Ocimum gratissimum oil is used for various medicinal, food and cosmetic applications due to its high chemical variability. Local businesses have considered the economic exploitation of this plant. A specimen sampled at São Luís, MA, Brazil, with thymol and derivatives oil, was subjected to seasonal and circadian study, and to antifungal and antioxidant assays. It was possible to observe that the weather conditions showed a direct influence on the oil yield and variation of its constituents, mainly oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons, with the predominance of thymol, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene. Principal component analysis (PCA) was able to justify the oil chemical variability of the seasonal (70%) and circadian (86%) study. Oil displayed inhibition for the fungus Corynespora cassiicola at a concentration above 0.3 µL mL-1, and it showed a more significant activity by comparison to thymol. Using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay, the oil antioxidant activity was about 75% of thymol.

Os óleos essenciais das folhas, ramos finos, galhos, cascas do caule e frutos de Croton palanostigma foram analisados por CG e CG-EM. Os componentes principais determinados no óleo das folhas foram linalol (25,4%), (E)-cariofileno (21,0%), metileugenol (17,2%) e β-elemeno (6,0%); no óleo dos ramos finos foram α-pineno (41,4%), limoneno (29,0%), sabineno (11,5%) e β-pineno (5,7%); no óleo dos galhos foram metileugenol (24,1%), (E)-metilisoeugenol (15,3%), α-pineno (11,2%) e (E)-cariofileno (8,5%); no óleo das cascas do caule foram a-pineno (31,6%), metileugenol (25,6%) e (E)-metilisoeugenol (23,7%); e no óleo dos frutos foram linalol (42,7%), metileugenol (16,3%) e β-elemeno (6,4%). Análise estatística mostrou que as folhas e os frutos apresentam significante similaridade entre si, assim como os galhos e as cascas do caule. Adicionalmente, o óleo obtido das cascas do caule possui elevada atividade larvicida sobre Artemia salina (CL50, 3,71 ± 0,01 mg mL-1).

The essential oils of leaves, twigs, branches, trunk bark and fruits of Croton palanostigma were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The main compounds found in the oil of the leaves were linalool (25.4%), (E)-caryophyllene (21.0%), methyleugenol (17.2%) and β-elemene (6.0%); in the oil of the twigs were α-pinene (41.4%), limonene (29.0%), sabinene (11.5%) and β-pinene (5.7%); in the oil of the branches were methyleugenol (24.1%), (E)-methylisoeugenol (15.3%), α-pinene (11.2%) and (E)-caryophyllene (8.5%); in the oil of the trunk bark were a-pinene (31.6%), methyleugenol (25.6%) and (E)-methylisoeugenol (23.7%); and in the oil of the fruits were linalool (42.7%), methyleugenol (16.3%) and β-elemene (6.4%). Statistical analysis showed that the leaves and fruit, and the branches and trunk bark, have significant similarities between them. In addition, the trunk bark oil has high brine shrimp larvicidal activity (LC50, 3.71 ± 0.01 mg mL-1).

Os óleos essenciais das folhas e galhos finos de Pilocarpus microphyllus, coletado em solo mineralizado com ferro, na Serra de Carajás, Sudeste do Pará, Brasil, durante as estações chuvosa e seca, foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por GC-MS. Os principais compostos identificados foram 2-tridecanona, beta-cariofileno, 2-pentadecanona, óxido de cariofileno e germacreno D. Seus teores percentuais variam com a estação, embora os maiores valores tenham sido detectados principalmente na estação chuvosa. Para 2-tridecanona e beta-cariofileno os valores mais expressivos foram observados nos óleos de galhos finos, para o primeiro, e nos óleos das folhas, para o útimo. Para 2-pentadecanona, óxido de cariofileno e germacreno D, os valores mais altos foram, também, nos óleos das folhas. Em geral, os óleos das folhas se apresentaram muito distintos em relação aos galhos finos, assim como também no mesmo espécime.

The essential oils of the leaves and fine stems of Pilocarpus microphyllus, collected on iron mineralized soil of the Serra de Carajás, Southeast of Pará State, Brazil, during the rainy and dry seasons, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main identified compounds were 2-tridecanone, beta-caryophyllene, 2-pentadecanone, caryophyllene oxide and germacrene D. Their percentage contents varied with the season, the greater values having been detected mainly in the rainy season. For 2-tridecanone and beta-caryophyllene the higher values were observed in the fine stem oils for the former, and in the leaf oils for the latter. For 2-pentadecanone, caryophyllene oxide and germacrene D they were also in the leaf oils. In general, the leaf oils were very distinguishable from those of fine stem oils, even in the same specimen.

Os óleos essenciais obtidos das folhas e galhos finos de Piper amapense, Piper duckei e Piper bartlingianum foram analisados por GC/MS. Os óleos dessas espécies são constituídos na sua totalidade por sesquiterpenos. Os principais constituintes identificados no óleo de P. amapense foram trans-cariofileno (25,0%), óxido de cariofileno (17,0%) e β-selineno (15,0%). O óleo de P. duckei foi dominado por trans-cariofileno (23,5%), óxido de cariofileno (18,4%), β-eudesmol (9,4%) e ą-eudesmol (9,1%). Os mais importantes componentes encontrados em P. bartlingianum foram ą-cadinol (11,2%), β-elemene (10,5%), ą-muurolol (9,4%), (E)-nerolidol (9,0%).

The essential oils from leaves and thin branches of Piper amapense, Piper ducket and Piper bartlingianum were analysed by GC/MS and all volatile compounds were identified as sesquiterpenes. The main constitutents identified in the oil of P. amapense were trans-caryophyllene (25.0%), caryophyllene oxide (17.0%) and β-selinene (15.0%). The oil of P. duckei was dominated by trans-caryophyllene (23.5%), caryophyllene oxide (18.4%), β-eudesmol (9.4%) and a-eudesmol (9.1%). The major components found in the oil of P. bartlingianum were <x-cadinol (11.2%), p-elemene (10.5%), ą-muurolol (9.4%), (E)-nerolidol (9.0%).

Resumo Do extrato etanólico da madeira de tronco de Tachigalia paniculata Ducke (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) foram isoladas quantidades substanciais de ácido 2-(3-indolil)-acético.

Abstract The ethanolic extract of trunk wood of Tachigalia paniculata Ducke (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) was found to contain substantial quantities of 2-(3-indolyl)-acetic acid.

Resumo A madeira do tronco das espécies amazônicas Aniba affinis, A. cylindriflora e A. mas contém respectivamente neolignanas benzofuranoídicas (e uma biciclo [3, 2, 1] octanoídica previamente desconhecida), 6-estiril-2-pironas e 6-estiril-4-metoxi-2-pironas.

Abstract Aniba affinis, A. cylindriflora and A. mas (Lauraceae) were found to contain respectively benzofuranoid (and a previously unknown bicyclo [3, 2, 1] octanoid) neolignans, 6-styryl-2-pyrones and 6-styryl-4-methoxy-2-pyrones.