Rhinella jimi toads (Stevaux, 2002) belong to the Bufonidae family, are endemic in the Brazilian Northeast and are commonly found during rainy periods. In general, amphibians of this family have in their poisons different metabolites that show a diversity of pharmacological activities. The isolation and identification of these compounds are of great importance, and techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry are widely used for the discovery of novel and known compounds in these poisons. For R. jimi poison, the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts were obtained and thirty compounds were identified by combining ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) with direct infusion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (DI-APCI-MS/MS) and direct infusion electrospray mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-MS/MS) for each extract, respectively. Marinobufagin (2) and marinobufotoxin (19) were the majorities of each extract, respectively. In addition, other bufadienolides mainly present in the ethyl acetate extract, such other bufotoxins, alkaloids and arginine diacid derivatives were identified in the methanol extract. In a cytotoxic assay by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), the extracts and compound 2 demonstrated half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values better than the positive control doxorubicin, evidencing excellent cytotoxic. This is the most complete study of the chemical composition of R. jimi toad poison and its respective cytotoxic activity, promoting the enrichment of knowledge about this family and species.

Phytochemical investigation from carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) wax led to the identification of sixteen dammarane-type triterpenes, including thirteen new characterized as: (24R*)-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3α-ol and a mixture of alkyl (24R*)-methyldammar-25-en-20-ol-3β-carboxylates, together with three previously described triterpenes: carnaubadiol, (24R*)-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3β-ol and (24R*)-24-methyldammara-20,25-dien-3-one. Moreover, four fatty alcohols (eicosanol, docosanol, tetracosanol and hexacosanol) as well as four sterols (cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol) were also obtained. These compounds were isolated using classical chromatographic methods and their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods.

Abstract The “bacuri” (Platonia insignis Mart., Clusiaceae) is a native tropical fruit from the Brazilian Amazon and Northeast Regions. Its seeds are used to treat inflammatory diseases, diarrhea and skin problems in traditional medical practices. Regarding its widespread medicinal uses, it is important to evaluate the biological and toxicological potential of this species. This way, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of the hexanic extract of P. insignis seeds, as well as its in vivo acute oral toxicity. The biological evaluation was performed by the determination of cytotoxic (MTT and hemolysis assay) and immunomodulatory (phagocytic capacity, lysosomal volume and nitrite production) activities of EHSB in murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the oral acute toxicity was evaluated using female Wistar rats treated with EHSB (2.0 g/kg), in accordance with the OECD 423 Guideline. The EHSB showed low toxicity for macrophages in the MTT test (CC50 value: 90.03 µg/ml), as well as for erythrocytes, which caused only 2.5% hemolysis at the highest concentration. A strong immunomodulatory activity was observed by a markedly increase of the NO production, phagocytic ability and lysosomal volume. On the other hand, it was not observed deaths or changes in the clinical and behavioral parameters in the toxicological evaluation. This manner, the present study contributes to the knowledge about the immunomodulatory and toxicological properties of the P. insignis. This may provide perspectives for the evaluation and development of effective and safe phytomedicines created from the Brazilian local biodiversity.

A composição de ácidos graxos de seis amostras de Orbignya phalerata de diferentes cidades do estado do Maranhão foi estudada. Os óleos foram extraídos utilizando extrator Soxhlet por duas metodologias e a composição de ácidos graxos foi avaliada por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). O teor da fração de lipídios revelou que o solvente usado influencia na extração, sendo a maior porcentagem obtida com hexano. O teor de lipídios variou de 62,46-67,45%, com predominância de ácidos graxos saturados (80,32-87,80%), principalmente ácido láurico (C12:0) com percentual de 44,86-52,15%. A análise multivariada mostrou a distribuição das amostras de O. phalerata em três regiões distintas e sugere que a composição química dos óleos pode estar associada com a sua localização geográfica. Estes dados mostram o conhecimento da biodiversidade de ácidos graxos de O. phalerata entre as diferentes regiões do estado do Maranhão.

The fatty acid composition of six Orbignya phalerata samples of different cities from Maranhão State (Brazil) was studied. The oils were extracted by two methods using Soxhlet extractor and the fatty acid composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The lipid fraction content showed that the solvent used influences lipid extraction, the highest percent was obtained with hexane. Lipid content ranged from 62.46-67.45%, with predominance of saturated fatty acids (80.32-87.80%), mainly lauric acid (C12:0) with 44.86 to 52.15%. Multivariate analysis showed the distribution of O. phalerata samples into three distinct regions and suggests that the oil chemical composition may be associated with their geographic location. These data show knowledge of the biodiversity of O. phalerata fatty acids among the different regions of the Maranhão State (Brazil).