Résumé
ABSTRACT Laetia suaveolens (Poepp.) Benth., Salicaceae, popularly known as "casinga-cheirosa", "caferana", or "laranjinha", is native to Brazil but not endemic to this country. A crude organic extract was obtained from the leaves and stem and intraperitoneally administered in male Balb-c mice. Its behavioral effects were evaluated in the open field and elevated plus maze in a two-stage experiment that assessed ten different parameters related to behavior as locomotion, emotionality, and anxiety. In the first stage of the experiment, intraperitoneal the crude organic extract administration dose-dependently impaired locomotion and emotionality 30–120 min after administration. A significant decrease in defecation was observed, which was related to emotionality. No alterations in the elevated plus maze were found; thus, this apparatus was not used in the next stage of the experiment. In the second stage, the previously determined non-lethal dose of 0.1563 g/kg was intraperitoneally administered, which impaired locomotion and rearing frequency and increased immobility time. Necropsy revealed smooth intestine hemorrhage. Rutin, leucoside, nicotiflorin, guaijaverin, and astragalin were isolated from the crude organic extract. This is the first time that these compounds have been identified in L. suaveolens. In conclusion, the crude organic extract impaired locomotion and emotionality and caused hemorrhage in male Balb-c mice, indicating that its consumption can be harmful to humans and animals. The present results provide a basis for further studies on the pharmacology, toxicology, and natural product chemistry of the crude organic extract.
Résumé
The organic extract EB689, obtained from the stem of Abarema auriculata (Benth.) Barneby & J.W.Grimes, Fabaceae, commonly known as "saboeiro-ferro", was chemically studied, as well as its influence over behavioral effects such as locomotion, emotionality and anxiety, after intra-peritonial administration were assessed. The open-field and elevated-plus maze were used in experiments divided into two stages. The first stage aimed for the identification of the main effects over behavior using a reduced number of animals against half-fold diluted doses of EB689. The same variables were also tested in a second stage of the experiment using the non-lethal intra-peritoneal dose of 4.8 mg/kg in a larger number of animals. It was observed that EB689 clearly decreased locomotion, which was probably caused by internal hemorrhage causing hypovolemic shock. Although it is the first time lupeol and eucryphin are described in A. auriculata, it is still not clear if they are involved in the toxicology of A. auriculata. The undesirable effects of EB689 are better understood, the basis for further pharmacological assays aiming antitumor activity are supported.
Résumé
Twelve extracts obtained from nine plants belonging to six different genera of Clusiaceae were analyzed against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria using the microdilution broth assay. Tovomita aff. longifolia, T. brasiliensis, Clusia columnaris, Garcinia madruno, Haploclathra paniculata, and Caraipa grandifolia extracts showed significant results against the bacteria. The organic extract obtained from the leaves of T. aff. longifolia showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 70 µg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 90 µg/ml against E. faecalis and the organic extract made with the stem of C. columnaris showed MIC = 180 µg/ml and MBC = 270 µg/ml against P. aeruginosa. None of the antibacterial extracts showed lethal activity against brine shrimp nauplii. On the other hand, both aqueous and organic extracts obtained from the aerial organs of Vismia guianensis that were cytotoxic to brine shrimp nauplii did not show a significant antibacterial activity in the assay.