Eupatorium Laevigatum Research Articles

Treatments for Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common condition in the Western world, and the condition is one that is not especially responsive to conventional treatments. Although poorly researched, there are many botanicals that have a long history of use in traditional medicine. These remedies, combined with dietary and other changes, are reportedly able to both soothe an acute outbreak as well as preventing recurrences. The remedies are benign, and practitioners should be comfortable using them while, we hope, these herbs are studied further to determine the extent of benefit they provide for patients with this condition. Rhodiola rosea (rhodiola) root, Glycyrrhiza spp. (licorice) root, Coptis spp. (goldthread) root, Coptis chinensis (huang lian) root, Phytolacca americana (poke root), Eupatorium laevigatum (eupatorium; now frequently called Chromolaena laevigatu) herb, Alchemilla vulgaris (lady’s mantle) leaf, Myrtus communis (myrtle) leaf, Spilanthes acmella (toothache plant) herb, and Echinacea spp. (purple coneflower) root or herb are all discussed as potential treatments in this article.

Biological studies on Brazilian plants used in wound healing

Aim of the study n-Hexanic and ethanolic extracts from twelve plants ( Brugmansia suaveolens Brecht. et Presl., Eupatorium laevigatum Lam., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Iresine herbstii Hook., Kalanchöe tubiflora Hamet-Ahti, Petiveria alliacea L., Pluchea sagittalis (Lam.) Cabrera, Piper regnellii DC., Schinus molle L., Sedum dendroideum Moç et Sessé ex DC., Waltheria douradinha St. Hill., Xanthium cavanillesii Schouw.) used in traditional South Brazilian medicine as wound healing agents were investigated in various biological assays, targeting different aspects in this complex process. Materials and methods The extracts were investigated on NF-κB DNA binding, p38α MAPK, TNF-α release, direct elastase inhibition and its release as well as on caspase-3. Fibroblasts migration to and proliferation into the wounded monolayers were evaluated in the scratch assay, the agar diffusion test for antibacterial and the MTT assay for cytotoxic effects. Results The hydrophilic extracts from Galinsoga parviflora, Petiveria alliacea, Schinus molle, Waltheria douradinha and Xanthium cavanillesii as well as the lipophilic extract of Waltheria douradinha turned out to be the most active ones. Conclusions These results increase our knowledge on the wound healing effects of the investigated medicinal plants. Further studies are necessary to find out the effective secondary metabolites responsible for the observed effects.

Volatile compounds of Baccharis punctulata, Baccharis dracunculifolia and Eupatorium laevigatum obtained using solid phase microextraction and hydrodistillation

In this work the qualitative chromatographic profiles of the volatile oil obtained with fresh chopped leaves of Baccharis punctulata, Baccharis dracunculifolia and Eupatorium laevigatum, using HS-SPME were compared with their hydrodistilled oils. Several Brazilian native plant species have not yet been studied regarding their volatile compounds composition. Conventional techniques employed for the investigation of volatile compounds, such as hydrodistillation, may impart chemical changes to the original oil composition. The use of HS-SPME provides alternative milder extraction conditions, preventing chemical transformations and supplying complementary information about volatiles composition. Coumarin and coumaran were detected by the first time among volatile components of E. laevigatum leaves after mechanical damage, only when using HS-SPME. Differences and similarities perceived between volatile compounds profiles using both extraction techniques are discussed, showing that they are complementary and may bring insight about fresh leaf volatiles playing infochemical roles and about chemical transformations caused by hydrodistillation.

Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea e Papilionoidea) visitantes florais no Jardim Botânico da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil

Butterfl ies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) visiting fl owers in the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Urban environments, such as parks and gardens, may offer many alimentary resources, besides shelter and favorable conditions, for butterfl y survival. This study aimed to make an inventory of butterfl ies visiting fl owers in the Botanical Garden ofthe Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). From March 2006 to March 2007, the fl oral visitors were observed weekly for 2h. After 108 hours’ observations, 1114 visits by 39 butterfl y species, associated with 43 plant species (21 families), were confi rmed. Among the butterfl ies, Nymphalidae had the highest richness of species (S = 18), followed by Hesperiidae (S = 8), Pieridae (S = 7), Papilionidae (S = 4) and Lycaenidae (S = 2). The pierid Phoebis philea philea was the most frequent species (187 visits), followed by hesperiids Urbanus proteus proteus (100), U. teleus (73) and the nymphalid Heliconius erato phyllis (71). Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Eupatorium laevigatum (Asteraceae), Russelia equisetiformis (Scrophulariaceae) and Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Verbenaceae) were the most visited plants. The Botanical Garden of UFSM is an example of an urban park that seems to provide fl oral resources for the feeding of many butterfl y species, beingalso a potential refuge for species from forest areas nearby.

