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Candida spp. is associated with almost 80% of all nosocomial fungal infections and is considered a major cause of blood stream infections. In humans, Cryptococcosis is a disease of the lungs caused by the fungi Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. It can be potentially fatal, especially in immune-compromised patients. In a search for antifungal drugs, Deguelia duckeana extracts were assayed against these two fungi and also against Candida albicans, which causes candidiasis. Hexane branches and CH2Cl2 root extracts as well as the substances 4-hydroxylonchocarpine, 3,5,4′-trimethoxy-4-prenylstilbene and 3′,4′-methylenedioxy-7-methoxyflavone were assayed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration. Phytochemical study of CH2Cl2 root and hexane branch extracts from D. duckeana A.M.G. Azevedo, Fabaceae, resulted in the isolation and characterization of nine phenolic compounds: 4-hydroxyderricine, 4-hydroxylonchocarpine, 3′,4′,7-trimethoxy-flavonol, 5,4′-dihydroxy-isolonchocarpine, 4-hydroxyderricidine, derricidine, 3,5,4′-trimethoxy-stilbene, 3′,4′,7-trimethoxyflavone and yangambin. The only active extract was a CH2Cl2 root showing minimal inhibitory concentration 800 μg/ml against C. gattii, and the investigation of compounds obtained from this extract showed that 4-hydroxylonchocarpine was active against all three fungi (C. neoformans, C. gattii and C. albicans). These results suggest that D. duckeana extracts have potential therapeutic value for the treatment of pathogenic fungi. Keywords: Amazonian plant, Chalcone, Flavonoid, Lignan, Stilbene, Timbó

In the past few years, accumulating evidence in the literature supports the existence of pathways of caspase-independent programmed cell death (CI-PCD). These pathways are likely to be acting as 'death backup systems' that ensure effective removal of defective cells from the organism. Similar to classical apoptosis i.e. caspase-dependent programmed cell death (CD-PCD), the mitochondrion is the main organelle orchestrating the series of events which are required for the induction of CI-PCD. In addition, the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bid are also key participants in CI-PCD. However, contrary to CD-PCD, CI-PCD involves executioners other than the caspases which include the cathepsins, the calpains and serine proteases. The protein AIF may also play an important role in the induction of CI-PCD. In this review we report current knowledge on CI-PCD and provide evidence for its regulation by chemotherapeutic agents currently used in the clinic and under investigation in clinical trials. Lastly, we discuss how the study of natural and synthetic agents triggering CI-PCD may help in the pharmacological design of a new generation of more effective chemotherapeutic drugs. The use of such drugs activating both CD-PCD and CI-PCD pathways should achieve a more successful eradication of carcinogenic cells and the attainment of lower levels of tumor resistance. © 2009 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd. 9 717 728 Tradenames: azaspirane bzl 101 chm 1 cy 103 rb 110 rb 49 xyotax Cited By :47

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:22:42Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:29:58Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-50049129964.pdf: 74371 bytes, checksum: cf75aa12221b3889c121408fba1f3951 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:22:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-01 O presente estudo químico foi realizado com extrato metanólico de Leiothrix flavescens (Bong.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae) por HSCCC. Fracionamento do extrato metanólico dos capítulos de L. flavescens por métodos cromatográficos preparativos e identificação das substâncias isoladas por (IV, UV, RMN) forneceu as flavonas apigenina, luteolina e 6-metoxiluteolina e o 1,3-di-Oferuloilglicerol. O extrato metanólico de L. flavescens foi avaliado quanto à sua atividade antioxidante utilizando- se o reagente de DPPH, enquanto que a quantificação de fenóis totais foi determinada utilizando-se o reagente de Folin-Ciocalteau. Os resultados evidenciaram que o extrato metanólico dos capítulos L. flavescens possui uma significativa atividade antioxidante. Estes resultados permitiram aprofundar a discussão taxonômica da família Eriocaulaceae. Palavras-chave: Eriocaulaceae; Leiothrix; HSCCC; atividade antioxidante. This paper describes a chemical investigation (by high-speed counter-current chromatography) of an extract in methanol of the capitula (flower-heads) of the endemic Brazilian herb Leiothrix flavescens (Bong.) Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae). Fractionation of this extract by preparative chromatography and identification of the isolated compounds by spectrometric methods (IR, UV, ESI-MS, NMR) led to the identification of flavones (apigenin, luteolin and 6-methoxyluteolin) and 1,3-di-O-feruloyl glycerol. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by DPPH reduction and the total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay. It was found that the methanolic extract of L. flavescens possesses strong antioxidant activity. Additionally, the chemical profile provided useful data for a discussion of the taxonomy of the Eriocaulaceae. Departamento de Quimica Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, SP Departamento de Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Rua Francisco Degni, s/no, CEP: 14801-970 - Araraquara - SP Departamento de Quimica Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Araraquara, SP Departamento de Química Orgânica Instituto de Química Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Rua Francisco Degni, s/no, CEP: 14801-970 - Araraquara - SP

The objective of this study was to investigate the structural requirements necessary for inhibition of glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) and GS-X pump (MRP1 and MRP2) activity by structurally related flavonoids, in GSTP1-1 transfected MCF7 cells (pMTG5). The results reveal that GSTP1-1 activity in MCF7 pMTG5 cells can be inhibited by some flavonoids. Especially galangin was able to inhibit almost all cellular GSTP1-1 activity upon exposure of the cells to a concentration of 25μM. Other flavonoids like kaempferol, eriodictyol and quercetin showed a moderate GSTP1-1 inhibitory potential. For GSTP1-1 inhibition, no specific structural requirements necessary for potent inhibition could be defined. Most flavonoids appeared to be potent GS-X transport inhibitors with IC50 values ranging between 0.8 and 8μM. Luteolin and quercetin were the strongest inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.8 and 1.3μM, respectively. Flavonoids without a C2-C3 double bond like eriodictyol, taxifolin and catechin did not inhibit GS-X pump activity. The results of this study demonstrate that the structural features necessary for high potency GS-X pump inhibition by flavonoids are (1) the presence of hydroxyl groups, especially two of them generating the 3′,4′- catechol moiety; and (2) a planar molecule due to the presence of a C2-C3 double bond. Other factors, like lipophilicity and the total number of hydroxyl groups do not seem to be dominating the flavonoid-mediated GS-X pump inhibition. To identify the GS-X pump responsible for the DNP-SG efflux in MCF7 cells, the effects of three characteristic flavonoids quercetin, flavone and taxifolin on MRP1 and MRP2 activity were studied using transfected MDCKII cells. All three flavonoids as well as the typical MRP inhibitor (MK571) affected MRP1-mediated transport activity in a similar way as observed in the MCF7 cells. In addition, the most potent GS-X pump inhibitor in the MCF7 cells, quercetin, did not affect MRP2-mediated transport activity. These observations clearly indicate that the GS-X pump activity in the MCF7 cells is likely to be the result of flavonoid-mediated inhibition of MRP1 and not MRP2. Altogether, the present study reveals that a major site for flavonoid interaction with GSH-dependent toxicokinetics is the GS-X pump MRP1 rather than the conjugating GSTP1-1 activity itself. Of the flavonoids shown to be most active especially quercetin is frequently marketed in functional food supplements. Given the physiological levels expected to be reached upon supplement intake, the IC50 values of the present study point at possible flavonoid-drug and/or flavonoid-xenobiotic interactions especially regarding transport processes involved in toxicokinetics. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The objective of this study was to investigate the structural requirements necessary for inhibition of glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) and GS-X pump (MRP1 and MRP2) activity by structurally related flavonoids, in GSTP1-1 transfected MCF7 cells (pMTG5). The results reveal that GSTP1-1 activity in MCF7 pMTG5 cells can be inhibited by some flavonoids. Especially galangin was able to inhibit almost all cellular GSTP1-1 activity upon exposure of the cells to a concentration of 25 muM. Other flavonoids like kaempferol, eriodictyol and quercetin showed a moderate GSTP1-1 inhibitory potential. For GSTP1-1 inhibition, no specific structural requirements necessary for potent inhibition could be defined. Most flavonoids appeared to be potent GS-X transport inhibitors with IC50 values ranging between 0.8 and 8 muM. Luteolin and quercetin were the strongest inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.8 and 1.3 muM, respectively. Flavonoids without a C2-C3 double bond like eriodictyol, taxifolin and catechin did not inhibit GS-X pump activity. The results of this study demonstrate that the structural features necessary for high potency GS-X pump inhibition by flavonoids are (1) the presence of hydroxyl groups, especially two of them generating the 3',4-catechol moiety; and (2) a planar molecule due to the presence of a C2-C3 double bond. Other factors, like lipophilicity and the total number of hydroxyl groups do not seem to be dominating the flavonoid-mediated GS-X pump inhibition. To identify the GS-X pump responsible for the DNP-SG efflux in MCF7 cells, the effects of three characteristic flavonoids quercetin, flavone and taxifolin on MRP1 and MRP2 activity were studied using transfected MDCKII cells. All three flavonoids as well as the typical MRP inhibitor (MK571) affected MRP1-mediated transport activity in a similar way as observed in the MCF7 cells. In addition, the most potent GS-X pump inhibitor in the MCF7 cells, quercetin, did not affect MRP2-mediated transport activity. These observations clearly indicate that the GS-X pump activity in the MCF7 cells is likely to be the result of flavonoid-mediated inhibition of MRP1 and not MRP2. Altogether, the present study reveals that a major site for flavonoid interaction with GSH-dependent toxicokinetics is the GS-X pump MRP1 rather than the conjugating GSTP1-1 activity itself. Of the flavonoids shown to be most active especially quercetin is frequently marketed in functional food supplements. Given the physiological levels expected to be reached upon supplement intake, the IC50 values of the present study point at possible flavonoid-drug and/or flavonoid-xenobiotic interactions especially regarding transport processes involved in toxicokinetics. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:19:50Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:39:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-0033298456.pdf: 742023 bytes, checksum: cd347e4e5e0c0c14bdbee9e1b0b725a1 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:19:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1999-12-01 A general procedure was developed for the simultaneous separation of flavonoids and naphthopyrones from the polar extracts of the capitula from Brazilian everlasting plants is described. The ethanolic extracts of several species from the Paepalanthus genus (Eriocaulaceae) were fractionated by droplet countercurrent chromatography followed by column chromatography on pvp and sephadex LH-20. The isolated compounds were identified by spectrometric analysis and comparison with literature data. This approach led to the isolation of 9-O-β-D-glucopyranosylpaepalantine (1), 9-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→6)allopyranosylpaepalantine (2), along with the flavonoids 6-methoxykaempferol (3), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-6-methoxykaempferol (4), patuletin (5), 3-Oβ-D-rutinosylpatuletin (6), 7-O-β-D-glucopyranosylquercetagetin (7), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxyflavone (8) and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxyflavonol (9). Departamento de Quimica Organica UNESP, C.P. 355, 14800-900 - Araraquara - SP Departamento de Quimica Organica UNESP, C.P. 355, 14800-900 - Araraquara - SP