In the present work, dried leaves of Saururus cernuus (Saururaceae) were subjected to extraction using an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide - BMImBr) in the microwave assisted extraction (MAE). The obtained extract was partitioned using n-hexane and cytotoxicity activity of this organic phase against murine melanoma cell line (B16F10-Nex2) was evaluated in vitro. Since this extract displayed activity (100% of cell death at 200 µg mL-1) it was subjected to a bioactivity-guided fractionation to afford four related neolignans: threo-austrobailignan-5 (1), threo-austrobailignan-6 (2), threo-dihydroguaiaretic acid (3) and saucernetin (4). Their chemical structures were established based on NMR and MS spectral analysis. Among the isolated neolignans, compound 2 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against HeLa (human cervical melanoma) cells with IC50 of 28.3 ± 3.9 µg mL-1 (86 ± 12 µmol L-1). Furthermore, compounds 2 and 3 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against A2058 (human melanoma) cells with IC50 of 44.3 ± 4.2 µg mL-1 (135 ± 13 µmol L-1) and 41.5 ± 7.5 µg mL-1 (126 ± 23 µmol L-1), respectively, similar to positive control cisplatin (IC50 = 43.2 ± 3.2 µg mL-1 or 144 ± 11 µmol L-1). Otherwise, compound 4 was inactive (IC50 > 100 µg mL-1 or > 300 µmol L-1). The obtained results provide important data for the selection of bioactive neolignans with promising cytotoxic potential using a simple and fast method employing a green solvent as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (BMImBr).

The volatile oils from Nectandra megapotamica Spreng. leaves, collected in February and August of 2007 and at 7:00 and 12:00 h (samples A - D), were extracted by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. A total of nineteen compounds were identified with predominance of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, among them, α-bisabolol, was the main constituent (62.3-69.4 %). After chromatographic separation procedures, this compound was purified from crude oil and its structure was confirmed by analysis of NMR data. This paper describes for the first time the composition of the leaves volatile oil from N. megapotamica.

Os óleos essenciais das folhas e das cascas do tronco de Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae) foram obtidos individualmente por hidrodestilação e suas composições químicas foram determinadas através de análise por CG/DIC e CG/EM. Os principais constituintes identificados foram monoterpenos (folhas 4,31% e cascas do tronco 90,02%) e sesquiterpenos (folhas 52,31% e cascas do tronco 6,35%). Adicionalmente, o sesquiterpeno poligodial foi isolado do extrato em hexano das cascas do tronco de D. brasiliensis após fracionamento cromatográfico e caracterizado por métodos espectroscópicos. Visando a avaliação do potencial anti-inflamatório, os óleos essenciais brutos e o sesquiterpeno poligodial foram submetidos à bioensaios para avaliação da toxicidade aguda destes compostos bem como das atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva induzidas por carragenina e formalina em ratos. Nossos resultados mostraram que o óleo essencial bruto obtido das cascas do tronco reduziu significativamente o edema induzido por carragenina. O efeito anti-inflamatório induzido pelo óleo das cascas do tronco (a 200 mg kg-1) foi similar ao observado para indometacina (a 10 mg kg-1) e superior ao poligodial (a 200 mg kg-1) em 30 e em 60 min após administração. A resposta inflamatória induzida pela formalina foi efetiva para o óleo das cascas do tronco (62,5%) em comparação ao poligodial (50,0%).

The essential oils from leaves and stem barks from Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae) were individually obtained by hydrodistillation and their compounds characterized by use of GC/FID and GC/MS. The main identified derivatives were monoterpenes (leaves 4.31% and stem barks 90.02%) and sesquiterpenes (leaves 52.31% and stem barks 6.35%). Additionally, the sesquiterpene polygodial was isolated from hexane extract from stem barks of D. brasiliensis after chromatographic steps and characterized by spectroscopic means, mainly NMR. Aiming the evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential, the crude essential oils and the sesquiterpene polygodial were subjected to bioassays to evaluate the acute toxicity of these compounds as well as the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities induced by carrageenan and formalin in mices. Ours results showed that essential oil obtained from the stem barks significantly reduced the oedema induced by carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory effect induced by stem barks oil (at 200 mg kg-1) was similar to observed for indomethacin (at 10 mg kg-1) and superior for polygodial (at 200 mg kg-1) in 30 and 60 min after the administration of essential oils. The inflammatory response induced by formalin was effective to the stem barks oil (62.5%) in comparison to polygodial (50.0%).

Os óleos voláteis das folhas de Michelia champaca L., coletadas bimestralmente ao longo de um ano (quatro vezes no décimo quinto dia de janeiro, março, maio, julho, setembro e novembro de 2004), foram submetidos à análise por CG/DIC e CG-EM, de onde foram identificados treze componentes. Adicionalmente, parte do óleo obtido na coleta de janeiro foi submetida a fracionamento em gel de sílica impregnada com AgNO3 fornecendo cinco dos principais sesquiterpenos (β-elemeno, β-cariofileno, α-humuleno, β-selineno e α-cadinol). Os dados obtidos mostram uma variação significativa na proporção dos componentes, a qual pode estar associada a parâmetros microclimáticos em cada período de coleta.

