Verbena Littoralis Research Articles

Morphological and Molecular Detection of Spongospora subterranea on Plant Harvest in Infected Powder Scab Plots in Antioquia

Potato powdery scab is a disease that negatively affects both roots, causing gall formation, and tubers, resulting in brown pustules. Additionally, it leads to the development of resistance structures that can persist in the soil for several years. Globally, it is one of the most limiting diseases for potato cultivation. This study aimed to identify the species present in areas with a historical occurrence of powdery scab and to evaluate their role as alternative hosts for the pathogen. Samples were collected in the municipalities of Santa Rosa de Osos and La Unión (Ant- Col). The presence of structures (plasmodia and cystosori) associated with the pathogen in the roots was determined using trypan blue staining followed by optical microscopy analysis. Morphological identification revealed twenty-six families with pathogen structures, including Acmella mutisii, Amaranthus dubius, Bidens pilosa, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Holcus lanatus, Hypochaeris radicata, Juncus microcephalus, Oxalis corniculata, Pennisetum clandestinum, Phytolacca bogotensis, Poa annua, Polygonum nepalense, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rumex crispus, Sonchus oleraceus, Trifolium repens, Verbena litoralis, along with Fragaria x ananassa, Solanum tuberosum, and Zea mays. Molecular analysis using RT-PCR for the detection of Plasmodiophoromycetes revealed the presence of Spongospora subterranea in Solanum tuberosum; Polymyxa betae in S. tuberosum, O. corniculata, and T. repens; and Polymyxa graminis in Z. mays. This comprehensive study highlights the importance of crop rotation and weed control to disrupt the pathogen’s lifecycle as effective strategies to mitigate the impact of the disease. It emphasizes the role of alternative hosts and their substantial contribution to elevated inoculum levels.

Two in vitro anthelmintic assays of four Paraguayan medicinal plants for proof of concept of the role of polyphenols in their biological activities and LC-HRMS analysis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) control in small ruminants has relied on the systematic use of synthetic anthelmintics (AH), their effectiveness has been progressively decreasing due to the rise and diffusion of anthelmintic resistances. The most prevalent genera affecting small ruminants were Haemonchus spp., and Trichostrongylus spp. The investigation of new anthelmintics in plants is a highly studied option, especially when it is linked to ethnobotanical knowledge and phenolic compounds. The aims of our studyFour medicinal plants mentioned in traditional medicine were selected to evaluate their anthelmintic proprieties at different stages of the life cycle of GIN, namely: Kyllinga odorata Valh., Cassia occidentalis L., Artemisia absinthium L, and Verbena litoralis Kunth and to explore the role of polyphenols in the AH activity. Materials and methodsTo evaluate the anthelmintic activity in this study, two models of GIN species, namely Haemonchus contortus (Hc) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Tc) were selected and tested on two in vitro assays: 1) Larval Exsheathment Inhibition Assay (LEIA) and, 2) Egg Hatch Assay (EHA). To explore the role of tannins and polyphenols in AH activity by comparing the effects of LEIA and EHA with or without polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) and to characterize the phytochemical composition of the most active plants using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). ResultsC. occidentalis exhibited the highest activity on LEIA (EC50 = 250.42–41.80 μg/mL) and A. absinthium on egg hatching processes (EC50 = 121.70–137.34 μg/mL) in both species of GIN. The inhibition in the development of eggs was from 67.70% to 96.36% on H. contortus, and from 78.87% to 99.65% on T. colubriformis. At the maximal dose, Additionally, it was observed that the AH on eggs varies according to the GIN species: on H. contortus the extracts tested blocked the formation of larvae Ovicidal Effect (% higher OE) and on T. colubriformis they blocked the appearance of L1 larvae, Larvae Failing Eclosion (% higher LFE). After PVPP, a reduction in AH activity on LEIA and EHA was noted, especially with C. occidentalis (87.20–67.00% of larvae exsheathment, (p < 0.05) and 40.51–24.96% of egg hatching, (p > 0.05) of both parasite species. Nine putative features were identified using HRMS and MS/MS after addition of PVPP. ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated that C. occidentalis, A. absinthium, and K. odorata, which parts have been traditionally used as medicinal plants are a valuable source of active compounds with anthelmintic activity. The medicinal use of these plants against GIN parasites was proven by in vitro analysis. Therefore exploration of the secondary metabolites of these plant extracts and testing of isolated fractions of active compounds under in vivo experiments are planned and represent a specific challenge for alternative drug research. Regarding the PVPP, in this study we hypotheses about the standard doses it was not able to completely absorb the polyphenols of extracts of K. odorata, C. occidentalis, and A. absinthium, which would lead to more studies to evaluate the role of this product in the absorption of phenolic compounds.

