The chemical investigation of the stems and branches of Macroptilium lathyroides led to the isolation of a mixture of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The extracts from the roots allowed the isolation of lasiodiplodin, a mixture of stigmast-4-en-6β-ol-3-one and stigmast-4,22-dien-6β-ol-3-one, de-O-methyllasiodiplodin, genistein and lupinalbin A. The structures of the isolated compounds were assigned on the basis of their NMR data, including comparison of their spectral data with values described in the literature. The antibacterial activity of crude extracts from stems, branches and roots was evaluated. This is the first report involving the chemical investigation of this species.

The chemical investigation of the ethanolic extract from leaves of Croton pedicellatus yielded the bis-nor-sesquiterpenes blumenol A and blumenol A glucoside, along with the flavonoids: tiliroside, 6"-O-p-coumaroyl-β-galactopyranosyl- kaempferol, 6"-O-p-coumaroyl-β-glucopyranosyl-3"-methoxy- kaempferol, kaempferol, 3-glucopyranosyl-quercetin and alpinumisoflavone, as well as 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. The identification of all isolated compounds was performed by spectrometric methods, including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and by comparison with previously-described physical and spectral data.

The chemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the aerial part of Sebastiania macrocarpa allowed the isolation of the mixture of steroids β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, gallic acid, and scopoletin. The hexane extract of the roots allowed the isolation of the triterpene lupeol and of the macrociclic diterpene (+)-tonantzitlolone. The structures of all compounds isolated were identified on the basis of their spectral data and by comparison of their spectral data with values described in the literature. This is the first report involving the chemical investigation of this species.

The ethanol extracts from leaves, stems, pods and roots were assayed against the 3rd instar Aedes aegypti larvae and the highest activity was observed in the roots extracts (LC50 47.86 ppm). This extract was submitted to partition with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. The respective fractions were bioassayed and the best larvicidal activities were identified in the hexane (LC50 23.99 ppm) and chloroform (LC50 13.80 ppm) fractions. Antioxidant activity (DDPH method) was observed in the ethanol extract (IC50 276 µg/mL) from roots of T. toxicaria. Fractions from this extract were also tested and the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 89 µg/mL) was found in the methanol fraction. The flavonoids iso-obovatin (1), obovatin (2), 6a,12a-dehydro-β-toxicarol (3), 6a,12a-dehydro-α-toxicarol (4) and α-toxicarol (5) were isolated and bioassayed against A. aegypti. The flavonoid 5 showed the best larvicidal activity (LC50 24.55 ppm). The antioxidant activity of 2 was investigated and showed IC50 3.370 µg/mL. The antioxidant and larvicidal activities of Tephrosia toxicaria are reported for the first time.

O chá de folhas de goiaba Psidium guajava Linnaeus é comumente usado como remédio nas gastrenterites e diarréias infantis por aqueles que não têm acesso a antibióticos. Esta pesquisa estudou o efeito antibacteriano sobre bactérias causadoras de diarréias, do óleo essencial e do extrato de folhas de goiabeira usando como diluente: metanol, hexano e acetato de etila. Os extratos foram testados sobre Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. e Escherichia coli. As bactérias testadas foram isoladas de camarão sete-barbas Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller) usando-se como controle cepas padrão, de cada espécie. Das bactérias testadas, o melhor efeito inibitório foi observado sobre Staphylococcus aureus. O extrato de metanol apresentou maior inibição bacteriana. O óleo essencial mostrou ação inibitória contra S. aureus e Salmonella spp. Foi demonstrada alguma resistência das cepas isoladas de camarão aos antibióticos comerciais testados. Estes dados confirmam que remédios à base de folhas de goiabeira podem ser utilizados em casos de diarréia provocada por essas bactérias, quando o uso de antibiótico for restrito. Conclui-se que extratos de folhas de goiaba e o seu óleo essencial são muito ativos contra S. aureus, tornando-os importantes fontes em potencial de novos compostos antimicrobianos.

Guava leaf tea of Psidium guajava Linnaeus is commonly used as a medicine against gastroenteritis and child diarrhea by those who cannot afford or do not have access to antibiotics. This study screened the antimicrobial effect of essential oils and methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate extracts from guava leaves. The extracts were tested against diarrhea-causing bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli. Strains that were screened included isolates from seabob shrimp, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller) and laboratory-type strains. Of the bacteria tested, Staphylococcus aureus strains were most inhibited by the extracts. The methanol extract showed greatest bacterial inhibition. No statistically significant differences were observed between the tested extract concentrations and their effect. The essential oil extract showed inhibitory activity against S. aureus and Salmonella spp. The strains isolated from the shrimp showed some resistance to commercially available antibiotics. These data support the use of guava leaf-made medicines in diarrhea cases where access to commercial antibiotics is restricted. In conclusion, guava leaf extracts and essential oil are very active against S. aureus, thus making up important potential sources of new antimicrobial compounds.