The volatile oils from leaves of Michelia champaca L. collected bimonthly during one year (four times on the fifteenth day of January, March, May, July, September, and November - 2004) were subjected to GC/FID and GC-MS analysis, from which thirteen components were identified. Additionally, part of the oil obtained from January collection was subjected to fractionation over silica gel soaked with AgNO3 to afford five of the main sesquiterpenes (β-elemene, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, β-selinene, and α-cadinol). The obtained data showed a significative variation in the proportions of the components, which could be associated to climatic parameters in each collection periods.

A separação cromatográfica do extrato hexânico e da fase em CH2Cl2 do extrato etanólico das folhas de Murraya paniculata resultou no isolamento de um triterpeno (24-metileno-cicloartan-3β-ol), um fenilpropanóide (cafeato de metila) e sete cumarinas preniladas [isomeranzina, acetato de murranganona, murrayatina, murrangatina, hidrato de meranzina, febalosina e murranganona]. Dentre as substâncias isoladas, as cumarinas foram detectadas anteriormente em M. paniculata ao passo que 24-metileno-cicloartan-3β-ol e cafeato de metila estão sendo descritos pela primeira vez no gênero Murraya. Os extratos e frações além das substâncias puras foram submetidos à avaliação do potencial antimicrobiano frente à Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli indicando que somente a cumarina hidrato de meranzina mostrou fraca atividade.

Chromatographic separation of the hexane extract and the CH2Cl2 phase from the ethanol extract from leaves of Murraya paniculata yielded one triterpenoid (24-methylene-cycloartan-3β-ol), one phenylpropanoid (methyl caffeate) and seven coumarins [isomeranzine, murranganone acetate, murrayatine, murrangatine, meranzine hydrate, phebalosine and murranganone]. All the isolated coumarins were previously obtained from M. paniculata while 24-methylene-cycloartan-3β-ol and methyl caffeate have been described for first time in the Murraya genus. The crude extracts, fractions and pure substances were submitted to evaluation of antimicrobial potential against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli which indicated that the coumarin meranzine hydrate showed weak activity.

The essential oils from the leaves of six species of the Baccharis genus (B. dracunculifolia, B. microdonta, B. regnelli, B. schultzii, B. trimera, and B. uncinella), collected in the "Campos de Altitude" of the Atlantic Forest (SP), were extracted using hydrodistillation procedures and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. There was a predominance of sesquiterpenes in all studied oils as b-elemene in B. dracunculifolia and B. regnelli, a-humulene in B. trimera, g-gurjunene in B. schultzii, bicyclogermacrene in B. regnelli, d-cadinene in B. regnelli and B. uncinella, spathulenol in B. schultzii, caryophyllene oxide in B. microdonta and guaiol in B. uncinella. However, a high amount of monoterpenes was also observed in B. uncinella (a-pinene), B. regnelli (d-car-3-ene) and B. schultzii (limonene). The chemical compounds of the essential oils of B. schultzii, B. regnelli and B. microdonta are described for the first time in this work.

The EtOH extract from the leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius showed anti-radicalar potential in the DPPH test. It was partitioned between n-BuOH:H2O (1:1) and these two phases were also evaluated for anti-radicalar activity. The active n-BuOH phase was partitioned between EtOAc:H2O (1:1) and the active EtOAc phase was submitted to chromatographic procedures to afford five active phenolic compounds: ethyl gallate, methyl gallate, quercitrin, myricetrin and myricetin. The structures of these compounds were established by NMR spectral data analysis.

O óleo essencial das folhas de um espécime brasileiro de Pittosporum undulatum Vent. foi analisado através de cromatografia a gás-espectrometria de massas (CG-EM), além de análise por RMN após separação cromatográfica. As folhas de P. undulatum foram coletadas durante um ano (Janeiro, Março, Maio, Julho, Setembro e Novembro de 2004) e os óleos essenciais obtidos foram submetidos à análise por CG e CG/EM. O óleo mostrou-se composto por hidrocarbonetos monoterpênicos e sesquiterpênicos, sendo o (+)-limoneno o constituinte principal. Através dos resultados obtidos por essa análise, observou-se uma variação significativa na proporção relativa de (+)-limoneno em cada uma das coletas realizadas, a qual poderia estar correlacionada a parâmetros microclimáticos (temperatura e índice pluviométrico) além de fenologia da espécie estudada.

The essential oil from leaves of a Brazilian specimen of Pittosporum undulatum Vent. was analyzed by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and NMR analysis after chromatographic separation. The leaves of P. undulatum were collected during one year (January, March, May, July, September and November, 2004) and the obtained essential oils were analyzed. The oil is rich in hydrocarbon monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, being (+)-limonene the main constituent. It was observed a significant variation on the relative amount of (+)-limonene in these collections, which could be associated to microclimatic parameters (temperature and pluviometric index) despite of phenology of the studied species.