Volatile oils from the leaves of Verbenaceae species Aloysia virgata, Lantana camara, Lantana trifolia, Lantana montevidensis, Lippia brasiliensis and Lippia sericea were investigated for its chemical composition and antibacterial activity. The volatile oils were characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes of which (E)-caryophyllene (10-35%), germacrene-D (5-46%) and bicyclogermacrene (7-17%) were the major components for all studied species. For the flowers, a higher concentration of monoterpenes was observed for the species L. camara, L. trifolia and L. brasiliensis. These compounds probably act as attractive to specific pollinators. The volatile oils from A. virgata was the most active, exhibiting moderate antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

The phytochemical investigation of the roots of Piptadenia rigida Benth., Fabaceae, known as "angico", afforded sitosterol, lupeol, betuline, the chalcone isoliquiritigenin, the flavonoids, 7,4'-dihydroxyflavone, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone, 7,8,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavanone, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-benzoate. Both flavones were also isolated from the branches of this plant. Five derivatives of the aldehyde were obtained by diazomethane treatment. The structures of compounds were identified by IR, NMR and mass spectral data analysis of natural compounds and some derivatives, and by comparison with literature data.

The essential oils of seven Myrtaceae species were investigated for its chemical composition and antibacterial activity. The volatile oils were characterized by a high content of monoterpenoids of which 1,8-cineole (88.0, 65.0 and 77.0% for Melaleuca hypericifolia, Callistemon viminalis and Callistemon citrinus respectively), terpinen-4-ol (47.0 and 49.8% for Melaleuca thymifolia and Callistemon polandii respectively) and α-pinene (54.5% for Kunzea ericoides) were the major components. The oil from M. linariifolia was characterized by a high concentration of methyleugenol (87.2%). The oil from Melaleuca thymifolia was the most active, exhibiting high antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria.

O fracionamento cromatográfico dos extratos orgânicos das folhas e galhos de Luxemburgia nobilis (Ochnaceae) forneceu o sitosterol, sitosterol-3-O-betaD-glicopiranosil, friedelina, friedelinol, a mistura dos triterpenos lupeol, alfa-amirina e beta-amirina, rutina, epicatequina, uma mistura de duas chalconas, isoliquiritigenina e 3'-hidróxiisoliquiritigenina, duas biflavonas conhecidas, amentoflavona e robustaflavona além de uma biflavona nova, 5,7,4'-triidróxiflavona-(3'-O-4"')-5",7" -diidróxiflavanona. As estruturas foram definidas através dos dados espectrométricos incluindo experimentos bidimensionais de RMN das substâncias naturais e dos derivados metilados e acetilados da biflavona nova.

Chromatographic fractionation of the organic extracts from the leaves and branches of Luxemburgia nobilis (Ochnaceae) afforded sitosterol, sitosterol-3-O-betaD-glucopyranoside, friedelin, friedelinol, a mixture of triterpenes lupeol, alpha-amyrin and beta-amyrin, rutin, epicatechin, a mixture of two chalcones, 2,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxychalcone and 2,4,4'-trihydroxychalcone, two known biflavones, amentoflavone and robustaflavone along with a new biflavonoid, 5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavone-(3'-O-4'")-5",7"-dihydroxyflavanone. The structures were established from spectral data, including 2D-NMR experiments of the natural substances and of the acetyl and methyl ether derivatives of the new biflavone.