ABSTRACT
Resumen Hypsipyla grandellaes una plaga forestal clave en América Latina y el Caribe, donde ha impedido todo intento de establecer plantaciones comerciales de caobas (Swieteniaspp.) y cedros (Cedrelaspp.). En la búsqueda de métodos de manejo de sus larvas, que sean preventivos y rentables, así como basados en recursos de la flora tropical, fue evaluada la actividad fagodisuasiva del extracto crudo y de cuatro particiones fitoquímicas (agua, hexano, diclorometano y acetato de etilo) de la flor de reina de la noche,Brugmansia candida(Solanaceae). Se efectuaron bioensayos de laboratorio con concentraciones crecientes del extracto crudo (0.1; 0.3; 1.0; 3.2 y 10.0 % m/v) y con cada una de las particiones (según el rendimiento del proceso de particionamiento). Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con cuatro repeticiones, y se expusieron larvas de instar III de H. grandellaa discos de cedro amargo (Cedrela odorata) impregnados con el respectivo tratamiento, por 24 h. Se midió el porcentaje de consumo de cada disco. El extracto crudo y la partición de hexano, mostraron un evidente efecto fagodisuasivo a partir de concentraciones de 1.0 % y 0.122 % m/v, respectivamente. También se realizó un bioensayo para comparar una sola concentración (0.38 % m/v) del alcaloide escopolamina, el cual redujo en 90% el consumo con respecto a los testigos. Asimismo, se evaluó la mortalidad y los efectos subletales en larvas expuestas al extracto crudo, la partición de hexano y la escopolamina, pero no hubo evidencias de ellos, lo que confirmó su acción fagodisuasiva. Además, se realizó un tamizaje fitoquímico del extracto crudo, y mediante pruebas cualitativas se determinó que los alcaloides, taninos, triterpenos y cumarinas fueron los metabolitos secundarios más importantes. Finalmente, se confirmó la presencia de la escopolamina tanto en el extracto crudo como en la partición de hexano, mediante el método de cromatografía de gases acoplado a un espectrómetro de masas (GC-MS). Se recomienda preparar una formulación de escopolamina más algunos coadyuvantes, y evaluar su eficacia en condiciones de invernadero, como un primer paso para avanzar en el desarrollo de un fagodisuasivo comercial.
Abstract Hypsipyla grandella is a key forest pest in Latin America and the Caribbean, where it has precluded attempts to establish commercial plantations of mahoganies (Swieteniaspp.) and cedars (Cedrelaspp.). In the search for methods to manage its larvae, being both preventative and cost-effective, as well as based upon resources from tropical flora, the crude flower extract of angel's trumpet, Brugmansia candida, as well as four partitions thereof (water, hexane, dichlorometane, and ethyl acetate), were tested for phagodeterrence. Laboratory bioassays involved increasing concentrations of the crude extract (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.2 and 10.0 % w/v) as well as each one of the partitions (in accordance to the yield obtained from the partitioning process). A randomized complete block design, with four replicates, was used. H. grandellainstar III larvae were exposed for 24 h to Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata) leaf discs dipped into the respective treatment, after which disc consumption was measured. Strong phagodeterrence was detected at concentrations as low as 1.0 % y 0.122 % w/v for the crude extract and the hexane partitions, respectively. In addition, a single bioassay was performed to compare a single concentration (0.38 % w/v) of the alkaloid scopolamine, which reduced consumption in 90 % with respect to the controls. Also, mortality and sublethal effects were assessed in larvae exposed to the crude extract, the hexane partition and scopolamine, with no evidence for them, which confirmed their phagodeterrence. Moreover, the crude extract was submitted to a phytochemical screening by means of a number of qualitative tests, which showed that alkaloids, tannins, triterpenes and cumarins were the most important secondary metabolites. Finally, the presence of scopolamine was confirmed in both the crude extract and the hexane partition, by means of the gas chromatography-spectrometry (GC-MS) analytical method. It is recommended to prepare a formulation of scopolamine plus some adjuvants, in order to test its effectiveness under greenhouse conditions, as a first step to advance in the development of a commercial phagodeterrent. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 58-69. Epub 2018 March 01.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the aqueous and partitioned extract of sea anemone Anthopleura nigrescens (A. nigrescens). Methods: The sea anemone A. nigrescens was collected, minced, homogenized, lyophilized and then further partitioned with diethyl ether, acetone, ethanol and water. These fractions were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Results: Acetone extract was found to produce a pronounced inhibition of 7.0 mm against Proteus vulgaris and diethyl ether extract inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an inhibition zone of 6.5 mm. In antifungal activity, ethanol extract showed good activity against Botrytis cinerea, Trichoderma harzianum and Rhizopus oryzae compared with other strains. Acetone and ethanol extract of A. nigrescens showed activity against all of pathogens tested. Slight activity was observed in the water extract with inhibition zone of 1.5 mm. Conclusions: The present study revealed that sea anemone A. nigrescens may also contain some biologically active agents which have potential activity against pathogenic microorganisms.