Piper aduncum L., Piperaceae, has been used to treat mainly inflammatory diseases and has shown several biological activities such as insecticidal and larvicidal. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of essential oil of P. aduncum and its efficacy to egg-hatching inhibition of Haemonchus contortus from sheep. The essential oil was obtained from leaves and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. It was possible to characterize 22 different substances, among them monoterpenes (80.6%) and sesquiterpenes (13.9%). The major compound was identified as 1,8-cineole (55.8%). Eggs of the nematode were exposed to four concentrations of the essential oil. Levamisole phosphate was used as positive control. The essential oil showed to be effective in inhibiting H. contortus hatchability and the LC90 was calculated as 8.9 mg.ml-1. These results can point out the P. aduncumessential oil and its chemical components as potential alternative to control of H. contortus

Tecoma stans foi introduzida no Brasil para fins ornamentais e ocorre tanto cultivada quanto subespontânea. Objetivando avaliar seu potencial alelopático, foi testado o efeito do extrato aquoso de suas folhas sobre a germinação e o desenvolvimento radicial de Lactuca sativa L. (alface), Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos (ipê) e Medicago sativa L. (alfafa). O extrato causou uma forte inibição na germinação das sementes de alface. O desenvolvimento radicial de alface e alfafa foi reduzido em 75 e 30%, respectivamente. Não foi observado efeito do extrato sobre a germinação ou o desenvolvimento radicial do ipê. Todas as espécies tiveram a velocidade de germinação reduzida. Observaram-se alterações micromorfológicas no ápice radicial das plântulas de alface.

Tecoma stans was introduced in Brazil for ornamental purposes and occurs both as a cultivated or sub-spontaneous plant. This study aims to evaluate the allelopathic potential of the aqueous leaf extract of Tecoma stans on the germination and root development of three plant species: Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Handroanthus ochraceus (Cham.) Mattos (ipe), and Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa). The aqueous leaf extract of Tecoma stans caused strong inhibition on lettuce germination. The seedlings of lettuce and alfalfa had their root development reduced by 75% and 30%, respectively. There was no effect of the extract on the germination or root development of ipe. Also, the germination rate of the three species tested was reduced. Micromorphological changes were observed in the root apex of lettuce seedlings.

O gênero Artocarpus está representado por 50 espécies, que estão distribuídas, principalmente, nas regiões tropicais asiáticas, sendo utilizado pela medicina popular, nessa área endêmica, como tratamento ou prevenção de inflamações, malária e vitiligo. As investigações fitoquímicas e biológicas em 34 espécies resultaram no isolamento de 369 substâncias, representadas, principalmente, por flavonoides, sendo flavona o tipo mais característico.

Artocarpus genus is represented by 50 species distributed mainly in the tropical regions of Asia where they are used by folk medicine for the treatment or prevention of inflammations, malaria and vitiligo in these endemic areas. Phytochemical and biological investigations in 34 species resulted in the isolation of 369 compounds, mostly represented by flavonoid aglicones, with flavone being the most common.

Our solemn homage to the great Master Otto R. Gottlieb who knew how to teach the mystery of evolutionary relationships between chemistry and its natural sources. The micromolecular chemical study of the family Bignoniaceae shows a profile predominantly characterized by the occurrence of metabolites derived from acetic acid biosynthetic pathways such as terpenoids, quinones, flavonoids and special aromatic derivatives. Analysis of different chemosystematic parameters for the metabolite data collected, provided valuable information for the systematic characterization of the Bignoniaceae family within the Angiosperm derived taxa.

A composição química e as propriedades analgésica e antiinflamatória do óleo essencial de Ageratum fastigiatum foram investigadas. Os principais constituintes do óleo essencial foram germacreno D, α-humuleno e β-cedreno. O óleo, com DL50 de 2,50 g/kg, inibiu as contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético na dose de 200 mg/kg. No teste da formalina, o óleo inibiu a primeira fase (200 mg/kg) e a segunda fase (100 e 200 mg/kg). O tempo de latência aumentou no teste da placa quente, após 30 e 60 minutos de tratamento, nas doses de 100 e 200 mg/kg. O efeito antiedematogênico, assim como a redução do volume do exsudato e da migração leucocitária foram observados nas doses de 100 e 200 mg/kg. Os resultados indicam que o A. fastigiatum possui propriedades analgésica e antiinflamatória, o que corrobora com o uso popular da planta.

The chemical composition, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oil from Ageratum fastigiatum were investigated. The main compounds found in the essential oil were germacrene D, α-humulene and β-cedrene. The oil, with LD50 of 2.50 g/kg, inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing at the dose of 200 mg/kg. In the formalin test, the oil inhibited the first phase (200 mg/kg) and the second phase (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg). In the hot plate test, after 30 and 60 min of treatment the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg increased the reaction time. The antiedematogenic effect, reduction on the exudate volume and leukocyte mobilization were observed at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. The results indicated that A. fastigiatum possessed the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that supported the popular medicinal use of the plant.

O presente trabalho avalia a atividade antiviral de extratos e frações de Musa acuminata Colla, Musaceae, coletada em duas regiões do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Petrópolis e Santo Antônio de Pádua). As inflorescências de M. acuminata apresentaram excelente atividade para os dois vírus avaliados: herpesvírus simples humano tipo 1 e herpesvírus simples humano tipo 2, ambos resistentes ao Aciclovir. Os resultados indicam que os extratos de M. acuminata testados podem constituir alvo potencial para uso em terapias antivirais.

This study evaluates the antiviral activity of extracts and fractions of Musa acuminata Colla collected in two regions of Rio de Janeiro State (Petrópolis and Santo Antônio de Pádua). The inflorescences of M. acuminata showed excellent activity for the two virus evaluated: simple human herpesvirus type 1 and simple human herpesvirus type 2, both resistant to Acyclovir. The results indicate that the tested extracts of M. acuminata can be potential target for use in antiviral therapy.

Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lamark) De Candolle e Bidens segetum Mart. ex Colla são duas espécies pertencentes à família Asteraceae. Os extratos dessas duas espécies foram avaliados quanto às suas atividades citotóxica, antioxidante e antiviral. Todos os extratos analisados apresentaram citotoxidade muito alta contra linhagens de células RBL-2H3. O ensaio de atividade antioxidante demonstrou uma alta atividade das frações em acetato de etila de B. segetum e P. alopecuroides. Isso pode ser parcialmente explicado pelo alto conteúdo de cumarinas, ao menos para P. alopecuroides. Nenhum dos extratos etanólicos totais de B. segetum mostraram atividade significativa contra o vírus Herpes simplex (Tipos 1 e 2 resistentes ao aciclovir). O extrato etanólico de P. alopecuroides também foi inativo contra o vírus Herpes simplex tipo 1 resistente ao aciclovir. Entretanto, este extrato apresentou atividade inibitória contra o vírus Herpes simplex tipo 2 resistente ao aciclovir. Do extrato etanólico bruto de P. alopecuroides foi possível isolar a 7-(2',3'-dihidroxi-3'-metilbutiloxi)-6-metoxicumarina, a qual foi testada nas mesmas condições, demonstrando um índice de inibição viral quase duas vezes maior do que o da amostra de P. alopecuroides para HSV-2-ACVr. A cumarina tabém foi ativa contra HSV-1-ACVr. Esses resultados evidenciam a importância de Pterocaulon alopecuroides e Bidens segetum como plantas medicinais.

Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lamark) De Candolle and Bidens segetum Mart. ex Colla are two species belonging to the Asteraceae family. Extracts from those two species were evaluated to their cytotoxic, antioxidant and antiviral activities. All the extracts assayed have shown a very high cytotoxity against RBL-2H3 cell line. The antioxidant assay pointed out a really high activity of the ethyl acetate extracts for B. segetum and P. alopecuroides. This can be partially explained due to the high content of coumarins, at least for P. alopecuroides. None of the total ethanol extracts from B. segetum showed significant activity against the two strains of Herpes simplex virus (Types 1 and 2 resistant to acyclovir). P. alopecuroides ethanol extract was also inactive against the Herpes simplex virus type 1 resistant to acyclovir. However, this extract presented inhibitory activity against the Herpes simplex virus type 2 resistant to acyclovir. From the ethanol crude extract of P. alopecuroides, it was possible to isolate 7-(2',3'-dihidroxy-3'-methylbutyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin, which was tested in the same conditions, showing a viral inhibitory rate almost twice bigger than the P. alopecuroides sample for HSV-2-ACVr. The coumarin was also active against HSV-1-ACVr. Those results provide further evidence of the importance of Pterocaulon alopecuroides and Bidens segetum as medicinal plants.

This paper describes the chemical constituents isolated from leaves and fruits of Licania tomentosa Benth. The plant materials were successively extracted with hexane and methanol. From the extracts the following compounds were obtained: betulinic acid; licanolide, a new triterpene lactone; oleanolic acid, lupeol; palmitoleic and hexadecanoic acid; a mixture of stigmasterol and sitosterol; and a mixture of tormentic, ursolic and betulinic acid. The structures of the natural products were identified on the basis of spectral data.

Os radicais livres e outros derivados ativos do oxigênio são inevitavelmente co-produzidos em algumas reações biológicas e exercem papel fisiológico importante. No entanto, essas espécies reativas têm sido descritas como fatores que participam diretamente dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos relacionados com a continuidade e as complicações de diversos estados patológicos como a aterosclerose, a diabetes, o câncer, a artrite reumatóide, entre outros. Dessa forma, a terapia antioxidante preveniria o desenvolvimento e a progressão dessas complicações. As algas marinhas representam uma importante fonte de substâncias antioxidantes naturais, uma vez que têm sistemas de defesas antioxidantes bem desenvolvidos. O presente trabalho é uma compilação das pesquisas realizadas sobre a atividade antioxidante de produtos naturais marinhos e extratos de algas marinhas bentônicas.

Free radicals and other reactive species of oxygen are co-produced in some biological reactions and they play important physiological role, and nevertheless they are reported as factors that take straight part in the pathophysiologic mechanism associated with continuity and complications of the several pathological process such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and arthritis, among others. In this way, the antioxidant therapy should prevent the development and progress of these complications. Seaweeds can be valuable source of natural antioxidant compounds since they have a well-developed antioxidant defense system. The present work is a compilation of the antioxidant activities of marine natural products and benthonic marine seaweeds crude extracts researches.

This work describes the flavonoids and biflavonoids found in species of Ouratea and Luxemburgia as chemical markers that serve to detect the difference between these taxa according to the linkage between the flavonoidal units. A rational nomenclature is proposed and the pharmacological potencial is discussed.

Rheedia longifolia Planch et Triana belongs to the Clusiaceae family. This plant is widely distributed in Brazil, but its chemical and pharmacological properties have not yet been studied. We report here that leaves aqueous extract of R. longifolia (LAE) shows analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of this extract dose-dependently inhibited the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid in mice. The analgesic effect and the duration of action were similar to those observed with sodium diclofenac, a classical non-steroidal analgesic. In addition to the effect seen in the abdominal constriction model, LAE was also able to inhibit the hyperalgesia induced by lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria (LPS) in rats. We also found that R. longifolia LAE inhibited an inflammatory reaction induced by LPS in the pleural cavity of mice. Acute toxicity was evaluated in mice treated with the extract for seven days with 50 mg/kg/day. Neither death, nor alterations in weight, blood leukocyte counts or hematocrit were noted. Our results suggest that aqueous extract from R. longifolia leaves has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity with minimal toxicity and are therefore endowed with a potential for pharmacological control of pain and inflammation.

