Chemical Evaluation, Phytotoxic Potential, and In Silico Study of Essential Oils from Leaves of Guatteria schomburgkiana Mart. and Xylopia frutescens Aubl. (Annonaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

The essential oils (EOs) of Guatteria schomburgkiana (Gsch) and Xylopia frutescens (Xfru) (Annonaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Herbicide activity was measured by analyzing the seed germination percentage and root and hypocotyl elongation of two invasive species: Mimosa pudica and Senna obtusifolia. The highest yield was obtained for the EO of Xfru (1.06%). The chemical composition of Gsch was characterized by the presence of the oxygenated sesquiterpenes spathulenol (22.40%) and caryophyllene oxide (14.70%). Regarding the EO of Xfru, the hydrocarbon monoterpenes α-pinene (35.73%) and ß-pinene (18.90%) were the components identified with the highest concentrations. The germination of seeds of S. obtusifolia (13.33 ± 5.77%) showed higher resistance than that of seeds of M. pudica (86.67 ± 5.77%). S. obtusifolia was also more sensitive to the EO of Xfru in terms of radicle (55.22 ± 2.72%) and hypocotyl (71.12 ± 3.80%) elongation, while M. pudica showed greater sensitivity to the EO of Gsch. To screen the herbicidal activity, the molecular docking study of the major and potent compounds was performed against 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) protein. Results showed good binding affinities and attributed the strongest inhibitory activity to δ-cadinene for the target protein. This work contributes to the study of the herbicidal properties of the EOs of species of Annonaceae from the Amazon region.

Fitotoxicidade da fase orgânica e do composto majoritário obtidos da polpa dos frutos de Crescentia cujete L. (Bignoniaceae) / Phytotoxicity of the organic phase and major compound obtained from the fruit pulp of Crescentia cujete L. (Bignoniaceae)

Avaliou-se a itotoxicidade do extrato etanólico (CETOH), da fase orgânica (CEA) e do composto majoritário, o ácido (E)-cinâmico (AC), obtidos da polpa dos frutos da espécie popularmente conhecida como cujuba, cuieira e/ou cabaça (Crescentia cujete L.) sobre a inibição da germinação de sementes, desenvolvimento do hipocótilo e radícula das plantas invasoras Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin & Barneby (mata-pasto) e Mimosa pudica Mill. (malícia). A fase orgânica na concentração de 0,5% inibiu em 100% a germinação das sementes das duas plantas invasoras. O AC que foi obtido da fase orgânica inibiu a germinação das sementes de S. obtusifolia em 95% e de M. pudica em 99% na concentração de 0,1%, com concentração (%) tóxica para inibição de 50% (CI50) da germinação das sementes iguais a 0,063 e 0,037%, respectivamente; e nos bioensaios de crescimento de plântula, o AC foi mais eiciente sobre a radícula da planta S. obtusifolia (com CI50 igual a 0,009%) e para a planta M. pudica os valores de CI50 foram de 0,097% e 0,117% para a radícula e hipocótilo, respectivamente. Essa pesquisa reforça o potencial itotóxico do ácido (E)-cinâmico, veriicado inicialmente na fase orgânica em acetato de etila (CEA) rica nesse fenilpropanoide.

The phytotoxity of ethanol extracts, of the organic phase and major compound (cinnamic acid) obtained from the fruit pulp of Crescentia cujete L., were evaluated for their potential to inhibit seed germination, hypocotyl development and radicle development of the invasive weeds Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin & Barneby and Mimosa pudica Mill. The organic phase at a concentration of 0.5% inhibited 100% seed germination of both weeds. Cinnamic acid obtained from the organic phase inhibited seed germination by 95% for S. obtusifolia and 99% for M. pudica at a concentration of 0.1%, with concentrations (%) inhibiting 50% (IC50) seed germination equal to 0.063% and 0.037%, respectively. For the seedling growth bioassays, the toxicity of the cinnamic acid was more eicient for the S. obtusifolia radicle (IC50 equal to 0.009%), and for M. pudica the IC50 values were 0.097% and 0.117% for the radicle and hypocotyl, respectively. This research reinforces the phytotoxic potential of cinnamic acid, veriied initially in the organic phase (in ethyl acetate), which is rich in this phenylpropanoid.

Allelopathic potential and systematic evaluation of organic extracts from Canavalia ensiformis leaves (Jack beans).

This article describes the assessment of possible allelopathic potential of organic extracts obtained from leaves of Canavalia ensiformis under laboratory conditions. Furthermore, a systematic evaluation of these extracts was carried out using specific protocols developed in capillary electrophoresis (CE) to determine some groups of secondary metabolites. After the identification and quantification of compounds, the effects of compounds on germination of some common weeds was investigated, which are becoming a real problem in pastures in the state of Pará, Brazil.