Jorge Pedro Pereira Carauta

Anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus species

The latex of some species of Ficus (Moraceae) has been traditionally used as vermifuge in Central and South America. It has been accepted that anthelmintic activity is due to a proteolytic fraction called ficin. In the present study, the anthelmintic activity of the latex of Ficus insipida Willd. and Ficus carica L. has been investigated in NIH mice naturally infected with Syphacia obvelata, Aspiculuris tetraptera and Vampirolepis nana. The latex of F. insipida, administered by intragastric route in doses of 4 ml/kg/day during three consecutive days, were effective in the removal of 38.6% of the total number of S. obvelata, being inexpressive in the removal of A. tetraptera (8.4%) and segments of V. nana (6.3%). The latex of F. carica, administered in doses of 3 ml/kg/day, during three consecutive days, was effective in the removal of S. obvelata (41.7%) and it did not produce significant elimination of A. tetraptera (2.6%) and V. nana (8.3%). The observed high acute toxicity with hemorrhagic enteritis, in addition to a weak anthelmintic efficacy, do not recommend the use of these lattices in traditional medicine.

Moretenolactone, A β-lactone hopanoid from Ficus insipida

Abstract The structure of moretenolactone, a new triterpene lactone from Ficus insipida , has been determined from spectroscopic data to correspond to the lactone of 3β-hydroxy-21αH-hop-22(29)-en-24-oic acid.

Moraceae das restingas do estado do Rio de Janeiro

Resumo As restingas sao planicies arenosas ao longo da costa litorânea que exibem uma rica e peculiar vegetacao. As Moraceae nativas do Brasil englobam principalmente plantas lenhosas de porte arboreo que participam do estagio mais avancado das matas de restinga. Atraves de bibliografia especializada, consultas a herbarios e coletas de campo, objetivou-se elucidar a taxonomia, identificar os habitats preferenciais, atualizar a area de ocorrencia e reconhecer o atual estado de conservacao das especies dessa familia. Nas restingas fluminenses ocorrem cinco generos e 20 especies de Moraceae. Na Formacao de Mata Seca acham-se presentes 16 especies, na Mata Inundavel oito e na Arbustiva Fechada seis. Dessas especies, 15 encontram-se ameacadas de extincao, principalmente: Ficus pulchella e Maclura brasiliensis. Palavras -chave: Urticales, taxonomia, Mata Atlântica, conservacao Abstract Restingas are sandy coastal plains with a rich flora and distinct vegetation types. The native Brazilian Moraceae include primarily tall woody plants growing in the more developed stages of restinga forests, but they also include herbs and shrubs. Specialized bibliography, herbarium material and field collections, were used to elucidate the taxonomy, recognize the preferred habitats, update the area of occurrence and to recognize the current conservation status of its species. There are five genera and 20 species in Moraceae. In the Dry Forest formation occur 16 species, eight in Swamp Forest and six in Closed Shrub. These species, 15 are threatened of the extinction, mainly: Ficus pulchella and Maclura brasiliensis. Keywords: Urticales, taxonomy, Atlantic Forest, conservation.

Ulmaceae, Cannabaceae e Urticaceae das restingas do estado do Rio de Janeiro

Restingas are sandy coastal plains with a rich flora and distinct vegetation types. The native Brazilian Ulmaceae, Cannabaceae and Urticaceae include herbs, shrubs and trees from early regeneration stages. Specialized bibliography, herbarium material and field collections were used to describe the species and to determine distribution, habitat and current conservation status of species from the sandy coastal plains of Rio de Janeiro state. There are two genera and two species of Ulmaceae, two genera and four species of Cannabaceae, and four genera and six species of Urticaceae. Eight species occur in the Dry Forest Formation, six in Dense Scrub and one in Swamp Forest. Of these species, seven are threatened with extinction: Ampelocera glabra Kuhlm., Cecropia glaziovi Snethl, Celtis spinosa Spreng., Laportea aestuans (L.) Chew, Phyllostylon brasiliense Capan. ex Benth, Urera aurantiaca Wedd and U. nitida (Vell.) Brack.

Avaliação do risco de extinção das Urticineae das restingas do estado do Rio de Janeiro

This paper conducted georeferencing and analyzes of extinction risk assessments following the criteria and categories from IUCN for 32 species of Urticineae (Cannabaceae, Ulmaceae, Moraceae and Urticaceae) occurring in the sandy coastal plains of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Materials corresponding to these species were examined in major Brazilian herbaria and 2524 records were selected for evaluation. Among the 32 species, Ampelocera glabra, Celtis spinosa, Ficus cyclophylla, F.nevesiae, Maclura brasiliensis and Phyllostylon brasiliense fall into endangered category, and Brosimum guianense, Dorstenia arifolia, Ficus castellviana, F.pulchella, Sorocea guilleminiana and S. hilarii were not considered threatened. The locations of conservation importance belong to the municipalities of Armacao de Buzios, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro and Saquarema.