We characterized the chemical constituents of Copaifera duckei oleoresin and used dermal application to Wistar rats to evaluated its possible mutagenic and cytotoxic activities on peripheral blood reticulocytes and bone marrow cells. Chemical characterization of the oleoresin revealed the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, an unidentified neutral diterpene and diterpene acids. To evaluate mutagenicity evaluation the rats were treated with 10, 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin for three consecutive days and peripheral blood collected after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h for micronucleus analysis. The rats were humanly sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment and chromosome preparations made using standard techniques. At the three concentrations and the three time intervals tested we found that there were no statistically significant differences in either the mean number of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) or the number of chromosomal aberrations as to the negative control. However, at 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin there was a significant decrease in the mitotic index (MI) as compared to the negative control. Under our experimental conditions, C. duckei V11 oleoresin produced no mutagenic effects on bone marrow cells or in peripheral reticulocytes as assessed by chromosome aberrations and the micronucleus test respectively, but showed cytotoxic activity at high doses.

ABSTRACT Species of Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae families are typical of many Brazilian biomes with their floristic richness and diversity. Many plants of these families have been employed for medicinal purposes by Brazilian’s population. A survey was performed to find out the medicinal uses of these species in Brazil. The Myrtaceae family have a great number of species employed in several diseases, specially gastrointestinal disorders and infectious diseases. Melastomataceae have a medicinal flora poorly known.

RESUMO Espécies das famílias Myrtaceae e Melastomataceae estão presentes em diversos biomas brasileiros, onde se caracterizam pela riqueza e diversidade florística. Várias plantas dessas famílias têm sido utilizadas pela população brasileira para fins medicinais. Foi realizado um levantamento sobre o uso medicinal de espécies dessas duas famílias no Brasil. A família Myrtaceae destaca-se pelo grande número de espécies empregadas em diversas patologias, principalmente distúrbios gastrointestinais e estados infecciosos, enquanto que Melatomataceae apresenta uma flora medicinal relativamente pouco conhecida.

Plumbagin is a naturally occurring naphthoquinone isolated from roots of Plumbago scandens. The plant was collected at the Campus of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. P. scandens is used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The antimicrobial activity of plumbagin was evaluated using the macrodilution method. The compound exhibited relatively specific activity against bacteria and yeast. The minimum inhibitory concentration test showed the growth inhibiton of Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 1.56 µg/ml and of Candida albicans at a concentration of 0.78 µg/ml. These results suggest the naphthoquinone plumbagin as a promising antimicrobial agent.

RESUMO produção e variabilidade de metabolitos especiais em plantas podem ser demonstradas sob diferentes condições de luz, temperatura, níveis de nutrição e água. Os monoterpenóides e sesquiterpenóides produzidos por diversos grupos vegetais são metabolitos freqüentemente sujeitos a esses fatores abióticos. A baixa intensidade luminosa geralmente, diminui a produção de monoterpenos. Pequenas variações diárias de temperaturas estimulam a produção de terpenóides, enquanto que valores extremos causam sua redução. Os índices de precipitação não seguem um padrão, variando entre as espécies estudadas. O aumento do teor de nitrogênio e fósforo no solo favorece um maior rendimento no conteúdo de óleo essencial. Essa revisão procurou destacar a influência dos fatores ambientais na produção e na variabilidade dos terpenóides em algumas plantas com importância medicinal e econômica. luz temperatura água abióticos geralmente monoterpenos redução padrão estudadas essencial econômica

ABSTRACT The production and variability of special metabolities can be demonstrated under different light conditions, temperatures, levels of nutrition and watering in plants. The emission of monoterpenoids and sequiterpenoids by several plant groups is generally affected by those environmental factors. Low light intensity usually reduces the monoterpenoid production. Small daily changes in temperature stimulate the production of terpenoids, which decreases under high temperature. Variations in rainfall were not correlated to terpenoids production. The increase in soil N and P levels resulted in higher contents of essential oils. This review aimed to show how environmental factors may affect the production and variability of terpenoids in plants with medicinal and economical importance. conditions temperatures oils importance