Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).
Because of this,
H. parviflorus
is cited
among those plants belonging to the cate-
gory of weeds displaying different degrees
of resistance to glyphosphate (Marzocca
1993; Faccini, 2000; Pengue, 2001).
has similar properties to emetine. For this
reason, the roots of
H. parviflorus
can be
used as a substitute for the roots of ipecac-
uanha (Dominguez, 1903; Mateu Amengual,
1980; García Barriga, 1992).
The flavonoids quercetin, kaempferol,
luteolin and apigenin have also been
detected in the leaves (Harborne and
Williams,
13.1.3
Ethnomedical uses
1975;
Saxena,
1975;
Mateu
Amengual
et al
., 1981).
H. parviflorus
is a species known by many
popular names in the folk medicine of the
countries where it grows:
13.2
Biological Activities
of
H. parviflorus
•
In Colombia it is known as 'teatina' or
'chuchunchullo'. Its roots are used in the
form of decoction or as infusion as a mild
laxative, emetic, to cure amoebic dysen-
tery, the liver hypertrophy and, in general,
chronic diarrhoea (García Barriga, 1992).
In Chile it is named 'maitencillo'. Its roots
To date, no biological activities of the
species
H. parviflorus
have been detected.
Taking into account the presence of cyclo-
tides in the family Violaceae,
H. parviflorus
has been selected to assess its insecticide
activity. Cyclotides are known to have many
biological activities, but the function of
such molecules in plants has not yet been
elucidated. It is speculated, however, that
these compounds play a role in defence
mechanisms (Jennings
et al
., 2005).They are
found in considerable amounts in the spe-
cies that contain them (>1 g/kg in the leaves)
and are rich in cysteine (Craik
et al
., 1999).
These compounds have utero activity
(Gran, 1973a), are microbicidal (Tam
et al
.,
1999), insecticidal (Jennings
et al
., 2001, 2005;
Gruber
et al
., 2007; Barbeta
et al.
, 2008; Wang
et al
., 2009), anthelmintic (Colgrave
et al
.,
2009, 2008), anti-HIV (Gustafson
et al
., 1994,
2000, 2004; Bokesch
et al
., 2001; Ireland
et al
.,
2008; Wang
et al
., 2008), can inhibit the binding
of neurotensin to cell membranes (Witherup
et al
., 1994), can inhibit trypsin (Hernández
et al
., 2000), are haemolytic (Claeson
et al
.,
1998; Göransson
et al.,
1999; Chen
et al
., 2006),
anticancer (Göransson
et al.
, 2004), cytotoxic
(Lindholm
et al
., 2002; Svangård
et al.,
2004;
Herrmann
et al.,
2006, 2008) and cardiotoxic
(Gran, 1973b). All their biological activities
assessed in mammalian cellular systems seem
to be related to their interaction with mem-
branes, a common feature of the defence mol-
ecules of plants (Felizmenio-Quimio
et al
.,
2001). A role as an antimicrobial and insecti-
cide molecule of plants has been suggested
(Jennings
et al
., 2001).
•
are employed as a substitute of ipecac-
uanha because it seems to have the same
medicinal properties. People living in
the countryside employ it as emetic and
purgative and it is admininstered as a
powder or as an infusion of the roots. The
decoction of the leaves mixed with the
other aromatic plants is used to alleviate
neuralgia, mainly those of rheumatic ori-
gin (Murillo, 1889; Pizarro, 1966).
In Peru it is known as 'pachaga pichinya'
•
and is used as an emetic agent (Soukup,
1986; Rutter, 1990).
In Uruguay it is named 'maitencillo',
•
'maitecillo' or 'maytencillo'. With the
exception of the roots, the infusion
of the whole plant in a proportion of
15 g/l of water is administered in cases
of rheumatism and neuralgia. At low
doses, the roots have emetic and purga-
tive properties, whereas at high doses it
may cause gastroenteritis and may even
cause death (Lombardo, 1979).
In Argentina it is known as 'violetilla'. Its
•
roots are also employed as emetic and lax-
ative (Domínguez, 1903; Toursarkissian,
1980; Marzocca, 1997).
13.1.4
Chemical composition
Chemical studies indicate the presence of
an alkaloid called violine in its roots that
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