BackgroundAchyrocline bogotensis has been traditionally used to treat infections of skin, respiratory, tract urinary and other infections, but not to treat viral gastrointestinal disease. In this study, this Colombian native medicinal plant was investigated by its in vitro anti-rotavirus and anti-astrovirus activity.MethodsSeveral extracts and fractions phytochemically obtained from A. bogotensis were evaluated initially for their cell toxicity on MA104 and Caco2 cells and then for their anti-rotavirus (RRV) and anti-astrovirus (Yuc8) activity following three strategies: pre-treatment of cells (blocking effect), direct viral activity (virucidal effect) and post-treatment of infected cells (reduction of viral yield post-infection). In addition qualitative chemical studies were developed for the active compounds.ResultsNon-toxic concentrations of a fraction obtained exhibited antiviral activity against both viruses characterized by a virucidal effect and by the reduction of the infectious particles produced post-infection. Steroids, sterols, terpenes, phenols, flavonoids and sesquiterpenlactones were identified qualitatively in the active fraction.ConclusionsA. bogotensis contains substances with in vitro antiviral activity against rotavirus and astrovirus. This study confirms their anti-microbial properties and describes by the first time its antiviral activity in vitro.

RESUMO: "Nova fonte de quinóides, a superfi cie foliar de Pentacalia ledifl ora e Pentacalia corymbosa e suas propriedades antifúngicas". Foi demonstrada a ação antifúngica do extrato clorofórmico e de duas substâncias isoladas da superfície foliar de Pentacalia ledifolia (H.B.K.) Cuatr. e P. corymbosa (Benth) Cuatr. frente aos fungos fi topatógenos Fusarium oxysporum e Botrytis cinerea, cultivados em BDA (batata-dextrose-ágar). Destes extratos foram isolados, além de cumarinas já identifi cadas em estudos anteriores, dois derivados quinóides: (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de metila ou jacaranona e (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de etila ou metiljacaranona. Para o (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de etila foi calculado CI 50 de 650 μg/mL para os dois tipos de fungos e o (1-hidroxi-4-oxo-2,5-ciclohexadienil) acetato de metila teve um CI 50 de 660 μg/mL. Unitermos:Pentacalia ledifolia, Pentacalia corymbosa, Asteraceae, Senecioneae, atividade antifúngica, quinóides.ABSTRACT: "New source of quinols, the surface of Pentacalia ledifolia and Pentacalia corymbosa leaves and its antifungal activity". Quinols identifi ed in the surface waxes of Pentacalia ledifolia (H.B.K.) Cuatr and P. corymbosa (Benth) Cuatr. leaves, possess antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Botrytis cinerea, cultured on PDA (potato-dextrose-agar) medium. These extracts were prepared by dipping fresh leaves in chloroform for 5 min, and afforded ethyl-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate and methyl-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl) acetate, the major surface compounds.

En un estudio preliminar para evaluar el potencial citotóxico de los metabolitos de doce plantas colombianas, se analizaro los metabolitos de los géneros Ageratina, Pentacalia, Curatela, Espeletia, Ageratina y Stemmadenia. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los compuestos jacaranona y acetato de longipilina presentaron el mayor potencial citotóxico a bajas concentraciones, 4 μg/mL.