Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activities ofLopezia racemosa

Carla Cruz Paredes,Anaximandro Gómez-Velasco,Luis Ricardo Hernández,Eugenio Sánchez Arreola,Zaida Nelly Juárez,Paulina Bolívar Balbás,Horacio Bach

doi:10.1155/2013/237438

Abstract

The present study investigates the potential benefits of the Mexican medicinal plant Lopezia racemosa (Onagraceae). Extracts and fractions from aerial parts of this plant were assessed to determine their antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities in vitro. Aerial parts of the plant were extracted with various solvents and fractionated accordingly. Extracts and fractions were tested against a panel of nine bacterial and four fungal species. The antiparasitic activity was tested against Leishmania donovani, whereas the anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was determined by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6 from human-derived macrophages. The same macrophage cell line was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of the compounds. Various extracts and fractions showed antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The hexanic fraction HF 11-14b was the most interesting fraction with antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. The benefit of L. racemosa as a traditional medicinal plant was confirmed as shown by its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the biological activities of L. racemosa, including antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Highlights

Extracts and fractions obtained from L. racemosa were tested against a panel of Gramnegative and -positive bacteria
Fractions HF 11–14b and MF 28–36 and the extract CE prevented the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at concentrations of 40 μg/mL, whereas the fraction HF 16 inhibited the growth of S. aureus at the same concentration (Table 1)
The antifungal activity of L. racemosa was investigated against four strains of human pathogenic fungi

Summary

Introduction

Chemical profiles from L. racemosa have not yet been reported, but diverse polyphenols (e.g., tannins and flavonoids) and sterols have been isolated from the Onagraceae family [6,7,8]. The main tannin isolated from this family, oenothein B, has both in vivo and in vitro antitumor activities [9,10,11,12]. Among flavonoids, isolated compounds from this family include flavonols, glycoflavones, flavones, and chalcones [13, 14]. Most of the genera studied possess mainly flavonols, which include myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and remarkable amounts of various phenolic acids [6, 7, 15]. Some species produce significant amount of tocopherols, compounds that have been used as chemotaxonomic markers within the Onagraceae family [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion