Suzan Kelly Vilela Bertolucci

Aspectos morfofisiológicos e conteúdo de óleo essencial de plantas de alfazema-do-Brasil em função de níveis de sombreamento

Changes in the anatomical and physiologic characteristics and in the production of essential oil of medicinal plants under influence of different radiation conditions have been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to characterize the variation in the anatomical and physiologic characteristics, and in the essential oil content of the Brazilian-lavender (Aloysia gratissima [Gilles & Hook.] Tronc., verbenaceae), grown in different shading levels, characterized by the reduction of 0; 40, and 80% of the incident solar radiation. For growth analyses we used a completely randomized design (CRD), with three levels of light and five replicates of three plants. The analyses of chlorophyll content and leaf anatomy were performed in CRD, with three replicates of three plants, while the analyses of essential oil content was carried out in CRD, with three replicates of five plants for each light level. The results showed that 40% of shading was the best condition for plant growth. Dry matter from different organs of the plant did not differ in the treatments 40% of shading (total dry matter 201 g) and at full sunlight (148 g), both significantly higher than 80% of shading (68.6 g). Plants cultivated in full sunlight showed leaves with adaxial epidermic tissue, palisade, and spongy parenchyma and limb significantly thicker than other treatments; however plants grew at 80% shading showed leaves with abaxial epidermic tissue significantly thicker. Shadowing did not significantly interfere with the essential oil content, which ranged from 2.1 to 2.2%.; Nevertheless, the essential oil yield was significantly higher in plants grew in full sunlight (0.73 g plant-1) and 40% shading (0.88), than on those grew at 80% shading (0.26). There was significant increase of chlorophyll a and b concentration in function of the decrease in light intensity (20.7 mg total chlorophyll per g fresh matter at full sunlight; and 23.7 and 32.0 with 40% and 80% shading respectively), as well as significant reduction in ratio a/b (3.13 at full sunlight and 2.94 and 2.69 at 40% and 80% shading respectively).

Yield and composition of essential oil of lemongrass in different drying and fragmentation conditions

In this study the drying and fragmentation conditions of lemongrass leaves were determined, to increase the essential oil yield. Four replications of six treatments were studied with 2 drying methodologies (oven-drying at 40oC and room temperature using moisture dryer) and 3 fragmentation sizes (powder obtained in mill, 1 cm and 20 cm fragments). The essential oil was extracted in Clevengers modified apparatus during 2 hours. The higher essential oil yield and citral content was obtained with the leaves dried under room temperature using moisture dryer, with no significant differences in the fragmentation sizes.

Nutrição mineral, crescimento e teor de óleo essencial da menta em solução nutritiva sob diferentes concentrações de fósforo e épocas de coleta

The effect of P concentrations and harvest period upon the growth, mineral nutrition and essential oil content of mint (Mentha piperita L.) was evaluated. The experimental design was of randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme, in a 2x5 factorial with four replications, being two harvest periods (65 and 95 days of cultivation (DC)) and five concentrations of P in the nutrient solution (6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 mg L-1) evaluated. The leaves dry weight (MSF), stems dry weight (MRS), roots dry weight (MSR), total dry weight (MST), leaf:stem ratio (F:C) and aerial part:root ratio (PA:R) were evaluated. The essential oil content in fresh leaves was determined. The critical levels and nutrient accumulation in leaves and stems were estimated through leaves and stems chemical analysis. The level of P increased the leaf dry matter production 65 DC. At 95 DC, the P concentration in the nutrient solution, did significantly increase plant growth and essential oil content, the maximum essential oil content being (2.192 dag kg-1) obtained with 19.48 mg L-1 of P. The higher P concentration in nutrient solution (24 and 30 mg L-1), increased the fresh and dry matter of the aerial portion of the plants, but, decreased the essential oil content. Due to the dilution effect, the increase of fresh and dry matter production did not result in an increase in the oil yield per plant. The critical levels of nutrients in the leaves corresponding to the maximum essential oil content at 95 DC in g kg-1 were: N=37,2; P=3,9; K=21,2; Ca=9,3; Mg=3,8; S=3,0 and, in mg kg-1: B=35; Cu=8; Fe=323; Mn=145 and Zn=22. The nutrients requested at 95 DC related to the maximum essential oil content was: N>K>Ca>P>Mg>S>Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu.

Comprimento da estaca e tipo de substrato na propagação vegetativa de atroveran

The vegetative propagation of medicinal species is in increasing agronomic interest because it is the starting point and a basic tool for any cultivation in commercial scale. The objective of this work was to determine the best shoot cutting length and the best substrate for vegetative propagation of Ocimum selloi. Cuttings were placed in greenhouse conditions under intermittent mist. Two cutting sizes (10 and 20cm) and three substrate types (washed sand, carbonized rice hulls and commercial substrate Plantmax®) were tested. The experiment was in blocks randomly distributed in four replications and five cuttings for parcel. After thirty five days the percentage of rooting, the length of the bigger root (cm) and the leaf and root dry weight (mg) were analysed. The results indicated that the vegetative propagation of Ocimum selloi by cuttings is viable, once its mean rooting was over 70%. It was not observed significative interaction within the adopted treatments. The cuttings with 20cm length presented larger leaf and root dry weight but the percentage of rooting and the length of the bigger root was not affected by the cutting lenght. The substrate types did not present effect on the development of the cuttings. The production of Ocimum selloi seedlings is recommended with 20cm length cuttings using any substrate tested.

Rendimento de óleo essencial e caracterização organoléptica de folhas de assa-peixe submetidas a diferentes métodos de secagem

O assa-peixe (Vernonia polyanthes) e muito utilizado na medicina popular em casos de contusoes, hemorroidas, infeccoes do utero e bronquite. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o rendimento de oleo essencial e caracterizar organolepticamente folhas de assa-peixe submetidas a diferentes metodos de secagem. Entre os metodos de secagem avaliados, a secagem natural a sombra, em secador solar e mista (sol e sombra) foram os metodos que apresentaram maiores teores de oleo. O rendimento de materia seca de folhas de assa-peixe, apos os diferentes metodos de secagem, encontrou-se ao redor de 27,7 a 30,1%. Em todos os metodos de secagem, a cor predominante da face adaxial das folhas de assa-peixe conservou-se verde-escura e da face abaxial verde-clara. No tocante ao odor, observou-se que a secagem a sombra conservou melhor o aroma caracteristico das folhas de V. polyanthes.

Tipos e doses de adubação orgânica no crescimento, no rendimento e na composição química do óleo essencial de elixir paregórico

The organic fertilization provides nutrients for the plants, improves the soil physical structure, increases the water retention, reduces the erosion losses and favors the biological control. Ocimum selloi is a native medicinal plant of south and southeast of Brazil where is used popularly as antidiarrhetic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. This research aimed to verify the effect of different doses of two organic fertilizers souces in O. selloi growth, essential oil yield and chemical composition. The experiments were carried out in Lavras, MG, with pots in polyethylene greenhouse with two manuring treatments: Test A - Cattle manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 3kg m-2 cattle manure; 3) Soil + 6kg m-2 cattle manure; 4) Soil + 9kg m-2 cattle manure; 5) Soil + 12kg m-2 cattle manure; Test B - Chicken manure: 1) Soil without manuring (control); 2) Soil + 1.5kg m-2 chicken manure; 3) Soil + 3 kg m-2 chicken manure; 4) Soil + 4.5kg m-2 chicken manure and 5) Soil + 6kg m-2 chicken manure. The influence of cattle and chicken manuring doses was verified on plant height, stem diameter, dry biomass weight, TLA, SLA, LWR, chlorophylls content, leaf thickness, essential oil yield and composition.

