Ana Maria Giulietti

The brazilian seagrasses

Abstract Based on a critical review of the literature, and on abundant material recently collected along the coast of Brazil, a synthesis of the occurrence and distribution of the Brazilian species of seagrasses is presented. Two species of Hydrocharitaceae, namely Halophila baillonii Aschers. and H. decipiens Ostenf., and three species of Potomogetonaceae, Halodule emarginata den Hartog, H. wrightii Aschers. and Ruppia maritima L. s.s., were found. Ruppia maritima was found all along the Brazilian coast, from about 3 to 32°S latitude, in brackish water ponds and lakes, with salinities varying from 0.3 to 28ℵ.. The other species are restricted to normal seawater ( ±35ℵ. ), although Halodule wrightii was also found in hypersaline waters (45ℵ.). This last species is the most common seagrass in Brazil. The species of Halophila are restricted to warmer waters and were not found further south than Rio de Janeiro State, being especially common on the NE coast at depths down to 62 m. During the course of these studies, Halophila baillonii was found for the second time in Brazil since its original collection in 1888. A critical comparison of a large number of plants leads us to the conclusion that Halodule brasiliensis Lipkin cannot be distinguished from H. wrightii , and H. lilianae den Hartog cannot be distinguished from H. emarginata . Reproductive structures of H. emarginata are described for the first time.

Effects of umbelliferone in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation

The therapeutic effects of umbelliferone (30, 60 and 90 mg/kg), a coumarin isolated from Typha domingensis (Typhaceae) were investigated in a mouse model of bronchial asthma. BALB/c mice were immunized and challenged by nasal administration of ovalbumin. Treatment with umbelliferone (60 and 90 mg/kg) caused a marked reduction of cellularity and eosinophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from asthmatic mice. In addition, a decrease in mucus production and lung inflammation were observed in mice treated with umbelliferone. A reduction of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, but not of IFN-gamma, was found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of mice treated with umbelliferone, similar to that observed with dexamethasone. The levels of ovalbumin-specific IgE were not significantly altered after treatment with umbelliferone. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that umbelliferone attenuates the alteration characteristics of allergic airway inflammation. The investigation of the mechanisms of action of this molecule may contribute for the development of new drugs for the treatment of asthma.

Anatomy of Brazilian Eriocaulaceae: correlation with taxonomy and habitat using multivariate analyses

In this study we present a survey on vegetative anatomy in species of Actinocephalus, Blastocaulon, Eriocaulon, Leiothrix, Paepalanthus, Philodice, Syngonanthus, and Tonina (Eriocaulaceae). Multivariate analyses were used to correlate anatomical characters to taxa and the habitats where the species occur. Root and stem anatomical characters seem to be more affected by environmental factors where these species occur, and seem of little value for delimiting major taxonomic groups within the family. Other characters in the leaves, such as epidermis with thickened wall cells, compartmented substomatal chambers, mesophyll with hypodermis, compact chlorenchyma, collenchymatous bundle sheath extensions, and numerous vascular bundles, were shown to be important for defining species clusters in Leiothrix, Syngonanthus, and Paepalanthus subg. Platycaulon. Similarly, loosely aggregated chlorenchyma caused Blastocaulon, Eriocaulon, Philodice, Syngonanthus sect. Carpocephalus, S. sect. Syngonanthus, and Tonina, genera from humid environments, to cluster. Scape characters appear to be more informative in discriminating groups. This situation probably reflects lower selection pressures determining anatomical characters of this organ.

Atividade antibacteriana em alguns extratos de vegetais do semi-árido brasileiro

Species native or endemic of the Brazilian semi-arid were investigated with the intention of discovering new antibacterial drugs. The rehearsals were accomplished against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli through the diffusion method in disk. Of the 137 extracts of appraised vegetables, seven presented significant activity against the Staphylococcus aureus. The active extracts were prepared starting from species belonging to the Leguminosae and Rutaceae families and they will be fractional hereafter with the intention of arriving to the active molecules.

Ilhas de vegetação em afloramentos de quartzito-arenito no Morro do Pai Inácio, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

ABSTRACT – (Islands of vegetation on quartzite-sandstone outcrops, Pai Inacio Mountain, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil).Islands of vegetation on rocky surfaces were studied on two plateaus at Pai Inacio Mountain (41°28’; 12°27’S) in the ChapadaDiamantina. Both plateaus have quartzite-sandstone outcrops interspersed with sandy, acidic soils at the summit between 1,100 and1,170 meters above sea level, with a well-defined dry season. Islands are defined as clumps of one or more species of vascular plantscompletely surrounded by a rocky surface devoid of vascular plants. The study included 39 vegetation islands of different sizes on eachplateau, with 63 herb and shrub species, of which 22 are common to both plateaus. Liliopsida species had the highest abundance,frequency and dominance, with Velloziaceae, Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Guttiferae families predominating on bothplateaus. The chamaephyte life-form was also predominant. Similar species richness was detected on both plateaus, with most of theislands composed of up to five species. Four species groups were revealed using UPGMA and Jaccard´s similarity index, two groupswith species typical of sunlit islands, one group with species from shadier sites, and a fourth composed of more generalist species. The

Molecular phylogeny, morphology and their implications for the taxonomy of Eriocaulaceae

Eriocaulaceae e uma familia pantropical com dez generos e cerca de 1.400 especies, com centro de diversidade no Novo Mundo, especialmente no Brasil. A ultima revisao da familia foi publicada ha mais de 100 anos, e ate recentemente, as relacoes genericas e infra-genericas ainda eram pouco resolvidas. Entretanto, tem havido nos ultimos 30 anos, um grande esforco por parte de pesquisadores brasileiros para preencher as lacunas existentes, utilizando caracteres morfologicos e anatomicos, complementados por dados adicionais de diferentes fontes, como palinologia, quimica, embriologia, genetica de populacoes, citologia e, mais recentemente, estudos de filogenia molecular. Tal conjunto de dados tem levado a uma re-avaliacao do relacionamento filogenetico dentro da familia. Neste trabalho sao apresentados novos dados para as regioes de ITS e trnL-F, analisadas separadamente e em combinacao, usando maxima parcimonia e inferencia Bayesiana. Os dados obtidos confirmam resultados ja publicados, e mostram que muitos caracteres tradicionalmente usados para diferenciacao e circunscricao dos generos dentro da familia sao homoplasicos. Uma nova descricao e chave generica para a familia, utilizando caracteres de varias fontes sao apresentadas, refletindo a taxonomia atual das Eriocaulaceae.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of 7-hydroxycoumarin in experimental animal models: potential therapeutic for the control of inflammatory chronic pain

Objectives In the present study we investigated the antinociceptive, anti‐inflammatory and antipyretic effects of 7‐hydroxycoumarin (7‐HC) in animal models.

Anatomia de algumas espécies aquáticas de Eriocaulaceae brasileiras

Estudou-se a anatomia de raizes, caules, folhas e escapos de Eriocaulon elichrysoides, Leiothrix fluitans, Paepalanthus obtusifolius, Philodice hoffmannseggii, Syngonanthus caulescens e Tonina fluviatilis,especies aquaticas de Eriocaulaceae que ocorrem em diferentes ecossistemas brasileiros, visando a caracterizacao anatomica das mesmas e tambem a interpretacao das adaptacoes ao ambiente. Essas plantas caracterizam-se por apresentarem raizes com aspecto esponjoso e esbranquicado; acumulo de ar no cortex; epiderme unisseriada, de paredes finas; cortex externo, mediano e interno; endoderme unisseriada e periciclo unisseriado ou multisseriado. Em L. fluitans, P. obtusifolius e T. fluviatilis foram observadas raizes absorventes com aerenquima e raizes fixadoras sem aerenquima. Caules aereos ou rizomatosos, com ou sem espessamentos causados pelo periciclo. Folhas e escapos com celulas epidermicas de paredes finas, estomatos somente na face abaxial, parenquima clorofiliano frouxo, tecido de sustentacao pouco desenvolvido e feixes vasculares colaterais. Essas estruturas anatomicas sao tipicas de plantas de ambientes umidos ou aquaticos, e ocorrem de forma convergente em diferentes generos de Eriocaulaceae.

Three new species of Croton (Euphorbiaceae s.s.) from the Brazilian Caatinga

While conducting a floristic inventory of Croton from the Brazilian Caatinga, three new species were discovered. Croton arenosus, Croton glandulosobracteatus, and Croton harleyi are described and illustrated here. Based on morphological characters, Croton glandulosobracteatus is proposed to belong to section Barhamia, and C. arenosus and C. harleyi to section Geiseleria.

Philcoxia: A new genus of Scrophulariaceae with three new species from Eastern Brazil

Summary. A new genus of Scrophulariaceae from Brazil: Philcoxia P. Taylor & V. C. Souza is described, together with the three new species which it comprises. The species, which possess small peltate leaves, resemble terrestrial Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae) in habit, and are apparently restricted to areas of deep bare sand. The three species each have a very restricted distribution: P bahiensis in Bahia, P minensis in Minas Gerais and R goiasensis in Goids. Possessing a determinate monotelic inflorescence, the genus appears to be one of the very few members of tribe Scrophulariae recorded for Brazil.