Efeito do tamanho de tubetes na qualidade de mudas de Jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang.), Ipê-amarelo (Tabebuia chrysotricha (Mart. ex DC.) Sandl.) e Guarucaia (Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brenan)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of extracts of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum Mart. and Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth. on the cicatrisation of cutaneous wounds in rats

Stem bark of the two species Stryphnodendron polyphyllum Mart. and Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth., Leguminosae, was investigated for wound healing, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. These plants contain 12 and 19% tannins in their stem bark, respectively, and are widely used in traditional medicine in Brazil. The total content of phenolics of the crude extract (CE) of Stryphnodendron obovatum was 76.95 +/- 2.98% (CV = 3.87%) and of the ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) was 89.13 +/- 0.34% (CV = 0.38%); whereas in Stryphnodendron polyphyllum the CE phenolics content was 51.62 +/- 1.53% (CV = 2.96%) and the EAF phenolics content was 59.00 +/- 1.91% (CV = 3.24%). The tannin content of CE from Stryphnodendron obovatum [36.58 +/- 0.35% (CV = 0.98%)] was about 11% higher than in CE from Stryphnodendron polyphyllum [25.43 +/- 0.96% (CV = 3.77%)]. The difference between the species was even greater in the EAF: in Stryphnodendron obovatum the EAF phenolics content was 55.01 +/- 0.36% (CV = 0.65%), whereas in Stryphnodendron polyphyllum the content was 36.16 +/- 0.42% (CV = 1.16%). The healing effect of ointments containing 2.5% crude lyophilised extract (PCE) and 2.5% ethyl-acetate lyophilised fraction (PEA) of the stem bark of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and Stryphnodendron obovatum was studied in cutaneous wounds of Wistar((R)) rats after 4, 7 and 10 days of treatment. Epithelial cell proliferation in the area of re-epithelialisation of the wounds was evaluated by counting the metaphases blocked by vincristine sulfate. With PCE an increase in epidermal growth was observed after 4 and 7 days of treatment with Stryphnodendron polyphyllum, and after 7 and 10 days of treatment with Stryphnodendron obovatum. Wounds treated with PEA of Stryphnodendron obovatum showed increased epidermal growth only 4 days after the treatment, for Stryphnodendron polyphyllum, epidermal growth was observed after 4 and 7 days of treatment. Both the CE and the EAF fractions of Stryphnodendron polyphyllum and Stryphnodendron obovatum showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 125 and 250 mu g/ml, respectively. Gram-negative bacteria tested were not inhibited by extracts and fractions at concentrations > 1000 mu g/ml. The antioxidant activity through reduction of the DPPH radical in TLC, confirmed the anti-radical properties of these extracts in both species. CE and EAF of both species showed a radical scavenging activity (RSA) and protected DPPH from discolouration, already at 0.032 mu g/ml. The extract from Stryphnodendron polyphyllum were more effective than those Stryphnodendron obovatum, although the former had a lower tannin content. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Controles físico, físico-químico, químico e microbiológico dos frutos de Dimorphandra mollis Benth., Fabaceae

Considerando-se a qualidade dos fitoterápicos, é importante salientar que a preocupação com esta questão inclui rigoroso acompanhamento das diferentes etapas de desenvolvimento e produção, desde a coleta do vegetal até o produto final. O controle de qualidade de drogas vegetais e seus extratos é essencial quando utilizados como matéria-prima para o desenvolvimento de fitoterápicos. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas diversas técnicas (farmacopeicas e não farmacopeicas) visando estabelecer parâmetros de qualidade dos frutos de Dimorphandra mollis Benth. (Leguminosae), popularmente conhecida como faveiro. Os resultados obtidos determinaram as características físico-químicas da droga vegetal e mostraram que o pó dos frutos e o extrato etanólico 70% de D. mollis apresentam um teor de flavonóides de 10,25% e 17,21%, respectivamente. A análise fitoquímica preliminar dos frutos caracterizou a presença de taninos, saponinas e flavonóides. Na análise microbiológica do extrato não houve crescimento de patógenos entre os testes realizados.

Biologia reprodutiva de populações de Ocimum selloi Benth

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

Biologia da reprodução de Mimosa bimucronata: uma espécie ruderal

Com o objetivo de estudar a biologia reprodutiva de Mimosa bimucronata, o presente estudo foi realizado em Botucatu e Cachoeira Paulista, SP, no período de novembro de 2003 a junho de 2005. Determinou-se o número de flores por glomérulo, sua duração, os eventos da antese e outras características florais, como tamanho, formato, coloração, odor, presença de néctar e localização de osmóforos. A receptividade do estigma e a viabilidade do pólen foram avaliadas. Flores foram examinadas e documentadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura, após tratamento adequado. Foram feitos testes para a determinação do sistema reprodutivo, visando avaliar a dependência dos polinizadores. A presença de visitantes florais foi observada no campo, sendo registrada a quantidade de visitas e o comportamento dos visitantes, além do tempo médio de permanência dos visitantes junto às flores. O padrão de floração de M. bimucronata é anual. Os grãos de pólen encontram-se reunidos em políades compostas por oito células, o que pode ser interpretado como uma adaptação para minimizar o efeito da mistura das cargas de pólen depositadas sobre o diminuto estigma. A formação de frutos em condições naturais foi baixa e não ocorreu agamospermia. A morfologia das flores e das inflorescências permite o acesso aos recursos florais para uma ampla variedade de visitantes (Hymenoptera, Diptera e Coleoptera). A maioria das visitas foi realizada por abelhas (56,4%). Os resultados permitem considerar que, embora M. bimucronata seja dependente de vetores de pólen para sua reprodução, é espécie entomófila generalista e, portanto, bastante adaptada aos ambientes ruderais, onde sua ocorrência é predominante.

