Antioxidant,antimicrobial and toxicological properties of Schinus molle L. essential oils

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Schinus molle L. has been used in folk medicine as antibacterial, antiviral, topical antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoural as well as antispasmodic and analgesic; however, there are few studies of pharmacological and toxicological properties of S. molle essential oils. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of S. molle leaf and fruit essential oils, correlated with their chemical composition and evaluate their acute toxicity. Materials and methods: The chemical composition of S. molle leaf and fruit essential oils were evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant properties were determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated by the agar disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration assay. Toxicity in Artemia salina and acute toxicity with behavioural screening in mice were evaluated. Results: The dominant compounds found in leaf and fruit essential oils (EOs) were monoterpene hydrocarbons, namely -phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-myrcene, limonene and α-pinene. EOs showed low scavenging antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical method and a higher activity by the β-carotene/linoleic acid method. Antimicrobial activity of EOs was observed for Gram+, Gram– pathogenic bacteria and food spoilage fungi. EOs showed cytotoxicity for Artemia salina and lower toxicity in Swiss mice. Conclusions: The result showed that EOs of leaves and fruits of S. molle demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, suggesting their potential use in food or pharmaceutical industries.

ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SCHINUS MOLLE L. ESSENTIAL OILS

Schinus molle L. is commonly known as pink pepper or American pepper, of Anacardiaceae family, from subtropical regions of South America, introduced and naturalized in South Europe, including Portugal. In folk medicine, plant extracts and essential oil has related as having antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antispasmodic, analgesic and antidepressive properties. The aim of present study was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil extracted from leaves and fruits of S. molle. For this purpose, the essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC/FID) and antioxidant properties were evaluated by the free radical DPPH and by system β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. The antimicrobial activities were screened against pathogenic bacteria and fungi and food spoiling fungi by the disc diffusion assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for sensitive strains. Toxicity of essential oils were carried out by the brine shrimp mortality test (EC50) and acute lethal dose (DL50) determination after oral administration in Swiss mice The major components in leaf essential oil were α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene and limonene, while myrcene, α-phellandrene and 1,8-cineole are the main components in the fruit essential oil. The essential oils of leaf and fruit of S. molle showed antioxidant activity through the two mechanisms: the ability to capture free radicals and protection of lipid peroxidation. These oils exhibited also a broad microbial activity spectrum, against pathogenic bacteria Gram-positive and Gram-negative and Candida spp. The fruit essential oil showed high cytotoxicity against Artemia salina. Essential oils of leaves and fruits of S. molle showed significant antioxidant and microbial properties, so the studies continue to clarify more in deep its toxicity, including hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, and to evaluate its medicinal or nutraceutical potential.

Efeito de um extrato de Artemísia Vulgaris L. marcação in vitro de constituintes sanguíneos com tecnécio-99m em ratos wistar

Artemisia vulgaris L..is used in folk medicine and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This medicinal plant has been utilized as anticonvulsive, analgesic, antispasmodic effect, rheumatic pains, menstrual dyspepsia, asthenia, epilepsy, hepatitis, fevers, anemia and to expel parasites. In nuclear medicine, blood constituents are labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) and used as radiopharmaceuticals (radiobiocomplexes). Authors have been described that synthetic and/or natural drugs could modify the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Artemisia vulgaris L. on the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc. Blood samples withdrawn of Wistar rats were incubated with Artemisia vulgaris L, stannous chloride and 99mTc, as pertechnetate ion. Aliquots of plasma (P) and blood cells (BC) were isolated. Aliquots of P and BC were also precipitated with trichloroacetic acid and soluble (SF) and insoluble (IF) fractions were separated. The radioactivity in each fraction was counted and the percentages of radioactivity (%ATI) were calculated. Artemisia vulgaris L. extract decreased significantly (p<0.05) the %ATI on BC and on IF-BC. The analysis of the results indicates that the extract could have substances that could interfere on the transport of stannous through the erythrocyte membrane altering the labeling of blood cells with 99mTc. Working in this study was a multidisciplinary group, with Phisical therapists, Biomedicals, Physicals, Pharmacists, Biologists, Statistics and Physicians.

