Aline de Souza Ramos

A review of antimalarial plants used in traditional medicine in communities in Portuguese-Speaking countries: Brazil, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and Angola

The isolation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, based on traditional use or ethnomedical data, is a highly promising potential approach for identifying new and effective antimalarial drug candidates. The purpose of this review was to create a compilation of the phytochemical studies on medicinal plants used to treat malaria in traditional medicine from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPSC): Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. In addition, this review aimed to show that there are several medicinal plants popularly used in these countries for which few scientific studies are available. The primary approach compared the antimalarial activity of native species used in each country with its extracts, fractions and isolated substances. In this context, data shown here could be a tool to help researchers from these regions establish a scientific and technical network on the subject for the CPSC where malaria is a public health problem.

Liposomal formulation of turmerone-rich hexane fractions from Curcuma longa enhances their antileishmanial activity.

Promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis were treated with different concentrations of two fractions of Curcuma longa cortex rich in turmerones and their respective liposomal formulations in order to evaluate growth inhibition and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, cellular alterations of treated promastigotes were investigated under transmission and scanning electron microscopies. LipoRHIC and LipoRHIWC presented lower MIC, 5.5 and 12.5 μg/mL, when compared to nonencapsulated fractions (125 and 250 μg/mL), respectively, and to ar-turmerone (50 μg/mL). Parasite growth inhibition was demonstrated to be dose-dependent. Important morphological changes as rounded body and presence of several roles on plasmatic membrane could be seen on L. amazonensis promastigotes after treatment with subinhibitory concentration (2.75 μg/mL) of the most active LipoRHIC. In that sense, the hexane fraction from the turmeric cortex of Curcuma longa incorporated in liposomal formulation (LipoRHIC) could represent good strategy for the development of new antileishmanial agent.

Whole Cells in Enantioselective Reduction of tert-Butyl Acetoacetate

Abstract The β-ketoester tert-butyl acetoacetate was enantioselectively reduced to tert-butyl (S)-3-hydroxybutanoate by seven microorganism strains. The best result using free cells was obtained with the yeast R. rubra, which furnished 97.6% ee and higher than 99% of conversion within 24 h. After immobilization in calcium alginate spheres, R. rubra furnished 96% ee and higher than 99% ee within 24 h, even if substrate concentration was 58 mM. Immobilized cells were reused three times without loss of enantioselectivity. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Whole cells in enantioselective reduction of benzyl acetoacetate.

The β-ketoester benzyl acetoacetate was enantioselectively reduced to benzyl (S)-3-hydroxybutanoate by seven microorganism species. The best result using free cells was obtained with the yeast Hansenula sp., which furnished 97% ee and 85% of conversion within 24 h. After immobilization in calcium alginate spheres, K.marxianus showed to be more stable after 2 cycles of reaction.

Wound healing properties of Copaifera paupera in diabetic mice

Copaifera oleoresin is one of the most used natural products in popular medicine all over the world. Among other effects (i.e., anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, microbicidal) one of the most well-known is its wound healing capacity. However, the mechanism by which the oleoresin presents its effect is still not clear. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the wound healing capacity of oleoresin obtained from Copaifera paupera, its mechanism of action and identify its major components. For these purposes, diabetic Swiss Webster mice were topically treated with oleoresin (100, 150 or 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days after an excision was performed in the back of the mice. Cytokines, wound retraction and histological evaluation were conducted at 3, 7 and 10 days (for cytokines); 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days (for wound retraction); and 7 and 14 days (for histological evaluation). Our data indicate that oleoresin significantly reduced production of MCP-1 and TNF-α at days 7 and 10 post-excision and increased IL-10 production at both days. All treatments demonstrated an effect similar or higher to that in collagenase-treated mice. Histological evaluations demonstrated that higher dose treatment resulted in better resolution and closure of the wound and higher levels of collagen deposition and indexes of re-epithelialization even when compared with the collagenase-treated group. The treatment with oleoresin from Copaifera paupera demonstrated that it is even better than an ointment routinely used for improvement of wound healing, suggesting this oleoresin as an option for use in diabetic patients.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from the Leaves of Endlicheria bracteolata

Abstract This work compares the chemical composition of the essential oils from the leaves of Endlicheria bracteolata (Lauraceae family) collected in two different seasons. These oils obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass and FID detectors. Analysis of the chromatograms showed a predominance of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in the essential oils obtained in the rainy and dry seasons, representing 75.6 % and 86.5 % of these sesquiterpenes, respectively. The main constituents found in the oil obtained during the rainy season were valencene (30.0 %) and (E)-caryophyllene (17.7 %), while for the oil obtained in the dry season, the main constituents were (E)-caryophyllene (21.2 %) and guaia-10(14),11-diene (17.5 %).

Fingerprint by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Two Himatanthus Species of Brazilian North Region

Himatanthus species (Apocynaceae) are popularly used in Brazil to treat inflammation, ulcer, and cancer [1–4]. The genus is chemically characterized by the occurrence of iridoids [2, 5, 6]. Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson grows in the Amazon region, and several chemical research reports on its latex and barks led to the isolation of iridoids such as plumericin and isoplumericin and triterpenes such as -amyrin and lupeol esters [1, 5, 7]. These components are usually associated with the activity of this genus. H. attenuatus (Benth.) Woodson is a tree species distributed in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, and Bolivia. Unlike H. sucuuba, there are few studies on H. attenuatus related only to taxonomy, morphology, and screening studies [8–10]. The aim of this work was to contribute to the knowledge of the genus Himatanthus by comparing the hexane and dichloromethane extracts of the scarcely studied species H. attenuatus with the extracts of H. sucuuba using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. This procedure also furnished the chromatography fingerprint of both species, popularly known as sucuba in Amazonas and Acre states, among other names. Roots of H. attenuatus and H. sucuuba were collected in the Brazilian Amazon region, and the herbaria vouchers were compared with those previously deposited: 17590 (UFAC Herbarium, Acre State) and 180453 (INPA Herbarium, Amazonas State), respectively. Both plant materials were dried in the oven with air circulation at 35 C for 24 h. Finely triturated roots of H. attenuatus and H. sucuuba (0.5 g each) were successively macerated with agitation five times with hexane (1.2 L/extraction) and CH2Cl2 (1.2 L/extraction). Extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure, yielding (p/p) 1.9% of hexane extract of H. attenuatus (HA-HX), 1.1% of CH2Cl2 extract of H. attenuatus (HA-DC), 1.2% of hexane extract of H. sucuuba (HS-HX), and 2.3% of CH2Cl2 extract of H. sucuuba (HS-DC). Their chemical compositions are shown in Table 1. Extracts were analyzed by GC-MS on an Agilent 6890N GC coupled to a quadripolar mass spectrometer (Agilent 5973N), with ionization by electronic impact (70 eV). Analyses were performed in triplicate, and the injected volume was 1 L, in splitless mode. The apparatus was fitted with a DB-5MS column (30 m 0.25 mm I.D., 0.25 m phase film). The injector temperature was 270 C, ion-source 70 eV, detector 230 C, and scan range 40–700 m/z. The column temperature varied from 70 C to 305 C at a rate of 5 C/min. Helium was the carrier gas at flow rate 1 mL/min. Interpretation and identification of the fragmentation mass spectrum were carried out by comparison with the Wiley NBS mass spectrum database. Results are expressed as relative percentage of peak area in the chromatogram (Table 1). As shown in Table 1, free fatty acids and their esters were detected in both species, and an important content of palmitic acid was found in the CH2Cl2 extract of H. sucuuba (11.5%). The steroid, sitosterol, was present in H. sucuuba extracts.

Alpinia Essential Oils and Their Major Components against Rhodnius nasutus, a Vector of Chagas Disease

Species of the genus Alpinia are widely used by the population and have many described biological activities, including activity against insects. In this paper, we describe the bioactivity of the essential oil of two species of Alpinia genus, A. zerumbet and A. vittata, against Rhodnius nasutus, a vector of Chagas disease. The essential oils of these two species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituent of A. zerumbet essential oil (OLALPZER) was terpinen-4-ol, which represented 19.7% of the total components identified. In the essential oil of A. vittata (OLALPVIT) the monoterpene β-pinene (35.3%) was the main constituent. The essential oils and their main constituents were topically applied on R. nasutus fifth-instar nymphs. In the first 10 min of application, OLALPVIT and OLALPZER at 125 μg/mL provoked 73.3% and 83.3% of mortality, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol at 25 μg/mL and β-pinene at 44 μg/mL provoked 100% of mortality. The monitoring of resistant insects showed that both essential oils exhibited antifeedant activity. These results suggest the potential use of A. zerumbet and A. vittata essential oils and their major constituents to control R. nasutus population.

Evaluation of Amazon fruits: chemical and nutritional studies on Borojoa sorbilis : Volatile compounds, nutritional values of B. sorbilis

BACKGROUND Borojoa sorbilis (Ducke) is an Amazonian species with edible fruits that are widely consumed by the local population, but little studied and not yet economically explored. Thus the aim of this study was to describe the chemical composition, volatile compounds, nutritional aspects and antioxidant activity of the fruit pulp and peel of B. sorbilis. RESULTS Headspace solid-phase microextraction, using polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS-DVB) fiber, resulted in the identification of 59 substances in the pulp and peel of B. sorbilis fruits after analysis of the chromatograms obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using polar and nonpolar columns. Esters were the most abundant. Moisture, lipids, protein, dietary fiber, ash, carbohydrate, total energy value, titratable acid, soluble solids and pH were measured. Protein amount, fat content and antioxidant activity were low in both pulp and peel. Carbohydrate content was 179.2 and 134.9 g kg-1 in pulp and peel, respectively. CONCLUSION This is the first report on the chemical characteristics, flavor and nutritional aspects of B. sorbilis fruit, which is essential to its economic exploitation. The high energy value associated with the carbohydrate content, plus the low fat content, contribute to a possible use of B. sorbilis fruits as a food supplement.