Ethnobotanical and ethnoveterinary survey in Paraguay: Medicinal plants used for deworming

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infections, commonly called ―worms‖, affect both humans and animals. In veterinary medicine, the search for alternatives to control GIN is now considered a priority because of increasing resistances to commercial anthelmintics. The use of bioactive plants and related secondary metabolites is one of these alternatives. This study aimed to collect data on the use of medicinal plants (MPs) for humans and veterinary practices and at listing plant species with potential anthelmintic properties to select some plant species for further studies following three criteria (availability, originality and popularity). A cross sectional survey was conducted with a total of 384 participants, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews and a free list. To evaluate quantitative data of MPs, two ethnobotanical indices were calculated, the Salience index (SI) and the Use Value (UV). The importance and use of MPs in the population of study was high, 98% (372/383) of participants reported use MPs and 86% (321/384) mentioned knowledge of MPs used against GIN. The transmission of knowledge is not limited to the family environment. Sixteen plant species were listed belonging to 10 botanical families. The Asteraceae was the most popular botanical family. Six plants species were indicated for veterinary use. The four MPs selected for furthers studies were, namely: Kyllinga odorata Valh. (Cyperaceae), Cassia occidentalis L. (Fabaceae), Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae), Verbena litoralis Kunth. (Verbenaceae). Evaluation of those MPs based on in vitro and in vivo assays are planned to validate the traditional local knowledge of these 4 plants.

Phytochemical and antiplasmodial evaluation of five Colombian plants with ethnopharmacological background of antimalarial use

Background: The study of medicinal plants has made it possible to develop products and drugs for the treatment of different diseases. Several plants in Colombia have a history of popular use for the treatment of malaria. The objective of this work was to provide information on the antiplasmodic and phytochemical activity of five neotropical native plants with a folk use for the treatment of malarial.Methods: The ethanolic extract of each species was obtained by percolation method and characterized by TLC, HPLC, and 1H-NMR. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated against Plasmodium falciparum (strain FCR-3, chloroquine-resistant).Results: Ethanolic extracts of Ambelania duckey, Cecropia metensis, Cecropia membranacea, and Verbena littoralis showed no activity. However, Curarea toxicofera extract exhibited an IC50 of 7.6 ± 3.9 μg/mL and was classified as moderately active. Furthermore, hemolytic activity was assayed, none of the extracts were tested positive. A preliminary phytochemical study was carried out using tube analysis, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Steroids or triterpenes, and phenolic compounds were detected by TLC in all extracts. These findings were confirmed by characteristic aliphatic and aromatic signals in 1H-NMR spectra, corresponding to triterpenes and phenolics, respectively. Additionally, alkaloids were extracted from C. toxicofera and detected by aromatic signals in 1H-NMR spectra.Conclusion: ethanolic extract of C. toxicofera showed antiplasmodial activity (IC50 of 7.6 ± 3.9 μg/mL); this activity may be due to the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The ethanol extracts of A. duckey, C. membranacea, C. metensis, and V. littoralis did not present antiplasmodial activity.

