Amazonian useful plants described in the book "Le Pays des Amazones" (1885) of the Brazilian propagandist Baron de Santa-Anna Nery: a historical and ethnobotanical perspective.

BACKGROUND: Frederico José de Santa-Anna Nery (1848-1901) was a Brazilian Baron who referred to himself as a "volunteer propagandist" for Brazil in Europe, serving as an immigration agent to publicize the living conditions in the Amazon region, advocating for its development and modernization at the end of the nineteenth century. Santa-Anna Nery's most famous book is "Le Pays des Amazones" (The Lands of the Amazons), first published in 1885, which the author dedicated a chapter to introduce and report on the Amazonian useful plant species and its relationship with humans. The aim of this work is to understand the historical context and ethnobotanical value of the plant species in the Brazilian Amazon at the end of the nineteenth century through an analysis of the book "Le Pays des Amazones" (1885) by Baron de Santa-Anna Nery, as well as to bring to light the historical importance of this very influential propagandist, who has been forgotten nowadays. METHODS: The original book "Le Pays des Amazones" (1885), as well as the original 3rd edition and its translated version into Portuguese, was carefully analyzed and all information about plants was systematized, with botanical names being updated. Finally, using the scientific name of medicinal plants alone or in combination with their traditional use, a search was carried out in databases in order to indicate current pharmacological studies that provide evidence about the described traditional uses. RESULTS: A total of 156 plant species were identified in the book, although 132 species had their scientific names updated. These species belong to 45 different families, with Fabaceae and Arecaceae the most represented, and 109 plants are Brazilian native. Considering only the 36 medicinal plants, the main medicinal indications reported were astringent, purgative/laxative, stimulant and tonic, vermifuge, febrifuge, sudorific, emetic, diuretic and antidysenteric. Regarding other useful plants (non-medicinal), 97 species were cited for food, constructions and buildings, spices and condiments, ornaments and objects, carpentry, textile fibers, gums, oils, balms and essences, pigments and tanning, hunting and fishing. CONCLUSIONS: When the book "Le Pays des Amazones" is analyzed from a timeless perspective, with a particular focus on historical ethnobotany, it is possible to observe the economic, social, and political importance of many useful plants for the Amazon at the end of the nineteenth century and how the relationship between local people, indigenous communities, and immigrants was established with plant biodiversity.

Unveiling foliar secreting sites and secretion composition in the legume tree Swartzia flaemingii Raddi.

Secretory structures in plants play a crucial role in producing bioactive compounds. Despite the potential of the Swartzia genus, comprehensive studies in this context are still scarce. Swartzia is a legume tree (Fabaceae) that occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot, and includes species such as Swartzia flaemingii. Therefore, we aim to achieve: (1) identify and characterize the key secretory sites responsible for saponin production in S. flaemingii leaflets; (2) confirm the presence of saponins in S. flaemingii leaves by comparing them with known chemical profiles of other Swartzia species; (3) assess the potential hemolytic and cytotoxic effects of crude leaf extracts. Our investigation unveils the presence of phenolic idioblasts, mucilage cells, and articulate laticifers, which play pivotal roles in defense and adaptation. Notably, we report the first-ever ultrastructural details of laticifers in a legume species. Additionally, oleanane-type saponins were identified in the leaves, giving insights into the chemotaxonomic profile of Swartzia. The crude extracts show low cytotoxicity levels, showcasing as a promising alternative source of saponins. This investigation reinforces the importance of conserving plants in threatened regions like the Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot facing substantial anthropogenic pressures.

Bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects of Moquilea tomentosa Benth. flavonoid-rich leaf extract.

