Abstract The present work investigates the leaf and stem anatomy, chemical composition and insecticidal activities (against Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758) of the volatile oils of Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae, a Brazilian native traditional medicinal plant. Noteworthy micro-morphological features that can help in the identification and quality control of the species include the presence of isobilateral and amphistomatic leaves, anomocytic and cyclocytic stomata, capitate glandular and conical non-glandular trichomes, large secretory ducts in the midrib, presence of druses and prismatic crystals, and the petiole vascular system comprising of five vascular bundles arranged in U-shape and an additional dorsal bundle. The major components of the volatile oil include β-pinene (14.7%), α-pinene (14.1%), limonene (9.4%) and muurolol (11.8%). Insecticidal activities of the volatile oil against bed bugs were investigated for the first time; strong toxicity by fumigation with the volatile oil of S. molle was observed and reported herein.

ABSTRACT Fadogia agrestis Schweinf. ex Hiern (Vangueria agrestis (Schweinf. ex Hiern) Lantz), Rubiaceae, is an African traditional medicinal plant also used as a dietary supplement in the US. The present paper is the first report of the pharmacognostic study of the leaf, stem and root of F. agrestis by microscopy, HPTLC and total phenolic/flavonoid content analyses. Noteworthy microscopic features that can help in identification and quality control are septate and lignified non-glandular trichomes on leaf and stem epidermises, paracytic stomata on leaf abaxial epidermis, numerous cells containing yellow substances of presumably phenolic compounds in leaf and stem, calcium oxalate druses and prismatic crystals in leaf and styloids in stem, primary phloem fibers in stem, brachysclereids in stem and root, spherical starch grains in root, and vessels with vestured pits and simple perforated end walls. In addition to microscopy, a total phenolic/flavonoid content determination and an HPTLC method were also developed for rapid chemical fingerprint analyses of Fadogia samples and dietary supplements.

ABSTRACT Piper caldense C. DC., Piperaceae, commonly known as “pimenta-d’água”, “pimenta-darda” or “paguarandy” in Brazil, is a shrub that grows mainly in humid and shaded habitats. The present study investigates the anatomy of the leaves and stems of P. caldense by light and scanning electron microscopy in order to provide supporting data for correct identification of the species. The leaves are hypostomatic, have a 2-layered hypodermis, and posses pearl glands. The midrib shows a ‘U’-shaped stele comprised of about ten collateral vascular bundles. The main anatomical marker of the stem is the presence of a continuous sclerenchymatous sheath in the pith. Two forms of calcium oxalate crystals, namely crystal sand and raphides, are observed in this species.

ABSTRACT Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns, Euphorbiaceae, is commonly used in folk medicine of southern Brazil to treat several kinds of cancer. The latex (part of the plant used for this purpose) is mixed with water and taken as treatment; but this matrix contains toxic potential related to the presence of some phorbol type diterpenes. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the crude extract of the bark of E. umbellata and its fractions (Hex, CHCl3, EtOAc and MeOH) using in vitro assay (applying Jurkat cells line). A preliminary cytotoxic study (MTT reduction, trypan blue exclusion and DNA quantification assays) was executed to identify the most active material. The CHCl3 fraction displayed the highest activity and was selected for further investigation of any cytotoxic mechanism and evaluation of chemical composition; flow cytometry, Acridine orange and Hoechst 33342 staining experiments and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were applied to achieve these results. This fraction demonstrated the best cytotoxic results against Jurkat cells line with IC50 of 29.00 ± 1.49, 10.06 ± 1.48 and 4.83 ± 2.25 µg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 h of experiment, respectively (trypan blue exclusion). The mechanism responsible for this action can be associated with the promotion of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The two main classes of compounds present in the CHCl3 fraction are steroids and triterpenes. Further, phytochemical studies with this fraction need to be evaluated, to try isolating these substances and establishing a more detailed cytotoxic study against Jurkat cells.

O presente trabalho descreve a elucidação estrutural de uma nova β-lapachona tipo naftoquinona, isolada a partir das raízes de Distictella elongata. A nova substância, apresentando fórmula molecular C16H16O6, foi identificada como sendo 4,7-diidróxi-10-metóxi-2,2-dimetil-3,4-diidro-2H-benzo[h]cromeno-5,6-diona, de acordo com os dados obtidos por meio de análises espectrométricas. A elucidação estrutural foi realizada utilizando-se as técnicas espectrométricas [HRESIMS, 1D RMN (¹H e 13C) e 2D RMN (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC e g-HMBC]. O extrato clorofórmico das raízes de D. elongata demonstrou significante inibição no crescimento de células do tipo SK-MEL (melanoma) e SK-OV-3 (carcinoma de ovário), com valores de IC50 de 40 µg mL-1 e 56 µg mL-1, respectivamente. Entretanto, a naftoquinona não foi responsável pela atividade citotóxica exibida pelo extrato.

The present study describes the structure elucidation of the new β-lapachone type naphthoquinone isolated from the roots of Distictella elongata. Its structure, according to the molecular formula C16H16O6, was identified as 4,7-dihydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione. The structure was assigned by spectrometric methods [HRESIMS, 1D NMR (¹H and 13C), and 2D NMR (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC and g-HMBC]. Root chloroform extract of D. elongata showed significant inhibition of the growth of SK-MEL (melanoma) and SK-OV-3 (ovary adenocarcinoma) cells with IC50 values of 40 µg mL-1 and 56 µg mL-1, respectively. However, the naphthoquinone was not responsible for the cytotoxic activity exhibited by the extract.