title: Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic activities of Galium mexicanum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Galium mexicanum Kunth (Rubiaceae). Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts as well as various fractions from these extracts were tested to determine antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic or anti-inflammatory activities in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerial parts of the plant were extracted with various solvents and fractionated accordingly. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed on nine bacterial and four fungal strains. Leishmania donovani was used as a protozoan strain for antiparasitic activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6 when macrophages were exposed to lipopolysaccharide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various extracts and fractions obtained from this plant exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Of special interest was the hexane fraction HE 14 b, which show antibacterial (ranging between 67 and 666 μg/ml) and antifungal (at concentrations of 333 μg/ml) activities. Also the hexane fraction HE 5 exhibited antiparasitic activity (at concentrations of 260 μg/ml), whereas the methanol fraction ME 13-15 showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity when compared to dexamethasone. Chemical analyses of the chloroform extract show the presence of triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and glucosides, but no tannins were detected in the assayed extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The benefit of Galium mexicanum as a traditional medicinal plant was confirmed using antibacterial and antifungal assays in vitro. We also report for the first time, and to the best of our knowledge, antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory activities of this plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolivar
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cruz-Paredes
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Zaida N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Arreola
authors.forename: Yossef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Av-Gay
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D032061:Galium / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts