Daniela Thomas da Silva

Anesthetic activity of Brazilian native plants in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

There is an increasing demand for inexpensive and safe anesthetics that can reduce fish stress caused by some procedures such as capture and handling. In this context, the present study evaluated the potential of essential oils (EO) of three Brazilian native plants (Hesperozygis ringens, Lippia sidoides and Ocotea acutifolia) as anesthetics for the silver catfish - Rhamdia quelen. Moreover, an analysis was made of the chemical composition of these oils and their influence on stress parameter. EO of H. ringens and O. acutifolia were effective as anesthetics, without behavioral side effects. EO of O. acutifolia (150 µL L-1) promoted an increase in blood glucose level. Regarding to the composition, pulegone accounts for 96.63% of the EO of H. ringens, and caryophyllene oxide amounts to 56.90% of the EO of O. acutifolia. Two chemotypes, thymol and carvacrol (68.40% and 67.89%, respectively) were verified for EO of L. sidoides. Both samples of EO of L. sidoides showed anesthetic activity in silver catfish, but exposure also caused loss of mucus and mortality. Thus, only the EO of H. ringens and O. acutifolia are advised for anesthetic use

Seasonal influence on the essential oil production of Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez

This study evaluated the seasonal influence on the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Nectandra megapotamica. Fresh young (YL) and old leaves (OL) obtained from three trees in each season (Nov/2010 to Sep/2011) collected in Santa Maria-RS were hydrodistilled in triplicate. The chemical composition was determined by the gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the yield on dry basis was evaluated by two-way ANOVA (seasons, development stage). Spring (Sp) and summer (Su) showed higher average incomes (0.45 and 0.33%), which occurred when flowering, fruiting, and growth of YL and senescence of OL took place, while autumn (Au) presented the lowest yield (0.25%) during the rustification of OL. The highest yield was obtained for the YL in Sp (0.59%) and the lowest for the OL in Au (0.21%). The major constituents of the EO were independent from the season and were identified as α-pinene, bicyclogermacrene, β-pinene, germacrene D, and limonene. Seasonality and phenology influenced the production of EO probably due to morphological and metabolic alterations in the leaves as well as due to the needs of the tree, such as attraction and/or protection.

Larvicidal activity of Brazilian plant essential oils against Coenagrionidae larvae.

ABSTRACT Odonate larvae can be serious pests that attack fish larvae, postlarvae, and fingerlings in fish culture tanks, causing significant loss in the supply and production of juveniles. This study reports a screen of the essential oils (EOs) of Nectandra megapotamica (Sprengel) Mez, Nectandra grandiflora Nees, Hesperozygis ringens (Bentham) Epling, Ocimum gratissimum L., Aloysia gratissima (Gillies & Hooker) Troncoso, and Lippia sidoides Chamisso against Coenagrionidae larvae. In addition, the most effective EO and its 50% lethal concentration (LC50) and chemical analysis are described. The larvae of Acanthagrion Selys, Homeoura Kennedy, Ischnura Charpentier, and Oxyagrion Selys were used to assess the EO effects. EO obtained from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed the highest larvicidal effects at 19 h of treatment.Themajor constituents of theEOofH. ringens include pulegone and limonene, while eugenol and Z-&bgr;-ocimene predominate in the EO of O. gratissimum, and carvacrol and &pgr;-cymene were the major compounds of the EO of L. sidoides. Leaf EOs from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed activity against Coenagrionidae larvae at similar concentrations with LC50s of 62.92, 75.05, and 51.65 µl liter-1, respectively, and these were considered the most promising treatments.

Seasonal variability of the essential oil of Hesperozygis ringens (Benth.) Epling.

