Qualea grandiflora, a Brazilian Cerrado medicinal plant presents an important antiulcer activity

Qualea grandiflora is one of the species widely used in folk medicine to treat gastric ulcers in Cerrado of the central region of Brazil. The hydroalcoholic extract of bark (HE) of Qualea grandiflora was investigated for their ability to prevent and heal lesions in the gastric mucosa. The oral administration of HE exhibited antiulcer activity decreasing the ulcerative index induced by HCl/ethanol solution, indomethacin/bethanechol and stress. In the Shay model, results showed that HE (p.o.) only reduced the severity of gastric lesions without effects on pH, gastric acidity or volume. When given by intraduodenal route, HE changed the pH, but did not modify the other parameters of the gastric juice. These data were in accordance with those obtained when HE was administered orally for 14 days after gastric ulcers were induced by acetic acid in rats. HE presented healing process in subacute gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid in rats. Moreover, histological examinations showed the simple columnar epithelium, lamina propria with simple branched tubular glandules with dilated lumen and large amounts of mucus secretion. Phytochemical investigation of HE led to the detection of terpenes, steroids, saponins, phenolic compounds and tannins in this extract, which may be involved in the observed activity. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Polyphenols with Antiulcerogenic Action from Aqueous Decoction of Mango Leaves (Mangifera indica L.)

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

Anti-coagulase-negative Staphylococcus activity of ethanolic extracts of propolis from two Brazilian regions and synergism with antimicrobial drugs by the E-test method

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from vegetal sources and its therapeutic properties have been investigated. In this work, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) from the Southeast and South of Brazil on coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) growth as well as the EEP in vitro synergism with antimicrobial drugs by using the diffusion method (E-test). The EEP chemical characteristics (dry weight, pH, flavonoid and phenolic compounds) were determined. Seven drugs were tested, and synergism was observed between three drugs and Southeast EEP, six drugs and South EEP, and one drug and ethanol control. Ethanolic extracts of propolis from the South of Brazil presented the greatest flavonoid content and synergism rate, while EEP from the Southeast presented the greatest anti-CNS activity and phenolic compound content. Results showed the correlation among anti-CNS activity, synergism rate and chemical characteristics of propolis.

The Effects of Propolis and its Isolated Compounds on Cytokine Production by Murine Macrophages

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

Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of crude extracts and essential oils from medicinal plants

We aimed to establish a phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts and performed GC-MS of the essential oils (EOs) of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) and Asteraceae species Baccharis dracunculifolia DC, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Vernonia polyanthes Less, as well as determining their antimicrobial activity. Establishment of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts and EOs against 16 Staphylococcus aureus and 16 Escherichia coli strains from human specimens was carried out using the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Some phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties were established, and all EOs had a higher antimicrobial activity than the extracts. Matricaria chamomilla extract and E. uniflora EO were efficient against S. aureus strains, while E. uniflora and V. polyanthes extracts and V. polyanthes EO showed the best antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains. Staphylococcus aureus strains were more susceptible to the tested plant products than E. coli, but all natural products promoted antimicrobial growth inhibition.

Review on the main differences between organic and conventional plant-based foods

P>The present review reports on the main characteristics and properties of plants cultivated following organic and conventional procedures, in the attempt to clarify give a deeper insight into some possible differences and to compare the two cultivation procedures. Here, we summarise research results regarding nutritional and safety properties of vegetable foods, evidencing qualitative differences observed between the two cultivation methods. It appears that the intake of organic foods leads to some advantages, such as the ingestion of a higher content of phenolic compounds and some vitamins, such as vitamin C, and a lower content of nitrates and pesticides. From literature, it appears that a special care should be taken about the ingestion of foods in relation to the content of some substances, e.g. polyamines, substances stimulating cellular division, because some foods coming from organic origin present a higher content of these compounds, which could explain some of the effect of the diet on patients affected by certain syndromes.

Peroxidase activity and total phenol content in citrus cuttings treated with different copper sources

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analytical Methods in Photoelectrochemical Treatment of Phenol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol by Thermal Titanium Dioxide Thin Layer Electrodes

Electrochemical processes in industrial effluents have been studied as a means to obtain higher efficiency in wastewater treatment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis appears as a low-cost alternative through the use of lower wattage lamps and thermal TiO2 films. Photocatalysis became a clean process for water treatment due to hydroxyl radicals generated on semiconductor surface. Such radicals are able to degrade several organic compounds. This study used different electrodes and analytical methods for degradation of phenol molecules to reduce treatment costs, improve efficiency, and identify compounds formed during the decomposition of phenolic molecules. Thermal growth of TiO2 film was observed on the titanium electrode in rutile form. Application of an electrical potential on the Ti/TiO2 working electrode increases efficiency in reducing concentration of phenol after photocatalytic treatment. Still, high energy radiation (UVC) showed best degradation rates in photolytic process. Different compounds formed during the degradation of phenol were also identified in the UVC-PE treatment.

Morphology and anatomy of developing fruits and seeds of Vismia guianensis (Aubl.) Choisy (Clusiaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evidence of pseudomonad pollen formation in Hypolytrum (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leaf structure of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) woody plants

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

Contributions to the floral anatomy of Juncaceae (Poales - Monocotyledons)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Antioxidant potential of oregano (Oreganum vulgare L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.): application of oleoresins in vegetable oil

Por razões econômicas e de proteção à saúde, pesquisas têm sido dirigidas para ampliar a estabilidade dos óleos vegetais. Existe uma tendência para a adição de antioxidantes naturais, em particular, um crescente interesse em ervas e especiarias. Desta forma, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o potencial antioxidante das oleorresinas de orégano, manjericão e tomilho e seu comportamento ao serem aplicadas ao óleo de soja em diferentes concentrações. Numa primeira etapa foi determinada a atividade antioxidante pelo sistema β-caroteno/ácido linoleico e a quantificação de compostos fenólicos totais. Posteriormente, foram adicionadas ao óleo de soja diferentes concentrações das oleorresinas (500 a 3000 mg.kg-1) e analisado seu potencial antioxidante por meio da estabilidade oxidativa utilizando o Rancimat. A concentração de 3000 mg.kg-1das oleorresinas de orégano e tomilho foi a que apresentou melhor estabilidade oxidativa ao óleo de soja, o que as tornam alternativa natural na conservação de óleos vegetais.

Characterization of a high oleic oil extracted from papaya (Carica papaya L.) seeds

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