title: Antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Pleopeltis polylepis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pleopeltis polylepis (Polypodaceae) is a fern used in the traditional Mexican medicine to treat fever, bleeding, typhoid, cough, pertussis, chest pain, and renal and hepatic diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze the bioactivities of different extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from this species to scientifically validate its medicinal applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerial parts of P. polylepis were macerated and extracted consecutively with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts were subsequently fractionated and compounds from hexane and methanol extracts were purified. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using a panel of eight Gram-positive and -negative bacterial and four fungal strains. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and the human-derived monocytic cell line THP-1. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6 and IL-10 using also the cell line THP-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various extracts, fractions and compounds obtained from this plant showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative strains. Antifungal activity was confirmed only in Candida albicans and Tricophyton mentagrophytes. Two fractions and two isolated compounds (butyl myristate and β-sitosterol) showed no significant cytotoxicity and were further evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. All four samples tested showed an anti-inflammatory activity similar to prednisone used as a control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The benefit of P. polylepis as a traditional plant related to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities was confirmed by in vitro assays. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the isolation and bioactivities of extracts, fractions or isolated compounds from P. polylepis.
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.
authors: Angel V
authors: AV
authors: Contreras Cárdenas
authors: Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.
authors: Luis R
authors: LR
authors: Hernández
authors: Departamento de Ingenierías, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico.
authors: Zaida N
authors: ZN
authors: Juárez
authors: Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. Electronic address: eugenio.sanchez@udlap.mx.
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: Sánchez-Arreola
authors: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Electronic address: hbach@mail.ubc.ca.
authors: Horacio
authors: H
authors: Bach
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D019814:Myristic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029621:Polypodiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012855:Sitosterols; D019814:Myristic Acid; D016753:Interleukin-10; C025473:gamma-sitosterol
keywords: Anti-Inflammatory agents; Antibacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Cytotoxicity; Pleopeltis polylepis; Polypodaceae