Our study aimed at the development of a method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) using selected ion monitoring for the simultaneous quantitation of the alkaloids galantamine, pseudolycorine, sanguinine and narciclasine in Amaryllidaceae species (Hippeastrum elegans, Habranthus cf. irwinianus, Hymenocallis littoralis and Griffinia nocturna). The alkaloids were extracted from dried and ground bulbs (100 mg) using liquid-liquid microextraction followed by solid phase extraction in cation exchange cartridges. The quantification method showed good linearity (correlation coefficient, R ≥ 0.9968) and selectivity for a run time of 10 min. All values were within the acceptable limits for recovery (87.5-96.2%), interday (coefficient of variation, CV%, 1.3-8.4%) and intraday precision (CV% 5.7-8.1%), except narciclasine (70%). The limits of detection and quantification were 5-100 and 20-350 ng mL-1, respectively. Our method demonstrated to be rapid, sensitive and reliable, therefore appropriate for being employed in the prospection of new source of galantamine and other alkaloids.

ABSTRACT The jambu, Spilanthes acmella (Asteraceae), has bioactivity on pests, but little is known of the effect on phytophagous mites and its compatibility with predatory mites. The red palm mite, Raoiella indica, is a severe pest of several crops, coconut trees among them. The predatory mite Amblyseius largoensis (Acari:Phytoseiidae) is found in association with R. indica in several countries, and it can assist in the control of this pest in the field. Associated with biological control, products that are compatible with natural enemies could help control this pest. Therefore, the acaricidal activity of S. amella on R. indica and its selectivity for the predator A. largoensis was evaluated using concentration-mortality bioassays of its ethanolic extract (EE). Additionally, the repellent effect and the population growth rate were evaluated in the LC50 and LC80. The EE of S. acmella was highly toxic to R. indica, but it did not kill A. largoensis. The LC50 and LC80 of the EE from S. acmella, estimated for R. indica, were repellent to the pest untill 48 hours after application, while, at its highest concentration, it repelled.

RESUMEN El jambu, Spilanthes acmella (Asteraceae), posee bioactividad contra plagas; sin embargo, es poco conocido sobre el efecto a ácaros fitófagos y su compatibilidad con ácaros depredadores. El ácaro rojo del cocotero Raoiella indica es una plaga severa de diversos cultivos agrícolas, dentro de los cuales está el cocotero. El ácaro depredador Amblyseius largoensis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) se encuentra en asociación con R. indica en diversos países y puede auxiliar en el control de esta plaga en campo. Asociado al control biológico, los productos que sean compatibles con los enemigos naturales pueden ayudar en el control de esta plaga. Se evaluó la actividad acaricida por medio de bioensayos de concentración-mortalidad del extracto etanólico (EE) de S. acmella contra R. indica y su selectividad al depredador A. largoensis. Además, se evaluaron el efecto repelente y la tasa de crecimiento poblacional en la CL50 y la CL80. La CL50 y la CL80 de EE de S. acmella, estimada para R. indica, fueron repelentes a la plaga hasta 48 horas después de la aplicación y repelió al depredador solamente hasta una hora en la mayor concentración. Esas concentraciones del EE de S. acmella redujeron drásticamente la tasa de crecimiento de R. indica y no afectaron el aumento poblacional del depredador. Se concluye que el EE de S. acmella podría ser utilizado en el manejo de R. indica por ser tóxico, repelente y reducir el crecimiento poblacional de esta plaga, además de ser selectivo al ácaro depredador A. largoensis.

Metabolomics is an emerging and promising omics approach used to understand biological mechanisms. By untargeted and targeted metabolomics analyses, metabolites are determined in biological samples (fluids, cells, tissues, etc.) by comparison of control groups with altered groups, undergoing different therapies, submitted to differing stress levels, dietary modulation, or promoted by a disease, or specific condition, etc., using sophisticated analytical techniques, and advanced data treatment and statistical analyses. In this review, the concepts involved in metabolomics studies were presented, describing in details all steps involved in the metabolomics workflow, for untargeted and targeted strategies. Finally, the potential of metabolomics is illustrated by applications in representative areas: clinical, environmental, food and nutrition, forensic toxicology, microbiology, parasitology, plants, and sports. Relevant reviews were compiled to characterize each of these areas, and a corresponding application of untargeted and targeted metabolomics were described.