Some triterpenic compounds in extracts of Cecropia and Bauhinia species for different sampling years

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on the chemical composition of triterpenes in widespread used folk medicine species, through the development and validation of eleven compounds using HPLC-UV detection. The compounds were separated using isocratic elution, on a reverse phase column (Kinetex C18, 250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:tetrahydrofuran (90:10, v/v), flow-rate of 0.5 ml/min and detection in 210 nm. Diverse validation parameters were successfully evaluated. The samples of Bauhinia variegata L., B. variegata var. candida Voigt, Fabaceae, Cecropia palmata Willd. and C. obtusa Trécul, Urticaceae, collected in 2012, 2013 and 2014 from Amazon were treated with two different solvents (ethyl acetate and chloroform) and analyzed by the proposed method. Stigmasterol, lupeol, β-sitosterol, β-amirin and α-amirin were found in all the studied plants. Highlighting the presence of oleanolic acid, maslinic acid in C. obtusa and C. palmata extracts, erythrodiol only in C. palmata, stigmasteol in B. variegata and α-amirin in B. variegata var. candida. Overall, ethyl acetate showed better performance as the extractor solvent than chloroform. Moreover, it could be used for the quality control of medicinal plants and to assess potential marker compounds.

Avaliação do conhecimento etnofarmacológico da população de Teixeiras - MG, Brasil / Evaluation of ethnopharmacological knowledge among the population of Teixeiras, Brazil

O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi verificar o conhecimento que os moradores da cidade de Teixeiras - MG possuem a respeito das plantas medicinais, bem como, avaliar a utilização das mesmas nos cuidados com a saúde, além de caracterizar os meios de obtenção e formas de uso dessas plantas. O levantamento de dados ocorreu fundamentado em um questionário semiestruturado, aplicado entre julho e agosto de 2009, a 60 moradores da cidade de Teixeiras. Dentre os entrevistados 88,3% afirmaram utilizar as plantas medicinais na cura dos seus males, sendo que, o principal motivo para utilização das plantas foi a crença de que elas não fazem mal a saúde (50%). A parte da planta mais utilizada nas preparações caseiras foi a folha (56%), a forma de preparo mais utilizada foi a decocção (49%); e quanto ao local de obtenção das plantas medicinais, 73% cultivam no próprio quintal de casa. Com relação à finalidade das preparações caseiras observou-se maior emprego dessas no combate à gripe, problemas gastrointestinais, nervosismo, dores em geral e processos inflamatórios e infecciosos. Conclui-se que o uso tradicional de plantas medicinais no município de Teixeiras-MG, principalmente para as doenças recorrentes, ainda é bastante frequente.

The aims of the present study were to investigate knowledge on the part of residents of the city of Teixeiras (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil) regarding medicinal plants, evaluate healthcare uses and characterize both means of production and forms of use. For such, a survey was carried out with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 60 residents of Teixeiras in July and August 2009. A total of 88.3% of the interviewees reported using medicinal plants to cure ills and 50% reported that the main reason for using the plants was the belief that they are not harmful to one’s health. The leaf was the part of the plant most often employed in home remedies (56%); decoction was the most common form of preparation (49%) and 73% of the respondents cultivated medicinal plants in their own backyards. Regarding the purpose of homemade preparations, the most frequent uses were for fighting the flu, gastrointestinal disorders, nervousness, pain, inflammation and infectious processes. The findings demonstrate the frequent traditional use of medicinal plants in the city of Teixeiras, especially for recurrent illnesses.

Antifungal activity of extracts from Piper aduncum leaves prepared by different solvents and extraction techniques against dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale

The effects of different solvents and extraction techniques upon the phytochemical profile and anti-Trichophyton activity of extracts from Piper aduncum leaves were evaluated. Extract done by maceration method with ethanol has higher content of sesquiterpenes and antifungal activity. This extract may be useful as an alternative treatment for dermatophytosis.

