Glândulas alongadas ocorrem em superfícies foliares de Cercideae. As folhas de Bauhinia (55 táxons, 53 espécies), Cercis (1 espécie), Phanera (1 espécie), Piliostigma (2 espécies), Schnella (19 espécies) e Tylosema (1 espécie) foram observadas para determinar a distribuição e número relativo de glândulas. Elas foram observadas apenas na face abaxial das folhas de 42 espécies de Bauhinia. As glândulas foram analisadas em microscópio estereoscópico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Elas são multicelulares, com grandes dimensões (acima de 270 µm de comprimento e 115 µm de largura) e contêm substâncias lipofílicas provavelmente óleos voláteis. A presença ou ausência e a densidade das glândulas em espécies de Bauhinia podem ser úteis para determinar a delimitação de espécies ou distinção entre taxa infraspecíficos. As espécies de cerrado (um ecossistema de savana) e de áreas de caatinga (um ecossistema semiárido do nordeste do Brasil) apresentaram maior densidade de glândulas. Espécies desprovidas de glândulas foliares são frequentemente de florestas úmidas.

Large elongated glands occur on Cercideae leaf surfaces. Leaves of Bauhinia (55 taxa, 53 species), Cercis (1 species), Phanera (1 species), Piliostigma (2 species), Schnella (19 species) and Tylosema (1 species) were observed to determine location and relative number of glands. They were only observed on the abaxial leaf surface of 42 Bauhinia taxa. The glands were analyzed by light stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscopy. They are large (up to 270 µm long and 115 µm wide) and multicellular, containing lipophilic substances, probably volatile oils. Presence or absence and density of the glands in species of Bauhinia may be useful to determine species delimitation or distinction among infraspecific taxa. Higher density of glands is more common in species from "cerrado" (a savanna ecosystem) and "caatinga" (a semiarid ecosystem from northeast Brazil) areas. Bauhinia species devoid of foliar glands are frequently from humid forests.

Medicinal plants (MP) have been used world-wide for the treatment or prevention of health conditions and due to their natural origin; they have been historically considered harmless. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with an intentional sample of twenty plant vendors in the city of Diadema to explore their knowledge and beliefs on the safety and efficacy of MP. Different levels of perceptions about the safety of MP were found, varying from "completely safe" to "completely harmful". The majority of the interviewees declared that "if herbs have an effect, they are also likely to have a side effect", depending on many factors such as dosage, concomitant use of other drugs, characteristics of the plant material and consumer related factors, specially those related to pregnant women, children and elderly people. Thirty-nine unexpected events related to 21 species of MP were reported. One case of serious gastrointestinal disease related to the consumption of a contaminated "slim mixture" was also described. Adverse events and other problems that result from MP are relatively uncommon, but they are almost certainly underreported and occur more often than acknowledged. This study strengthens the call for further research and educational efforts into this complex area.

Croton macrobothrys Baill, Euphorbiaceae, is a tree from the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil, used in traditional medicine and popularly known as "dragon's blood" and "pau-sangue". Leaf n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were analyzed by GC/MS and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity on cell lines 786-0 (kidney), HT-29 (colon), K562 (leukemia), NCI-ADR/RES (drug resistant ovary), NCI-H460 (lung), MCF-7 (mammary), PC-3 (prostate), OVCAR-3 (ovary), U251 (glioma) and UACC-62 (melanoma). The dicloromethane extract exhibited activity against all cell lines at the concentration 25 µg/mL, in particular on cell lines NCI-H460 (GI50 0.33 μg/mL) and K5662 (GI50 0.91 μg/mL). Relevant constituents in dichloromethane extract are the alkaloids corydine and salutaridine, as well as the diterpenes geranylgeraniol and crotonin-derived clerodanes.

Muitos estudos de plantas medicinais baseiam-se em informações etnofarmacológicas, na intenção de encurtar o tempo e diminuir os recursos financeiros no desenvolvimento de novas drogas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar estudos de farmacologia pré-clínica e fitoquímica com três extratos vegetais, obtidos de duas das 42 plantas com potenciais efeitos analgésico e/ou antiinflamatório, indicadas pelos moradores do Parque Nacional do Jaú, AM. Os extratos hidroalcoólicos foram submetidos à caracterização fitoquímica por meio de cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD). Os testes de farmacologia pré-clínica empregados foram: screening inicial, rota rod, atividade motora, placa quente, tail flick e contorções abdominais, nas doses de 300 e 500 mg/kg. Os três extratos foram obtidos a partir das cascas da cumandá: Campsiandra comosa Benth., Fabaceae (EHCC) e das folhas (EHSF) e cascas (EHSC) da sucuuba: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae. As análises fitoquímicas revelaram a presença de flavonóides, taninos, iridóides e triterpenos nos diferentes extratos; enquanto os alcalóides e cumarinas não foram detectados. A investigação farmacológica demonstrou atividade analgésica discreta apenas no teste de contorções abdominais para os extratos EHSF e EHCC; nenhuma alteração foi observada no aparelho de rota rod e de modo geral, observou-se diminuição da atividade motora em todos os extratos nas diferentes doses testadas. Diferentes extratos destas plantas estão sendo testados em outros modelos, pelo mesmo grupo de trabalho, a fim de aprofundar os conhecimentos acerca do perfil farmacológico destas espécies.

