@article {2547, title = {Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects of Chuquiraga spinosa Less. and Baccharis genistelloides (Pers.) Lam. in a Rat Model of Transient Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {September 2025}, pages = {620-631}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {620}, abstract = {

Background: Cerebral ischemia, a leading cause of disability and mortality, is strongly related to oxidative stress and inflammation, highlighting the need for neuroprotective antioxidant and cytokinemodulating agents. Objective: To characterize the phytochemical profile and evaluate the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Chuquiraga spinosa (ChS) and Baccharis genistelloides (BaG), individually and in combination, in a rat model of cerebral ischemia{\textendash}reperfusion. Methodology: Phytochemical screening and GC-MS were performed with antioxidant assays (ABTS{\textbullet}$^{+}$, DPPH{\textbullet}, FRAP). Neurological deficit was assessed (Bederson scale), while histopathology, oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, SOD, CAT, NOx), and cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) were measured. Groups included Normal (no ischemia), Ischemia (oral placebo), Citicoline 300 mg/kg, ChS 500 mg/kg, BaG 500 mg/kg, and the oral combination ChS 500 + BaG 500 mg/kg, all administered for seven days prior to ischemia induction. Results: ChS had higher total phenolic content than BaG (p = 0.0079). GC-MS identified 23 compounds in ChS and 17 in BaG. The combination displayed greater antioxidant activity than either extract. At 24 h, ChS 500 mg/Kg and the combination reduced severe neurological deficit to 17\% (vs. 83\% in ischemia). Histopathology revealed less neuronal damage with the combination, comparable to ChS 500 mg/Kg. All treatments decreased MDA levels; the combination also enhanced GSH and CAT and significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β. Conclusion: ChS and BaG extracts exert neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia. Their combination shows synergistic antioxidant activity against free radicals and enhances the modulation of inflammatory cytokines, supporting a greater neuroprotective potential.

}, keywords = {Cerebral ischemia; neuroprotection; antioxidants; Chuquiraga spinosa Less.; Baccharis genistelloides (Pers.) Lam}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2025.17.77}, author = {Hugo Jes{\'u}s Justil-Guerrero and Jorge Luis Arroyo-Acevedo and Juan Pedro Rojas-Armas and Miriam Palomino- Pacheco and Carlos Orlando Garcia-Bustamante and Edwin Cesar Cieza-Macedo and Jessica Yolanda Huarcaya-Rojas and Jaime David Torres-L{\'e}vano and Julio Jose Pena-Galindo and Esther Obdulia Franco-Soto and Juana E. Chavez-Flores and Robert Armando Cardenas-Orihuela} } @article {1810, title = {Pharmacobotany, Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-inflammatory effect of the Ethanolic Extract of Luffa operculata}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {14}, year = {2022}, month = {June 2022}, pages = {622-628}, type = {Research Article}, chapter = {622}, abstract = {

Background: Luffa operculata is a vegetable species well known in the traditional peruvian medicine for its many medicinal properties and cosmetic applications. Objective: The aim objective was to determine the pharmacognostic characteristics of L. operculata as well as observing the pharmacological effect of the ethanol extract of L. operculata fruit on chronic inflammation in rats. Materials and Method: Phytochemical analysis was carried out by using specific chemical reagents for each constituent chemical, the pharmacobotanical study was done with a histological tinction (fruit, steam and leaves), which were stained with Safranin 1\% and Toluidine blue 1\%; the chronical inflammation was assessed by air bag method in Holztman male rats. Doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/Kg were tested in order to determine the anti-inflammatory effect, which was demonstrated with histopathological evaluation and lymphocytes reduction. Results: The main findings indicate that the ethanolic extract presented saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates, terpenes and steroids. The efficiency of lymphocyte reduction per field in the histopathological study of the granuloma was 58.4\% with the middle dose of 250 mg/kg (p \< 0.0001), which gives a dose-independent anti-inflammatory effect in rats. Conclusion: Luffa operculata presented anti-inflammatory effect at 250 mg/Kg by oral administration in a chronical experimental model of inflammation in rats.

}, keywords = {Anti-inflammatory., Luffa operculata, Pharmacobotany, Saponins}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2022.14.80}, author = {Jorge Alejandro Arroyo-Sandoval and Manuel Jes{\'u}s Marin-Bravo and Jorge Luis Arroyo-Acevedo and Hugo Jes{\'u}s Justil-Guerrero and Roberto Jes{\'u}s Ch{\'a}vez-Asmat and Josefa Bertha Pari-Olarte and Javier Hern{\'a}n Ch{\'a}vez-Espinoza and Jaime David Torres-L{\'e}vano and Eddie Loyola-Gonzales and Jos{\'e} Santiago Almeida-Galindo and Oscar Herrera-Calderon} }