Abstract The species Waltheria viscosissima A.St.–Hil, Malvaceae, which is known as ‘malva-branca', is traditionally used in the Brazilian northeast for the treatment of coughs. This research looks towards reporting the isolation of phytoconstituents of W. viscosissima, as well as the quantification of its phenolics, total flavonoid content, and free radical scavenging potential, along with an evaluation of its larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae. Chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the compounds and a structural elucidation was performed by 1D and 2D NMR. The quantification of total phenolics and flavonoids and the DPPH˙ radical scavenging activity was determined through spectrophotometric methods. Consequently, the phytochemical investigation led to the identification of fourteen compounds from the aerial parts of the W. viscosissima: steroids, triterpenes, alkaloids, and eight flavonoids previously reported in the literature. The quantification of compounds showed that the aerial parts extract possessed high concentration of flavonoids, while the roots extract were rich in other phenolic compounds. At the DPPH˙ free radical scavenging assay, the roots extract presented EC50 = 77.32 ± 4.37 µg/ml and the aerial parts extracts showed EC50 = 118.10 ± 1.21 µg/ml. W. viscosissima roots extract showed the most potent larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti (LC50 = 4.78 mg/ml), with the potential of being used in effective and economically viable preparations that can be catered for domestic use towards controlling the vector insect of severe diseases, such as dengue and Zika.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic ethanol consumption is a major public health problem throughout the world. We investigated the anxiolytic-like effects and the possible ever injury induced by the chronic consumption of ethanol or sugarcane spirit in mice. METHOD: Adult mice were exposed to a two-bottle free-choice paradigm for 6 weeks. The mice in Group A (n = 16) had access to sugarcane spirit + distilled water, the mice in Group B (n = 15) had access to ethanol + distilled water, and the mice in Group C (control, n = 14) had access to distilled water + distilled water. The ethanol content in the beverages offered to Groups A and B was 2% for the first week, 5% for the second week and 10% for the remaining four weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the mice were evaluated using the elevated-plus maze and the hole-board test to assess their anxiety-related behaviors. We also determined the serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels. RESULTS: In the elevated-plus maze, the time spent in the open arms was increased in the mice exposed to chronic ethanol (32 + 8 vs. 7 + 2 s, n = 9) or sugarcane spirit (36 + 9 vs. 7 + 2 s, n = 9) compared to the controls. In the hole-board test, the mice exposed to ethanol or sugarcane spirit displayed increases in their head-dipping frequency (16 + 1 for the control group, 27 + 2 for the ethanol group, and 31 + 3 for the sugarcane-spirit group; n = 9 for each group). In addition, the mice exposed to sugarcane spirit displayed an increase in the aspartate aminotransferase / alanine aminotransferase ratio compared to the ethanol group (1.29 + 0.17 for the control group and 2.67 + 0.17 for the sugarcane spirit group; n = 8 for each group). CONCLUSION: The chronic consumption of sugarcane-spirit produces liver injury and anxiolytic-like effects and the possible liver injury in mice.