Janaína Kieling Frohlich

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia Reissek

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from the leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia were evaluated using the broth microdilution method and the brine shrimp lethality method, respectively. Phytochemical analysis was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antimicrobial results demonstrated that the strongest effect occurred with the butanol fraction from the twigs and the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC = 62.5 µg mL−1), whereas the ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from the twigs and stem bark were effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values ranging from 125 to 500 µg mL−1. LD50 values varied from 50.00 ± 0.22 to 82.23 ± 0.34 µg mL−1. Quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutin were identified by HPLC and may be partially responsible for the antimicrobial activities observed. This study reports for the first time the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of S. buxifolia leaves, twigs and stem bark.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC. leaves

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Tabernaemontana catharinensis had their composition analysed by GC–MS. A total of 18 substances were identified, consisting of a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes (83.52%), monoterpenes (5.46%) and triterpenes (4.56%). The main components in the oil were β-caryophyllene (56.87%), α-cadinol (12.52%), 8S,13-cedran-diol (5.41%), α-terpineol (3.99%), β-eudesmol (2.54%), caryophyllene oxide (2.51%) and ethyl iso-allocholate (2.03%) along with β-cubebene, γ-cadinene, cubenol, 1,8-cineol, o-cymene, curcumenol, spathulenol, friedeline and β-sitosterol as minor constituents. An antioxidant property was tested with the oil obtained by means of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay; the oil presented interesting radical scavenging activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from the T. catharinensis collected from Brazil.

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the crude extract of Jatropha isabellei in a rat gout model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jatropha isabellei Müll Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used in South American folk medicine for the treatment of arthritic diseases, particularly gout. AIM OF THE STUDY This study was designed to verify the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hypouricemic potential of Jatropha isabellei. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats were orally administered with the crude extract (100-300 mg/kg) or a fraction that is rich in alkaloids (0.15 mg/kg) of Jatropha isabellei. An intra-articular (i.a.) injection of 50 μl of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals (1.25mg/site) was used to generate the gout model to assess the effect of the treatment on nociception (thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia) and inflammation (oedema and neutrophil infiltration). The effect of Jatropha isabellei on the serum levels of uric acid was evaluated in a model of hyperuricaemia induced by the intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate (250 mg/kg). The side effects were analysed using an open-field test, gastric lesion assessment and by measuring the levels of the ALT and AST enzymes. RESULTS Our study demonstrated that the crude extract of Jatropha isabellei and a fraction rich in alkaloids were able to prevent the thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, oedema and neutrophil infiltration induced by intra-articular MSU injection in rats. On the other hand, treatment with Jatropha isabellei did not alter the uric acid levels increased by potassium oxonate in the hyperuricaemia model. In addition, Jatropha isabellei did not induce gastric lesions or liver damage and did not alter spontaneous locomotor activity. CONCLUSION The crude extract of Jatropha isabellei and its fraction rich in alkaloid presents antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in a rat gout model, similar to that observed after treatment with colchicine, supporting the traditional use of this plant in gouty patients.

Isolation and chromatographic analysis of bioactive triterpenoids from the bark extract of Cariniana domestica (Mart) Miers

The Lecythidaceae family is composed of 25 genera and 400 species that occur in the form of trees with a pantropical distribution. The genera Cariniana belongs to the family Lecythidaceae, and there are few reports considering these species. In this work, fractionation of the dichloromethane fraction obtained from the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Cariniana domestica (Mart) Miers, popularly known as Jequitibá-roxo, led to the isolation of two mixtures of triterpenoids: lupeol and β-amyrin and β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic (NMR) and chromatographic (GC-MS) techniques as well as literature data comparisons. β-Sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol and β-amyrin were quantified in dichloromethane fraction by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/DAD). The dichloromethane fraction was also investigated for antioxidant and antifungal activities. The isolated compounds and their biological activities are reported for the first time for the species C. domestica.

Antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial activity and triterpenes isolated from Jatropha isabellei Müll Arg.

Jatropha isabellei Müll Arg. belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. The antioxidant capacity of this plant was evaluated by the DPPH method and inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the best antioxidant capacity against the DPPH free radical and its profile was similar to ascorbic acid. This fraction also presented the best results of phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins, showing a positive relation between the phenolic content and antioxidant activity. All fractions and the crude extract were able to inhibit significantly the TBARS production induced by Fe(II) for the two tested concentrations, reaching the basal levels. In this test, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fraction showed good values for inhibitory concentration. The dichloromethane fraction showed the best results against the fungi Sporothrix schenckii and Fusarium proliferatum and the bacterium of Micrococcus genus. This fraction allowed the isolation of acetil aleuritolic acid and a mixture of sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside and stigmasterol, described for the first time in this species.