BACKGROUND: Natural products are an important source of bioproducts with pharmacological properties. Here we investigate the components of leaves from M. tomentosa Benth. (Fritsch) (Chrysobalanaceae) and its effects on bacterial cell growth, biofilm production and macrophage activity. METHODS: The effect of the different leaf extracts against bacterial cell growth was performed using the microdilution method. The most active extract was analyzed by mass spectrometry, and its effect on bacterial biofilm production was evaluated on polystyrene plates. The extract effect on macrophage activity was tested in the RAW264.7 cell line, which was stimulated with different concentrations of the extract in the presence or absence of LPS. RESULTS: We show that the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract was the most effective against bacterial cell growth. EtOAc extract DI-ESI (-)MSn analysis showed the presence of a glycosylated flavonoid tentatively assigned as myricetin 3-O-xylosyl-rhamnoside (MW 596). Also, the EtOAc extract increased biofilm formation by S. aureus and inhibited cytokine and NO production induced by LPS in RAW macrophages. CONCLUSION: M. tomentosa flavonoid-enriched EtOAc extract presented a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory pharmacological potential.

Female naturalists and the patterns of suppression of women scientists in history: the example of Maria Sibylla Merian and her contributions about useful plants.

BACKGROUND: This work reunites many women naturalists who registered knowledge about native flora in scientific expeditions around the globe between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Since male naturalists are more recognized in this period of time, we aimed to list female naturalists that published plant descriptions and observations, focusing on the work of Maria Sibylla Merian and to analyze her trajectory as an example to discuss the patterns of the suppression of women scientists. A second aim was to inventory the useful plants described in Maria Sibylla's Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium and find pharmacological evidence about the traditional uses described for those plants cited as medicinal and toxic. METHODS: A survey of female naturalists was carried out by searching information in Pubmed, Scielo, Google Scholar and Virtual Health Library. Once Maria Sibylla published her book Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium by her own, without male co-authors, and also this book is one of the only to have text and illustrations altogether and there are reports indicating information on useful plants in this work, she and her book were chosen as subject of this research. All the information was tabulated by dividing the plants into food, medicinal, toxic, aromatic or other uses. Finally, with the combinations of the scientific name of medicinal and toxic plants with information about their popular uses, a search was carried out in databases in order to indicate current pharmacological studies that reported evidences about the traditional uses described. RESULTS: We found 28 women naturalists who participated in scientific expeditions or trips, or in a curiosity cabinet, or who were collectors of Natural History between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. All these women illustrated botanical species and/or recorded their everyday or medicinal use or reported their observations in the form of a published work, letters or diaries. Also, the trajectory of Maria Sibylla Merian revealed that her scientific relevance has been neglected from the eighteenth century by mechanisms of suppression, most of the time by male depreciation, which can be seen as a pattern for suppression of women in science. However, Maria Sibyllas' contributions have been valued again in the twenty-first century. In Maria Sibylla's work, 54 plants were identified, 26 of them used for food, 4 of them aromatic, 8 medicinal, 4 toxic and 9 other uses. CONCLUSION: This study evidences that there are female naturalists whose work could be an important source for ethnopharmacological studies. Researching about women scientists, talking about them and highlighting the gender bias present in the scientific academy about the way the history of science is told is essential for the construction of a more diverse and richer scientific academy. The traditional use of 7 of 8 medicinal plants and 3 of 4 toxic plants reported was correlated with pharmacological studies, highlighting the importance of this historical record and its potential to direct strategic research in traditional medicine.

Antioxidant capacity and fragmentation features of C-glycoside isoflavones by high-resolution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced and high-energy collisional dissociation techniques.