This study was developed to evaluate the effect of seasonality on the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Hesperozygis ringens (Benth.) Epling, a native species from the Brazilian Pampa. Leaves were collected from four specimens of a single population in each of the four seasons for a year and were extracted in triplicate by hydro-distillation for 2 hours. The yield of EO (% w/w) was calculated on fresh weight basis (FWB), and the 16 oil samples were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used as statistical tools to evaluate differences in chemical composition. The highest yields were obtained in autumn, spring and summer (2.32-4.38%), while the lowest yields were detected in winter, ranging from 1.15 to 1.91%. Oxygenated monoterpenoids were the predominant class of chemical constituents in the EO obtained in all seasons, showing the highest contents in autumn and summer, and pulegone was identified as a major compound, whose contents varied between 54.13 and 81.17%. The EO samples were divided into three chemical groups by HCA and PCA and were assigned to the same group, except for the three samples gathered in winter. The results showed a seasonal influence on the yield and chemical composition of the EO.

Kraft Lignin-Based Polyols by Microwave: Optimizing Reaction Conditions

Microwave liquefaction of precipitated Kraft lignin was carried out in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerol (G) mixed with or without H2SO4 as catalyst. The influences of some independent variables on the yield and hydroxyl index were discussed. The viscosity, molecular distribution (GPC), and the types of volatiles measured by gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of all the liquefied products were determined. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize liquefaction conditions. Based on the results, lignin/solvents (wt%), catalyst/solvents (wt%), and reaction time were chosen as independent variables for a central composite design (CCD). The optimal liquefaction conditions were as: 20 wt% of lignin, 3 wt% of catalyst at 5 min with yield and hydroxyl number of 95.27% and 537.95 mg KOH.g−1, respectively. Functional groups (measured by ATR-IR [attenuated total reflectance – infrared]) and the thermal degradation (TGA) of optimized bio-polyol and precipitated kraft lignin were determined.

ANÁLISE DO EFEITO DA SAZONALIDADE SOBRE O RENDIMENTO DO ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DAS FOLHAS DE Nectandra grandiflora Nees1

Este estudo teve por objetivos avaliar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre o teor de oleo essencial (OE) presente nas folhas de Nectandra grandiflora Nees e determinar se a secagem do material vegetal a temperatura ambiente influencia o rendimento do OE. Para tanto, foi coletado material vegetal de 12 individuos ao longo de um ano, e o OE foi extraido separadamente de folhas frescas e folhas secas, pelo metodo de hidrodestilacao. Paralelamente, 20 g de folhas frescas foram levados a estufa a 40 °C ate peso constante, para determinacao do teor de umidade, procedimento esse realizado para cada coleta, individualmente. O rendimento de OE das folhas (% m/m) foi calculado para o material vegetal fresco com base em massa de materia seca, determinado considerando o teor de umidade, bem como para o material seco a temperatura ambiente. Os dados de rendimento foram analisados atraves do teste de Tukey (P<0,05). Os resultados mostraram que o teor de OE das folhas da especie apresentou variabilidade sazonal, com a maior producao detectada na primavera (0,75 ± 0,06%). Esse valor foi estatisticamente diferente dos rendimentos encontrados nas outras estacoes do ano, sendo o menor rendimento obtido no inverno (0,39 ± 0,02%). Desse modo, indica-se que a coleta de folhas de N. grandiflora seja realizada durante a primavera, visando obter maior teor de OE. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que nao ha perda de teor OE durante o processo de secagem a temperatura ambiente e, dessa forma, esse procedimento pos-colheita podera vir a ser adotado sem comprometer o rendimento do extrativo.

ARBORIZAÇÃO DO CAMPUS DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA MARIA E CONSCIENTIZAÇÃO DA COMUNIDADE ACADÊMICA

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a conscientizacao da comunidade academica da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, no que se refere a importância da utilizacao de especies arboreas adequadas em espacos publicos. A densidade de arvores e a riqueza de especies foram avaliadas. Foram identificados conflitos na arborizacao e propostas medidas para soluciona-los. Os seguintes dados foram levantados: especie arborea; altura (m), CAP (cm); existencia ou nao de fiacao aerea; relacao dos exemplares com recuo de edificacoes (m); existencia de elementos arquitetonicos; avaliacao do efeito do sistema radicular; e; presenca ou ausencia de area livre adequada (1 m 2 ). Verificou-se a presenca de 1270 exemplares, distribuidos em 75 especies, 60 generos e 32 familias botânicas. As especies mais abundantes foram Handroanthus chrysotrichus , Peltophorum dubium , Tipuana tipu , Handroanthus heptaphyllus e Ligustrum japonicum . A partir deste trabalho, observaram-se conflitos em relacao ao porte inadequado de arvores aliados a pequena dimensao de area livre, e a utilizacao de especies exoticas em restricao de nativas, que quando utilizadas agregam valor de diversidade a paisagem. A educacao ambiental tecnica e fundamental na resolucao destes problemas, pois promove a conscientizacao da comunidade a respeito das especies arboreas adequadas e da maneira correta de se realizar o plantio em cada situacao.

