Tacinga inamoena vegetal drug characterization using phytochemistry, pharmacopoeial methods and thermoanalytical techniques

Tacinga inamoena (K. Schum.) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy, also known as quipá, is a native cactus of the Caatinga used in traditional medicine to treat urethral infections and inflammation. This study aimed to determine the physicochemical characteristics of vegetal drug obtained from the roots of T. inamoena. Analytical techniques and phytochemical tests were used, such as thermal analysis, qualitative and semiquantitative determination of secondary metabolites and spectroscopy at the infrared region. The powder of the vegetal drug met the parameters established by the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, except for compressibility, which was low. On the thermogravimetric curve, three events related to the mass loss were verified, which correlate with the vegetal drug quality control and play a part in their standardization. The qualitative screening suggested the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes. The infrared spectrum reinforced the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and ether groups. In the semiquantitative screening, a concentration for total polyphenols of 65 mg equivalent to gallic acid g-1 to the crude ethanol extract (CEE) was obtained. On the correlation of flavonoid content to seasonality, a concentration was obtained of 3.3 mg equivalent to quercetin g-1 to the CEE obtained during the drought period and of 10.6 mg equivalent to quercetin g-1 to the CCE obtained during the rainy season. In T. inamoena, the presence of important classes of secondary metabolites, which are associated with the pharmacognostic characterization, aids the authentication and quality control of vegetal drugs of importance in traditional Brazilian medicine.

Cuantificación fisicoquímica en gorro turco [Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelburg - Cactaceae] / Quantificação Fitoquímica da coroa-de-frade [Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelburg - Cactaceae] / Quantification Physicochemical in Melon Cactus [Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelburg - Cactaceae]

RESUMO No Nordeste do Brasil é bastante comum e variado o uso da coroa-de-frade (Melocactus spp.). Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar diversas análises em cladódios de coroa-de-frade [Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelburg], para que possamos compreender as razões estes usos. Os cladódios foram coletados na cidade de Campina Grande e levados ao Laboratório de Engenharia de Alimentos da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, onde foram feitas as seguintes análises: peso, altura, diâmetro, cor, umidade, acidez, pH, ácido ascórbico, carotenoides, flavonoides e compostos fenólicos, tanto na epiderme quanto no parênquima aquífero. Os resultados mostraram que a epiderme tem uma acidez elevada e mais ácido ascórbico, e um pH mais baixo em comparação com o parênquima aquífero. O conteúdo de carotenoides, flavonoides e compostos fenólicos, foram diferentes nas partes estudadas. A epiderme apresentou sempre maiores quantidades de carotenoides, flavonoides e compostos fenólicos em relação ao parênquima aquífero, nas três plantas estudadas, indicando que a maior parte da defesa da planta acontece neste tecido. Mais estudos são necessários com técnicas mais precisas, para identificar os componentes bioativos desta espécie.

ABSTRACT In Northeast Brazil, the use of melon cactus (Melocactus spp.) is quite common and varied. Thus, the present study aimed to perform various analyzes in cladodes of melon cactus [Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelburg], to understand the reasons for the use of this species. The cladodes were collected in the city of Campina Grande and taken to the Food Engineering Laboratory of the Federal University of Campina Grande, where we performed the following analyses: mass, height, diameter, color, moisture, acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, both in the epidermis and in the aquifer parenchyma. The results showed that the epidermis has a higher acidity, ascorbic acid content and lower pH compared to the aquifer parenchyma. The contents of carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, were different from the both parts analyzed. The epidermis always had greater quantities of carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds than the aquifer parenchyma for the three plants, showing that most of the plant defense takes place in this tissue. Further studies, with more accurate techniques, are needed to identify the bioactive components of this species.

Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds in Cereus jamacaru DC. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae) in the Caatinga of Northeastern Brazil / Frugivoria e dispersão de sementes por aves em Cereus jamacaru DC. ssp. jamacaru (Cactaceae) na Caatinga, uma floresta seca no Nordeste do Brasil

