Fatty acid esters (methyl and ethyl) prepared from babassu nut oil were blended with the respective esters from soybean oil. These binary blends (babassu:soybean) were made in proportions of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50 (vol%). The ester content of all the blends was higher than 96.5%, which is the minimum value required by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis, ANP). The thermal properties of the babassu, soybean and binary mixtures of esters were investigated by thermogravimetry-differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermal stability of the blended biodiesels decreased as the total contents of the babassu esters increased. From the experiments it was found that babassu methanol biodiesel is stable up to 49.6 ºC and the ethanol biodiesel is stable up to 53.7 ºC in air. The methyl esters blends were thermally stable up to 83.2 and 56.8 ºC, for 90:10 and 50:50 blends (soybean:babassu), respectively. The ethyl ester blends presented values of temperature ranges somewhat higher than the methyl esters, such as 85.2 and 64.5 ºC for 90:10 and 50:50 blends, respectively. The esters from babassu oil have satisfactory performance at low temperatures with respect to the point of crystallization, which were below –9.8 ºC for ethylic esters and –8.5 ºC for methylic esters. A good correlation between the crystallization onset temperature and the increase in the concentration of the babassu oil esters was obtained in the mixtures analyses. In the 50:50 combination (babassu:soybean), the crystallization onset temperature were –6.73 and –9.12 ºC for methyl and ethyl esters, respectively.

3-(Thiophen-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboximidamides were efficiently prepared through a cyclocondensation of thiophenylchalcones with aminoguanidine hydrochloride under ultrasonic conditions in the presence of KOH and ethanol as a green solvent in short reaction times (15-35 min) and good yields (62-95%). All compounds produced were evaluated against the human Jurkat and RS4;11 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines of T- and B-cell origin, respectively, and the K562 myelogenous leukemia cell line. Six compounds presented half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values around 15 µmol L-1 and five compounds presented IC50 values around 40 µmol L-1 for at least one of the three cell lines analyzed. One compound was not significantly cytotoxic, presenting IC50 value > 100 µmol L-1.

Senna ocidentalis é uma planta daninha, nativa do Brasil, sendo considerada infestante de culturas e plantações, e é responsável por perdas de produção de diversas culturas, principalmente de soja. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar se o extrato e frações de Croton argenteus possuem atividade fitotóxica sobre S. ocidentalis. O extrato etanólico bruto (EEB) e as frações hexânica (FH), clorofórmio (FCL) e acetato de etila (FAE) foram testados na germinação, crescimento, aumento do estresse oxidativo, síntese de ATP, L- malato e succinato. O extrato bruto e frações atrasaram a germinação das sementes de S. ocidentalis e diminuíram a porcentagem final de germinação. O estresse oxidativo também aumentou nas plântulas tratadas, comprovado pelo aumento na síntese de catalase, peroxidase e superóxido dismutase, glutationa redutase e peroxidação lipídica, sendo evidente que a fração acetato de etila é mais fitotóxica. Os resultados indicam que o extrato bruto e frações de C. argenteuscomprometem o metabolismo energético mitocondrial, pela inibição na síntese de ATP mitocondrial, com diminuição na produção de L- malato e succinato. A fração acetato de etila de C. argenteus apresentou alta atividade inibitória sobre a germinação e crescimento, e estes efeitos ocorrem pelas alterações no metabolismo mitocondrial e aumenta o estresse oxidativo, levando a morte das plântulas.

Senna ocidentalis is a weed, native to Brazil, considered to infest crops and plantations, and is responsible for yield losses of several crops, particularly soybean. The aim of this work was to evaluate if theCroton argenteus extract and fractions possess phytotoxic activity on S. ocidentalis. The crude ethanolic extract (CEE) and its hexanic (HF), chloroformic (CLF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions were tested in germination, growth, oxidative stress increase, Adenosine triphosphate, L-malate and succinate synthesis. The crude extract and its fractions slowed down the germination of S. ocidentalis and decreased the final percentage of germination. Oxidative stress was also increased in the seedlings, by an increase of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and lipid peroxidation; and it became clear that the ethyl acetate fraction was more phytotoxic. The results indicate that the crude extract and fractions of C. argenteus compromise the mitochondrial energy metabolism, by the inhibition of mitochondrial ATP production, with a decrease in the production of L-malate and succinate. The ethyl acetate fraction of C. argenteus showed high activity on germination and growth, and these effects take place by means of mitochondrial metabolism alterations and increase the oxidative stress, leading the seedling death.

The seed oils from four plants (Scheelea phalerata, Butia capitata, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Terminalia cattapa) found in Mato Grosso do Sul were extracted at good yields. Alkaline transesterification of these seed oils to esters using methanol and ethanol was studied and also produced good yields. Oleic acid (30.5/32.3%), lauric acid (30.7/32.9%) methyl and ethyl esters, were the main components of transesterification of the oils from Scheelea phalerata and Syagrus romanzoffiana. Lauric acid (42.2%), capric acid (15.9%) and caprylic acid (14.6%) methyl and ethyl esters were the main ester components of transesterification of the oil from Butia capitata. Oleic acid (37.8%), palmitic acid (33.5%) and linoleic acid (22.6%) methyl and ethyl esters were the main components of transesterification of oil from Terminalia catappa. Based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies, the first crystallization peak temperature of esters was observed. Esters derived from oils of the family Arecaceae (Scheelea phalerata, Butia capitata, Syagrus romanzoffiana) showed the lowest points of crystallization, despite having high levels of saturated fat. Esters of Terminalia cattapa oil, rich in unsaturated fat, showed the highest crystallization temperature. This difference in behavior is probably related to the high concentration of esters derived from lauric acid and palmitic acid.

The essential oil of roots of Jatropha ribifolia, obtained by hydrodistillation, was characterized in terms of its chemical composition by chromatographic method with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled to electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analyses and identification pointed by mass fragmentation pattern and retention index revealed the presence of 49 compounds, representing 91.4% of the total oil, with 39.5% of monoterpenes, 43.0% of sesquiterpenes and 8.5% of phenylpropanoids. The major compounds of the oil were β-pinene (9.2%), isoeugenol methyl ether (8.5%), vatirenene (8.4%), α-gurjunene (7.0%), endo-8-hydroxy-cycloisolongifolene (6.6%), α-pinene (6.4%) and p-menth-1-en-8-ol (5.2%). The fractionation by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) allowed obtaining five fractions (F1-F5) with different compound contents from the original oil. Some essential oil components showed a significant increase in their levels after fractionation, as borneol (17.9%, F1), 3-thujopsanone (19.1%, F4), isoeugenol methylether (21.2%, F2), 8-oxo-9H-cycloisolongifolene (21.4%, F4), 8-cis-5(1H)-azulenone,2,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,8-dimethyl-4-(1-methylethylidene) (23.1%, F4) e endo-8-hydroxy-cycloisolongifolene (38.6%, F2). These fractions and oil were tested in vitro against nine human cancer cell lines by sulforhodamine B assay. The Jatropha oil was more effective in inhibiting the growth of cells NCI-H460 (drug resistant ovarian; GI50 6.2 µg mL–1) and OVCAR-3 (ovarian; GI508.0 µg mL–1). The cancer cells line PC-3 (prostate) was more sensitive to the effects of the fractions showing significant values of GI50 such as for fraction F1, F2 and F4 (< 0.25 µg mL–1). In general the antiproliferative activity of the fractions was more pronounced than that of crude oil.

We investigated antioxidant capacity, phenolic content and phytotoxic effects in seven species of fruit native to Brazil: Acrocomia aculeata, Hymenaea stigonocarpa, Tamarindus indica, Byrsonima intermedia, Psidium firmum, Myrciaria cauliflora and Ficus obtusifolia. Phytotoxic effects were assessed from crude ethanol extracts and semipurified fractions. In four of the seven fruits, total phenolic content, as determined by Folin-Ciocalteu assay, was higher in the peel than in the pulp. We found that total phenolic content correlated significantly with antioxidant capacity. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection revealed the presence of the flavonoids quercetin and rutin in some fruits. We also evaluated the allelopathic effects of the crude ethanol extract and semipurified fractions. In most of the essays, the ethyl acetate fractions showed the highest level of activity.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from samples of propolis manufactured in three regions of Rio Grande do Sul State at Brazil, were analyzed through CG, CG-MS and chiral phase gas chromatography (CPGC). These analyses display the presence of samples with elevated essential oil purport, when compared with plants. The yields obtained were until 3.8%. The samples exhibited similar composition, with predominance of the monoterpenes α-pinene (5763%), β-pinene (12.5-30.8%) and limonene (1.5-11.2%). In chiral analysis ofthese constituents were observed modifications in the enantiomeric excess of isomers of α-pinene and limonene in relation with source location of the sample, already in the chiral analysis of β-pinene were detected only elevated excess of the enantiomer with the (-) configuration. The antimicrobial activity of the crude essential oil was assayed against five bacteria. The best result was obtained against Staphylococcus aureus.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o potencial fitotóxico do extrato etanólico bruto e das frações semipurificadas de Dicranopteris flexuosa por meio de bioensaios de germinação e crescimento de Lactuca sativa L. (alface), Lycopersicon esculentum L. (tomate), Allium cepa L. (cebola) e Triticum aestivum L. (trigo) em laboratório e casa de vegetação e quantificar o teor total de fenóis e flavonóides dos extratos e frações. Nos bioensaios realizados em laboratório foram utilizadas quatro concentrações (0, 250, 500, 1000 mg L-1), com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. A análise dos resultados indica redução da velocidade e/ou inibição da germinação, estímulo do crescimento da raiz das eudicotiledôneas e inibição da raiz adventícia das monocotiledôneas estudadas. Nos bioensaios realizados em casa de vegetação foram utilizadas as mesmas concentrações dos bioensaios em laboratório, com oito repetições de cinco sementes por vaso. A análise dos resultados indica que o comprimento da raiz foi afetado pelo extrato etanólico bruto, ocorrendo estímulo em tomate e inibição em cebola e trigo. A produção de massa seca da parte aérea foi estimulada na menor concentração em alface e trigo. A fração acetato de etila foi a que apresentou os maiores teores de fenóis e flavonóides totais. Embora os resultados sejam preliminares, observa-se que o extrato etanólico e as frações semipurificadas de D. flexuosa também contêm substâncias que interferem no crescimento das plântulas de alface, tomate, cebola e trigo.

This work aimed to determine the phytotoxic potential of crude ethanol extract and semipurified fractions of Dicranopteris flexuosa on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce), Lycopersicon esculentum L. (tomato), Allium cepa L. (onion) and Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays and determine total phenolic and flavonoid content. For the tests carried out in laboratory, four concentrations (0, 250, 500, 1000 mg.L-1) were applied to four replicates of 50 seeds each. Analysis of the results indicates a reduction in speed and/or inhibition of germination, stimulation of root growth in eudicots and root inhibition in the monocots studied. For the bioassays carried out in the greenhouse, the plant materials were applied at the same concentrations as those in the laboratory bioassays, with eight replicates of five seeds each. Analysis of the results indicates that root length was affected by the crude ethanol extract resulting in stimulation in tomato and inhibition in onion and wheat. Aerial dry mass was higher at the lower concentration in lettuce and wheat. The ethyl acetate fraction presented higher content of total phenols and flavonoids. Although the results are preliminary, they indicate that ethanol extract and semipurified fractions of D. flexuosa contain substances that modify seedling growth of lettuce, tomato, onion and wheat.