The rapid annotation and identification by mass spectrometry techniques of flavonoids remains a challenge, due to their structural diversity and the limited availability of reference standards. This study applies a workflow to characterize two isoflavonoids, the orobol-C-glycosides analogs, using high-energy collisional dissociation (HCD)- and collision-induced dissociation (CID)-type fragmentation patterns, and also to evaluate the antioxidant effects of these compounds by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin acid) 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. By the CID-type fragmentation, in positive mode and at all high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) multiple stage, there were shown differences in the annotation of the compounds, mainly concerning some ratios of relative abundance. At CID-MS2 20 eV, the compounds could be efficiently characterized, because they present distinct base peaks [M + H]+ and [M + H-H2 O]+ for the orobol-8-C- and orobol-6-C-glycoside, respectively. Similarly, by the HCD-type fragmentation, in HRMS2 stage, differences between orobol analogs in both mode of ionization were observed. However, the HR HCD-MS2 at 80 eV, in positive mode, generated more ions and each isomer presented different base peaks ions, [0,2X]+ for the orobol-8-C-glycoside and [0,3X]+ for the orobol-6-C-glycoside. By the DPPH, the 8-C-derivative showed a very close value compared with the standard rutin and, in the ABTS method, a higher radical-scavenging activity. In both methods, the EC50 of orobol-8-C-glycoside was almost twice better compared with orobol-6-C-glycoside. In FRAP, both C-glycosides showed a good capacity as Fe+3 reducing agents. We could realize that combined MS techniques, highlighting the positive mode of ionization, can be used to evaluate the isoflavones analogs being useful to differentiate between the isomeric flavones; therefore, these data are important to mass spectrometry dereplication studies become more efficient. HIGHLIGHTS: The MS2, in positive mode of ionization, at low CID energies (15 and 20 eV) and at high HCD energies (50 eV), was suitable to characterize orobol 8 and 6-C-derivatives. Positive mode of ionization was effective to rapid annotation of each orobol C-glycoside. The orobol C-derivatives showed high radical scavenging effects. Orobol-8-C-glycoside showed higher antioxidant capacity.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of the Oleoresin from the Amazonian Tree Copaifera reticulata with an Unusual Chemical Composition in Rats.

Copaifera reticulata Ducke is a popularly known species known as copaíba that is widely spread throughout the Amazon region. The tree yields an oleoresin which is extensively used in local traditional medicine mainly as an anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agent. The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of this oleoresin obtained from a national forest in the central Amazon which presented an unusual chemical composition. The chemical composition of volatile compounds of oleoresin was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The acute toxicity assay was performed with a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema and air pouch assays using four different C. reticulata oleoresin concentrations (10, 100, and 400 mg/kg). The exudate was evaluated for nitrite concentration through the colorimetric method and for TNF-α, IL-1ß, and PGE2 by ELISA. C. reticulata oleoresin collected in the Amazonian summer contained six major sesquiterpene compounds (ß-bisabolene, cis-eudesma-6,11-diene, trans-α-bergamotene, ß-selinene, α-selinene, and ß-elemene) and was nontoxic at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, showing low acute toxicity. Different from oleoresin obtained from other sites of the Brazilian Amazon, the major volatile compound found was ß-Bisabolene with 25.15%. This ß-Bisabolene-rich oleoresin reduced the formation of paw edema induced by carrageenan and reduced the global number of cells in the air pouch assay, as well as exudate volume and nitrite, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and prostaglandin E2 levels (p < 0.05). C. reticulata oleoresin with a high ß-Bisabolene concentration showed anti-inflammatory activity, reducing vascular permeability and consequently edema formation, and thus reducing cell migration and the production of inflammatory cytokine, confirming its traditional use by local Amazonian communities.

Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae).

Cyperus articulatus L. (Priprioca) is a plant of the Cyperaceae family traditionally used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region. Studies of the essential oil of this species have identified many terpene compounds. However, little is known about the possible uses of solid waste generated by the extraction of essential oils. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of volatile compounds and to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of solid residues generated by the extraction of the essential oil of C. articulatus L. rizhomes in experimental models in vitro using peritoneal macrophages of mice and human tumor cell lines. The analysis of the chemical composition of volatile compounds indicated the presence of sesquiterpenes and particularly sequiterpenic ketones as main constituents. The results showed that the treatment with ethanolic extract of C. articulatus L. reduced the activity of the enzyme arginase and proliferation of cancer cells (p < 0.0001). The extract also showed no cytotoxicity in macrophages in concentrations between 12.5; 25 and 50 mg/mL (p < 0.0001). The results indicated that the extract of C. articulatus L. exerts antiproliferative activity (p < 0.0001) with low toxicity on healthy cells in experimental models in vitro.

Bloodwood: the composition and secreting-site of the characteristic red exudate that gives the name to the Swartzia species (Fabaceae).

The Swartzia species are commonly known as bloodwood due to the red exudate released from the stem after injury. This exudate has aroused great interest, and an integrative study is essential to describe it in detail. Thus, this work aimed to identify the red exudate's secreting-site in S. flaemingii and S. langsdorffii, and determine if it is a latex or a resin. Samples of the stem bark and the secondary xylem were prepared for histological analysis. Fresh exudates were dissolved in deuterated methanol and analyzed by 1H-NMR; other samples were resuspended in MeOH:H2O (9:1), partitioned with organic solvents and analyzed by direct infusion mass spectrometry. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically, and antioxidant capacity was determined using ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The results showed that the exudate is a red latex produced by articulated laticifers located among the phloem cells. The latex is composed of sucrose, catechin glucosides, chlorophyll derivatives, and hederagenin-type saponins. Both samples of S. flaemingii and S. langsdorffii presented high amounts of phenolics and flavonoids, as well as a strong antioxidant capacity. The anatomical study showed that the secreting-site of the Swartzia red exudates were laticifers. This finding allows us to exclude other substances such as resin or oleoresin, generally produced by secretory cavities or ducts. Furthermore, since laticifers are rare in Fabaceae, this finding is significant, and represents an essential taxonomic feature. The showy red color is due to the large amounts of flavonoids. This latex probably has a protective role against microorganisms and photodamage. The bioactive potential of this exudate inspires further studies, which may boost the economic importance of Swartzia.

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity of the volatile oil of Cyperus articulatus (Cyperaceae)

Malaria is a disease of global tropical distribution, being endemic in more than 90 countries and responsible for about 212 million cases worldwide in 2016. To date, the strategies used to eradicate this disease have been ineffective, without specific preventive measures such as vaccines. Currently, the existing therapeutic arsenal is limited and has become ineffective against the expansion of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium, demonstrating the need for studies that would allow the development of new compounds against this disease. In this context, we studied the volatile oil obtained from rhizomes of Cyperus articulatus (VOCA), a plant species commonly found in the Amazon region and popularly used as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of malaria, in order to confirm its potential as an antimalarial agent by in vitro and in vivo assays. We cultured Plasmodium falciparum W2 (chloroquine-resistant) and 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) strains in erythrocytes and exposed them to VOCA at different concentrations in 96-well microplates. In vivo antimalarial activity was tested in BALB/c mice inoculated with approximately 106 erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium berghei. VOCA showed a high antimalarial potential against the two P. falciparum strains, with IC50 = 1.21 µg mL-1 for W2 and 2.30 µg mL-1 for 3D7. VOCA also significantly reduced the parasitemia and anemia induced by P. berghei in mice. Our results confirmed the antimalarial potential of the volatile oil of Cyperus articulatus. (AU)

In vitro and in vivo antimalarial potential of oleoresin obtained from Copaifera reticulata Ducke (Fabaceae) in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

BACKGROUND: In view of the wide variety of the flora of the Amazon region, many plants have been studied in the search for new antimalarial agents. Copaifera reticulata is a tree distributed throughout the Amazon region which contains an oleoresin rich in sesquiterpenes and diterpenes with ß-caryophyllene as the major compound. The oleoresin has demonstrated antiparasitic activity against Leishmania amazonensis. Because of this previously reported activity, this oleoresin would be expected to also have antimalarial activity. PURPOSE: In this study we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antimalarial potential of C. reticulata oleoresin. METHODS: In vitro assays were done using P. falciparum W2 and 3D7 strains and the human fibroblast cell line 26VA Wi-4. For in vivo analysis, BALB/c mice were infected with approximately 106 erythrocytes parasitized by P. berghei and their parasitemia levels were observed over 7 days of treatment with C. reticulata; hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed at the end of experiment. RESULTS: The oleoresin of C. reticulata containing the sesquiterpenes ß-caryophyllene (41.7%) and ß-bisabolene (18.6%) was active against the P. falciparum W2 and 3D7 strains (IC50 = 1.66 and 2.54 µg/ml, respectively) and showed low cytotoxicity against the 26VA Wi-4 cell line (IC50 > 100 µg/ml). The C. reticulata oleoresin reduced the parasitemia levels of infected animals and doses of 200 and 100 mg/kg/day reached a rate of parasitemia elimination resembling that obtained with artemisinin 100 mg/kg/day. In addition, treatment with oleoresin improved the hypoglycemic, hematologic, hepatic and renal parameters of the infected animals. CONCLUSION: The oleoresin of C. reticulata has antimalarial properties and future investigations are necessary to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Avaliação do potencial antioxidante e anti-Helicobacter pylori in vitro de extratos de plantas medicinais utilizadas popularmente na região amazônica / Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-Helicobacter pylori in vitro potential of medicinal plant extracts popularly used in Amazon

