PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Partes aéreas. 

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Antirreumático, digestivo, hepático, diaforético, sedante y desinfectante.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Eupatorium buniifolium was investigated for diterpenoid content. Methyl-ent-labd-8(17)-en-18-oic acid-15-oate, 15-hydroxy-ent-labd-8(17)-en-18-oic acid, 15,16-epoxy-15-methoxy-ent-labd-8(17)-en-18-oic acid and 15-methoxy-ent-labd-8(17)-13-dien-18-oic acid methyl ester-16,15-olide were isolated from the aerial part of this plant and their structures were determined. The known compounds polyalthic acid and nivenolide were also identified. All these compounds were characterized on the basis of spectral analysis (including 2D NMR) and physical constants. 

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone:Bolivia, Paraguay, Brasil, Uruguay. 

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

F- detn. in environmental samples of pasture and honey demonstrated that these materials may be used as pollution bioindicators in areas of industrial activity.  The observation that F- concns. detd. in recent times are above ref. values was reinforced by the occurrence of various cases of bone deformation (fluorosis) and dental problems of ruminants in the area.  A synergetic effect of F- on the abrasion of coal ash deposited on graze lands was also obsd. 

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) Ten plants were collected within the North-Central Province of Cordoba (Argentina).  Ethanolic exts. of these plants were prepd. and analyzed for antioxidant power (FRAP, DPPH).  FRAP ranged from a low of 132.3 umol of Fe (II)/g (Gaillardia megapotamica) to a high of 826.2 mmol of Fe (II)/g (Heterothalamus alienus).  According to the results of this study plants from the North Central area of Argentina should be further investigated for their potential as a source of natural antioxidants for health and food industrial purposes.

2) 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 umol 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 umol of Fe(II)/g, resp.), while Ligaria cuneifolia exhibited the highest values (100.2 mg GAE/g and 1862.0 umol 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.

3) Eupatorium buniifolium is widely distributed in Argentina and it is used in folk medicine as digestive and in hepato-biliary complaints.  The aq. ext. of the aerial parts has been tested in rats for its choleretic, antioxidant activity and acute toxicity effects.  The ext. showed significant choleretic effect (35%, i.v. and 50%, p.o.) after both oral (500 mg/kg) and i.v. (250 mg/kg) administration without changes in the bile acids output.  Measure of Total Reactive Antioxidant Potential (TRAP) and the Total Antioxidant Reactivity (TAR) indicate that the ext. has antioxidants of high reactivity antioxidant capacity.  It may be due to the presence of antioxidants such as phenolic and flavonoid compd., extensively reported as free radicals scavengers.  Toxicity signs were not obsd. until oral dose of 3000 mg/kg.

4) Anti-inflammatory activity was detected in the CH2Cl2 ext. of the aerial parts of E. buniifolium using the TPA-mouse ear model.  Three compds. isolated from this ext., by bioassay-guided fractionation, significantly inhibited the inflammatory response.  The compds. were identified as 5,7,5'-trihydroxy-3,6,2',4'-tetramethoxyflavone, scopoletin and centaureidin which inhibited the edema by 67.3, 59.8 and 49.7%, resp., at 1 mg/ear.

Summary
Eupatorium buniifolium (Asteraceae) is a medium sized shrub also known in Argentina by the common name of chilca. Native to South America, E. buniifolium can be found in the Southern areas of Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, and also in Uruguay, although its use as a medicinal plant seems to be mostly limited to Argentina, where it grows in the North and Central regions of the country. From a medicinal point of view, the aerial parts are used as a decoction in the treatment of rheumatism, and as a digestive, hepatic, diaphoretic, sedative and disinfectant agent. Regarding research in the pharmacological field, most studies have focused on its actions on the digestive and central nervous systems. Antimicrobial, analgesic and anti inflammatory activities have also been determined for the extracts.

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