Abstract Candida is becoming more resistant to conventional treatments, and causes persistent and severe infections. This study evaluates the antifungal and virulence activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of Phyllanthus niruri (HE-Pn) on Candida. HE-Pn was prepared by maceration technique. Chemical composition of HE-Pn was determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GS-MS). Antifungal screening was done using agar well diffusion. CLSI M27-A3 was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory (MIC) and Fungicidal Concentrations (MFC). Effects of HE-Pn on adhesion and germ tube of C. albicans (ATCC MYA-2876) were determined using XTT assay and germ tube formation assay, respectively. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was performed to visualize the post-exposure cellular changes. HE-Pn cytotoxicity was determined using human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Chlorhexidine digluconate (2 mg/mL) was used as the positive control. Linolenic acid ethyl ester was the most abundant chemical component of HE-Pn. All strains tested were sensitive to HE-Pn. MIC were 0.03 - 8 mg/mL and MFC were 0.5 - 64 mg/mL for all test strains. C. albicans (ATCC MYA-2876) showed 50% of adhesion reduction with > 4 mg/mL of HE-Pn and germ-tube formation was inhibited with 0.25 and 2 mg/mL. TEM exhibited cytoplasmic granulation, intracellular vacuoles, detachment of cell wall and plasma membrane and chromatin condensation of Candida. No toxicity of HE-Pn was noted on HaCaT cells. HE-Pn shows an anti-Candida activity and can be used as an inhibitory agent against adhesion and germ tube formation of Candida albicans (ATCC MYA-2876) without causing any toxicity to human cells.

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes is a food pathogen responsible for many foodborne disease outbreaks. Listeria innocua is similar to L. monocytogenes, could be considered biologically similar to L. monocytogenes and could be used to predict its behavior. The aims of this work were to isolate Listeria spp. in dairy processing plants, perform genotypic characterization of virulence, evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profile, and verify the sensitivity of the strains to essential oils. Sampling was held in six dairy processing plants in the region of Campinas, Brazil. Seventeen Listeria innocua strains were isolated, all negative for virulence genes inlA, inlB, inlC, inlJ, actA, plcA, and plcB. The strains were resistant to kanamycin (5.9%), penicillin (11.8%), ampicillin (11.8%), cefoxitin (58.8%), clindamycin (76.50%) and oxacillin (100%). The susceptibility of the strains to commercial essential oils (Rosemarinus officinalis, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus citirodora, Mentha piperita, Piper nigrum, Vetiveria zizanioides, Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon martinii and Pogostemon cablin) was evaluated by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test. The results showed Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon martini, Cymbopogon nardus and Mentha piperita oils were most efficient. The resistance of Listeria innocua isolated in dairy processing plants is worrisome, and the use of essential oils could be an alternative for development of new drugs and products.

Platonia insignis fruit, popularly known as bacuri, is traditionally used in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study determined the chemical composition and biological activities of the bacuri’s shell and seeds extracts, considered residues from its consumption and industrial uses. Four biflavonoids (GB-2a, GB-1a, morelloflavone, and volkensiflavone) were identified in the extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and liquid chromatography-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance (LC-SPE-NMR) techniques. Morelloflavone was identified as the main compound in the shell ethyl acetate extract, being responsible for the high in vitro antioxidant (50% effective concentration (EC50) ranging from 8.0-10.5 µg mL−1 in different protocols), anti-glycant (80%), and moderate inhibition of nitric oxide (1.56 µg mL−1 for > 90% cell viability) activities. This extract showed promising in vivo anti-inflammatory activity evaluated through the paw edema protocol after its incorporation into a liquid-crystalline drug carrier system, reducing the edema by up to 31%. The results demonstrated the potential of the fruit for the development of drugs of natural origin and corroborated to add economic value to these discarded residues.

