A new type of Brazilian propolis: Prenylated benzophenones in propolis from Amazon and effects against cariogenic bacteria

Ethanol extracts of four propolis samples (E1-E4) from Manaus (Brazilian Amazon) were analysed by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS/MS and GC/EIMS. The major constituents of E2 and E4 were analysed by NMR ((1)H and (13)C) and ESI/MS/MS. The main constituents of E2 and E4 are polyprenylated benzophenones: 7-epi-nemorosone, 7-epi-clusianone (major E4 constituents), xanthochymol and gambogenone (major E2 constituents), making up a chemical profile so far unreported for Brazilian propolis. Aristhophenone, methyl insigninone, 18-ethyloxy-17-hydroxy-17,18-dihydroscrobiculatone B, and derivatives of dimethyl weddellianone A and B, propolones, and a scrobiculatone derivative, were detected as minor constituents. Triterpenoids (beta-amyrins, beta-amyrenone, lupeol and lupenone) were ubiquitous and predominant in El and E3. The extracts E2 and E4 were highly active against the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius. E2 was more active than E4, probably due to a higher content of 2-epi-nemorosone, while the latter was richer in di-hydroxylated compounds. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mitochondrial DNA Diversity of Orchid Bee Euglossa fimbriata (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Populations Assessed by PCR-RFLP

Euglossa fimbriata is a euglossine species widely distributed in Brazil and occurring primarily in Atlantic Forest remnants. In this study, the genetic mitochondrial structure of E. fimbriata from six Atlantic Forest fragments was studied by RFLP analysis of three PCR-amplified mtDNA gene segments (16S, COI-COII, and cyt b). Ten composite haplotypes were identified, six of which were exclusive and represented singleton mitotypes. Low haplotype diversity (0.085-0.289) and nucleotide diversity (0.000-0.002) were detected within samples. AMOVA partitioned 91.13% of the overall genetic variation within samples and 8.87% (I center dot(st) = 0.089; P < 0.05) among samples. Pairwise comparisons indicated high levels of differentiation among some pairs of samples (I center dot(st) = 0.161-0.218; P < 0.05). These high levels indicate that these populations of E. fimbriata, despite their highly fragmented landscape, apparently have not suffered loss of genetic variation, suggesting that this particular population is not currently endangered.

Lorentz violation and the proper-time method

In this Letter, we apply the proper-time method to generate the Lorentz-violating Chern-Simons terms in the four-dimensional Yang-Mills and non-linearized gravity theories. It is shown that the coefficient of the induced Chern-Simons term is finite but regularization dependent. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface modification and crystallization of the BaO-B2O3-SiO2 glassy system using CO2 laser irradiation

The surface modification and crystallization process of BaO-B2O3-SiO2 glass compositions when exposed to CO2 laser irradiation was evaluated as a function of the laser power, irradiation time and surface condition. The glass surface was modified by the application of laser power exceeding 0.40 W and an irradiation time of more than 300 s. Micro-Raman and X-ray diffraction measurements revealed at high laser power the formation of beta-BaB2O4 (beta-BBO) crystalline phase. The crystallization of the irradiated region was enhanced when beta-BBO micrometer sized particles were dispersed on the surface of the glass sample. The intensity of the second harmonic generation observed in the crystallized region was found to depend mainly on the condition of the glassy surface prior to glass irradiation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tellurium in organic synthesis: a new approach to trisubstituted gamma-butyrolactones with trans-trans relative stereochemistry. Total enantioselective synthesis of (-)-Blastmycinolactol, (+)-Blastmycinone, (-)-NFX-2, and (+)-Antimycinone

The total synthesis of (-)-Blastmycinolactol, (+)-Blastmycinone, (-)-NFX-2, and (+)-Antimycinone was accomplished in few steps in high yields and ee, starting from enantiomerically enriched (S)-Z-vinylic hydroxytellurides. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Total syntheses of trikentrins and of herbindoles

CNPq