LC-MS/MS quantitative determination of tetrapterys mucronata alkaloids, a plant occasionally used in ayahuasca preparation

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

Resíduos agrícolas e argila expandida no cultivo da orquídea Oncidium baueri Lindl.

For orchid cultivation in containers is essential to select the right substrate, since this will influence the quality of the final product, it serve as a support for the root system of the plants. This study aimed to evaluate different agricultural residues and expanded clay in Oncidium baueri Lindl. orchid cultivation. The plants were subjected to treatments: pinus husk + carbonized rice husk, pinus husk + coffee husk, pinus husk + fibered coconut, pecan nut husk, expanded clay, fibered coconut, coffee husk, carbonized rice husk, pinus husk. After eleven months of the experiment, the following variables were evaluated: plant height; largest pseudo-bulb diameter; number of buds; shoot fresh dry matter; the longest root length; number of roots; root fresh matter; root dry matter; and electric conductivity; pH and water retention capacity of the substrates. Except the expanded clay, the other substrates showed satisfactory results in one or more traits. Standing out among these substrates pinus husk + coffee husk and pine bark + fibered coconut, which favored the most vegetative and root characteristic of the orchid. The mixture of pinus husk + coffee husk and pinus husk + fibered coconut, provided the best results in vegetative and root growth of the orchid Oncidium baueri and the expanded clay did not show favorable results in the cultivation of this species.

Caracterização física e química dos frutos nos diferentes quadrantes da planta e germinação de sementes do portaenxerto cítrico tangerineira ‘sunki’

The tangerine 'Sunki' are highly relevant for the Brazilian citrus industry by presenting important traits for genetic improvement and to be considered a great portaenxento. In this context, the objective of the present work to study the characterization of the fruits of citrus rootstock 'Sunki', depending on the position on the plan and also the germination of their seeds. The physical characteristics evaluated were fruit weight, longitudinal and equatorial diameters of the fruit longitudinal diameter / equatorial diameter, number of buds per fruit, weight of buds and bark and number of viable seeds per fruit. As for the chemical characterization was evaluated titratable, acidity, soluble solid, "Ratio", pH and vitamin C. For the evaluation of these variables, the fruits were obtained from the northeast, southwest, northwest and southeast quadrants. Regarding the evaluation of seed germination, different doses of gibberellic acid and Stimulate were used. The seeds extracted from ripe fruit, washed, dried in the shade and stored in BOD. Immediately after, they were treated for 24 hours with plant growth regulators. After soaking, the seeds were placed in a germinator in germitest paper. After initiation of the germination process, the evaluations were performed daily until the thirty- fourth day. Fruits of 'Sunki'mandarin with uneven as the fruit position within the canopy, the use of gibberellic acid and growth promoter is promising for commercial use on seed germination of this rootstock.

Coumarins from Brosimum gaudichaudii

The new coumarin, (+)-(2'S,3'R)-3-hydroxymarmesin [1], was isolated from the aqueous fraction of the EtOH extract of the root bark of Brosimum gaudichaudii (Moraceae).

An ethnobotanical study of anti-malarial plants among indigenous people on the upper Negro River in the Brazilian Amazon

In this article we present the plants used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon. The region has important biological and cultural diversities including more than twenty indigenous ethnic groups and a strong history in traditional medicine. The aims of this study are to survey information in the Baniwa, Baré, Desana, Piratapuia, Tariana, Tukano, Tuyuca, Yanomami ethnic communities and among caboclos (mixed-ethnicity) on: a) plant species used for the treatment of malaria and associated symptoms; b) dosage forms and c) distribution of these anti-malarial plants in the Amazon. Information was obtained through classical ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological methods from interviews with 146 informants in Santa Isabel municipality on the upper Negro River, Brazil. Fifty-five mainly native neotropical plant species from 34 families were in use. The detailed uses of these plants were documented. The result was 187 records (64.4%) of plants for the specific treatment of malaria, 51 records (17.5%) of plants used in the treatment of liver problems and 28 records (9.6%) of plants used in the control of fevers associated with malaria. Other uses described were blood fortification ('dar sangue'), headache and prophylaxis. Most of the therapeutic preparations were decoctions and infusions based on stem bark, root bark and leaves. These were administered by mouth. In some cases, remedies were prepared with up to three different plant species. Also, plants were used together with other ingredients such as insects, mammals, gunpowder and milk. This is the first study on the anti-malarial plants from this region of the Amazon. Aspidosperma spp. and Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke were the most cited species in the communities surveyed. These species have experimental proof supporting their anti-malarial efficacy. The dosage of the therapeutic preparations depends on the kind of plant, quantity of plant material available, the patient's age (children and adults) and the local expert. The treatment time varies from a single dose to up to several weeks. Most anti-malarial plants are domesticated or grow spontaneously. They are grown in home gardens, open areas near the communities, clearings and secondary forests, and wild species grow in areas of seasonally flooded wetlands and terra firme (solid ground) forest, in some cases in locations that are hard to access. Traditional knowledge of plants was found to be falling into disuse presumably as a consequence of the local official health services that treat malaria in the communities using commercial drugs. Despite this, some species are used in the prevention of this disease and also in the recovery after using conventional anti-malarial drugs.

Chemical and biological characterisation of Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld: absence of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity and possible chemopreventive potential

Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld (M.hirtum) is a plant known as 'jacarandá-bico-de-pato' whose bark is commonly used against diarrhea, cough and cancer. The aim of this study was to phytochemically characterise the hydroethanolic extract of this plant, investigate its antimutagenic activities using the Ames test and evaluate its effects on cell viability, genomic instability, gene expression and cell protection in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). Antimutagenic activity was assessed by simultaneous pre- and post-treatment with direct and indirect mutagens, such as 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), mitomycin C (MMC), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), using the Ames test, cytokinesis blocking micronucleus and apoptosis assays. Only 3 of the 10 concentrations evaluated in the MTT assay were cytotoxic in HepG2 cells. Micronucleated or apoptotic cells were not observed with any of the tested concentrations, and there were no mutagenic effects in the bacterial system. However, the Nuclear Division Index and flow cytometry data showed a decrease in cell proliferation. The extract showed an inhibitory effect against direct (NPD) and indirect mutagens (B[a]P and AFB1). Furthermore, pre- and post-treated cells showed significant reduction in the number of apoptotic and micronucleated cells. This effect is not likely to be associated with the modulation of antioxidant genes, as shown by the RT-qPCR results. Six known flavonoids were identified in the hydroethanolic extract of Machaerium hirtum leaves, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrophotometric methods. The presence of the antioxidants apigenin and luteolin may explain these protective effects, because these components can inhibit the formation of reactive species and prevent apoptosis and DNA damage. In conclusion, the M.hirtum extract showed chemopreventive potential and was not hazardous at the tested concentrations in the experiments presented here. Moreover, this extract should be investigated further as a chemopreventive agent.

Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov., a yeast species isolated from plant materials

Nine strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood, tree bark, ant nests or living as endophytes in leaves of Vellozia gigantea. Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that this species is related to Candida insectorum in the Yamadazyma clade. The new species differs from its closely related species by 10 and 11 substitutions in the ITS region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit of the rRNA gene, respectively. The species is heterothallic and forms asci with one to two hat-shaped ascospores. The name Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Yamadazyma riverae sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y444T (= CBS 14121) and the allotype strain is TT12 (= CBS 14098 = UFMG-CM-Y577). The Mycobank number is MB 813221.

Manejo da fertilização NK em plantio de eucalyptus urophylla em solo de cerrado

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Quality of wood and pulp from a clone of Eucalyptus grandis planted at three locations

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

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and eudesmane sesquiterpenes from Ocotea pulchella

Bark of Ocotea pulchella contains, besides 1-(p-methoxybenzoyl)-6,7-methylenedioxyisoquinoline, 1-(hydroxy-p-methoxybenzyl)-6,7-methylenedioxyisoquinoline and their 1,2-dihydro-derivatives, 11-eudesmen-4α-ol and 4-furanoeudesmen-6-one. © 1993.

Acute and subchronic antihyperglycemic activities of bowdichia virgilioides roots in non diabetic and diabetic rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Plantas utilizadas para tratamento da malária e males associados em comunidades indígenas no rio Uapés em São Gabriel da Cachoeira - AM

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Estudo fitoquímico dos extratos de folhas, galhos e cascas do caule de Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth para testes de potencial de cosmético funcional

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Elaboração de pão com casca de abacate hass: valor nutricional e aceitabilidade

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Avaliação da qualidade da madeira de cinco espécies de Pinus destinadas à produção de celulose

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA