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Papers by Cristina Theoduloz

Research paper thumbnail of Chemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Bolivian propolis

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2015

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a relevant research subject worldwide. However, there is no information s... more BACKGROUND: Propolis is a relevant research subject worldwide. However, there is no information so far on Bolivian propolis. Ten propolis samples were collected from regions with high biodiversity in the main honey production places in Bolivia and were analyzed for their total phenolics (TP), flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant activity. The chemical profiles of the samples were assessed by TLC, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-DAD-MS/MS n and NMR analysis.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological activity of medicinal plants of Ica (Perú)

Research paper thumbnail of Pyrrolizidine alkaloid content in some Senecio grisebachii populations

Research paper thumbnail of Topical Anti-inflammatory Activity of New Hybrid Molecules of Terpenes and Synthetic Drugs

Molecules, 2015

The aim of the study was to assess changes in the activity of anti-inflammatory terpenes from Chi... more The aim of the study was to assess changes in the activity of anti-inflammatory terpenes from Chilean medicinal plants after the formation of derivatives incorporating synthetic anti-inflammatory agents. Ten new hybrid molecules were synthesized combining terpenes (ferruginol (1), imbricatolic acid (2) and oleanolic acid (3)) with ibuprofen (4) or naproxen (5). The topical anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was assessed in mice by the arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced ear edema assays. Basal cytotoxicity was determined towards human lung fibroblasts, gastric epithelial cells and hepatocytes. At 1.4 µmol/mouse, a strong anti-inflammatory effect in the TPA assay was observed for oleanoyl ibuprofenate 12 (79.9%) and oleanoyl ibuprofenate methyl ester 15 (80.0%). In the AA assay, the best activity was observed for 12 at 3.2 µmol/mouse, with 56.8% reduction of inflammation, in the same range as nimesulide (48.9%). All the

Research paper thumbnail of Synthesis, Antiproliferative and Antifungal Activities of 1,2,3-Triazole-Substituted Carnosic Acid and Carnosol Derivatives

Molecules, 2015

Abietane diterpenes exhibit an array of interesting biological activities, which have generated s... more Abietane diterpenes exhibit an array of interesting biological activities, which have generated significant interest among the pharmacological community. Starting from the abietane diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol, twenty four new triazole derivatives were synthesized using click chemistry. The compounds differ in the length of the linker and the substituent on the triazole moiety. The compounds were assessed as antiproliferative and antifungal agents. The antiproliferative activity was determined on normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung cancer (SK-MES-1) and bladder carcinoma (J82) cells while the antifungal activity was assessed against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 32264. The carnosic acid γ-lactone derivatives 1-3 were the most active antiproliferative compounds of the series, with IC50 values in the range of 43.4-46.9 μM and 39.2-48.9 μM for MRC-5 and AGS cells, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, C. neoformans was the most sensitive fungus, with nine compounds inhibiting more than 50% of its fungal growth at concentrations ≤250 µg·mL −1 . Compound 22, possessing a p-Br-benzyl substituent on the triazole ring,

Research paper thumbnail of Chilean Prosopis Mesocarp Flour: Phenolic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity

Molecules, 2015

In South America, the mesocarp flour of Prosopis species plays a prominent role as a food resourc... more In South America, the mesocarp flour of Prosopis species plays a prominent role as a food resource in arid areas. The aim of this work was the characterization of the phenolic antioxidants occurring in the pod mesocarp flour of Chilean Prosopis. Samples were collected in the Copiapo, Huasco and Elqui valleys from the north of Chile. The samples of P. chilensis flour exhibited a total phenolic content ranging between 0.82-2.57 g gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh flour weight. The highest antioxidant activity, measured by the DPPH assay, was observed for samples from the Huasco valley. HPLC-MS/MS analysis allowed the tentative identification of eight anthocyanins and 13 phenolic compounds including flavonol glycosides, C-glycosyl flavones and ellagic acid derivatives. The

Research paper thumbnail of Studies on quinones. Part 47. Synthesis of novel phenylaminophenanthridinequinones as potential antitumor agents

In our search for potential anticancer agents, a series of 8-and 9-phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydro-phe... more In our search for potential anticancer agents, a series of 8-and 9-phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydro-phenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-triones with substituent variations at 6-, 8-and 9-positions were prepared using a highly efficient sequence involving: a) solar photoacylation reactions of benzoquinone with arylaldehydes, b) one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione intermediates from acylhydroquinones and c) highly regiocontrolled acid-induced amination reaction of phenanthridinequinones with phenylamines. The members of this series were in vitro evaluated using the MTT colorimetric method against one normal cell line and three human cancer cell lines. The SAR analysis indicates that the location of nitrogen substituents on the quinone nucleus, the presence of methyl, phenyl, furyl and thienyl groups at the 6-position and the aromatization of the angular cycloaliphatic ring of the phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione pharmacophore play key roles in the antitumor activity.

Research paper thumbnail of Cycloaspeptide A and pseurotin A from the endophytic fungus Penicillium janczewskii

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Penicillium janczewskii K. M. Zalessky was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the phloem of th... more Penicillium janczewskii K. M. Zalessky was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina. When grown in liquid yeast extract-malt extract-glucose broth, the fungus produced two main secondary metabolites. The compounds were for the first time isolated from this species and identified by spectroscopic methods as pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A. This is the first report on the production of cyclic peptides by endophytic fungi from Chilean gymnosperms. Pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A presented low cytotoxicity towards human lung fibroblasts with IC50 > or = 1000 microM. Pseurotin A showed a moderate effect against the phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas syringae, with IC50 values of 220 and 112 microg ml(-1), respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Metabolites from Microsphaeropsis olivacea, an Endophytic Fungus of Pilgerodendron uviferum

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2005

Seven compounds belonging to different structural skeletons were isolated from Microsphaeropsis o... more Seven compounds belonging to different structural skeletons were isolated from Microsphaeropsis olivacea grown in liquid and solid media. The enalin derivative 7-hydroxy-2,4dimethyl-3(2H)-benzofuranone is reported for the first time, while additional spectroscopic information is provided for the acetates of botrallin and ulocladol.

Research paper thumbnail of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Copao (Eulychnia Acida Phil., Cactaceae) Fruits

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2015

Copao (Eulychnia acida Phil., Cactaceae) is an endemic species occurring in northern Chile. The e... more Copao (Eulychnia acida Phil., Cactaceae) is an endemic species occurring in northern Chile. The edible fruits of this plant are valued for its acidic and refreshing taste. Phenolic-enriched extracts from copao fruit pulp and epicarp, collected in the Elqui and Limari river valleys, were assessed by its in vitro ability to inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzymes lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). At 100 μg/mL, pulp extracts showed better effect towards LOX than epicarp extract, while COX-2 inhibition was observed for both epicarp and pulp samples. In general, the extracts were inactive towards COX-1. A positive correlation was observed between the anti-inflammatory activity and the main phenolic compounds found in this fruit. Copao fruits from the Limari valley, a main place of collection and commercialization, showed major activity, adding evidence on the possible health-beneficial effects of this native Chilean fruit.

Research paper thumbnail of Antiproliferative activity and new argininyl bufadienolide esters from the “cururú” toad Rhinella (Bufo) schneideri

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Toads known as "cururú" (Rhinella schneideri) have been used in t... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Toads known as "cururú" (Rhinella schneideri) have been used in the Brazilian Pantanal and Paraguayan Chaco wetlands to treat erysipelas and cancer. The aim of the study was to assess the antiproliferative effect of the venom obtained from Rhinella schneideri and to identify its constituents by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. Materials and methods: The venom was obtained by gentle pressing the parotid glands of the toads. The dry crude drug was analyzed by HPLC-MS-MS and chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 to obtain purified compounds and fractions for spectroscopic analysis. The venom and fractions were evaluated for antiproliferative activity towards normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and four human cancer cell lines: gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung cancer (SK-MES-1), bladder carcinoma (J82) and promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60). Results: From the Rhinella schneideri venom, 29 compounds were isolated and/or identified by spectroscopic and spectrometric means. Three known alkaloids and five argininyl diacids were identified in the complex mixture by HPLC-MS-MS. Nine out of fifteen argininyl diacid derivatives of the bufadienolides bufalin, marinobufagin and telocinobufagin are reported for the first time and four argininyl diacids are described for the first time as natural products. The venom and the fractions 9-13 showed a remarkable antiproliferative effect, with IC 50 values in the range 0.019-0.022, 0.035-0.040, 0.028-0.064, 0.042-0.056 and 0.044-0.052 mg/mL for MRC-5, AGS, SK-MES-1, J82 and HL-60 cell lines, respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, IC 50 values of the reference compound etoposide were 2.296, 0.277, 1.295, 1.884 and 1.059 mg/mL towards MRC-5, AGS, SK-MES-1, J82 and HL-60 cells, respectively. Conclusions: The venom showed a strong antiproliferative effect towards human cancer cells and presented a high chemical diversity in its constituents, supporting its use as anticancer agent. These findings encourage further work on the chemistry and bioactivity of South American toad venoms.

Research paper thumbnail of Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2000

The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species an... more The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species and the exudate of P. flexuosa were assessed for DNA binding, β-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging effect using the DPPH decoloration assay. DNA binding effect was found mainly in the basic fraction. The alkaloids tryptamine as well as piperidine and phenethylamine derivatives were isolated from

Research paper thumbnail of Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Secondary Metabolites from in vitro Cultures of Sanicula graveolens

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2007

An in vitro propagation system was developed to obtain shoot and root cultures from the Andean sp... more An in vitro propagation system was developed to obtain shoot and root cultures from the Andean spice Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae). Propagation of shoots, roots and plantlets was achieved by the temporary immersion system. The free radical scavenging effect of the methanol/water (7 : 3 v/v) extracts was determined by the discoloration of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Total phenolic, flavonoid, chlorogenic acid (CA) and quercetin 3-O-glucoside content in the samples was assessed by spectrophotometry and DAD-HPLC analysis, respectively. On a dry weight basis, the crude extracts showed total phenolic values ranging from 3.57 to 6.93%, with highest content for the root culture sample. Total flavonoid content ranged from 1.23 to 2.23% and was lower for the root culture. Chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid were identified by TLC in all samples. Highest free radical scavenging effect was observed for the root culture which also presented the highest CA content. Two of the shoot culture samples, with similar IC 50 values in the DPPH discoloration assay, also presented close quercetin-3-O-glucoside content.

Research paper thumbnail of Biotransformation of Jatrophone by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404

ChemInform, 2007

Biotransformation of the diterpene jatrophone (1) by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 afforded the ne... more Biotransformation of the diterpene jatrophone (1) by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 afforded the new diterpene 9β -hydroxyisabellione (2). The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicity of the compounds as IC 50 values on AGS and lung fibroblasts was 2.4 and 2.8 µ M for compound 1 and 53.1 and 260 µ M for 2, respectively. Microbial transformation of 1 into compound 2 strongly reduced the cytotoxicity and enhanced the selectivity against AGS cells.

Research paper thumbnail of Free radical scavengers from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) stapf plants cultivated in bioreactors by the temporary immersion (TIS) principle

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

The biomass production of Cymbopogon citratus shoots cultivated in bioreactors according to the t... more The biomass production of Cymbopogon citratus shoots cultivated in bioreactors according to the temporary immersion (TIS) principle was assessed under different growth conditions. The effect of gassing with CO2-enriched air, reduced immersion frequency, vessel size and culture time on total phenolic and flavonoid content and free radical scavenging effect of the methanolic extracts was measured. From the TIS-culture of C. citratus, seven compounds were isolated and identified as caffeic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), neochlorogenic acid (3), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), p-hydroxybenzoic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (5), glutamic acid (6) and luteolin 6-C-fucopyranoside (7). The occurrence of compounds 1-7 and their variability in C. citratus grown under different TIS conditions was determined by HPLC. The free radical scavenging effect of the methanolic extract and compounds was measured by the discoloration of the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The main metabolites ...

Research paper thumbnail of Studies on quinones. Part 40: Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of anthraquinone epoxides and isomerization products

Tetrahedron, 2006

Aerobic oxidation of 1,4,4a,10a-tetrahydro-1,4-alkano-5,10-anthraquinones and thiophene-analogues... more Aerobic oxidation of 1,4,4a,10a-tetrahydro-1,4-alkano-5,10-anthraquinones and thiophene-analogues in dichloromethane-DBU yielded the corresponding dihydroalkanoquinones which, depending on their structures, react with in situ generated hydroperoxide anion to give quinone epoxides and/or hydroperoxides. The calcium hydroxide-induced rearrangement of quinone epoxides yielded furan-containing angular quinones. The cytotoxic activities of quinone epoxides and their isomerization products were evaluated in vitro against normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and human cancer gastric epithelial cells (AGS). q

Research paper thumbnail of ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation of Thiophene Analogues of Kigelinone

ChemInform, 2009

ABSTRACT ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance t... more ABSTRACT ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Research paper thumbnail of Secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi isolated from the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina (Lleuque)

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2005

Two endophytic fungi isolated from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina were c... more Two endophytic fungi isolated from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina were cultured in liquid potato-dextrose medium. The secondary metabolites were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods. The fungus E-3 which could not be identified yielded 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and the isochromanone mellein. The second fungus, identified as Penicillium janczewskii K.M. Zalessky yielded peniprequinolone and gliovictin, reported for the first time for this species. This is the first report on secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi from Chilean gymnosperms.

Research paper thumbnail of New Gastroprotective Labdeneamides from (4S,9R,10R) Methyl 18-carboxy-labda-8,13(E)-diene-15-oate

Research paper thumbnail of Antiproliferative Activity of the Diterpenes Jatrophone and Jatropholone and Their Derivatives

Research paper thumbnail of Chemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Bolivian propolis

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2015

BACKGROUND: Propolis is a relevant research subject worldwide. However, there is no information s... more BACKGROUND: Propolis is a relevant research subject worldwide. However, there is no information so far on Bolivian propolis. Ten propolis samples were collected from regions with high biodiversity in the main honey production places in Bolivia and were analyzed for their total phenolics (TP), flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant activity. The chemical profiles of the samples were assessed by TLC, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-DAD-MS/MS n and NMR analysis.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological activity of medicinal plants of Ica (Perú)

Research paper thumbnail of Pyrrolizidine alkaloid content in some Senecio grisebachii populations

Research paper thumbnail of Topical Anti-inflammatory Activity of New Hybrid Molecules of Terpenes and Synthetic Drugs

Molecules, 2015

The aim of the study was to assess changes in the activity of anti-inflammatory terpenes from Chi... more The aim of the study was to assess changes in the activity of anti-inflammatory terpenes from Chilean medicinal plants after the formation of derivatives incorporating synthetic anti-inflammatory agents. Ten new hybrid molecules were synthesized combining terpenes (ferruginol (1), imbricatolic acid (2) and oleanolic acid (3)) with ibuprofen (4) or naproxen (5). The topical anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was assessed in mice by the arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced ear edema assays. Basal cytotoxicity was determined towards human lung fibroblasts, gastric epithelial cells and hepatocytes. At 1.4 µmol/mouse, a strong anti-inflammatory effect in the TPA assay was observed for oleanoyl ibuprofenate 12 (79.9%) and oleanoyl ibuprofenate methyl ester 15 (80.0%). In the AA assay, the best activity was observed for 12 at 3.2 µmol/mouse, with 56.8% reduction of inflammation, in the same range as nimesulide (48.9%). All the

Research paper thumbnail of Synthesis, Antiproliferative and Antifungal Activities of 1,2,3-Triazole-Substituted Carnosic Acid and Carnosol Derivatives

Molecules, 2015

Abietane diterpenes exhibit an array of interesting biological activities, which have generated s... more Abietane diterpenes exhibit an array of interesting biological activities, which have generated significant interest among the pharmacological community. Starting from the abietane diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol, twenty four new triazole derivatives were synthesized using click chemistry. The compounds differ in the length of the linker and the substituent on the triazole moiety. The compounds were assessed as antiproliferative and antifungal agents. The antiproliferative activity was determined on normal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung cancer (SK-MES-1) and bladder carcinoma (J82) cells while the antifungal activity was assessed against Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 32264. The carnosic acid γ-lactone derivatives 1-3 were the most active antiproliferative compounds of the series, with IC50 values in the range of 43.4-46.9 μM and 39.2-48.9 μM for MRC-5 and AGS cells, respectively. Regarding antifungal activity, C. neoformans was the most sensitive fungus, with nine compounds inhibiting more than 50% of its fungal growth at concentrations ≤250 µg·mL −1 . Compound 22, possessing a p-Br-benzyl substituent on the triazole ring,

Research paper thumbnail of Chilean Prosopis Mesocarp Flour: Phenolic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity

Molecules, 2015

In South America, the mesocarp flour of Prosopis species plays a prominent role as a food resourc... more In South America, the mesocarp flour of Prosopis species plays a prominent role as a food resource in arid areas. The aim of this work was the characterization of the phenolic antioxidants occurring in the pod mesocarp flour of Chilean Prosopis. Samples were collected in the Copiapo, Huasco and Elqui valleys from the north of Chile. The samples of P. chilensis flour exhibited a total phenolic content ranging between 0.82-2.57 g gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh flour weight. The highest antioxidant activity, measured by the DPPH assay, was observed for samples from the Huasco valley. HPLC-MS/MS analysis allowed the tentative identification of eight anthocyanins and 13 phenolic compounds including flavonol glycosides, C-glycosyl flavones and ellagic acid derivatives. The

Research paper thumbnail of Studies on quinones. Part 47. Synthesis of novel phenylaminophenanthridinequinones as potential antitumor agents

In our search for potential anticancer agents, a series of 8-and 9-phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydro-phe... more In our search for potential anticancer agents, a series of 8-and 9-phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydro-phenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-triones with substituent variations at 6-, 8-and 9-positions were prepared using a highly efficient sequence involving: a) solar photoacylation reactions of benzoquinone with arylaldehydes, b) one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione intermediates from acylhydroquinones and c) highly regiocontrolled acid-induced amination reaction of phenanthridinequinones with phenylamines. The members of this series were in vitro evaluated using the MTT colorimetric method against one normal cell line and three human cancer cell lines. The SAR analysis indicates that the location of nitrogen substituents on the quinone nucleus, the presence of methyl, phenyl, furyl and thienyl groups at the 6-position and the aromatization of the angular cycloaliphatic ring of the phenylamino-3,4-tetrahydrophenanthridine-1,7,10(2H)-trione pharmacophore play key roles in the antitumor activity.

Research paper thumbnail of Cycloaspeptide A and pseurotin A from the endophytic fungus Penicillium janczewskii

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Penicillium janczewskii K. M. Zalessky was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the phloem of th... more Penicillium janczewskii K. M. Zalessky was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina. When grown in liquid yeast extract-malt extract-glucose broth, the fungus produced two main secondary metabolites. The compounds were for the first time isolated from this species and identified by spectroscopic methods as pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A. This is the first report on the production of cyclic peptides by endophytic fungi from Chilean gymnosperms. Pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A presented low cytotoxicity towards human lung fibroblasts with IC50 > or = 1000 microM. Pseurotin A showed a moderate effect against the phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas syringae, with IC50 values of 220 and 112 microg ml(-1), respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Metabolites from Microsphaeropsis olivacea, an Endophytic Fungus of Pilgerodendron uviferum

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2005

Seven compounds belonging to different structural skeletons were isolated from Microsphaeropsis o... more Seven compounds belonging to different structural skeletons were isolated from Microsphaeropsis olivacea grown in liquid and solid media. The enalin derivative 7-hydroxy-2,4dimethyl-3(2H)-benzofuranone is reported for the first time, while additional spectroscopic information is provided for the acetates of botrallin and ulocladol.

Research paper thumbnail of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Copao (Eulychnia Acida Phil., Cactaceae) Fruits

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2015

Copao (Eulychnia acida Phil., Cactaceae) is an endemic species occurring in northern Chile. The e... more Copao (Eulychnia acida Phil., Cactaceae) is an endemic species occurring in northern Chile. The edible fruits of this plant are valued for its acidic and refreshing taste. Phenolic-enriched extracts from copao fruit pulp and epicarp, collected in the Elqui and Limari river valleys, were assessed by its in vitro ability to inhibit the pro-inflammatory enzymes lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). At 100 μg/mL, pulp extracts showed better effect towards LOX than epicarp extract, while COX-2 inhibition was observed for both epicarp and pulp samples. In general, the extracts were inactive towards COX-1. A positive correlation was observed between the anti-inflammatory activity and the main phenolic compounds found in this fruit. Copao fruits from the Limari valley, a main place of collection and commercialization, showed major activity, adding evidence on the possible health-beneficial effects of this native Chilean fruit.

Research paper thumbnail of Antiproliferative activity and new argininyl bufadienolide esters from the “cururú” toad Rhinella (Bufo) schneideri

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Toads known as "cururú" (Rhinella schneideri) have been used in t... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Toads known as "cururú" (Rhinella schneideri) have been used in the Brazilian Pantanal and Paraguayan Chaco wetlands to treat erysipelas and cancer. The aim of the study was to assess the antiproliferative effect of the venom obtained from Rhinella schneideri and to identify its constituents by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. Materials and methods: The venom was obtained by gentle pressing the parotid glands of the toads. The dry crude drug was analyzed by HPLC-MS-MS and chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 to obtain purified compounds and fractions for spectroscopic analysis. The venom and fractions were evaluated for antiproliferative activity towards normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and four human cancer cell lines: gastric epithelial adenocarcinoma (AGS), lung cancer (SK-MES-1), bladder carcinoma (J82) and promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60). Results: From the Rhinella schneideri venom, 29 compounds were isolated and/or identified by spectroscopic and spectrometric means. Three known alkaloids and five argininyl diacids were identified in the complex mixture by HPLC-MS-MS. Nine out of fifteen argininyl diacid derivatives of the bufadienolides bufalin, marinobufagin and telocinobufagin are reported for the first time and four argininyl diacids are described for the first time as natural products. The venom and the fractions 9-13 showed a remarkable antiproliferative effect, with IC 50 values in the range 0.019-0.022, 0.035-0.040, 0.028-0.064, 0.042-0.056 and 0.044-0.052 mg/mL for MRC-5, AGS, SK-MES-1, J82 and HL-60 cell lines, respectively. Under the same experimental conditions, IC 50 values of the reference compound etoposide were 2.296, 0.277, 1.295, 1.884 and 1.059 mg/mL towards MRC-5, AGS, SK-MES-1, J82 and HL-60 cells, respectively. Conclusions: The venom showed a strong antiproliferative effect towards human cancer cells and presented a high chemical diversity in its constituents, supporting its use as anticancer agent. These findings encourage further work on the chemistry and bioactivity of South American toad venoms.

Research paper thumbnail of Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2000

The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species an... more The biological activity of extracts from the aerial parts of five Argentinian Prosopis species and the exudate of P. flexuosa were assessed for DNA binding, β-glucosidase inhibition and free radical scavenging effect using the DPPH decoloration assay. DNA binding effect was found mainly in the basic fraction. The alkaloids tryptamine as well as piperidine and phenethylamine derivatives were isolated from

Research paper thumbnail of Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Secondary Metabolites from in vitro Cultures of Sanicula graveolens

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2007

An in vitro propagation system was developed to obtain shoot and root cultures from the Andean sp... more An in vitro propagation system was developed to obtain shoot and root cultures from the Andean spice Sanicula graveolens (Apiaceae). Propagation of shoots, roots and plantlets was achieved by the temporary immersion system. The free radical scavenging effect of the methanol/water (7 : 3 v/v) extracts was determined by the discoloration of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Total phenolic, flavonoid, chlorogenic acid (CA) and quercetin 3-O-glucoside content in the samples was assessed by spectrophotometry and DAD-HPLC analysis, respectively. On a dry weight basis, the crude extracts showed total phenolic values ranging from 3.57 to 6.93%, with highest content for the root culture sample. Total flavonoid content ranged from 1.23 to 2.23% and was lower for the root culture. Chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid were identified by TLC in all samples. Highest free radical scavenging effect was observed for the root culture which also presented the highest CA content. Two of the shoot culture samples, with similar IC 50 values in the DPPH discoloration assay, also presented close quercetin-3-O-glucoside content.

Research paper thumbnail of Biotransformation of Jatrophone by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404

ChemInform, 2007

Biotransformation of the diterpene jatrophone (1) by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 afforded the ne... more Biotransformation of the diterpene jatrophone (1) by Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 afforded the new diterpene 9β -hydroxyisabellione (2). The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicity of the compounds as IC 50 values on AGS and lung fibroblasts was 2.4 and 2.8 µ M for compound 1 and 53.1 and 260 µ M for 2, respectively. Microbial transformation of 1 into compound 2 strongly reduced the cytotoxicity and enhanced the selectivity against AGS cells.

Research paper thumbnail of Free radical scavengers from Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) stapf plants cultivated in bioreactors by the temporary immersion (TIS) principle

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

The biomass production of Cymbopogon citratus shoots cultivated in bioreactors according to the t... more The biomass production of Cymbopogon citratus shoots cultivated in bioreactors according to the temporary immersion (TIS) principle was assessed under different growth conditions. The effect of gassing with CO2-enriched air, reduced immersion frequency, vessel size and culture time on total phenolic and flavonoid content and free radical scavenging effect of the methanolic extracts was measured. From the TIS-culture of C. citratus, seven compounds were isolated and identified as caffeic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), neochlorogenic acid (3), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), p-hydroxybenzoic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (5), glutamic acid (6) and luteolin 6-C-fucopyranoside (7). The occurrence of compounds 1-7 and their variability in C. citratus grown under different TIS conditions was determined by HPLC. The free radical scavenging effect of the methanolic extract and compounds was measured by the discoloration of the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The main metabolites ...

Research paper thumbnail of Studies on quinones. Part 40: Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of anthraquinone epoxides and isomerization products

Tetrahedron, 2006

Aerobic oxidation of 1,4,4a,10a-tetrahydro-1,4-alkano-5,10-anthraquinones and thiophene-analogues... more Aerobic oxidation of 1,4,4a,10a-tetrahydro-1,4-alkano-5,10-anthraquinones and thiophene-analogues in dichloromethane-DBU yielded the corresponding dihydroalkanoquinones which, depending on their structures, react with in situ generated hydroperoxide anion to give quinone epoxides and/or hydroperoxides. The calcium hydroxide-induced rearrangement of quinone epoxides yielded furan-containing angular quinones. The cytotoxic activities of quinone epoxides and their isomerization products were evaluated in vitro against normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and human cancer gastric epithelial cells (AGS). q

Research paper thumbnail of ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation of Thiophene Analogues of Kigelinone

ChemInform, 2009

ABSTRACT ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance t... more ABSTRACT ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Research paper thumbnail of Secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi isolated from the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina (Lleuque)

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2005

Two endophytic fungi isolated from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina were c... more Two endophytic fungi isolated from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina were cultured in liquid potato-dextrose medium. The secondary metabolites were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods. The fungus E-3 which could not be identified yielded 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenol, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and the isochromanone mellein. The second fungus, identified as Penicillium janczewskii K.M. Zalessky yielded peniprequinolone and gliovictin, reported for the first time for this species. This is the first report on secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi from Chilean gymnosperms.

Research paper thumbnail of New Gastroprotective Labdeneamides from (4S,9R,10R) Methyl 18-carboxy-labda-8,13(E)-diene-15-oate

Research paper thumbnail of Antiproliferative Activity of the Diterpenes Jatrophone and Jatropholone and Their Derivatives