RESUMO
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Morelos State is one of the most important regions of Mexico where several plant species are used in traditional medicine to influence central nervous system (CNS) activity; for example Tagetes lucida Cav. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the tranquilizing properties of T. lucida aerial parts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on the medicinal uses of T. lucida were explored by interviewing healers and merchants of local markets in different regions of Morelos State by using a questionnaire. Anxiolytic and/or sedative-like responses of the T. lucida were investigated in experimental models in mice such as: open-field, exploration cylinder, hole-board, plus-maze, and the barbituric-induced hypnosis potentiation. The possible mechanism of action was explored in the presence of WAY100635 (0.32mg/kg, i.p.) and flumazenil (10mg/kg, i.p.) antagonists. A feasible active compound was isolated and identified by using conventional chromatography, including UHPLC and MS (DART) [M+H]+ techniques. RESULTS: Interviews of healers and merchants from ten local regions of Morelos State showed that they recommended T. lucida as infusion and as tincture for several culture-bound syndromes associated with the CNS. Anxiolytic and sedative-like activities of polar extracts were corroborated in the experimental models; these effects were inhibited in the presence of 5-HT1A and GABA/BDZ receptor antagonists. Dimethylfraxetin was identified as one possible active compound. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the anxiolytic and sedative-like properties of T. lucida in traditional medicine by involving serotonergic and GABAergic neurotransmission and coumarinic constituents.
Assuntos
Etnobotânica/métodos , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Tagetes/química , Tranquilizantes/farmacologia , Animais , Etnofarmacologia/métodos , Feminino , Masculino , Medicina Tradicional/métodos , México , Camundongos , Fitoterapia/métodos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The anxiolytic and sedative effects of Tilia americana L. var. mexicana (Schltdl.) Hardin inflorescence extracts and its acute toxicity were tested. Sodium pentobarbital (SP)-induced hypnosis potentiation (SPP), as well as ambulatory activity and anti-anxiety response in three different experimental models were evaluated with hexane and methanol extracts in mice. In order to determine the proper timing of assessments and to identify the most active extract, a 100mg/kg dosage of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts were tested on SPP after 15, 30 and 60min of the administration. Then a dose-response curve was made for the hexane (10-1000mg/kg) and methanol (10-300mg/kg) extracts in all experimental models. Both extracts produced a significant and dose-dependent lengthening in the time of SP, with the methanol extract being more potent than the hexane extract at 60min after administration. Moreover, a significant and dose-dependent attenuation in the anxiety-response in the plus-maze test and exploratory cylinder activity, but also a diminution in the ambulatory activity and in the head dipping response were observed resembling the response to diazepam. Acute toxicity was observed with less dose of methanol extract (LD(50)=375mg/kg) in comparison to the hexane extract (LD(50)>2900mg/kg). Results of the present study shows that Tilia americana var. mexicana possesses depressant activity on the CNS similar to the better-studied species of European Tilia and reinforces its use as anxiolytic and sedative in traditional medicine.
Assuntos
Ansiolíticos/farmacologia , Hipnóticos e Sedativos/farmacologia , Tilia/química , Animais , Ansiolíticos/química , Diazepam/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Hexanos , Hipnóticos e Sedativos/química , Injeções Intraperitoneais , Dose Letal Mediana , Masculino , Metanol , Camundongos , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Pentobarbital/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/toxicidade , Solventes , Tilia/toxicidadeRESUMO
Medicinal plants are an essential part of indigenous pharmaceutical systems. We studied the medicinal plants used by the Popoluca of the Sierra Santa Marta (Eastern Mexico). This study is part of a series on the ethnopharmacology of various Macro-Mayan groups. During 16 months of ethnobotanical fieldwork, 614 taxa used medicinally and 4488 individual use-reports were documented. The data are analysed using the concept of the "healers' consensus" in order to identify culturally important medicinal plants. The medicinal uses of the plants were grouped into 13 illness categories. The responses for each species were summarized for each of the categories and were ordered by frequency of mention. The most frequently recorded medicinal plants of the Popoluca are Hamelia patens, used to stop bleeding from wounds, and Byrsonima crassifolia, used against diarrhoea. The high-ranked medicinal species were assessed pharmacognostically using published phytochemical and pharmacological data. Popoluca medicinal uses were fairly consistent with published data on active ingredients for those plants for which such data exist. However, data is still lacking for many other species. Toxicological studies are particularly scarce. This study will be used as a basis for subsequent studies on the pharmacology and phytochemistry of medicinal plant species.
Assuntos
Etnofarmacologia , Animais , Feminino , Gastroenteropatias/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças dos Genitais Femininos/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , México , Plantas Medicinais , Dermatopatias/tratamento farmacológicoRESUMO
The diaspores of the 50 most important maize field weed species (agrestals) in a traditional maize-growing area of south-central Mexico (region of Puebla and Tlaxcala) were analyzed for morphological adaptations to long-distance dispersal. Adaptations to wind-dispersal were absent and to endozoochory were minimal. Most species had no visible adaptations and are presumably transported with mud. However, about one-quarter of the taxa, particularly the tall and dominant ones, relied at least partially on burrs with hooks or awns. The possible vectors for these exo- or epizoochorous species are discussed: the most likely regular dispersers are humans (epianthropochory). Interviews with farmers confirm this conclusion. Using humans as vectors allows the plant to transport relatively large seeds to favorable habitats (directed dispersal). The importance of this relatively rare dispersal adaptation in Mexican maize field weeds leads to questions on the origin and evolution of these agrestals.