ABSTRACT. In this study, we aimed to estimate general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA, respectively) and to verify genetic divergence (Rogers distance, Unweighted Pair-Group Method Using Arithmetic Average - UPGMA) using microsatellite markers in maize inbred lines. Using a partial diallel scheme, a total of 19 inbred lines were crossed as (9 x 10), which were derived from the single hybrids SG6015 and P30F53, respectively. The 90 hybrids were evaluated in an incomplete randomized block design with common checks and three replications during the 2017-2018 growing season. Flowering time, average plant height, ear height insertion, average ear diameter, ear length, number of lodged and broken plants, mass of 100 grains and grain yield were measured. According to the analysis of variance, GCA, and SCA were significant (p < 0.05) in all the measured traits; inbred line B as well as 1 and 8, derived from the single hybrids SG6015 and P30F53, respectively, were selected due to their higher GCA values in grain yield to be used in crosses as testers, while the single cross hybrid (B x 1) was selected due to their higher SCA value in grain yield to be used in future breeding programs. The molecular marker analysis divided the inbred lines into two groups, where the highest dissimilarity (0.74) was observed between lines A and 9; however, these did not result in a high SCA value, therefore the hybrids obtained by such crossings were not selected for grain yield.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of a blend based on α-monolaurin mono-, di- and triglycerides of butyric acid, and lysolecithin on the performance even on diets containing reduced inclusion of oil in the diet and without the use of growth-promoting antibiotics of broilers considering the effect on health, performance, and meat. Three treatments were defined: positive control (TP: with enramycin), negative control (TN: no enramycin), and blend (T-FRA: with monolaurin and glycerides of acid butyric minus 0.8% soybean oil). At 21 days, broilers treated with TP and T-FRA obtained the lower feed conversion ratio (FC); at 35 days, T-FRA broilers obtained lower FC than TN broilers. Cholesterol levels were higher in the blood of T-FRA broilers. On day 42, levels of ROS and TBARS were lower in the intestine, muscles, and liver of T-FRA broilers. Moreover, glutathione S-transferase and total non-enzymatic antioxidants were greater at the intestinal and muscular levels. The T-FRA broilers had a lower percentage of lipids in the meat. The MIC indicated that 111mg of the blend/mL inhibited the growth of E. coli; however, the counts of total coliforms and E. coli in the feces and the broilers’ litter did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, the addition of the blend T-FRA in broiler diets was able to improve the feed conversion and maintain the other performance parameters even considering a reduction of 0.8% in the inclusion of oil.

Abstract This study aimed to determine whether the addition of green propolis extract to the diet of laying hens would improve egg quality and bird performance and decrease bacterial contamination of eggs. Forty-five brown Hy-line laying hens were used, divided into five groups with three replicates each and three animals per cage: T0 - diet without propolis; T5 - 5 grams of propolis per kg of feed; T10 - 10 grams of propolis per kg of feed; T20 - 20 grams of propolis per kg of feed and T30 - 30 grams of propolis per kg of feed. The quality of fresh eggs was made on day 21 of the experiment, and eggs were stored for 21 days. Greater specific gravity was observed in fresh eggs in T5 birds and stored eggs for T10. TBARS in fresh eggs, we found that T30 eggs had lower levels compared to other treatments. T20 eggs had the lowest total bacterial count and the lowest total coliform count in the eggshells of T10 and T20 chickens. The count of E. coli in the peel was lower for T20 and T30 than T0 and T5. The consumption of propolis did not interfere with the hens’ egg production rate but reduced food intake and consequently reduced feed conversion. We concluded that the addition of green propolis in the diet of laying birds proved efficient in reducing bacterial contamination in the eggshells and reducing the lipid peroxidation of fresh and stored eggs.

The complex [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] and two iron(II)-containing products, [Fe4Cl8(thf)6] and [Fe2Cl3(thf)6][FeCl4], were synthesized by a redox reaction involving [Ti3(OiPr)11][FeCl4] and neopentanol; the structures of compounds [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] and [Fe2Cl3(thf)6][FeCl4] have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction methods. Variable-temperature 1H NMR analysis of [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] revealed signals for three non-equivalent neopentoxides in the 1:1:1 integration ratio, indicating the maintenance of the trinuclear structure in solution. Alkoxide [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] was employed as initiator in both bulk and solution polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) at various temperatures, monomer/initiator molar ratios and reaction times. [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] produced poly(ε-caprolactone) in high yields, with molecular weights ranging from 7100 to 9800 g mol-1 and PDI (polydispersity index) values between 1.3 to 1.5. The reactivity of [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-CL was compared to those of [Ti3(OiPr)11][FeCl4] and [Ti(OiPr)4]. The better polymerization reactivity shown by [Ti3(O)(Cl)(ONep)9] seems to be associated with structural features, as well as with the stronger Lewis basicity of -ONep over -OiPr ligands and the maintenance of the trimetallic structure in the reaction media.

The activity of the heterometallic alkoxide [FeCl{Ti2(OiPr)9}] (1) towards polymerization of rac-lactide (rac-LA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) was investigated in toluene solution and in bulk at various temperatures, monomer/heterometallic alkoxide molar ratio and reaction times. The alkoxide 1 was active in solution for ε-CL and in bulk for both monomers. Polymers were obtained in good yields with molecular weights ranging from 3890 to 15000 g moL-1 and polydispersity indexes (PDI) values varying from 1.3 to 2.5. Based on the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) end-group analysis of polymers, a coordination-insertion mechanism was suggested for both monomers. The average number of growing chains per molecule of initiator (4 to 5 for rac-LA and 7 to 8 for ε-CL) indicates that both bridging and terminal isopropoxides are active initiating groups. Kinetic studies with ε-CL indicated that the polymerization rate is first order with respect to monomer concentration. The catalytic properties of 1 were compared to those found for other titanium(IV) and iron(II) complexes using ε-CL as a model monomer.

Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) é uma palmeira extensamente distribuída pelas florestas da Amazônia brasileira. Dos frutos do buriti é extraído um óleo que é popularmente utilizado como alimento e com fins medicinais. Neste trabalho reportamos a aplicação de uma abordagem integrativa baseada em espectrometria de massas (MS) utilizando cromatografia a gás acoplada a espectrometria de massas com ionização por elétrons (GC-MS) e espectrometria de massas ambiente com ionização por sonic-spray (EASI-MS) com o objetivo de se obter uma caracterização lipídica abrangente do óleo de buriti. Análises por GC-MS revelaram a presença de diversos ácidos graxos, esteróis além de tocoferóis. EASI-MS permitiu a caracterização de triacilgliceróis e ácidos graxos nos modos positivo e negativo de ionização, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, a capacidade antioxidante foi avaliada para as frações lipofílica e hidrofílica. Os resultados revelaram uma capacidade antioxidante lipofílica (LAC) de 1,8 ± 0,01 e uma hidrofílica de 8,3 ± 0,01 μmol equivalentes de Trolox (TE) g−1, indicando que o óleo de buriti compreende uma valiosa fonte de compostos antioxidantes com potencial em diversas aplicações.

Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L. f.) is a palm widely distributed in the Amazon Rain Forest of Brazil. Oil is extracted from buriti fruit and popularly used as a food resource and for medicinal purposes. Herein we report the use of an integrative approach based on mass spectrometry (MS) techniques comprising gas chromatography coupled to electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) with the objective to provide comprehensive lipid characterization of buriti oil. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of many fatty acids (oleic, palmitic and linoleic), sterols beyond α- and β-tocopherol in buriti oil. EASI-MS allowed the characterization of fatty acids and many triaclyglycerides (TAG) in the negative and positive ion mode, respectively. Additionally, the antioxidant capacity (AC) was measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC); this test was carried with the lipophilic and hydrophilic fractions of the buriti oil. Results revealed a lypophilic antioxidant capacity (LAC) of 1.8 ± 0.01 and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (HAC) of 8.3 ± 0.01 μmol Trolox equivalents (TE) g−1 indicating that the buriti oil comprises a reliable source of antioxidant compounds that can be more explored for food purposes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bacterial inoculants at two inoculation rates on chemical and biological characteristics of maize silage. The treatments consisted of two inoculating rates (5 and 6 log cfu g-1of forage) for each strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) identified as Lactobacillus buchneri, L. hilgardii, or L. plantarum. The maize was ensiled in experimental PVC silos. Samples were taken for the determination of the contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), organic acids and alcohols, for the evaluation of the populations of lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and for the determination of pH values during ensilage and after 30 or 90 days of fermentation. The doses of inoculants did not promote significant differences on the evaluated characteristics. There was effect of inoculants on acetic acid, 1.2-propanediol, LAB population, filamentous fungi, and pH value. No significant influence of the treatments with inoculants was observed in the variables DM, WSC, CP, lactic acid concentrations, or ethanol. The maximum temperature, i.e., the time to achieve the maximum temperature (TMT) and aerobic stability (AS), was not influencied by treatments. However, a decrease in maximum temperature, an increase in TMT, and improvement in the AS were observed after 90 days of fermentation. These results proved the advantage of microbial inoculation. The treatments influenced LAB populations and filamentous fungi, but no effect was observed on the yeast population. The best inoculation dose is 6 cfu g-1 of forage because it provides higher reduction of filamentous fungi in maize silage, thereby decreasing the aerobic deterioration by these microorganisms.

Objetivou-se avaliar a interação entre salinidade e o uso de biofertilizante bovino sobre a condutividade elétrica do solo, crescimento inicial, trocas gasosas e teores de elementos minerais no feijão-de-corda. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido do Departamento de Ciências dos Solos - UFC. A semeadura foi feita em vasos, utilizando-se, como substrato, um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo. O experimento obedeceu a um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, referente a cinco níveis de sais da água de irrigação e dois de biofertilizante bovino. O aumento dos níveis salinos da água de irrigação inibiu o crescimento inicial das plantas, sendo menos afetado no solo com o biofertilizante. O aumento da salinidade da água aliado à aplicação do biofertilizante, resultou no aumento da salinidade do solo. O aumento do teor salino da água de irrigação provocou redução nas trocas gasosas, mas em menor proporção nas plantas desenvolvidas nos tratamentos com o biofertilizante. A extração dos elementos essenciais e de sódio obedeceu a seguinte ordem: Ca > K > Na > P. A aplicação de biofertilizante bovino foi eficiente ao aumentar os teores de P na planta e de aumentar os totais extraídos de K, P e Ca, independente no nível de salinidade aplicado. Entretanto, os efeitos benéficos da aplicação de biofertilizante bovino sobre o crescimento, trocas gasosas e extração de nutrientes, são menos expressivos nos maiores níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between salinity levels of the water and the use of biofertilizer soil electrical conductivity of soil, initial growth, gas exchange and mineral content in cowpea plants. The experiment was performed conducted under greenhouse of the Department of Soil Science - UFC. The sowing of seeds was done in pots, using as a substrate Alfissol and two plants per pot. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 5 x 2 factorial, with 5 levels of salts and 2 levels of biofertilizer. The increase in salinity levels of irrigation water inhibited the initial growth of the plant, being less affected in the presence of biofertilizer. The high salinity combined with application of biofertilizer caused an increase in soil salinity. Increasing salinity of irrigation water caused reduction in gas exchange, being less affected by the presence of biofertilizer. The extraction of essential elements and sodium followed the order: Ca> K> Na> P. The application of biofertilizer was effective to increase the P concentration in plant and increase the total extracted K, Ca and P, regardless of salinity level applied. However, the beneficial effects of application of biofertilizer on growth, gas exchange and nutrient uptake, were less significant in the highest levels of irrigation water salinity.

