Various vegetables as biological catalysts were evaluated in enantioselective reduction of carbonyl compounds. The stereoselectivity of the process was in agreement with Prelog's rule for twelve of the vegetables, whereas okra and green peppers formed anti-Prelog products. Zingiber officinale exhibited the best results with 30% conversion and 89% ee. The parameters of the reaction such as time, solvent and other substrates investigated, as well as the specie, showed good chemo- and enantioselectivity.

In a continuing investigation for potentially bioactive natural products, flavonoids were isolated from Lonchocarpus araripensis (Leguminoseae) and identified as 3-methoxy-6-O-prenyl-6'',6''-dimethylchromene-[7,8,2'',3'']-flavone (1), 3,6-dimethoxy-6'',6''-dimethylchromene-[7,8,2'',3'']-flavone (2) and 3,5,8-trimethoxy-[6,7,2",3"]-furanoflavone (3). This is the first time compound 3 has been described. Compound 2 has been previously isolated from roots while this is the first time 1 is reported in this species. Complete NMR assignments are given for1 ,2 and 3 together with the determination of conformation for 1.

Analysis of essential oil from fresh leaves of Capraria biflora allowed identification of fourteen essential oil constituents among which thirteen are sesquiterpene compounds, and α-humulene (43.0%) the major constituent. The essential oil was tested for larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti showing good activity, with LC50 73.39 µg/mL (2.27 g/mL). Chromatographic studies of extracts from roots and stems allowed the isolation of five compounds: naphthoquinone biflorin, sesquiterpene caprariolide B, the steroid β-sitosterol, the carbohydrate D-mannitol and iridoid myopochlorin first reported in the species C. biflora. The structures of compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data, IR, MS, NMR13C, NMR¹H, NOE, HSQC and HMBC.

Uma análise dos componentes da água-de-coco (Cocos nucifera L.) de duas variedades da fruta (verde e amarelo) por hidrodestilação e extração com solvente, mostrou a presença de álcoois, cetonas, tióis, ácidos carboxílicos, fenóis, e ésteres. Significativa atividade antioxidante foi observada, usando o método DPPH, para as amostras obtidas por hidrodestilação e extração de éter de petróleo para ambas as variedades do coco.

An analysis of the constituents of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water from two fruit varieties (green and yellow) by hydrodistillation and solvent extraction showed the presence of alcohols, ketones, thiols, carboxylic acids, phenols, and esters. Substantial antioxidant activity was observed, using the DPPH assay, for the samples obtained by hydrodistillation and petroleum ether extraction of both coconut varieties.

Lipase-catalysed esterifications of alcohols using immobilized enzyme system from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) as biocatalyst afforded the corresponding esters in considerable yields (68-93%). Under optimized conditions, the material was utilized for reactions of acetylation with several advantage. It also investigated the possibility of reuse of immobilized enzymes of S. officinarum as biocatalyst under optimal reaction conditions.

Two new compounds, 5 and 8, and an epimeric mixture 4a/4b were isolated from hardwood of Auxemma glazioviana. Their structures and relative configurations were determined by modern spectroscopic analysis to be rel-10alpha,11alpha-epoxy-11beta-ethoxy-8alpha- hydroxy-2-methoxy -8abeta-methyl-5,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10abeta-octahydro-1,4-anthracenedione (or rel-2R,2aR,5R,5aS ,10bS,10cS-2-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-8-methoxy-5a-methyl- 2a,3,4,5,5a,6,10b,10c-octahydro-2H-anthra[9,1-bc]furan-7,10-dione, 4a), rel-10alpha,11alpha- epoxy-11alpha-ethoxy-8alpha-hydroxy-2-methoxy-8abeta-methyl-5,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10abeta-octahydro- 1,4-anthracenedione (or rel-2S,2aR,5R,5aS ,10bS,10cS-2-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-8-methoxy- 5a-methyl-2a,3,4,5,5a,6,10b10c-octahydro-2H-anthra[9,1-bc]furan-7,10-dione, 4b), rel-10alpha,11alpha-epoxy-8alpha,11-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-8abeta-methyl-5,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10abeta- octahydro-1,4-anthracenedione (or rel-2S,2aR,5R,5aS ,10bS,10cS-2,5-dihydroxy-8- methoxy-5a-methyl-2a,3,4,5,5a,6,10b,10c-octahydro-2H-anthra[9,1-bc]furan-7,10 -dione, 5) and rel-10,11-epoxy-8abeta-methyl-1,4,5alpha,9alpha-tetrahydroxy-5,6,7,8,8a,9,10,10a- octahydro-8-anthracenone (or rel-2aS,5aS,6R,10bR ,10c5-2a,6,7,10-tetrahydroxy-5a-methyl-2a,3,4,5,5a,6,10b,10c-octahydro-2H-anthra [9,1-bc]-furan-5-one, 8). In addition, known compounds were also isolated.