Edigênia Cavalcante da Cruz Araújo

Cytotoxic abietane diterpenes from Hyptis martiusii Benth.

From roots of Hyptis martiusii Benth. two tanshinone diterpenes were isolated, the new 7β-hydroxy-11,14-dioxoabieta-8,12-diene (1) in addition to the known 7α-acetoxy-12-hydroxy- 11,14-dioxoabieta-8,12-diene (7α-acetoxyroyleanone) (2). Structures of 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic means. The cytotoxic activity against five cancer cell lines was evaluated. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed considerable cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 3.1 to 11.5 μg/ml and 0.9 to 7.6 μg/ml, respectively. The cytotoxic activity seemed to be related to inhibition of DNA synthesis, as revealed by the reduction of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation and induction of apoptosis, as indicated by the acridine orange/ethidium bromide assay and morphological changes after 24 h of incubation in leukemic cells.

Antinociceptive Activity of Ethanol Extract from Duguetia chrysocarpa Maas (Annonaceae)

The ethanol extract from the fruits of Duguetia chrysocarpa was evaluated for its antinociceptive activity in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. The intraperitoneal administration of the ethanol extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight) showed a dose-dependent inhibition of acetic-acid-induced abdominal writhes. The extract also produced a significant inhibition of both phases of the formalin test in all doses tested and increased the reaction time in hot-plate test at dose of 200 mg/kg. The data obtained suggest that the antinociceptive effect of the extract may be mediated via both peripheral and central mechanisms. The phytochemical investigation yielded the isolation of the benzenoid derivative 3-methoxy-4-ethoxy benzoic acid which is being reported for the first time in this genus.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from the Leaves of Jatropha mutabilis (Pohl) Baill (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract: Jatropha is an important genus belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. The essential oil from the leaves of Jatropha mutabilis, which were collected in the semiarid of Pernambuco (Northeast Brazil), was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty components comprising 100 % of the leaf essential oil were identified. The major individual constituents were phytol (41.38 %), (+)-spathulenol (12.81 %), epi-α-cadinol (9.27 %), (-)- caryophyllene oxide (4.79 %), germacrene D (4.46 %), α-cadinol (3.86 %) and elemol (3.64 %). This is the first report on the chemical composition of the essential oil of this species.

Perfil fitoquímico de extratos de urtiga-cansanção e sua bioatividade sobre a lagarta-da-couve

The objective of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical profile and bioactivity of extracts of Brazilian stinging (“cansanção”) nettle (Cnidoscolus urens) on cabbage caterpillar (Ascia monuste orseis). Mortality, larval stage duration, pupal viability and mass, percentage of deformed pupae, and feeding preference were evaluated. The constituent classes of the ethanolic extracts were also identified by analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots at 2% (m/v) and aqueous extract of roots at 20% (m/v) prolonged the larval phase of the insect. The ethanolic extract of leaves at 2% reduced pupal viability, and pupae from all treatments showed reduced masses and generated deformed adults. Except for the ethanolic extract of stem at 2% (m/v), all other extracts showed a deterrent effect on A. monuste orseis larvae. The phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extracts showed the major presence of phenolic compounds, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, coumarins, anthracene derivatives, terpenes, and steroids, as well as tannins. Aqueous extracts at 20% concentration and ethanolic extracts at 2% of leaves, stems, and roots of cansanção nettle cause larval mortality and also reduce leaf consumption, pupal viability, and pupal mass of A. monuste orseis.