Floristic composition of climbing plants on a humid forest fragment in the Planalto da Ibiapaba, Ceará State, Brazil / Composição florística das plantas trepadeiras de um fragmento de mata úmida no Planalto da Ibiapaba, Estado do Ceará, Brasil

In tropical forests, climbing plants are an important component of the species richness. This study aimed to know the floristic composition of vines in a stretch of forest in the Planalto da Ibiapaba. It was performed at Sítio Coqueiros, Ipu, Ceará State, Brazil, in an area that covers about 124 ha and has an altitude between 670-850 meters. We list 61 species of vines, distributed in 43 genera and 22 families. The richest families were Convolvulaceae (11 spp.) and Fabaceae (11), followed by Bignoniaceae (seven), Passifloraceae (four), Cucurbitaceae (three) and Sapindaceae (three). We identified 31 woody vines (lianas) and 30 herbaceous vines. The volubile ascension mechanism was highlighted, being found in 55,7% of the species. An identification key for the set of identified species is displayed.

Em florestas tropicais, as trepadeiras são um importante componente da riqueza de espécies. O presente estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a composição florística de trepadeiras em um trecho de floresta no Planalto da Ibiapaba. O estudo foi realizado no Sítio Coqueiros, Ipu, Estado do Ceará, Brasil, numa área que abrange cerca de 124 ha e possui altitude entre 670-850 metros. Foram identificadas 61 espécies de trepadeiras, distribuídas em 43 gêneros e 22 famílias. As famílias mais ricas foram Convolvulaceae (11 spp.) e Fabaceae (11), seguidas de Bignoniaceae (sete), Passifloraceae (quatro), Cucurbitaceae (três) e Sapindaceae (três). Foram identificadas 31 trepadeiras lenhosas (lianas) e 30 herbáceas. O mecanismo de ascensão mais representativo foi o volúvel, encontrado em 55,7% das espécies. É apresentada uma chave de identificação para o conjunto de espécies identificadas.

Chemical composition determination and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of essential oils from Ruellia asperula (Mart. Ex Ness) Lindau and Ruellia paniculata L. against oral streptococci.

This study investigated the chemical composition and evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Ruellia asperula (EORA) and Ruellia paniculata (EORP) against oral streptococci. The EO constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial potential of EOs was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, and time-kill determination. Furthermore, the quantification of total biomass and the number of viable cells in the biofilms were evaluated. The major constituents of EORA were cariophylla-4(12)-8-(13)-dien-5ß-ol (14.1%), (ß)-caryophyllene (22.7%), and caryophyllene oxide (29.4%). For EORP, the major constituents were (ß)-caryophyllene (11.0%), spathulenol (13.1%), and δ-amorphene (14.9%). The tested EOs exhibited antibacterial activity against planktonic growth and biofilm formation. Thus, the EOs from R. asperula and R. paniculata prove to be promising alternatives for bacterial growth control and biofilm formation prevention of oral streptococci.

