Jacaranda decurrens (Bignoniaceae) is an endemic species of the Cerrado with validated antitumoral activity. The genetic diversity of six populations of J. decurrens located in the State of São Paulo was determined in this study by using molecular markers for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Following optimization of the amplification reaction, 10 selected primers generated 78 reproducible RAPD fragments that were mostly (69.2%) polymorphic. Two hundred and five reproducible AFLP fragments were generated by using four selected primer combinations; 46.3% of these fragments were polymorphic, indicating a considerable level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) using these two groups of markers indicated that variability was strongly structured amongst populations. The unweighted pair group method with arithmatic mean (UPGMA) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (RAPD -0.16, p = 0.2082; AFLP 0.37, p = 0.1006) between genetic matrices and geographic distances suggested that the population structure followed an island model in which a single population of infinite size gave rise to the current populations of J. decurrens, independently of their spatial position. The results of this study indicate that RAPD and AFLP markers were similarly efficient in measuring the genetic variability amongst natural populations of J. decurrens. These data may be useful for developing strategies for the preservation of this medicinal species in the Cerrado.

Estudou-se a variabilidade química sazonal em Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), conhecida como "espinheira santa", em exemplares cultivados em Ribeirão Preto, SP, através da análise das substâncias presentes nas folhas, ao longo das quatro estações em dois anos. O teor de fenóis totais variou de 21,96 a 45,92 mg / g (expresso em mg ácido tânico / g folhas secas), de 55,88 a 93,20 mg triterpenos totais / g folhas secas, e de 1,349 a 3,859 mg flavonóides / g folhas secas. A amostra Primavera 92 apresentou o maior teor de flavonóides e fenóis totais, e a amostra Inverno 94 apresentou o maior teor de triterpenos.

The chemical seasonal variability of Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant known as "espinheira santa", was investigated on specimens cultivated at Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil, at the four seasons of two years. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenes varied from 21.96 to 45.92 mg total phenolics (expressed as tanic acid) / g dried leaves, 55.88 - 93.20 mg total triterpenes / g dried leaves, and 1.349 - 3.859 mg flavonoid / g dried leaves. Sample Spring 92 had the higher content of flavonoids and total phenolics, while sample Winter 94 had the highest content of triterpenes.