Studies of the dispersal modes of plants aid our understanding of the dynamics of resource and its availability for dispersal agents. The present work sought to characterize the fruiting patterns of the native Caatinga (dryland) cactus Cereus jamacaru, identify its principal dispersers, and evaluate the effects of seed passage through digestive tract of dispersers on its germination. Cereus jamacaru present an annual fruiting pattern and fruiting peaks occurred during June/2009 and February/2010. A total of 135 visits by nine species of resident Caatinga bird species were recorded. The most frequent visiting bird species were Paroaria dominicana and Euphonia chlorotica. Length of bird visits varied from 15 seconds to 4 minutes and seeds removed by birds travelled 10.6 ± 11.2 m until dispersers make the first landing perch, in some cases more than 40 meters away. Germination tests show birds had a high quantity of viable seeds of C. jamacaru in its feces. Seeds that passed through the digestive tract of birds showed a similar germinability of the seeds of the control group. However, the seeds dispersed by birds showed lowest mean germination time related to the control group seeds. This study highlights the potential role of birds as seed dispersers of C. jamacaru, swallowing the whole seeds and defecating intact seeds, accelerating the germination process and transporting seeds away from the mother plant.

Estudos do modo de dispersão das espécies vegetais permitem o entendimento da dinâmica dos recursos e sua disponibilidade para os dispersores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o padrão de frutificação de Cereus jamacaru, uma espécie nativa da Caatinga, identificar os seus principais dispersores e avaliar o efeito da passagem das sementes pelo trato digestivo destes animais sobre sua germinação. Cereus jamacaru apresentou um padrão de frutificação anual, com pico de frutificação nos meses de Junho/2009 e Fevereiro/2010. No total foram registradas 135 visitas de nove espécies de aves frugívoras da Caatinga, sendo os dispersores mais frequentes Paroaria dominicana e Euphonia chlorotica. O tempo de duração das visitas foi curto, variando de 15 segundos a 4 minutos, e a distância média dos voos pós-alimentação foi 10,6 ± 11,2 m da planta-mãe, podendo também alcançar distâncias superiores a 40 metros. Os resultados dos testes de germinação mostraram que as aves apresentam uma alta quantidade de sementes viáveis de C. jamacaru em suas fezes. As sementes que passaram pelo trato digestivo das aves mostraram germinabilidade semelhante aquelas do grupo controle. No entanto, as sementes dispersadas pelas aves apresentaram um menor tempo médio necessário para germinação. Esse estudo destaca o papel das aves como potenciais dispersores de C. jamacaru, eliminando sementes intactas, acelerando o processo de germinação e carregando as sementes para longe da planta mãe.

Factors affecting establishment success of the endangered Caribbean cactus Harrisia portoricensis (Cactaceae)

Early plant stages may be the most vulnerable within the life cycle of plants especially in arid ecosystems. Interference from exotic species may exacerbate this condition. We evaluated germination, seedling survival and growth in the endangered Caribbean cactus Harrisia portoricensis, as a function of sunlight exposure (i.e., growing under open and shaded areas), different shade providers (i.e., growing under two native shrubs and one exotic grass species), two levels of predation (i.e., exclusion and non-exclusion) and variable microenvironmental conditions (i.e., temperature, PAR, humidity). Field experiments demonstrated that suitable conditions for germination and establishment of H. portoricensis seedling are optimal in shaded areas beneath the canopy of established species, but experiments also demonstrated that the identity of the shade provider can have a significant influence on the outcome of these processes. Harrisia portoricensis seedlings had higher probabilities of survival and grew better (i.e., larger diameters) when they were transplanted beneath the canopy of native shrubs, than beneath the exotic grass species, where temperature and solar radiation values were on average much higher than those obtained under the canopies of native shrubs. We also detected that exclusión from potential predators did not increase seedling survival. Our combined results for H. portoricensis suggested that the modification of microenvironmental conditions by the exotic grass may lower the probability of recruitment and establishment of this endangered cactus species. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60 (2): 867-879. Epub 2012 June 01.

Las etapas iniciales de las plantas parecen ser las más vulnerables de su ciclo de vida, especialmente en ecosistemas áridos. Interferencias de especies exóticas pueden exacerbar esta condición. Evaluamos la germinación, supervivencia y crecimiento de plántulas del cactus en peligro de extinción Harrisia portoricensis, en función de la exposición a la luz solar, diferentes proveedores de sombra, exclusión de potenciales depredadores y condiciones micro-ambientales variables. Los experimentos demostraron que las condiciones adecuadas para la germinación y el establecimiento de plántulas de H. portoricensis son óptimas en áreas de sombra, bajo el dosel de especies establecidas, pero también demostraron que la identidad de los proveedores de sombra puede tener una influencia significativa sobre los resultados de estos procesos y que la exclusión de depredadores no aumentó la probabilidad de supervivencia de las plántulas. Las plántulas de H. portoricensis tuvieron mayores probabilidades de supervivencia y crecieron mejor cuando fueron transplantadas bajo la sombra de los arbustos nativos que bajo la sombra del pasto exótico, donde la temperatura y la radiación solar fueron en promedio mucho mayores que las obtenidas bajo la sombra de los arbustos nativos. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las modificaciones de las condiciones micro-ambientales por este pasto exótico pueden disminuir la probabilidad de reclutamiento y establecimiento de esta especie en peligro.

Primer reporte del empleo de marcadores ISTR en cactaceae (pilosocereus sp) / First report of the employment of ISTR markers in cactaceae (pilosocereus sp)

Pilosocereus sp es una especie en peligro crítico de extinción, la única población conocida se encuentra en una mina de mármol verde, hoy abandonada, en la que su explotación produjo la disminución del 80% de la población en 3 años; en la actualidad quedan 28 ejemplares, de ellos unos pocos son adultos, de los cuales solo dos producen frutos. Una de las etapas necesaria para su recuperación es la producción de plántulas para realizar el reforzamiento de la población natural. Como las plantas obtenidas serán plantadas en condiciones naturales, donde se enfrentarán a diversas situaciones ambientales, es conveniente realizar un estudio de diversidad genética. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la variabilidad genética de plántulas de Pilosocereus sp empleando la técnica Inverse Sequence Tagged Repeat (ISTR). Se realizó la germinación in vitro de semillas y se determinó la variabilidad genética de las plántulas obtenidas. Con el análisis molecular se detectaron un total de 97 bandas, de ellas el 62,8% fueron polimórficas. El mayor porcentaje de bandas polimórficas (85,7%) se obtuvo con la combinación de oligonucleótidos F6/B6. Con las combinaciones de oligonucleótidos empleados se detectaron de 4 a 6 patrones de banda diferentes. La heterocigosidad media esperada fue de 0,39.

Pilosocereus sp is a species in critical extinction danger, the only known population is in a mine of green marble, abandoned today, but it exploitation produced the decrease of the population's 80% in 3 years, at the present time they are 28 individuals, of them some few ones are mature, of those which alone two produce fruits. One of the necessary stages for their recovery is the seedlings production to carry out the natural population's reinforcement. As the obtained plants they will be planted under natural conditions, where they will face diverse environmental situations, it is convenient to carry out a study of genetic diversity. The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic variability using the technical Inverse Sequence Tagged Repeat (ISTR). In vitro germination of seeds of Pilosocereus sp and the genetic variability of the obtained seedlings was determined. With the molecular analysis a total of 97 bands were detected, of them 62.8% were polymorphic. The biggest percentage of polymorphism (85.7%) was obtained with the primer combination F6/B6. With the primer combinations employed were detected from 4 to 6 different band patterns. The heterocigocity hoped was 0.39.

Uso manejo y conservacion de yosu Stenocereus griseus (Cactaceae) en la alta guajira / Usage, Managment and Conservation of yosú, Stenocereus griseus (Cactaceae), in the Upper Guajira, Colombia

En este trabajo se caracteriza el sistema de uso, manejo, demanda y oferta potencial de Stenocereus griseus, un cactus columnar muy utilizado por la comunidad indígena Wayúu en la Guajira, Caribe colombiano. Actualmente el uso de S. griseus se restringe a la recolección de madera seca (“yotojoro”) para construcción de viviendas, la recolección de frutos para la alimentación, de tallos jóvenes para alimentos de cabras y para utilizarlos en cercas vivas. Una evaluación de los factores que afectan las poblaciones permitió determinar cinco categorías de daño: las ocasionadas por corte con machete (tipo I), insectos (tipo II), cabras (tipo III), aves (tipo IV) y viento (tipo V). La demanda anual de “yotojoro” está sujeta a la necesidad de construcción de los habitantes del área, que es definida como ocasional. El método actual de cosecha y extracción del mismo no está generando desequilibrio local en el mantenimiento de la especie. La demanda de cardones para cercas vivas y pastoreo es constante durante todo el año y es la que genera el mayor impacto de daño. Finalmente, se discuten los principales problemas de conservación de la especie y se recomienda establecer alternativas de manejo para las actividades de pastoreo.