ABSTRACT Plants are considered among the main sources of biologically active chemicals. The species Solidago chilensis Meyen, Asteraceae, is native to the southern parts of South America, where the aerial parts of the plant are commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. However, the effects of S. chilensis on human cancer cells remain to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effects of the hydroalcoholic and dichloromethane extracts of S. chilensis, as well as their chemical constituents quercitrin and solidagenone against the five human tumor cell lines in vitro. The dichloromethane extract showed a promisor antiproliferative effects in vitro, especially against glioma cell line. Besides, the hydroalcoholic extract and quercitrin were inactive. The diterpene solidagenone showed highly potent antiproliferative effects against breast (MCF-7), kidney (786-0), and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells (total growth inhibition: TGI < 6.25 µg/ml). Solidagenone meets the theoretical physico-chemical criteria for bioavailability of drugs, according to the "Rule of Five" and, by theorical studies, the observed biological effects were probably related to the interaction of the molecule with nuclear receptors and as an enzymatic inhibitor. This study contributes to chemical study and to the identification of antiproliferative molecules in S. chilensis.

The secondary metabolites of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus acuminatus Vahl (Phyllanthaceae) and the biological activity of one of them were characterized in this study. This chemical investigation led to isolation of two lignans, luclaricin (1), a new arylnaphtalene-typelignan, and justicidin B (2). The structures of isolated compounds were determined based on 1D and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS and IR. The cytotoxic activity of justicidin B was assessed against tumor cell lines (MCF-7, U251, NCI-ADR/RES, NCI-H460, OVCAR-3, HT29 and K562) and a non-tumor cell line (HaCat) using sulforhodamine B assay. Justicidin B showed strong cytotoxic activity against the tumor cell lines HT29, K562 and U251 with GI50 values of 2.28, 3.29 and 5.76 mol L-1, respectively.

Abstract Natural products are a major source of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The species Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm, Zingiberaceae, is widely distributed in Brazil where it is known as “colônia”. The leaves are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension and dyspepsia, however, the effects of A. zerumbet extracts and isolated substances on human cancer cells remain to be elucidated. This study was designed to identify the chemical constituents of hydroalcoholic and dichloromethane extracts from A. zerumbet leaves and to investigate their in vitro antiproliferative activity. The isolated phytochemicals included kaempferol, dihydro-5,6-dehydrokavain, 5,6-dehydrokavain, and pinostrobin. The hydroalcoholic extract inhibited cellular proliferation only at high concentrations, while the dichloromethane extract showed a moderate antiproliferative effect against leukemia and lung tumor cell lines. 5,6-Dehydrokavain showed potent cytostatic activity against glioblastoma cells and a moderate effect on all other tumor cell lines. Pinostrobin showed potent activity against leukemia and breast tumor cell lines and moderate cytostatic effect against ovarian cell. Furthermore, this is the first report on the isolation of kaempferol and pinostrobin from A. zerumbet leaves. Moreover, the purification process described in this study was effective. These results suggest that A. zerumbet leaves are a promising source of anticancer compounds.

Pterodon pubescens Benth., popularly known as "sucupira", is traditionally used as pain healing agent for many inflammatory diseases. The present study evaluated the in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of sucupira's fruit dicloromethane extract (Pp) compared to the aqueous extract (Ppa) traditionally used in folk medicine. Extracts' chemical characterization was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectra (GC-MS) detection. The standardized extracts were evaluated using antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory experimental models with mice. The results reported herein allowed establishing a relationship between the popular use of Pterodon pubescens fruit for pain relief and the activity of two major compounds isolated from this species which demonstrated antinociceptive activity. The experimental models corroborate activity of aqueous extract antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity, with lower potency compared to dichloromethane extract. Nevertheless the resulting data corroborates sucupira's folk use for pain relief.

