Armando Carlos Cervi

Phylogenetic Relationships and Chromosome Number Evolution in Passiflora

Abstract The phylogenetic relationships and chromosomal evolution of the diverse tropical genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae) are explored using data from two chloroplast markers: the rpoC1 intron and the trnL/trnT spacer region. A survey of the presence or absence of the rpoC1 intron in 136 species representing 17 of Killips (1938) 22 subgenera of Passiflora and four other genera in the Passifloraceae revealed intron losses in 46 taxa. A minimum of two losses were confirmed by a parametric bootstrap approach on sequence data from the trnL/trnT chloroplast non-coding region for 61 taxa. The results of phylogenetic analyses of the trnL/trnT sequence data support the reduction of Killips 22 subgenera to four as proposed in a new classification system by Feuillet and MacDougal (2004). The monophyly of the ‘n=6’ and ‘n=9’ chromosomal and morphological groups is strongly supported. In addition, these data indicate that Passiflora biflora, or closely related species, is the likely continental sister to the red-flowered Caribbean taxa, while P. auriculata is weakly supported as the New World sister to the Old World Passifloras. Finally, character optimization of chromosome numbers on the phylogenetic tree supports x=12 as the base chromosome number for Passiflora.

A first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Passiflora (Passifloraceae)

Passiflora, a genus with more than 400 species, exhibits a high diversity of floral and vegetative structures and a complex taxonomy, which includes 23 subgenera and many sections and series. To better understand Passifloras variability and interspecific relationships, the phylogeny of 61 species, classified in 11 of 23 suggested subgenera, was investigated. Three molecular markers were used, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (nrITS), the plastid trnL-trnF spacer regions (∼1000 bp), and the rps4 plastid gene (∼570 bp). Three major clades were highly supported, independent of the marker and phylogenetic method used; one included the subgenera Distephana, Dysosmia, Dysosmioides, Passiflora, and Tacsonioides, a second, the subgenera Adopogyne, Decaloba, Murucuja, and Pseudomurucuja, and a third, the subgenus Astrophea. We call these the Passiflora, Decaloba, and Astrophea clades, respectively. The position of subgenus Deidamioides is undefined. The monophyly of Passiflora could not be statistically corroborated, and the relationships among the major clades and of these clades with the related genera remain unresolved. Our results indicate that a reevaluation of the monophyly of Passiflora and its infrageneric classification is necessary.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils of Eugenia chlorophylla (Myrtaceae)

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oils of stems, leaves (at vegetative and flowering stages) and flowers of Eugenia chlorophylla O. Berg., (Myrtaceae) obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. Thirty-four components were identified, representing more than 80% of total oil. The major components were β-caryophyllene (flowers −12.8%), caryophyllene oxide (stems—17.2%), globulol (stems—16.5%; leaves—22.5% at vegetative stage and 18.9% at flowering stage), 1-epi-cubenol (stems −10.9%), epi—α—muurolol (stems—16.8%) and α—cadinol (stems—12.1%; flowers −10.1%). The oils were evaluated against 20 strains of bacteria (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) and yeasts. All oils showed mild to moderate antimicrobial activity associated mainly with Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts.

Essential Oil Composition of Myrcia laruotteana Camb.

Abstract Essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation from leaves and flowers of Myrcia laruotteana were analyzed bycapillary GC and GC/MS. Twenty-five compounds, representing around 90% of the total oil, were identified. The main components were α-bisabolol (20.7 and 28.1, in leaves and flowers, respectively) and 14-hydroxy-α-muurolene (19.9% and 13.7%). Methyl salicylate was present only in flowers oil, as a minor constituent.

Bioactivity-guided Isolation of Cytotoxic Sesquiterpene Lactones of Gochnatia polymorpha ssp. floccosa

Phytochemical study of Gochnatia polymorpha (Less) Cabr. ssp. floccosa Cabr. trunk bark, guided by antiproliferative assays on 10 human cancer cell lines and the VERO cell line, yielded six known compounds identified as the triterpene bauerenyl acetate, the guaianolide 11α,13‐dihydrozaluzanin C and the dimeric guaianolides 10‐desoxygochnatiolide A, gochnatiolide A, 8‐hydroxi‐10‐desoxygochnatiolide A and 8‐hydroxigochnatiolide A. Extracts, fractions of extracts and isolated compounds were tested in vitro against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including U251 (glioma, CNS), UACC‐62 (melanoma), MCF‐7 (breast), NCI‐ADR/RES (drug‐resistant ovarian), 786.0 (kidney), NCI‐H460 (lung, no small cells), PC‐3 (prostate), OVCAR‐3 (ovarian), HT‐29 (colon), K562 (leukemia) and against the VERO no cancer cell line. Bauerenyl acetate was inactive, while 11α,13‐dihydrozaluzanin C showed weak activity against UACC62 and the VERO cell line. The most active compounds were 10‐desoxygochnatiolide A and gochnatiolide A, which inhibited the growth of kidney, melanoma, ovarian‐resistant and glioma cell lines with values of TGI (total growth inhibition) varying 0.21–1.09 µg/mL. This is the first report about cytotoxic activity of dimeric lactones against cell lines. Copyright

