Caracterização fitoquímica e ensaios biológicos de Coleus blumei Benth

Coleus blumei Benth (Lamiaceae), popularly known in Brazil as heart-hurt or coleus-of-Java is an ornamental plant widely used due to the color of its leaves. Several species of the genus Coleus present compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and allopathic activities due to the presence of chemicals such coleonol, forskolin and rosmarinic acid. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out phytochemical study and biological tests to evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant and allopathic activities of the 70% ethanol extract and its fractions ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and end aqueous fraction leaf of Coleus blumei Benth. The plant extract was prepared by turbolisis from the powder of dried leaves, as a solvent for extraction using 70% ethanol. The ethanol extract was fractionated with solvents dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. The phytochemical study identified the presence of saponins, free anthraquinones, flavonoids and anthocyanidins. In evaluating the antibacterial dichloromethane fraction showed activity against all microorganisms tested both in agar diffusion test and microdilution test. The 70% ethanol extract showed activity against the micro-organisms S. aureus and S. epidermidis in agar diffusion test and against all microorganisms tested in microdilution test. The ethyl acetate fraction showed activity against the micro-organism S. aureus in the agar diffusion test and against all microorganisms tested in microdilution test. The end aqueous fraction showed no activity against any micro-organism tested. In the test of evaluation activity allopathic dichloromethane fraction showed greater inhibition of seed germination and growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), followed by 70% ethanolic extract, the ethyl acetate fraction and the end aqueous fraction. In testing the antioxidant activity with DPPH ethyl acetate fraction showed higher antioxidant activity followed... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

New steroidal saponins and antiulcer activity from Solanum paniculatum L.

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

Genotoxic activity and toxicity of Baccharis trimera Less. regarding the bioaccumulation of heavy metals

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

Avaliação da resposta tecidual de extratos de araçá (Psidium Cattleianum) associado ao hidróxido de cálcio: análise edemogênica e histológica em ratos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antifungals and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from the stem bark of Croton heliotropiifolius

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Bioatividade de derivados de Annonaceae sobre Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo químico dos escapos de Paepalanthus geniculatus Kunth

Eriocaulaceae species are popularly known as sempre-vivas. This family comprising approximately 1.200 species divided into 10 genera, with high endemic levels. Paepalanthus genus has high incidence in the Espinhaço Range region and the report of biological activities. Despite the large number of previous studies with Eriocaulaceae species, Paepalanthus geniculatus has no studies about their scapes, which demonstrates the need for new research to identify their chemical and biological composition. The aim of this work was to study the chemical composition of P. geniculatus ethanolic extract seeking the isolation and identification of metabolites and evaluate the radical scavenging activity of the extract and isolated substances. P. geniculatus were collected in Serra do Cipó-MG in 2013 (Voucher: SANO 3193) and the scapes were dried, crushed and the powder was percolated with ethanol. With the etanolic extract it is carried out a fractionation by gel permeation chromatography, yielding fractions analyzed by TLC assay. The fraction J89 (45,6 mg) was purified by semipreparative HPLC-PDA, resulting in the isolation of substance S1. The fractionation was also performed by medium pressure liquid chromatography, yielding fractions analyzed by TLC assay. The fraction number 4 (92,6 mg) were purified by semipreparative HPLC-PDA resulting in the isolation of substances S2 and S3. The substances S1 and S3 were analyzed by mono and twodimensional NMR, resulting in the identification of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid) and the flavonoid 6-hydroxyquercetin-7-O-β-Dglucopyranoside. The substance S2 were identified by comparison with standards, were it was possible to determine the presence of the flavonoid 6-hydroxy-7- methoxyquercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The evaluation of radical scavenging activity for the extract and the isolated substances using DPPH, showed consistent activity to S1...

ANTIDIARRHEAL MECHANISM AND IONIC PROFILE OF CARPOLOBIA LUTEA ETHANOLIC STEM-BARK EXTRACT IN RATS

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Preliminary studies of Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) bark/latex extract point to an effective antiulcer effect on gastric ulcer models in mice

Plant extracts are some of the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Several folk medicinal plants and herbs have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric ulcers. Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) fruit is very common in the diet of the population of northern South America. Our research interest in this plant arose because of its potential medicinal value as a tonic and against stomachache, as used in folk medicine. In this paper we evaluated three different extracts (ethanolic/EtOH, methanolic/MeOH and dichloromethane/DCM) obtained from M. americana L., for their ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (0.3 M HCI/60% EtOH), hypothermic restraint stress, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, indomethacin) and pylorus ligation. In the HCI/EtOH-induced gastriculcer model, EtOH and DCM extracts demonstrated significant inhibition of the ulcerative lesion index by 54% (12.0 +/- 2.6 mm) and 86% (3.7 +/- 1.8 mm), respectively, in relation to the control value (26.0 +/- 1.4 mm) (p < 0.000 1). In the NSAID/cholinomimetic-induced lesion model, both EtOH and DCM extracts showed antiulcerogenic effects with significant reduction in the damage to these gastric lesions of 36% (8.3 +/- 2.0 mm) and 42% (7.5 +/- 1.4 mm), respectively, as compared to the control group (13.0 +/- 0.9 mm) (p < 0.0001). In the gastric ulcer induced by hypothermic-restraint stress, both extracts also showed significant activity, and inhibited the gastric lesion index by 58% and 75%, respectively. The EtOH and DCM extracts also changed gastric juice parameters as well as those of cimetidine, decreased gastric acid secretion significantly (p < 0.0001), increased pH values and promoted reduced acid output (p < 0.0001). In all gastric-ulcer-induced models, MeOH extract did not show any significant antiulcerogenic activity, nor did it change gastric-juice parameters (p > 0.05). The results suggest that EtOH and DCM extracts obtained from M. americana possess excellent antisecretory and/or gastrotective effect in all gastric ulcer models. These results suggest that the antiulcerogenic compound(s) present in M. americana may be clustered in the apolar fraction, which will be investigated by our group for the probable mechanisms of action. (c) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of micronuclei frequency in Tradescantia pallida pollen mother cells treated with ethanolic extracts isolated from Cryptocarya mandioccana, Cryptocarya moschata and Pterogyne nitens

Although herbal extracts contain several classes of compounds with pharmacological activity, they also present toxic substances with mutagenic effects. The aim of the present study was to verify the mutagenicity of Cryptocarya moschata, Cryptocarya mandioccana and Pterogyne nitens using micronucleus assay in pollen mother cells (tetrads) in Tradescantia pallida (Trad-MCN). T. pallida inflorescences were treated with different concentrations of ethanolic extracts from the selected plant species. For C. mandioccana C. moschata and P. nitens, Trad-MCN assays were carried out simultaneoulsly, followed by positive control (formaldehyde 10000 ppm), negative control (Hoagland's solution), and vehicle control (Tween 20 20% or DMSO 3%). MCN present in tetrads were quantified in 300 tetrads/inflorescence and the mean (%) and standard error (SE) were established for at least 10 inflorescences per treatment. The extracts demonstrated dose response mutagenicity (clastogenic/aneugenic effects), respectively, C. mandioccana (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL) and P. nitens (1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL) However, no mutagenic effect was observed to C. moschata at the concentrations evaluated in the present study. We can conclude that the C. mandioccana and P. nitens extracts demonstrated clastogenic/aneugenic effects in highest concentrations whereas C. moschata extract did not demonstrate the same effect. © 2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Toxicologia.

Acute lethal and sublethal effects of neem leaf extract on the neotropical freshwater fish Prochilodus lineatus

The aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of the aqueous extract of neem leaves, a product extensively used in fish-farms as alternative for the control of fish parasites and fish fry predators, for the neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus. The 24 It LC(50) of neem leaf extract for juveniles P lineatus was estimated as 4.8 g L(-1); the fish were then exposed for 24 h to 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g L(-1) or only clean water (control). Plasma glucose levels were higher in fish exposed to 2.5 g L(-1) and 5.0 g L(-1) neem extract, relative to control, indicating a typical stress response. Neem extract did not interfere with the osmoregulating capacity of the fish, as their plasma sodium, chloride, total protein and osmolarity did not change. The presence of the biopesticide interfered with the antioxidant defense system of P. lineatus, as there was a decrease in liver catalase activity at all neem concentrations and the detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase was activated in fish exposed to 5.0 g L(-1). Fish exposed to all neem extract concentrations exhibited damaged gill and kidney tissue. These results indicate that although neem extract is less toxic to P. lineatus than other synthetic insecticides used in fish-farming it does cause functional and morphological changes in this fish species. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Aloe vera extract on the improvement of the respiratory activity of leukocytes of matrinxã during the transport stress