O fungo fitopatogênico Lasiodiplodia theobromae, isolado de goiaba, foi cultivado em arroz por 32 dias à temperatura ambiente. Extração com CH2Cl2:MeOH (3:7), seguido de fracionamento cromatográfico do extrato forneceu o esteróide ergosterol. Da cultura fúngica em meio de Czapeck por 40 dias à temperatura ambiente, foram isolados a isocumarina cis-4-hidroximeleína e um sesquiterpeno do tipo eremofilano. O sesquiterpeno eremofilano está sendo descrito pela primeira vez na literatura. Este é o primeiro relato do isolamento de um sesquiterpeno eremofilano para o gênero Lasiodiplodia.

The phytopatogenic fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae, isolated from guava, was cultivated in rice for 32 days at room temperature. Extraction with CH2Cl2:MeOH (3:7), followed by chromatography fractionation of the extract provided ergosterol. From the fungus culture in Czapeck medium for 40 days at room temperature, were isolated isocoumarin cis-4-hydroxymeleine and an eremophilane-type sesquiterpene. The latter compound is being reported for the first time in the literature. Also, this is the first time that an eremophilane sesquiterpene is described for Lasiodiplodia genus.

A composição química dos óleos essenciais das partes aéreas de Pectis apodocephala e Pectis oligocephala foi analisada por CG-EM. Os óleos essenciais destas espécies foram predominantemente constituídos por monoterpenos. Geranial (42, 9-44, 5%), neral (32, 2-34, 2%) e alfa-pineno (10, 7-11, 4%) foram os constituintes majoritários no óleo de P. apodocephala, enquanto p-cimeno (50, 3-70, 9%) e timol (24, 4-44, 7%), foram os compostos prevalentes no óleo de P. oligocephala. Ambos os óleos foram testados contra o nematóide Meloidogyne incognita e larvas do mosquito Aedes aegypti no terceiro estágio. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os óleos exibem significante atividade e podem, portanto, ser considerados como potenciais agentes nematicida e larvicida naturais.

The chemical composition of the essential oils from aerial parts of Pectis apodocephala and Pectis oligocephala were analyzed by GC-MS. The essential oils of these species were predominantly constituted by monoterpenes. Geranial (42.9-44.5%), neral (32.2-34.2%) and alpha-pinene (10.7-11.4%) were the main constituents in the oil of P. apodocephala, while p-cymene (50.3-70.9%) and thymol (24.4-44.7%), were the prevalent compounds in the oil of P. oligocephala. The essential oils were tested against the root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and Aedes aegypti larvae survival. The results obtained show that both essential oils exhibited significant activity and could be considered as potent natural namaticidal and larvicidal agents.

O efeito dos vapores da 2-tridecanona sobre o caruncho do feijão-de-corda (Callosobruchus maculatus) foi avaliado. Sementes de feijão-de-corda infestados com insetos adultos foram expostas a diferentes doses de 2-tridecanona isolada de Pilocarpus microphyllus, uma espécie nativa do Nordeste do Brasil. O monoterpeno puro foi utilizado nas diluições 1:10, 1:100 e 1:1000 (v/v). Os parâmetros da biologia do inseto foram analisados em função da resposta a doses decrescentes de 2-tridecanona: número de ovos postos por fêmea, percentagem de eclosão de ovos, percentagem de emergência de adultos, peso dos adultos recém-emergidos, tempo médio de desenvolvimento e número total de ovos emergidos. Diferenças significativas (P < 0.05) entre as doses de 2-tridecanona testadas foram observadas, para quatro dos seis parâmetros biológicos analisados. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a 2-tridecanona é tóxica para C. maculatus, reduzindo significativamente (P < 0.05) o número de insetos emergidos após a infestação. Esse efeito foi causado principalmente pela significativa redução observada na eclosão dos ovos expostos ao vapor da substância.

The effect of 2-tridecanone vapor on the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) development was determined. Seeds of cowpea were infested with adults and exposed to different doses of 2-tridecanone isolated from Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Holm, a plant species native from northeastern Brazil. The pure monoterpene was evaluated both undiluted as well as in the dilutions 1:10, 1:100 and 1:1,000 (v/v). The following parameters of the cowpea weevil life cycle were analyzed in response to decreasing doses of 2-tridecanone: number of eggs laid, percentage of egg hatching on seeds, percentage of adult emergence, adult weight at emergence, mean developmental time and number of adults emerged. Vapor of 2-tridecanone caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the number of eggs laid, in the percentage of eggs hatched and in the number of emerged adults in infested seeds. The fumigant insecticidal effect of 2-tridecanone was mainly due to its ovicidal activity.

