There are approximately 300 Myrcia DC. species in Brazil. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of some of these species have been described in the literature. The present study aimed to analyze the chemical composition and evaluate the antinociceptive activity of essential oil from fresh Myrcia rostrata DC. leaves. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and chemical analysis was conducted by GC/FID and GC/MS. The acute oral toxicity and the rota rod tests were executed beforehand. The nociceptive tests (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and hot plate) were performed with the oil at doses of 75, 150 or 300 mg kg-1. Of the constituents identified, 95.24% were sesquiterpenes, carotol (17.68%) being the major compound. The essential oil caused no obvious signs of toxicity, nor did it affect the motor coordination of the animals. In conclusion, the animals that received the oil, especially at 300 mg kg-1, demonstrated a lower number of writhes (1.62 versus 27.88±2.75), a decrease in paw-licking time in both phases of the formalin test, and increased latency on the hot plate when compared to the control group.

RESUMO: Martianthus leucocephalus é encontrada no semiárido nordestino e possui potencial farmacológico atribuído à produção de compostos voláteis. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de doses de Cd (15, 30, 45 and 60µmol L-1), Cu (30, 60, 90 and 120µmol L-1) e Zn (150, 300, 450 and 600µmol L-1) no crescimento dessa espécie e na produção de compostos voláteis. Estacas apicais foram transferidas para bandejas plásticas contendo 6,0L de solução nutritiva e, após o enraizamento, foram submetidas aos tratamentos de Cd, Cu e Zn, durante 15 dias. Todos os metais avaliados reduziram a suculência e o crescimento de todas as partes de M. leucocephalus . Este efeito foi acompanhado pelo incremento das concentrações de Cd, Cu e Zn em todos os tecidos das plantas. Também foi observado que o teor de compostos voláteis, produzido por M. leucocephalus, foi aumentado apenas pelo Zn (86%).

ABSTRACT: Martianthus leucocephalus is found in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil and has high pharmacological potential due to the production of volatile compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the Cd (15, 30, 45 and 60µmol L-1), Cu (30, 60, 90 and 120µmol L-1) and Zn (150, 300, 450 and 600µmol L-1) levels on the growth of this species and its volatile compounds production. Apical cuttings were placed in plastic trays containing 6.0L nutrient solution, and after rooting, they were submitted to Cd, Cu and Zn treatments for 15 days. All the metals evaluated reduced the succulence and growth of all parts of M. leucocephalus . This effect was accompanied by the increase of Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in all plant tissues. Volatile compounds content produced by M. leucocephalus was increased only by Zn (86%).

RESUMO: O semiárido brasileiro apresenta grande riqueza de espécies medicinais e aromáticas, com intenso uso na indústria farmacêutica, alimentícia, de cosméticos e de biopesticidas. A espécie Martianthus leucocephalus (Mart. ex Benth.) J. F. B. Pastore é endêmica dessa região. Seu óleo essencial apresenta como composto majoritário o formiato de isobornila, com atividade antimicrobiana frente à Bacilus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans. Devido à grande influência da sazonalidade sobre o crescimento e produção vegetal, sobretudo quando envolve o metabolismo secundário de plantas, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento e a produção de óleo essencial de M. leucocephalus cultivada e colhida em diferentes meses do ano, nas condições edafoclimáticas de Feira de Santana, BA. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), com doze tratamentos, constituídos dos diferentes meses de colheita, com cinco repetições. Mensalmente, foram obtidos os valores médios de temperatura, umidade relativa do ar, precipitação pluviométrica, irradiância e fotoperíodo, através do Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET), quantificando-se também a massa fresca e seca das folhas, flores e caule, a área foliar e o teor de óleo essencial das plantas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de correlação de Spearman e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott. A massa seca total e o teor de óleo aumentaram em função da irradiância e reduziram em função da precipitação pluviométrica e umidade relativa do ar. As maiores médias de massa seca total foram encontradas durante os meses de setembro a janeiro, exceto outubro, e de teor de óleo no mês de março.

ABSTRACT: The semiarid region of Brazil holds a great richness of medicinal and aromatic plants with considerable potential for pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and biopesticide industries. Martianthus leucocephalus (Mart. Ex Benth.) J. F. B. Pastore is endemic to this region, and its essential oils contain a principle compound, isobornyl formate, which demonstrates antimicrobial activity against Bacilus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. In spite of its significant pharmacological potential, little is known about its growth. In light of the influence of seasonality on plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism, the present study evaluated the growth and essential oil content of M. leucocephalus grown and harvested during different months of the year in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil. The experimental design was entirely randomized, with twelve harvesting periods and five replicates. The study acquired monthly data of mean temperatures, relative humidity, rainfall, irradiance, and photoperiod from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) and quantified the fresh and dry weights of leaves, flowers and branches, as well as leaf area, and essential oil content. The data were submitted to Spearman correlation analysis and the means were compared using the Scott-Knott test. Total leaf masses and oil contents were higher during periods with longer photoperiods and higher solar irradiance. Rainfall and relative humidity reduced plant growth and essential oil content. Higher total mean dry masses were recorded from September to January (except October), while oil content was higher in March.