A utilização de águas salinas bem como o reúso de águas de drenagem na irrigação dependem de estratégias de longo prazo que garantam a sustentabilidade socioeconômica e ambiental dos sistemas agrícolas. Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se os efeitos da irrigação com água salina na estação seca e com água de baixa salinidade na estação chuvosa sobre o acúmulo de sais no solo e a produtividade de milho e feijão-de-corda em sistema de rotação. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, utilizando-se do delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições. O primeiro cultivo foi instalado durante a estação seca de 2007, com a cultura do milho irrigada com água de diferentes salinidades (0,8; 2,2; 3,6 e 5,0 dS m-1). As plantas foram coletadas aos 90 dias após a semeadura (DAS), sendo realizadas as avaliações: crescimento vegetativo, produção de grãos por planta, matéria seca de 1.000 grãos e produtividade. Durante a estação chuvosa de 2008, foi cultivado o feijão caupi nas mesmas parcelas que foram cultivadas com milho. Ao final do ciclo, as plantas foram coletadas, sendo realizadas avaliações de crescimento vegetativo e produtividade. Amostras de solo foram coletadas antes e após o cultivo do milho e ao final do cultivo com feijão caupi. A salinidade da água de irrigação acima 2,2 dS m-1 reduziu a produtividade do milho durante o período seco. Os elevados totais de precipitação pluviométrica durante a estação chuvosa proporcionaram a lixiviação dos sais acumulados durante o cultivo na estação seca e eliminaram os possíveis efeitos negativos da salinidade sobre o feijão caupi. Porém, o feijão caupi apresentou um comportamento atípico com uma expressiva proporção de massa vegetativa e baixa produção de vagens, o que reduziu a eficiência dessa estratégia de rotação de culturas, nas condições do presente estudo.

The use of saline water and the reuse of drainage water for irrigation depend on long-term strategies that ensure the sustainability of socio-economic and environmental impacts of agricultural systems. In this study, it was evaluated the effects of irrigation with saline water in the dry season and fresh water in the rainy season on the soil salt accumulation yield of maize and cowpea, in a crop rotation system. The experiment was conducted in the field, using a randomized complete block design, with five replications. The first crop was installed during the dry season of 2007, with maize irrigated with water of different salinities (0.8, 2.2, 3.6 and 5.0 dS m-1). The maize plants were harvested at 90 days after sowing (DAS), and vegetative growth, dry mass of 1000 seeds and grain yield were evaluated. The same plots were utilized for the cultivation of cowpea, during the rainy season of 2008. At the end of the crop, cycle plants of this species were harvested, being evaluated the vegetative growth and plant yield. Soil samples were collected before and after maize and cowpea cultivation. The salinity of irrigation water above 2.2 dS m-1 reduced the yield of maize during the dry season. The high total rainfall during the rainy season resulted in leaching of salts accumulated during cultivation in the dry season, and eliminated the possible negative effects of salinity on cowpea plants. However, this crop showed atypical behavior with a significant proportion of vegetative mass and low pod production, which reduced the efficiency of this strategy of crop rotation under the conditions of this study.

A utilização de água salina na agricultura irrigada pode causar desequilíbrio nutricional e inibição competitiva na absorção de nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da salinidade da água de irrigação sobre o acúmulo, os totais extraídos e a distribuição de nutrientes em plantas de milho. O estudo foi conduzido em condições de campo em um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo na estação seca, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições, de setembro a dezembro de 2007, em Fortaleza, CE. As plantas de milho foram coletadas aos 90 dias após a semeadura e realizadas as seguintes avaliações: teores, extração e distribuição de elementos minerais nas diferentes partes da planta (folha, colmo, grão e sabugo). O aumento da salinidade da água de irrigação aos 90 dias após a semeadura, inibiu o acúmulo de potássio nas folhas e de magnésio e fósforo nos grãos. A extração dos nutrientes e sódio pelas plantas irrigadas com água de salinidade variando de 0,8 a 3,6 dS m-1 obedeceu à seguinte ordem decrescente: K > Mg > Ca > P > Na; no tratamento de maior salinidade (5,0 dS m-1) a sequência de extração foi: K > Ca > Na > P > Mg.

The use of saline water in irrigated agriculture can cause nutritional imbalance and competitive inhibition in the absorption of nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salinity of irrigation water on the accumulation, the total absorption, and the distribution of mineral elements in maize plants. The study was conducted under field conditions in an Yellow Red Argisol in the dry season, in the randomized blocks design with five replicates during September to December 2007 in Fortaleza - CE. The maize plants were collected at 90 days after sowing, and the following assessments were made: content, extraction and distribution of mineral elements in the plant parts (leaf, stem, grain and elderberry). The increase of salinity of irrigation water at 90 days after sowing inhibited the accumulation of potassium in leaves, and corn stan and phosphorus in the grains. The extraction of nutrients and sodium by plants irrigated with saline water ranging from 0.8 to 3.6 dS m-1 had the following decreasing order: K > Mg > Ca > P > Na; the treatment of higher salinity (5.0 dS m-1) the sequence extraction was: K > Ca > Na > P > Mg.