New species of Transeius Chant and McMurtry (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Brazil

A new species of Transeius Chant and McMurtry is described from the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, based on specimens collected on Eupatorium laevigatum Lam. (Asteraceae).

Cytogenetics and embryology of Eupatorium laevigatum (Compositae)

Embryological studies indicate Eupatorium laevigatum to have Antennaria type diplospory with precocious embryony. The embryo sac is of the Polygonum type and the polar nuclei fuse before anthesis (maturation of the stamens). Endosperm development is autonomous and the central cell divides only after the initial stages of embryo formation. It is estimated that about 10% of the florets in anthesis contain an undivided egg which can be used for sexual reproduction. The study of microsporogenesis revealed abnormalities in chromosome pairing which result in the formation of univalents, bivalents, trivalents and higher polyvalents, with the consequent production of lagging chromosomes, unbalanced nuclei, micronuclei and sterile pollen. We found that, as represented by the material studied, E. laevigatum is an autohexaploid (2n = 6x = 60) in which each chromosome of a basic set of ten chromosomes is repeated six times and that E. laevigatum is an essentialy obligate apomictic.

Regeneração pós-fogo em um fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual no município de Viçosa, MG.

Estudou-se a vegetação colonizadora seis meses após perturbação por fogo, em uma área do Campus da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em Viçosa (20o 45' S, 42o 51' W ), MG. A área total de floresta secundária atingida por incêndio foi de 12 hectares, apresentando níveis diferenciados de destruição da vegetação. O estudo concentrou-se no trecho onde o efeito do fogo foi mais drástico, com a destruição total da cobertura vegetal. Dentro da área de estudo, foram comparadas duas toposseqüências de relevo: côncavo (ravina) e convexo (crista). Em cada toposseqüência, foram instaladas dezoito parcelas contíguas de 5x5 m, totalizando 36 parcelas, nas quais foram identificadas todas as plantas vasculares. No total, foram amostradas 75 espécies, pertencentes a 26 famílias. As famílias mais ricas em espécies foram: Asteraceae (14), Poaceae (10), Malvaceae (7) e Fabaceae (6). Na toposseqüência crista as espécies com maior valor de cobertura foram: Sida carpinifolia seguida de Melinis minutiflora, Diodia alata e Eupatorium laevigatum, e na ravina: Melinis minutiflora, Eupatorium laevigatum, Sida carpinifolia e Sidastrum paniculatum. Todas as parcelas apresentaram mais de 90% da área coberta por vegetação herbácea e subarbustiva, destacando a importância dessa vegetação inicial na proteção do solo contra processos erosivos em relevos acidentados.

In vitro Cytotoxicity of Extracts from Brazilian Asteraceae

Aqueous and organic extracts of Asteraceae (Compositae) collected from the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, have been tested in vitro for cytotoxic activity against human solid tumour cell lines. Twenty-five species, 125 extracts in total, were screened against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells and NCI-H460 human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Twenty-five extracts from 11 species demonstrated cytotoxicity at 100µg/ml against one or both of the cell lines tested. Further analysis was performed on the active extracts using three cell lines HT29, NCI-H460, and U373 human glioblastoma cells, to determine the IC 50 and the degree of tumour cell line selectivity. Extracts from Baccharis coridifolia, Baccharis ochracea, Eupatorium macrocephalum, Eupatorium pedunculosum and Stenachaenium riedelii all produced IC 50 values below 5µg/ml. Comparison of the IC 50 results between cell lines identified that Baccharis coridifolia, Baccharis ochracea, Eupatorium laevigatum and Pluchea sagittalis extracts produced differential sensitivity across the panel of three cell lines. These species are currently under further investigation with the ultimate objective of isolation and identification of the active principles responsible for the anti-proliferative activity.

