Gamma radiation is an effective method for microbial decontamination of plant materials. However, this treatment can induce changes in the chemical structure of plant constituents. Stem barks of Luehea ochrophylla were exposed to different doses of gamma radiation to evaluate decontamination efficiency and changes in chemical composition of plant material including phenolic fraction. The major microbial contaminants of non-irradiated samples were isolated and identified as the fungal species Eurotium chevalieri L. Mangin and Lecythophora decumbens. The dose of 5.0 kGy was effective to achieve total decontamination of the stem barks of L. ochrophylla. The formation of free radicals was verified in the plant material using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and was supposed to be related to the trans-aconitic acid, a plant constituent. It was the only secondary metabolite to have its concentration significantly altered with radiation in phenolic fraction, as observed by liquid chromatography with diode array detector coupled to mass spectroscopy (LC-DAD-MS). The trans-aconitic acid was isolated and exposed to gamma radiation in aqueous medium. Its concentration decreased after exposition to a dose of 3.0 kGy, corroborating the supposition of its degradation. Citric acid was the main radiolytic product formed by irradiation of trans-aconitic acid in the presence of water. materials However constituents fraction nonirradiated non irradiated L decumbens 50 5 0 5. transaconitic trans aconitic constituent LCDADMS. LCDADMS LC DAD MS . (LC-DAD-MS) medium 30 3 3. degradation water (LC-DAD-MS

Xanthenones were synthesized via one-pot tricomponent reaction, under solvent-free conditions, using aldehydes, phenolic and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. Natural organic acids (NOAs), compounds present in many living metabolisms, were used as potential green catalysts. NOA are considered to be more eco-friendly and user-friendly alternative to traditional methodologies. Optimization studies showed that oxalic acid was the best NOA catalyst for such reaction furnishing the xanthenones with up to 93% of yield. Theoretical calculations were performed to evaluate this reaction mechanism and regioselectivity. The results showed that the regiospecificity of this three-component reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically controlled by the addition of β-naphthol C2, instead of C10, to the aldehyde. Our results also disclosed two xanthenones as novel calcium channels blockers. Eco-friendly reaction conditions, easy workup procedure, short reaction times and good yields are some of the advantages of our methodology.

The composition of essential oils from flowers of Solanum stipulaceum Roem & Schult collected in May and September was studied for the first time. Effects of g-radiation on volatile constituents were investigated by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID). In addition, the antileukemic activity was studied by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay against human cell lines HL-60 and THP-1. The main constituents of the essential oil of flowers collected in May were β-caryophyllene (25.8%), γ-gurjunene (11.9%), and β-gurjunene (8.2%), whereas the essential oil of flowers collected in September was mainly composed of β-caryophyllene (26.5%), caryophyllene oxide (11.0%), and γ-gurjunene (10.0%). The main components of essential oil from flowers collected in September were not significantly affected by γ-radiation at lower doses than 10.0 kGy. No cytotoxic activity in leukemic cell lines was observed for non-irradiated samples. However, irradiated samples exhibited slightly cytotoxic activity.

O extrato etanólico da casca do caule de Sacoglottis uchi Huber (conhecida popularmente como “uchi” na Amazônia) foi submetido a fracionamento cromatográfico. As frações eluídas com diclorometano forneceram o triterpeno pentacíclico 3-oxo-friedelina (1). As frações em diclorometano:metanol forneceram os triterpenos pentacíclicos pseudotaraxasterol (2), lupeol (3), a-amirina (4), betulina (5) e 2ß,3ß-di-hidroxi-urs-12-en-28-oato de metila (6), além de uma mistura dos esteróides sitosterol (7) e estigmasterol (8). Suas estruturas químicas foram determinadas por espectroscopia de RMN e comparação com os dados espectroscópicos descritos na literatura. Todas as substâncias isoladas são descritas pela primeira vez nesta espécie.

The ethanol extract from stem bark of Sacoglottis uchi Huber (popularly known as “uchi” in the Amazon Region) was submitted to chromatographic fractionation. The dichloromethane fractions provided the pentacyclic triterpene 3-oxo-friedelin (1). The dichloromethane:methanol fractions provided the pentacyclic triterpenes pseudotaraxasterol (2), lupeol (3), a-amyrin (4), betulin (5), and methyl 2ß,3ß-dihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oate (6) and a mixture of the steroids sitosterol (7) and stigmasterol (8). Their chemical structures were determined by NMR spectroscopy and comparison with spectroscopic data from the literature. All compounds are described for the first time in this species.

Leaves of Echinodorus macrophyllus (Kunth) Micheli, Alismataceae, were exposed to different doses of γ-radiation (0.00, 1.00, 3.00, 5.00, 10.00, and 20.00 kGy) and the chemical composition of their essential oils was investigated. The extractive process of the essential oil was more favored when the leaves were irradiated. The essential oil components were identified by correlation between GC-FID data and retention parameters obtained from the Kováts method. Moreover, GC-MS analyses of the essential oils were correlated with fragmentation profiles in the NIST standard mass fragmentation data bank. The essential oil of E. macrophyllus contains biologically active constituents of different chemical classes. Acyclic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes showed increase in concentration when the leaves were exposed to γ-radiation. On the other hand, the component concentrations of some chemical classes were lightly decreased, i.e., for bicyclic monoterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, carboxylic esters, and carotenoid derivatives.

The Acanthaceae family is an important source of therapeutic drugs, and the ethnopharmacological knowledge of this family requires urgent documentation as several of its species are near extinction. Justicia is the largest genus of Acanthaceae, with approximately 600 species. The present work provides a review addressing the chemistry and pharmacology of the genus Justicia. In addition, the biological activities of compounds isolated from the genus are also covered. The chemical and pharmacological information in the present work may inspire new biomedical applications for the species of Justicia, considering atom economy, the synthesis of environmentally benign products without producing toxic by-products, the use of renewable sources of raw materials, and the search for processes with maximal efficiency of energy.