Microbiological damage influences the content, chemical composition and the antifungal activity of essential oils in a wild-growing population of Ocotea lancifolia (Schott) Mez

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the variation in essential oils yield, chemical composition and antifungal property in Ocotea lancifolia (Schott) Mez population from Brazil. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves and reproductive organs collected from 12 trees. The volatile composition was established by gas chromatography and the chemical variability was assessed by multivariate procedures. The fungistatic activity against the Fusarium moniliforme was evaluated as well. Higher yields from leaves oils were obtained in spring (1.03%) and summer (0.96%). By multivariate analysis, the oils were separated in two groups. Caryophyllene oxide and bicyclogermacrene were the major constituents in healthy trees (first group) and the oils obtained from damaged trees, which contained β-chenopodiol, constituted the second one. It was observed a significant higher mycelial inhibition for the leaves oils (67.5%). Overall, we identified that the stage of development of the reproductive organs and microbiological damage influenced O. lancifolia oil.

EFEITO DA SAZONALIDADE SOBRE O RENDIMENTO DO ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DE Piper gaudichaudianum KUNTH

Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth (Piperaceae) is widely distributed throughout Brazil. In addition to its ecological importance, it is used in folk medicine and a great number of its biological activities have been already proved. Thus, the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of seasonality on the content of essential oil (EO) in leaves of Piper gaudichaudianum and ascertain the possible influence of the drying process of the plant material in the yield of this extractive. Leaves were randomly collected from individuals of a native population in Santa Maria, RS state, Brazil, along a year. The EO was extracted from fresh and dried leaves by hydrodistillation. When reproductive organs were observed, they were extracted in order to examine their influence on the yield of leaf EO. To determine the moisture content (MC%), 20 g of leaves and 10g of reproductive organs were dried separately in an oven at 50°C until constant weight. The yield of leaf EO (% w/ w) was calculated for the fresh material based on the dry weight considering the MC%, and for the dried material at room temperature. Only small seasonal variations in EO content was detected for the analyzed samples, with no statistical difference between them. The highest yield was observed in the spring for EO from the leaves (1.61 ± 0.09%), and from the reproductive organs (5.17%), while the lowest yields of leaf EO occurred in the summer (1.32 ± 0.14%), the only season which showed no presence of the reproductive organs. The absence of significant difference between the yields indicates no quantitative seasonal variability in production of EO in leaves of this population. However, yields did not differ statistically, indicating no seasonal variability of the EO content of the leaves of this population. Therefore, the collection of this plant organ can be performed at any time of the year in order to obtain this extractive. Since there was no decrease in the content of EO during the drying process at room temperature, this post-harvest processing can be adopted.

Essential oil of Lippia alba as a sedative and anesthetic for the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract The sea urchin, Echinometra lucunter, is consumed in restaurants in Europe and Asia for high prices. This study evaluated the use of the essential oil of Lippia alba (EOL) as a sedative and anesthetic in this sea urchin. Different EOL concentrations were tested (50, 100 and 150 μL L−1), in addition to a group that received ethanol and a control group. After the anesthesia and recovery from the different treatments, the coelomic fluid, gonads and intestine were collected for the analysis of oxidative stress parameters. The highest concentration tested (150 μL L−1) was determined to be the optimal concentration for anesthesia. Results suggest that EOL improved the response to oxidative stress, since a lower level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and greater superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were observed in the coelomic fluid and E. lucunter gonads, making the EOL a promising anesthetic for sea urchins.