Emidio Vasconcelos Leitão da-Cunha

Anti-inflammatory activity of alkaloids: a twenty-century review

Many substances which interfere with the inflammatory response have been isolated from plants. This review shows some alkaloids of vegetal origin which in the period of 1907 to 2000 were evaluated regarding a possible anti-inflammatory activity. The alkaloids were classified in sub-groups in accordance with their chemical structures and the pharmacological data were obtained from different experimental models. Of the 171 evaluated alkaloids, 137 presented anti-inflammatory activity, and among those, the isoquinoline type was the most studied. The Carrageenin-induced paw edema was the most used model for evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity. In this review, 174 references were cited.

Sources of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon-carotenes: a twentieth century review

Since humans cannot synthesize carotenoids, they depend upon the diet exclusively for the source of these micronutrients. It has claimed that they may alleviate chronic diseases such as cancers. The present communication constitutes a global review of the scientific literature on plants and others organisms that biosynthesize carotenoids, which include the series alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon-carotenes. The results of the literature survey lists more than five hundred sources.

Piperdardine, a piperidine alkaloid from Piper tuberculatum☆

Abstract A new piperidine alkaloid 1-[7-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-oxo-2, 4-heptadienyl]piperidine, piperdardine, was isolated from hexane and chloroform extracts of Piper tuberculatum var. tuberculatum. A combination of 1D and 2D NMR, together with other spectroscopic methods, led to the unambiguous assignments of all protons and carbons of the molecule.

Cissaglaberrimine, an aporphine alkaloid from Cissampelos glaberrima

A novel aporphine alkaloid was isolated from dried stems and leaves of Cissampelos glaberrima. Spectroscopic analysis established the structure as 1,2-methylenedioxy-3-hydroxyaporphine, to which we have given the name cissaglaberrimine. Unambiguous 1H and 13C NMR data for magnoflorine and oxobuxifoline are described.

Complete assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of four triterpenes of the ursane, artane, lupane and friedelane groups

The detailed 1H and 13C NMR assignments of the four known triterpenes 3β‐hydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, 3‐oxo‐24‐methylenecycloartan, 3‐oxo‐11α‐hydroxy‐20(29)lupen and 29‐hydroxyfriedelin, isolated from three Brazilian plants, were achieved by 1D and 2D techniques such as DEPT, HETCOR, HMQC, HMBC, COSY and NOESY. Copyright

Milonine, an 8,14-dihydromorphinandienone alkaloid from leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis

A novel 8,14-dihydromorphinandienone alkaloid was isolated from the dried leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis. Spectroscopic analysis established its structure as (+)-(9β,13β,14α)-5,6-didehydro-4-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methylmorphinan-7-one, to which we have given the name, milonine.

Ecdysteroids from Vitex species: distribution and compilation of their 13C-NMR spectral data.

Iridoids and ecdysteroids are found in some genera of the family Verbenaceae. In such cases, they are used as chemotaxonomic markers for the difficult task of taxonomic identification by using morphological characteristics of plants belonging to this family. The present work describes the distribution of ecdysteroids in plants from the genus Vitex from a review of previous work on seventeen Vitex species. In addition, 13C‐NMR data of the main ecdysteroids found in this genus are described. This study attempted to summarize previous research on ecdysteroids distribution in Vitex species with the addition of 13C‐NMR analysis to further refine the characterization of these compounds in the Verbenaceae family.

Alkaloids and volatile constituents from Duguetia flagellaris

Duguetia flagellaris Huber (Annonaceae), commonly known as “castanha-decutia”, “ameju-preto” and “caniceiro-preto” (Ribeiro, 1999, p. 816), was collected in November 1999 at the Mocambo Reserve, near the city of Belem, State of Para, Brazil, and identified by the Annonaceae specialist Dr. Jorge Oliveira, from Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG). A voucher specimen (# 148.668) is deposited in the Herbarium of MPEG, Belem, Para, Brazil.

Roraimine: a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Cissampelos sympodialis roots

The roots of Cissampelos sympodialis yielded Roraimine (1), a novel bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid and liriodenine (2), a known oxoaporphine alkaloid.

GC-MS analysis and cardiovascular activity of the essential oil of Ocotea duckei

The essential oils obtained by steam distillation from the roots, stems, leaves and fruits of Ocotea duckei had their composition analyzed by GC-MS. The pharmacological activity of these oils was also evaluated showing significant cardiovascular effects. Forty-nine substances were identified, consisting of a complex mixture of monoterpenes (45%) and sesquiterpenes (55%). The fruits yielded (1.9%) more essential oil than the stems (1.0%), roots (0.8%) and leaves (0.7%). The main component in the oil of the leaves was trans-caryophyllene (60.54%), in the stem bark b-eudesmol (27.51%) and in the fruits, dl-limonene (30.12%). The predominant essential oil component in the roots was elemol (24.31%). In non-anaesthetized normotensive rats, the essential oils from different parts of Ocotea duckei (leaves, fruits, stem and roots) induced significant (p < 0.05) hypotension followed by bradycardia.