Potent limonoid insect antifeedant from Melia azedarach.
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Systematic fractionation of a fruit extract from Argentine Melia azedarach L., which was monitored by an insect antifeedant bioassay, led to the isolation of meliartenin, a limonoid antifeedant, which existed as a mixture of two interchangeable isomers. At 4 microg/cm2 and 1 microg/cm2, the isomeric mixture was as active as azadirachtin in strongly inhibiting the larval feeding of Epilachna paenulata Germ. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and the polyphagous pest, Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), respectively. (+info)
Extracts of Azadirachta indica and Melia azedarach seeds inhibit folliculogenesis in albino rats.
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The seed oil of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) is used in traditional medicine for its antidiabetic, spermicidal, antifertility, antibacterial, and wound healing properties. The present study was undertaken to investigate the quantitative aspects of follicular development in cyclic female albino rats (135 +/- 10 g; 8 groups with 6 animals in each group) after oral administration of polar (PF) and non-polar (NPF) fractions of A. indica seed extract at 3 and 6 mg kg body weight-1 day-1 and Melia azedarach Linn. (dharek) seed extract at 24 mg kg body weight-1 day-1 for 18 days. The extracts were prepared using a flash evaporator at 35 degrees C and then dissolved in olive oil to prepare doses on a per kg body weight basis. There was a significant reduction (P = 0.05) in the number of normal single layered follicles (A. indica: 0.67 +/- 0.33 and 4.67 +/- 2.03 after 3 and 6 mg/kg NPF, and 3.33 +/- 1.67 and 1.00 +/- 1.00 after 3 and 6 mg/kg PF vs control: 72.67 +/- 9.14 and M. azedarach: 0.60 +/- 0.40 and 1.80 +/- 1.2 after 24 mg/kg PF and NPF, respectively, vs control: 73.40 +/- 7.02) and follicles in various stages (I-VII) of follicular development in all treatment groups. These extracts also significantly reduced (P = 0.05) the total number of normal follicles in the neem (14.67 +/- 5.93 and 1.00 +/- 1.00 after 3 and 6 mg/kg PF and 3.67 +/- 0.88 and 5.33 +/- 2.03 after 3 and 6 mg/kg NPF) and dharek (13.00 +/- 3.58 and 14.60 +/- 2.25 after 24 mg/kg NPF and PF) treatments compared to control (216.00 +/- 15.72 and 222.20 +/- 19.52, respectively). Currently, indiscriminate use of persistent and toxic rodenticides to control rodent populations has created serious problems such as resistance and environmental contamination. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use ecologically safe and biologically active botanical substances that are metabolized and are not passed on to the next trophic level, and that interfere with the reproductive potential particularly growth and differentiation of follicles. This may help elevate the socio-economic status of the country. Thus, the present study is an attempt to investigate the effects of A. indica and M. azedarach seed extracts on reproduction of albino rats. (+info)
Cytotoxic limonoids from Brazilian Melia azedarach.
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Three new C-seco limonoids (1-3) and one new tetracyclic limonoid (4) were isolated from a methanol extract of the ripe fruits of Melia azedarach collected in Curitiba, Brazil, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and comparison of spectral data with those of the previously known compounds. Among the limonoids isolated in the present study, compounds 3 and 4 exhibited significant inhibitory activity against HeLa S3 cancer cells, whereas 1 and 2 showed weak cytotoxicity. (+info)
The synergistic effect of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma against HSV-2 replication in Vero cells is not interfered by the plant antiviral 1-cinnamoyl-3, 11-dihydroxymeliacarpin.
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BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) synergizes with IFN-alpha/beta to inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication in vitro. Since IFN response represents an early host defense event against viral infection and the fact that treatment with meliacine, a plant antiviral, ameliorate the severity of the herpetic infection in female mice infected intravaginally with HSV-2, we wanted to investigate whether the administration of meliacine to HSV-2 infected mice could altered the homoestasis of IFNs host response. For this purpose we studied the effect of the compound 1-cinnamoyl-3,11-dihydroxymeliacarpin (CDM), which is the responsible for meliacine antiviral action, on the HSV-2 inhibition exerted by IFN alpha, IFN-gamma or their combination. RESULTS: We have found that like HSV-1, IFN-gamma synergizes with IFN-alpha to inhibit HSV-2 replication in Vero cells. While treatment with IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma alone has weak antiviral action, HSV-2 plaque formation, viral replication and the onset of viral CPE in Vero cells are synergistically inhibited by interferon combination. In addition, CDM treatment contributes to protect cells from virus cytopathic effect and causes a strong inhibition of HSV-2 titer. Moreover, the presence of CDM for 2 h before IFN induction, during the 16 h induction period, only for 24 h after infection or during the complete IFN treatment period, reduces virus yields in an additive way without affecting IFN antiviral action. CONCLUSION: The results reported here indicated that the presence of CDM did not alter the antiviral activity of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma or the synergism exerted by their combination. As a result we can envision that the administration of CDM in vivo could not affect the biological activity of IFNs, which are so important mediators of the innate resistance to HSV-2 infection. (+info)
Degraded and oxetane-bearing limonoids from the roots of Melia azedarach.
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Brine shrimp lethality test (BST)-guided fractionation of a methanol extract of the roots of Melia azedarach resulted in the isolation of two new limonoids, 9alpha-hydroxy-12alpha-acetoxyfraxinellone (1) and 7,14-epoxy-azedarachin B (2), together with the known compounds, 12alpha-hydroxyfraxinellone (4), 9alpha-hydroxyfraxinellone (5), azedarachin B (6), and neoazedarachin B (7). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of their NMR data with those of the known compounds. Compounds 1, 2 and 4-7 exhibited significant activity in the BST, in particular, azedarachin B (6) showed remarkable BST activity with an LC(50) value of 0.0098 microM. (+info)
Biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid amides by an endophytic Penicillium brasilianum found in root bark of Melia azedarach.
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Biosynthetic studies on brasiliamides, potently convulsive and bacteriostatic compounds from an endophytic Penicillium brasilianum isolated from Melia azedarach (Meliaceae), confirms their phenylpropanoid origin, which is very uncommon in fungi. Feeding experiments with [2-(13)C]- phenylalanine indicated the incorporation of two units of this amino acid on brasiliamide structures. The first step in the phenylpropanoid pathway to those compounds was evaluated through enzymatic bioassays and confirmed the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) participation. The metabolism of phenylalanine in this fungus is discussed. (+info)
Cytotoxic tirucallane triterpenoids from Melia azedarach fruits.
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Potential synergistic effect of Melia azedarach fruit extract and Beauveria bassiana in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in cattle infestations.
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