logo
    Abstract:
    An investigation of the ethanolic extract from stems of Caesalpinia echinata Lam (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) led to the isolation of five new cassane diterpenes along with known lambertianic acid. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic methods. A preliminary study on leishmanicidal activity demonstrated that compounds 1, 2 and 6 were found to inhibit the growth of amastigote-like forms of Leishmania amazonensis without affecting mononuclear cells obtained from human peripheral blood.
    Keywords:
    Caesalpinia
    Amastigote
    Caesalpinioideae
    An investigation of the ethanolic extract from stems of Caesalpinia echinata Lam (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) led to the isolation of five new cassane diterpenes along with known lambertianic acid. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic methods. A preliminary study on leishmanicidal activity demonstrated that compounds 1, 2 and 6 were found to inhibit the growth of amastigote-like forms of Leishmania amazonensis without affecting mononuclear cells obtained from human peripheral blood.
    Caesalpinia
    Amastigote
    Caesalpinioideae
    The pollen morphology of 11 species representing 5 genera of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae from Pakistan was examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Caesalpinioideae is ± a eurypalynous subfamily. The pollen grains are generallly radially symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate and triangular-trilobed. The tectum is commonly reticulate-rugulate or fossulate-foveolate, and often striate. The pollen morphology of the subfamily is significantly useful at the generic and specific levels. On the basis of apocolpium, mesocolpium and tectum features, three pollen types were recongnized, namely, B auhinia variegata - type , Caesalpinia pulcherrima - type and Senna holosericea - type.
    Caesalpinioideae
    Reticulate
    Subfamily
    Senna
    Caesalpinia
    Citations (18)
    Corniculariella brasiliensis sp. nov. is proposed here as a new species of coelomycetes, based on material isolated from the rhizosphere of Caesalpinia echinata. Corniculariella brasiliensis differs from other congeneric species mainly by the shape and size of the conidia. The phylogenetic relationship between Corniculariella and related genera is discussed.
    Caesalpinioideae
    Caesalpinia
    Citations (23)
    Background: Leishmaniasis is a potentially fatal, neglected parasitic disease caused by different species of Leishmania sp.Natural products, especially from plants; represent a rich source for the screening of potential antiparasitic compounds. Purpose and study design:In this study, we evaluated the leishmanicidal activity of thirteen plant extracts against the parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in vitro, the cytotoxic and hemolytic activity.The extracts with activity against the parasite, was determined the chemical constituents. Results:The hexane extracts of Bidens sulphurea and Plectranthus neochilus were the most effective extracts against promastigote forms at 24h and 48h.The EC 50 (50% effective concentration) value obtained for these extracts against promastigote forms were calculated to be 84.26µg/mL and 46.32µg/mL in 24h, respectively.The EC 50 values against intracellular amastigotes were higher than 100µg/mL after 48h of incubation for both extracts.Regarding cytotoxicity in peritoneal macrophages, extracts of B. sulphurea showed CC 50 values (cytotoxicity concentration of 50% of cells) of 103.9 and 80.30µg/ mL at 24 and 48h, respectively, whereas the CC 50 values for the P. neochilus extract were 66.95 and 34.39µg/mL at 24 and 48h, respectively.The extracts showed no significant hemolysis at the concentrations evaluated, and the CH 50 values were higher than 100µg/ mL.The chemical constituent of the hexane extracts of B. sulphurea and P. neochilus and their activity against L. amazonensis has not been previously described. Conclusion:Despite the unsatisfactory results against amastigotes forms, this study shows extracts obtained from botanical sources merit further study for their leishmanicidal properties.
    Amastigote
    Background: The fractionation of the n-hexane phase of the EtOH extract from the leaves of Duguetia lanceolata (Annonaceae) led to the identification of the sesquiterpene (–)-cyclocolorenone. Objective: Chemical characterization, including determination of the absolute stereochemistry, and in vitro evaluation of antileishmanial activity of the sesquiterpene (–)-cyclocolorenone, isolated from D. lanceolata, were carried out. Methods: (–)-Cyclocolorenone was isolated from D. lanceolata leaves using different chromato-graphic steps and its structure was defined by analysis of NMR and ESI-HRMS data. Additionally, the absolute configuration of (–)-cyclocolorenone was ambiguously assigned by means of vibra-tional circular dichroism (VCD). Antileishmanial activity of (–)-cyclocolorenone was evaluated on promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The integrity of the cell membrane of L. (L.) amazonensis was analyzed using the SYTOX green probe. Results: (–)-(1R,6S,7R,10R)-Cyclocolorenone displayed activity against promastigotes and amastigotes forms of L. (L.) amazonensis with IC50 of 4.54 and 28.44 , respectively. Further-more, this compound was non-toxic in J774 macrophage cells (CC50 > 458.71 ) with a selectivi-ty index > 100 (promastigotes) and > 32.2 (amastigotes). Additionally, (–)-cyclocolorenone was ob-served to target the parasite cell membrane. Conclusion: Obtained data suggested that (–)-cyclocolorenone, in which absolute configuration was determined, can be considered as a scaffold for the development of new drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
    Amastigote
    Absolute Configuration
    Acetogenin
    Bauhinia hekouensis T. Y. Tu & D. X. Zhang (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae), a narrow endemic from Hekou County, Yunnan Province, in southwestern China, is described and illustrated. The new species can be diagnosed by a combination of characters, including tendrilled lianas; bilobed leaves with nine to 11 nerves; terminal, racemose inflorescences; spindle-shaped, slightly falcate flower buds with acute apices; tubular hypanthium; five freely reflexed sepals during anthesis; and large white flowers with oblanceolate, crisped petal blades. The general morphology suggests an affinity of the new species to series Clavatae (de Wit) Wunderlin of section Phanera (Lour.) Wunderlin in Bauhinia L., especially to the species B. coccinea (Lour.) DC. and B. nervosa (Wall. ex Benth.) Baker.
    Caesalpinioideae
    Sepal
    Petal
    Bauhinia
    Caesalpinia
    Liana
    Stipule
    Pedicel
    Citations (1)
    The leishmaniases are severe parasitic diseases that occur worldwide, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Studies with medicinal plants can lead to a range of possibilities for treating and improving the patients' quality of life. Research on Azadirachta indica fractions and extracts has shown that they have excellent anti-leishmanial activity based on bioactivity-guided fractionation of ethanolic extracts of leaves and seeds and in vitro activity against promastigotes. In this research the most efficient extracts and fractions were selected for tests on intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. The ethanolic extract of the leaves and dichloromethane and chloroform fractions had IC(50) values of 38, 3.9 and 1.2 μg/mL for promastigotes and 9.8, 1.1 and 0.6 μg/mL for amastigotes, respectively, at 72 hours. For the ethanolic extract and dichloromethane fraction from nut tegument, the IC(50) was 2.7 and 2.1 μg/mL for promastigotes and 0.4 and 0.6 μg/mL for amastigotes. The cytotoxicity of the fractions presented selectivity that was between 8 to 32 times more toxic to promastigotes and 15 to 72 times to amastigotes than to macrophages. The extracts and fractions from leaves and fruits were more effective against amastigotes, and the fractionation increased activity against both promastigotes and amastigotes, enabling us to obtain potentially active fractions with low toxicity.
    Amastigote
    Azadirachta
    Anacardiaceae
    Dichloromethane