Influence of seasonality and habitat on chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties of the Libidibia ferrea.

Libidibia ferrea Mart, belonging to the Fabacee family, is a medicinal plant known for its biological properties and production of phenolic compounds. Previous studies reveal the biological activity of its phenolic constituents, making it very promising for the development of new medicines. Seasonality and geographic distribution of species can modify the production of secondary metabolites in Fabaceae species in terms of the preferentially activated metabolic pathways and, consequently, interfere with the medicinal properties of these species. Studying the influence of seasonality on the production of phenolic constituents is essential to establish conditions for "cultivation," species collection, standardization, production, and safety in traditional medicine. This unprecedented study proposed to evaluate the influence of seasonal variations and habitat on the production of phenolic compounds and biological properties of the ethanolic extracts of the stem bark from L. ferrea, whose specimens were collected from the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest, biomes of Brazil. Antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through a colorimetric assay using MTT. ABTS and DPPH radical reduction methods estimated antioxidant capacities. Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 spectrophotometric methods quantified total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. In turn, radial diffusion quantified tannin content. PCA score plot and HCA dendogram were obtained by multivariate analysis of 1H NMR data. The cytotoxicity against C6 glioma cells was observed only for Atlantic Forest extracts (EC50 = 0.13-0.5 mg mL-1). These extracts also showed selectivity against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) [MICs 500-2000 µg mL-1], B. cereus CCT 0096) [MIC = 250 µg mL-1], Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) [MICs = 250-500 µg mL-1], S. epidermidis (ATCC 12228) [62.5-1000 µg mL-1], mainly to Staphylococcus sp. Caatinga extracts showed higher production of flavonoids and antioxidants in the summer [7.36 ± 0.19 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 4.86 ± 0.05 µg mL-1], spring [5.96 ± 0.10 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 5.96 ± 0.08 µg mL-1 ], winter [4.89 ± 0.25 µg QE mg-1 extract; IC50ABTS = 6.72 ± 0.08 µg mL-1 ]. Regarding habitat, two discriminating compound patterns in the studied biomes were revealed by NMR. The results indicated that the Caatinga biome offers better conditions for activating the production of phenolics [336.34 ± 18.1 µgGAE mg-1 extract], tannins [328.38 ± 30.19 µgTAE mg-1 extract] in the summer and flavonoids in winter, spring, and summer. The extracts that showed the best antioxidant activities were also those from the Caatinga. In turn, extracts from the Atlantic Forest are more promising for discovering antibacterial compounds against Staphylococcus sp and cytotoxic for C6 glioma cells. These findings corroborated the traditional use of L. ferrea bark powder for treating skin wounds and suggest the cytotoxic potential of these extracts for glioblastoma cell lines.

Bioactive compounds from Vellozia pyrantha A.A.Conc: A metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis approach.

The chemical composition of V. pyrantha resin (VpR) and fractions (VpFr1-7 and VpWS) were assessed by LC-MS and NMR. Twenty-eight metabolites were identified, including 16 diterpenoids, seven nor-diterpenoids, one fatty acid, one bis-diterpenoid, one steroid, one flavonoid, and one triterpenoid. The pharmacological potential of VpR, VpFr1-7, and isolated compounds was assessed by determining their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. VpFr4 (IC50 = 205.48 ± 3.37 µg.mL-1) had the highest antioxidant activity, whereas VpFr6 (IC50 = 842.79 ± 10.23 µg.mL-1) had the lowest. The resin was only active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 62.5 µg.mL-1) and Salmonella choleraesius (MIC and MFC 500 µg.mL-1), but fractions were enriched with antibacterial compounds. V. pyrantha resin and fractions showed great cytotoxic activity against HCT116 (IC50 = 20.08 µg.mL-1), HepG2 (IC50 = 20.50 µg.mL-1), and B16-F10 (12.17 µg.mL-1) cell lines. Multivariate statistical analysis was used as a powerful tool to pinpoint possible metabolites responsible for the observed activities.

Modes of action of arjunolic acid and derivatives on Trypanosoma cruzi cells.

