In silico pharmacological prediction and cytotoxicity of flavonoids glycosides identified by UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS in extracts of Humulus lupulus leaves cultivated in Brazil.

Ethanolic (EB) extract and hexanic (SH) and hydromethanolic (SEM) sub-extracts of Humulus lupulus leaves were submitted to cytotoxicity evaluation and to phytochemical methods. The effect of EB and SEM on cellular cycle was evaluated by propidium iodide method and the phases were quantified through flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity assessment was done using T24 and MRC5 cells, with EB and SEM (25-1200 µg/mL). By means of UPLC-DAD-MS/MS data were identified the flavonoids astragaline, nicotiflorin, kaempferol-7-O-rutinoside, robinin, hyperin, rutin, quercetin-7-O-rutinoside and manghaslin. EB (800 µg/mL) and SEM (1200 µg/mL) reduces the T24 cell viability. These extracts at 25 µg/mL stimulate the growth of MRC5 cells, evidencing a selective cytotoxicity. After 24 h of the treatment with extracts was not observed cycle arrest of T24 cells. The bioactivity prediction of the flavonoids was evaluated in silico through in house Active-IT software and PASSonline which indicated potential activity as antitumoral, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antiviral and others.

Monitoring of forest components reveals that exotic tree species are not always invasive in areas under ecological restoration.

Exotic species are known to become invasive in several ecosystems, including areas undergoing restoration. But does that always happen? We monitored the tree layer, seed rain, and regenerating layer of 10-year and 20-year-old forests under restoration in southeast Brazil to verify if planted exotic trees were behaving as invasive; if they were influencing the species richness and abundance of regenerating native plants; and the probabilities of exotic trees perpetuating over time. Data from the three forest components (trees, seed rain, and regenerating) were collected in 12 permanent plots of 100 m2 each in each study area. Collected data were analyzed through generalized linear models (GLM) and Markov chains. We verified that exotic species were not behaving as invasive species. Of the five species planted, Acacia mangium, Syzygium cumini, and Psidium guajava were dispersing seeds but recruiting only six new individuals. In general, the species richness and abundance of exotic trees were not related to the richness and abundance of regenerating native plants. In addition, the chances of individuals' transition between forest components were in most cases nil, so that exotic species should continue not to spread in the 10- and 20-year-old forests. We assume that biotic resistance was occurring in the assembled communities and this prevented exotic trees from behaving as invaders. Monitoring of forest components helped to better understand the role of non-native species in the dynamics of these novel ecosystems. Monitoring also indicated that not all recovering forests need management actions against exotic trees after a decade or two of restoration.