Phytochemical characterization of essential oil from Ocimum selloi

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Study of the embryotoxic effects of an extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L)

Extracts of rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., have been used in folk medicine as a diuretic, an emenagogue, an antispasmodic and its aqueous extract does not present toxicity to man, presenting, however, abortive effects. In order to evaluate if this plant induces abortion and/or interferes with the normal development of the concepts, doses of 26 mg of a 30% (w/v) R. officinalis aqueous extract (13 mg solids/ml) made with leaves, flowers and stem were administered daily by gavage during two different periods of Wistar rat pregnancy. One group of animals (N = 12) received the extract from days 1 to 6 of pregnancy (preimplantation period) and another group (N = 14) received the same extract from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy (organogenic period). Control groups (N = 12) received saline in the same volume and during the same periods as their respective experimental groups. The animals were sacrificed at term. The treatment of the darns during either the preimplantation or the organogenic period did not cause significant changes in the postimplantation loss or in the number of anomalies or malformations of the term fetuses, which also showed a similar degree of development when compared with the respective controls. The percent of preimplantation loss in the group treated before embryo implantation increased, although the difference was not significant compared to the control. This result suggests that rosemary extract may present an anti-implantation effect without interfering with the normal development of the concept after implantation.

Ativação de macrófagos por produtos naturais obtidos da Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae)

Plants are a valuable source of natural products for the maintenance of human health. The purpose of this paper was the study of immunologic activity of yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), a largely used plant in popular medicine that has many different properties such as: antiinflammatory, astringent, antiseptic and antispasmodic. Macrophages stimulation was evaluated by the determination of H2O2, NO and TNF-α in supernatants of peritoneal macrophages cultures of mice in the presence of the yarrow leaves extract. The thin layer chromatography of extract was also analyzed, showing rutin. All concentrations showed a moderate release of H2O2 and the concentrations of 6, 8 and 10mg/mL had a higher release of NO. The TNF-a was produced in all concentrations, but the best result was obtained at 4mg/mL. Analyzing the results, it is suggested that the yarrow ethanolic extract can modulate the macrophages activation.

Essential oil composition of Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit) Britton leaves cultivated in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

The family Verbenaceae comprises about 175 genera and 2300 species, distributed in tropics and subtropics, mainly in temperate zone of southern hemisphere. The lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla (L'Herit) Britton) is a perennial, bushy plant originally from South America. The essential oil of this plant is used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfumery industry. Therapeutic properties include febrifuge, sedative, stomachical, diuretic, and antispasmodic activities. The present work aimed to identify the chemical composition of essential oil of Aloysia triphylla leaves. The study was done in Lageado Experimental Farm of the Department of Plant Production-Horticulture, Agronomical Sciences College, São Paulo State University Campus of Botucatu. Leaves of lemon verbena from Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Garden, were collected in the end of winter (September/2001). The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, in Clevenger apparatus. 100 g of leaves were used in each extraction. Four extractions were performed during three hours. The essential oils of the leaves were analyzed in Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry (CG-MS, Shimadzu, QP-5000), equipped with capillary column DB-5 (30 m × 0,25 mm × 0,25 mm), split 1/35, injector for 220 C°, detector for 230 C°, dragged by gas He (1,0 mL/min), with programmed temperature for 60 C° to 240 C°, 3 C°/min. The identification of the substances was held by comparison of their mass spectra with data of the CG-MS (Nist 62 lib), literature references and retention index of Kovats. The main constituents of essential oils were geranial (29.54 %), neral (27.01 %), limonene (15.93 %), geranyl acetate (4.0 %) and geraniol (3.96 %). This species possesses high quantity of monoterpenes and low quantity of sesquiterpenes.

