Antimycobacterial and antitumoral activities of argentine plants belonging to the Amaranthaceae family (Chpter 5)

ALICIA B. POMILIO; MARTA N. VACCHINO; ARTURO A. VITALE

South American Medicinal Plants as a Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds

Transworld Research Network (UK)

Lugar: Kerala, India; Año: 2008; p. 73 - 113

Antimycobacterial and antitumoral activities were tested in Alternanthera, Amaranthus and Gomphrena species, which belong to the Amaranthaceae family. As a rule, antitumoral properties have always been studied in higher plants. The search for antimycobacterials is due to the reemergence of tuberculosis and other infections caused by Mycobacterium spp. as potential public health threats. The naturally-occurring compounds, e.g., fatty acids, terpenoids, betalains, and flavonoids, were isolated and identified in the plants under study. Results are discussed on the basis of the mycobacterial cell-wall as target for antimycobacterial drugs. Active compounds gave MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 15m/ml (3,6-dimethoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone), 20 mg/ml (3,5-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone and 3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone), 50 mg/ml (isorhamnetin 3-O-robinobioside) and 75 mg/ml (5,6-dimethoxy-7- hydroxyflavone and 3-methoxy-5-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone). Streptomycin sulfate was used as a positive control (10 mg/ml). Kaempferol glycosides (MIC 50-100 ìg/ml) showed a higher ntimycobacterial activity than quercetin glycosides (MIC > 100 mg/ml). A synergism with cyclopropenic fatty acids was observed. Flavones and flavonoid glycosides were involved in the antitumoral activityin higher plants. The search for antimycobacterials is due to the reemergence of tuberculosis and other infections caused by Mycobacterium spp. as potential public health threats. The naturally-occurring compounds, e.g., fatty acids, terpenoids, betalains, and flavonoids, were isolated and identified in the plants under study. Results are discussed on the basis of the mycobacterial cell-wall as target for antimycobacterial drugs. Active compounds gave MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 15 mg/ml (3,6-dimethoxy- 5,7-dihydroxyflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone), 20 mg/ml (3,5- dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone and 3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone), 50 mg/ml (isorhamnetin 3-O-robinobioside) and 75 ìg/ml (5,6-dimethoxy-7- hydroxyflavone and 3-methoxy-5-hydroxy-6,7- methylenedioxyflavone). Streptomycin sulfate was used as a positive control (10 mg/ml). Kaempferol glycosides (MIC 50-100 mg/ml) showed a higher antimycobacterial activity than quercetin glycosides (MIC > 100 mg/ml). A synergism with cyclopropenic fatty acids was observed. Flavones and flavonoid glycosides were involved in the antitumoral activity. in higher plants. The search for antimycobacterials is due to the reemergence of tuberculosis and other infections caused by Mycobacterium spp. as potential public health threats. The naturally-occurring compounds, e.g., fatty acids, terpenoids, betalains, and flavonoids, were isolated and identified in the plants under study. Results are discussed on the basis of the mycobacterial cell-wall as target for antimycobacterial drugs. Active compounds gave MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of 15 ìg/ml (3,6-dimethoxy- 5,7-dihydroxyflavone and 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone), 20 ìg/ml (3,5- dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone and 3,5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone), 50 ìg/ml (isorhamnetin 3-O-robinobioside) and 75 mg/ml (5,6-dimethoxy-7-hydroxyflavone and 3-methoxy-5-hydroxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone). Streptomycin sulfate was used as a positive control (10 mg/ml). Kaempferol glycosides (MIC 50-100 mg/ml) showed a higher antimycobacterial activity than quercetin glycosides (MIC > 100 mg/ml). A synergism with cyclopropenic fatty acids was observed. Flavones and flavonoid glycosides were involved in the antitumoral activity.