PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Planta entera. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Diaforético, hemostático, antioftálmico. 

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: The essential oil obtained by steam distillation of leaves provided a similar profile of monoterpenes to the results obtained with the head-space technique for P. ruderale except that a small amount of 2,3-dihydro-1,8-cineole, 0,2% of the integrated FID trace, was also detected (Table 1). As for P. gracile, the same monoterpenes were identified by both sampling techniques, but the relative proportions differed. This was especially evident for alfa pinene and sabinene, wich represented 17,7% and 3,5% respectively of the extract obtained wit the head-space sampling and 2,3% and 20,5% of the extract obtained through steam steam distillation (Table 2). Different fatty acid derivatives, 7-tetradecene, cis-4-decenal, pentadecanal and heptadecanal, were also detected in the extracts obtained by the steam distillation of leaves, wich contributed (3,9% and 5,3% of the total extracts in P. ruderale and P. gracile respectively (Tables 1 and 2). A sesquiterpene, beta-cubebene, was also identified in the steam distillation extract of P. gracile (Table 2) Chemicale analysis of the liquid sampled directly from the GSCs in the leaves of P. ruderale revealed a similar profile of monoterpenos to the one obtained with the head-space technique except that a small amount of trans-beta-ocimene (0,1%) was found (Table 1). The relative amount of the fatty acid derivatives in P. ruderale was 24,6% of the integrated FID trace in the direct sampling compared to 3,9% and undetectable levels in the steam distillation and head-space techniques respectively (Table 1). One substance, 7-tetradecene, constituted 77,0% and 90,2% of the integrated FID trace obtained the stems of P. ruderale by steam distillation and head-space samplings respectively (Table 3). Monoterpenes were not detected in the stems of P. ruderale according to head-space, sampling, although limonene constituted 8,6% of the integrated FID trace of the extract collected by steam distillation (Table 3). 

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: América cálida.

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) The influence of the period and the time of day for harvesting on the essential oil and tannin yield in couve-cravinho (Porophyllum ruderale) were evaluated in an expt. conducted in a greenhouse and in the field at the Federal University of Vicosa (Brazil) from June to Oct., 2000, and Jan. to May, 2001.  The extn. of essential oil and tannin was done during plant development and with plants harvested at three times of the day (7 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6 p.m.).  The yield of essential oil was lower in the harvest done at 6 p.m. and there was no significant difference between the harvests conducted at 7 a.m. and at 1 p.m.  The yield of tannin was highest for plants harvested at 6 p.m.  The leaf essential oil content was higher just before the blooming stage as compared to the other plant growth stages.  There was a continuous increase of tannin yield until the plant completed its 120-day cycle.

2) The essential oils from two Asteraceae species, Porophyllum ruderale (PR) and Conyza bonariensis (CB) were screened for anti-inflammatory activity in the mouse model of pleurisy induced by zymosan (500 mug/cavity) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (250 ng/cavity).  The main monoterpene constituents of each oil, beta-myrcene (in PR) and limonene (in CB), were tested in the LPS-induced pleurisy model and assayed also for immunoregulatory activity by measurement of the inhibition of NO and prodn. of the cytokines, gamma-interferon and IL-4.  The oils, when administered orally, were able to inhibit the LPS-induced inflammation including cell migration; with a similar effect being obsd. for pure limonene.  Pure beta-myrcene and limonene were also effective in inhibiting prodn. of nitric oxide at doses below the cytotoxicity of these monoterpenes.  A significant inhibition of gamma-interferon and IL-4 prodn. by limonene and beta-myrcene was also obsd.

Uses: anemia, hepatitis.                                                 

Origin: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, United States, Venezuela.                

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, 178p.

2) GUILLET, G.; BELANGER, A.; AMASON, J.T. Volatile monoterpenes in Porophyllum gracile and P. ruderale (Asteraceae): identification, localization and insecticidal synergism with alpha-terthienyl. Phytochemistry . 1998, vol.49, nº2, p.423-429.
 
3) FONSECA, M. C. M.; CASALI, V. W. D.; BARBOSA, L. C. A.Influence of the season and harvest time in essential oil and tannin yield in couve-cravinho (Porophyllum ruderale) (Jacq.) Cassini. Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais . 2007, vol.9, nº2, p.75-79.
 
4) SOUZA, M. C.; et al. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of essential oils from two asteraceae species.   Pharmazie . 2003, vol.58, nº8, p.582-586.

5) Geraldini , Isanete, Journal of Ethnopharmacology v. 173, 2015 . -- p. 383-42