This study evaluated the effect of extract of Aloe vera in the transport water of matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) fish on stress response and leukocyte respiratory activity. Fish was transported for 4 h in water containing Aloe at levels 0; 0.02; 0.2 and 2 mg/L, and sampled before transport 2, 4, 24 and 96 h after for determination of plasma glucose and respiratory activity of leukocytes. An additional in vitro assay was conducted with another fish species, pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), to test the respiratory burst of leukocytes exposed to Aloe extract (0.0, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) only) at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 mg/L). Plasma glucose increased after 2 and 4 h of transport and returned to control levels within 24 h, but the addition of Aloe in the transport water did not affect the level of blood glucose. However, at 2 h of transport, Aloe enhanced the respiratory activity of leukocytes in a dose-dependent way. The highest value of respiratory burst activity of leukocytes was observed in the fish transported in water containing Aloe at 2 mg/L. The enhancing effect of the plant extract on the production of oxygen radicals was confirmed in vitro in leukocytes of pacu incubated in Aloe at concentrations 0.1 and 0.2 mg/L. The results suggest that Aloe vera is a modulator of the immune system in fish improving the innate immune response tested.

The extract of the jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata promotes neurotoxic effects

Phyllorhiza punctata (P. punctata) is a jellyfish native to the southwestern Pacific. Herewith we present the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of an extract of the tentacles of P. punctata. The tentacles were subjected to three freezethaw cycles, homogenized, ultrafiltered, precipitated, centrifuged and lyophilized to obtain a crude extract (PHY-N). Paralytic shellfish poisoning compounds such as saxitoxin, gonyautoxin-4, tetrodotoxin and brevetoxin-2, as well as several secretory phospholipase A2 were identified. PHY-N was tested on autonomic and somatic neuromuscular preparations. In mouse vas deferens, PHY-N induced phasic contractions that reached a peak of 234 +/- 34.7% of control twitch height, which were blocked with either 100 mu m of phentolamine or 1m m of lidocaine. In mouse corpora cavernosa, PHY-N evoked a relaxation response, which was blocked with either L-NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester (0.5 m m) or 1m m of lidocaine. PHY-N (1, 3 and 10 mu g ml(-1)) induced an increase in tonus of the biventercervicis neuromuscular preparation that was blocked with pre-treatment of galamine (10 mu m). Administration of 6 mg kg(-1) PHY-N intramuscularly produced death in broilers by spastic paralysis. In conclusion, PHY-N induces nerve depolarization and nonspecifically increases neurotransmitter release. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inhibition of the myotoxic activity of Bothrops jararacussu venom and its two major myotoxins, BthTX-I and BthTX-II, by the aqueous extract of Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC. (Apocynaceae)

Partial neutralization of the myotoxic effect of Bothrops jararacussu venom (BV) and two of its myotoxins [bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I), catalytically inactive, and II (BthTX-II), showing low PLA(2) activity], by the lyophilized aqueous extract of Tabernaemontana catharinensis (AE), was studied in rat isolated soleus muscle preparations (in vitro) and through i.m. injection in the gastrocnemius muscle (in vivo) by determination of creatine kinase (CK) activity and histopathological analysis. Incubation of soleus muscle for 1 h with BV or toxins (20 mug/ml) plus AE (400 mug/ml) added immediately after BV, BthTX-I or BthTX-II reduced CK levels by 53%, 37% and 56%, respectively. The myonecrotic effects of BV (20 mug/ml) upon soleus muscle was reduced 24%, 35% and 36% when AE (400 mug/ml) was added 1 h after BV and CK was evaluated 30 min, 1 and 2 h later, respectively. For BthTX-I these values were 46%, 48% and 47%, while for BthTX-II no inhibitory effect was detected. Histological analysis of soleus muscle after incubation with AE (400 mug/ml, I h) did not reveal any change in muscle fibers, but severe necrosis induced by -BV or toxins (20 mug/ml) was clearly in evidence, and decreased significantly when soleus muscle was protected by AE. This protection was also observed when AE was administered 1 h after BV or BthTX-I, but not after BthTX-II. AE did not inhibit the catalytic PLA(2), activity of BthTX-II or BV and did not change the PAGE pattern of BV, BthTX-I or BthTX-II. In vivo assays were performed in 100-g rats and maximal CK release was attained at a dose of 100 mug of BV, 3 h after injection. AE was not effective when injected 20 s after BV or toxins. However, injecting BV or toxins (100 mug), which were pre-incubated with AE (2 mg) caused an inhibition of 57%, 59% and 51%, respectively, with zero time pre-incubation, but was less effective with I h pre-incubation. This plant represents a potential source of promising myotoxin inhibitors. (C) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Effects of the Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae) extract on dog's ocular surface

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