Propagacao in vivo e in vitro de Cissus sicyoides, uma planta medicinal

O estudo da propagacao de especies utilizadas na medicina popular tem sido intensificado nos ultimos anos devido ao crescente investimento em pesquisas para a descoberta de novos farmacos e da utilizacao da fitoterapia como um meio alternativo. O objetivo do trabalho foi a propagacao in vivo e in vitro (estabelecimento e multiplicacao) de Cissus sicyoides. Plantas mantidas em casa de vegetacao forneceram estacas com 10 e 20 cm de comprimento, as quais foram tratadas com 0, 80 ou 160 mg/l de AIB, com ou sem sacarose + acido borico, por duas horas. Para o estabelecimento in vitro, apos desinfestacao, segmentos nodais com 10 mm de comprimento foram inoculados em meio de cultura solido (MS), com diferentes concentracoes de cinetina, BAP e ANA. Para a multiplicacao in vitro, segmentos nodais com 10 mm foram inoculados em meio MS, suplementado com diferentes concentracoes de BAP e ANA, e ANA e cinetina. Na propagacao in vivo as estacas com 10 cm de comprimento apresentaram maior eficiencia no enraizamento quando tratadas com 160 mg/l de AIB. In vitro os explantes foram melhor estabelecidos e multiplicados em meio de cultura suplementado com cinetina e ANA, que proporcionaram maior inducao de gemas, crescimento em altura e ausencia de calos na base das plântulas.

In vitro cultivated Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis with determination of the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid contents and profiles

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. and Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) Gmel., commercially known as cats claw, are large woody vines native of the Amazon and Central America rainforests. These Rubiaceae species face nowadays an imminent risk of extinction due to indiscriminate harvesting in the wild as well as to increasing deforestation of their natural habitat. This work describes in vitro cultivation methods for both species with determination, by HPLC, of the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid contents and profiles of the plant material. The results have proved that the methods we developed were able to produce plants with alkaloid profiles and contents similar to the wild and in vivo cultivated species, and with the additional advantage of producing suitable young plants in a shorter period of time. The data showed that the in vitro technique can be a feasible tool for the growth of the species, and may thus be important for their commercialization and for their conservation as a forest resource.

Yield and Composition of the Essential Oil of Ocimum selloi Benth. Cultivated Under Colored Netting

Abstract The objective of the present work was to determine the effects of colored shading on the density of glandular and tectorial trichomes, and on the yield, productivity and composition of the essential oil of Ocimum selloi Benth. Plants were cultivated for 90 days under full sunlight or under ChromatiNet 50% red or blue netting. The highest density of glandular trichomes was observed in plants that had received full sunlight. None of the light treatments ailtered the yield of oil, although productivity was higher in plants grown under full sunlight by virtue of the greater leaf biomass that accumulated under such conditions. The compositions of the oils varied according to the quality of light. Although the qualitative profiles of the oils of plants grown under full sunlight or red shading were similar, that obtained from plants grown under blue shading presented a larger number of constituents. The highest level of methyl chavicol (93.2%), the major component of the oil, was observed in plants grown under full sunlight.

Effects of coloured shade netting on the vegetative development and leaf structure of Ocimum selloi

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of shading on the growth and development of the medicinal plant Ocimum selloi after 90 days. Seedlings were maintained under three different light treatments, namely, full sunlight vs coloured shade treatments provided by red and blue ChromatiNet® 50% coloured netting. After 90 days of cultivation, height, stem diameter, petiole length, total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area ratio (LAR) and leaf weight ratio (LWR) of each plant hare measured. Microscopic examination of leaf sections were conducted in order to determine the leaf blade thicknesses, together with the size and density of the stomata, the number and area of chloroplasts, and chloroplast starch grains present in the palisade parenchyma cells. Although coloured shade-grown plants were taller in comparison with those grown in full sunlight, total dry biomass together with root, stem and leaf tissue biomasses were lower. Plants exhibited phenotypic plasticity, as demonstrated by the different TLA, SLA, LAR and LWR values that were recorded under the various light treatments. Stomatal density and leaf thickness was increased in plants maintained in full sunlight owing to the expansion of the abaxial epidermis and the spongy parenchyma. Chloroplasts were more numerous and larger in plants grown under shading, whilst the accumulation of chloroplastic starch grains was greater in plants grown under red shading or in full sunlight.