A bioprospecção é a bisca de informações a partir de espécies biológicas para seu uso posterior em processos de produção em diversos setores. Exemplos dessa informação está contida no material genético de todos os seres vivos, nas substâncias químicas que produzem, nas suas interações ou n o conhecimento das pessoas que, de uma maneira ou de outra, estudam os seres vivos. Neste trabalho é apresentado os resultados da prospecção botânica, química e microbiológica do bosque de galeria do Rio Uruguai na zona do Rio Queguay, ecosistema com grande biodiversidade, com cerca de duzentas espécies, e de características pouco comum no país dado seu caráter subtropical. Foram estudados 75 extratos provenientes de 31 espécies pertencentes a quinze famílias, cobrindo, assim, uma grande biodiversidade.

Bioprospecting is the search for information from biological species for later use in production processes in various sectors. Examples of this information is contained in the genetic material of all living beings in the chemicals they produce, in their interactions or the knowledge of people who in one way or another, have studied these living beings. This paper presents the results of botanical, chemical and microbiological study of the gallery forest of the Uruguay River in the area of the Queguay river. This ecosystem presents great biodiversity (comprising about 200 species) and unusual features in the country given its subtropical character. We studied 75 extracts from 31 species belonging to fifteen families covering therefore a large biodiversity

La bioprospección es la búsqueda de información a partir de especies biológicas para su uso posterior en procesos de producción en diversos sectores. Ejemplos de esa información es la contenida en el material genético de todos los seres vivos, en los compuestos químicos que producen, en sus interacciones o en el conocimiento de las personas que de una manera u otra han estudiado a esos seres vivos. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de la prospección botánica, química y microbiológica del bosque de galería del río Uruguay en la zona del rio Queguay, ecosistema con gran biodiversidad (comprende unas 200 especies) y de características poco comunes en el país dado su carácter subtropical. Se estudiaron 75 extractos provenientes de 31 especies pertenecientes a quince familias cubriendo de esa forma una gran biodiversidad.

In spite of the great advances in chemotherapeutics, infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in the world. Amongst the most problematic clinically relevant pathogens at present, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ranks as one of the most difficult bacteria to treat. Interest in plants with antimicrobial properties has revived as a consequence of current problems associated with the use of antibiotics. The objective: was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a compound isolated from Ibicella lutea (Lindl.) Van Eselt. (Martyniaceae) and some of its derivatives, against methicillin-sensitive and MRSA. Compound 1 was isolated and identified as previously described and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 and simple analogs were determined by the microdilution technique. Compound 1 (11-hydroxystearic acid 11-0-(6-0-acetyl-β-D-grucopyranoside) showed a MIC of 0.06 mM for S. aureus ATCC 6538p. All the synthetic analogs and precursors presented higher MIC values. Compound 1 showed antimicrobial activity against different strains of MRSA. These results suggest that the glycosidic and acidic moieties are necessary for the antimicrobial activity under study.

A pesar de los grandes avances en la quimioterapia de las enfermedades infecciosas estas están lejos de ser controladas y más aún erradicadas y son aun una de las principales causas de muerte en el mundo. En especial Staphylococcus aureus meticilino-resistente (MRSA) se ha mostrado como una bacteria extremadamente problemática desde el punto de vista terapéutico. A consecuencia de los problemas encontrados en la terapéutica con antibióticos, existe hoy en día un renovado interés en productos naturales antimicrobianos. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio de la actividad antibacteriana de compuestos aislados de Ibicella lutea (Lindl.) Van Eselt. (Martyniaceae) y algunos derivados sencillos del mismo contra cepas sensibles y resistentes de Staphylococcus aureus. El compuesto 1 fue aislado e identificado según las técnicas anteriormente descritas y la concentración mínima inhibitoria (MIC) de 1 y sus análogos fue determinada por una técnica de microdilución. El compuesto 1 (11-hydroxiestearil 11-0-(6-0-acetil-β-D-glucopiranósido) mostró una MIC de 0.06 mM para S. aureus ATCC 6538p. También mostró actividad antibacteriana contra diferentes cepas de MRSA mientras que todos los análogos de 1 tuvieron MICs mayores que el producto natural. Estos resultados sugieren que tanto la función acido como la estructura glicosídica son necesarias para la actividad.

As doenças infecciosas ainda são uma das principais causas de morte no mundo, sendo de significativa importância o desenvolvimento de novos compostos antimicrobianos contra diferentes microrganismos. As plantas podem ser uma boa fonte para direcionar a busca destes compostos. Neste estudo, 66 extratos de 25 plantas da floresta ribeirinha do sul do Rio Uruguai foram estudados para a atividade antimicrobiana contra o Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria inocua, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aspergillus niger e Candida albicans. Cinqüenta e três destes extratos apresentaram algum tipo de atividade antimicrobiana. Seis (Eugenia mansoni, Eugenia repanda, Myrcianthes cisplatensis, Paullinia ellegans, Petunia sp e Ruprechtia laxiflora) apresentaram atividade contra o Mycobacterium tuberculosis com CIM de 50 μg/mL.

Development of new antimicrobial compounds against different microorganisms is becoming critically important, as infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of death in the world. Plants can be a useful source of these lead compounds. In this study, 66 extracts of 25 plants of the riverside forest of southern Uruguay River were studied for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria inocua, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Fifty-three of these extracts showed some kind of antimicrobial activity. Six of these (Eugenia mansoni, Eugenia repanda, Myrcianthes cisplatensis, Paullinia ellegans, Petunia sp and Ruprechtia laxiflora) presented activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis with MIC values as low as 50 μg/mL.

The increasing expansion of agro-industrial activity has led to the accumulation of a large quantity of lignocellulosic residues all over the world. In particular, large quantities of rice straw (300.000 t) and citric bagasse (50.000 t) are annually produced in Uruguay. In this work we present the study of the bioconversion of these substrates with the edible mushroom Pleurotus spp so as to increase nutritional values and digestibility for its use as animal feed. The SSF process was optimized and the products after different periods of mushroom growth were evaluated. The microbial counts (cfu/g) for the inoculated substrates 44 days after incubation were 15 x 10(4), < 10 and < 10 for aerobic microorganisms, coliforms and E. coli, respectively. After 14 days of SSF the percentage of dry matter, ADF and NDF decreased, and the content of protein increased. These results show that vegetal cell-wall components were degraded during the period of mushroom incubation. PCR - RFLP analysis of the ITS region was used to characterize the Pleurotus species produced in Uruguay and discriminate between DNAs of Pleurotus ostreatus 814 and other fungi from the different substrates.