Josiane de Fátima Gaspari Dias

Phytochemical constituents and preliminary toxicity evaluation of leaves from Rourea induta Planch. (Connaraceae)

Most active plants are toxic at high doses and it is therefore important to investigate the preliminary toxicity of plant extracts. The Rourea induta species is a potential drug with no phytochemical or biological studies registered in the literature. Thus, a phytochemical study and a toxicity analysis of the ethanolic extract obtained from the leaves of Rourea induta Planch., Connaraceae, was run. A long chain hydrocarbon, n-tetracosane, and four flavonoids were identified: quercetin, and three glycosylated derivates, quercetin-3-O-α-arabinofuranoside, quercetin-3-O-β-xyloside and quercetin-3-O-β-galactoside. This is the first time these have been isolated in this species. The structures were elucidated by 13C NMR, 1H NMR, UV and IR spectroscopy. The toxicity evaluation of extracts was performed by the brine shrimp method and determination of hemolytic activity. The samples demonstrated no toxic potential by the analyzed methods.

Termoestabilidade de processos extrativos de Nasturtium officinale R. Br., Brassicaceae por sistema Soxhlet modificado

This work had as objective verified the term-stability of the Soxhlet modified system with analytical and pharmacothecnical application in extractive processes of Nasturtium officinale. It has proven that the process is thermo-stable. The analysis with analytical have determined 3.606 mg g-1 in chlorogenic acid and 11.813 mg g-1 in rutin (extract 1:20 w/v) and with pharmacotecnical 3.427 mg g-1 in chlorogenic acid and 11.278 mg g-1 in rutin (extract 1:6 w/v). The income of the pharmacothecnical process was inferior to the analytical, suggesting that the pharmacothecnical process would need of at least the double of time in each extraction system.

Contribuição ao estudo alelopático de Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss., Celastraceae

Utilizando-se extratos etanolicos de Maytenus ilicifolia obtidos com material vegetal seco em diferentes temperaturas, fez-se ensaio alelopatico utilizando sementes de Lactuca sativa. Observou-se que a temperatura de secagem do material vegetal e um agente modificador de atividade alelopatica.

Production and characterization of alginate-starch-chitosan microparticles containing stigmasterol through the external ionic gelation technique

O estigmasterol, um fitoesterol com diversas atividades farmacologicas, e suscetivel a oxidacao quando exposto ao ar, calor e umidade. Neste contexto, a microencapsulacao e uma forma de protecao contra oxidacao, permitindo a incorporacao do estigmasterol em diversas formas farmaceuticas e aumentar sua absorcao. As microparticulas foram obtidas por gelificacao ionica externa, em uma etapa, utilizando como revestimento polimeros naturais de alginato de sodio, amido de milho e quitosana. As microparticulas apresentaram formato esferico com tamanho aproximado de 1,4 mm. O rendimento foi de 94,87% e a eficiencia media de encapsulacao de 90,42%. A quantidade de estigmasterol no oleo recuperado das microparticulas foi de 9,97 mg/g. O metodo mostrou-se viavel para a microencapsulacao do estigmasterol.

Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of extracts, fractions and isolated substances from the flowers of Acacia podalyriifolia A. Cunn. ex G. Don

Os extratos e fracoes de Acacia podalyriifolia foram analisados previamente para a atividade antibacteriana atraves da difusao em disco e as propriedades antioxidantes foram verificadas pela determinacao da capacidade removedora do radical livre DPPH e pela mensuracao do conteudo de fenolicos totais (Metodo de Folin). O presente estudo descreve as atividades antibacteriana (determinacao da concentracao inibitoria minima) e antioxidante (especies reativas do acido tiobarbiturico - teste TBARS) para o extrato etanolico e as fracoes diclorometano e acetato de etila e para duas flavanonas (naringenina e 5-β-D-glicosil-naringenina) isoladas das flores de Acacia podalyriifolia A. Cunn. ex G. Don. As flavanonas naringenina e 5-β-D-glicosil-naringenina ainda nao haviam sido obtidas desta especie. A atividade antibacteriana mais efetiva foi observada com a fracao acetato de etila (CIM=0,25 mg/mL contra Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538; CIM=0,125 mg/mL, contra Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12229; CIM=0,5 mg/mL contra Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883 e Proteus mirabilis ATCC 43071). As amostras avaliadas demonstraram atividade pelo teste TBARS, especialmente o extrato etanolico (1000 ppm), que foi o mais ativo (29,43% ± 0.65), seguido pela fracao acetato de etila (1000 ppm, 24,84% ± 1,28), ambos demonstrando atividade mais elevada que a apresentada pelo acido ascorbico (1000 ppm, 21,73% ± 1,77), ainda que menor que a do BHT (1000 ppm, 35,15% ± 3,42), ambas substâncias de referencia. Naringenina e 5-β-D-glicosil-naringenina demonstraram acao antioxidante, porem somente a naringenina inibiu o crescimento de bacterias gram-positivas e gram-negativas.

