New quinoline and anhydride compounds from fruits of Ficus carica / 中草药

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of the fruits of Ficus carica. Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified with silica gel chromatography, Sephdex LH-20 and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis including MS, NMR, IR spectroscopic analysis, elment analyzer, and chemical evidence. Results One new quinoline and two new anhydride compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of the fruits of F. carica. The structures of the three new compounds were respectively defined as 4-hydroxyl-6-formyl-8α-methoxyl-quinoline-2-one (1), 5’β,6’α-[(di-ethyl)-5β,6β-cyclohexyl]- epoxyhexyl, cyclo-pentanhydride-[2,2,1]-2α,3β-cycloheptane (2), and 5’β,6’β-[di-(11-methylbutyl,11’-methylbutyl)-9,9’]-cyclo-8’- hexadiene-5α,6α-epoxyhexyl, cyclo-pentanhydride-[2,2,2,1]-2β,3α-cycloheptane (3). Conclusion These compounds were named figine K-1, figine G-1, and figine G-2, respectively.

Latex of Ficus carica L. Induces Apoptosis Through Caspase and Bcl-2 Family in FaDu Human Hypopharynx Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Estimativas da área da folha de figueiras 'Roxo de Valinhos' usando dimensões lineares do limbo foliar / Estimates of leaf area of fig tree 'Roxo de Valinhos' using linear dimensions of the leaf blade

Neste estudo, objetivou-se gerar e validar modelos de estimativa da área da folha da figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos' a partir de medidas lineares de fácil obtenção. Foram coletadas 600 folhas, incluindo-se o máximo de variabilidade quanto ao tamanho, idade e formato, sendo, destas, 200 empregadas na validação das regressões. Empregaram-se os indicativos estatísticos MBE, RMSE, índice de ajustamento e índice de desempenho para avaliação da performance de 51 modelos estimativa, obtidos com base nas aplicações das medidas de comprimento, largura e transversal da folha e suas respectivas interações. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos pelas equações AF=0,1289(C+C1+C2)1,8450 e AF=0,9781[(C+C1+C2)/3]1,8451, que propiciam desvios e espalhamentos de 0,63 e 47,85cm², com ajustamentos, correlações e desempenhos superiores a 91, 95 e 87%, respectivamente. Nas estimativas com base em apenas uma medida, deve-se aplicar a equação AF=2,879 C1,5451.

This study aimed to generate and validate models to estimate the area of leaf of ​​fig tree 'Roxo de Valinhos' using linear measurements easily taken. It was collected 600 leaves, including the maximum variation in size, age and shape of leaves, wherefore, 200 leaves were used in the validation of the regressions. The statistical indicators MBE, RMSE, adjustment index and performance index were applied to evaluate the performance of 51 models estimate, derived from the application of measures of length, width and transversal, and their interactions together. The best results were obtained using the equations AF=0,1289(C+C1+C2)1,8450 and AF=0,9781[(C+C1+C2)/3]1,8451, which provide deflections and scatterings of 0.63 and 47.85cm², with adjustments, correlations and performance of 91, 95 and 87%, respectively. In the estimates based on only one measure it should be applied the equation AF=2,879C1,5451.

Influence of Tunisian Ficus carica fruit variability in phenolic profiles and in vitro radical scavenging potential

Ficus carica L., Moraceae, is one of the first plants that were cultivated by humans, being the fruit an important crop worldwide for dry and fresh consumption. In this work, phenolics and antioxidant potential of dried fruits of seventeen Tunisian F. carica varieties, from green, red and black phenotypes, were assessed for the first time. HPLC-DAD analysis was performed. All samples presented a similar qualitative profile. The phenolics content ranged between 29.18 and 55.56 mg/kg (in black and red phenotypes, respectively) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside was always the major compound. The antioxidant potential against DPPH•, superoxide and nitric oxide radicals of three varieties representing each phenotype was checked. All samples exhibited activity against the first two radicals in a concentration-dependent way, "Bayoudi" variety being the most effective one (IC25 values of 10.32 and 2.89 µg/ mL, respectively). Nevertheless, only "Hammouri" variety presented some capacity to scavenge nitric oxide radical. Our results reveal nice perspectives for these typical fruits, as they present an interesting phenolic composition and good antiradical activity and may encourage their consumption for health protection.

Trocas gasosas e ciclo fotossintético da figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos' / Gas exchanges and cycle fhotosynthetic in fig tree 'Roxo de Valinhos'

No presente trabalho, determinaram-se as trocas gasosas de folhas de figueira 'Roxo de valinhos' e o ciclo fotossintético por meio da relação isotópica 12C/13C. Essas medidas foram realizadas sempre na região mediana das folhas, completamente expandidas e totalmente expostas à radiação solar, no período das 09h00min às 10h30min. As folhas fotossinteticamente ativas da figueira apresentaram área foliar em torno de 160cm², com uma assimilação de 14,38µmol m-2 s-1 de CO2, cujos valores isotópicos médios no ramo 1 e no 2 são -28,98±0,69‰ e -29,28±0,85‰, respectivamente. Com base nos valores da fotossíntese máxima e na discriminação isotópica do 13C, evidenciou-se que a figueira pode ser considerada uma planta do ciclo fotossintético C3.

