Cariniana estrellensis (Raddi) Kuntze seedlings have been used in forest restoration programs in the Atlantic Forest biome. However, despite the economic and ecological relevance of this species, to date no general method for rapid identification of primary and secondary metabolites of C. estrellensis leaves has been reported. In this work, we explore the feasibility of using rapid analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and liquid chromatography coupled to diode array, charged aerosol, and mass detection. The main secondary metabolites identified were hydrolysable tannins, quinic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids (trans-p-coumaric acid, cis p coumaric acid, and trans-ferulic acid), and flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin derivatives). These compounds are particularly useful as chemotaxonomic markers for the genus Cariniana and for the family Lecythidaceae, and may also be important for pharmacological uses and for the survival of the seedlings in reforestation programs.

Methanolic, diethyl ether and n-hexane extracts of leaves of four species of Senna (S. gardneri, S. macranthera, S. splendida and S. trachypus) were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Using linear retention indices and mass spectral data, 34 compounds were identified, including fatty acids, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids that were not reported previously for these species. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the extracts against different tumor cell lines was determined. The cytotoxicity was then correlated with the chemical composition of the extracts by partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The n-hexane extract of S. gardneri and the ethyl ether extract of S. splendida were the most active against human colon (59.75 and 31.37%, respectively) and human glioblastoma (52.85 and 48.28%, respectively) cell lines.

Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg, Myrtaceae, é uma espécie nativa. As folhas são utilizadas na medicina popular. Os extratos hexânico e acetato de etila das folhas mostraram pouca variação na sua composição química em diferentes estações do ano associado com o desenvolvimento do vegetal, enquanto o extrato etanólico mostrou alteração significativa em relação à composição química. Todos os extratos etanólicos mostraram alta atividade antioxidante frente ao método DPPH e de moderada a alta para β-caroteno/ácido linoléico.

Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg, Myrtaceae, is a native species. The extracts of ethyl acetate and hexane showed little variation in their chemical composition at different seasons of the year associated with the development of the plant, while the ethanol extract showed significant change in relationship to chemical composition. All ethanol extracts showed high antioxidant activity against DPPH method and from moderate to high antioxidant activity for β-carotene/linoleic acid.