@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 {473, title = {Chromatographic Profiling of Ellagic Acid in Woodfordia fruticosa Flowers and their Gastroprotective Potential in Ethanol-induced Ulcers in Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {March 2016}, pages = {5-11}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {5}, abstract = {

Background: Woodfordia fruticosa, a plant of Indian origin, is extensively used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Objective: The aim of the present study was to standardize the flowers of W. fruticosa, Kurz (Lythraceae), an important plant of Indian origin and explore the chemical constituents contributing to its anti-ulcer activity. Materials and Methods: High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling of the three samples of W. fruticosa flowers purchased from three different markets was done using ellagic acid as the biomarker. Two doses of the aqueous extract of the W. fruticosa (AEWF) flowers were evaluated for anti-ulcer activity by ethanol-induced ulcer model in Wistar albino rats. Omeprazole was used as the positive control. The parameters used for the assessment of the anti-ulcer potential were total titratable acidity (TTA), ulcer index, and percentage protection. Results: The HPTLC and HPLC studies confirmed the presence of ellagic acid in all the three drug samples. The AEWF showed significant reduction in terms of TTA at both doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. The gastroprotection indicated by a lower ulcer index and higher percentage protection was significant for 200 mg/kg dose of AEWF, better than the protection afforded by omeprazole (10 mg/kg). Conclusion: The chromatographic profiling and the anti-ulcer studies served as an efficient tool in the characterization of ellagic acid as an important biomarker for the flowers of W. fruticosa and a probable contributor to the gastroprotective capacity of the drug. The bioactivity studies further supported the traditional use of W. fruticosa in the treatment of ulcers.

}, keywords = {Anti-ulcer activity, Ellagic acid, ethanol-induced ulcer, high-performance thin layer chromatography, Woodfordia fruticosa}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.178649}, author = {Yousuf Hussain Syed and Mohib Khan} }