Resumo A oleorresina bruta não volátil das espécies de Burseraceae (breu), um produto florestal não madeireiro da Amazônia, ainda carece de métodos para seu controle de qualidade, embora suas atividades farmacológicas tenham sido associadas aos principais triterpenos α-amirina (αAA), β-amirina, α-amirenona, β-amirenona e lupeol (LU). Sua caracterização química tem sido geralmente determinada por cromatografia gasosa (CG), utilizando colunas com fases de baixa polaridade, que são ineficazes na separação de αAA e LU. O presente estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um método de CG para caracterizar e quantificar triterpenos em breu comercial com boa seletividade e resolução. Colunas com fases de diferentes polaridades (DB-35, DB-1701, DB-17HT e DB-Innowax) foram testadas, e DB-17HT separou αAA e LU sem supressão de sinal ou alta retenção de outros constituintes. Esta coluna permitiu a quantificação de triterpenos do breu utilizando detecção de ionização de chama e colesterol como padrão de referência. A boa similaridade entre as curvas de calibração do colesterol e αAA foi verificada. Padronizações interna e externa levaram a quantificações diferentes (p < 0,05), mas a última apresentou menor desvio (RSD ≤ 3%). Este trabalho fornece um método de CG reprodutível para o controle de qualidade do breu comercial, evidenciando claramente a presença do lupeol e permitindo a quantificação precisa dos principais triterpenos.

Abstract Crude non-volatile oleoresin from Burseraceae species (breu), a non-timber forest product of the Amazon, still lacks methods for its quality control even though its pharmacological activities have been associated to the major triterpenes α-amyrin (αAA), β-amyrin, α-amyrenone, β-amyrenone and lupeol (LU). Its chemical characterization has usually been determined by gas chromatography (GC) using columns with phases of low polarity, which are ineffective in the separation of αAA and LU. The present study aimed to develop a GC method to characterize and quantify triterpenes in commercial breu with good selectivity and resolution. Columns with phases of different polarity (DB-35, DB-1701, DB-17HT and DB-Innowax) were tested, and DB-17HT separated αAA and LU without signal suppression or high retention of other constituents. This column allowed the quantification of breu triterpenes using flame ionization detection and cholesterol as a reference standard. Good similarity between the calibration curves of cholesterol and αAA was verified. Internal and external standardizations led to different (p < 0.05) quantifications, but the latter showed less deviation (RSD ≤ 3%). This work provides a reproducible GC method for the quality control of commercial breu, clearly evidencing the presence of lupeol and allowing the accurate quantification of major triterpenes.

Resumo Este estudo utilizou o potencial informacional das coleções dos herbários como base para estabelecer indicativos da distribuição, no Brasil, de espécies produtoras de alcaloides pirrolizidínicos (APs), que são considerados toxinas naturais. Foram detectadas 55.480 exsicatas registradas abrangendo espécies de 17 gêneros, entre os quais destacaram-se Ipomoea (33,2%) (Convolvulaceae), Crolataria (23,8%) (Fabaceae), Eupatorium (16,4%), Senecio (13,4%), Erechtites (3,97%) (Asteraceae) e Pleurothallis (8,28%) (Orchidaceae). As maiores densidades de registros foram encontradas em herbários dos estados do Sudeste (30%), Sul (28%) e Nordeste (24%). Os APs são tóxicos para animais em geral e possuem alto potencial de inserção nas cadeias produtivas de alimentos-base dos humanos. Uma relação qualitativa foi evidenciada na compilação simultânea de casos de intoxicação de diversos animais de criação pela ingestão destas espécies, deixando evidente o risco da contaminação por APs de alimentos diversos, como cereais, carnes, leites e mel. O censo botânico realizado visou alicerçar um estudo prospectivo sobre o potencial de risco sanitário representado pelas espécies com APs, pela inferência da distribuição delas no território nacional. Esta abordagem inédita ressalta valor das informações multidisciplinares incorporadas nas coleções botânicas dos herbários, com possível impacto na saúde pública.

Abstract This study accessed the informational potential of herbaria collections as a tool for establishing an indication of the distribution of species that produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which are considered natural toxins, in Brazil. A total of 55,480 registered exsiccates were recorded, comprising species belonging to 17 genera, including Ipomoea (33.2%) (Convolvulaceae), Crotalaria (23.8%) (Fabaceae), Eupatorium (16.4%), Senecio (13.4%), Erechtites (3.97%) (Asteraceae) and Pleurothallis (8.28%) (Orchidaceae). These records were more densely distributed in the herbaria of the southeastern (30%), southern (28%) and northeastern (24%) Brazilian states. PAs are toxic to animals in general and display high potential for contamination of human food-production chains. A qualitative relationship was evidenced when carrying out a simultaneous compilation of cases of livestock intoxicated by the ingestion of these species, evidencing risks associated with PA-contaminated foodstuffs such as cereals, meats, milks and honey. The botanical census carried out herein is aimed at supporting a prospective study on the health risk presented by PA-producing species while bringing about indicators for their distribution in Brazil. This previously unpublished approach highlights the value of multidisciplinary information incorporated into herbaria botanical collections, with possible impacts on public health.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Dengue fever may present hemorrhages and cavitary effusions as result of exacerbated immune responses. We investigated hydro-alcoholic extracts from leaves (UGL) and bark (UGB) of the medicinal species Uncaria guinanensis with respect to antiviral effects in Dengue virus (DENV) infection and in immunological parameters associated with in vivo physiopathological features. METHODS Chemical profiles from UGB or UGL were compared in thin layer chromatography and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance using flavonoid compounds and a pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid-enriched fraction as references. DENV-2-infected hepatocytes (Huh-7) were treated with extracts. Cell viability, DENV antigens and immunological factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or flow cytometry. FINDINGS The UGL mainly differed from UGB by selectively containing the flavonoid kaempferitrin. UGB and UGL improved hepatocyte viability. Both extracts reduced intracellular viral antigen and inhibited the secretion of viral non-structural protein (NS1), which is indicative of viral replication. Reduction in secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor was achieved by UGB, of interleukin-6 by UGL, and of interleukin-8 by both UGB and UGL. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The U. guianensis extracts presented, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects for DENV and possibly a hepatocyte-protective activity. Further studies may be performed to consider these products as potential candidates for the development of an herbal product for the future treatment of dengue.

Analisa os processos de assimilação e transformação de saberes e práticas terapêuticas que envolvem o uso de plantas medicinais, e destaca o uso, no combate à lepra, do óleo da chaulmoogra. Atenta para os diferentes modos de incorporação e transformação das chaulmoogras em conhecimentos validados cientificamente, tendo em vista a entrada em cena da 'chaulmoogra brasileira'. Privilegia a chegada dos derivados dessa planta à pauta de produção do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), na década de 1920, estabelecendo nexos entre os diferentes processos produtivos e articulando-os ao contexto científico no período estudado. O óleo de chaulmoogra representou, até a década de 1940, a grande esperança para a tentativa de cura da lepra. Observa ainda que a terapêutica chaulmúgrica durante esse período, consolidou-se como um saber científico graças à realização de diversas pesquisas feitas em laboratórios de todo o mundo ocidental.

The article investigates how knowledge of medicinal plants and related treatment practices are assimilated and transformed. Taking as its focus the use of chaulmoogra oil to treat leprosy, it examines how information on this plant was incorporated and transformed into scientifically validated knowledge when 'Brazilian chaulmoogra' came onto the scene. Pointing to the addition of chaulmoogra byproducts to the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz's production agenda in the 1920s, the study establishes links between productive processes and relates these to the period's scientific context. From the late nineteenth century until the 1940s, chaulmoogra oil was the great hope in efforts to cure leprosy. During this period, chaulmoogric treatment earned a place as scientific knowledge thanks to research studies conducted in laboratories throughout the Western world.

Phenolic contents of extracts of Syzygium cumini leaves, collected monthly over a one-year period, were quantitatively determined by the modified Folin-Ciocalteau method. Extracts and tannin-free fractions were assayed by their potential to inhibit mouse paw edema induced by C48/80. HPLC showed high molecular weight phenolic species and flavonoids in the active extracts and fractions. The highest total phenolic content corresponded to the most potent degree of inhibition and the flavonoids were supposed to be the main species responsible for the activity, given that the flavonoid-enriched ethyl-acetate fraction maintained its effect down to a dose of 0.01 mg/kg in a dose-response manner.