Este trabalho descreve o efeito inibitório de rubrofusarina (5,6-diidroxi-8-metoxi-2-metilbenzo[g]cromen-4-ona, 1) sobre a enzima DNA topoisomerase II-α humana. Rubrofusarina mostrou total inibição da enzima topisomerase II-α na concentração de 120 µM. Este resultado é semelhante ao observado com etoposida, utilizada como controle positivo. Para a realização deste teste, rubrofusarina foi isolada de Senna macranthera var. nervosa (Voguel) Irwin & Barnebyem e caracterizada por métodos espectroscópicos, incluindo RMN 2D, do produto natural bem como de seu derivado monoacetilado.

This work describes the inhibitory effect of rubrofusarin (5,6-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-2-methylbenzo[g]cromen-4-one, 1) against human DNA topoisomerase II-α. The results for relaxation assays showed total inhibition of topisomerase II-α by rubrofusarin at 120 µM. This result is comparable to the one observed with etoposide as positive control. For this study, rubrofusarin was isolated from Senna macranthera var. nervosa (Voguel) Irwin & Barnebyem and characterized by spectral data, including 2D NMR, as well as its acetylated derivative.

This paper presents a program emphasizing ethnopharmacological approaches that could allow great success in the study of medicinal plants. The minimum ethnopharmacological research team should consist of a botanist, a chemist and a pharmacologist with each carrying the responsibility for answering in sequential fashion critical questions. The chemical composition and pharmacological properties of the very efficient medicinal plant Croton cajucara were investigated according to ethnopharmacological approaches. The study with this Croton proved to be both efficient and successful. This happy situation was only possible because a multidisciplinary team was involved getting the research done correctly. The ethnopharmacological study involving one other especies Copaifera will be cited.