Flavonoid Detection in Hydroethanolic Extract of Pouteria torta (Sapotaceae) Leaves by HPLC-DAD and the Determination of Its Mutagenic Activity

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

Unusual C,O-fused glycosylapigenins from Serjania marginata leaves

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

Composition and antifungal activity against Candida albicans, C. parapsilopisis, Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans of essential oils from leaves of Piper and Peperomia species

This study was addressed to investigate the composition and antifungal activity of essential oils from leaves of Piperaceae species (Piper aduncum, Piper amalago, Piper cernuum, Piper diospyrifolium, Piper crassinervium, Piper gaudichaudianum, Piper solmsianum, Piper regnellii, Piper tuberculatum, Piper umbelata and Peperomia obtusifolia) against Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans. The essential oils from P. aduncum, P. gaudichaudianum and P. solmsianum showed the highest antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with the MIC of 62.5, 62.5 and 3.9 mg.mL-1, respectively. The oil from P. gaudichaudianum showed activity against C. krusei with MIC of 31.25 mg.mL-1.

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects of a hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. in rodents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phytotoxicity of Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq: leaves extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytotoxicity of Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. leaves ethanolic extract in seeds germination, development and fixation of Lactuca sativa seedlings. The same study also aimed to assess the mitotic index of lettuce roots meristematic cells, quantification of phenols and total flavonoids and triage by mean of phytochemical testing of the main secondary metabolites classes. Bioassays of germination, development of root and hypocotyl were carried out in Petri dishes using achenes of Lactuca sativa L. cv. 'Grand Rapids' (lettuce). Concomitantly, were evaluated the physico-chemical characteristics (pH, osmotic potential and electrical conductivity), mitotic index, quantification of total phenols and flavonoids and determination of phytochemical profile of the treatments extract. The results obtained in the bioassays demonstrate that the ethanol extract of S. aculeatissimuma presents phytotoxic potential in the development of lettuce seedlings, given that the concentration of 20 mg/ml showed greater inhibition (41% of germination). The extract contains significant amounts of antioxidants, total flavonoid and phenols, where the concentration 1000µg/mL showed higher values (86.50%). Furthermore, it was possible to observe the presence of compounds with allelopathic activity in the phytochemical screening test as coumarins, tannins, terpenes, flavonoids and alkaloids. Given the above it is clear that the ethanolic extract of S. aculeatissimum presents allelopathic substances with phytotoxic activity that can affect the germination and development of other plant species in their natural environment.

Fractal descriptors for discrimination of microscopy images of plant leaves

This study proposes the application of fractal descriptors method to the discrimination of microscopy images of plant leaves. Fractal descriptors have demonstrated to be a powerful discriminative method in image analysis, mainly for the discrimination of natural objects. In fact, these descriptors express the spatial arrangement of pixels inside the texture under different scales and such arrangements are directly related to physical properties inherent to the material depicted in the image. Here, we employ the Bouligand-Minkowski descriptors. These are obtained by the dilation of a surface mapping the gray-level texture. The classification of the microscopy images is performed by the well-known Support Vector Machine (SVM) method and we compare the success rate with other literature texture analysis methods. The proposed method achieved a correctness rate of 89%, while the second best solution, the Co-occurrence descriptors, yielded only 78%. This clear advantage of fractal descriptors demonstrates the potential of such approach in the analysis of the plant microscopy images.

Glandular trichome density and essential oil composition in leaves and inflorescences of Lippia origanoides Kunth (Verbenaceae) in the Brazilian Cerrado

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

Glandular trichome diversity on leaves of Lippia origanoides and Lippia stachyoides (Verbenaceae): morphology, histochemistry, and ultrastructure

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

Unusual C,O-fused glycosylapigenins from serjania marginata leaves

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

Redistribution of B-10 absorbed by leaves and roots of cashew seedlings

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

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects of a hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. in rodents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Measurement of the natural variation of 13C:12C ratio in leaves at Reserva Ducke Forest, central Amazonia

Investigation of carbon isotope fractionation by plants was carried out at two sub-areas located in Reserva Ducke, central Amazonia: open reserve (virgin forest with low density of plant species); and closed reserve (virgin forest with high density of plant species). Preliminary results (δ‰ 13C: 12C values, PDB) of leaf analysis at different plant heights indicate the following: Eschweilera matamata Hub. (Lecythidaceae), common name 'matamata', -31.55±0.61; Protium heptaplyllum March. (Burseraceae), common name 'breu branco', -32.34±1.39; Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. (Guttiferae), common name 'jacareúba', -30.72±0.23; Scleronema micrantthum Ducke. (Bombacaceae), common name 'cardeiro'. -28.81±0.68; and Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae), common name 'andiroba', -31.07±0.51. It is possible that the plant species analysed belong to the C3 photosynthetic cycle. In general, the species in the open reserve show differences of the order of 1.66±0.34‰ (greater in 13C) as compared with the same species in the closed reserve. The old leaves show differences in the relative isotopic enrichment (δ) of the order of 1‰, being smaller in new leaves in both reserves. The probable occurrence of an isotopic gradient from the lower (2-5 m) to the upper part (15-20 m) of the plant, of the order of 1.3‰, smaller in 13C, in species from the dense forest was noted. However, only two plants from each species were analysed during a two-year period, data obtained to far are still preliminary, and results should, therefore, be revised. Moreover, according to the literature, the natural carbon isotope fractionation by plants shows metabolic, physiological and environmental dependence. © 1991.

Overexpression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) induces a hypoxic response in Nicotiana tabacum leaves

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

Physical and mechanical characteristic of particleboards produced with residues of sugarcane and stem leaves of bamboo bonded with castor oil adhesive

In this research the aim was produce a particleboard with alternative materials and evaluated its physical and mechanical characteristics. The raw materials used are residues from sucarcane bagasse (SC) (Saccharum officinarum) and stem leaves of bamboo (B) (Dendrocalamus giganteus), bonded with a bi component adhesive based on castor oil. It was produced particleboards with five different traces: 100% SC, 75% SC+25% B, 50% SC+50% B, 25% SC +75%B and 100 % B. Their physical and mechanical characteristics were evaluated accordingly to Brazilian standard NBR 14810-3. Regarding the results obtained, it can be detached that for physical and mechanical evaluation it is evident a negative relation among the amount the sugarcane bagasse and their physical and mechanical characteristics, that is particleboards with low concentrations of sugarcane bagasse had better results. However all particleboards could be recommended for use as sealing particleboards in the segment of civil construction.