The phytochemical investigation of the stem bark and leaves of G. elliptica provided a mixture of the norisoprenoids blumenol B and 6-epiblumenol B along with the triterpenes friedelin, as the major constituent, friedelanol, ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol, a-amyrin, β-amyrin, morentenol, epifriedelanol, as well as the sesquiterpenes trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, ethyl hydnocarpate and other fatty acid esters. The identification of the compounds was performed on basis of spectrometric methods such as GC-MS, IR, MS and 1D and 2D NMR. Stem bark extracts showed significant leishmanicidal activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis, with the best results for the chloroform extract.

Os óleos essenciais das folhas e caules de Rhodostemonodaphne parvifolia coletada na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização de chama e espectrometria de massas. Treze constituintes foram identificados nas folhas, dos quais o ß-cariofileno foi o que apresentou maior percentual (41,30%). Nos caules foram identificados quinze compostos, com predominância dos sesquiterpenos ß-cariofileno (16,20%) e epi-cedrol (13,30%) e do monoterpeno linalol (15,40%). Os óleos foram analisados em ensaios químicos, de sequestro do radical livre DPPH, e enzimáticos, de inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase. Nos ensaios de sequestro de radicais livres, apesar de terem se mostrado ativos em ensaios qualitativos, os óleos essenciais apresentaram fraca atividade antioxidante no ensaio quantitativo (inativos em concentração inferior a 1.000 µg/mL). A inibição da acetilcolinesterase só foi observada nos óleos essenciais das folhas. A composição química e a atividade biológica destes óleos estão sendo relatadas pela primeira vez neste trabalho.

The essential oils of leaves and stems of Rhodostemonodaphne parvifolia collected in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirteen components were identified in the leaf oil, of which ß-caryophyllene was the major (41.30%). Fifty components were identified in the stem oil, among them the sesquiterpenes ß-caryophyllene (16.20%) and epi-cedrol (13.30%), together with the monoterpene linalool (15.40%). The essential oils were analyzed at chemical, DPPH free radical scavenging; and enzymatic bioassays, acetylcholinesterase inhibition. At antioxidant DPPH assays, the oils showed to be active at the qualitative assay but only weakly active at quantitative test (inactive at concentration lower than 1,000 µg/mL). The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was detected only in leaves essential oils. This paper describes for the first time the composition of these essential oils and their biological activities.

bicyclogermacrene (35.12%), (E)-caryophyllene (14.19%) and α-copaene (8.19%). The antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities were investigated. The oil showed potent antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Rhodococcus equi. The oil also showed significant antileishmanial activity, giving the best results against Leishmania guyanensis. A preliminary cytotoxicity assay for this oil was carried out on hamster and mice (Balb/c) peritoneal macrophages. The results obtained were similar to pentamidine and considered not to be cytotoxic to macrophages.

Os iridóides principais das cascas e látex de Himatanthus sucuuba foram isolados e caracterizados por métodos espectroscópicos. CLAE foi utilizada para a análise quantitativa desses iridóides e os cromatogramas da casca e do látex apresentaram uma composição semelhante de iridóides. Ambas as partes da planta são utilizadas na medicina popular para o tratamento de várias doenças.

The main iridoids from the bark and latex of Himatanthus sucuuba were isolated and characterised by spectroscopic methods. HPLC was used for the quantitative analyses of these iridoids and the chromatograms of bark and latex showed a similar iridoid composition. Both parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments.