Sidney Augusto Vieira Filho

Decrease in sperm number after treatment of rats with Austroplenckia populnea.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a hexanic extract (HE) made from leaves of A. populnea collected in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, and Nova Lima, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at a range of doses during 7 and 14 days, on the male reproductive system of rats. The treatment did not affect the body weight, nor absolute organ weight. The serum testosterone levels, testicular sperm head counts, daily sperm production, and sperm morphology did not differ from that of the control groups. The spermatogenesis and the morphometric parameters of cauda epididymidis were not affected by the treatment. Cauda epididymis sperm number was significantly reduced in the group that received HE of Nova Lima, 1 g/kg/day, during 14 days, from the control group.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and toxic potential of extracts and triterpenes isolated from Maytenus imbricata

The phytochemical study of hexane/ethyl ether (1:1) extract of the roots of M. imbricata, Celastraceae, resulted in the isolation and characterization of six known triterpenes: 11α-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-one, previously isolated from this species besides, 3β,11α-di-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene, 3,7-dioxofriedelane, 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane, tingenone and 6-oxo-tingenol. The chemical structures of these triterpenes were established by spectrometric data (IR, 1H and 13C NMR) and through comparison with literature data. The hexane/ethyl ether (1:1), ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, and 11α-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-one, tingenone and 6-oxo-tingenol, showed antimicrobial properties on in vitro assays. All extracts and triterpenes, except 3β,11α-di-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene, presented toxicity demonstrated by the larvicidal effect test using Artemia salina.

Salvinia auriculata : aquatic bioindicator studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA).

Through instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) the elemental chemical composition of Salvinia auriculata and Ouro Preto city public water was determined. Elements Ce, Th, Cr, Hf, Sb, Sc, Rb, Fe, Zn, Co, Au, La and Br were quantified. High chromium concentration was determined in this plant. But, chromium was determined only in low concentrations in the water. The results indicate the great capacity of this plant to absorb and accumulate inorganic elements.

The Anti-Oxidant Properties of Isothiocyanates: A Review

Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and watercress, have been studied extensively aiming to evaluate their chemopreventive properties. Some of them have already been established using animal models. The ITCs induce Phase II enzymes related to detoxification processes of chemical carcinogens to prevent the start of carcinogenesis. They also exhibit antitumor activity at post-initiation phase, suggesting their additional role(s) in cancer prevention. Sulforaphane is the most extensively studied isothiocyanate, focused in its anti-tumoral activity and it is mainly found in great amounts in broccoli and other cruciferous. In a dose dependent manner, ITCs inhibit the cell viability of human cervical cancer cells, human pancreatic cancer cells, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, human ovarian cancer cells, and have antiinflammatory properties in the treatment of human T-cell leukemia cells. This protective effect may be due to improved antioxidant status. Although the health effects of diet in humans are generally considered promising, there are definite challenges and limitations of the current data in better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for this effect, together with the possible interactions between different dietary constituents. The survey of relevant patents on the use of isothiocyanates such as sulforaphane for cancer and cardiovascular diseases treatments is also included in this review.

Chemical composition of the essential oil from Microlicia graveolens growing wild in Minas Gerais

The chemical composition of the essential oil of the aerial parts of Microlicia graveolens DC., Melastomataceae, growing wild in the mountains of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was investigated for the first time. A pale orange to colourless oil was obtained in a yield of 4.8%. The oil was analyzed by GC-MS. The main components were (+)-trans-pinocarvyl acetate (78.9%), (-)-trans-pinocarvyl acetate (5.5%) and β-pinene (3.8%).

Estudo fitoquímico do decocto das folhas de Maytenus truncata Reissek e avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva, antiedematogênica e antiulcerogênica de extratos do decocto

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE DECOCT FROM THE LEAVES OF Maytenus truncata Reissek AND THE EVALUATION OF THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE, ANTIEDEMATOGENIC AND ANTIULCEROGENIC ACTIVITIES OF THE DECOCT EXTRACTS. The present paper describes the phytochemical investigation and biological activities of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of leaf decocts of M. truncata Reiss (Celastraceae). Our studies afforded two flavonoid glycosides, quercetin-3-Orhamnopyranosyl-O-glucopyranosyl-O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-galactopyranoside (1) and kampferol-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-Oglucopyranosyl-O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-galactopyranoside (2) from the methanolic extract and dulcitol (3) from the ethyl acetate extract. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts exhibited considerable antiulcerogenic and analgesic activities. The results of the phytochemical studies suggest that the healing activity of methanol extracts can be related to the presence of glycosyl flavonoids.

Anti-trypanosomal activity of pentacyclic triterpenes isolated from Austroplenckia populnea (Celastraceae)

Four pentacyclic triterpenes isolated from Austroplenckia populnea and four compounds of known anti T. cruzi or anti-malarial activity were tested. Of those triterpenes tested 20alpha-hydroxy-tingenone showed high activity, epikatonic acid was less active, while populnilic and populninic acids were inactive against the trypanosome of the subgenus Schizotrypanum tested. Benzonidazole, nifurtimox, ketoconazole and primaquine presented a remarkable dose-dependent inhibitory effect reaching practically to a total growth inhibition of the parasite at the end of incubation time. The trypanosome tested appear to be a suitable model for preliminary screen for anti T. (S.) cruzi compounds.

Salacia crassifolia (Celastraceae): CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

3-oxofriedelane, 3β-hydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-28-hydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane, 28,29-dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one, 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid, 3β-hydroxy-olean-9(11):12-diene and the mixture of α-amirin and β-amirin. β-sitosterol, the polymer gutta-percha, squalene and eicosanoic acid were also isolated. The chemical structures of these constituents were established by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. Crude extracts and the triterpenes were tested against Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis and no activity was observed under the in vitro assay conditions. The hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol crude extracts, and the constituent 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid and 28,29-dihydroxyfriedelan-3-one showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus sanguinis and Candida albicans.

Pentacyclic triterpenes from branches of Maytenus robusta and in vitro cytotoxic property against 4T1 cancer cells

Dois novos friedelanos, 1 e 2, e cinco triterpenos pentaciclicos conhecidos foram isolados dos galhos de Maytenus robusta. Suas estruturas quimicas foram identificadas como 3,16-dioxo-29hidroxifriedelano (1), 3-oxo-16b,29-di-hidroxifriedelano (2), 3-oxofriedelano (3), 3b-friedelinol (4), 3,16-dioxofriedelano (5), 3-oxo-29-hidroxifriedelano (6) e 3,16-dioxo-12a-hidroxifriedelano (7). A estrutura e estereoquimica dos triterpenos 1 e 2 foram estabelecidas por infravermelho (IR), ressonância magnetica nuclear (NMR) 1D/2D, espectrometria de massas de alta resolucao com ionizacao quimica a pressao atmosferica (HR-APCIMS) e difracao de raios X de po. A atividade citotoxica in vitro dos triterpenos 1 a 6 foi avaliada frente a celulas de câncer de mama murino. Os triterpenos 1 e 2 apresentaram atividade citotoxica contra celulas 4T1 em baixa concentracao. Two new friedelane-type compounds 1 and 2 and five known pentacyclic triterpenes were isolated from branches of Maytenus robusta. Their structures were identified as 3,16-dioxo29-hydroxyfriedelane (1), 3-oxo-16b,29-dihydroxyfriedelane (2), 3-oxofriedelane (3), 3b-friedelinol (4), 3,16-dioxofriedelane (5), 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane (6), and 3,16-dioxo12a-hydroxyfriedelane (7). The structures and the stereochemistry of triterpenes 1 and 2 were established through infrared (IR), 1D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HR-APCIMS) spectral data and powder X-ray diffraction. The in vitro cytotoxic property of triterpenes 1 to 6 on 4T1 murine breast cancer cells was evaluated. The triterpenes 1 and 2 showed cytotoxic activity against 4T1 cells at a lower concentration.

A new friedelane triterpenoid from the branches of Maytenus gonoclada (Celastraceae)

A new friedelane type triterpene, 3,16-dioxo-12α-hydroxyfriedelane was isolated from the chloroform extract of branches of Maytenus gonoclada Martius (Celastraceae) together with nine known compounds: 3, 11-dioxofriedelane, 3, 16-dioxofriedelane, 3, 12-dioxofriedelane, 3-oxo-12α,29-dihydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxofriedelane (friedelin), 3β-hydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-12α-hydroxyfriedelane and 3β-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene (lupeol) and a mixture of long chain hydrocarbons. The structure and stereochemistry of the new friedelane triterpene were established from the 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra including two-dimensional experiments (HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and high resolution mass spectrometry.