Parâmetros climáticos e variação de compostos fenólicos em cevada / Climatic parameters and variation of phenolic compounds in barley

Objetivou-se quantificar os compostos fenólicos em extrato hidroetanólico de grãos das cultivares de cevada ('BRS Lagoa' e 'MN 743') em dois anos consecutivos de cultivo (2005 e 2006), avaliando a influência dos fatores climáticos nesse conteúdo. Os compostos fenólicos totais foram quantificados pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteau e os teores de rutina e ácidos cafeico e ferúlico por CLAE em fase reversa. O conteúdo de compostos fenólicos totais variou de 0,97 a 1,59 mg AG g-1 de cevada e os fatores climáticos durante o período de plantio e colheita influenciaram no conteúdo. Foram identificados e quantificados nessas cultivares rutina, ácido cafeico e ácido ferúlico. A avaliação dos fatores climáticos no conteúdo de compostos fenólicos em cevada é de grande interesse, visando a sua importância nutricional e recomendação de cultivares com conteúdos expressivos de compostos bioativos.

This study aimed to quantify the phenolic compounds in hydroethanolic extract of cultivar seeds ('BRS Lagoa' and 'MN 743') in two consecutive years of cultivation (2005 and 2006) evaluating the influence of climatic factors in such content. The total phenolic compounds were quantified by Folin-Ciocalteau's method and the levels of rutin and caffeic and ferulic acids by HPLC in the reversed-phase. The concentration of total phenolic compounds ranged from 0.97 to 1.59 mg GA g-1 of barley and the climatic factors during the planting and harvesting influenced the barley content. Caffeic, rutin and ferulic acid were identified and quantified in these cultivars. Assessment of climatic factors on the content of phenolic compounds in barley is of great interest aiming for their nutritional importance and recommendations of cultivars with significant content of bioactive compounds.

A review of influence of environment and process parameters on glucosinolate-myrosinase system from Brassica.

The family Brassicaceae has been very studied due to the pharmacologic properties of the glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolysis products, which are associated with the action of an endogenous thioglucosidase myrosinase. Factors such as climate, soil, genotype, seasonal variation, processing, extraction quantification can affect the enzyme activity and stability, leading to increase or decrease the hydrolysis of GLS. Based on this aspect, the main objective of this work is present a review concerning the glucosinolate-myrosinase system, influence of climate and genotype to seasonal variation in the glucosinolate-myrosinase system, effect of thermal and high hydrostatic pressure treatments on the GLS content, as well as, the isolation and quantification of GLS from Brassica.

Estudo espectrométrico de diferentes estágios fenológicos da Brassica oleracea var. capitata / Spectrometric study at different phenologic stages of the cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata)

O repolho (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), planta do gênero Brassica, vem sendo utilizado na medicina popular brasileira principalmente no tratamento da cicatrização. Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um estudo espectrométrico na região do ultravioleta-visível aliado a uma prospecção fitoquímica para diferentes estágios fenológicos da Brassica sp. O perfil espectrométrico das concentrações globais relativas dos constituintes da planta, com relação ao seu crescimento vegetativo, foi traçado para extratos em água, etanol e diclorometano. A hidrólise dos extratos aquosos foi também avaliada. Os resultados da prospecção fitoquímica mostraram a presença positiva de compostos fenólicos, flavonóides, triterpenos e esteróides para os extratos etanólicos e aquosos nos estágios vegetativos IV e V. Analisando o perfil espectral e a redução da concentração global relativa para cada solvente e estágio fenológico, foram obtidas reduções (estágio IV até o VII) na ordem de 87 por cento, 73 por cento e 55 por cento, respectivamente para estratos obtidos com água, etanol e diclorometano em relação ao estágio IV. As concentrações dos constituintes ativos são inversamente proporcionais ao estágio de crescimento vegetativo do repolho, servindo como uma ferramenta útil no controle de qualidade de fitoterápicos.

The cabbage (Brassica oleraceae var. capitata), plant of the genus Brassica, has been used by the Brazilian folk medicine mainly in the treatment of healing. In this work, a spectrometric study at ultraviolet-visible range allied to a phytochemical screening on different phenologic stages of Brassica sp. was developed. Aiming at obtaining a spectrometric profile of the global concentrations of the constituents in relation to the vegetative growth, ethanol, aqueous and dichloromethane extracts were studied. Hydrolysis of aqueous extracts was also performed. The results of the phytochemical prospection show a positive presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids for the ethanol and aqueous extracts at stages IV and V. Analyzing the spectral profile and the reduction of the relative global concentration for each solvent and phenologic stage, reductions were obtained (stage IV until stage VII) in the order of 87 percent, 73 percent and 55 percent for aqueous, ethanol and dichloromethane extracts, respectively and in relation to stage IV. Therefore, the constituents concentrations were inversely proportional to the vegetative growth and can be used as useful tool to determinate the quality control of the herbal medicines.