Composition of coriander essential oil from Brazil

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual and herbaceous plant, belonging to the Apiaceae family. Native of southern Europe and western Mediterranean region, this herb is cultivated world widely. This species, rich in linalool, has potential using as source of essential oil and as a medicinal plant. It has been used as analgesic, carminative, digestive, depurative, anti-rheumatic and antispasmodic agent. Its fruits (commonly called seeds) are used for flavoring candies, in cookery, perfumery, beverage and in tobacco industry. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition of the seed essential oil of this species grown in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. The experiment was carried out in Lageado Experimental Farm, Department of Plant Production, Agronomical Sciences College, São Paulo State University. The fruits were harvest 108 days after sowing. The essential oils were extracted by hydro distillation, in Clevenger apparatus. 50 g of fruits were used in each extraction. Three extractions were performed during three hours. The essential oils were analyzed in Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (CG-MS, Shimadzu, QP-5000), equipped with DB-5 capillary column (30 m × 0,25 mm × 0,25 mm), split 1/20, injector for 240 C°, detector for 230 C°, dragged by gas He (1,7 mL/min), with programmed temperature for 40 C° (5 min)-150 C°, 4 C°/min; 150 C°-280 C°, 8 C°/min. The identification of the compounds was made by comparison of their spectra of masses with data from CG-MS (Nist 62 lib), literature references and retention index of Kovats. The 18 most important components were identified and quantified. The main components of the oil were linalool (77.48 %), γ-terpinene (4.64 %), α-pinene (3.97 %), limonene (1.28 %), geraniol (0.64 %) and 2-decenal (0.16 %).

Annona sp: Plants with multiple applications as alternative medicine - a review

Annona species have been used as a natural remedy for a variety of illnesses with antiparasitic, antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, sedative, analgesic, hypotensive, and vermifugal effects. These properties are due to the presence of a number of bioactive compounds on the leaves, fruit, seeds, and stem. The aim of this review is to show the main species of Annona, their medicinal properties and the chemical constituents that may be related to these effects. In the leaves it is possible to find acetogenins, annopentocins A, B, and C, cis- and trans-annomuricin-D-ones, goniothalamicin, arianacin, and javoricin, related to anticancer properties. Quercetin-3-O-glucoside, also found in the leaves mediates antidiabetic and antioxidative effects. In the fruit are found annonaine, nornuciferine and asimilobine, associated to antidepressive effects. In the seeds are found muricatetrocin A and muricatetrocin B, longifolicin, corossolin, corossolone, uvarigrandin A, bullatacin, squamotatin. These acetogenins are associated with anticancer effects. Cyclosquamosin B, quercetin, and cyclosquamosin from the seeds have respectively vasorelaxant, antithyroidal and, antiinflammatory activity. In the stem parts there are several components as N-trans-feruloyltyramine, N-p-coumaroyltyramine, and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, lignans, syringaresinol, syringaldehyde, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside which exhibit antiplatelet aggregation activity. Copaene, patchoulane, 1H-cycloprop (e) azulene and kaur-16-en-19-oic acid found in the barks exhibit significant central as well as peripheral analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The properties of the biological compounds in Annona species support information that may provide validation for its medicinal uses, but further studies should be performed to establish ideal and safe doses of consumption to ensure the effectiveness of the benefits. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers.

Análise de crescimento e trocas gasosas de erva-cidreira (Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. ex Britt & Wilson) cultivada em solução nutritiva

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização da diversidade genética e da composição química dos óleos essenciais de populações de Ocimum selloi Benth

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Estudo da ação antinociceptiva e antiinflamátoria do 1-Nitro-2-Feniletano, principal constituinte da Aniba Canelilla

A Aniba canelilla (H.B.K) Mez, conhecida popularmente como casca-preciosa é uma espécie da família Lauraceae que apresenta ampla distribuição na região amazônica. O chá das folhas e das cascas são utilizados na medicina popular como digestivo, carminativo e antiinflamatório. Neste estudo decidiu-se avaliar se esta atividade é devida a um de seus principais constituintes, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano. A amostra obtida por purificação do óleo essencial de Aniba canelilla possui 97,5% de 1-nitro-2-feniletano foi fornecida pelo Laboratório de Engenharia Química da UFPA. Nos modelos de nocicepção foram realizados os testes da contorção abdominal, placa quente e formalina. Enquanto que nos modelos de inflamação foram realizados a dermatite induzido pelo óleo de croton, edema de pata induzido por dextrana e carragenina e peritonite induzido pela carragenina. No teste de contorção abdominal induzido por ácido acético, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano nas doses de 15, 25 e 50 mg/kg reduziu de maneira significativa o número de contorções abdominais. No teste de placa quente (55 0,5 C), o 1-nitro-2-feniletano nas doses de 50, 100 e 200 mg/kg não induziu alterações no tempo de latência quando comparado ao grupo controle. No teste de formalina, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano nas doses de 25 e 50 mg/kg reduziu de maneira significativa o estímulo álgico na 2 fase do teste. Além disso, a antinocicepção foi revertida pela naloxona na segunda fase. Na dermatite induzida pelo óleo de croton, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano nas doses de 25 e 50 mg/kg reduziu de maneira significativa o eritema em relação ao grupo controle (inibição de 73% e 79%, respectivamente). Nos edemas de pata induzido por carragenina e dextrana, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano foi capaz de impedir o desenvolvimento do edema, nas doses de 25 e 50 mg/kg, em comparação com o grupo controle. Na peritonite induzida por carragenina, o 1-nitro-2-feniletano na dose de 25 mg/kg reduziu o número de células globais e o número de neutrófilos quando comparado ao grupo controle (inibição de 22,55% e 38,13%, respectivamente). Nossos resultados sugerem que o 1-nitro-2-feniletano tem atividade antinociceptiva e antiinflamatória, provavelmente, de origem periférica, além disso, os resultados sugerem que os receptores opióides estão envolvidos no efeito antinociceptivo do 1-nitro-2-feniletano.

Produção de folhas, óleo essencial e anatomia foliar quantitativa de Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. (Verbenaceae) em diferentes níveis de sombreamento e épocas de colheita

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Mentha x villosa leaf and its major constituent piperitenone oxide in mice

Mentha x villosa Huds (Labiatae) is an aromatic herb widely used in folk medicine. Since the essential oil of the herb has many pharmacological activities, including antispasmodic effects, we determined whether the oil and its major constituent, piperitenone oxide (PO), have antinociceptive activity. The essential oil of M. x villosa (EOMV) and PO administered orally at 200 mg/kg (vehicle: 0.1% Tween 80 in water) significantly reduced the writhings induced by acetic acid from control values of 59.5 ± 3.1 s (N = 10) to 31.9 ± 2.8 s (N = 10) and 23.8 ± 3.4 s (N = 10), respectively. When administered at 100 and 200 mg/kg, EOMV reduced the paw licking time for the second phase of the formalin test from the control value of 20.6 ± 2.1 s (N = 13) to 5.3 ± 2.2 s (N = 12) and 2.7 ± 1.2 s (N = 18), respectively. At 100 and 200 mg/kg, PO reduced this second phase to 8.3 ± 2.7 s (N = 12) and 3.0 ± 1.2 s (N = 10), respectively. This effect of EOMV and PO was not reversed by naloxone. EOMV and PO had no significant effect on the first phase of the formalin test. As evaluated by the hot-plate and tail immersion test, EOMV and PO, at doses up to 200 mg/kg, showed no analgesic activity. These results show that EOMV and PO have antinociceptive activity and suggest that this effect is probably an indirect anti-inflammatory effect, which does not involve the central nervous system.

Antidiarrheal and intestinal antiinflammatory activities of a methanolic extract of Qualea parviflora Mart. in experimental models

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)