Chemical prospecting and antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antifungal activity of ethanol extracts from Senna Mill. species. (Fabaceae) / Prospecção química, atividade antioxidante, anticolinesterásica e antifúngica de extratos etanólicos de espécies de Senna Mill. (Fabaceae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical profile, total phenol content and the antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesterase and antifungal activities of ethanol extracts from leaves (EEF) and stem (EEC) of five species of Senna, as well as to evaluate the correlation between the content of total phenols with the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and with the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase AChEI enzyme. The phytochemical test showed the presence of secondary metabolites in all extracts. The EEF and EEC of Senna trachypus, stood out for presenting the highest values of total phenols. S. trachypus EEF and EEC showed the best action on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. All species showed antioxidant activity, especially the EEF from S. trachypus. A strong correlation was observed for the variables total phenols and antioxidant activity (r = -0.71), very strong for total phenols and anti-acetylcholinesterase (r = -0.84) and moderate activity for antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity (r = 0.43). Only S. trachypus extracts showed activity against all dermatophytes, when compared to the other species. The species S. trachypus was considered the most promising plant for further studies, in order to find compounds with pharmacological actions.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil químico, teor de fenóis totais e as atividades antioxidante, antiacetilcolinesterásica e antifúngica dos extratos etanólicos das folhas (EEF) e do caule (EEC) de cinco espécies de Senna, bem como avaliar a correlação entre o conteúdo de fenóis totais com a atividade sequestradora do radical livre DPPH e com a inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase AChEI. No teste fitoquímico, evidenciou-se a presença de metabólitos secundários em todos os extratos. Os EEF e EEC de Senna trachypus, destacaram-se por apresentar os maiores valores de fenóis totais. Os EEF e EEC de S. trachypus mostraram a melhor ação sobre a enzima acetilcolinesterase. Todas as espécies apresentaram atividade antioxidante, em especial o EEF de S. trachypus. Foi observado correlação forte para as variáveis fenóis totais e atividade antioxidante (r = -0,71), muito forte para fenóis totais e antiacetilcolinesterase (r = -0,84) e atividade moderada para atividade antioxidante e antiacetilcolinesterase (0,43). Apenas os extratos de S. trachypus apresentaram atividade contra todos os dermatófitos, quando comparado às demais espécies. A espécie S. trachypus foi considerada a planta mais promissora para estudos subsequentes, a fim de encontrar compostos com ações farmacológicas.

Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities of Vernonia Chalybaea Mart. ex DC. Essential Oil and their Major Constituent β -caryophyllene

Abstract: This article describes the chemical composition of Vernonia chalybaea essential oil, and investigates its antimicrobial, antioxidant and hemolytic activities. The evaluation of the antifungal activity was performed by the broth microdilution method using strains of yeasts and dermatophytic fungi. The checkerboard technique to find antimicrobial modulatory effects was performed using ketoconazole as standard drug. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH scavenging assay and β-carotene/linoleic-acid system. The toxicity was characterized by the brine shrimp lethality test and hemolysis bioassays. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS method, showing to be rich in the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene (39.06%) and bicyclogermacrene (19.69%), and also demonstrated a relevant antifungal activity against strains of Trichophyton rubrum. In the modulatory activity assay, the essential oil of V. chalybaea and β-caryophyllene demonstrated a synergistic interaction with ketoconazole, with increasing of its antifungal action. The antioxidant activity was evidenced mainly by β-carotene/linoleic acid system, with IC50 value of 35.87 ± 0.32 µg/mL. The results suggest that V. chalybaea essential oil and β-caryophyllene are valuable natural medicinal agents with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of Vitex gardneriana schauer leaves's essential oil.

This study aimed to determinate the chemical composition and evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained from leaves of V. gardneriana. The Vitex gardneriana leaves's were hydrodistilled to obtain the essential oil and the chemical composition determined by GC/MS analysis. The antimicrobial activities were determined by microdilution method. The activity of essential oil on biofilm was evaluated by quantification of total biomass and enumeration of biofilm-entrapped viable cells. The antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH free radical assay, ferrous ion chelating assay, ferric-reducing antioxidant power and ß-carotene bleaching assay. Furthermore, the essential oil was tested on viability of health human, animal cells and the microcrustacean Artemia sp. The essential oil showed high content of sesquiterpenes and very low content of monoterpenes. Regarding activity on planktonic cells, the essential oil reduced the growth of the all species tested but showed MIC values only to S. aureus (0.31%). In general, the essential oil reduced significantly the biofilm biomass and the number of viable cells of bacteria and yeasts, mainly on biofilm formation. The essential oil showed a potential antioxidant activity, mainly on ß-carotene oxidation. Moreover, the essential oil reduced the cell viability of murine fibroblasts but not show viability reduction of human keratinocytes. Furthermore, the oil not show toxicity against the microcrustacean. Thus, the essential oil from V. gardneriana leaves may be considered as an important alternative against biofilms formed by bacteria and yeasts related to infections, as well as a natural antioxidant and non-toxic substance on human cells.