Clonal cleaning and in vitro multiplication of Angelonia integerrima sprengel / Limpeza clonal e multiplicação in vitro de Angelonia integerrima sprengel

The objective of this study is to test stem apex sizes in the in vitro establishing of Angelonia integerrima in order to obtain explants without by fungi and bacteria contamination for further multiplications. The treatments consisted of different stem apex sizes (1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 9.0 and 11.0 mm). At 45 and 90 days of cultivation, a count of contaminated explants and a count of shoots per explant formed were performed. In a second experiment, explants were cultivated in a medium containing different concentrations of benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 mg L-1). After 56 days of cultivation, the following variables were evaluated: shoot length, shoot fresh mass and number of shoots. During the explant establishment phase (45 days), only stem apexes with 1.0 mm in size were not contaminated. However, in the second subculture (at 90 days), only shoots from initial explants, with 7 mm in size or larger, were contaminated. Regarding multiplication, the presence of BAP showed a positive linear behavior for all variables. It is possible to obtain A. integerrima seedlings free of contamination in vitro by fungi and bacteria, using initial explants less than or equal to 5 mm. IBA provided a linear increment for the multiplication of this species.

O objetivo do trabalho foi testar tamanhos de ápices caulinares no estabelecimento in vitro de Angelonia integerrima, a fim de obter explantes sem contaminações por fungos e bactérias para posterior multiplicação. Os tratamentos consistiram de tamanhos de ápices caulinares: 1,0; 3,0; 5,0; 7,0; 9,0 e 11,0 mm. Após 45 e 90 dias de cultivo foi realizada a contagem de explantes contaminados e o número de brotos formados por explante. Em um segundo experimento, explantes foram cultivados em meio contendo diferentes concentrações de benzilaminopurina (BAP): 0,0; 0,05; 0,10; 0,15 e 0,20 mg L-1. Após 56 dias de cultivo foram avaliados: comprimento e massa fresca da parte aérea e número de brotos. Durante a fase de estabelecimento (45 dias), somente explantes com 1,0 mm não apresentaram contaminação, já no segundo subcultivo (aos 90 dias) somente brotações oriundas de explantes com tamanho inicial igual ou superior a 7 mm apresentaram contaminação. Com relação à multiplicação, a presença de BAP apresentou comportamento linear positivo para todas as variáveis analisadas. É possível obter mudas de A. integerrima livres de contaminações in vitro por fungos e bactérias, utilizando explantes iniciais menores ou iguais a 5 mm. O BAP proporcionou incremento linear para a multiplicação da espécie.

Floral-oil-producing Plantaginaceae species: geographical distribution, pollinator rewards and interactions with oil-collecting bees

Floral oils as reward to pollinators occur in eleven plant families and appeared at least 28 times in the evolutionary history of flowering plants. They are produced in epithelial or tricomatic glands and collected by oil bee visitors. The present paper focuses on floral-oil-producing species of Plantaginaceae, a Neotropical group namely Angelonia clade. This group comprises around 40 described species in the genera Angelonia, Basistemon, Monttea, Monopera and the oil-less Melosperma. We present a revision of all species of the Angelonia clade, their geographical distribution, resources offered to pollinators and records of flower visitors, especially oil-collecting bees. These plants rely only on oil-collecting species in the tribe Centridini and Tapinotaspidini for a successful pollination, being the interaction between both partners an especial case of bee/flower adaptation in Neotropical region. Some bee species depend only on the oil of Plantaginaceae flowers to survive, while others can collect on several floral oil sources. The pollinating bees explore the oil glands located in sacs using specialized hairs in the forelegs. With this study, we hope to inspire further research relating to this fascinating group of plants, in which most species are rare and occur in highly endangered habitats in South American open vegetation biomes.

Os óleos florais como recompensa a polinizadores estão presentes em onze famílias e surgiram ao menos 28 vezes na história evolutiva das plantas floríferas. Estes são produzidos em glândulas tricomáticas ou epiteliais e coletados por abelhas coletoras de óleo. O presente trabalho foi focado nas espécies produtoras de óleo floral de Plantaginaceae, um grupo neotropical conhecido como clado Angelonia. Este grupo compreende cerca de 40 espécies nos gêneros Angelonia, Basistemon, Monttea, Monopera e Melosperma, que não produz óleo floral. Nós apresentamos uma revisão de todas as espécies no clado Angelonia, sua distribuição geográfica, recursos oferecidos e registros de visitantes florais, especialmente abelhas coletoras de óleo. Estas plantas dependem das abelhas coletoras de óleo das tribos Centridini e Tapinotaspidini para uma polinização bem-sucedida, sendo a interação entre ambos os parceiros um caso especial de adaptação abelha/planta na Região Neotropical. Algumas espécies dependem somente do óleo coletado em espécies do clado Angelonia, enquanto outras também podem coletar em várias fontes de óleos florais. Essas abelhas exploram as glândulas de óleo localizadas em bolsas utilizando pelos especializados nas pernas anteriores. Com o presente trabalho esperamos inspirar estudos futuros com este fascinante grupo de plantas, que são em sua maioria espécies raras e que ocorrem nos altamente ameaçados biomas de vegetação aberta da América do Sul.

Evaluation of genotoxic and mutagenic effects of aqueous extract from aerial parts of Linaria genistifolia subsp. genistifolia

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of aqueous extract from aerial parts Linaria genistifolia (L.) Mill. subsp. genistifolia, Plantaginaceae (Lg-ext) were investigated by using both Allium cepa root meristematic cells and bacterial reverse mutation assay in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 with or without metabolic activation system (S9), respectively. In Allium root growth inhibition test, EC50 value was determined approximately 15 g/L and 0.5xEC50, EC50 and 2xEC50 concentrations of Lg-ext were introduced to onion tuber roots and distilled water and methyl methane sulfonate (MMS, 10 ppm) used as a negative and positive control, respectively. The characteristic effect caused by tested preparations was an increase of mitotic index (MI) in 7.5 g/L and 15 g/L (except 24 and 96 h) and simultaneous decrease of MI in 30 g/L and in MMS. While stickiness, bridges, chromosome laggards and disturbed anaphase-telophase were observed in anaphase-telophase cells, c-metaphase, pro-metaphase, polyploidy and binuclear cells were observed in other cells. Lg-ext was not found to be mutagenic on S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA100 with or without S9. The results were also analyzed statistically by using SPSS for Windows, and Duncan's multiple range tests were performed respectively. These results indicate that Lg-ext exhibits genotoxic activity in A. cepa root meristematic cells but not mutagenic activity in Ames test system.

Effects of extracts, flavonoids and iridoids from Penstemon gentianoides (Plantaginaceae) on inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-Activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and their antioxidant activity / Efectos de extractos, flavonoides e iridoides de Penstemon gentianoides (Plantaginaceae) sobre la inhibición de oxido nitrico sintasa inducible (iNOS), ciclooxigenasa-2 (COX-2) celulas de macrofagos murinos RAW 264.7 activadas con LPS y sus actividades antioxidantes

Penstemon gentianoides (HBK) (Kunth) Poir (Plantaginaceae) is an evergreen shrub that grows the throughout high mountains from Guatemala, Mexico and Southern states of US. Its leaves and roots have been used therapeutically for inflammation-related conditions from Aztec times, but systematic studies of its anti-inflammatory activity are lacking and no specific active components have been identified. In this study, methanol, n-hexane, CH2Cl2, ethyl acetate and methanol/water (6:4) extracts, luteolin, diosmetin, verbascoside, martynoside, pensteminoside, globularisicin and plantarenaloside isolated from this plant were evaluated by determining their inhibitory effects on the production of proinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Ethyl acetate extract, luteolin, and diosmetin exhibited potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The results indicated that luteolin and diosmetin suppressed the LPS induced production of nitric oxide (NO), through the down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein expressions and showed a potent antioxidant activity against DPPH, TBARS and DCFH. The inhibition of enzymes and NO production by selected extracts and compounds was dose-dependent with significant effects seen at concentration as low as 50 ìM. Thus, luteolin and diosmetin may provide a potential therapeutic approach for inflammation associated disorders.

Penstemon gentianoides (HBK) (Kunth) Poir (Plantaginaceae) es un arbusto perenne que crece a lo largo de las montañas altas de Guatemala, México y los estados del sur de los EE.UU.. Sus hojas y raíces se han utilizado terapéuticamente para afecciones relacionadas con inflamación desde la época de los aztecas, pero no existen estudios sistemáticos de su actividad anti-inflamatoria y ninguno de los metabolitos activos específicos han sido identificados. En este estudio, los extractos de metanol, n-hexano, CH2Cl2, acetato de etilo y metanol/agua (6:4), junto con, luteolina, diosmetina, verbascósido, martynoside, pensteminoside, globularisicin y plantarenaloside, aislados desde esta planta se evaluaron mediante la determinación de sus efectos inhibitorios sobre la producción de mediadores proinflamatorios en macrófagos murinos activados con lipopolisacárido (LPS)-RAW 264,7. El extracto de acetato de etilo, luteolina y diosmetina exhibieron una potente actividad anti-inflamatoria y antioxidante. Los resultados indican que luteolina y diosmetina suprimen la producción de óxido nítrico (NO), a través de la regulación de óxido nítrico sintasa-inducible (iNOS) y la ciclooxigenasa-2 (COX-2) ambas expresiones de proteínas. Ademas mostró una potente actividad antioxidante contra DPPH, TBARS y DCFH. La inhibición de las enzimas y la producción de NO por los extractos seleccionados y compuestos es dependiente de la dosis con efectos significativos visto en una concentración tan baja como 50 mM. Por lo tanto, luteolina y diosmetina puede proporcionar un enfoque terapéutico potencial para transtornos asociados a los procesos de inflamación.