The phytochemical investigation of the roots of E. almawillia is reported for the first time. Chromatographic fractionation of the methanol extract allowed the isolation of the alkaloids 3,3-diisopentenyl-N-methyl-2,4-quinoldione (1), maculine (2) and 3'-methoxygraveoline (3), (E)-N-isobutyl-3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxicinnamoyl amide (4), the flavones gardenine B (5) and nevadensin (6), and the sesquiterpene intermediol (7). Structure elucidation was based on the analysis of their spectrometric data (uni- and bidimensional ¹H and 13C NMR, MS and IR) and comparison with literature data. Compounds 3-7 are being reported as constituents of Esenbeckia species for the first time.

Antimycobacterial and cytotoxicity activity of synthetic and natural compounds. Secondary metabolites from Curvularia eragrostidis and Drechslera dematioidea, Clusia sp. floral resin, alkaloids from Pilocarpus alatus, salicylideneanilines, piperidine amides, the amine 1-cinnamylpiperazine and chiral pyridinium salts were assayed on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. N-(salicylidene)-2-hydroxyaniline was the most effective compound with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 µmol/L. Dihydrocurvularin was moderately effective with a MIC of 40 µmol/L. Clusia sp. floral resin and a gallocatechin-epigallocatechin mixture showed MIC of 0.02 g/L and 38 µmol/L, respectively. The cytotoxicity was evaluated for N-(salicylidene)-2-hydroxyaniline, curvularin, dihydrocurvularin and Clusia sp. floral resin, and the selectivity indexes were > 125, 0.47, 0.75 and 5, respectively.

Na busca por controle químico alternativo contra Aedes aegypti L., muitas pesquisas são desenvolvidas e estimuladas no intuito de se descobrirem novas substâncias inseticidas de origem vegetal. Neste trabalho, o efeito larvicida de dez óleos essenciais foi avaliado contra A. aegypti. Os óleos foram obtidos por arraste a vapor e sua composição química foi determinada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massa. Os óleos essenciais foram diluídos em solução aquosa de dimetil sufóxido nas concentrações: 100, 50, 10 e 1 mg/ml. A atividade larvicida, baseada na percentagem de larvas mortas, foi avaliada 24h após o tratamento. O óleo essencial de Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker induziu a maior atividade larvicida, com CL50 de 15,9 mg/ml e CL90 de 28,5 mg/ml., enquanto o de O. gratissimum L. apresentou a menor atividade com CL50 de 95,80 mg/ml e CL90 de 102,86 mg/ml. Os resultados indicam que os óleos essenciais avaliados, principalmente o de V. arborea, são compostos por substâncias com efeito larvicida contra A. aegypti.

In the search for alternative chemical control against Aedes aegypti L., many researches are developed and encouraged in order to find new insecticidal plant substances. In this work, the larvicidal effect of ten essential oils was tested on A. aegypti. The oils were extracted by steam distillation and their chemical composition determined by GL-chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. The essential oils were diluted in aqueous solutions of dimethyl sulfoxide with concentrations of: 100, 50, 10, and 1 mg/ml. The larvicidal activity, based on the percentage of larval mortality, was evaluated after 24h exposure to the treatments. The essential oil of Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker presented the highest larvicidal activity, with CL50 of 15.9 mg/ml and CL90 of 28.5 mg/ml. On the other hand the essential oil of O.gratissimum L. showed the lower activity with CL50 de 95,80 mg/ml and CL90 de 102,86 mg/ml.The results indicate that the tested essential oils, and particularly the V. arborea, are composed by substances with larvicidal properties for A. aegypti.

Sementes quiescentes de Bauhinia variegata foram submetidas a caracterização bioquímica, por meio de análise elementar, fracionamento de proteínas e atividade hemaglutinante. A análise elementar mostrou grande quantidade de proteína total e de lipídeos, com 29,41 e 14,89%, respectivamente. O ácido linoléico foi o mais encontrado na constituição lipídica das sementes e a composição mineral ficou dentro de níveis aceitáveis para o consumo humano. As diferentes frações protéicas (albuminas, globulinas, prolaminas, glutelinas ácidas e básicas) apresentaram atividade hemaglutinante contra hemácias tratadas e não-tratadas com enzimas proteolíticas, mas a maior atividade hemaglutinante específica foi evidenciada na fração globulínica; já nas frações glutelinas ácidas e albuminas, esta atividade é maior quando se utilizam hemácias de coelho previamente tratadas com tripsina e papaína, respectivamente. Assim, por apresentarem alto valor energético, as sementes de Bauhinia variegata são uma possível fonte opcional na alimentação.

