Chemical constituents from Casearia spp. (Flacourtiaceae/Salicaceae sensu lato)

ABSTRACT Chemical investigation of the leaves of Casearia gossypiosperma Briq., Salicaceae, led to the isolation of two known flavonoids, (+)-taxifolin and quercetin, the leaves of Casearia decandra Jacq. have afforded hydroquinone, the leaves of Casearia rupestris Eichler and Casearia lasiophylla Eichler have afforded a diterpene, (E)-phytol, and the leaves of C. rupestris and Casearia obliqua Spreng. have afforded sitosterol. The twigs of Casearia lasiophylla Eichler led to the isolation of two compounds (+)-pinoresinol, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine, and the twigs of C. obliqua have afforded N-trans-feruloyltyramine, N-trans-cumaroyltyramine, and cinamic acid. This is the first report of the compounds (+)-taxifolin, quercetin, hydroquinone, (+)-pinoresinol and N-trans-cumaroyltyramine from the Casearia genus.

Avaliação de mutagenicidade e antimutagenicidade de diferentes frações de Pterogyne nitens (Leguminosae), utilizando ensaio de micronúcleo em Tradescantia pallida / Evaluation of mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of different fractions of Pterogyne nitens (Leguminosae), using Tradescantia pallida micronuclei assay

Pterogyne nitens (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) é uma árvore nativa da América do Sul, onde é empregada na medicina popular para o tratamento da ascaridíase. Recentemente, descrevemos o efeito mutagênico do extrato etanólico das folhas de P. nitens. Dessa forma, o presente estudo teve por objetivo aprofundar a avaliação do potencial mutagênico das frações isoladas das folhas de Pterogyne nitens, acetato de etila (AcOEt), n-butanólica (BuOH) e hidroalcóolica (HA). Quando o efeito mutagênico foi observado somente nas maiores concentrações testadas, o potencial antimutagênico também foi avaliado. Os ensaios mutagênicos e antimutagênicos foram realizados utilizando ensaio de micronúcleo em Trandescantia pallida. Na avaliação de mutagenicidade, observou-se o efeito nas frações AcOEt (0,460 mg/mL), BuOH (0,142, 0,285, 0,570 e 1,14 mg/mL) e HA (0,050, 0,100, 0,200 e 0,400 mg/mL). Considerando que o efeito mutagênico da fração AcOEt foi observado somente na concentração mais elevada (0,460 mg/mL), o potencial antimutagênico da mesma foi avaliado. As concentrações de 0,115 e 0,230 mg/mL da fração AcOEt demonstraram atividade antimutagênica. A partir dos resultados do presente estudo, conclui-se que determinadas frações de P. nitens apresentam mutagenicidade (BuOH e HA), enquanto a fração AcOEt apresentou efeito antimutagênico nas maiores concentrações. Esses resultados tornam o estudo da P. nitens bastante promissor, considerando que esta planta possui distribuição geográfica ampla e tem sido pouco estudada.

Pterogyne nitens (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) is a tree native to South American, where it is used in folk treatment of ascaridiasis. Recently, we have been describing the mutagenic effect of the ethanol extract of leaves of P. nitens. Thus, the present study aimed at evaluating the mutagenic potential of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n- butanol (BuOH) and hydroalcoholic (HA) fractions. When the mutagenic effect was observed only in the highest tested concentrations, the antimutagenic activity was also evaluated. Both mutagenic and antimutagenic assays were performed using T. pallida micronuclei assay. Mutagenicity was observed between different concentrations of the P nitens fractions, EtOAc (0.460 mg/mL), BuOH (0.142, 0.285, 0.570 and 1.14 mg/mL) and HA (0.050, 0.100, 0.200 and 0.400 mg/mL). Whereas the mutagenic effect of the EtOAc fraction was observed in the highest concentration (0.460 mg/mL), its antimutagenic potential was evaluated. The 0.115 and 0.230 mg/mL concentrations of the EtOAc fraction demonstrated antimutagenic activity. Based on the results of the present study we can conclude that some P. nitens fractions (BuOH and HA) demonstrated mutagenic effects whereas the EtOAc fraction shown low mutagenicity and amtimutagenicity in the two higher concentrations. Those results stimulate the studies with P. nitens, which possess spread geographic distribution and it is still low studied.

Search for antifungal and anticancer compounds from native plant species of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of several bioactive exttracts obtained from Cerrado and Atlantic Forest plant species led to the isolation of potent DNA-damaging piperidine 1-5 and guanidine alkaloids 6-9 from Cassia leptophylla and Pterogyne nitens respectively, two common Leguminosae from Atlantic Forest. By means of biotechnological approach on Maytenus aquifolium, a species from Cerrado, moderate DNA-damaging sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid 10-11 was isolated. Bioassay-guided fractionation on Casearia sylvestris, a medicinal plant species found in Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, led to the isolation of clerodane diterpenes 12-13 which showed effect on DNA. In addition, we have reported several interesting potent antifungal iridoids: 1beta-hydroxy-dihydrocornin (14), 1alpha-hydroxy-dihydrocornin (15), alpha-gardiol (16), beta-gardiol (17), plumericin (18), isoplumericin (19), 11-O-trans-caffeoylteucrein (20); ester derivative:2-methyl-4-hydroxy-butyl-caffeoate (21), amide N-[7-(3ï, 4ï-metrylenedioxyphenyl)-2Z, 4Z-heptadienoyl] pyrrolidine (22) and triterpene viburgenin (23).