ABSTRACT
The interconnection of the three organismic levels, metabolism, morphology, and biogeography, can now be amplified into a multipart architecture, introducing plant bioactivity through ethnobotany-oriented descriptions. Only via such an integrative model, the diverse organismic levels can be connected within a more holistic, realistic scheme. Construction of qualitative and quantitative models via evolutionarily conceived implantation into dahlgrenograms and Sporne indices, allows ethnobotany to acquire predictive validity. The coherence of such systems was demonstrated by comparison of the vast ethnobotanical Brazilian database by Pio Corrêa with relatively very minute databases referring to three Amazonian Indian societies
Subject(s)
Humans , Magnoliopsida , Plants, Edible , Plants, Medicinal , Science , Shamanism , Bolivia , Brazil , Ethnobotany , Indians, South American , Models, BiologicalABSTRACT
We live in a "Demon-Haunted World". Human health care requires the ever increasing resistance of pathogens to be confronted by a correspondingly fast rate of discovery of novel antibiotics. One of the possible strategies towards this objective involves the rational localization of bioactive phytochemicals. The conceptual basis of the method consists in the surprisingly little known gearings of natural products with morphology, ecology and evolution of their plant source, i. e. an introspection into the general mechanisms of nature.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Plants, Medicinal/metabolism , Magnoliopsida , Ecology , Herbal MedicineABSTRACT
No Brasil, biodiversidade - em especial, a diversidade vegetal - é considerada importante fonte de riqueza. Inequivocamente, porém, qualquer retribuiçäo durável em benefícios sociais dependerá näo do uso da biodiversidade, mas sim de seu uso sustentável. Descriçöes regionais da fauna e da flora constituem um primeiro passo nessa direçäo. Quando utilizadas para mapeamento e quantificaçäo da biodiversidade, permitem interpretar os mecanismos de funcionamento da natureza. Sem a compreensäo desses mecanismos o "desenvolvimento sustentado" permanecerá o que é hoje: apelo político sem retribuiçäo social (Beardsley, 1994). Nossos trabalhos pretendem fornecer segura base teórica para esclarecer esse "mais maravilhoso mistério da vida, o meio pelo qual tanta diversidade surgiu de täo pouca matéria física (Wilson, 1992). Afinal, "como podemos executar a política nacional - ou até mesmo tomar decisöes inteligentes sobre nossas próprias vidas - se näo compreendemos as questöes subjacentes" (Sagan, 1996)? Trata-se de problema autenticamente brasileiro que necessita da urgente unificaçäo de esforços, porque de sua soluçäo dependem aplicaçöes práticas diretas para garantia do bem-estar socioeconômico e da saúde do povo.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Sustainable DevelopmentABSTRACT
Natural products chemistry, at the end of the 20th century, arrived at a crossroads and it is high time that alternative options to progress be discussed. Should we consider macromolecules or micromolecules, search for novel bioactive compounds by ethnomedical or chemosystematic approaches, use natural products for educational purposes or the production of pharmaceuticals, study plants from a particular or a holistic point of view? The latter alternative leads, via the interplay of metabolism, morphology and ecogeography, to the mechanisms of evolutionary ecology. Mapping and quantification of biodiversity yields fundamental data for the interpretation of natural phenomena, the most important contribution of science toward the survival of mankind.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal , Research , Brazil , Ecosystem , PharmacognosyABSTRACT
Cinamodial, sesquiterpeno que ostenta o esqueleto drinâmico e que evidenciou atividade moluscicida (organismo ensaiado Biomphalaria glabrata) significativa, foi isolado através de técnicas cromatográficas do extrato hexânio da casca do tronco de Capsicodendron dinisii Nees et Mart. (Canellaceae). Ensaios biológicos com cinamodial, em concentraçöes a partir de 10,0 ppm, demonstraram atividade contra caramujos adultos (com diâmetro de 9-13 mm) e desovas (com idade de 0-1 dia) mantidos em frascos com água a 27ºC durante 24 horas
Subject(s)
Biomphalaria/drug effects , Molluscacides/pharmacology , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
A rational method of search for natural neolignans of desired structures is outlined. This involves consultation of a collection of chemical profiles of plant families. The profiles are assembled considering the biosynthetic class (in the present case lignoids), subclass (neolignans), structural types (neolignan skeleta) and relative frequency of substitutional derivatives belonging to each type (known compounds). The method is of course applicable to ani class of natural products. Its use in the case of neolignans is here selected as an exemple in view of the recently discovered antagonism towards PAF of kadsurenone, a representative of this subclass of phytochemicals. Application of the chemical profiles to phylogenetic studies is illustrated.
