Chemical constituents, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and, antinociceptive activities of Trichilia ramalhoi.

Trichilia ramalhoi Rizz. is a species from Meliaceae family and its chemical composition and biological activities are still unknown. This work describes the chemical composition and biological activities of the organic extracts of this plant. Therefore, methanolic extract of stem barks and leaves were prepared and submitted to chromatographic procedures. Besides, T. ramalhoi extracts biological evaluation showed antioxidant, antinociceptive and, anti-inflammatory activities. Usual chromatographic procedures of the active extracts permitted to isolate methyl 5-O-caffeoylquinate, apocynin C, cinchonains Ia and Ib, besides ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol and lupeol. The identification of the isolates was based on 13C and 1H NMR (1 D and 2 D) spectroscopic data and mass spectrometry. Although the flavalignans cinchonains Ia and Ib were previously isolated from T. catigua, this is the first occurrence of apocynin C in the Meliaceae family.

Larvicidal activities and chemical composition of essential oils from Piper klotzschianum (Kunth) C. DC. (Piperaceae).

BACKGROUND: Volatile oils from fresh roots, stems, leaves and seeds of Piper klotzschianum (Piperaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. In total, 25 components, representing more than 95% of the examined oils, were identified. The essential oils were evaluated against Artemia salina Leach nauplii and fourth-instar Aedes aegypti larvae. RESULTS: The major chemical constituents that were identified from various parts of this plant were 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene and 2,4,5-trimethoxy-1-propenylbenzene in the root, 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene in the stems and leaves and 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene, limonene and α-phellandrene in the seeds. The biological activities of these essential oils generally exhibited high toxicity against A. salina, with LC50 values that ranged from 7.06 to 15.43 µg mL(-1), and significant larvicidal activity against fourth-instar A. aegypti larvae was observed in the essential oils from the seeds (LC50 of 13.27 µg mL(-1)) and roots (LC50 of 10.0 µg mL(-1)) of the plant. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that both essential oil of P. klotzsdhianum and the isolate 1-butyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene are potential resources for A. aegypti larva control. This is the first report of the biological activities of the oil and isolated compound.