Valeriana pilosa is usually employed in Peruvian folk medicine in the form of infusion to treat stomach pain, and has antispasmodic, relaxing, sleep-promoting, and sedative properties, as well as is an anti-inflammatory. In this study, Valeriana pilosa essential oil (VPEO) was obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by GC and GC/MS, and 47 compounds were identified. Major oil components were α-patchoulene (5.8%), α-humulene (6.1%), seychellene (7.6%), and patchoulol (20.8%). Furthermore, we assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities, molecular docking, and Ligand Efficiency studies on enzymes involved in cellular redox pathways such as CYP2C9, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase. Essential oil antioxidant activities were assessed by FRAP, ABTS•+, and DPPH• radical scavenging activity. VPEO displays high antioxidant activity as compared to essential oils of Valeriana jatamansi and Valeriana officinalis oil roots. In addition, molecular docking and ADMET prediction was employed to compare the absorption, metabolism, and toxicity properties of Valeriana pilosa compounds. In the molecular docking studies, limonene, p-cimene, carvone, α-cubebene, cyclosativene, α-guaiene, allo-aromadendrene, valencene, and eremophyllene were the compounds with the best docking score on CYP2C9 and xanthine oxidase. Thus, volatile components of Valeriana pilosa could be associated with the detected antioxidant activity, acting as putative inhibitors of CYP2C9 and xanthine oxidase.

The hypocotyls of Lepidium meyenii (Red Maca) were collected in September 2018 in the district of Carhuamayo, Province of Junin at 4000 m above sea level, in the Valle Mantaro, Peru. Once collected, the specimen was identified from the "Herbarium Truxillense de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas de ABSTRACT Introduction: Lepidium meyenii, known with the vernacular name of "Maca" , is a Brassicaceae family that has been widely used by Peruvian traditional medicine in cases of sexual dysfunction, memory loss, and several other diseases and pathologies. Objetive: The aim of the study was to test the potential effects of aqueous extract of Red Maca (AQ-RM) on antidepressant-like behavioral in male rats and spatial memory in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods: Forced swimming test was used to examine the potential antidepressant AQ-RM activity in male rats. Fluoxetine and amitryptiline were included as reference drugs. Morris Water Maze test was employed to examine the effect of AQ-RM on spatial memory in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Such effects were compared to exogenous estradiol administration. The potential role of oxidative stress on spatial memory loss was assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in rats brain homogenates. Results: AQ-RM enhances swimming and climbing activities while reducing the time of immobility in male rats. Meanwhile, it prevents the decrease in the time spent in the target quadrant and displays higher values in the number of crossings in OVX-rats as compared to OVX-control rats. MDA levels in brain homogenates were decreased in OVX-rats receiving AQ-RM. Conclusion: Oral administration of AQ-RM has anti-depressive application in male rats; and increases the ability of learning and memory in OVX rats.

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Background: Vallesia glabra (Cav.) Link (Apocynaceae) is traditionally used in dermatological infections and as a desinflammatory. This review aims to collect information on its traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and pharmacological activities.Methods: The scientific literature was searched in the databases Scopus, Web of Science, Alicia Repository, ScienceDirect and PubMed Central; 38 documents were selected (26 original articles, 2 review articles, 4 books and 2 theses) from 1939 to 2022.Results: V. glabra is traditionally used for pain relief, in infections and inflammations, and as an antifungal. Seventeen indole alkaloids of V. glabra have been identified, several of these alkaloids present important pharmacological activities as antimalarial and bactericidal agents demonstrated in in vitro assays.Conclusions: The traditional use of V. glabra in infections has been pharmacologically demonstrated in in vitro assays, being the terpenoid indole alkaloids, which confer the activity.

Oximes are known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Frequently, modification of biologically active carbonyl compounds into oximes leads to increased activity. The present study reports the reactivity of 2-alkanoylnaphthohydroquinones against hydroxylamine under aerial conditions. Results show that, depending on the structure of the hydroquinones, the reaction proceeds through two different chemical pathways to produce 2-(hydroxyamino)-1,4-naphthoquinone and their C-3 (hydroxyimino)alkyl derivatives. Both the formation of the quinoid compounds under aerial oxidation and C-C cleavage reactions of hemiaminal intermediates are discussed. In vitro screening of the substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones on a panel of cancer cells reveals moderate cytotoxic activities. Compound 19, 2-(hydroxyamino)-1,4-naphthoquinone, stands out by its anticancer potency against prostate cancer cells as shown by the lowest IC50 value (8.08 μM) and the best selectivity index (3.90).