A atividade antimicrobiana de méis produzidos por Melipona asilvai, Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, Friseomelita doederleinei, Tetragonisca angustula e Plebeia sp. foi investigada. O teste de difusão em poço demonstrou que todos os méis tem ação antibacteriana frente a Staphylococcus aureus, mas somente as amostras produzidas por M. quadrifasciata anthidioides e F. doederleinei inibiram o crescimento de Escherichia coli. No ensaio de determinação da concentração inibitória mínima, os méis de M. asilvai, M. quadrifasciata anthidioides, F. doederleinei e T. angustula foram mais ativos que os de Plebeia sp. frente a S. aureus e E. coli. Os micro-organismos Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Candida albicans foram resistentes a todos os méis em ambos ensaios. Os méis foram mais efetivos contra as bactérias do que frente a uma solução de açúcar, sugerindo que o mecanismo de inibição do crescimento bacteriano não está somente relacionado ao efeito osmótico. Os resultados obtidos podem explicar o uso medicinal desses méis em doenças bacterianas.

The antimicrobial activity of honey produced by Melipona asilvai, Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, Friseomelita doederleinei, Tetragonisca angustula and Plebeia sp. were investigated. The agar well diffusion assay demonstrated that all honeys had antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, but only the samples from M. quadrifasciata anthidioides and F. doederleinei inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. In the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration determination assay, M. asilvai, M. quadrifasciata anthidioides, F. doederleinei and T. angustula honeys were more active than that from Plebeia sp. for S. aureus and E. coli. The microorganisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were resistant to the all native stingless bee honeys in both assays. Honeys were more effective against bacteria than a sugar solution, suggesting that the mechanism for bacterial growth inhibition is not only related to the osmotic effect. The results of antimicrobial activity may explain the popular medicinal use of these honeys in bacterial diseases.

This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves, inflorescences, nut-shell, liquid and solid endosperm nuts of Syagrus coronata against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Screening was initially performed using the agar dilution method. The extracts regarded as bioactive underwent liquid-liquid partition for determination of their minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericide concentration (MIC and MBC) and those of their respective fractions against the microorganisms inhibited in preliminary tests. Antimicrobial activity was observed only in inflorescences. The corresponding aqueous extract was effective against B. cereus and the three strains of S. aureus, and the corresponding MIC and MCB values were lower than those of dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the same extract. The methanol extract was effective against B. cereus, and the corresponding MIC and MBC values were higher than those of ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the same extract.

Foi estudada uma população de Stigmaphyllon paralias (Malpighiaceae) em Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brasil, visando analisar a variação do número de glândulas e sua produção de óleo nas flores. Dos indivíduos analisados, 76% não variaram o número de glândulas entre suas flores, ocorrendo 41% de indivíduos com flores que possuem 10 glândulas, 31% com oito glândulas e 4% com nove glândulas. Nas flores dos morfos que apresentam oito e nove glândulas, as glândulas ausentes são sempre as da sépala inferior. Centris leprieuri e Epicharis sp. (Apidae: Centridini) foram as únicas espécies que visitaram S. paralias, coletando óleo como recompensa. A sépala inferior localiza-se sob o abdome do polinizador quando pousado na flor, tornando-se inacessível à coleta de óleo. Sugerimos que a incapacidade de utilização de algumas glândulas pelos polinizadores possa ter possibilitado o aparecimento de morfos nas populações que não apresentam estas glândulas como caráter adaptativo por gerar economia de recursos na produção de recompensa não utilizada pelo polinizador. Todas as glândulas de todos os morfos são funcionais. As flores dos dois morfos principais com oito e 10 glândulas, produzem a mesma quantidade total de óleo. As glândulas das flores com oito glândulas aumentam a produção em cerca de 20%, compensando a produção total de óleo por flor.

A population of Stigmaphyllon paralias (Malpighiaceae) was studied in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Variation of the number of oil glands and oil production in the flowers were analized. 76% of the individuals did not present variation on the number of glands among their flowers, 41% presented flowers with 10 glands, 31% with eight glands and 4% with nine glands. In the flowers of the morphs with eight or nine glands, the absent glands were always associated to the inferior sepal. Only Centris leprieuri and Epicharis sp. (Apidae: Centridini) visited flowers of S. paralias, collecting oil as rewarding. The inferior sepal is located under the pollinator abdomen when it is standing in the flower, therefore being inaccessible for oil collection. We suggest that the occurrence of glands not utilized by pollinators has allowed the appearance of morphs in the populations that do not present those glands. All glands of all flower morphs are functional. Flowers of the two more representative morphs, bearing eight and 10 glands, produce the same amount of oil. Glands of flowers with lower number of glands (eight) increase nearly 20% plus oil production, compensating oil production per flower.

Since its discovery, phase transfer catalysis (PTC) has grown considerably and nowadays is one of the most versatile preparative methods. The search for new catalysts, their use in PTC asymmetric synthesis and the attempts to understand their mechanistic role are modern and exciting topics of investigation. A review on main achievements in the last two decades is presented.