This work aimed to study the pre-clinical pharmacology and phytochemistry of three plant extracts, obtained from two of the 42 plants with potential analgesic and / or anti-inflammatory, indicated by the residents of the National Park of Jaú, AM. The hydroalcoholic extracts were subjected to phytochemical characterization by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Tests for pre-clinical pharmacology employed were: initial screening, rota rod, motor activity, hot plate, tail flick and abdominal contortions at doses of 300 and 500 mg / kg. The three extracts were obtained from the bark of cumandá: Campsiandra comosa Benth., Fabaceae (EHCC) and leaves (EHSF) and bark (EHSC) of sucuuba: Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes and iridoids in different extracts, while the alkaloids and coumarins were not detected. Research has shown pharmacological activity for EHSF and EHCC extracts, only in the mild analgesic test for abdominal contortions, while no change was observed in the rota rod; and in general, there was decrease in motor activity in all extracts at different doses tested. Different extracts of these plants are being tested in other models by the same working group, in order to deepen the knowledge about the pharmacological profile of these species.

Foram avaliados, em ratos e camundongos, os efeitos antiúlcera de duas plantas usadas popularmente no Brasil para o tratamento de "males gástricos": a Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (aroeira-da-praia) e a Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (aroeira-do-sertão). Os decoctos de ambas as plantas apresentaram um marcante efeito protetor da mucosa gástrica contra as ulcerações induzidas por estresse de imobilização em baixa temperatura em ratos. Ambas as plantas apresentaram, ainda: elevação do pH, do volume do conteúdo gástrico, redução das hemorragias gástricas e do trânsito intestinal em camundongos, mesmo em doses tão reduzidas quanto 3,4 mg/kg (1/4 da dose utilizada pelo homem).

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi and the Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão were evaluated in rats and mice for antiulcer effects, as these two plants are widely used in Brazil for gastric ulcer treatment. Extracts of the plants showed a marked protective effect against gastric ulcerations induced by immobilization stress at low temperature in rats. They also showed an increase in the pH and volume of the gastric contents, and reduction in gastric hemorrhage in rats, and decrease in intestinal transit in mice, even at the low doses of 3.4 mg/kg (1/4 of the dose used by humans).

A crença de que medicamentos à base de plantas são isentos de riscos à saúde faz parte da bagagem cultural da população afeita ao seu uso: "o que vêm da terra não faz mal". No entanto, o potencial tóxico, as características específicas do usuário, a possibilidade de contaminação e a falta de regulamentação constituem fatores de risco para a ocorrência de reações adversas, intoxicações e outras complicações decorrentes de seu uso. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas junto a 20 raizeiros (vendedores de ervas "in natura") na cidade de Diadema/SP. Foram relatados 40 casos de problemas relacionados ao uso de 22 espécies de plantas medicinais. As espécies mais citadas foram Luffa operculata - buchinha (7 casos), Senna alexandrina - sene (4 casos) e Paullinia cupana - guaraná (3 casos). Dentre os sinais e sintomas relatados, os mais freqüentes foram relacionados ao sistema nervoso central, problemas gastrointestinais e cardiovasculares. Os entrevistados também relataram um caso de aborto relacionado ao uso de S. alexandrina e três casos de óbito após a ingestão do chá do fruto de L. operculata. O caráter "natural" das plantas medicinais não é sinônimo de ausência de riscos para a população usuária. É necessária a implantação de políticas de fitofarmacovigilância eficientes, a fim de tornar o consumo mais racional e, deste modo, minimizar os riscos à população usuária.

Traditionally, medicinal herbs have been considered gentle and harmless because of their natural origin: "natural and therefore free of risks". However, toxic potential, various consumer-related factors (such as age, disease factors, pregnancy, etc), contamination, and lack of regulation concerning quality control are some of the risk factors deemed to be associated with herbal adverse reactions, poisonings and other complications. Over a 7-month period, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 20 "raizeiros" (traditional healers) in Diadema/SP. We found 40 unexpected events related to 22 species of medicinal herbs. The most frequent species reported were Luffa operculata - "buchinha" (7 reports), Senna alexandrina - "sene" (4 reports) and Paullinia cupana - "guaraná" (3 reports). Among the adverse events, the most frequent signs and symptoms reported involved the central nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. They also reported one case of abortion (related with S. alexandrina) and three deaths related with L. operculata. Adverse events that result from "natural" medicines are relatively uncommon, but they certainly occur more often than acknowledged. Medicinal plants are traditionally considered as innocuous, but as commercially available medicinal products they require sanitary surveillance in order to identify their risks, to give them a legal status, to evaluate their efficacy and to ascertain their safety.