Chagas disease causes considerable morbimortality in the Americas, with circa 7 to 8 million infected people, causing at least 12,000 annual deaths and 100 million people at risk. Its chemotherapy is poorly selective and effective, associated to severe side effects and unresponsive cases. Thus, R&D on therapeutic alternatives is undoubtedly required. The Brazilian poorly studied biodiversity offers uncountable bioagents, which may be exploited for chemotherapy. The triterpene arjunolic acid (AA), reduced the Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote in vitro proliferation with an apparent IC50 of 171 µM. Electron microscopy analysis revealed remarkable effects on the parasite surface and architecture. AA-treated parasites displayed minutely corrugated plasma membranes devoid of subpellicular microtubules as well as biogenesis of multiple basal bodies. As the AA effects appeared mainly restricted or originated at the parasite peripheral cytoplasm, including the cytoskeleton membrane linkage, we inferred that the compound targeted primarily the lipid bilayer; therefore, we performed synthetic modification to increase the molecule lipophilicity and thus membrane permeability. The methyl ester (MeAA) and tri-acetylated derivatives (3AcAA) had potentiated trypanocidal activity, producing IC50 values of 21.9 and 15.8 µM, respectively. Both derivatives were able to produce remarkable ultrastructural alterations in the parasites, including inner compartments such as Golgi apparatus and the endocytic/autophagic pathway. Parasites cultured with both derivatives displayed numerous and large autophagic vacuoles, altered flagellar length and cell body connection. These data indicate that synthetically-modified natural products comprise valuable tools in antiparasitic chemotherapy and that electron microscopy may be useful not only in determining the mechanisms of action but also in directing such modifications for rational drug design.

Antibacterial activity of the alkaloid-enriched extract from Prosopis juliflora pods and its influence on in vitro ruminal digestion.

The purpose of this study was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity of alkaloid-enriched extracts from Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae) pods in order to evaluate them as feed additives for ruminants. As only the basic chloroformic extract (BCE), whose main constituents were juliprosopine (juliflorine), prosoflorine and juliprosine, showed Gram-positive antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 25 µg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 50 µg/mL) and Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 50 µg/mL), its influence on ruminal digestion was evaluated using a semi-automated in vitro gas production technique, with monensin as the positive control. Results showed that BCE has decreased gas production as efficiently as monensin after 36 h of fermentation, revealing its positive influence on gas production during ruminal digestion. Since P. juliflora is a very affordable plant, this study points out this alkaloid enriched extract from the pods of Prosopis juliflora as a potential feed additive to decrease gas production during ruminal digestion.

Xantonas, triterpenos e atividade antibacteriana do extrato em diclorometano de Kielmeyera cuspidata Saddi, Clusiaceae / Xanthones, triterpenes and antibacterial activity of dichloromethane extract of Kielmeyera cuspidata Saddi, Clusiaceae

Do extrato em diclorometano do tronco de Kielmeyera cuspidata Saddi, Clusiaceae, foram isoladas cinco xantonas, 1,6-diidroxi-3,5-dimetoxixantona, 2-hidroxi-1-metoxixantona, 2,3-metilenodioxixantona, 4-hidroxi-2,3-metilenodioxixantona e 3-hidroxi-2,4-dimetoxixantona e dois triterpenos, α-amirina e β-amirina. O extrato exibiu toxicidade para Artemia salina e atividade antibacteriana para Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subitilis, Staphylococcus aureus e Streptococcus mutans, não sendo ativo para Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Salmonela choleraesuis.

From the dichloromethane extract of trunk of Kielmeyera cuspidata five xanthones were isolated, 1,6-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone, 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone, 2,3-methylenedioxyxanthone, 4-hydroxy-2,3-methylenedioxyxanthone and 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyxanthone and two triterpenes α-amirin and β-amirin. The extract displayed toxicity against Artemia salina and exhibited antibacterial activity against Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subitilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans and it was not active against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonela choleraesuis.

New prenylated metabolites of Deguelia longeracemosa and evaluation of their antimicrobial potential.

The analysis of root extracts from Deguelia longeracemosa (Benth.) A.M.G. Azevedo yielded fifteen prenylated metabolites. Nine of them are novel, and their molecular structures were determined through spectral analyses (UV, IR, MS and NMR) as being five derivatives of 4-hydroxy-3-phenylcoumarin: 4-hydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-(8',9'-epoxy-9'-methylbutyl)-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':8,7)-coumarin; 4-hydroxy-3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-2'',2''-dimethypyrano-(5'',6'':8,7)-coumarin; 4-hydroxy-3-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':8,7)-coumarin; 4-hydroxy-3-(3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':6,7)-coumarin and 4-hydroxy-3-[4'-O-(3,3-dimethylallyl)phenyl]-5-methoxy-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':6,7)-coumarin, three derivatives of 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanodione (alpha-oxodeoxybenzoin derivatives): 1-[6-hydroxy-2-methoxy-3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':5,4)- ]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanedione; 1-[6-hydroxy-2-methoxy-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':3,4)]-2-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanedione; 1-[6-hydroxy-2-methoxy-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':3,4)]-2-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1,2-ethanedione and one derivative of deoxybenzoin: 2,4'-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-2'',2''-dimethylpyrano-(5'',6'':3,4)-deoxybenzoin. The antimicrobial activity of roots extracts and some isolated compounds was screened through bioautography against bacteria and fungi.