Daniele A. Ferreira

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Ursolic Acid and Derivatives

Ursolic acid, an important bioactive compound, was isolated from ethanol extract of aerial parts of Sambucus australis. In order to develop bioactive ursolic acid derivatives, two semi-synthetic compounds were obtained through modification at C-3. The antibacterial activity of the ursolic acid and its derivatives was investigated. The microdilution method was used for determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), against twelve bacterial strains. The influence of ursolic acid and its derivatives on the susceptibility of some bacterial pathogens to the aminoglycosides antibiotics neomycin, amikacin, kanamycin and gentamicin was evaluated. The most representative synergistic effect was observed by 3β-formyloxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid at the concentration of 64 μg/mL in combination with kanamycin against Escherichia coli (27), a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate from sputum, with reduction of MIC value from 128 μg/mL to 8 μg/mL. Ursolic acid and its derivatives were examined for their radical scavenger activity using the DPPH assay, and showed significant activity.

Lens culinaris: A New Biocatalyst for Reducing Carbonyl and Nitro Groups

A series of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones, as well as some nitrocompounds were reduced using whole plant cells from Lens culinaris seeds. In addition, we also investigated the possibility of enzymatic ester hydrolysis to explore the potential of these seeds. The reduced ketones products were obtained in yields of 8 ∼ 82% and enantiomeric excess of 39 ∼ 75%. Aldehydes were more reactive than ketones with high chemical yield (95→99%), whereas the aromatic nitrocompounds showed low (2%) to high (> 99%) conversion depending upon the nature and position of the aromatic ring substituents. Ester hydrolysis by the Lens culinaris was quite effective with the ester p-nitrophenyl acetate (> 99% conversion).

Asymmetric reduction of acetophenone derivatives by Lens culinaris

Abstract The enzymatic reduction of acetophenone derivatives has been evaluated using whole cells from the edible plant lentil (Lens culinaris) as biocatalyst to afford chiral (R) and (S)-alcohols in enantiomeric excess 68–99%. Acetophenone was selected as the model substrate for enantioselective bioreduction. The reaction was performed under a range of conditions in order to optimize the bioreduction procedure with respect to reaction time, media and optimal mass of lentil. With substituted (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, methyl, hydroxyl, methoxy, amino and nitro groups) acetophenones, electronic and steric influences on the course of the reaction were observed.

Chemical Constituents and Cytotoxic Activity of Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus

The chemical reinvestigation of the hexane extract from stem bark of Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus allowed the isolation of 3-O-nanoyl lupeol (1), the mixture of 3-O-cinnamoyl lupeol (2) and 3-O-dihydrocinnamoyl lupeol (3), lupeol (4), the mixture of sitosterol (5) and stigmasterol (6), deoxofaveline (7) and faveline methyl ether (8). The structures of compounds were identified on the basis of their spectral data and by comparison with literature values. This is the first report involving the isolation of 3-O-nanoyl lupeol (1) from this species. Compounds 1, 7, 8 and the mixture of 2 and 3 were tested for their cytotoxic activity against the cell lines HL-60 (human pro-myelocytic leukemia), NCI-H292 (human lung carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma). Compound 7 was the most active among all, with IC50 values ranging from 2.7 to 8.9 g/mL.

Chemical composition of the essential oil and fixed oil Bauhinia pentandra (Bong.) D. Dietr.

Background: Bauhinia pentandrais popularly known as “mororó” and inhabits the Caatinga and Savannah biomes. Objective: This paper reports the chemical composition of the essential and fatty oils of the leaves from B. pentandra. Materials and Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and the fixed oil by extraction with hexane, followed by saponification with KOH/MeOH, and methylation using MeOH/HCl. The constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: The major constituent of the essential oil was the phytol (58.78% ±8.51%), and of the fatty oil were palmitic (29.03%), stearic (28.58%) and linolenic (10.53%) acids. Conclusion: Of the compounds identified in the essential oil, three are first reported in this species, and this is the first record of the chemical composition of the fixed oil.

