Marcilio Martins de Moraes

Chemical composition, leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils from Mangifera indica L. var. Rosa and Espada.

The essential oils from Mangifera indica var. Rosa and Espada latex were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Twenty-seven components were identified. The main compound in the essential oil from M. indica var. Espada (EOMiE) was terpinolene (73.6%). The essential oil of M. indica var. Rosa (EOMiR) was characterized by high amounts of β-pinene (40.7%) and terpinolene (28.3%). In the test for leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes forms of L. amazonensis, EOMiR and EOMiE showed IC50 (72 h) of 39.1 and 23.0 μg/mL, respectively. In macrophages, EOMiR and EOMiE showed CC50 of 142.84 and 158.65 μg/mL, respectively. However, both were more specific to the parasite than macrophages, with values of selectivity index of 6.91 for EOMiE and 3.66 for EOMiR. The essential oils were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the human tumor cells HEp-2, HT-29, NCI-H292, and HL-60. The EOMiR and EOMiE were most effective against the HL-60, with IC50 values of 12.3 and 3.6 μg/mL, respectively. The results demonstrated that the essential oils of M. indica can destroy L. amazonensis and inhibit tumor cell growth. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the Brazilian biodiversity as a source of potential therapeutic agents.

Seasonal Variation in the Essential Oil of Protium bahianum Daly (Burseraceae)

The essential oils from fresh leaves of Protium bahianum collected bimonthly throughout one year were investigated using GC/FID and GC-MS analyses. The yield of essential oil ranged from 0.2 % to 1.6 %, with the maximum amount in summer (1.6 ± 0.1 %) and the minimum in winter (0.2 ± 0.1 %). A total of thirty-five compounds were identified. Sesquiterpene (from 57.0 % to 98.2 %) dominated the oil content, followed by monoterpenes and benzenoids. There was a significant difference for essential oil composition in the different seasons. For example, caryophyllene oxide (22.6 ± 0.0 % in July and 22.1 ± 0.1 % in May) and α-cadinene (25.3 ± 0.1 % in March) were found to be main compounds in winter season, while in the summer, aromadendrene (21.0 ± 0.1 % in January) and Caryophyllene oxide (20.3 ± 0.1 % in September) and α-pinene (19.1± 0.1 % in November) were the major components. The percentage found for two compound from germacrane group during seasonal variation were inversely proportional and an increase of aromadendrene was associated with a decrease of cis-β-guaiene.The essential oils from fresh leaves of Protium bahianum collected bimonthly throughout one year were investigated using GC/FID and GC-MS analyses. The yield of essential oil ranged from 0.2 % to 1.6 %, with the maximum amount in summer (1.6 ± 0.1 %) and the minimum in winter (0.2 ± 0.1 %). A total of thirty-five compounds were identified. Sesquiterpene (from 57.0 % to 98.2 %) dominated the oil content, followed by monoterpenes and benzenoids. There was a significant difference for essential oil composition in the different seasons. For example, caryophyllene oxide (22.6 ± 0.0 % in July and 22.1 ± 0.1 % in May) and α-cadinene (25.3 ± 0.1 % in March) were found to be main compounds in winter season, while in the summer, aromadendrene (21.0 ± 0.1 % in January) and Caryophyllene oxide (20.3 ± 0.1 % in September) and α-pinene (19.1± 0.1 % in November) were the major components. The percentage found for two compound from germacrane group during seasonal variation were inversely proportional and an increase of ...

Comparative toxicity of essential oil and blends of selected terpenes of Ocotea species from Pernambuco, Brazil, against Tetranychus urticae Koch

Essential oils from the leaves of two species of the genus Ocotea that occur in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The acaricidal activity of these oils as well as 11 selected components and blends were evaluated in fumigation and residual contact tests against the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Sixty-seven constituents were identified, totaling 97.3 ± 0.3% and 97.8 ± 0.5% of the oils from O. duckei and O. glomerata, respectively. Sesquiterpene was the dominant class. The compounds β-caryophyllene (18.6 ± 0.1%) and aromadendrene (17.3 ± 0.6%) were the main constituents of the oils from O. duckei and O. glomerata, respectively. Acaricidal action varied depending on the method employed, species and chemical nature of the selected constituents. The mites were susceptible to the oils and chemical constituents using the fumigation method. The O. duckei oil was respectively 2.5-fold and 1.5-fold more toxic than the O. glomerata oil using the fumigation and residual contact methods. Among the selected constituents, β-caryophyllene was the most toxic, independently of the method employed. The individual toxicity of the selected compounds and their blends as well as the role of these constituents in the overall toxicity of the essential oils are also discussed.

Acaricidal properties of the essential oil from Aristolochia trilobata and its major constituents against the twospotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae )

Abstract: Tetranychus urticae Koch is a polyphagous pest that is widely distributed throughout the world and causes considerable damage to crops in northeastern Brazil. The effects of the essential oil from Aristolochia trilobata L., selected constituents, and an artificial mixture (sulcatyl acetate, limonene, linalool, and p-cymene) on T. urticae in terms of fumigant action, residual contact, and fecundity were investigated under laboratory conditions. The results were compared with eugenol, Azamax®, and Ortus® as positive controls. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the oil revealed a predominance of monoterpenes, with sulcatyl acetate (24.57% ± 0.40%) as the major component, followed by linalool (10.80% ± 0.27%). Toxicity varied with the method employed. Through fumigation, the A. trilobata oil was about 2.18-fold more toxic than the artificial mixture, whereas no significant difference between the two products was found with regard to residual contact. Regarding the selected compounds, the mite was most susceptible to linalool and p-cymene by fumigation and residual contact, respectively. The plant-based (Azamax®) and synthetic (Ortus®) acaricidal agents were more toxic than the products tested. Moreover, low concentrations of the products investigated herein had no effect on mite survival, but a significant effect was found on the quantity of eggs laid by females. The A. trilobata oil and artificial mixture are promising natural acaricidal agents that have more than one mode of action (fumigation and residual contact) and exert an effect on fecundity. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the cost–benefit ratio for use on organic crops and protected environments in northeastern Brazil.

First record of the chemical composition of essential oil of Piper bellidifolium, Piper durilignum, Piper acutilimbum and Piper consanguineum from the Brazilian Amazon forest

Piper bellidifolium, Piper durilignum, Piper acutilimbum and Piper consanguineum are bushes that occur in the Amazon and are morphologically similar. With the aim of analyzing the chemical profile of the volatile constituents of these species, essential oils from the leaves were obtained through steam distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The chemical analysis enabled the identification of 95 compounds representing 96.3 ± 0.6% of the P. bellidifolium oil, 95.5 ± 0.71% of the P. durilignum oil, 98.0 ± 1.0% of the P. acutilimbum oil and 96.1 ± 2.1% of the P. consanguineum oil. Although sesquiterpenes were the predominant chemical class in the oils of the four species, qualitative and quantitative differences were found in their chemical composition. The major constituents were (E)-nerolidol (20.3 ± 0.4%) in the P. bellidifolium oil, germacrene D (11.1 ± 0.3%) in the P. durilignum oil, and γ-eudesmol in both the P. consanguineum (18.6 ± 0.5%) and P. acutilimbum (7.5 ± 0.4%) oils. Despite their morphological similarity, a principal component analysis (PCA) of the GC-MS data clearly separated the four species according to the chemical profile of the essential oil extracted from their leaves.