ABSTRACT The cultivation of sugarcane hybrids (X Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important revenue source for the Brazilian economy. Herein it is reported the evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of mid-polarity sugarcane extracts against human cancer cell lines, as well as the isolation of steroids sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol, phenolic acids p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxycinnamic, vanillic and ferulic acid, terpenoids α-tocopherol and β-carotene and a novel substance in sugarcane, the flavonoid aglycone tricin (5,7,4-trihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyflavone). The presence of large amounts of phenolic acids and the flavonoid tricin may explain the cytostatic activity observed for the mid-polarity crude extract and filtrates.

A series of β-carboline derivatives with amino or guanidinium were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for antiproliferative activities against nine human cancer cell lines. The compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) β-carboline (24.9 µg mL-1) and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) β-carboline (26.9 µg mL-1) were the most active against M. Tuberculosis (MTB). Compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) β-carboline and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline, which had the same substituted groups, inhibited the growth of all human tumor cell lines with growth inhibitory activity (GI50) values from 1.37 to 9.20 mmol L-1. Also in this series, compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline demonstrated significant activity against NCI/ADR cells. Among compounds with a terminal guanidine group, compounds 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethyl)guanidine β-carboline (27.8 µg mL-1) and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethyl)guanidine β-carboline (37.4 µg mL-1) demonstrated the greatest activity against MTB. Additionally, compounds 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethyl)guanidine β-carboline (GI50 = 0.45 mmol L-1) effectively inhibited growth and was highly selective against NCI/ADR. The in silico study revealed that 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) β-carboline, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(ethylamine) β-carboline, 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline and 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-carboxamide(propylamine) β-carboline compounds follow the rules established by Lipinski, suggesting that this compound has no problems with oral bioavailability.

The essential oil of roots of Jatropha ribifolia, obtained by hydrodistillation, was characterized in terms of its chemical composition by chromatographic method with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled to electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analyses and identification pointed by mass fragmentation pattern and retention index revealed the presence of 49 compounds, representing 91.4% of the total oil, with 39.5% of monoterpenes, 43.0% of sesquiterpenes and 8.5% of phenylpropanoids. The major compounds of the oil were β-pinene (9.2%), isoeugenol methyl ether (8.5%), vatirenene (8.4%), α-gurjunene (7.0%), endo-8-hydroxy-cycloisolongifolene (6.6%), α-pinene (6.4%) and p-menth-1-en-8-ol (5.2%). The fractionation by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) allowed obtaining five fractions (F1-F5) with different compound contents from the original oil. Some essential oil components showed a significant increase in their levels after fractionation, as borneol (17.9%, F1), 3-thujopsanone (19.1%, F4), isoeugenol methylether (21.2%, F2), 8-oxo-9H-cycloisolongifolene (21.4%, F4), 8-cis-5(1H)-azulenone,2,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene) (23.1%, F4) e endo-8-hydroxy-cycloisolongifolene (38.6%, F2). These fractions and oil were tested in vitro against nine human cancer cell lines by sulforhodamine B assay. The Jatropha oil was more effective in inhibiting the growth of cells NCI-H460 (drug resistant ovarian; GI50 6.2 µg mL–1) and OVCAR-3 (ovarian; GI508.0 µg mL–1). The cancer cells line PC-3 (prostate) was more sensitive to the effects of the fractions showing significant values of GI50 such as for fraction F1, F2 and F4 (< 0.25 µg mL–1). In general the antiproliferative activity of the fractions was more pronounced than that of crude oil.

