In recent years, technological development in analytical instrumentation has progressed vigorously, which has allowed the evolution of analytical techniques that play an indispensable role within society, highlighting mass spectrometry. Parallel to the technological advance of this technique, the development of new ionization methods that are simpler, faster, and allow direct analysis without the need for prior treatment or sample processing is underway. The methods of ambient ionization derived from paper spray have been developing rapidly in current days, mainly in the forensic field, due to the chemical modifications made in the paper substrate and the introduction of new types of organic materials that function as a probe/substrate to collect, store, and ionize the sample, then enabling more efficient and selective analyzes. This review highlights direct analyzes by applying paper spray ionization in the forensic field and some variations of this technique, including Thread Spray Ionization (TSI) when a fabric thread is used; Touch Spray Ionization (TSI), which uses materials such as metallic needles, medical swabs, and wooden sticks; Fiber Spray Ionization (FSI), which applies polymeric fibers as substrates.

Abstract Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are the causative agents of granulomatous encephalitis and keratitis, severe human infections. Bioactive compounds from plants are recognized as an alternative source for the development of new drugs. The Amaryllidaceae is a botanical family able to synthesize a very specific and consistent group of biologically active isoquinoline-like alkaloids. The alkaloidal fractions from the Brazilian species Hippeastrum canastrense, H. diniz-cruziae, H. puniceum, and Crinum x amabile, along with the alkaloid lycorine, were investigated against Acanthamoeba castellanii. The in vitro assays were performed with distinct concentrations of lycorine and alkaloidal fractions, while the cell viability was evaluated by the MTT method upon MDCK cells. Chlorhexidine 0.02% was used as the positive control. The effect of alkaloid fractions was concentration dependent, and 2000 μg mL-1 of H. canastrense and H. diniz-cruziae provided a 100% inhibition. At concentrations of 250, 500, and 1000 μg mL-1, the H. diniz-cruziae alkaloidal fraction showed the lowest cytotoxic effect (5%-7%) and remarkable anti-amoebic activity, demonstrating values of IC50 285.61 μg mL-1, low cytotoxicity (5%-7%), and selectivity index (7.0). Taken together, the results are indicative of the great potential that the alkaloids from H. diniz-cruziae have as new candidates for anti-amoebicidal compounds.

Hippeastrum puniceum is a species that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. A particular characteristic of this family is the consistent and very specific presence of isoquinoline alkaloids, which have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, among others. In the present work, fifteen alkaloids were identified from the bulbs of Hippeastrum puniceum (Lam.) Kuntz using a GC-MS approach. The alkaloids 9-O-demethyllycoramine, 9-demethyl-2α-hydroxyhomolycorine, lycorine and tazettine were isolated through chromatographic techniques. The typical Amaryllidaceae alkaloids lycorine and tazettine, along with the crude and ethyl acetate extract from bulbs of the species were evaluated for their inhibitory potential on α-amylase, α-glucosidase, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase activity. Although no significant inhibition activity was observed against α-amylase, α-glucosidase and tyrosinase from the tested samples, the crude and ethyl acetate extracts showed remarkable acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The biological activity results that correlated to the alkaloid chemical profile by GC-MS are discussed herein. Therefore, this study contributed to the knowledge of the chemical and biological properties of Hippeastrum puniceum (Lam.) and can subsidize future studies of this species.

This study shows that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be used as supporting tools for the evaluation of the quality of antiparasitics. In addition, an analytical methodology was developed and validated to quantify simultaneously thiabendazole (TB), febantel (FB), toltrazuril (TZ), and fluazuron (FZ) in bulk and in their veterinary pharmaceutical formulations using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). In order to investigate stability, pharmaceuticals were submitted to degradation processes under different conditions, such as recommended by the International Conference on Harmonization. The chromatographic conditions were optimized and the validation parameters, such as selectivity, linearity, detection limit, quantification limit, precision, accuracy, and robustness showed results within acceptable standards. All analytes were stable in the stability assays in acid and basic media and thermal conditions, except in the oxidation process, which presented two degradation peaks. Physicochemical characterization by TGA, FTIR, and SEM of raw materials of TB, FB, TZ, and FZ provided information about the authenticity of the analytes, proving the wide applicability of the instrumental techniques. The RP-HPLC proposed method was found to be accurate, precise, and reproducible and can in addition be used for routine quality control analysis.

ABSTRACT In this work, four secondary metabolites were isolated from leaves of Pachystroma longifolium (Euphorbiaceae): loliolide, gallic acid, methyl protocatechuate and ethyl gallate. Their structures were established by physical and spectroscopic methods. The extracts of P. longifolium and the purified compounds were tested as cathepsins inhibitors and the extracts were active.

Três antraquinonas conhecidas (1,7-diidroxi-3-metil-9,10-antraquinona, 1,6-diidroxi-3-metil-9,10-antraquinona e 1-hidroxi-3-metil-9,10-antraquinona), uma nova antraquinona (1,7-diidroxi-3-hidroximetil-9,10-antraquinona), e dois novos derivados hexaidroantraquinônicos, dendrióis E e F, foram isolados da cultura do fungo endofítico Phoma sorghina, associado a Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae). Suas estruturas foram identificadas com base em dados espectroscópicos, principalmente RMN 1D e 2D.

Three known anthraquinones (1,7-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone, 1,6-dihydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone and 1-hydroxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone), one new anthraquinone (1,7-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone), and two new hexahydroanthraquinone derivatives, dendryols E and F, were isolated from the culture of the endophytic fungus Phoma sorghina, found in association with Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae). Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data, mainly 1D and 2D NMR.