Miriam Anders Apel

Acaricidal properties of the essential oil from Hesperozygis ringens (Lamiaceae) on the cattle tick Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

Hesperozygis ringens (Benth.) Epling (Lamiaceae) is a strongly aromatic plant employed popularly for its antiparasitic properties. The leaves afforded 4% of essential oil constituted mainly by pulegone (86%). Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the toxicity of the essential oil species on engorged females and larvae of the cattle tick Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus using the adult immersion test (AIT) and the larval immersion test (LIT). It was observed that the essential oil at the concentration of 50 microL/mL and 25 microL/mL inhibited the egg laying significatively in relation to the controls and the eggs from these treated females were affected by the oil; the hatching was inhibited in 95% and 30%, respectively. In the LIT it was verified that the LC(99.9), LC(50) and LC(1) was 0.541 microL/mL, 0.260 microL/mL and 0.015 microL/mL, respectively. Pulegone, isolated from the oil, showed similar effect on the females and on the larvae, indicating that it is responsible for the oil activity.

Chemical composition and toxicity of the essential oils from Cunila species (Lamiaceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

The essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of five species of Cunila (Lamiaceae) native to Southern Brazil were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oil of Cunila angustifolia was characterized by sabinene; Cunila incana is rich in α-pinene and β-pinene, Cunila spicata and Cunila microcephala presented menthofuran as the main component, and in the essential oil of Cunila incisa, the major component was 1,8-cineole. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the effect of the essential oils of the above cited plants on larvae of the cattle tick Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. C. angustifolia, C. incana, and C. spicata were the most active samples killing almost the totality of the larvae. C. incisa and C. microcephala showed low acaricidal effect.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from SomeCampomanesiaSpecies (Myrtaceae)

Abstract The chemical composition of leaf oils from Campomanesia aurea, C. guazumifolia, C. rhombea and C. xanthocarpa (Myrtaceae) were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Sixty-two compounds have been identified ranging from 94–99% of the oil contents. Our results showed that all analyzed species were rich in sesquiterpenes, among them spathulenol (27.7%) and !b-caryophyllene oxide (29.0%) in C. guazumifolia; bicyclogermacrene (13.6%) and globulol (10.8%) in C. rhombea; and (E)-nerolidol (28.8%) in C. xanthocarpa. The monoterpene fraction was well represented in C. aurea (40.3%), with predominance of the α-pinene (16.5%) and myrcene (11.5%), besides C. rhombea and C. xanthocarpa that showed an important amount of linalool (9.7% and 17.2%, respectively).

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils from Southern Brazilian Eugenia Species Part II

Abstract The essential oils, which were obtained from the fresh leaves of five Eugenia species collected from different areas of South Brazil, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Eighty-nine compounds were identified in the different samples analyzed, representing 80.2–94.7% of the total oil contents. Only the oil of E. dimorphacontained considerable amounts of monoterpenes, such as α-pinene (22.4%) and 1,8-cineole (9.9%). E. catharinensis had an important percentage of an aliphatic compound, ethyl palmitate (10.5%). The other oils analyzed were rich in sesquiterpenes, among them aromadendrene (12.2%) and δ-cadinene (15.8%) in E. bacopari, germacrene D (8.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (14.2%) in E. burkartiana, and δ-selinene (7.9%) and 5-epi-paradisiol (8.4%) in E. joenssonii.

Use of bioindicators to evaluate air quality and genotoxic compounds in an urban environment in Southern Brazil

Biological indicators are widely used to monitor genotic compounds and air quality in urban environments. Parmotrema tinctorum and Teloschistes exilis have been used to verify the presence of pollutants and analyze morphophysiological alterations in the thallus of species caused by their action. Species were exposed for seven months, in an urban area, in southern Brazil. Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of PM10 organic extracts were assessed in the Salmonella/microsome assay at two stations. High concentrations of S, Pb, Cr, Zn and Hg were registered in the last period of exposure and more significant morphophysiological damages were verified in the lichens. Generally a higher mutagenic activity is observed in organic extracts of airborne particulate matter during the first months and in the third period of exposure of lichens. In addition, nitro compounds was detected through nitro-sensitive strains. Lichens and mutagenic biomarkers enabled the evaluation of air quality and the presence of environmentally-aggressive compounds.

Composição química e atividade antioxidante do óleo volátil de eupatorium polystachyum dc.

The essential oil obtained from leaves and flowers of Eupatorium polystachyum DC. (Asteraceae) collected in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, was characterized by GC-MS and its antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH assay. The yield of essential oil, relative to fresh material, was 1.6 and 0.9% for leaves and flowers, respectively. Both oils are constituted exclusively by terpenic compounds. Leaf oil contains great quantity of monoterpenes (66.4%); on the other hand, inflorescence oil contains comparable quantities of mono- and sesquiterpenes (51.8 and 47.7%, respectively). The same compounds are majority in both oils: b-pinene (14.7 and 9.8%), b-myrcene (15.3 and 10.8%) and limonene (22.8 and 20.5%) among monoterpenes and b-caryophyllene (10.4 and 15.4%), germacrene D (7.2 and 9.4%) and bicyclogermacrene (12.0 and 19.2%) among sesquiterpenes. The oils had antioxidant activity by DPPH assay in 1:10 dilution in ethyl ether (v/v).

Essential Oils from Eugenia Species—Part VII: Sections Phyllocalyx and Stenocalyx

Abstract The chemical composition of the leaf oils obtained by hydrodistillation of eight Eugenia species, collected in southern Brazil, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Eugenia speciosa oil is characterized by large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons with α-pinene (47.3%) and limonene (23.0%) as major constituents, while E. cuprea oil is composed of 78.6% sesquiterpenes. Spathulenol (12.1%) was the major component, followed by β-caryophyllene (9.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (8.7%). Eugenia arenosa was dominated by the acyclic sesquiterpene, farnesyl acetate (70.4%) and aromadendrene (11.7%). Eugenia brasiliensis, E. multicostata, E. sulcata and E. xiriricana oils possessed very similar chemical compositions. In the monoterpene fraction, α- and β-pinene were the major components (a total of 40.7%, 23.4%, 35.9% and 21.9%, respectively), while for E. pitanga (E)-β-ocimene (10.5%) was the major component. For the sesquiterpene fraction, spathulenol and globulol were the major components (a total of 10.5%, 19.4%, 18.8% and 24.0%, respectively). In contrast, the oil of E. pitanga was characterized in this fraction by germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene (29.3% and 22.4%, respectively).

Pharmacological evaluation of Copaifera multijuga oil in rats

Context: Copaiba oil is an oleoresin made up of resin acids and volatile compounds, and it is obtained by tapping the trunks of trees that are members of the Copaifera L. (Leguminoseae) genus and are found in tropical parts of Latin America. Objective: This study analyzed the chemical composition of Copaifera multijuga Hayne oil and conducted preclinical trials to investigate anti-inflammatory effects and any action it may have on the central nervous system (CNS) of rats. Materials and methods: The chemical analysis was carried out using gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. Anti-inflammatory activity was measured by leucocytes mobilization, by chemotaxis assay in Boyden’s chamber, and by pleurisy model in rats. CNS effect was determined by plus maze and open-field assays. The statistical test applied was analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test or ANOVA followed by Duncan’s test. Results: The oil was composed of sesquiterpenes with the predominance of β-caryophyllene (36.0%), followed by α-copaene (18.8%), β-bisabolene (8.5%), and α-trans-bergamotene (7.0%). Data demonstrated that at 100 and 200 mg/kg doses and at a concentration of 200 μl/ml copaiba essential oil presented anti-inflammatory effects both in vivo and in vitro based on reduced leukocyte migration to the rats’ pleural cavity and to the chemotactic agent lipopolysaccharide solution, respectively. During the experiments investigating CNS effects, locomotive and exploratory activities were reduced and the animals’ anxiety increased at 100 and 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that copaiba oil has an interesting anti-inflammatory effect and important effect on the CNS.

Composição química do óleo volátil de Myrcianthes nativas da região sul do Brasil

The essential oil of Myrcianthes gigantea (Myrtaceae) leaves, which were collected in Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil), was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical investigation was performed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirty-six compounds were identified accounting for 90.1% of the oil content. The analyzed species was rich in cyclic sesquiterpenes, mainly those from the germecrane cyclization pathway, among them spathulenol (28.8%) and its isomer, iso-spathulenol (9.5%). Leaves of M. cisplatensis and M. pungens were also collected in the same region and the analysis of the oil composition was compared with those previously reported for collections from other countries in South America. M. cisplatensis oil showed a high content of monoterpenes (56.3%), specially from the p-mentane and pinane groups, with three major compounds: 1,8-cineole (29.8%), limonene (10.9%) and a-pinene (8.9%). These findings are in agreement with those reported previously. For M. pungens, thirty-six compounds were identified without a predominant component. b-caryophyllene (10.1%), with caryophyllane skeleton, was the main substance for this sample. For this species the oil composition was quite different from those related for two exemplars collected in Argentina, in which both oil were rich in monoterpenes. This result suggests the occurrence of chemotypes.

Appraisal of the Antichemotactic Activity of Flavonoids on Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils

Flavonoids are polyphenols that are ubiquitous in plants and frequently consumed in the diet. They are suggested to have many beneficial actions on human health, including anti-inflammatory activity. Their properties have been studied in a number of cell types, but little is known about their effects on neutrophil biology. Consequently, we selected 25 flavonoids with different structural features to evaluate their in vitro inhibition of rat polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis, employing a modified Boyden chamber. Migratory activity was measured towards a chemotactic stimulant, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of flavonoids on PMNs was determined by the release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Ten flavonoids significantly retarded the migration of PMNs with at least one of the concentrations tested in a range between 0.625 and 100 µM; the best antichemotactic agents were flavone, flavonol, quercetin and rutin. None of the flavanones evaluated presented any significant inhibition of migration in this assay. Our findings indicated that non-hydroxylated flavones possess a better antichemotactic activity when compared to flavones with hydroxy groups. The presence of a sugar moiety in rutin did not produce any increase in this effect, when compared to the respective aglycone analogue. Finally, none of the flavonoids exhibited cell toxicity and for many of these flavonoids this is the first report of the inhibition of PMN chemotaxis.