PURPOSE:To evaluate the antitumor and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit cultivated in southeastern Brazil.METHODS:Preparation ethanolic extract of the fruit of Morinda citrifoliaL. Culture of melanoma cells B16-F10 for treatment with ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit to determine cell viability by MTT and determination temporal effect of ethanolic extract fruit on the cell growth B16-F10 for 8 days. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract fruit against Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coli by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).RESULTS:The ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit (10mg/mL) decreased cellular activity and inhibited 45% the rate of cell proliferation of B16-F10 melanoma treated during period studied. The ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit demonstrated antimicrobial activity inhibiting the growth of both microorganisms studied. Staphylococcus aureuswas less resistant to ethanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit than Escherichia coli, 1 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL, respectively.CONCLUSION: What these results indicate that the ethanolic extract of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia L. showed antitumor activity with inhibition of viability and growth of B16-F10 cells and also showed antibacterial activity as induced inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coli.

PURPOSE: To characterize the anatomy of the fruit and leaf and the presence of phytocompounds. To evaluate the antitumor and antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) cultivated in southeastern Brazil.METHODS: Anatomical characterization and histochemical reactions were performed for structural identification and the presence of phytocompounds. Preparation of ethanolic extract of the fruit, leaf and resin of mangosteen. Culture B16-F10 melanoma cells for treatment with mangosteen ethanolic extract to determine cell viability by MTT and genotoxic effect by comet assay. Evaluation by antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coli by agar diffusion test and by determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).RESULTS: Our results showed many secretory canals in resin fruit and leaf; identifying lipids, starch, lignin and phenolic compounds. The leaf extract induced genotoxicity and apoptosis in B16-F10 cells, since the fragmentation of DNA in the comet assay. The ethanolic extract of mangosteen obtained in the resin, leaf and fruit showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureusand Escherichia coli with a MIC at 0.1 mg/mL.CONCLUSION:In conclusion, we have demonstrated both antimicrobial and antitumor activity of ethanol extract of mangosteen emphasizing its therapeutic potential in infectious diseases and in cancer, such as melanoma.

Panicum maximum e Chloris gayana foram submetidas à chuvas simuladas com soluções de fluoreto de potássio (15mg ml-1) com objetivo de identificar as injúrias causadas pelo flúor (F-), como poluente atmosférico, na estrutura da lâmina foliar e fornecer subsídios para a seleção de características diagnósticas a serem utilizadas na bioindicação. Os principais sintomas foram clorose e necrose, principalmente no ápice e margens das lâminas. Nos cortes transversais, quatro tipos de alterações causadas pelo flúor são relacionadas: redução do número, tamanho e arranjo dos cloroplastos; necrose dos tecidos principalmente nas margens das folhas; erosões na superfície da folha e hipertrofia das células. Em C. gayana, no entanto, não foram observadas as alterações nos cloroplastos e os outros sintomas foram bem mais discretos que em P. maximum. A ocorrência de compostos fenólicos foi registrada pela coloração com fucsina em todas as regiões da lâmina onde foram observadas lesões. Ao microscópio eletrônico de varredura foi observado o achatamento e formação de concavidades nas paredes externas das células. Este experimento confirma a maior sensibilidade de P. maximum ao flúor e revela algumas características anatômicas de C. gayana que, entre outros fatores, podem estar contribuindo para a maior resistência desta espécie a este poluente.

P. maximum and C. gayana were treated with potassium fluoride artificial rain (15 mg ml-1) to identify injury caused by fluoride (F-), as an atmospheric pollutent, on the leaf structure of these two species, providing diagnostics characteristics for plant selection to be used as bioindicators. The observed symptons were clorosis and necrosis in the leaf blade. Four types of cell alterations were observed in transversal sections: reductions of number, size and chloroplasts disposition; necrosis of tissues in the leaf; leaf surface erosions and cells hypertrophy. In C. gayana chloroplast alterations were not observed and the other symptoms were less evident. Phenolic compounds were registered in the regions where lesions occurred. In the scanning electron microscopy external cell wall flattening was observed. This experiment assures the greatest P. maximum sensitivity to fluoride and reveals anatomic characteristics of C. gayana that can contribute for great resistance of this species to fluoride.