Nomenclatural and taxonomic review of Passifloraceae species illustrated and described by Vellozo in Flora Fluminensis

The nomenclature and taxonomy of the 25 species of Passifloraceae named by Vellozo in Flora Fluminensis were reviewed by examining the plates and Latin diagnoses. Passiflora mediterranea, P. ovalis, P. porophylla, P. silvestris, P. tetraden, and P. villosa are species proposed by Vellozo that are accepted herein. Fifteen species (P. arvensis, P. bilobata, P. dentata, P. diaden, P. globosa, P. lunata, P. maliformis, P. oliviformis, P. pallida, P. pertusa, P. polyaden, P. quadrangularis, P. rubra, P. sururuca, and P. violacea) are synonyms, were misidentified, or have illegitimate names.Passiflora edulis, P. foetida, and P. racemosa were correctly identified; however, the plant recognized by Vellozo as P. foetida is now considered P. foetida var. fluminensis. Passiflora obtusa was considered incertae sedis.

A família Lemnaceae Gray no Pantanal (Mato Grosso e Mato Grosso do Sul), Brasil

A survey of aquatic plants belonging to the family Lemnaceae was carried out in the Pantanal wetland (States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul), represented by nine species, divided into four genera. Only two of the reported species had been previously cited for the Pantanal, Wolffia brasiliensis Wedd. and Lemna valdiviana Phil. The other species are Spirodela intermedia W. Koch, Lemna aequinoctialis Welw., L. minuta Kunth, in Humb., Bonp. & Kunth, Wolffiella welwitschii (Hegelm.) Monod, W. lingulata (Hegelm.) Hegelm., W. oblonga (Phil.) Hegelm., and Wolffia columbiana H. Karst. Lemnaceae occurs in all 10 subregions of the Pantanal, with a higher number of species in the Nabileque subregion, where soils are more fertile.

Óleo essencial de Gochnatia polymorpha (Less) Cabr. ssp floccosa Cabr.

The essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from flowers and root bark of Gochnatia polymorpha (Less) Cabr. ssp floccosa Cabr. (Asteraceae) was analyzed by capillary GC/MS. Thirty components were identified in oil of flowers. The composition depends on the stage of flowering. At the beginning of flowering, the main components were (E)-nerolidol (20,4%) and eugenol (17,9%) whereas at the end they were phenylacetaldehyde (14,6%) and tricosane (12,0%). In the essential oil of root bark ten sesquiterpenes were identified. The major components were b-bisabolene (31,0%) and b-bisabolol (21,5%). This paper describes for the first time the composition of essential oil in the genus Gochnatia.

Estudo taxonômico das espécies nativas de Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae) no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

A taxonomic study of the genus Hypericum L. (Hypericaceae) in the state of Parana was carried out. This genus includes about 350 species, mostly cosmopolitan, occurring in temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. Seventeen species are found in Brazil, with twelve species and three subspecies in Parana, in all phytogeographic regions of the state, mainly in grasslands. An identification key for the taxa, descriptions, illustrations and data on geographic distribution and ecology are provided.

O gênero Ocotea (Lauraceae) no estado do Paraná, Brasil

Resumo Este trabalho apresenta o estudo taxonomico das especies de Ocotea (Aubl.) no estado do Parana, Sul do Brasil. Sao fornecidos chave de identificacao, descricoes, ilustracoes e comentarios, que incluem distribuicao geografica, habitat, estado de conservacao e epoca de floracao e frutificacao. O estudo confirmou 31 especies de Ocotea no estado do Parana. A Floresta Atlântica tem o maior numero de especies (26) sendo onze endemicas, seguida pela Floresta com Araucaria (14) com uma endemica, Floresta Estacional (11), Cerrado (7) com duas endemicas e Campos (1). Duas especies correm risco de extincao local. Ocotea daphnifolia (Meisn.) Mez e Ocotea velutina (Nees) Rohwer sao citadas pela primeira vez no Parana. The genus Ocotea (Lauraceae) in Parana State, Brazil Abstract This work presents a taxonomic study of species of Ocotea (Aubl.) in Parana state, southern Brazil. Identification key, descriptions, illustrations and comments that include geographic distribution, habitat, conservation status and time of flowering and fruiting are provided. The study confirmed 31 species of Ocotea in Parana state. The Atlantic Forest has the largest number of species (26) of which eleven are endemic, followed by Araucaria Forest (14) with one endemic, Semideciduous Seasonal Forest (11), Savannah (7) with two endemic and Fields (1). Two species are at risk of local extinction. Ocotea daphnifolia (Meisn.) Mez and Ocotea velutina (Nees) Rohwer are first mentioned in Parana.