Chemical composition, larvicidal and cytotoxic activity of Annona salzmannii (Annonaceae) seed oil

The seed oil of Annona salzmannii A. DC. was analyzed by GC-MS and 1H qNMR, revealing a mixture of unsaturated (80.5%) and saturated (18.7%) fatty acids. Linoleic (45.3%) and oleic (33.5%) acid were the major unsaturated fatty acids identified, while palmitic acid (14.3%) was the major saturated fatty acid. The larvicidal effects of A. salzmannii seed oil were evaluated against third-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linn.). The oil exhibited moderate larvicidal activity, with a LC50 of 569.77 ppm (95% CI = 408.11 to 825.88 ppm). However, when the cytotoxic effects of the oil were evaluated, no expressive antiproliferative effects were observed in tumor cell lines B16-F10 (mouse melanoma), HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), K562 (human chronic myelocytic leukemia), HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia), and non-tumor cell line PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), with IC50 values > 50 µg·mL-1. This is the first study to evaluate the chemical composition, larvicidal and cytotoxic activity of A. salzmannii seed oil

Accelerating the Morphogenetic Cycle of the Viral Vector Aedes aegypti Larvae for Faster Larvicidal Bioassays.

Any bioassay to test new chemically synthesized larvicides or phytolarvicides against Culicidae and more harmful mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which specifically transmit dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya viral fevers as well as Zika virus, or Anopheles gambiae, a vector for malaria and philariasis, requires thousands of well-developed larvae, preferably at the fourth instar stage. The natural morphogenetic cycle of Aedes spp., in the field or in the laboratory, may extend to 19 days at room temperature (e.g., 25°C) from the first permanent contact between viable eggs and water and the last stage of larval growth or metamorphosis into flying adults. Thus, accelerated sequential molting is desirable for swifter bioassays of larvicides. We achieved this goal in Aedes aegypti with very limited strategic and low-cost additions to food, such as coconut water, milk or its casein, yeast extract, and to a lesser extent, glycerol. The naturally rich coconut water was excellent for quickly attaining the population of instar IV larvae, the most advanced one before pupation, saving about a week, for subsequent larvicidal bioassays. Diluted milk, as another food source, allowed an even faster final ecdysis and adults are useful for mosquito taxonomical purpose.

Chemical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Essential Oils and an Anatomical Study of the Aerial Parts from Baccharis Species (Asteraceae).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils as well as the anatomy of the aerial parts from Baccharis aracatubaensis, Baccharis burchellii, and Baccharis organensis owing to the therapeutic potential of Baccharis. The volatile constituents were analyzed using GC/MS, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACFL ) and DPPH assays, and the antimicrobial activity by a microdilution technique. Of the 56 compounds identified, only seven (ß-caryophyllene, γ-muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, ß-germacrene, spathulenol, τ-muurolol, and α-cadinol) were common in the three specimens studied. Of these, γ-muurolene was found abundantly in B. aracatubaensis, while bicyclogermacrene was abundant in B. burchellii and B. organensis. The essential oils exhibited antioxidant activity in the ORACFL (>500.0 µmol TE g-1 ) and DPPH assays. However, they did not exhibit any antimicrobial activity. Secretory ducts and flagelliform glandular trichomes were observed in the anatomical study of all the Baccharis species studied.

Avaliaçäo da qualidade de produtos fitoterápicos comercializados em Porto Alegre - RS / Qualitative evaluation of herbal medicines comercialized in Porto Alegre - RS (Brazil)

Este trabalho é uma avaliaçäo qualitativa de produtos fitoterápicos e insumos vegetais comercializados em Porto Alegre no período de julho a outubro de 1997, com o objetivo de verificar as mudanças geradas na qualidade destes produtos após a vigência da Portaria n§ 6 da SVS-MS (DOU de 31/01/95). Foram analisados 42 produtos, adquiridos mediante compra em ervaterios, farmácias de manipulaçäo e drogarias de Porto Alegre. As técnicas utilizadas foram baseadas na Farmacopéia Brasileira 4ª ed. e em literatura especializada ou desenvolvidas na disciplina de Farmacognosia da Faculdade de Farmácia - UFRGS. Foram considerados como indicadores de qualidade: identidade, ausência de matérias orgânicas estranhas, estado de conservaçäo e presença dos principais constituintes químicos das amostras em análise. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a vigência da Portaria n§6 da SVS-MS (DOU 31/01/95) ainda näo induziu uma alteraçäo no quadro de qualidade dos produtos fitoterápicos comercializados em Porto Alegre, visto que das 42 amostras analisadas, 71,4(por cento) näo atendem aos quesitos mínimos de qualidade exigidos por esta norma, à semelhança de resultados obtidos em trabalhos anteriores. (AU)

This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of some herbal Medicines commerciali- zed in Porto Alegre - RS (Brazil) from july to october, 1997, in order to verify if the new Brazilian legislation about these products (Portaria 6 - SVS - MS - DOU 01.31.95) induced the improve- ment in their quality. Forty-two samples purchased from herbalists, drugstores and pharmacies Were analysed considering botanical identity, absence of foreign organic materiaIs, conservation state and presence of the main chemical compouds as quality indicators. The methods employed were based in the Farmacopéia Brasileira 4. ed and specialized literature The results showed that the Portaria 6 ­ SVS - MS (DOU 01.31.95) validity has not yet influenced the quality State of herbal products com- mercialized in Porto Alegre, since 71,4 % of the analysed samples do not fit the minimum quality demands required by such legal rule, These results meet the ones observed in previous researchs in rela- tion to the unsatisfactory qualitity 'of the Brazilian herbal medicines. (AU)