Abstract The present work aimed to isolate secondary metabolites from Myrcia insularis Gardner (Myrtaceae) wood and to evaluate the anti-Candida activity and further extracts obtained by partition and the respective main isolated compounds. Wood was collected in a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest remnant of the Atlantic Forest of northern Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Chromatographic and spectrographic techniques were used to isolate and identify secondary metabolites. Methanol extract inhibited the growth of Candida buinensis and Candida tropicalis, with inhibition being approximately 82% for the latter. The main compound isolated from the ethyl acetate partitions was arjunolic acid, a triterpene. The antimicrobial activity was first observed with the wood metabolites of M. insularis adds to our understanding of the antifungal properties of this species and other species within the Myrtaceae family, including the presence of arjunolic acid, which may play a role in this activity.

RESUMO O potássio (K) é um dos macronutrientes mais exigido pelos cultivos agrícolas sendo o cloreto de potássio a fonte mais utilizada. No entanto, esse fertilizante não é recomendado para diversas culturas devido ao seu alto teor de cloro promover perdas na qualidade do produto final, sendo substituído pelo sulfato de potássio. Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar a produção, os teores de macronutrientes, de óleos essenciais e de linalol em frutos de coentro submetidos a diferentes fontes e doses de potássio. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, em caixas de plásticos com capacidade de 46 kg, tendo uma mistura de solo com areia como substrato. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x4, sendo duas fontes de potássio (cloreto e sulfato de potássio) e quatro doses (50, 100, 150 e 200 mg de K/kg de substrato), com quatro repetições. As maiores produtividades de frutos, teor de fósforo e de enxofre nos frutos foram obtidos em plantas adubadas com K2SO4. A aplicação de doses crescentes de potássio, independente da fonte, resultou em aumento no teor de K, decréscimo nos teores de Ca e não afetou os teores de N e Mg nos frutos. A maior concentração de óleos essenciais nos frutos (0,15 g) e linalol nos óleos essenciais (0,42 mg), foram obtidas quando se aplicou, respectivamente, 153,8 e 131,3 mg de K/kg de substrato, utilizando-se K2SO4.

ABSTRACT Potassium (K) is one of the most required agricultural crop macronutrients, with potassium chloride being the most applied source. However, this fertilizer is not recommended for several crops due to its high chlorine content, promoting final product quality losses, thus being replaced by potassium sulphate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the production and macronutrient, essential oil and linalool contents of coriander fruits submitted to different potassium sources and doses. The research was performed in a greenhouse, in plastic 46 kg boxes applying a mixture of soil and sand as substrate. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, applying a 2x4 factorial arrangement, with two potassium sources (potassium chloride and sulphate) at four doses (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg of K/kg substrate), performing four replicates. The highest fruit yields, and phosphorus and sulfur fruit contents were verified in plants fertilized with K2SO4. The application of increasing potassium doses, regardless of the source, resulted in increased K and decreased Ca contents and did not affect N and Mg fruit levels in the fruits. The highest essential oil concentration in fruits (0.15 g) and linalool in essential oils (0.42 mg) were verified when 153.8 and 131.3 mg of K/kg substrate using K2SO4 were applied, respectively.

ABSTRACT Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don (Madagascar periwinkle) belongs to the Apocynaceace family and is widely spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The plant produces several important alkaloids, such as ajmalicine and serpentine, which are used in the treatment of circulatory diseases. The potential of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen fertilization to enhance the production of alkaloids was investigated in periwinkle. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and N fertilizer dosages on plant growth, production of ajmalicine, and nutrient content in roots. The concentration of ajmalicine was determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The experiment was designed in randomized blocks in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme with four microbiological treatments (control - without mycorrhiza; Claroideoglomus etunicatum; Rhizophagus intraradices; mixed inoculum - Rhizophagus clarus + Gigaspora margarita), and four N fertilizer dosages (15, 30, 60, and 120 mg kg-1) with four replications. Catharanthus roseus growth was higher when plants were inoculated with mixed inoculum (R. intraradices + G. margarita) and C. etunicatum. The mixed inoculum (R. intraradices + G. margarita) and C. etunicatum, combined with N fertilization, enhanced ajmalicine yield. Catharanthus roseus inoculated with mycorrhiza showed increased P absorption and reduced N content.

A new sarpagine-type alkaloid, Na-methylrauflorine (1), was isolated from Rauvolfia capixabaetogether with isoreserpiline (2),Nb-oxide-isoreserpiline (3), ajmalicine (4), perakine (5) and vinorine (6) alkaloids. These compounds were characterized based on their spectral data basis, mainly one- (1H, 13C, APT) and two-dimensional(1H-1H-COSY, 1H-1H-NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR, and mass spectra, also involving comparison with data from the literature.

Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) is an aromatic species whose essential oil is rich in citral, with industrial applications due to its lemon scent. The effects of environmental factors on the percentage and composition of essential oils are the main challenges in commercial cultivation. Various studies have indicated the positive effect of cytokinin on terpene production. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of N6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) associated with light intensity on the production and composition of essential lemongrass oil. Plants were grown under field conditions (FIELD) and shade (SHADE). The study employed a 2x7 factorial scheme with two growing environments, seven BAP concentrations, and five replicates. After seven months of growth, a single application of the synthetic cytokinin BAP was performed at concentrations 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 mg L-1. One week after the BAP application, plants were harvested and the essential oil was extracted in a Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oil of plants treated with 60, 120, and 180 mg L-1 of BAP was determined by Gas Chromatography (GC). The essential oil percentage was not affected by the treatments, showing 1.08% on average. On the other hand, the citral percentage was negatively influenced by BAP, and light intensity had no effects. In plants treated with 60 mg L-1 of BAP, citral percentage was 72%, on average, while in plants treated with 180 mg L-1, the mean percentage of citral was 33%.

Staphylococci bacteria are involved in many human and animal infections and development of alternative antimicrobial drugs against pathogenic bacteria is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. This study investigated the in vitro effect of Rauvolfia grandiflora methanol extract (root bark fraction) (RGE) on the density of ATCC strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and a clinical enterotoxin-producer, S. aureus bovine strain. The alkaloid, isoreserpiline, obtained from dichloromethane extract of R. grandiflora was ineffective against the strains tested. After incubation of staphylococci strains in the presence of 1.2 mg.mL-1 RGE, a significant inhibition of cell growth was observed using both spectrophotometry and ELISA assays. Twelve drugs were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on culture RGE-treated cells using the disk diffusion method. Penicillin resistant strains became sensitive to the drug after RGE treatment. Furthermore, enterotoxin production by RGE-treated S. aureus was evaluated using a standardized ELISA method. Although staphylococcal LSA 88 bovine strain cells remained viable after exposure to the extract, enterotoxin production was precluded in 20% after RGE treatment. Significant interference in staphylococci cell density, drug sensitivity and enterotoxin secretion was observed after treatment. The study highlights the necessity to find new methods of disease prevention and new antibiotic therapies against staphylococcal infections.

Do extrato hexânico da madeira de Swartzia apetala Raddi var. glabra foram isolados um estilbeno (1), uma flavanona (2), um pterocarpano (3), um triterpeno (4) e uma mistura de esteróides (5 a 7). O extrato bruto e as substâncias isoladas foram submetidas à avaliação do potencial antifúngico usando nove cepas padrão ATCC do gênero Candida. Entre as substâncias testadas apenas o triterpeno (4) e a mistura de esteróides (5 a 7) não apresentaram atividade. As estruturas das substâncias foram determinadas através da análise dos espectros de CG/EM, e RMN (1D e 2D) e comparação com dados da literatura.

From the hexanic extract of the stem from Swartzia apetala Raddi var. glabra were isolated one stilbene (1), one flavanone (2), one pterocarpan (3), one triterpene (4) and a mixture of three steroids (5 to 7). The crude extract and the compounds isolated were submitted to evaluation of the antifungal activity against nine yeast standard ATCC of the Candida genus. Among the compounds only the triterpene (4) and the mixture of steroids (5 to 7) showed no activity. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectral data analysis of GC/MS and ¹H and 13C NMR (1D and 2D experiments), as well as comparison with literature values.

Este trabalho foi realizado em maracujazeiro amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) cultivado em condições de campo, no município dos Campos do Goytacazes-RJ, com o objetivo de determinar os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais e dos nutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn e Cl em folhas de diferentes posição no ramo. O experimento constou de 10 tratamentos, que consistiam na coleta das folhas 1 (mais nova) a 10 (mais velha) de um mesmo ramo, com quatro repetições. A amostragem foliar foi feita em março de 2004 e cada amostra constou de 20 folhas coletadas de 20 plantas por repetição. Os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais variaram em função da posição ou idade das folhas, sendo maiores nas folhas mais jovens ou na região apical dos ramos do maracujazeiro amarelo. Os teores de flavonóides totais, expressos em vitexina, diminuíram da folha 1 para a folha 8, de 24,4 para 14,9mg g-1 de matéria seca. Os teores de N, P, K e Zn foram maiores e os de Ca, Mg, B, Cl e Mn foram menores nas folhas mais jovens. Os teores de S e Fe não variaram com a posição da folha no ramo.

The research was carried out in yellow passion fruit plant (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) grown under field conditions in Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, Brazil, with the aim to evaluate the concentrations of rutin, vitexin, total flavonoids, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cl in leaves at different positions in the branch. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments: leaves 1 (the youngest) to 10 (the olderest) of the same branch, with four replicates. Leaf sampling was done in March 2004, and each sample consisted of 20 leaves from 20 plants. The total concentration of rutin, vitexin and total flavonoids varied in function of the position or age of leaves, being higher in youngest leaves or in the aplical region of the plant branches. The total flavonoids concentration decreased from leaf 1 to leaf 8 of the branch 24.4 and 14.9mg g-1 of dry matter, respectively. The concentrations of N, P, K and Zn were higher in the youngest leaf but the concentrations of Ca, Mg, B, Cl and Mn were lower. The concentrations of S and Fe did not vary with leaves positions in the branch.

Três novos alcalóides sesquiterpênicos do tipo guaiano, muscicapina A (1), muscicapina B (2) e muscicapina C (3) foram isolados das raízes de Croton muscicapa. As estruturas foram elucidadas através de análises espectroscópicas, principalmente RMN de 1D e 2D e espectrometria de massas. Este é o primeiro relato na literatura de uma nova classe de alcalóides sesquiterpênicos com esqueleto guaiano.

Three new guaiane-type sesquiterpene alkaloids, muscicapine A (1), muscicapine B (2), and muscicapine C (3) were isolated from the roots of Croton muscicapa. The structures were established by analysis of spectroscopic data, mainly 1D and 2D NMR and MS. This is the first report of a new class of guaiane-type sesquiterpene alkaloids.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes espécies de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) na produção e qualidade de óleos essenciais de Mentha arvensis L., cultivada com diferentes doses de fósforo. O trabalho foi realizado em casa de vegetação e o delineamento estatístico utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso com 20 tratamentos, constituídos pela combinação de cinco tratamentos microbiológicos (Glomus clarum Nicolson & Schenck, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, Acaulospora scrobiculata Trappe e controle) e quatro doses de P (0, 50, 100 e 200 mg kg-1), com quatro repetições. As plantas foram colhidas 65 dias após o plantio. Sem adubação fosfatada, os fungos Gigaspora margarita e Glomus clarum aumentaram em 206 e 198%, respectivamente, a produção de matéria fresca em relação ao tratamento controle. A maior produção de matéria fresca (90 g por vaso) foi observada no tratamento de A. scrobiculata com 133 mg kg-1 de fósforo. Na ausência de adubação fosfatada, teores de óleos essenciais e de mentol no óleo foram menores em plantas sem inoculação, e os tratamentos com inoculação proporcionaram incrementos de até 89% nos teores de óleos e de mentol, em relação ao tratamento sem inoculação. Com o incremento da adubação fosfatada, não foram observados incrementos dos teores de óleos essenciais e mentol em razão dos FMA. As maiores produtividades de óleos essenciais e de mentol nos óleos, 0,69 g e 0,48 g por vaso, respectivamente, foram encontradas em plantas com inoculação de Acaulospora scrobiculata nas doses de P de 126 e 123 mg kg-1 de solo, respectivamente.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the vegetative growth, production and composition of essential oil of Mentha arvensis L., grown in different phosphorus levels. The work was carried out under greenhouse conditions and a randomized block design was used with 20 treatments, constituted by the combination of five microbiological treatments (Glomus clarum Nicolson & Schenck, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall, Acaulospora scrobiculata Trappe and control) and four P levels (0, 50, 100, 200 mg kg-1), with four repetitions. Plants were harvested 65 days after transplanting. Results showed that, when no phosphorus was added, Gigaspora margarita and Glomus clarum increased, in 206% and 198%, respectively, the fresh matter production of shoots, compared to the control treatment. The highest fresh matter production (90 g por pot) was observed in plants inoculated with A. scrobiculata at 133 mg kg-1 of phosphorus. When phosphorus was not used, the essential oil content and menthol levels in the oil were smaller in plants not inoculated, and the inoculated treatments provided increments of up to 89% in the essential oil and menthol contents in relation to treatment not inoculated. No increment in essential oil and menthol contents occurred when the doses of P were increased. The highest essential oil and menthol production, 0.69 g and 0.48 g for pot, respectively, were found in plants inoculated with A. scrobiculata at the P levels and 126 and 123 mg for kg of soil, respectively.

Aqueous suspension of ethanol extracts of Derris (Lonchocarpus) urucu (Leguminosae), collected in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, were tested for larvicidal activity against the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae). The aim of this study was to observe the alterations of peritrophic matrix in Ae. aegypti larvae treated with an aqueous suspension of D. urucu extract. Different concentrations of D. urucu root extract were tested against fourth instar larvae. One hundred percent mortality was observed at 150 µg/ml (LC50 17.6 µg/ml) 24 h following treatment. In response to D. urucu feeding, larvae excreted a large amount of amorphous feces, while control larvae did not produce feces during the assay period. Ultrastructural studies showed that larvae fed with 150 µg/ml of D. urucu extract for 4 h have an imperfect peritrophic matrix and extensive damage of the midgut epithelium. Data indicate a protective role for the peritrophic matrix. The structural modification of the peritrophic matrix is intrinsically associated with larval mortality.

Os quassinóides C25 20(R)- e 20(S)-simarolídeo foram isolados de Simaba cuneata, Simaroubaceae. As estruturas destas substâncias foram caracterizadas por dados espectrais, incluindo espectros de RMN 1D e 2D que foram também usados para a completa atribuição dos deslocamentos químicos dos átomos de carbono e hidrogênio.

The C25-quassinoids 20(R)- and 20(S)-simarolide were isolated from Simaba cuneata, Simaroubaceae. The structures of these two compounds were characterized by spectral data, including 1D and 2D NMR spectra which were also used for the complete assignment of the carbon and hydrogen atom chemical shifts.