Subject(s)
Plants/chemistry , Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis , Lignans/analysis , Phytochemicals/antagonists & inhibitors , Biological Products , Chemical PhenomenaABSTRACT
In the present preliminary communication on comparative ethnopharmacology a limited universe of data extracted from the Journalo od Ethnopharmacology (vols.1025) was used for the construction of ethnopharmacological profiles of ten families of dicotyledons. Intraprofile analysis suggested the main uses of plant species (infdcated by the maximal citation frequencies), as opposed to the spurious ones (represented by base line fluctuations), to possess a solid chemotaxonomic basis. Interprofile analysis via correlation of ethnopharmacological distances and morphological (evolutionary) distances among the same plant families suggested compartive ethnopharmacology to possess also a phylogenetic (chemosystematic) basis. This result establishes comparative ethnopharmacology as a novel and potentially useful scientific discipline
Subject(s)
Ethnology , Pharmacology , Plants , Plants, Medicinal , Plants/classificationABSTRACT
Hexane, chloroform and aqueous ethanol extrats of calices and fruits of four especies of Lauraceae ( Licaria armeniaca, L. chrysophylla, Aniba riparia and Aniba sp) were prepared and investigated for their antibiotic activities. The hexane and chloroform extrats of both species of Aniba inhibited the growth of some of the microorganisms tested.
Os extratos hexânicas, clarofórmicos e hidroalcoólicos da cálices e dos frutos de quatro espécies de lauráceaes da Amazônia, Licaria armeniaca, Licaria chrysophylla, Aniba riparia e Aniba sp (No provisório 62), foram avaliados quanto à sua atividade antibiótica. Para os ensaios foram utilizadas bactérias Gram-Positivas, bactérias Gram-negativas e leveduras. Os extratos hexânicos e clorofórmicos das duas espécies de Aniba mostraram atividade contra diversos microorganismos.
ABSTRACT
Lignoids, oligomeric arylpropanoids, possess allelochemical activity in plants and pharmacological activity in humans, a fact which has led to important therapeutic applications. The most diversified groups are formed by lignans, derived by the oxidative condensation of cinnamyl alcohols among themselves or with cinnamic acids, and by neolignans, derived by the oxidative condensation of allylphenols, of propenylphenols or of both. The chemistry of lignans has been well known for decades. The chemistry of neolignans was described only recently, chiefly through our own work with Amazonian plants.
Lignóides, arilpropanóides aligoméricos, possuem atividade aleloquímica nas plantas nas quais ocorrem a ação farmacológica no homem, fato que já levou a aplicações terapêuticas importantes. Os grupos mais numerosos são constituídos pelas lignanas, derivadas pela condensação oxidativa de álcoois cinamílicos entre sí ou com ácidos cinâmicos, e pelas neolignanas, derivadas pela condensação oxidativa de alilfenóis e de propenilfenóis entre sí ou cruzada. A química das lignanas é conhecida desde longa data. A química das neolignanas começou a ficar conhecida em época recente, principalmente atráves de nossos trabalhos próprios com plantas da Amazônia.
ABSTRACT
Thz wood of Vouacapoua pallidior (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) Contains (+)-methyl vouacapenate.
A madeira de Vouacapoua pallidior (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) contém (+)-vouacapenato de metila.
ABSTRACT
Iryanthera paraensisand I. tricornis (Myristicaceae) both contain in their trunk wood 1-(2' ,4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2"-methoxy-4", "-methylenedioxyphenyl) -propane (1a),1 -(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(3", 4"-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane (1b) and 1- (4'-hydroxy -2'-meyhoxyphenyl-3-(4"-hydroxy-3"-methoxyphenyl) -propane (1c). Only from the former species 1- (2' ,4'-dihydroxy-3' -methylphenyl) -3- (2"-methoxy-4",5"-methylenedioxyphenyl) - propane (1d) and 1-(2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-3-(3",4"-methylenedioxyphenyl)-propane. (1e) were isolated additionally. Data for compound 1b are described for the first time.