Na região amazônica, ainda que não conclusivo, estima-se a existência de aproximadamente 60.000 espécies de plantas contribuindo para uma vasta riqueza natural. Considerando essa estimativa, são necessários investimentos em ciência e tecnologia, proteção e valorização dos recursos naturais e, principalmente, a importância dos conhecimentos tradicionais associados à biodiversidade (Albagli, 2010). O conhecimento tradicional tem fornecido informações valiosas para a descoberta de novos agentes antimicrobianos a partir das plantas (Duraipandiyan, Ayyanar e Ignacimuthu, 2006), destacando a importância da medicina popular na busca por moléculas eficazes contra micro-organismos cada vez mais resistentes (Lopez, Hudson e Towers, 2001), como por exemplo Helicobacter pylori.(AU)

The Amazon region has an enormous diversity of plant species, which contributes to its known vast natural wealth. In this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-Helicobacter pylori and antiurease potentials of medicinal plant extracts popularly used in the western Pará, northern Brazil. Antimicrobial assays were carried out using spectrophotometric broth microdilution technique, the antioxidant potential by the DPPH and ABTS•+ assays and anti-urease activity by inhibition of the enzyme urease. The ethanolic extract of leaves of Schnella sp. showed the best antioxidant potential in both methods, with IC50= 6.35 µg/mL (DPPH) and 1.81 µg/mL (ABTS•+) and the highest percentage of inhibition of urease (45%) at 1024 µg/ml. The ethanolic extract of the resin of "breu-branco" inhibited 82.8% (512 µg/mL) of the bacterial growth. These results together show the potential of the plant species used in the western Pará, in the search for molecules with antioxidant and antimicrobial action.(AU)

Potencial inseticida de plantas medicinais encontradas na Amazônia Central contra o pulgão-da-couve Brevicoryne brassicae (L) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) / Insecticide potential of medicinal plants found in Central Amazonia against cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial inseticida e a ação repelente sobre o pulgão-da-couve [Brevicoryne brassicae (L.)] de extratos de cinco espécies de plantas ocorrentes e cultivadas na Amazônia Central: Crescentia cujete L., Himatanthus articulatus (Vahl) Woodson, Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, Schnella sp. e Protium sp. Os extratos foram utilizados na concentração de 10% e o inseticida botânico a base de azadiractina (Azamax®) foi usado como controle. Para avaliação inseticida, discos de folhas de couve-manteiga com 3,5 cm de diâmetro foram individualizados em placas de Petri (6 cm ø) e infestados com 10 ninfas de B. brassicae (até 48 h de idade). 1,0 mL de cada um dos tratamentos foi pulverizado sobre os discos e após 24 h foi avaliada a mortandade. Para avaliação da repelência, discos foliares (3,5 cm ø) foram divididos em duas partes: 1,0 mL de cada tratamento foi pulverizado em uma das metades do disco, na mesma concentração empregada para avaliação da atividade inseticida. Uma hora após a pulverização, cinco adultos de B. brassicae foram transferidos para o centro do disco e após 24 h foi avaliado o número de adultos sobre a área tratada e não tratada do disco foliar. O resultados foram submetidos a teste de normalidade e análise de variância (ANOVA). O contato direto e residual dos extratos de C. cujete, H. articulatus e Schnella sp. causaram uma mortalidade de ninfas entre 97,6 e 100%, resultados esses mais expressivos que S. malaccense (54,6%) e Azamax® (35,1%). Não foi detectada ação repelente dos extratos sobre B. brassicae

Synthesis and studies of anticancer properties of lupane-type triterpenoid derivatives containing a cisplatin fragment.