Anti-inflammatory activity and identification of the Verbena litoralis Kunth crude extract constituents

Verbena litoralis is a plant popularly known as “gervaozinho-do-campo” in Portuguese. It is traditionally used for stomach, liver and gallbladder problems, and as an anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic. The goal of this study was to determine the chemical composition of the crude extract obtained from the aerial parts of V. litoralis by Ultra High Performance Liquid chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry in Tandem (UHPLC-MS/MS); assess the anti-inflammatory activity of ethyl acetate fraction and of crude extract; and verify liver, kidney and pancreas damage. In this study, the chemical composition of the extract was identified via UHPLC/MS/MS, assessing the anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extract and the acetate fraction in an induction model of the granulomatous tissue, as well as given liver, kidney and pancreas damage markers. Chlorogenic acid, luteolin, caffeic acid, apigenin, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid and quercetin were quantified in the extract. After the seven-day treatment, the granuloma of the animals treated with the plant extract and fraction presented values very close to the positive control (nimesulide). The V. litoralis crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction show anti-inflammatory activity similar to the nimesulide without evidence of liver, kidney and pancreas damage, which attributes the plant’s pharmacological action to the flavonoids found.

Floristic Composition and Diversity in Plots of Early Post-Agricultural Succession in Four Agroecosystems in the District of Cajatambo, Lima

In this paper, the floristic composition is studied in plots of early post-agricultural succession induced in four agroecosystems (Ocopata, Rancas, Tupicocha and Ucupi) in the district of Cajatambo, Lima. The plots are located between 2,992 masl and 4,220 masl in three plant formations (agriculture, scrubland and grassland), and the description of the floristic composition was made before and after inducing the succession between 2015 and 2017. The number of determined plants is 78, all of which belong to 30 botanical families, of which the Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species) and Poaceae (8 species) families stand out. Indeed, the only common species among the four agroecosystems is Medicago polymorpha ; moreover, five species appear in three of the four agroecosystems: Brassica rapa subsp. campestris and Verbena litoralis (Ocopata, Tupicocha and Rancas), Oenothera rosea and Trifolium repens (Ocopata, Rancas and Ucupi) and Bidens andicola (Tupicocha, Rancas and Ucupi).

Anatomia foliar de Verbena litoralis Kunth. (Verbenaceae)

Verbena litoralis, conhecida por gervãozinho-do-campo, dentre outras denominações, é utilizada na medicina popular contra diarreias, desordens gastrointestinais e febres. Recentemente, suas atividades antimicrobiana e antioxidante foram comprovadas. Para auxiliar na sua identificação, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever características anatômicas foliares de V. litoralis. Folhas adultas e expandidas foram coletadas no município de Taubaté-SP. Amostras coletadas do 2º e 3º nós foram fixadas e as secções obtidas à mão livre, com auxílio de lâmina de barbear e isopor foram obtidas no sentido transversal e paradérmico. As lâminas foram preparadas segundo técnicas usuais de anatomia vegetal. As folhas apresentam, em vista frontal da face adaxial, células sinuosas com estômatos anisocíticos, enquanto, na abaxial, estômatos anomocíticos. Tricomas glandulares e tectores unicelulares foram observados em ambas as faces. A nervura central é biconvexa com feixe vascular colateral, o mesofilo dorsiventral com parênquima paliçádico e lacunoso. A região basal do limbo, em vista transversal, apresenta inúmeros tricomas glandulares peltado e subssésis, além de tectores unicelulares, abaixo da epiderme ocorre colênquima angular, o sistema vascular é constituído por um feixe colateral e dois a quatro acessórios. Comparando com dados da literatura, a espécie em estudo se destaca pelas características dos tricomas glandulares.

Hepatoprotective activity of Verbena litoralis, Verbena montevidensis and their main iridoid, brasoside

Ethnopharmacological relevanceVerbena montevidensis and Verbena litoralis are plants that present morphological similarities. They are both known as “gervão" and “fel-da-terra”, among other popular names, and are used in folk medicine to treat diseases related to the liver and stomach. Aims of the studyThe aim of the current investigation was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the hepatoprotective properties and cytotoxicity of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of V. montevidensis, V. litoralis and their main iridoid in HepG2 cells. Materials and methodsAqueous and methanolic extracts from the dried aerial parts of V. montevidensis and V. litoralis were obtained. The methanolic extract of V. montevidensis afforded an iridoid as the main compound. The extracts and isolated compound were examined for the hepatoprotective effect and cytotoxicity in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells by MTT reduction and neutral red uptake methods. ResultsThe methanolic and aqueous extracts of both species showed the presence of iridoid and phenylethanoids as the main compounds. The iridoid brasoside was isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods. The phenylethanoid was characterized by HPLC, comparing the UV profile and retention time with an authentic sample. The results of the biological assays indicate that both aqueous and methanolic extracts of V. montevidensis and V. litoralis as well as brasoside were hepatoprotective against ethanol-induced damage in HepG2 cells. The effect can be attributed to the main compounds present since both classes are recognized for this activity. ConclusionsOur results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of V. montevidensis and V. litoralis in the treatment of liver disorders.