Composition and antioxidant capacity of the essential oil of leaves of Vitex megapotamica (Sprengel) Moldenke

This study is designed to examine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Vitex megapotamica. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis resulted in the detection of 27 components, representing 92.36% of the total oil composition. The main components in the oil were butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (34.17%), phytol (12.66%), α-caryophyllene (11.84%), δ-elemene (10.65%), β-caryophyllene (7.82%), γ-elemene (4.24%) and germacrene D (2.82%). The antioxidant activity of the oil was evaluated in terms of their free-radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The oil showed percentage inhibition of 35.62% and 75.25% at concentrations of 76 and 101.6 mg mL−1, respectively. BHT (36.30%) was also determined by HPLC-DAD in the hexane fraction from the leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of the species V. megapotamica.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oil of Scutia buxifolia Reissek Leaves

The chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from the leaves parts of Scutia buxifolia were evaluated. The chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty-five substances were identified, consisting of a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes (73.69%) and monoterpenes (18.74%). The main components in the oil were spathulenol (27.09%), β-cubebene (11.26%), germacrene D (9.81%), carvacrol (7.01%), globulol (5.36%), α-copaene (4.17%), γ-eudesmol (3.59%), thymol (3.27%), 1,8-cineol (3.08%), p-cymene (2.56%), α-eudesmol (2.34%), β-elemene (2.04%), butylated hydroxytoluene (2.00%) along with eugenol acetate, n-hexanol, α-pinene, α-humulene, eugenol, humulene epoxide, phytol as minor constituents. The antioxidant property of the oil was assessed by free radical scavenging (DPPH) assay. S. buxifolia essential oil presented interesting radical scavenging activity (IC50=13.62 ± 0.17 μg/mL). The antibacterial properties of the oils also was tested by broth microdilution method and was effective only against S. aureus and E. coli (MIC=500 and 750 μg/mL, respectively). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil from the S. buxifolia collected from Brazil.

DOSEAMENTO DE POLIFENÓIS, FLAVONÓIDES E TANINOS NO EXTRATO BRUTO E FRAÇÕES DE CARINIANA DOMESTICA (MART.) MIERS

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar a avaliacao do teor de polifenois, flavonoides e taninos no extrato bruto e fracoes das cascas de Cariniana domestica (Mart.) Miers, visando comparar com as suas atividades antioxidantes. Os valores encontrados para polifenois variaram de 54,6 ± 0,333 a 309,3 ± 2,733 miligramas de acido pirogalico por grama de planta seca. Os valores encontrados para flavonoides variaram de 12 ± 0,12 a 14,18 ± 0,1 miligramas de rutina por grama de planta seca. Por fim, os valores encontrados para taninos 131 ± 0,03 a 149,7 ± 0,22 miligramas de acido pirogalico por grama de planta seca. Estas concentracoes indicam que Cariniana domestica possui um alto teor de substâncias com capacidade sequestrante de radicais livres, podendo ser estudada de maneira mais aprofundada quanto a um possivel uso como antioxidante. Descritores: Cariniana, polifenois, flavonoides, taninos

ANÁLISE FITOQUÍMICA DAS FOLHAS DE VITEX MEGAPOTAMICA (SPRENGEL) MOLDENKE

A especie Vitex megapotamica (Sprengel) Moldenke, usualmente conhecida como taruma, pertence a familia Verbenaceae a qual compreende cerca de 100 generos distribuidos nas regioes tropicais de todo o mundo. Esta especie tem sido usada na medicina tradicional principalmente para hemorroidas, depurativa do sangue, hipertensao arterial, antiinflamatoria, dentre outras. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo a realizacao da triagem farmacognostica de extratos de Vitex megapotamica . Os resultados da analise fitoquimica indicaram a presenca de heterosideos antociânicos, fenois e taninos, catequinas, flavonois, flavanonas, flavanonois e xantonas, esteroides e triterpenoides (esteroides livres), heterosideos cardioativos, fenois com posicao orto e meta livres, fenois com a posicao para livre, cumarinas, acidos orgânicos e fenois.

ESTUDO FITOQUÍMICO DAS CASCAS DO TRONCO DE SCUTIA BUXIFOLIA REISSEK

A familia Rhamnaceae e constituida por plantas arbustivas e arboreas. A especie Scutia buxifolia,pertencente a familia Rhamnaceae, e nativa da regiao sul da America do Sul,com ocorrencia predominante no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil, Argentina e Uruguai, sendo conhecida popularmente como Coronilha. Ensaios farmacologicos demonstram atividade cardiotonica, hipotensora e diuretica. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo a realizacao da triagem farmacognostica de extratos de S. buxifolia. A analise fitoquimica demonstrou resultados semelhantes para a presenca de acidos volateis, compostos fenolicos , esteroides e triterpenos , heterosideos antociânicos, cardioativos , cianogenicos , flavonicos e saponinicos. Palavras-chave: Scutia buxifolia,coronilha,analise fitoquimica.