The phytochemical investigation on the aereal parts of Lychnophora pinaster Mart., Asteraceae, was carried to isolation of triterpenes. 3-O-Acetyl-lupeol (1), 3-O-acetyl-pseudotaraxasterol (2), and 3-O-acetyl-α-amyrin (3) were isolated from hexanic extract and 4,4-dimethyl-cholesta-22,24-dien-5-ol (4), α-amyrin (5), and lupeol (6) were isolated from hexanic/dichlorometanic extract of the leaves. Compounds Δ7-bauerenyl acetate (7), friedelin (8), stigmasterol (9), and sitosterol (10) were isolated from the hexanic/dichlorometanic extract of the stems. The steroids 9 and 10 were also isolated from the hexanic/dichlorometanic extract of the flowers. Triterpenes 1, 3, 4, and 7 are described for the first time in the genus Lychnophora. The apolar fractions of the leaf and stem extracts and some isolated triterpenes showed low trypanocidal activity. Moreover, apolar fractions of the leaf and stem extracts and 5 showed antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus.

From the ethanolic extract of the stem of A. esperanzae ethyl and methyl fatty acid esters, fatty acids, aristolochic I and II acids, and β-cubebin were isolated. In addiction asarinin, populifolic and 2-oxo-populifolic acids, aristolactams AIa and AII, and sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were also isolated and firstly described in the species. Asarinin and β-cubebin showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus and aristolochic acid I against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocitogenes.

Um precursor inédito de sistemas magnéticos moleculares, [Fe(H2opba-i)(dmso)2]Cl (1), onde opba = orto-fenilenobis(oxamato) na forma tautomérica iminoálcool, foi obtido como produto da reação entre H4opba e FeCl3. Os dados de análise elementar, espectroscopias de absorção no infravermelho e Mössbauer e medidas magnéticas indicam que este precursor é constituído por uma mistura de isômeros trans (83%) e cis (17%). O valor de chiMT a 298 K (2,1 emu K mol-1) corresponde ao FeIII com estado de spin (S) entre 3/2 e 5/2. Cálculos teóricos (PBE/DZVP2) de trans- e cis-[Fe(H2opba-i)(dmso)2 ]+ mostram que ambos os isômeros têm spin S = 1/2 no estado fundamental e S = 3/2 para o trans e S = 5/2 para o cis no primeiro estado excitado. A combinação destes resultados leva a valores de chiMT de 0,375 emu K mol-1 e 2,3 emu K mol-1 a baixas e altas temperaturas, respectivamente, os quais são concordantes com os dados experimentais para 1.

A new precursor of molecule-based magnetic systems, [Fe(H2opba-i)(dmso)2]Cl (1), with opba = ortho-phenylenebis(oxamato) in an iminoalcohol tautomeric form, was obtained as a product from the reaction between H4opba and FeCl3. Data from elemental analysis, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopies and magnetic measurements indicate that this precursor is composed of a mixture of trans (83%) and cis (17%) isomers. The chiMT value at 298K (2.1 emu K mol-1) corresponds to FeIII with spin state (S) between 3/2 and 5/2. Theoretical calculations (PBE/DZVP2) of trans- and cis-[Fe(H2opba-i)(dmso)2 ]+ show that both isomers have spin S = 1/2 in the ground state and S = 3/2 for the trans and S = 5/2 for the cis in the first excited state. The combination of these results leads to chiMT values of 0.375 and 2.3 emu K mol-1, at low and high temperature respectively, which are in accordance with the experimental data for 1.

Neste trabalho, descrevemos a obtenção de dois novos compostos de cobre(II), ou precursores, (Pr-Rad)2[Cu(opba)].H2O (1) e (Bu-Rad)2[Cu(opba)].2H2O (2), onde opba é o ligante orto-fenilenobis(oxamato) e R-Rad+ são radicais cátions do tipo nitronil nitróxido. A partir destes compostos 1 e 2, foram sintetizados os dois novos magnetos moleculares [Pr-Rad]2[Mn2{Cu(opba)}3 ].3,3 DMSO.5H2O (3) e [Bu-Rad]2[Mn2{Cu(opba)}3 ].3DMSO.6H2O (4), respectivamente. As propriedades magnéticas dos precursores 1 e 2 mostram a presença de interações ferromagnéticas entre os radicais cátions e o cobre (II), na faixa de temperatura entre 20 e 300 K. Os magnetos moleculares 3 e 4 exibem magnetização espontânea com temperatura crítica, Tc, de 23 K e 24 K, respectivamente.

In this work, we describe the synthesis of two new copper(II) compounds, (Pr-Rad)2 [Cu(opba)].H2O (1) and (Bu-Rad)2[Cu(opba)].2H2O (2) where opba stands for ortho-phenylenebis(oxamato) and RRad+ are nitronyl nitroxide radical cations. From 1 and 2, two new molecule-based magnets [Pr-Rad]2[Mn2{Cu(opba)}3 ].3.3DMSO.5H2O (3) and [Bu-Rad]2 [Mn2{Cu(opba)}3].3DMSO.6H 2O (4) were obtained, respectively. The magnetic properties of precursors 1 and 2 show the presence of ferromagnetic interaction between the radical cations with copper(II), in the temperature range of 20-300 K. The magnets 3 and 4 exhibit spontaneous magnetization at critical temperatures, Tc, of 23 K and 24 K, respectively.