Evaluation of apoptosis by flow cytometry is generally accomplished by methods that use annexin V-FITC as vital dye, which access phosphatidylserine exposed on the external membrane at the beginning of this process. In addition, the concomitant use of propidium iodide makes possible to verify the characteristic nuclear alterations in the late stages of apoptosis, as a consequence of the increase in membrane permeability. On the other hand, the use of calcein-AM in association with ethidium homodimer (EthD-1) allows the evaluation of cell apoptosis through detection of esterase activity and cellular membrane physical and chemical alterations. The aim of this study was to compare the sensibility of calcein-AM and EthD-1 with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide for early apoptosis evaluation in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture, obtained from HIV-infected patients. Apoptosis and cellular viability were detected and quantified by flow cytometry after 24 and 48 hours incubation times. Our results showed that calcein-AM/EthD-1 was more sensitive for apoptotic cell quantification in both incubation times than annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (mean of 46.95% ± 3.56, p < 0.0001, for 24 hours and mean of 37.67% ± 2.47, p < 0.0014 for 48 hours), besides allowing to clearly define viable, apoptotic and dead cell populations.

O sabugueiro (Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae) é uma planta medicinal descrita em farmacopéias estrangeiras, não constando da Farmacopéia Brasileira. A espécie é de origem européia e suas flores são comercializadas in natura sob o nome farmacopéico Sambuci flos, para uso na forma de infusão ou decocção, como diuréticas, antipiréticas, antiinflamatórias, laxativo leve e no tratamento de doenças do aparelho respiratório. Visando elaborar uma monografia farmacopéica atualizada, foram estabelecidos os caracteres botânicos macro e microscópicos, através da metodologia clássica utilizada em morfoanatomia vegetal. São características macroscópicas: flores monoclinas, iguais; corola de três a cinco milímetros de diâmetro; pétalas com três a quatro nervuras paralelas; estames iguais; gineceu em regra com três lóculos. São características microscópicas: cutícula espessa e estriada; presença de idioblastos de areia cristalina de oxalato de cálcio em brácteas, sépalas e pétalas; estômatos anomocíticos; brácteas hipoestomáticas; sépalas anfiestomáticas; pétalas anfi-hipoestomáticas; células epidérmicas da face abaxial de sépalas e pétalas muito sinuosas; células epidérmicas do filete alongadas e de paredes retilíneas; tricomas tectores e glandulares de diferentes tipos em todas as peças; brácteas, sépalas e pétalas com mesofilo homogêneo; sistema vascular representado por feixes colaterais ou agrupamentos de elementos xilemáticos; presença de gotas lipídicas em todas as peças.

The Elder tree (Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae) is a medicinal plant described in international pharmacopoeias, not yet mentioned in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. The flowers of this European species are commercialized in natura by the pharmacopeial name of Sambuci flos, with diuretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and mild laxative purposes, and to treat respiratory diseases, through infusions or decoctions forms. Aiming at elaborating an updated pharmacopeial monograph, the macro and microscopic botanic characters were established, with the classic methodology used in plant morpho-anatomy. The macroscopic characters are: monoclin and equal flowers; corolla with three to five millimeters of diameter; petals with three to four parallel veins; equal stamens; ovary often with three locules. The main microscopic characters are: thickened and striated cuticle; anomocytic stomatas; bracts, sepals and petals with sandy crystals of calcium oxalate idioblasts; hypostomatic bracts; amphystomatic sepals; amphi-hypostomatic petals; strongly wavy epidermal cells in the lower surface of sepals and petals; filaments epidermal cells with narrow and straight walls; glandular and non-glandular trichomes of different types in all pieces; homogeneous mesophyll in bracts, sepals and petals; vascular system represented by both collateral bundles and xylematic elements; volatile and non-volatile oil globules in all structures.