Acute and subacute toxicity and chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract of Verbena litoralis Kunth

Ethnopharmacological relevanceVerbena litoralis Kunth is a native species of South America, popularly known as gervãozinho-do-campo or erva-de-pai-caetano. It is used in gastrointestinal disorders, as detoxifying the organism, antifebrile properties and amidaglitis. Aim of the studyTo identify the chemical constituents of the hydroethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts of V. litoralis and to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity in male and female rats. Materials and methodsThe single dose (2000 mg/kg) of the extract was administered orally to male and female rats. In the subacute study the extract was given at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg during 28 days orally. Biochemical, hematological and histological analyzes were performed, oxidative stress markers were tested and chemical constituents were identified through UHPLC-ESI-HRMS ResultsSix classes of metabolites were identified: iridoids glycosides, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids-derived, phenylethanoid-derived, cinnamic acid-derived and triterpenes. In the acute treatment, the extract was classified as safe (category 5), according to the OECD guide. Our results demonstrated that subacute administration of the crude extract of V. litoralis at 400 mg/kg resulted in an increase in AST in males, whereas ALT enzyme showed a small increase in males that received 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract. ConclusionsThe extract of the aerial parts of Verbena litoralis did not present significant toxicity when administered a single dose. However, when different doses were administered for 28 days, were observed changes in hematological, biochemical and histological parameters in rats.

Vegetation changes and human settlement of Easter Island during the last millennia: a multiproxy study of the Lake Raraku sediments

Earlier palynological studies of lake sediments from Easter Island suggest that the island underwent a recent and abrupt replacement of palm-dominated forests by grasslands, interpreted as a deforestation by indigenous people. However, the available evidence is inconclusive due to the existence of extended hiatuses and ambiguous chronological frameworks in most of the sedimentary sequences studied. This has given rise to an ongoing debate about the timing and causes of the assumed ecological degradation and cultural breakdown. Our multiproxy study of a core recovered from Lake Raraku highlights the vegetation dynamics and environmental shifts in the catchment and its surroundings during the late Holocene. The sequence contains shorter hiatuses than in previously recovered cores and provides a more continuous history of environmental changes. The results show a long, gradual and stepped landscape shift from palm-dominated forests to grasslands. This change started c. 450 BC and lasted about two thousand years. The presence of Verbena litoralis, a common weed, which is associated with human activities in the pollen record, the significant correlation between shifts in charcoal influx, and the dominant pollen types suggest human disturbance of the vegetation. Therefore, human settlement on the island occurred c. 450 BC, some 1500 years earlier than is assumed. Climate variability also exerted a major influence on environmental changes. Two sedimentary gaps in the record are interpreted as periods of droughts that could have prevented peat growth and favoured its erosion during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age, respectively. At c. AD 1200, the water table rose and the former Raraku mire turned into a shallow lake, suggesting higher precipitation/evaporation rates coeval with a cooler and wetter Pan-Pacific AD 1300 event. Pollen and diatom records show large vegetation changes due to human activities c. AD 1200. Other recent vegetation changes also due to human activities entail the introduction of taxa (e.g. Psidium guajava, Eucalyptus sp.) and the disappearance of indigenous plants such as Sophora toromiro during the two last centuries. Although the evidence is not conclusive, the American origin of V. litoralis re-opens the debate about the possible role of Amerindians in the human colonisation of Easter Island.

Micropropagation, antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of extracts of Verbena litoralis Kunth (Verbenaceae)

This work describes an efficient micropropagation protocol for Verbena litoralis and the study of the antinociceptive and antioxidant activities in extracts of this species. For the establishment in vitro, surface-sterilization procedures and PVPP showed high efficiency in fungal-bacterial contamination and phenol oxidation controls. Nodal segments cultivation in MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (7.5 µM)/α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.005 µM) induced multiple shoots. Elongated shoots were rooted with IAA (0.2 µM). Acclimatization rates were elevated and the plants showed the typical features of this species. The hexanic fraction (HF) of powdered leaves presented a radical scavenging activity with IC(50) = 169.3 µg mL(-1). HF showed a non-dose dependent analgesic activity in the writhing test; its antinociceptive activity in the hot plate test was restricted to 500 mg kg(-1), which is the highest dose. The results of this study showed the potential of tissue culture on conservation and large scale multiplication and confirmed the traditional folk medicine use of V. litoralis.

Potentiation of nerve growth factor-induced elongation of neurites by gelsemiol and 9-hydroxysemperoside aglucone in PC12D cells.

In PC12D cells, nerve growth factor (NGF) increased the proportion of neurite-bearing cells and made neurites longer. A methanol extract of Verbena littoralis H. B. K. collected in Paraguay only slightly potentiated the proportion of PC12D cells with neurites but markedly increased the length of neurites in the presence of NGF (2 ng mL(-1)). The methanol extract was partitioned between ethyl acetate and water followed by further extraction of water fraction with n-butanol. The potentiating activity of NGF-action was observed in the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The n-butanol fraction was separated by silica gel chromatography, monitoring the NGF-potentiating activity to give gelsemiol and 9-hydroxysemperoside aglucone (9-OHSA). Neither compound (30-300 microM) exhibited neurite-inducing activity alone. Gelsemiol (100-300 microM) markedly enhanced an increase in the proportion of neurite-bearing cells and an extension of the neurite length in the presence of NGF (2 ng mL(-1)). Interestingly, in the presence of NGF (2 ng mL(-1)), 9-OHSA (100-300 microM) enhanced the elongation of neurites without affecting the increase in the proportion of cells with neurites. These results suggested that gelsemiol and 9-OHSA were major active components of V. littoralis in the NGF-potentiating action. It was possible that the mechanism of neurite elongation by NGF was different from that of the increase in the proportion of neurite-bearing cells, and that 9-OHSA selectively affected the neurite elongation mechanism.

Effects of fire on the structure and diversity of a Spartina argentinensis tall grassland

AbstractQuestion: What are the effects of fire on the structure and the diversity of a Spartina ar gentinensis tall grassland in the short and medium run. S. argentinensis is the dominant species of tall grasslands on inland marshes of the Chaco‐Pampean region (Argentina), where spontaneous or man‐made fires are very frequent.Location: Federico Wildermuth Reserve (31°57′S; 61°23′W), Province of Santa Fe, Argentina, an area never ploughed that supported cattle until its exclusion in 1988.Methods: Vegetation was surveyed in randomly placed permanent plots using the Braun‐Blanquet cover‐abundance scale. The data were analysed by multivariate methods (PCA and MRPP) for synthesizing information and testing hypotheses.Results: Fire did not have a long‐lasting effect on the tall grassland. There was only a temporarily reduction of cover‐abundance of S. argentinensis which allowed an increase in the number of accompanying species such as Heliotropium curassavicum, Pluchea sagittalis, and Verbena litoralis and of some naturalised or weed species, such as Melilotus alba and Cirsium vulgare, respectively. Fire increased diversity, which remained relatively high for two to three years. Three years after the fire there were no significant differences on the amount of litter accumulated on burned and unburned plots.Conclusion: Fire should be considered an intrinsic part of the dynamics of S. argentinensis tall grassland.

Search for Constituents with Neurotrophic Factor‐Potentiating Activity from the Medicinal Plants of Paraguay and Thailand

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Iridoids from the aerial parts of Verbena littoralis (Verbenaceae)

The iridoids, 6 S-hydroxy-8 S-methyl-4-methylene-hexahydro-cyclopenta[ c]pyran-3-one and 6 S,9 S-dihydroxy-8S-methyl-4-methylene-hexahydro-cyclopenta[ c]pyran-3-one, were isolated from the aerial parts of Verbena littoralis. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by means of NMR spectral data analysis. Both compounds showed moderate in vitro activity against gram positive and negative bacteria as well as moderate in vivo intestinal peristaltic action in mouse. The iridoids also showed moderate free radical scavenging activity against l,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as well as antioxidant activity, the latter being evidenced by redox properties measured using E1CD-HPLC.

A Total Synthesis of Verbenachalcone, a Bioactive Diaryl Ether from Verbena littoralis.

Abstract Verbenachalcone 1 , isolated from the aerial part of Verbena littoralis H. B. K. (Verbenaceae), has successfully been synthesized by employing anodic oxidation of the phenol derivative 3 , as the key step. The bromine and chlorine substituents of 3 effected regioselective introduction of a methoxy group, as well as modulating the oxidation reaction. A flow-cell type apparatus of anodic oxidation provided the desired diaryl ether 4 in good yield.

A total synthesis of verbenachalcone, a bioactive diaryl ether from Verbena littoralis

Verbenachalcone 1 , isolated from the aerial part of Verbena littoralis H. B. K. (Verbenaceae), has successfully been synthesized by employing anodic oxidation of the phenol derivative 3 , as the key step. The bromine and chlorine substituents of 3 effected regioselective introduction of a methoxy group, as well as modulating the oxidation reaction. A flow-cell type apparatus of anodic oxidation provided the desired diaryl ether 4 in good yield.

A New Iridoid Glycoside with Nerve Growth Factor-Potentiating Activity, Gelsemiol 6′-trans-Caffeoyl-1-glucoside, from Verbena littoralis.

A new iridoid glycoside, gelsemiol 6'-trans-caffeoyl-1-glucoside (1), was isolated from Verbena littoralis, together with four known phenylethanoid glycosides, acteoside (2), 2'-acetylacteoside (3), jionoside (4), and isoverbascoside (5). Their structures were elucidated by spectral data. Compound 1 showed weak enhancement of nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells.

Search for constituents with neurotrophic factor-potentiating activity from the medicinal plants of paraguay and Thailand.

20 medicinal plants of Paraguay and 3 medicinal plants of Thailand were examined on nerve growth factor (NGF)-potentiating activities in PC12D cells. The trail results demonstrated that the methanol extracts of four plants, Verbena littoralis, Scoparia dulcis, Artemisia absinthium and Garcinia xanthochymus, markedly enhanced the neurite outgrowth induced by NGF from PC12D cells. Furthermore, utilizing the bioactivity-guided separation we successfully isolated 32, 4 and 5 constituents from V. littoralis, S. dulcis and G. xanthochymus, respectively, including nine iridoid and iridoid glucosides (1-9), two dihydrochalcone dimers (10 and 11), two flavonoids and three flavonoid glycosides (12-16), two sterols (17 and 18), ten triterpenoids (19-28), five xanthones (29-33), one naphthoquinone (34), one benzenepropanamide (35), four phenylethanoid glycosides (36-39) and two other compounds (40 and 41). Among which, 15 compounds (1-4, 10-11, 14-18, 29-31 and 34) were new natural products. The results of pharmacological trails verified that littoralisone (1), gelsemiol (5), 7a-hydroxysemperoside aglucone (6), verbenachalcone (10), littorachalcone (11), stigmast-5-ene 3beta,7alpha,22alpha-triol (18), ursolic acid (19), 3beta-hydroxyurs-11-en-28,13beta-olide (24), oleanolic acid (25), 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (26), 1,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-7,8-di(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (29), 1,2,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (30), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-4,7,8-tri(3-methyl-2-butenyl)xanthone (31), 12b-hydroxy-des-D-garcigerrin A (32), garciniaxanthone E (33) and (4R)-4,9-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-alpha-lapachone (34) elicited marked enhancement of NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12D cells. These substances may contribute to the basic study and the medicinal development for the neurodegenerative disorder.

Naphthoquinone and Iridoid with NGF‐Potentiating Activity from Verbena littoralis.

One new naphthoquinone, (4R)-4,9-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-α-lapachone (1), and two new iridoids, 7a-hydroxygelsemiol (2) and 6-methoxysemperoside (3) were isolated from Verbena littoralis H. B. K. 1 (3-30 μM) and 2 (3 μM) showed a markedly enhancing activity of nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth from PC12D cells.