Cristine Bastos do Amarante

Estudo fitoquímico biomonitorado pelos ensaios de toxicidade frente à Artemia salina e de atividade antiplasmódica do caule de aninga (Montrichardia linifera)

Montrichardia linifera is an aquatic plant widely use in Amazon folkmedicine. However, very little is known about the chemical composition and biological activity. In search of biologically active (s) substance (s) phytochemical bioassay-guided study was conducted evaluating hexane extract and ethanol extract obtained from stems of this species. Since only the ethanol extract presented toxicity against Artemia salina and activity against Plasmodium falciparum, this extract was selected for chromatographic fractionation. The biological activities were concentred in dichloromethane fraction which showed high toxicity against A. saline (LD50< μg mL-1) and high antiplasmodial activity (IC50 <10 μg mL-1), showing promising antimalarial activity. Of this fraction, the aromatic compound p-hydroxybenzaldehyde was isolated for the first time in this plant.

Avaliação da composição mineral do chá da folha senescente de Montrichardia linifera (arruda) schott (araceae) por espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama (FAAS)

EVALUATION OF MINERAL COMPOSITION OF TEA FROM SENESCENT LEAF OF Montrichardia linifera (Arruda) Schott (Araceae) BY FLAME ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY (FAAS). Levels of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were determinated by FAAS in the tea and dry matter from senescent leaf from Montrichardia linifera, plant used in folk medicine Amazon. The content of these metals that are transferred of the leaf to the infusions have presented significant reductions, however, the Mn values in the infusion may exceed the tolerable daily intake (11 mg) if consumption of this tea is greater than 1.0 L per day. So the tea of senescent leaves of M. linifera may be considered as a toxic beverage and thus its use is not advised.

Caracterização física, química e nutricional dos frutos da Aninga

Montrichardia linifera, conhecida popularmente como aninga, pertence a familia Araceae e forma grandes populacoes as margens dos rios e igarapes da Amazonia, principalmente de aguas brancas (barrentas). Seus frutos fazem parte da dieta alimentar de peixes, tartarugas e de grandes herbivoros, como peixe-boi e bufalo, havendo, portanto, a hipotese de seu aproveitamento na nutricao animal. Entretanto, apesar de sua vasta distribuicao na paisagem amazonica, nao existem dados na literatura sobre a composicao nutricional desses frutos. Com os objetivos de avaliar o seu potencial nutricional e contribuir para o conhecimento dessa especie, foi realizada, neste trabalho, a caracterizacao fisica, quimica e nutricional dos frutos. A infrutescencia pesa em media 500 g, com um conjunto de aproximadamente 80 frutos. O seu valor nutritivo se resume, basicamente, ao seu valor energetico (≅ 350 kcal), devido principalmente ao teor de carboidratos (≅ 80%), possuindo baixo valor proteico (< 0,5%). As concentracoes de manganes (≅ 1.800 mg kg-1) foram consideradas toxicas, extrapolando o limite maximo toleravel em nutricao de bubalinos (1.000 mg kg-1).

Influência das substâncias húmicas de sedimentos na biodisponibilidade de metais para o sistema aquático

In rivers, sediments act as sinks for retaining contaminants. This study evaluated the influence of sediment humic substances (HS) on the bioavailability of metals. The levels of metals in sediments and HS indicated that most are complexed with HS. Characterization of HS showed a high degree of humification. The complexation capacity of HS for metals established the affinity order:Pb2+<Cd2+<Co2+<Ni2+<Cu2+<Zn2+<Mn2+<Fe2+. Chemometric analysis demonstrated a correlation between the structural characteristics of HS and complexation capacity of metals.

Estruturas secretoras da lâmina foliar de amapá amargo (Parahancornia fasciculata, Apocynaceae): histoquímica e doseamento de flavonoides

Bitter amapa (Parahancornia fasciculata (Poir.) Benoist) produces a latex, which is presumed to have medicinal properties, as it is used in the treatment of malaria, lung problems, gastritis, and as healing agent. This study aimed to analyze structural and histochemically the sites of production and/or accumulation of biologically active compounds, as well as to determine the kind of flavonoids present in the leaf blade of bitter amapa. For structural and histochemical analysis we used standard protocols in plant anatomy. Whereas to assay flavonoids we used absorption spectrometry in the ultraviolet-visible region. The secretory system of bitter amapa leaves is constituted of both secretory idioblasts and branched laticifers. Histochemical tests revealed different types of chemical substances in the cell protoplast of idioblasts and laticifers. Pharmacological properties of bitter amapa latex can be attributed to two chemical compounds (flavonoids and alkaloids) found in this study, both of them are present in idioblasts and laticifers.

Determinação de Metais em Espécies Florestais da Amazônia

The plants can be used as biological monitors, because they have relatively high sensivity then animals, because they are strongly integrated into the environment that they live and therefore allow a more accurate assessment of a specific area. This study aimed to determine the content of metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni and Zn) in leaves of native species in the Amazon: Acai ( Euterpe oleracea Mart. ), Andiroba ( Carapa guianensis Aubl.) and Jatoba ( Hymenaea courbaril L.), and correlate with the growth parameters (height and diameter) and Ca and Mg macronutrients by multivariate analysis (principal component analysis - PCA and hierarchical cluster analysis - HCA). The metal content was obtained by spectrometry optical emissions with plasma. The results were obtained from PCA and HCA allowed to view to high correlation between variables Ca – height, Mg – height, Ca - Mn, Zn - diameter and Al - Cr. From the results we evaluate important research of natives species in the Amazon region as there are not studies about with this approach to the studied species and by further studies, such species can be used as bio-indicators of metals, as that the Amazon region suffers environmental pressure of various economic activities and lacks the resources to monitor the air quality.