O estudo fitoquímico das raízes de Dahlstedtia glaziovii (Fabaceae) forneceu um novo dibenzoilmetano (glaziovione), juntamente com dezoito compostos conhecidos. Suas estruturas foram determinadas através de métodos espectroscópicos de ressonância magnética nuclear (NMR) 1D e 2D (correlação heteronuclear única quântica, HSQC, e correlação heteronuclear de múltipla ligação, HMBC) e espectrometria de massas de alta resolução (HRMS). A atividade antiproliferativa foi investigada para os extratos, para os dibenzoilmetanos 2'-metóxi-8-(α-α-dimetilalil)-furano-[4",5":3',4']-dibenzoilmetano, 3,4-metilenodioxi-2'-metóxi-8-(α-α-dimetilalil)-furano-[4",5":3',4']-dibenzoilmetano e pongamol, e para as flavonas lanceolatina B, karanjina, pongapina e 3',4'-metilenodioxi-2",2"-dimetilpirano-[5",6":8,7]-flavona. Os dibenzoilmetanos foram mais ativos do que as flavonas. A atividade antimicrobiana foi investigada para os extratos, sendo que estes não se apresentaram ativos.

A phytochemical study of roots of Dahlstedtia glaziovii (Fabaceae) furnished a new dibenzoylmethane (glaziovione), along with eighteen known compounds. Their structures were determined through 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (heteronuclear single quantum coherence, HSQC, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, HMBC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) spectral analyses. The antiproliferative activity was investigated for the crude extracts, the dibenzoylmethanes 2'-methoxy-8-(α-α-dimethylallyl)-furano-[4",5":3',4']-dibenzoylmethane, 3,4-methylenedioxy-2'-methoxy-8-(α-α-dimethylallyl)-furano-[4",5":3',4']-dibenzoylmethane and pongamol, and the flavones lanceolatin B, karanjin, pongapin and 3',4'-methylenedioxy-2",2"-dimethylpyrano-[5",6":8,7]-flavone. The dibenzoylmethanes were more active than the flavones.The extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects, but none was shown to be active.

The chemical study of the orchid Maxillaria picta resulted in the isolation of the bioactive stilbenes phoyunbene B and phoyunbene C, in addition to four phenolic acids, one xanthone, steroidal compounds and two triterpenes. Crude extract, fractions, subfractions and the isolated xanthone were evaluated for anticancer activity against human tumor cell lines and against evolutionary forms of T. cruzi and L. amazonensis. The structures of the compounds were determined by GC-MS, and ¹H NMR, 13C NMR spectral methods as well as bidimensional techniques.

Natural products are regarded as major and important sources of molecules used in chemotherapy. Hypericum brasiliense Choisy, Hypericaceae, is an annual bush, native in the southern and southeastern Brazil. This species has been used in Brazilian folk medicine the anti-spasmodic and for the treatment of infectious diseases. H. brasiliense is chemically composed by flavonoids and xanthones. In addition, this species contain phloroglucinols, a class of substances with citotoxity effects against tumor cells lines. On the present study, hexanic extract and derivatives phloroglucinols obtained from H. brasiliense were tested against some human tumor cell lines. Hexanic extract presented a potent antiproliferative activity, with selective action on OVCAR-03 (ovarian), NCIADR/ RES (ovarian resistant) and UACC-62 (melanoma) tumor cell lines. Uliginosin B was the most active derivative phloroglucinol, presenting selectivity against NCI-ADR/ RES ( resistant ovarian) and OVCAR-03 (ovarian) tumor cell lines. Analysis of the results suggests that phloroglucinol derivatives with isoprenyl unit closed in the 9' position increases antiproliferative activity. Furthermore, this study contributes to identification of anti-tumor molecules and valorization of Hypericum brasiliense.

Several species of Croton have been described with biological activities, mainly due to diterpenes, alkaloids and/or other secondary metabolites. These activities account for the traditional use of Croton species to treat certain diseases in South America, Asia and Western Africa. The crude methanol extracts obtained from leaves and steam bark of Croton dichrous Müll. Arg., C. erythroxyloides Baill., C. myrianthus Müll. Arg. and C. splendidus Mart. ex Colla were tested for antiproliferative activity against ten human cancer cell lines. Chemical analyses of all extracts were carried out by GC/MS and HPLC/MS/MS. The leaf extract obtained from C. erythroxyloides showed potent activity against PC-3 (prostate) and OVCAR-3 (ovary) cell lines. Lupeol is suggested to be involved in such activity. Tiliroside, an acyl-glycosilated flavonoid ubiquitous in all tested extracts, seems to play an important role in the observed moderate activity of most extracts against the leukemia K562 cell lineage.

The cytotoxicity of a hexanic fraction produced from the ethanolic crude extract, obtained from Jatropha ribifolia (Pohl) Baill, Euphorbiaceae, roots was evaluated against ten human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, NCI-ADR/RES, OVCAR-3, PC-3, HT-29, NCI-H460,786-O, UACC-62, K-562, U251) compared with doxorrubicine as positive control. Compounds jatrophone and cyperenoic acid were isolated from the hexanic extract and characterized by spectroscopic techniques (NMR of ¹H, 13C and IR). The in vitro antiproliferative activity of jatrophone showed selectivity in a concentration dependent way with Total Inhibition growth of: glioma 0.57 µg mL-1 (U251), breast cancer 9.2 µg mL-1 (MCF-7), adriamycin-resistant ovarian cancer 0.96 µg mL-1 (NCI-ADR/RES), kidney 4.2 µg mL-1 (786-0), prostate cancer 8.4 µg mL-1 (PC-3), colon cancer 16.1 µg mL-1 (HT29) and leukemia 0.21 µg mL-1 (K-562).

As sementes de Pterodon pubescens Benth. (Pp), disponíveis comercialmente no Brasil, são utilizadas na medicina popular em preparações anti-inflamatórias, analgésicas e anti-reumáticas. O presente estudo demonstrou as propriedades antinociceptivas da mistura de isômeros 6α-hidroxi-7β-acetoxi-vouacapano-17β-oato de metila e 6α-acetoxi-7β-hidroxi-vouacapano-17β-oato de metila (C1) isolada de Pp, empregando modelos experimentais diferentes. Um estudo de estabilidade foi realizado para investigar a relação da microencapsulação por "spray-drying" na manutenção do efeito antinociceptivo. Para isso, amostras de C1 e extrato de Pp foram monitorados no estudo de estabilidade acelerada, avaliando tanto amostras microencapsuladas como não microencapsuladas. Foi observado que a amostra C1 possui atividade antinociceptiva, revelada pelos ensaios das contorções abdominais e de formalina; foi observada também atividade significativa antialodínica, mas não efeito anti-hiperalgésico. A microencapsulação manteve a atividade e integridade de C1 e do extrato bruto de Pp, demonstrando que a microencapsulação por "spray drying" é uma alternativa útil para aumentar o tempo de prateleira.