Both betulinic acid 1 and cisplatin are promising antitumor agents, which induce apoptotic cell death of cancer cells. In the present investigation a new series of betulinic acid-cisplatin conjugates were synthesized and cytotoxicity and selectivity were assessed against five different tumor cell lines. The aim was to combine two structural units, both related with apoptosis induction. The derivatives exerted a dose-dependent antiproliferative action at micromolar concentrations and the effect of these structural variations on anticancer activity was studied and discussed. Several compounds revealed significant antitumor activity, as the most active substance 3-O-acetylbetulinic (2-(2-aminoethyl)aminoethyl)amide (IC50=1.30-2.24 µM). Interestingly, Betulinic acid-cisplatin conjugates were less cytotoxic than the precursors.

Preparation of betulinic acid derivatives by chemical and biotransformation methods and determination of cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines.

Several novel 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone betulinic acid derivatives have been prepared by chemical and biotransformation methods using fungi and carrot cells. Some compounds showed significant cytotoxicity and selectivity against some tumor cell lines. The most active, 3-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono]lup-(20R)-29-oxolupan-28-oic acid, showed IC50 values between 1.76 and 2.51 µM against five human cancer cell lines. The most selective, 3-hydroxy-20-[(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono]-29-norlupan-28-oic acid, was five to seven times more selective for cancer cells when compared to fibroblasts. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis induction were studied for the most active derivatives.

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae: estudo farmacobotânico de uma planta medicinal da Farmacopeia brasileira 1ª edição / Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae: morpho-anatomical study of a medicinal plant described in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia 1st edition

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson é um arbusto nativo do Brasil, latescente, popularmente conhecido como agoniada e utilizado principalmente para distúrbios menstruais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar morfoanatomicamente a folha, o caule e a casca caulinar dessa planta medicinal, a fim de contribuir para o controle de qualidade e a autenticidade dessa espécie. O material vegetal foi fixado e submetido às microtécnicas usuais. A folha é simples, glabra e obovado-lanceolada. A epiderme é uniestratificada, revestida por cutícula estriada e possui estômatos anisocíticos na face abaxial. O mesofilo é dorsiventral. A nervura central é biconvexa e o pecíolo é circular, ambos apresentando feixes vasculares bicolaterais. Laticíferos, amiloplastos e idioblastos fenólicos estão presentes no parênquima fundamental da nervura central e do pecíolo. O sistema vascular do caule é tipicamente bicolateral. Laticíferos e idioblastos fenólicos ocorrem no córtex, no floema e na medula. Esses caracteres morfoanatômicos, em conjunto, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros para o controle de qualidade dessa espécie.

Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson is a Brazilian native shrub, laticiferous, popularly known as "agoniada" and it is mainly used for uterine disorders. The present work aimed to study the leaf, stem and stem bark morpho-anatomy of this medicinal plant, in order to contribute to its quality control and identification. The plant material was fixed and submitted to standard microtechniques. The leaf is simple, glabrous and obovate-lanceolate. The epidermis is uniseriate, coated with striated cuticle and it has anysocitic stomata on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral. The midrib is biconvex and the petiole is circular, both presenting bicollateral vascular bundles. Laticiferous ducts, amyloplasts and phenolic idioblasts are found in ground parenchyma of the midrib and petiole. The vascular system of the stem is tipically bicollateral. Laticiferous ducts and phenolic idioblasts are present in the cortex, phloem and pith. These morpho-anatomical characters, all together, can be used as quality control parameters of this species.

