PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Toda la planta. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Antiemético, antidiarreico. 

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: The distribution of iridoids among the tribes of Bignoniaceae is shown. In the present work, 18 species from the tribes Bignonieae and Tecomeae as well as one from Eccremocarpeae have been investigated. These data combined with those obtained through a literature review were analysed and showed that iridoids occur predominantly in the tribe Tecomeae. In this tribe, a chemical distintion between the genera Tabebuia and Tecoma was observed: The iridoids in Tabebuia are decarboxylated whereas in Tecoma they are C-4 formylated. The species from Bignonieae are poorly investigated and only few reports have been published, however, the iridoids found are mainly C-4 carboxylated. The only exception, Dolichandra cynanchoides (=Macfadyena cynanchoides), with decarboxylated iridoids, is also morphologically abnormal in Bignonieae. 

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: S. de Brasil, Uruguay y Argentina. 

DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs

The tribe Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae) is a large and morphol. diverse clade of neotropical lianas. Despite being a conspicuous component of the neotropical flora, the systematics of the tribe has remained uncertain due to confusing patterns of morphol. variation within the group. Chloroplast (ndhF) and nuclear (PepC) DNA sequences were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of Bignonieae. Individual analyses of ndhF and PepC were highly similar to one another, yet localized differences in the placement of 6 species suggests some conflict between data sets. Combined analyses result in trees that are consistent with those from the individual analyses and provide greater support for the suggested relationships. This phylogeny provides important new insights into the systematics of the tribe. It identifies 21 strongly supported species groups, 8 of which broadly correspond to currently recognized genera. In addn., each of these 21 species groups is supported by morphol. synapomorphies. The consistency between morphol. and mol. data suggests that the current phylogeny provides a solid framework for a formal revision of the generic-level classification and for addressing other aspects of the biol. of Bignonieae. 

ÚLTIMOS AVANCES EN LA QUÍMICA Y ACTIVIDADES BACTERIOLÓGICAS EN LAS PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants, last advances on chemistry and bacteria activities on the medicinal herbs

The total phenols content (Folin-Ciocalteau assay) and antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing/antioxidant power - FRAP) of 41 plants from Cordoba (Argentina) were analyzed.  Phenol content ranged from 8.2 to 100.2 mg GAE/g.  FRAP ranged from 85.2 to 1862.0 mmol of Fe(II)/g.  Capparis atamisguea had the lowest values of total phenols content and antioxidant capacity (8.2 mg GAE/g and 85.2 mmol of Fe(II)/g, resp.), while Ligaria cuneifolia exhibited the highest values (100.2 mg GAE/g and 1862.0 mmol of Fe(II)/g, resp.).  A significant linear correlation (p < 0.05) was found (0.9125) between phenols content and antioxidant capacity.  Results support the idea that these plants may be a good source of natural antioxidants for food applications.  Plants from the Asteraceae family (the most representative of the Cordoba flora) were further tested for their DPPH radical scavenging activity.  Some plant exts. were tested in a simple food system to investigate to their potential use in foods.

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.14.

2) Lino von Poser G, Schripsema J, Henriques AT, Rosendal Jensen S. The distribution of iridoids in Bignoniaceae. Biochem Syst Ecol . 2000, vol.28, nº4, p.351-366.
 
3) Lohmann, Lucia G. Untangling the phylogeny of neotropical lianas (Bignonieae, Bignoniaceae). American Journal of Botany . 2006, vol.93, nº2, p.304-318.
 
4) Borneo, R., et al. Antioxidant capacity of medicinal plants from the Province of Cordoba (Argentina) and their in vitro testing in a model food system.  Food Chemistry . 2008,  vol.112, nº3, p.664-670.