A bioatividade das frações semipurificadas (hexânica, acetato de etila e etanol-água) do extrato etanólico das partes aérea de S. occidentalis foi avaliada através de ensaios de germinação e de crescimento de Lactuca sativa (alface), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomate), Allium cepa (cebola) e Triticum aestivum (trigo), em laboratório. Foram utilizadas três concentrações (250, 500, 1000 mg L-1) de cada fração e um controle não tratado, com quatro repetições de 50 sementes. Os bioensaios de germinação revelaram que todas as frações atrasaram a germinação de alface, tomate e cebola, e as frações hexânica e acetato de etila reduziram a germinabilidade de tomate e cebola. Nos bioensaios de crescimento, a fração hexânica estimulou o crescimento da raiz e inibiu o crescimento do hipocótilo das eudicotiledôneas. A mesma fração inibiu o crescimento da raiz e do coleóptilo das monocotiledôneas. A fração acetato de etila inibiu o crescimento da raiz das plântulas-alvo e o hipocótilo/coleóptilo de tomate e cebola. A fração etanol-água estimulou o crescimento da raiz de tomate e do hipocótilo de alface e inibiu o crescimento da raiz de cebola e trigo e, também, do coleóptilo de cebola, na concentração de 1000 mg L-1. Nos bioensaios com herbicidas comerciais foram observados efeitos semelhantes àqueles obtidos na germinação pelas frações e no crescimento pelas frações hexânica e acetato de etila. Na cromatografia em camada delgada, foram detectados terpenos na fração hexânica, compostos fenólicos e alcalóides na fração acetato de etila. A análise espectrofotométrica revelou que a fração acetato de etila possui o maior conteúdo de compostos fenólicos e flavonóides.

The bioactivity of semipurified fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol-water) obtained from S. occidentalis aerial-part ethanol extract was evaluated by germination and growth bioassays using Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Allium cepa (onion) and Triticum aestivum (wheat), in the laboratory. Three concentrations of each fraction (250, 500, 1000 mg L-1) and untreated control were used, on four replicates of 50 seeds each. Germination bioassays revealed that lettuce, tomato and onion germination were delayed by all tested semipurified fractions, and tomato and onion germination were inhibited by the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions. In growth bioassays, the hexane fraction stimulated root growth and inhibited hypocotyl growth in the eudicots. The same fraction inhibited root and coleoptile growth of the assayed monocots. The ethyl acetate fraction inhibited seedling roots and hypocotyl/coleoptile growth, of tomato and onion. The ethanol-water fraction stimulated tomato root growth and lettuce hypocotyl growth, and inhibited onion and wheat root and onion coleoptile development at 1000 mg L-1. Bioassays performed with commercial herbicides presented similar results to those observed in germination to the semipurified fractions in the growth by hexane and ethyl acetate fractions. The layer chromatography revealed that the tested hexane fraction contains terpenes, and the ethyl acetate fraction has phenolic compounds and alkaloids. The spectrophotometric analysis revealed greater yields of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the ethyl acetate fraction.

The volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Hydrocotyle bonariensis Lam (Araliaceae) was analyzed by GC, Chiral-GC and GC-MS. It was identified 14 compounds and the monoterpene (+)-limonene (53.6%) and sesquiterpene γ-muurolene (10.5%) were the main components. The allelopathic effects of the oil were evaluated against two seeds, Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa. The results show that the oil exhibited inhibition effects in the germination and seedling growth of plants species relative to the control.

Chemical studies with aerial parts of Microgramma vacciniifolia (Langsd. & Fisch.) Copel. afforded ²-sitosterol, hopan-22-ol, 6-metoxiapinenin-7-O-²-D-allopyranoside and a mixture containing ethyl esters of carboxilic acids. The structures of the coumpounds were elucidated by spectroscopy and GC-MS analysis. The total phenolics contents of the crude extract and fractions were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The AcOEt fraction showed better activity in DPPH assay (9.9 ± 0.03 µg/mL), and presented also higher contents of the total phenolic (93.60 ± 1.11 µg/mg). Antimicrobial and allelopathic effects of the crude etanolic extract and fractions also were evaluated. In addition, the combination of biological activities was discussed.