Pharmacobotanic characterization of young stems and stem barks of Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg., Apocynaceae / Caracterização farmacobotânica de novos talos e cascas do caule de Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg., Apocynaceae

Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg. (Apocynaceae), a Brazilian native tree rich in indole alkaloids, is known as "pau-pra-tudo" and popularly used as hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic and antihypertensive. The aim of this work was to study the anatomy of the young stems and stem barks of this medicinal plant, in order to contribute to the identification of the species as a drug. The plant material was fixed and prepared according to standard microtechniques. The young stems have remaining epidermis, but a suberified peridermis is evident. The phellogen is located in the cortical region, forming suber externally. Underneath the phellogen, lies the phelloderm and collenchymatic region. In the cortex, there are numerous laticifers and some fibers. There is an incomplete sclerenchymatic sheath, consisting of several groups of fibers and stone cells. The stem has internal phloem ordered as isolated groups side by side. Numerous laticifers, calcium oxalate crystals, idioblasts and amyloplasts are found in the cortex, phloem, xylem and pith. The stem bark has many layers of suber and cortical parenchyma, a sheath composed of fibers and stone cells totally lignified, and external phloem. These anatomical characteristic, taken together, can be used as quality control parameters for this species.

Rauvolfia sellowii Müll. Arg. (Apocynaceae), uma árvore nativa brasileira rica em alcaloides indólicos, é conhecida como "pau-pra-tudo" e utilizada popularmente como hipocolesterolêmica, hipoglicêmica e anti-hipertensiva. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar anatomicamente o caule jovem e a casca caulinar dessa planta medicinal, a fim de contribuir para a identificação e autenticidade da droga. O material vegetal foi fixado e submetido às microtécnicas usuais. O caule jovem possui epiderme remanescente, porém uma periderme suberificada é observada. O felogênio instala-se na região cortical, formando súber externamente. Subjacentes ao felogênio são observadas a feloderme e uma região colenquimática. No córtex, há numerosos laticíferos e algumas fibras. Há uma bainha esclerenquimática incompleta, constituída de vários grupos de fibras e células pétreas. O caule mostra floema interno organizado em grupos isolados lado a lado. Numerosos laticíferos, cristais de oxalato de cálcio, idioblastos e amiloplastos são encontrados no córtex, no floema, no xilema e na medula. A casca do caule possui várias camadas de súber e parênquima cortical, uma bainha composta de fibras e células pétreas totalmente lignificadas, e floema externo. Estes caracteres anatômicos, quando analisados em conjunto, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros para controle de qualidade desta espécie.

Investigação das atividades alelopática e antimicrobiana de Mikania laevigata (Asteraceae) obtida de cultivos hidropônico e tradicional / Investigation of the allelopathic and antimicrobial activities of Mikania laevigata (Asteraceae) obtained in hydroponic and traditional cultivars

Os extratos etanólicos de folhas de guaco (Mikania laevigata) cultivado tradicionalmente no solo ou por hidroponia foram avaliados quanto às atividades alelopática e antimicrobiana. Para a atividade alelopática foi utilizado o ensaio de inibição da germinação de sementes de alface (Lactuca sativa), enquanto que para a atividade antimicrobiana utilizouse a técnica de difusão em disco. Observou-se um notável efeito alelopático dos extratos de ambos os cultivos, em especial do extrato etanólico do guaco tradicional, que mesmo na menor concentração testada inibiu completamente a germinação das sementes. Nenhum dos extratos etanólicos do guaco apresentou atividade antibacteriana significativa para as linhagens de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis e Enterococcus faecium.

The ethanolic extract of "guaco" (Mikania laevigata) traditionally cultivated in the soil or in a hydroponic system were tested for allelopathic and antimicrobial activities. Allelopathic activity was evaluated by the inhibition of germination assay using lettuce seeds, and antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion assay. A notable allelopathic effect was observed for both extracts, although a more expressive activity of traditional "guaco" was verified, since the inhibition of seeds germination was 100% even in the lower concentration. None ethanolic extract of "guaco" presented significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium.