Exploring the traditional medicine of Atacama people from Northern Chile as in inestimable source of bioactive compounds

Background Traditional medicines from Northern Chile have not been extensively studied [1]. Nevertheless, they should be considered as a potential source of bioactive compounds, especially in the fields of infectious and neglected tropical diseases, chronic inflammation and multiple drug resistance.

Aim Identification of bioactive compounds isolated from plants used in the medicine of Atacama people, following traditional indications.

Results A collaborative work within the Atacama community of Taira (Calama, Chile) has led to the collection of 18 medicinal plant species based on their traditional medicinal use.

Anti-bacterial screening has resulted in the identification of Aloysia deserticola and Krameria lappacea EtOAc extracts being the most active against the growth of Gram-positive bacteria strains (5-100 µg/mL). After bioguided fractionation, the neolignan (+)-conocarpan from K. lappacea has demonstrated the lowest MICs values (1-5 µg/mL).

Regarding the anti-parasitic activity, Artemisia copa and Azorella atacamensis showed IC₅₀ values between 1-10 µg/mL against Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma strains. Several sesquiterpene lactones and diterpenes bearing an endoperoxide group were isolated, their biological evaluations are under progress.

The EtOAc extract of Fabiana denudata has shown a strong anti-inflammatory effect: it has inhibited 70% of TNFα production at 1 µg/mL. Polymethoxyflavones and sesquiterpenes were isolated, their evaluation is undergoing.

Conclusion The Taira community traditional medicine is rich of bioactive compounds, such as neolignans and endoperoxide diterpenes active against the growth of pathogenic bacteria and parasites, respectively, and sesquiterpenes with anti-inflammatory potential. These encouraging results will be completed with deeper mechanistic studies, as well as synergistic evaluation with reference antibiotics.

Fig. 1 Some examples of isolated compounds from active extracts presenting different biological activities.

• References

• 1 Villagrán C, and Castro V. Ciencia indígena de los Andes del norte de Chile, Editorial Universitaria S. A. 2012; 174: 292