O óleo essencial obtido a partir das cascas do caule de Croton urucurana Baillon (Euphorbiaceae) foi analisado por CG e CG-EM. 83 compostos foram identificados, sendo borneol (14,7%), acetato de bornila (5,2%), 1-isopropil-7-metil-4-metileno-1,3,4,5,6,8-hexaidro -2H-naftalen-4a-ol (14,7%), sesquicineol (10,5%) e epóxido de gama-gurjuneno (5,4%) os principais componentes. Para o óleo essencial bruto, foi determinada em 3,21 mg mL-1 a EC50 no ensaio de atividade antioxidante frente ao radical livre DPPH. A fração do óleo essencial bruto que apresentou atividade antioxidante foi purificada por CCD sobre sílica gel. Análises de CG e CG-EM revelaram que alfa-bisabolol (38,3%), alfa-eudesmol (9,3%) e guaiol (8,2%) são os principais componentes da fração antioxidante. A EC50 medida no teste frente ao DPPH foi de 1,05 mg mL-1 para a fração bioativa. Foi determinada a atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial bruto frente a sete bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas e três fungos. Os valores de CIM medidos variaram de 1,25 a 10,00 mg mL-1.

The essential oil obtained from the stem bark of Croton urucurana Baillon (Euphorbiaceae) was analysed by GC and GC-MS. 83 compounds were identified and borneol (14.7%), bornyl acetate (5.2%), 1-isopropyl-7-methyl-4-methylene-1,3,4,5,6,8-hexahydro-2H-naphthalen-4a-ol (14.7%), sesquicineole (10.5%) and gamma-gurjunene epoxide (5.4%) were the main components. The EC50 value of the crude essential oil in the DPPH free radical scavenging assay was 3.21 mg mL-1. The fraction of the crude essential oil that presented antioxidant activity was purified by prep-TLC on silica gel. GC and GC-MS analysis revealed that alpha-bisabolol (38.3%), alpha-eudesmol (9.3%) and guaiol (8.2%) were the main components of the antioxidant fraction. The EC50 value measured for the bioactive oil fraction in the DPPH assay was 1.05 mg mL-1. The antimicrobial activity of the crude essential oil was assayed against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and three yeasts. Measured MIC values ranged from 1.25 to 10.00 mg mL-1.

The essential oils from leaves (sample A) and flowers (sample B) of Aeolanthus suaveolens Mart. ex Spreng were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC, GC-MS, and chiral phase gas chromatography (CPGC). Six compounds have been identified from the essential oils, representing ca 94.3 and 93% of the oils corresponding to samples A and B, respectively. The major constituents of samples A and B essential oils were respectively, linalool (34.2%/34.9%), (-)-massoialactone (25.9%/17.0%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (25.4%/29.1%). The enantiomeric distribution of the monoterpene linalool was established by analysis on heptakis- (6-O-methyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl)-beta-cyclodextrin capillary column. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from leaves and isolated compounds was also evaluated.

Os óleos essenciais obtidos das partes aéreas de Aloysia sellowii, coletadas em duas diferentes localidades (A e B) do sul do Brasil, foram analisadas por CG, CG-EM, e através de cromatografia gasosa com fases quirais (CGC). Dos quarenta e oito componentes identificados, representando cerca de 93 e 91% dos óleos das regiões A e B, respectivamente, 1,8-cineol, beta-pineno, sabineno e beta-(Z)-santalol foram os principais componentes. Um "screening" preliminar das duas amostras de óleos de A. sellowii mostrou atividade frente a Artemia salina (LC50 = 2,85 µg mL-1), além de exibirem atividade antimicrobiana frente a bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas e frente a leveduras (MIC 1,7-16 mg mL-1).

The essential oils obtained from aerial parts of Aloysia sellowii from two different collection locations Southern Brazil (A and B), were analyzed by GC, GC/MS, and chiral phase gas chromatography (CPGC). It was identified 48 compounds representing ca 93% and 91% of the oils of samples A and B, respectively. Besides them 1,8-Cineole, beta-pinene, sabinene, and beta-(Z)-santalol were the major components. In a preliminary biological screening the samples of essential oils of A. sellowii displayed strong activity in the brine shrimp lethality assay (LC50 = 2.85 µg mL-1) as well as antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms and two yeasts (MIC 1.7-16 mg mL-1).