Relationship Among Phenolic Contents, Seed Predation, and Physical Seed Traits in Mimosa bimucronata Plants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Imbibition phases and germination response of Mimosa bimucronata (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) to water submersion

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

OIL GLANDS IN PTERODON PUBESCENS BENTH. (LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE): DISTRIBUTION, STRUCTURE, and SECRETION MECHANISMS

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

Antiulcerogenic effect and cytotoxic activity of semi-synthetic crotonin obtained from Croton cajucara Benth.

Trans-dehydrocrotonin, the major diterpene isolated from the bark of Croton cajucara, has good antiulcerogenic activity which, however, is accompanied by toxic effects. on the basis of these results, a semi-synthetic crotonin, named 4SRC, was prepared to determine whether this substance has similar antiulcerogenic activity with lower or no toxicity. The natural crotonin was also isolated from the bark of C. cajucara but was not used due to the small amount obtained. The cytotoxic effect of semi-synthetic crotonin, expressed as cell viability, was assessed in (a) lung fibroblast cell line (V79) derived from Chinese hamsters, a system commonly used for cytotoxicity studies, and (b) rat hepatocytes isolated from male Wistar rats. After treatment, cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide reduction (MTT reduction), total acid content and neutral red uptake assays. To evaluate V79 cell viability, different concentrations of semi-synthetic crotonin were incubated with the cells. To evaluate the antiulcerogenic effects of semi-synthetic crotonin (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), we used the models of gastric ulcer induced by ethanol/HCl, stress, indomethacin/bethanechol, and ethanol in male Swiss mice and male Wistar rats. The substance had an IC50 = 500 muM in the neutral red uptake and MTT reduction tests and an IC50 = 200 muM in the nucleic acid content test. With regard to hepatocyte viability after treatment with semi-synthetic crotonin at different concentrations, semi-synthetic crotonin had an IC50 = 10-500 muM in the nucleic acid content and MTT reduction tests and an IC50 = 120 muM in the neutral red uptake test. In another experiment, V79 cells were incubated with the metabolites produced by hepatocytes treated with different concentrations of semi-synthetic crotonin. After a 4-h incubation, semi-synthetic crotonin had an IC50 = 500 muM in the MTT reduction and neutral red uptake tests and an IC50 = 370 muM in nucleic acid content test. The substance had significant antiulcerogenic activity in all models studied, suggesting the presence of a possible antisecretory effect combined with a cytoprotective effect. For this reason, the effect of semi-synthetic crotonin was also evaluated on biochemical parameters of gastric juice and gastric wall mucus, both obtained from pylorus-ligated mice. No significant differences were observed in these parameters between semi-synthetic crotonin-treated and control animals. The results obtained with semi-synthetic crotonin are promising, with a significant preventive effect against gastric ulcer induced by different agents. Our data also show that semi-synthetic crotonin was less toxic than dehydrocrotonin and that the cytotoxic effects decreases with the time that isolated hepatocytes were in culture. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of essential oil obtained from Croton cajucara Benth. on gastric ulcer healing and protective factors of the gastric mucosa

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

The antiulcer effect of Croton cajucara Benth in normoproteic and malnourished rats

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

Involvement of Glutathione, Sulfhydryl Compounds, Nitric Oxide, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, and Heat-Shock Protein-70 in the Gastroprotective Mechanism of Croton cajucara Benth. (Euphorbiaceae) Essential Oil

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

Nodule ultrastructure and initial growth of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. var. falcata (Benth.) Altschul plants infected with rhizobia

The anatomy and ultrastructure of root nodules of Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) were analysed, as was plant growth. To ensure that nodules developed, seedlings were inoculated with a mixture of six strains of rhizobia. Nodules were produced that differed in appearance-and probably also effectiveness-but their structure was similar and they showed characteristics typical of indeterminate nodules, such as persistent meristematic tissue and a gradient of cells at different stages of development. Many starch grains were present in inner cortex cells and interstitial cells of infected tissue. Infected cells were densely packed with bacteroids, which contained many poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules. The high incidence of these granules, together with high levels of starch accumulation in interstitial cells, suggested low N-2-fixation efficiency of the rhizobia isolates used for inoculation. In the symbiosomes of early-senescent infected cells, reticulum-like structures, small vesicles and a fibrillar material were observed; these may be related to bacteroid degradation. In the cytoplasm of late-senescent infected cells, many vesicles and membrane-like structures were observed, probably associated with membrane degradation of bacteroids and peribacteroids. The total biomass of plants inoculated with rhizobia was low and their xylopodia and shoots had low levels of N compared with non-inoculated plants fertilized with ammonium nitrate. However, inoculated plants did not show N-deficiency symptoms and grew better than non-inoculated plants without N fertilization. These growth results, together with ultrastructural observations of nodules, suggest that nitrogen fixation of rhizobia isolates associated with Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata roots is poor. (C) 2002 Annals of Botany Company.

Constituintes químicos de Hyptidendron canum (Pohl ex Benth.) R. Harley (Lamiaceae)

Chemical investigation of Hyptidendron canum stems resulted in the isolation of betulinic, ursolic and euscaphic acids. From the leaves were isolated 3β-O-β-galactopiranosilsitosterol, ursolic aldehyde, and mixtures of maslinic acid and 2α-hydroxyursolic acid, α and β-amyrin, uvaol and erythrodiol, sitosterol and stigmasterol, spathulenol and globulol. Hexane and chloroform leave fractions as well as ursolic and betulinic acids showed antifungal activities against the yeast form of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.