Operculina macrocarpa: chemical and intestinal motility effect in mice

ABSTRACT Operculina macrocarpa (L.) Urb., Convolvulaceae, is used by the population as a laxative. In this work we described the isolation of the three phenolic acids present in the hydroethanolic extract of the O. macrocarpa roots. The quantification of the caffeic, chlorogenic acids and of the new caffeic dimer in the hydroethanolic and infusion extracts was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled photodiode array detector. These analyses showed the higher content of the chlorogenic, caffeic and the new 3,4'-dehydrodicaffeic acid in hydroethanolic and hydroethanolic extracts without resin in which infusion. The acid found in greater quantity is caffeic acid followed by the 3,4'-dehydrodicaffeic acid. The laxative activity was evaluated by different experimental models of intestinal transit with the hydroethanolic and infusion extracts, and the resin fraction, caffeic, chlorogenic and ferulic acids. The results showed all extracts and compounds tested had significant activity in the experimental model tested. These results obtained are essential for the future development of a pharmaceutical product with safety and efficacy.

Composição química e atividade alelopática do óleo essencial de eucalipto / Chemical composition and allelopathic activity of the eucalyptus essential oil

Os óleos essenciais constituem um tipo de metabólito secundário de grande importância econômica e estão sendo cada vez mais estudados e utilizados como potentes inibidores de sementes e do crescimento de diversas plantas. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo a análise química qualitativa e quantitativa bem como a avaliação da atividade alelopática do óleo essencial extraído das folhas frescas de eucalipto (Eucalyptus citriodora) sobre a germinação e o desenvolvimento radicular das sementes de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor L.) e pepino (Cucumis sativus L.), cultivados em placa de Petri. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação, utilizando um aparelho tipo Clevenger, e analisado por cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização de chama e espectrometria de massas. Foi possível identificar doze constituintes químicos correspondendo a 97,69%, com predominância dos monoterpenos oxigenados citronelal (64,92%) e iso-isopulegol (10,20%) e do citronelol (8,25%). Os ensaios biológicos utilizando o óleo essencial mostraram que o mesmo apresenta efeito alelopático, prejudicando a germinação e o desenvolvimento da radícula das sementes de sorgo e pepino, sendo a redução da germinação mais pronunciada no sorgo, e que o aumento da concentração do óleo leva a uma redução linear na capacidade germinativa e no desenvolvimento da radícula.

Essential oils consist of a type of secondary metabolite that holds great economic importance, they have been increasingly studied and used as potent inhibitors of seeds and growth of various plants. The present work aimed at the qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis and evaluation of the allelopathic activity of the essential oil extracted from fresh leaves of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) over the germination and root development of seeds of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), grown in a Petri dish. The essential oil was obtained by steam distillation, using a Clevenger apparatus, and analyzed by chromatography in gas phase with flame ionization detector and mass spectrometry. It was possible to identify twelve chemical constituents corresponding to 97.69%, with predominance of oxygenated monoterpenes citronellal (64.92%) and iso-isopulegol (10.20%) and citronellol (8.25%). The biological essays using the essential oil showed the presence of an allelopathic effect, affecting the germination and radicule length of sorghum and cucumber seeds, the germination reduction being more pronounced in sorghum, also the increase of the oil concentration leads to a linear decrease in the germination and in the radicule length.

Antimicrobial activity of Byrsonima species (Malpighiaceae) / Atividade antimicrobiana de espécies de Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae)

Byrsonima species, family Malpighiaceae, is popularly known as "murici". There are several properties attributed to the leaves of Byrsonima species including febrifuge, to treat gastrointestinal dysfunctions and skin diseases. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of Byrsonima fagifolia, B. basiloba and B. intermedia extracts obtained from the leaves were evaluated by using the disc-diffusion method. The results obtained showed that the methanol extracts of leaves had presented antimicrobial activity against all the microorganisms tested.

Espécies de Byrsonima, família Malpighiaceae, são popularmente conhecidas como "murici". Existem várias propriedades atribuídas às folhas de espécies de Byrsonima incluindo febrífuga, no tratamento de disfunções gastrintestinais e doenças de pele. Neste trabalho avaliamos a atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos das folhas de Byrsonima fagifolia, B. basiloba e B. intermedia usando o método de difusão em disco. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os extratos metanólicos das folhas apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana contra todos os microrganismos testados.

Immunological and microbiological activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Dilleniaceae) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for over 8 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) annually. Natural products may play important roles in the chemotherapy of TB. The immunological activity of Davilla elliptica chloroform extract (DECE) was evaluated in vitro by the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release in peritoneal macrophages cultures. DECE was also tested for its antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis using the microplate alamar blue assay. DECE (50, 150, 250 mug/ml) stimulated the production of H2O2 (from 1,79 ± 0,23 to 7,27 ± 2,54; 15,02 ± 2,86; 20,5 ± 2,1 nmols) (means ± SD), NO (from 2,64 ± 1,02 to 25,59 ± 2,29; 26,68 ± 2,41; 29,45 ± 5,87 mumols) (means ± SD) and TNF-alpha (from 2,44 ± 1,46 to 30,37 ± 8,13; 38,68 ± 1,59; 41,6 ± 0,90 units/ml) (means ± SD) in a dose-dependent manner and also showed a promising antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62,5 mug/ml. This plant may have therapeutic potential in the immunological and microbiological control of TB.