1. Antifungal principles of Baccharis pedunculata [letter]

Rahalison L; Benathan M; Monod M; Frenk E; Gupta MP; Solis PN; Fuzzati N; Hostettmann K

Planta Med 61: 360-2 (1995)

Abstract

Four compounds including a flavone, an acetylenic lactone, a prenylated coumarin, and a 3-methyl ether flavone were isolated from the dichloromethane leaf extract of Baccharis pedunculata (Mill.) Cabr. (Asteraceae). The latter three compounds were identified to be responsible for the antifungal activity against some human pathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi. The most active compound, lachnophyllum lactone, an acetylenic lactone, showed a very high toxicity (LD50 2 micrograms/ml) against human keratinocytes.

2. Insect antifeedant activity of clerodane diterpenoids.

Sosa ME; Tonn CE; Giordano OS

J Nat Prod, 57: 9, 1994 Sep, 1262-5

Fourteen clerodane-type diterpenoids isolated from plants in the genera Baccharis, Teucrium, and Salvia were assayed for antifeedant activity against Tenebrio molitor larvae in order to establish structure-activity relationships. Among the compounds tested, furanoditerpenes with alpha, beta-unsaturated-gamma-lactone moieties, or C-4-epoxy substitution with C-5-methylacetoxy or C-12-acyloxy functionalities, exhibited maximal antifeedant and repellent activities.

3. Antiulcer and Antidiarrhoeic Effect of Baccharis teindalensis

G. Vidari 1 , Vita P. Finzi 1 , A. Zarzuelo 2 , J. Gáálvez 2 , C. Zafra 2 , X. Chiriboga 3 , B. Berenguer 4 , C. La Casa 4, Alarcóón C. de la Lastra 4 , V. Motilva 4 and M.J. Martíín 4

1 Universita degli Studi di Pavia, Dipartimento di Chimica Organica, Italy

2 Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Farmacologíía, Facultad de Farmacia, Spain

3 Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ciencias Quíímicas, Quito, Ecuador

4 Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Farmacologíía, Facultad de Farmacia, Spain

Pharmaceutical Biology, 2003, Vol.41, No.6, pp. 405-411, 1388-0209/2003/4106-405$16.00 ©© Swets & Zeitlinger

Baccharis teindalensis is a herbal plant which is widely used in folk medicine in Ecuador as an antiinflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial remedy. This study deals with the isolation and investigation of the main active principles of its ethanol extract, especially polyphenolic compounds belonging to the flavonoid family. Moreover, we have evaluated the antidiarrhoeic and antiulcer activities of this extract in different mouse models. The ethanol extract of B. teindalensis showed antidiarrhoeic activity against the castor oil induced diarrhoea, at all doses tested. The dose of 100 mg/kg significantly retarded the appearance of first diarrhoeic faeces (p < 0.01) and decreased the percentage of wet faeces excreted in the following four hours after administration of the cathartic agent. Both assayed doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the total weight of excreted diarrhoeic faeces (p < 0.01). On the other hand, oral pretreatment with a 100 mg/kg dose considerably diminished absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcers (p < 0.001), whereas the lowest dose of B. teindalensis did not improve the mucosal macroscopic appearance. Furthermore, the ethanol extract induced a significant increase in myeloperoxidase activity as an index of the neutrophilic infiltration (p < 0.05 vs control) and the higher dose of this extract (100 mg/kg) inhibited it in a remarkable way (p < 0.001). These results confirm the gastrointestinal protection afforded by B.teindalensis and suggest that the antiulcer effect could be partially due to its antiinflammatory properties.

Keywords: Baccharis teindalensis , flavonoids , antidiarrhoeic effect , antiulcer effect , myeloperoxidase activity , neutrophils .

4. T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol metabolism by Baccharis spp.

Mirocha CJ; Abbas HK; Treeful L; Bean G

Appl Environ Microbiol, 54: 9, 1988 Sep, 2277-80

Hybrids resulting from crosses between Baccharis sarothroides and B. pilularis (FS1), B. sarothroides (FS2) and B. megapotamica (FS3) were tested for their tolerance to trichothecenes as well as their ability to metabolize the toxins. B. sarothroides (desert broom) was placed in an aqueous solution containing 500 ppm of T-2 toxin and showed visible signs of toxicity on the twigs at 21 h after exposure but not at 6 h, indicating some resistance. Samples of the twigs harvested 6 and 21 h after treatment contained, respectively, T-2 (0.03 and 2.2 micrograms/g), HT-2 (0.09 and 7.6 micrograms/g), and T-2-tetraol (2.1 and 2.6 micrograms/g). The hybrid FS1 showed no signs of toxicity 6 h after treatment, and its twigs contained T-2 (0.8 micrograms/g), HT-2 (10.2 micrograms/g), and T-2-tetraol (10.8 micrograms/g). The leaves at 6 h contained 0.5 micrograms of T-2, 1.7 micrograms of HT-2, 0.01 microgram of 3’-hydroxy-HT-2, and 41 micrograms of T-2-tetraol per g. At 21 h, toxic signs were apparent and the twigs contained T-2 (39 micrograms/g), HT-2 (62 micrograms/g), 3’-hydroxy-HT-2 (0.8 microgram/g), and T-2-tetraol (22 micrograms/g).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5. Antiviral activity of Bolivian plant extract.

By Abad, M. J.

Gen. Pharmacol. 1999; 32(4): 499-503