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

Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) were isolated and characterized from fruits and leaves of elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and their corresponding genes cloned. In addition, the developmental regulation and induction of the different TLPs was followed in some detail. Ripening berries accumulated a fruit-specific TLP during the final stages of maturation. This fruit-specific TLP had no antifungal activity and was devoid of β-glucanase activity. Leaves constitutively expressed a TLP that closely resembled the fruit-specific homologue. Treatment with jasmonate methyl ester induced two additional TLPs in leaves but did not induce or enhance the expression of TLPs in immature berries. In contrast to jasmonate methyl ester, both ethephon and garlic extract induced the expression of a TLP in unripe berries that normally do not express any TLP. Sequence analysis and molecular modeling indicated that all elderberry thaumatin-like proteins share a high sequence similarity with group-5 pathogenesis-related proteins. However, the proteins encoded by the different sequences differed from each other in isoelectric point and the distribution of the charges on the surface of the molecule.

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

1) Color components, antioxidative potential, and total phenolic content were monitored in elderberry must and wine.  Among individual phenolic compds., quercetin and kaempferol compds., phenolic acids, and anthocyanins were detected with high performance liq. chromatog. coupled with mass spectrometry.  Conventional enol. parameters were measured in elderberry wine and compared to grape and other fruit wines.  Elderberry wine has a moderate ethanol concn., intense red coloration, and higher pH value compared to most red wines.  Total phenolic content of elderberry must and wine ranged up to 2004.13 GAE L-1.  Antioxidative potential of elderberry wine was in the range of red wine, and a tight correlation was detected between total phenolic content and antioxidative potential of elderberry wine.  Anthocyanins were the most abundant phenolics in elderberry wine in tight correlation with color hue, and their content significantly decreased with aging.  Similarly, a decrease in total phenolic content and antioxidative potential was detd. after storage.

2) The paper focuses on certain natural polyphenolic exts. from common elder fruit (Sambucus nigra), and also on their effects in diabetes mellitus.  The results reveal that the glycosylated Hb values are much higher in the diabetic group and they are significantly lower in the group protected by polyphenols.  The natural polyphenol compds. reduce the lipids peroxides, neutralize the lipid peroxil radicals and inhibit the LDL oxidn.  Following the perturbation of the lipid metab. in the diabetic rats, atherogen risk has significantly increased values in comparison to the rats from the witness groups.  It is found that due to the polyphenolic protection of the rats from the diabetic group treated with polyphenols, the atherogen risk is preserved at normal limits.  The serum activity of glutathione-peroxidase and superoxide-dismutase has significantly lower values in the diabetic group as compared to the group protected by polyphenols.  Through the hypoglycemiant, hypolipemiant and antioxidant effects, Sambucus nigra represents a possible dietary adjunct for the treatment of diabetes and a potential source for the discovery of new orally active agent(s) for future diabetes therapy.  Understanding the mechanism through which the natural polyphenols have effects on the functionality of the endothelium cells, including on the membrane sensitivity and intracellular signalling, could represent a new way of therapeutically approaching chronic metabolic diseases and cardiovascular illnesses.

3) Sambucus nigra L. is a species of elderberry native to most of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.  The juice squeezed from elderberry fruits contains red-purple pigments.  The pigments of elderberry are anthocyanins, which are present in high amts.  Anthocyanins belong to the group of phenolics, which are known not only for their contribution to the color of fruits but also contribute to the taste and nutritional properties of fruit.  We have evaluated the flavonols and anthocyanins of elderberry fruits with the help of HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS system.  Phenolics were extd. from five different elderberry cultivars.  The most abundant anthocyanin in elderberry fruit was cyanidin 3-sambubioside, which accounted for more than half of all anthocyanins identified in the berries.  The 'Rubini' cultivar had the highest amt. of the anthocyanins identified.  From the quercetin group, quercetin, quercetin 3-rutinoside and quercetin 3-glucoside were identified.  The cultivar with the highest amt. of total quercetins was 'Selection 25'.

PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Flores.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Diurético, sudorífico.

POSOLOGÍA= Posology: Tratamiento de las almorranas externas. Coger unas hojas frescas y cocerlas durante 5 minutos. Después se retira del fuego y se aplican, en forma de cataplasma tibia, para quitar el dolor de las almorranas externas y, a la vez, hacer que baje la inflamación de las hemorroides.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Corteza: De ella se han aislado glucósidos flavónicos, sales potásicas, lectinas (ricas en fitohemaglutininas, ácido aspártico, asparagina, valina y leucina), triterpenoides (alfa-amirenona, alfa-amirina, betulina, ácido oleánico, beta-sitoesterol) y taninos. Flores: contienen un aceite esencial (rico en linalol, geraniol, nerol), flavonoides (rutina, isoquercitrina, hiperósido, kempferol y astragalina), mucílagos, alcoholes y ácidos triterpénicos (alfa y beta-amirina, ácidoo ursólico y ácido oleánico), sambunigrósido (trzas), taninos, ácido clorogénico, plastocinina (proteínas), pectina y glucósidos del ácido cafeico y ferúlico. Frutos: flavonoides (isorrammetin-3-glucósido, 3-rutinósido), antocianidinas (heterósidos de la cianidina, crisantemina y sambiacianina), trazas de heterósidos cianogenéticos en las semillas (holocalósido, prunasósido, sambunigrósido y zierósido), ácidos cítrico y málico, provitamina A, vitamina C y trzas de aceite esencial (0,01%) rico en ésteres de ácidos grasos (ácidos linoleico, linolénico y palmítico). Hojas: Heterósidos cianogenéticos tales como sambunigrina (0,042%), prunasina, zierina y holocalina, colina, flavonoides (rutina, quercetina), fitoesteroles, triterpenos, alcanos, ácidos grasos, taninos, etc.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Brasil. 

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Distribución: Regiones Maule, Nuble, Biobio, Araucania, Los Lagos, Magallanes.

Usos medicinales: Posee propiedades como pectoral, febrifuga y diuretica. Las flores se beben en infusion para combatir enfermedades respiratorias y para bajar la fiebre. Tambien mejora la eliminacion de liquidos. Elimina calculos renales. Con los frutos maduros se elabora un jarabe (se exprimen y se sacan las semillas) laxante y depurativo, el que tambien se bebe contra las jaquecas y cefaleas.

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Droga: flores.

Propiedades:
Las flores tienen actividad diaforética, sudorífica, expecorante, diurética y antiinflamatoria. También, propiedades depurativas, venotónicas, antirreumáticas, antiaérgicas y galactógenas. 
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Partes usadas:
flores secas

Usos tradicionales: resfríos y estados gripales.
La infusión se prepara con 1 cucharada de flores para 1 litro de agua recién hervida: beber 1 taza 3 veces al día. También se puede usar en forma de vahos.

Efectos: balsámico, diurético, febrífugo, sudorífico.

Precauciones:
no administrar durante el embarazo y la lactancia. Podría existir algún tipo de interacción con algunos medicamentos tales como diuréticos, hipoglicemiantes, laxantes a los que les potencia sus efectos y teofilina al que le disminuye su efecto.
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Uso tradicional:
esta planta se usa principalmente para tratar los síntomas de la gripa y la bronquitis como son fiebre y tos. Según INVIMA (2000, 2003) las flores y frutos de esta especie se usan como expectorante, y sus hojas y extracto como laxante y coadyuvante en el tratamiento de estreñimiento.
Toxicidad
Su extracto esta contraindicado durante estados inflamatorios u obstructivos del tracto digestivo, apendicitis, obstrucción biliar, embarazo y lactancia (INVIMA 2003).

Método de empleo:
se utilizan las flores y ramas de individuos adultos los cuales se recogen en cualquier época del año. Se prepara una bebida hirviendo las flores o ramas en agua con miel, o en agua de panela, y se pueden mezclar con hojas de eucalipto.

Origen: Colombia

Origin

Kangra and in Simla hills.

Action:

Anti-inflammatory, anticatarrhal, diuretic.

Flowers and berries—used for common cold, influenza, nasal catarrh, sinusitis; as a gargle in sore throat.

Inner bark—cathartic, hydragogue, emetic, diuretic.

Infusion of bark and flowers—given in epilepsy; also used as a gentle circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, expectant and anticatarrhal; locally in inflammations.

1) OLIVEIRA SIMOES, Claudia María, et al. Plantas da maedicina popular no Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre : UFGRS, 1986, p. 126-127.

2) ALONSO, Jorge R. Tratado de fitomedicina : bases clínicas y farmacológicas. Buenos Aires : ISIS, 1998, p. 884-885.

3) VAN DAMME, E.J.M., et al.  Biochemical, molecular and structural analysis of multiple thaumatin-like proteins from the elderberry tree (Sambucus nigra L.). Planta. 2002, vol.214, nº6, p.853-862.
 
4) SCHMITZER, Valentina, et al. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) Wine: A Product Rich in Health Promoting Compounds.  Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2010, vol.58, nº18, p.10143-10146.
 
5) CIOCOIU, M., et al. The effects of Sambucus nigra polyphenols on oxidative stress and metabolic disorders in experimental diabetes mellitus. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry. 2009, vol.65, nº3, p.297-304.
 
6) VEBERIC, R.; JAKOPIC, J.; STAMPAR, F. Flavonols and anthocyanins of elderberry fruits (Sambucus nigra L.). Acta Horticulturae. 2009, vol.841(Proceedings of the IInd International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables, 2007), p.611-614.

7) ALFARO, Txumari, Plantas y remedios naturales de los caminos de santiago. Barcelona: B.S.A. 2008, p. 214.

8) Plantas silvestres comestibles y medicinales de Chile y otras partes del mundo/Cordero R., Sebastián; Abella A., Lucía; Galvez L. Francisca; Corporación chilena de la madera: Concepción, 2017 . -- 292 p.

9) Linares Gimeno, Nuria/ Plantas Medicinales: cuaderno de trabajo. UPA: Madrid, 2013. p . - 67

10) Hierbas medicinales/ Chile. Ministerio de Agricultura.  p.64

11) Arango Caro, Sandra /Guía de plantas medicinales de uso común en Salento, Colombia. St. Lois : Missouri Botanical Garden Press., 2004. - p. 71

12) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p 579.