ABSTRACT
Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton,Apocynaceae, popularly known as "algodão-de-seda", is a wild African bush, rich in bioactive substances that determine the medicinal potential of this species. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects about 10% of the population. This study aimed to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of C. procera of occurrence in coast of Pernambuco, Brazil. The hydroalcholic extract of the leaves of C. procera (300 and 600 mg/kg/day), vehicle, insulin (6U, s.c.) or metformin (500 mg/ kg/day) were administered orally to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n = 7/group) for four weeks. Changes in body weight, food and water intake, biochemical markers, fasting glucose levels and oral glucose tolerance test were evaluated. The results showed that the C. procera dried extract (300 and 600 mg/kg) reduced significantly the level of blood glucose throughout the evaluation period and improved metabolic status of the animals and ameliorate the oral tolerance glucose test. The phytochemical screening revealed and quantified the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in a percentage of 29.1 and 2.9%, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the extract of the leaves of C. procera has antihyperglycemic activity.
ABSTRACT
Endophytic microorganisms from the base and top leaves of Spermacoce verticillata were isolated and the antimicrobial potential was evaluated. A total of 56 strains were isolated in pure culture, 44 fungi and 12 actinobacteria. The isolation frequency was higher in the base leaves (12.5%), when compared to the top leaves (3.05%). Among all fungi and actionobacteria identified, the majority belonged to the genus Guignardia (25%) and Microbispora (41.66%), respectively. The antimicrobial screening was firstly evaluated by agar plug assay and showed that 28.57% of the isolates presented activity mainly against gram positive bacteria Staphylococus aureus (ATCC-6538) and Bacillus subtilis (UFPEDA-16). The microorganisms that presented the best activities were then selected, evaluated in different culture media broth, and tested by disk diffusion assay using their fermented broth. The microorganisms selected for this assay exhibited antimicrobial activity mainly for Bacillus subtilis (UFPEDA-16). Since many isolates showed inhibitory activity against pathogenic microorganisms, it is suggestive that endophytic microorganisms from S. verticillata could be an interesting source to explore for bioactive metabolites and new tools need to be employed to explore the real potential of these microorganisms.
ABSTRACT
Este estudo avaliou a influência do efeito de borda e da pluviosidade sobre a produção de flavonóides em indivíduos de Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Steud., Fabaceae, em uma área de caatinga no estado de Pernambuco, Nordeste do Brasil. Foi utilizada metodologia analítica por complexação com cloreto de alumínio para quantificar a concentração de flavonóides contidos nos extratos foliares de B. cheilantha, por meio de espectrofotometria no visível. De forma geral, o efeito de borda afeta a produção de flavonóides, entretanto, não foi possível correlacionar a produção de flavonóides e a pluviosidade, demonstrando que a espécie avaliada utiliza outra estratégia como resposta às pressões ambientais.
The present study evaluated the influence of the edge-effect and rainfall on flavonoid content in individuals of Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Steud., Fabaceae, in an area of caatinga vegetation in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. The analytical methodology used aluminum chloride binding to quantify flavonoid concentrations by visible light spectrophotometry in leaf extracts of B. cheilantha. In general, forest edges influenced flavonoid production, but it was not possible to relate production with rainfall levels. These results demonstrate that this species uses various strategies to respond to environmental variables.
ABSTRACT
In this paper we report the results of an in vitro study involving the influence of biflorin (an o-quinone isolated from Capraria biflora L. that has potent antimicrobial activity) on the Tc-99m labeling of red blood cells, plasma protein, cells protein, and lymphocytes. Blood was withdrawn from Wistar rats and incubated with various concentrations of biflorin, and solutions of stannous chloride and Tc-99m were added. Plasma (P) and red blood cells (RBC) were isolated, precipitated, and centrifuged, and soluble (SF) and insoluble (IF) fractions were isolated. The results show that the highest concentration (100 percent) of biflorin is able to reduce the uptake of Tc-99m ( percentATI) on RBC and the fixation on IF-P. To study the influence of biflorin on 99mTc lymphocyte labeling, human blood was submitted to a technique with Ficoll-Hypac and centrifuged, and white cells were isolated. Lymphocytes (2.5 mL; 1.0 x 10(6) cells/mL) were obtained and a 0.2 mL solution was incubated with biflorin (0.1 mL). Solutions of stannous chloride and 99mTc were added. Lymphocytes were separated and the percentATI bound in these cells was evaluated. A reduction in percentATI (from 97.85 ± 0.99 to 88.86 ± 5) was observed for RBC and for IF-P (73.24 ± 5.51 to 20.72 ± 6.95). In this case the results showed no decrease in percentATI for the lymphocytes with biflorin.
Neste artigo relatam-se os resultados de um estudo in vitro envolvendo a influência da biflorina (uma o-quinona isolada de Capraria biflora L. que possui uma potente atividade antimicrobiana) na marcação do Tc-99m em células vermelhas do sangue, proteínas do plasma, proteínas celulares e em linfócitos. O sangue foi coletado de ratos Wistar e incubado com várias concentrações de biflorina, e soluções de cloreto estanoso (SnCl2) adicionando-se Tc-99m. O plasma (P) e as células vermelhas do sangue (CVS) foram isolados, precipitados e centrifugados, isolando-se as frações solúveis (FS) e insolúveis (FI). A maior concentração de biflorina (100 por cento) é capaz de reduzir a captação do Tc-99m ( por centoATI) nas CVS e a fixação na FI-P. Uma solução de 0,2 mL de linfócitos (2,5 mL; 1.0 x 10(6) células/mL), obtidos por centrifugação de sangue humano tratado com Ficoll-Hypac, foi incubada com biflorina (0,1 mL). Soluções de cloreto estanoso e Tc-99m foram então adicionadas. Os linfócitos foram separados e o por centoATI presente nessas células foi avaliado. Uma redução no por centoATI (de 97,85 ± 0,99 a 88,86 ± 5) foi observada para CVS e para FI-P (73,24 ± 5,51 a 20,72 ± 6,95). Os resultados não mostraram decréscimo no por centoATI para os linfócitos com biflorina.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , In Vitro Techniques , Plants, Medicinal , RadiopharmaceuticalsABSTRACT
The influence of seasonal climatic changes on tannin concentrations was examined in two caatinga (semi-arid) plant species (Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All. and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan). The Folin-Ciocalteau method was used to quantify total phenols, and the casein precipitation method was used for tannins. In general, there is a close relationship between tannin levels and rainfall, although species seem to adopt different strategies of tannin compound production in response to periods of drought and rainfall in the caatinga.
Examinou-se a influência da sazonalidade climática sobre as concentrações de taninos em duas espécies da Caatinga: Myracrodruon urundeuva (Engl.) Fr. All. e Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan. Empregou-se o método Folin-Ciocalteau para quantificar os fenóis totais e o método de precipitação da caseína para taninos. De maneira geral, existe uma forte relação entre os teores de taninos e a pluviosidade, apesar das espécies parecerem adotar diferentes estratégias de produção de compostos tânicos em resposta aos períodos de seca e chuva na caatinga.