Composition of essential oil and allelopathic activity of aromatic water of Aster lanceolatus Willd: (Asteraceae)

The essential oil obtained from flowers of Aster lanceolatus was submitted the CG-MS and presented as result thirteen substances with largest concentration; among them, the caryophyllene oxide with the larger one. The aromatic water obtained during the extraction process of this essential oil was forwarded to allelopathic test, and demonstrated to be capable to inhibit the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa.

Carotenoides bixina e norbixina extraídos do urucum (Bixa orellana L.) como antioxidantes em produtos cárneos

Lipid oxidation is one of the major modifications that affect meat products due to chemical composition, heat and grinding processes beyond the routine use of sodium chloride, a recognized catalyst of this reaction. Antioxidants are substances used to inhibit or retard oxidative rancidity. However the use of these compounds has been drawing the attention of consumers and regulatory agencies about the safety of synthetic additives consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of carotenoids bixin and norbixin as antioxidants in meat products by review of the chemical characteristics, methods of production, toxicity and technological applications. These pigments are extracted from annatto (Bixa orellana L.) using organic solvents, supercritical extraction or microwaves. In Brazil, the use of these substances is forecast by law as food colorant, however, this carotenoids show a large unsaturated carbon chains that allow the addition of free radicals and enable their use as antioxidant. The structural differences between bixin and norbixin result in distinct polarity, solubility and coloration, and consequently in different technological applications. At concentrations established by regulatory agencies, the use of these compounds is safe and, in addition to applications such as dyes, can be used by industries as natural antioxidants, which is an alternative capable of replace or minimize the use of synthetic additives in meat products.

Atividade antibacteriana de Cereus jamacaru DC, Cactaceae

The search for new antibiotic agents from plants is growing, and no study regarding the activity of C. jamacaru pathological microorganisms has been carried out. This research evaluates the antibiotic effect of crude ethanolic extracts of the cortex (EBCO) and wood (EBLE) of the species over eight microorganisms. Two methods were used: agar diffusion and MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). EBCO showed better inhibition results than EBLE. Streptococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli are the microorganisms that were better inhibited by EBCO.

Identificação de δ tocotrienol e de ácidos graxos no óleo fixo de urucum (Bixa orellana Linné)

Bixa orellana is a native plant of Brazil, popularly known as annatto. The purpose of this study was to isolate the oil from the seeds of B. orellana and from it, identify the antioxidant tocotrienol and quantify its fatty acids. The extraction of the oil was performed in a Soxhlet apparatus using hexane as solvent. The tocotrienol was isolated by chromatographic methods and identified by spectrometric methods NMR 1H and 13C. The fatty acids present in the oil were quantified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results demonstrated the presence of δ-tocotrienol and among the fatty acids, the arachidonic acid was present, a substance which so far had not been previously reported.

Evidence for a role of 5-HT1A receptor on antinociceptive action from Geissospermum vellosii

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Geissospermum vellosii is a tree widely found throughout the Amazonic forest and frequently used by the native population for painful disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study examined the antinociceptive effects of Geissospermum vellosii in behavioral models of nociception. MATERIALS, METHODS AND RESULTS Oral administration of crude extract of Geissospermum vellosii or its dichloromethane fraction (1-100 mg/kg) inhibited formalin-induced inflammatory nociception and acetic acid-induced visceral nociception. The antinociceptive effect of Geissospermum vellosii was unrelated with motor dysfunctions. Furthermore, the alkaloid 12-metoxy-1-methyl-aspidospermidine (0.001-1 mg/kg), isolated from the dichloromethane fraction, also produced antinociception. The antinociception caused by the dichloromethane fraction was significantly attenuated by pre-treatment of mice with p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, 100 mg/kg once a day for 4 consecutive days) and WAY-100635 (a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg). In contrast, dichloromethane fraction antinociception was not affected by pre-treatment of animals with ketanserin (a 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg) or ondansetron (a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, 0.5 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS Together, these results indicate that Geissospermum vellosii produces antinociception through an interaction with 5-HT(1A) receptors. Furthermore, the alkaloid 12-metoxy-1-methyl-aspidospermidine contributes to the antinociceptive properties reported for Geissospermum vellosii.