In the present research, it was determined the gas exchange of the 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree and the cycle photosynthetic through the isotopic relation 12C/13C. These measures were always carried in the average region of the leaves, completely expanded, entirely displayed to the solar radiation, in the period from 09h00min to 10h30min. The sheets photosynthetic active leaf area had around 160cm², with 14.38 -2 s-1 assimilation CO2, and mean isotopic values in the branch 1 and 2 of -28.98±0.69‰ and -29.28±0,85‰, respectively. Based in the values of the maximum photosynthesis and in the discrimination isotopic of the 13C, the fig tree can be considered a plant which belongs to photosynthetic C3 cycle.

Sistema desponte na produção de figos verdes 'Roxo de Valinhos' / Lopping system in the production of 'Roxo de Valinhos' green fig

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito do sistema desponte sobre o desenvolvimento e a produção de figos verdes 'Roxo de Valinhos'. O experimento utilizando plantas de quatro anos de idade, com espaçamento 3 x 2m, foi conduzido de julho de 2007 a março de 2008, em Quatro Pontes, Paraná (PR). O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro blocos, e os tratamentos foram arranjados em fatorial 2 x 5, tomando por fatores o número de ramos produtivos (plantas conduzidas com seis ou 12 ramos) e o número de despontes (um, dois, três ou quatro, além do controle sem desponte). No sistema desponte, após a emissão da 16a folha, o ramo foi despontado (gema apical removida), selecionando-se duas brotações por ramo produtivo. Novos despontes foram realizados posteriormente, sempre após a emissão da sexta folha. Em cada parcela, constituída de três plantas úteis, foram coletados dados no ciclo de produção 2007/08. A maior produção (2.208,87g planta-1) e produtividade estimada (3.681,19kg ha-1) observada de figos verdes foram obtidas quando as plantas foram conduzidas com 12 ramos produtivos, efetuando-se três despontes.

The objective of this research was to study the effect of the lopping system on the development and production of green figs 'Roxo de Valinhos'. The experiment using plants of four years of age, with spaced 3 x 2m, was conducted from July/2007 to March/2008 in Quatro Pontes, PR. The design was randomized blocks with four blocks, and the treatments arranged in a 2 x 5, taking as factors the number of productive branches (plants conducted with six or twelve branches) and the number of loppings (one, two, three or four, besides the control without lopping). In the lopping system, after the emission of the 16th leaf, the branch was blunted (apical bud removed), selecting two sprouting per productive branches. New lopping was accomplished later, always after the emission of sixth leaf. In each plot, consisting of the three plants, data were collected in the production cycles 2007/2008. The highest yield (2,208.87g planta-1) and estimated yield (3,681.19kg ha-1) observed of green figs were obtained when plants were conducted with twelve branches of production, effecting three loopings.

Enraizamento de estacas apicais de figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos' em função de época de coleta e AIB / Rooting of apical cuttings of 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree as a function of the collection time and IBA

Estacas apicais de figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos' coletadas em épocas distintas, podem apresentar enraizamento diferenciado, o que propiciará, na prática, saber em qual época devem-se aproveitar as estacas para a produção de mudas. Objetivou-se, no presente trabalho, avaliar a época de coleta e o tratamento com AIB, no enraizamento de estacas apicais da figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos'. Estacas caulinares lenhosas da porção apical dos ramos, coletadas no final da primeira quinzena dos meses de maio, junho, julho, agosto e setembro, foram padronizadas com 20 cm de comprimento e diâmetro próximo a 7 mm e tratadas ou não com AIB à 2000 mg L-1, por 10 seg. Em seguida, as estacas foram enterradas em leito de areia umedecido, sob telado constituído de sombrite com 50 por cento de luminosidade. Decorridos 60 dias, foi mensurada a porcentagem de estacas vivas, enraizadas, brotadas, número médio de brotações e raízes por estaca. Concluiu-se que as estacas apicais de figueira 'Roxo de Valinhos' devem ser coletadas em junho e, posteriormente, tratadas com 2000 mg L-1 de AIB.

Apical cuttings of 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree collected at different times, may present differentiated rooting, which could propitiate, in practice, the knowledge of the right moment to use the cuttings for their propagation. The aim of the present work was to verify the effect of the collection time of the cutting and the treatment with IBA on the rooting of the apical cuttings of 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree. Woody cuttings of apical portion of the branches were collected at the end of the first fortnight of the months May, June, July, August, and September. They were standardized at 20 cm length and 7 mm diameter. The cutting was treated or not with 2000 mg L-1 IBA for 10 seconds. Soon after, the cuttings were buried in a moist sand bed at nursery conditions with 50 percent light. After 60 days, the percentage of live cuttings and their rooting, shooting, average number of shoots and roots were evaluated. It was concluded that the apical cuttings of 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree should be collected in June and treated with 2000 mg L-1 IBA.