Search Results (6)

Affinin (spilanthol) is the main bioactive alkylamide present in Heliopsis longipes roots, exerting antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects that involve the activation of TRP channels. Previous studies indicated that affinin reduces the LPS-induced increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophages. However, no studies have evaluated whether affinin produces antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and behavioral effects in experimental animals treated with LPS, nor has the mechanism of action involved in these pharmacological effects been established. The present study evaluated whether affinin induces hypothermia, catalepsy, hypolocomotion, and analgesia and, moreover, whether the analgesia involves the activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor and TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels. Subsequently, the anti-inflammatory activity and behavioral effects induced by affinin (20 mg/kg) in mice were evaluated via LPS (2.5 mg/kg)-induced hypothermia. The results of the experiments indicate that the analgesic effect of affinin involves the activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptors and the TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels. Additionally, affinin reduced the severity of LPS-induced hypothermia and attenuated the increase in TNF-α and IL-6 levels in serum. The results obtained demonstrate that affinin induces antinociceptive, anti-hypothermic, and anti-inflammatory activities, which involve the CB1 receptor and the TRPV1 and TRPA1 channels and the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Full article

Due to climate change, heat-tolerant species have become increasingly important; however, the selection system for herbaceous plants has yet to be well established. This study aimed to establish a selection system for heat-tolerant plant species and to identify such species. Heat stress at 50 °C for 120 min was applied to 27 plant species using a heat treatment and recovery model. Among them, four herbaceous species—Hemerocallis fulva, Heliopsis longipes, Hosta plantagines, and Scilla scilloides—were selected by measuring their electrolyte leakage index (ELI). Additionally, species with high ELI values (Centaurea cyanus) and low ELI values (S. scilloide) were selected to determine the optimal temperature and time for the heat treatment using linear regression analysis. The selected heat-tolerant herbaceous plants survived under optimal heat stress conditions (120 min at 50 °C). The degree of cell death in the selected plant species was measured using Evans blue staining. The results showed that the cell death indexes of heat-tolerant species were less than 22% after heat treatment, compared to over 57% in heat-sensitive species. Furthermore, the recovery ability at room temperature after heat treatment was assessed using the DAB staining method. The selected heat-tolerant plant species recovered quickly (within 90 min), whereas the heat-sensitive species required over 480 min for recovery. The analytical method developed in this study can more accurately determine the response of various plants to heat stress and has high reproducibility. Therefore, it is considered an excellent method for establishing a heat-tolerant plant selection system. Full article

The alkamide content and specific tissue localization in the cypselae of Heliopsis longipes were investigated using gas chromatography–electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-EIMS) and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy (MPFM). GC-EIMS analysis identified two olefinic alkamides: affinin (spilanthol) and N-2-methylbutyl-2E,6Z,8E-decatrienamide. Microscopic analysis revealed that alkamides are localized within the cotyledons, and specifically compartmentalized in lipid bodies, highlighting their spatial organization. The linear unmixing of fluorescence emission fingerprints showed that affinin exhibits autofluorescence at 693 nm, corresponding to the red spectral region. This emission is attributed to the conjugated double bonds in its acyl chain. This study is the first to report on the presence and precise localization of alkamides in the cypselae of H. longipes. Full article

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, underlies tissue development and repair. Some medicinal plant-derived compounds can modulate the angiogenic response. Heliopsis longipes, a Mexican medicinal plant, is widely used because of its effects on pain and inflammation. The main bioactive phytochemicals from H. longipes roots are alkamides, where affinin is the most abundant. Scientific studies show various medical effects of organic extracts of H. longipes roots and affinin that share some molecular pathways with the angiogenesis process, with the vasodilation mechanism of action being the most recent. This study investigates whether pure affinin and the ethanolic extract from Heliopsis longipes roots (HLEE) promote angiogenesis. Using the aortic ring rat assay (ex vivo method) and the direct in vivo angiogenesis assay, where angioreactors were implanted in CD1 female mice, showed that affinin and the HLEE increased vascular growth in a dose-dependent manner in both bioassays. This is the first study showing the proangiogenic effect of H. longipes. Further studies should focus on the mechanism of action and its possible therapeutic use in diseases characterized by insufficient angiogenesis. Full article

Mexico is a megadiverse country, with a high quantity of unique plant species with different uses and applications, such as bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, and, recently, nutrimental. The content of phytochemicals, and the impact of them on animal and human health, has made them a target for biotechnological improvement. In the region Bajio in Mexico, several plants that are associated with ecological, medical and industrial potential have been identified, but also those associated with the traditions. The work in this project includes the development of systems for the culture for the production of secondary metabolites (in vitro root tissue culture) and the miRNA expression analysis, in order to find the molecules that are associated with metabolites production. In this study, we include the following two plants: marigold (Tagetes erecta), in which genes associated to lutein production had been identified in flower development; systems for cell culture and plant transformation have been developed, but no systems for in vitro root culture. Up until now, there are not studies related to miRNA expression and association to these molecules to secondary metabolites. In Heliopsis longipes, several methodologies had been developed for the isolation of afinnin and its uses in agriculture, medicine, and, recently, as analgesic activities in some other metabolites. First, a root tissue culture was established for both of the plants (marigold and Heliopsis), using a combination of auxins (2,4-D, IAA, IBA) in a kinetic assay, as the base for manipulation; differences in the root architecture were determined mainly in the time of production and root architecture. In the molecular analysis, four miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed, and associated to secondary metabolites production (miR146, miR164, miR168, miR171). The reordering of miRNAs synthesis and the targets was analyzed, and is associated with the secondary metabolites production, in order to establish a system for the in vitro induction of metabolites. Full article

Heliopsis longipes roots have been widely used in Mexican traditional medicine to relieve pain, mainly, toothaches. Previous studies have shown that affinin, the major alkamide of these roots, induces potent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of H. longipes root extracts and affinin on the cardiovascular system have not been investigated so far. In the present study, we demonstrated that the dichloromethane and ethanolic extracts of H. longipes roots, and affinin, isolated from these roots, produce a concentration-dependent vasodilation of rat aorta. Affinin-induced vasorelaxation was partly dependent on the presence of endothelium and was significantly blocked in the presence of inhibitors of NO, H₂S, and CO synthesis (N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), dl-propargylglycine (PAG), and chromium mesoporphyrin (CrMP), respectively); K⁺ channel blockers (glibenclamide (Gli) and tetraethyl ammonium (TEA)), and guanylate cyclase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and indomethacin (INDO), respectively). Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that affinin induces vasodilation by mechanisms that involve gasotransmitters, and prostacyclin signaling pathways. These findings indicate that this natural alkamide has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Full article