Turnera Diffusa Research Articles

Ethnobotany and antibacterial activity of some plants used in traditional medicine of Zapotitlán de las Salinas, Puebla (México)

The village of Zapotitlán de las Salinas is situated in the Valley of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, Puebla, Mexico. Plant species used by the local inhabitants to treat gastrointestinal diseases were identified using ethnobotanical, ethnographic and taxonomic methods. Out of 119 interviews, 44 plant species were registered, of which the following are the most frequently used (listed in descending order): Lippia graveolens H.B. et K. (Verbenaceae), Lantana achyranthifolia Desf. (Verbenaceae), Turnera diffusa (Willd.) ex Schult. (Turneraceae), Lippia oaxacana Rob. et Greenm. (Verbenaceae), Gymnolaena oaxacana (Greenm.) Rydb. (Asteraceae), Cordia curassavica (Jacq.) Roem. et Schult. (Boraginaceae), Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) and Acalypha hederacea Torrey (Euphorbiaceae). From these plants, hexane, chloroform and ethanol extracts were prepared in order to assess their antibacterial activity against 14 bacterial strains causing the most common gastrointestinal diseases in Mexican population. All hexane extracts showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. There is a correlation between the frequency of mention (of plant use) and the antibacterial activity. In conclusion, the knowledge of plants most frequently used for gastrointestinal infections in Zapotitlán de las Salinas is supported by scientific rationale.

Components of Turnera diffusa Willd. var. afrodisiaca (Ward) Urb. Essential Oil

AbstractTurnera diffusa Willd. var. afrodisiaca (Ward) Urb. (syn. T. aphrodisiaca) (Turneraceae) is a common aromatic plant growing wild in the subtropical regions of America and Africa. Its essential oil was studied by GC and GC–MS. Fifty‐four components were characterized and identified, the most abundant being 1,8‐cineol (11.4%), opoplenone (10.3%) cadalene (5.1%) and epi‐cubenol (4.1%). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Morphological comparison of damiana ( Turnera diffusa, Willd.) regenerated in vitro from leaves cultured in solidified medium and liquid cultures

Damiana, a shrub of arid and semi-arid regions, is an important socio-economic plant. Its leaves and stems are used for flavoring and infusion. Damiana is reported to be a nervous system stimulant, aphrodisiac, and diuretic. The only source of stems and leaves are wild plants, and conditions for seed germination and propagation are not known. Damiana plants were micropropagated in liquid culture and solidified medium, and grown in field. Differences in growth were observed between the two types of plants.

Study of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of plants used as antidiabetics

The purpose of this research was to study the anti-hyperglycemic effect of 28 medicinal plants used in thetreatment of diabetes mellitus. Each plant was processed in the traditional way and intragastrically administered to temporarily hyperglycemic rabbits. The results showed that eight out of the 28 studied plants significantly decrease the hyperglycemic peak and/or the area under the glucose tolerance curve. These plants were: Guazuma ulmifolia, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Lepechinia caulescens, Rhizophora mangle, Musa sapientum, Trigonella foenum graceum, Turnera diffusa, and Euphorbia prostrata. The results suggest the validity of their clinical use in diabetes mellitus control, after their toxicological investigation.

Domestication of micropropagated plants of the spice damiana (Turnera diffusa)

Tissue culture propagation was performed on the spice shrub damiana (Turnera diffusa. Willd.) using MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962) supplemented with different combinations of the plant growth regulators, 6-benzyl adenine (BA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Organogenesis of leaf explants from wild plants and explants from propagated cuttings was compared; only the former regenerated complete plants. The highest shooting rate (92%) occurred at a concentration of 10(-7) M BA plus 10(-6) M IBA. Regenerated shoots were rooted in MS medium without any plant growth regulators. Foliage productivity of the micropropagated plants under field cultivation was determined yearly over 3 years. The yield increased annually for the first two years. The quantity of essential oils in propagated plants was similar to that of wild plants growing nearby. We propose tissue culture propagation of damiana as a viable means of domestication of this wild plant for semi-arid agriculture in Mexico. Commercial propagation would help to conserve wild populations of damiana that are currently threatened by overharvesting.

Callus induction and plantlet regeneration in damiana (Turnera diffusa, Willd.)

Experiments were performed to determine optimal conditions for callus induction and plantlet regeneration from damiana (Turnera diffusa, Willd.) leaf explants. MS media [7] and B5 media [4] were used; both of them were supplemented with different combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic, acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzyl-adenine (BA). In all cases the samples were incubated under continous fluorescent light, 100 μmol.m-2.sec-1, at 25±2°C for 60 days. Highest callus percentage was obtained in MS media supplemented with 2,4-D 10−5 M plus BA 10-8M. Maximum percentage and multiple shoots and leaves were produced in MS media with BA 10-5M and BA 10-5M plus 2,4-D 10-7M. These explants were transferred for rooting to MS medium without plant growth regulators. Later, rooted plantlets were successfully established in soil.