Pterodon pubescens Benth. (Pp) seeds, commercially available in Brazil, are used in folk medicine in anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-rheumatic preparations. The present study demonstrated the antinociceptive properties of isomers 6α-hydroxy-7β-acetoxy-vouacapan-17β-oate methyl ester and 6α-acetoxy-7β-hydroxy-vouacapan-17β-oate methyl ester (C1), isolated from (Pp), employing different experimental models. A stability study was performed to investigate the relationship of microencapsulation by spray-drying on the maintenance of antinociceptive action. Therefore, C1 and Pp extract samples were monitored in accelerated stability study, evaluating both microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated samples. It was observed that sample C1 possess antinociceptive activity revealed by writhing and formalin tests; C1 showed significantly anti-allodynic, but not antihyperalgesic effect; the microencapsulation maintained the activity and integrity of both, sample C1 and Pp crude extract; microencapsulation by spray drying is a useful alternative to increase shelf life.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de duas espécies amazônicas em doenças relacionadas aos processos de oxidação, determinou-se a capacidade antioxidante (método Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), o teor de polifenóis totais (método Folin-Ciocalteu - PT), bem como os efeitos farmacológicos in vitro (efeito antiproliferativo) e in vivo (antinociceptivo, antiinflamatório, antiulcerogênico) dos extratos hidroalcoólicos (65:35; v/v; etanol:água) das folhas de Byrsonima crassifolia (BC) e Inga edulis (IE). Os extratos de BC e IE apresentaram elevada capacidade antioxidante (1.422 e 694 µmol de Trolox Equivalente g-1 de folha seca - FS, respectivamente) e um valor relativamente alto de PT (35,93 e 24,50 mg Equivalente ácido gálico g-1 FS, respectivamente). Essa atividade antioxidante não teve relação direta com o teor de compostos fenólicos dos extratos, sugerindo a contribuição de outros grupos químicos nessa atividade. Em cultura de células tumorais humanas (nove linhagens), os extratos não apresentaram atividade antiproliferativa significante, com efeito citotóxico somente na concentração mais elevada. Em modelo de nocicepção induzida pelo calor (placa quente), o extrato de IE apresentou efeito antinociceptivo (P < 0,05) após 30 (250 e 500 mg kg-1) e 60 min (125 e 500 mg kg-1) de sua administração oral. Nos modelos de inflamação houve somente redução do edema para IE na concentração de 500 mg kg-1. Os extratos das duas espécies reduziram as lesões ulcerativas produzidas por etanol em até 84% (P < 0,05), sugerindo uma possível ligação com a atividade antioxidante observada e indicando a necessidade de estudos para a elucidação do mecanismo de ação envolvido.

In order to evaluate the effect of two Amazonian species on chronic diseases linked with the oxidative processes, we performed antioxidant capacity analyses (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - ORAC and Folin-Ciocalteu - PT assays) and pharmacological effects in vitro (antiproliferative effect) and in vivo (antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, antiulcerogenic effects) for ethanolic extracts (65:35; v/v; ethanol:water) from Byrsonima crassifolia (BC) and Inga edulis (IE) leaves. Both BC and IE extracts showed high ORAC values (1,422 and 694 mmol of Trolox equivalent/g of dry leaf, respectively) and high PT contents (35.93 and 24.50 mg gallic acid equivalent g-1 dry leaf, respectively). The ORAC values had no correlation with PT, suggesting the presence of other chemical groups in the antioxidant activity value. The two extracts did not present significant antiproliferative activity on nine lines of human tumor cells, and cytotoxic effect was detected only at the highest concentration. The antinociceptive effect was investigated using the hot plate test, and IE extract presented a longer latency (P < 0.05) 30 and 60 min after oral administration. The antiinflammatory activity was only observed at the highest concentration, suggesting that the antinociceptive effect observed was not due to the antiinflammatory effect. The extracts of both species reduced the ulcerative lesions produced by ethanol up to 84% (P < 0.05), suggesting a relation with the antioxidant capacity. More studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of action involved on antiulcerative effects.

A investigação fitoquímica dos frutos maduros de Solanum caavurana Vell. (Solanaceae) forneceu um novo alcaloide esteroidal do tipo espirosolano, caavuranamida, juntamente com os alcaloides 4-tomatiden-3-ona e 5α-tomatidan-3-ona. Suas estruturas foram elucidadas através de métodos espectroscópicos. As atividades antiproliferativa e antimicrobiana para o extrato etanólico e subfrações provenientes de partição e de extração ácido-base foram investigadas. A caavuranamida apresentou atividade antibacteriana similar ao controle positivo cloranfenicol contra Rhodococcus equi.

Phytochemical investigation of the ripe fruits of Solanum caavurana Vell. (Solanaceae) afforded a novel steroidal alkaloid with spirosolane-type skeleton, named as caavuranamide, together with the alkaloids 4-tomatiden-3-one and 5α-tomatidan-3-one. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities for the ethanolic extract, sub-fractions obtained from partition and acid-base treatment were also evaluated. Caavuranamide showed antibacterial activity similar to the chloramphenicol positive control against Rhodococcus equi.