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Antiprotozoal Effects of Wild Plants
Published in Mahendra Rai, Shandesh Bhattarai, Chistiane M. Feitosa, Ethnopharmacology of Wild Plants, 2021
Muhammad Subbayyal Akram, Rao Zahid Abbas, José L. Martinez
Metholic extract 150 mg/ml of H. brasiletto (Figure 7.6) produces inhibition (88–100%) of T. cruzi. However, other plants, A. mexicana and C. citratus, halt growth up to 83%. L. graveolens and C. texana show the least effect of 33% only. H. brasiletto shows the highest trypanocidal activity among all other wild plants which are traditionally used in Mexico. Phytochemical analysis of H. brasiletto reveals the presence of 5-methoxypsoralen, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, hematoxylin, phloroglucinol, brazilin, methyl gallate, caffeic acid and gallic acid (Argotte-ramos et al. 2006). These compounds show that it’s action on epimastigotes when used with a concentration of 7.92 mg/ml against T. cruzi. The extract of this plant also has unsaturated compounds, such as triterpenes, carboxyl groups, carbonyl groups, a sesquiterpene lactone, tannins, flavonoids and quinones (Pérez-Treviño et al. 2016). The mode of action and identification of active compounds from the extract is still unknown.
Plant Species from the Atlantic Forest Biome and Their Bioactive Constituents
Published in Luzia Valentina Modolo, Mary Ann Foglio, Brazilian Medicinal Plants, 2019
Rebeca Previate Medina, Carolina Rabal Biasetto, Lidiane Gaspareto Felippe, Lilian Cherubin Correia, Marília Valli, Afif Felix Monteiro, Alberto José Cavalheiro, Ângela Regina Araújo, Ian Castro-Gamboa, Maysa Furlan, Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani, Dulce Helena Siqueira Silva
Originally, the extension of Atlantic Forest covered around 150 million hectares. However, about 88% of the biomes' original distribution area has been lost as a result of extensive human occupation (Ribeiro et al., 2009). At the same time, the extraction of natural resources from Atlantic Forest dates back to the colonization era when the Brazilian tree pau-brasil (Caesalpinia echinata, Fabaceae) was extensively collected for extraction of red dye from the heartwood, composed of brazilin (1) and brazileine (2) (Figure 9.1) pigments. Unfortunately, this resource was not exploited in a sustainable way, and nowadays, the species is still classified as endangered. Subsequent deforestation mainly due to sugarcane, coffee and soybean plantations across 16th to 20th centuries have left less than 12% of the original vegetation. Geographic elements with little use to agriculture as the ridges “Serra do Mar” and “Serra da Mantiqueira” in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, have played a key role in the vegetation conservation in these areas.
Hair Coloring
Published in Dale H. Johnson, Hair and Hair Care, 2018
Natural extracts appear to have greater use in some Asian countries, where the main purpose is to blacken graying hair. Primary among these are the extracts of nutgall (active colorants gallic acid [14] and other tannin precursors), logwood (active colorant hematoxylin [15], and brazilwood (active colorant brazilin [15]. As with all of these types of natural coloring systems, a very limited color range is obtainable, although color intensity can be very strong. Given a choice, most users seem to prefer the predictability and versatility of systems based on synthetic dyes.
(E)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(2′-hydroxybenzyl)-4-chromanone isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. suppresses LPS-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages by downregulating inflammatory factors
Published in Immunopharmacology and Immunotoxicology, 2021
Eunji Kang, Jae Eun Park, Youngwan Seo, Ji Sook Han
Studies have shown that NOS synthesizes NO as a by-product while converting L-arginine to L-citrulline, which is significantly expressed by iNOS [8,32]. There are three isotypes of NOS: neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and iNOS. Under normal conditions, cells typically do not express iNOS. However, iNOS has been reported to be induced on expression of stimuli such as LPS, cytokines, or NF-κB, and thereby, generate large amounts of NO [33,34]. Subsequently, NO has been shown to mediate inflammatory response by interacting with superoxide anion to form a toxic oxidant peroxynitrite (ONOO-), which then activates macrophages [35]. This reaction has been observed to promote excessive inflammatory response by further increasing the expression of other inflammatory mediators [33]. In this study, exposure to LPS upregulated NO expression level, while HM-chromanone treatment was observed to significantly restore NO production. This suggested that HM-chromanone can suppress LPS-induced inflammatory response. Similarly, brazilin, a homoisoflavonoid compound, has been reported to inhibit NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages by inhibiting iNOS at mRNA and protein level [36]. Another study has shown that 4′-O-demethylophiopogonanone E, which is a homoisoflavonoid compound from Ophiopogon japonicas, also lowers NO production, and is associated with suppression of iNOS expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages [37].
Comparison between patch test results of natural dyes and standard allergens in batik workers with occupational contact dermatitis
Published in Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
Eka Devinta Novi Diana, Suci Widhiati, Moerbono Mochtar, Muhammad Eko Irawanto
Data reporting skin sensitisation to Swietenia species are sparse because of the limited number of reported cases14. A case report of the onset of ACD with a positive patch test for the brazilin component in sappan wood (Caesalpinia sappan) was reported in a 49-year-old woman in China10. This study obtained positive patch test results for sappan wood extract (Caesalpinia sappan) in 3 subjects (33.3%). Brazilin (C16H14O5) is the main component of sappan wood with a catechol group chemical structure that gives a red colour with a small molecular weight of 286.28 Da15. The brazilin component in Caesalpinia sappan affects the immune response that triggers skin sensitisation16.
Haematoxylin – the story of the blues
Published in British Journal of Biomedical Science, 2018
It is also worthy of note to recognise the fact that as well as the Spanish the Portuguese explorers were also harvesting another dye wood from the coasts of Central and Southern America. This wood was the Brazil wood, harvested from the Caesalpinia echinata species. The extract from these trees was called brazilin. The Portuguese explorers and sailors described the red heartwood of these trees as resembling the glowing embers or coals of a fire, in Portuguese the word to describe this is ‘brasa’ hence from this the word came the country’s name, Brazil [3]. As well as the Spanish and English, the Dutch and French also expressed interest in acquiring the Haematoxylin logwood. The Spanish naturally claimed a complete monopoly on all logwood sales and this extended to the profits from established logwood plantations. This lead to the seven years’ war between the Spanish, French and English (1756–63). The English during this time discovered the Haematoxylin Campechianum trees growing in British Honduras (Belize). Fights over the rights of British to settle and cut logwood in Belize, lead to the Treaty of Paris (1763) which gave rights to the British to cut logwood but gave sovereignty to the Spanish. The British employed woodcutters called ‘Baymen’. They sent tons of logwood back to England throughout 1700s and 1800s. Such was their notoriety, to this day the national flag and currency of Belize depicts the Baymen [5]. The haematoxylin continued to find a use as a fabric dye over the centuries and was used to stain the uniforms of both the North and South American soldiers during the American Civil War (1861–65). Similarly, it enjoyed another renaissance during both World Wars during the 1900s [2,3]. At this time access to the German manufactured alternative synthetic aniline dyes, the access to, and cost of which was prohibitive, for rather obvious reasons.