Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa

The current paper investigated the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Laennecia confusa (Cronquist) G. L. Nesom (Asteraceae). Fractions from the hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts were analyzed for antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasi...

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Main Authors: María G. Martínez Ruiz, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Zaida N. Juárez, Yossef Av-Gay, Horacio Bach, Luis R. Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/263572
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author María G. Martínez Ruiz
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt
Zaida N. Juárez
Yossef Av-Gay
Horacio Bach
Luis R. Hernández
author_facet María G. Martínez Ruiz
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt
Zaida N. Juárez
Yossef Av-Gay
Horacio Bach
Luis R. Hernández
author_sort María G. Martínez Ruiz
collection DOAJ
description The current paper investigated the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Laennecia confusa (Cronquist) G. L. Nesom (Asteraceae). Fractions from the hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts were analyzed for antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic activities. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts and fractions was assessed on bacterial and fungal strains, in addition to the protozoa Leishmania donovani, using a microdilution assay. The propensity of the plant's compounds to produce adverse effects on human health was also evaluated using propidium iodine to identify damage to human macrophages. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and fractions was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6. Chemical analyses demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, cyanogenic and cardiotonic glycosides, saponins, sesquiterpene lactones, and triterpenes in the chloroform extract. A number of extracts and fractions show antibacterial activity. Of particular interest is antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and its relative methicillin-resistant strain, MRSA. Hexanic and chloroformic fractions also exhibit antifungal activity and two extracts and the fraction CE 2 antiparasitic activity against Leishmania donovani. All bioactive extracts and fractions assayed were also found to be cytotoxic to macrophages. In addition, the hexane and methane extracts show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the secretion of interleukine-6.
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spelling doaj-art-b9c4f0450ac640adbadb2e5cb80a58f32025-02-03T01:27:51ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/263572263572Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusaMaría G. Martínez Ruiz0Melissa Richard-Greenblatt1Zaida N. Juárez2Yossef Av-Gay3Horacio Bach4Luis R. Hernández5Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Santa Catarina Mártir s/n, 72820 Cholula, PUE, MexicoDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3J5, CanadaDepartamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad Biotecnoambiental, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, 72410, Puebla, PUE, MexicoDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3J5, CanadaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 3J5, CanadaDepartamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Santa Catarina Mártir s/n, 72820 Cholula, PUE, MexicoThe current paper investigated the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Laennecia confusa (Cronquist) G. L. Nesom (Asteraceae). Fractions from the hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts were analyzed for antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic activities. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts and fractions was assessed on bacterial and fungal strains, in addition to the protozoa Leishmania donovani, using a microdilution assay. The propensity of the plant's compounds to produce adverse effects on human health was also evaluated using propidium iodine to identify damage to human macrophages. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and fractions was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6. Chemical analyses demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, cyanogenic and cardiotonic glycosides, saponins, sesquiterpene lactones, and triterpenes in the chloroform extract. A number of extracts and fractions show antibacterial activity. Of particular interest is antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and its relative methicillin-resistant strain, MRSA. Hexanic and chloroformic fractions also exhibit antifungal activity and two extracts and the fraction CE 2 antiparasitic activity against Leishmania donovani. All bioactive extracts and fractions assayed were also found to be cytotoxic to macrophages. In addition, the hexane and methane extracts show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the secretion of interleukine-6.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/263572
spellingShingle María G. Martínez Ruiz
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt
Zaida N. Juárez
Yossef Av-Gay
Horacio Bach
Luis R. Hernández
Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
The Scientific World Journal
title Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
title_full Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
title_fullStr Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
title_full_unstemmed Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
title_short Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiparasitic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Laennecia confusa
title_sort antimicrobial anti inflammatory antiparasitic and cytotoxic activities of laennecia confusa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/263572
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