Selection, isolation, and identification of fungi for bioherbicide production

Abstract Production of a bioherbicide for biological control of weeds requires a series of steps, from selection of a suitable microbial strain to final formulation. Thus, this study aimed to select fungi for production of secondary metabolites with herbicidal activity using biological resources of the Brazilian Pampa biome. Phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from infected tissues of weeds in the Pampa biome. A liquid synthetic culture medium was used for production of metabolites. The phytotoxicity of fungal metabolites was assessed via biological tests using the plant Cucumis sativus L., and the most promising strain was identified by molecular analysis. Thirty-nine fungi were isolated, and 28 presented some phytotoxic symptoms against the target plant. Fungus VP51 belonging to the genus Diaporthe showed the most pronounced herbicidal activity. The Brazilian Pampa biome is a potential resource for the development of new and sustainable chemical compounds for modern agriculture.

Anti-inflammatory activity of fractionated extracts of Salvia officinalis.

This work is focused on the evaluation of the anti anti-inflammatory activity of fractionated extracts of Salvia officinalis in experimental model of peritonitis. The extract of Salvia officinalis was produced by maceration with ethanol and fractionated by increasing the polarity of the solvents from hexane to methanol in a thin layer chromatographic column with Silica Gel 60 as stationary phase. The acute induced-peritonitis assay was used as model of inflammation, were the fractionated extracts of S. officinalis were administered subcutaneously. After 4h of induction of inflammation the number of total circulating leukocytes was not increased in animals that received the methanol extract. After the induction of inflammation, all animals except those treated with the fraction of ethyl acetate and methanol showed an increased number of circulating neutrophils. The results obtained suggesting the occurrence of inhibition of the total leukocytes recruitment in the circulating blood after the induced-inflammatory process by ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of S. officinalis in a single dose of 25 μg.kg-1. It was concluded that the extracts of S. officinalis could be used as anti-inflammatory agent.