Estudo Químico e Avaliação Biológica da Própolis Vermelha de Alagoas

A investigacao quimica do extrato etanolico de propolis vermelha permitiu o isolamento da 2’-hidroxi-4’,7-dimetoxiisoflavana ( 1 ), da 2’,7-dihidroxi-4’-metoxiisoflavana ( 2 ), da 2’,4’-dihidroxi-7-metoxiisoflavana ( 3 ), da 4’,7-dihidroxi-2’-metoxiisoflavana ( 4 ), da 2’,4’,4-trihidroxichalcona ( 5 ) e do lup-20(29)-em-3-ol ( 6 ). As estruturas das substâncias foram caracterizadas com base nos seus dados espectrais e por comparacao com a literatura. Foi realizado o teste de atividade antioxidante do extrato da propolis, e suas fracoes hexânica, diclorometano, acetato de etila e metanolica, obtendo-se resultados satisfatorios e superiores ao padrao Vitamina C. Outra atividade testada foi a anticolinesterasica, tanto do extrato quanto das fracoes hexânica, diclorometano, acetato de etila e metanolica, obtendo-se resultados positivos em todas as amostras em relacao ao padrao sal de Eserina, exceto para FHEEPV.

7-epi-griffonilide, a new lactone from Bauhinia pentandra: complete 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments

A new lactone, 7-epi-griffonilide (1), and six known compounds, 2, 3a - 3c, 4a and 4b, were isolated from the leaves of Bauhinia pentandra (Fabaceae). The structures elucidation of 1 and 2 were based on detailed 2D NMR techniques and spectral comparison with related compounds, leading to complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra.

T04-O-07 Clinical evaluation of pre and post surgical transsexuals at Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal

The purpose of this investigation was to analysed in detail demographic, clinical characteristics, psychosocial factors and sexual behavioural features of 49 pre and post- surgical transsexuals divided in two subgroups: 28 FTM and 21 MTF followed by the interdisciplinary Gender Identity Clinic at Santa Maria Hospital, the only one of the Portuguese National Health Services responsible for the global process including sex reassignment surgery. From an original group of 59 transsexuals diagnosed according to ICD- 10 criteria we studied 28 FTM transsexuals age range: 14-60; mean age 37.3± 5.0 years and 21 MTF transsexuals ranging between 14-51years; mean age 33.8± 4.3 years. The remainder was not object of analysis in this work. All the patients were evaluated in a clinical manner and a semi- structured Sexual History Interview was done. To study in detail the subjects a Portuguese version of specific instruments for transsexuals were used namely: Feminine Gender Identity Scale; Masculine Gender Identity Scale; Cross-Gender Fetishism Scale; Gender Identity Profile; Standardized Rating Format for Pre and Post- Surgical Transsexuals and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. The main data of this study indicates that transsexuals FTM are more prevalent than transsexuals MTF (3: 2) and has a better psychosocial and sexual adjustment in pre- and post-surgical stages and also a better prognosis after complete surgery, aspects that will be discussed in detail in our communication.

The patient with acute cerebrovascular disorders: assessment of associated diseases.

We performed a prospective study in 106 patients with acute stroke. The main purpose was to evaluate the associated diseases and to determine their prevalence and incidence in two different types of cerebrovascular disease: the intracerebral hemorrhage (HI) and ischaemic events (AI). The studied population included 54 men and 52 women with a mean age of 66.8 +/- 10.3 years. A clinical examination was performed in all patients by different specialists and all were submitted to diverse complementary tests, including a computed tomography scan of the brain (TAC) and an echocardiogram (ECO). We found 24 (23%) HI and 82 (77%) AI. In the past history, previous stroke were more prevalent in AI (p less than 0.01). Heart disease was present in 87 (82%) patients but, among them, only atrial fibrillation which was found in 19 (18%) patients, was significantly more frequent in AI (p less than 0.02). Hypertension (HTA) existed in 79 (75%) patients, respiratory complications and periferic vascular disease in 9 (8%), diabetes in 44 (42%) and dyslipidemia in 31 (29%) patients. No significant difference was found between the two groups of stroke regarding these diseases; however, there was a tendency for HTA and diabetes to be more prevalent in HI and for periferic vascular disease in AI. In the blood tests, high haematocrit was found in 35 (33%) patients, anemia in 21 (20%), hypercholesterolemia in 17 (16%), hypertrigliceridemia in 18 (17%) and uremia or creatinemia or ionic alteration in 32 (30%) patients, without any difference in their prevalence and incidence in the two groups of stroke. In conclusion, in this prospective study of patients with an acute stroke, there was 23% of HI and 77% of AI, a high prevalence of previous stroke, heart disease and HTA, but only the previous stroke and, within heart disease, the atrial fibrillation were significantly more frequent in the AI group. Also, periferic vascular disease had a tendency to be more frequent in AI, as well as diabetes and HTA had in HI.