Seeds of Bauhinia variegata were submitted to biochemical characterization through elementary analysis, protein fractioning and hemaglutinanting activity. The elementary analysis of seed showed high protein and lipid contents, with 29.41 and 14.89%, respectively. The linolenic acid was found in the lipidic constitution of the seeds and the mineral composition remained with in acceptable levels for the human consumption. The specific hemaglutinanting activity from different fractions of proteins (albumin, globulin, prolamin, glutelin acid and alkaline) demonstrated hemaglutinanting activity against native and enzyme treated rabbit erythrocytes. However, the fraction globulins showed the largest specific hemaglutinanting activity. Acid glutelin and albumin had a larger specific hemaglutinanting activity against tripisin-treated and papain-treated rabbit erythrocytes, respectively. Thus, for presenting high energy value, the seeds of Bauhinia variegata are an optional source for the feeding.

SUMMARY Biochemical and chemical partial characterization of Bauhinia forficata Link Seeds. Seeds of Bauhinia forficata species were submited to biochemical characterization concerning fatty acids analysis, protein fractionization, and hemaglutinanting activity. The seed elementary analysis showed a high protein and lipids contents with 21.24 % and 19.45 % respectively. The more abundant fatty acid was linoleic acid with 46.47 % of the lipidic fraction. With the exception of prolamins, the different proteic fractions (albumin, globulins, acid and basic glutelins) showed hemaglutinanting activity against rabbit red cells no treated and treated with proteolitic enzymes. The fraction acid glutelin showed the higher specific hemaglutinanting activity (1072.25 UH/mg P) against rabbit blood pre-treated with trypsin. Glutamin (16.20%) and Valin (11.07%) were the more abundant amino acids in the seeds. Therefore, B. forficata represent a possible optional source of food because exhibit a high energetic values.

Sementes quiescentes de Bauhinia forficata foram submetidas à caracterização bioquímica por meio de análise de ácidos graxos, fracionamento de proteínas e atividade hemaglutinante específica. A análise elementar da semente mostrou grande quantidade de proteína total e de lipídeos com 21,24 % e 19,45%, respectivamente. Na fração lipídica, o ácido linolêico foi o mais abundante com 46,47%. Com exceção das prolaminas, as diferentes frações protéicas (albuminas, globulinas, glutelinas ácidas e básicas) apresentaram atividade hemaglutinante contra hemácias de coelho tratadas e não tratadas com enzimas proteolíticas. A maior atividade hemaglutinante específica foi evidenciada na fração glutelinas ácidas (1.072,25 U.H./mg P) contra sangue de coelho tratado com tripsina. Os aminoácidos presentes em maior teor foram glutamina (16,20%) e valina (11,07%). Assim, por apresentarem alto valor energético as sementes de Bauhinia forficata são uma possível fonte opcional na alimentação.

A composição bioquímica elementar de sementes de seis cultivares de feijão de corda (Vigna unguiculata) foi determinada e a fração lipídica de cada cultivar, caracterizada. Os resultados sugerem que todas as farinhas de semente compartilham composição bioquímica similar, embora as cultivares Br-14 e CE-315 difiram das Br-9 e Br-17 no teor de umidade. As frações lipídicas purificadas foram caracterizadas quanto ao teor e tipos de ácidos graxos presentes. A cultivar Br-17 possui alto conteúdo de ácido palmítico (58,2%) e o menor conteúdo de ácido linoléico (6,4%) enquanto a Vita 7 apresenta alto conteúdo de ácido linoléico (21,8%) e relativamente baixo conteúdo de ácido palmítico (41%) em uma base comparativa. Os ácidos graxos pentacosanóico e eicosanóico representam a fração lipídica menor e o primeiro não ocorre em CE-315. Os resultados sugerem que diferentes cultivares obtidas por melhoramento genético podem apresentar diferenças quantitativas e qualitativas na composição bioquímica; assim, diferenças na capacidade germinativa, resistência a predadores no campo de plantio e no armazenamento, poderiam estar relacionadas à inibição ou estímulo da expressão de genes codificadores da síntese de moléculas relevantes, que refletem diferenças de composição, como demonstrado neste trabalho.

The biochemical composition of the seeds of six bean - Vigna unguiculata (Walp) cultivars was determined and the lipid fraction of each of these cultivars was characterized. The results suggest that all analyzed seed flours share similar biochemical composition, although the cultivars Br-14 and CE-315 differ in relation to Br-9 and Br-17 in water content. The purified fatty acid fractions were characterized according to their lipid content. The cultivar Br-17 possesses high content of palmitic acid (58.2%) and low content of linoleic acid (6.4%) while Vita 7 possesses high contents of linoleic acid (21.8%) and relatively low content of palmitic acid (41%) on a comparative basis. Pentacosanoic and eicosanoic acids represent the minor fraction of lipids and the former does not occur in CE-315. The results suggest that different cultivars obtained by genetic combination may present relevant differences in their biochemical composition. Thus, differences in germination capacity, resistance to predators in the field or storage house may be related to over expression or inhibition of genes encoding synthesis of relevant molecules which refleet difference in composition as demonstrated in this study.