Germinação de sementes de Asteraceae nativas no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Aquênios (sementes) recém coletados, de treze espécies nativas de Asteraceae comuns nos ambientes abertos da região sul do Brasil foram testados quanto à germinação em temperaturas alternadas ( 20/10; 25/15; 30/20; 35/25°C) e sob temperaturas constantes ( 20; 25 e 30°C) com ou sem luz. A temperatura ótima para germinação varia entre as espécies, sendo que as espécies Elephantopus mobilis; Eupatorium laevigatum; Mikania cordifolia; Senecio oxyphyllus; Trixis prastens germinam de forma semelhante em todas temperaturas testadas. Eclipta alba tem sua germinação promovida a 30°C. Tagetes minuta tem a germinação das sementes promovida a 20°C. Em Senecio heterotrichius; S. selloi; Stenachaenium campestre; Symphyopappus casarettoi e Vernonia nudiflora as sementes germinam igualmente a 20 ou 25°C.. A luz promoveu a germinação de todas espécies exceto para Stenachaenium campestre e Tagetes minuta, sendo esta última espécie fotoblástica negativa. Quanto ao tempo médio de germinação, as espécies podem ser divididas em ; rápidas- menos de 5 dias (Baccharis trimera; Eclipta alba; Elephantopus mollis; Stenachaenium campestre e Vernonia nudiflora); intermediárias: entre 5 e 10 dias ( Eupatorium laevigatum; Mikania cordifolia e Tagetes minuta) ; lentas: mais de 10 dias (Senecio heterotrichius; S.oxyphyllus; S.selloi; Symphyopappus casarettoi e Trixis praestans).Os resultados mostram que a germinação de sementes de Asteraceas variam com a temperatura e o regime de luz; podendo prover uma base inicial para interpretação de efeitos sazonais sobre a germinação e estabelecimento a campo. Em adição, comentários sobre o substrato ágar ou areia são feitos.

Safety and efficacy ofEupatorium laevigatum paste as therapy for buccal aphthae: Randomized, double-blind comparison with triamcinolone 0.1% orabase

Eupatorium laevigatum Lam. is a plant common to the central region of Brazil, where it is a widely used remedy for lesions such as buccal aphthae. These painful inflammatory ulcers affect 50% of the general population. For the first part of this two-part study, a phytotherapeutic preparation from E. laevigatum extracts was formulated into an orabase paste appropriate for use on the buccal mucosa. The study evaluated the toxicologic safety of this paste in 20 healthy volunteers, as determined by changes in biochemical and hematologic values and on urinalysis and intrabuccal examination. The second part of the study was a randomized, double-blind comparison of efficacy with triamcinolone 0.1% orabase in 60 patients. The healthy volunteers tolerated the phytotherapeutic paste well, and no adverse effects could be attributed to its use. In the clinical comparison, after 5 days of treatment, 40% of the patients who used the paste and 26.7% of those who used triamcinolone obtained complete cure of the ulcers. Pain was alleviated in 70% of the phytotherapeutic group and in 33.3% of the triamcinolone group. The phytotherapeutic paste of E. laevigatum was a safe and effective treatment of buccal aphthae, the most common disease of the buccal mucosa.

Antinociceptive effect of some Argentine medicinal species of Eupatorium

Eupatorium laevigatum, E. arnottianum and E. subhastatum, plants used in Argentine folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation and pain related problems, were evaluated for analgesic activity. The infusions of these species (500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a reduction in the number of stretches of 46.6%, 41.5% and 35.6% respectively, in the acetic acid induced writhing test. This antinociceptive effect of the infusions was not reversed by pretreatment with naloxone. The infusions studied did not produce antinociceptive effects when assayed in the hot plate test. These results suggest that the analgesic activity is exerted by a mechanism unrelated to interaction with opioid systems.

The Essential oil ofEupatorium laevigatum

ABSTRACT Twenty-eight compounds have been characterized by GC/MS in an oil of Eupatorium laevigatum. The major components were β-caryophyllene (9.6%), β-cubebene (12.5%), γ-elemene (9.5%), β-bisabolene (6.6%) and laevigatin (15.1%).