Iryanthera paraensis e I. tricornis (Myristicaceae) contêm na madeira de seus troncos 1-(2', 4' - dihidroxifenil) -3- (4", 5"-metilenodoxi-2" -metoxifenil) -propano (1a 1-(2', 4' dihidroxifenil) -3-(3", 4" -metilenodioxifenil)-propano (1b) e 1-(4' -hidroxi -2'-metoxifenil) -3-(4"-hidroxi-3"-metoxifenil) -propano (1c). Apenas da primeira espécie se isolou adicionalmente 1-(2', 4'-dihidroxi-3' -metilfenil)-3-(4", 5"-metilenodioxi-2"- metoxifenil) -propano (1d) e 1-(2'-hidroxi-4'metoxifenil) -3-(3", 4"-metilenodioxifenil) -propano (1e). Dados espectroscópicos para a substância 1b, são descritos pela primeira vez.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Aniba species (Lauraceae) are characterized by the presence of neolignans or of 6-aryl (or 6-styryl-) 2-pyrones. Flavonoids occur either together with pyrones or, in rare cases, as predominant micromolecular type. The branch wood of an Aniba species from Marapi, Parú do Oeste River, near Tiriós (Para State), constitutes such a case. It contains 5,7,8,3'.4',5'-hexam-thoxyflavone, obtained for the first time from a natural source.
Espécies de Aniba (Lauraceae) são caracterizadas pela presença de neolignanas ou de 6-aril-(ou 6-estiril-) 2-pironas. Flavonoides ocorrem seja juntos com pironas, seja, em raros casos, como tipo micromolecular predominante. A madeira dos ramos de uma espécie de Aniba coletada em Marapi, no alto rio Paru do Oeste, nas proximidades de Tiriós (Pará), constitui um caso desta índole. Contém 5,7,8.3',4'.5'-hexametoxiflavona, obtida pela primeira vez de fonte natural.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Amostras das madeiras de Aniba panuransis (Meissn.) Mez e de A. permollis (Nees) Mez (família Lauraceae) contém 6-estiril -2-pironas, as quais são respectivamente, o composto não substituído e seu derivado metoxilado na posição 4.
ABSTRACT
Summary The trunk wood of Aniba kappleri Mez (family Lauraceae) contains besides sitosterol, octacosanoic acid and rhamnocitrin (7-O-methylkaempferol), three esters, namely benzyl benzoate, benzyl 2-hydroxybenzoate and benzyl 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, and two -pyrones, namely 4-methoxy-6- (E) -(3',4'-methy!enedioxystyryl)-2-pyrone and 4-methoxy-6-{E)-(3',4'-dimethoxystyryl]-2pyrone. A dimer of the latter compound, which was obtained additionally, is considered to be an artifact.
ABSTRACT
Summary The trunk wood of Tovomita brasiliensis Walp. from Belém, Pará State, contains 1,5-dihydroxy-6.7-dimethoxyxanthone, betulinic acid and sitosterol. The additional presence of 8-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl-3.4-dihydroisocoumarin, 8-hydroxy-5-methoxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and 7-chloro-8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylisocoumarin in the benzene extract is most probably due to infestation of the plant material by fungi.
Resumo A madeira de tronco da Tovomita brasiliensis Walp. (Guttiferae) contém 1,5-dihidroxi-6,7-dimetoxixantona, ácido betulínico e sitosterol. O isolamento concomitante de três policetídeos revelou a provável infestação da amostra analisada por fungos.
ABSTRACT
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 Do extrato etanólico da madeira de tronco de Tachigalia paniculata Ducke (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) foram isoladas quantidades substanciais de ácido 2-(3-indolil)-acético.
ABSTRACT
Summary The major constituents of several amazonian species belongging to the families Annonaceae, Bignoniaceae, Burseraceae, Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Lauraceae, Leguminosae-Papilionoideae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae and Zingiberaceae are described.
Resumo São descritos, neste trabalho, os principais constituintes dos óleos essenciais de algumas espécies amazônicas pertencentes às famílias Annonaceae, Bignoniaceae, Burseraceae, Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Labiatae, Lauraceae, Leguminosae-Papilionoideae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae e Zingiberaceae.