ellagic acid (784.29 mg), 3,3{\textquoteright},4{\textquoteright}-tri-O-methyl ellagic 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside acid (6.1 mg), and corilagin (6.91 mg). The most active were ethyl acetate phase and ellagic acid with IC50 = 128 μg/mL against seven and five different species of microorganisms, respectively. The total extract (IC50 = 512 {\textmu}g/mL) and the ethyl acetate phase (IC50 = 128 {\textmu}g/mL) were cytotoxic in both cell lines, while butanol phase and ellagic acid both with IC50 \>2048 {\textmu}g/mL seemed to be safer. Conclusions: The results obtained indicate that the Excoecaria leaves can be conventionally used as antimicrobial, but it should be present that some cytotoxicity could appear. In addition, the three identified compounds were reported for the first time in the species.

}, keywords = {Corilagin, Ellagic acid, Ethnopharmacological use, Selectivity index, Tannins}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_124_16}, author = {Ania Ochoa-Pacheco and Julio C{\'e}sar Escalona Arranz and Munyewu Beaven and Renato Peres-Roses and Yordania Matos G{\'a}mez and Miladis I Camacho-Pozo and Gabriel Llaurad{\'o} Maury and Ma{\'\i}ra Bidart de Macedo and Paul Cos and Josean Fechine Tavares and Marcelo Sobral da Silva} } @article {502, title = {Croton grewioides Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) Shows Antidiarrheal Activity in Mice}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {May 2016}, pages = {202-205}, type = {Short Communication}, chapter = {202}, abstract = {

Based on chemotaxonomy, we decided to investigate the possible antidiarrheal activity in mice of a crude ethanolic extract obtained from aerial parts of Croton grewioides (CG-EtOH). We tested for any possible toxicity in rat erythrocytes and acute toxicity in mice. Antidiarrheal activity was assessed by determining the effect of CG-EtOH on defecation frequency, liquid stool, intestinal motility and intestinal fluid accumulation. CG-EtOH showed no in vitro cytotoxicity and was not orally lethal. In contrast, the extract given intraperitoneally (at 2000 mg/kg) was lethal, but only in females. CG-EtOH produced a significant and equipotent antidiarrheal activity, both in defecation frequency (ED50 = 106.0 {\textpm} 8.1 mg/kg) and liquid stools (ED50 = 105.0 {\textpm} 9.2 mg/kg). However, CG-EtOH (125 mg/kg) decreased intestinal motility by only 22.7\% {\textpm}4.4\%. Moreover, extract markedly inhibited the castor oil-induced intestinal contents (ED50 = 34.6 {\textpm} 5.4 mg/ kg). We thus conclude that CG-EtOH is not orally lethal and contains active principles with antidiarrheal activity, and this effect seems to involve mostly changes in intestinal secretion.

}, keywords = {Croton grewioides, Diarrheal, Intestinal fluid, Motility, Toxicity}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.181465}, author = {Anne Dayse Soares da Silva and Karoline de Melo e Silva and Jos{\'e} Clementino Neto and Vicente Carlos de Oliveira Costa and Hilzeth de Luna F. Pess{\^o}a and Josean Fechine Tavares and Marcelo Sobral da Silva and Fabiana de Andrade Cavalcante} }