Rosmarinic acid, a new snake venom phospholipase A(2) inhibitor from Cordia verbenacea (Boraginaceae): antiserum action potentiation and molecular interaction

Many plants are used in traditional medicine as active agents against various effects induced by snakebite. The methanolic extract from Cordia verbenacea (Cv) significantly inhibited paw edema induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom and by its main basic phospholipase A(2) homologs, namely bothropstoxins I and II (BthTXs). The active component was isolated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and by RP-HPLC on a C18 column and identified as rosmarinic acid (Cv-RA). Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid [2-O-cafeoil-3-(3,4-di-hydroxy-phenyl)-R-lactic acid]. This is the first report of RA in the species C. verbenacea ('baleeira', 'whaler') and of its anti-inflammatory and antimyotoxic properties against snake venoms and isolated toxins. RA inhibited the edema and myotoxic activity induced by the basic PLA(2)s BthTX-I and BthTX-II. It was, however, less efficient to inhibit the PLA(2) activity of BthTX-II and, still less, the PLA(2) and edema-inducing activities of the acidic isoform BthA-1-PLA(2), from the same venom, showing therefore a higher inhibitory activity upon basic PLA(2)s. RA also inhibited most of the myotoxic and partially the edema-inducing effects of both basic PLA(2)s, thus reinforcing the idea of dissociation between the catalytic and pharmacological domains. The pure compound potentiated the ability of the commercial equine polyvalent antivenom in neutralizing lethal and myotoxic effects of the crude venom and of isolated PLA(2)s in experimental models. CD data presented here suggest that, after binding, no significant conformation changes occur either in the Cv-RA or in the target PLA(2). A possible model for the interaction of rosmarinic acid with Lys49-PLA(2) BthTX-I is proposed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the antiulcerogenic and analgesic activities of Cordia verbenacea DC. (Boraginaceae)

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

Tournefortia L. (Boraginaceae): espécies do Brasil extra-amazônico

Tournefortia possui cerca de 150 espécies distribuídas nas regiões quentes do mundo, principalmente nos Neotrópicos. Está sendo fornecido o tratamento necessário para identificação das espécies de Tournefortia para o Brasil, exceto região Amazônica, incluindo chaves taxonômicas e descrições. Foram encontradas as duas secções: Tournefortia e Cyphocyema, abrangendo 15 espécies e uma variedade. São apresentados comentários sobre a morfologia dos caracteres utilizados na identificação e distribuição geográfica.

Nova ocorrência de Heliotropium L. (Boraginaceae, Heliotropioideae) para o Sudeste do Brasil

During the study of Heliotropium L. genus in the project Flora Fanerogâmica do Estado de São Paulo, it was verified that Heliotropium fruticosum L. presents a new geographical occurrence in Southeast of Brazil. Description, illustration and comments about relationships, distribution and phenology, as well as a summary of examined material are included in this paper.

Effects of substrate and temperature on the emergence of Phacelia sp. (Boraginaceae) seedling

This study aimed to define the best substrate and temperature for the emergence of Phacelia sp. seedling, annual ornamental flower gardens. The experimental design was entirely randomized in a factorial scheme 37 (three different types of substrates: vermiculite, sand and sphagnum combined with seven temperature conditions: room temperature, constant at 20, 25, 30 and 35C, and alternated at 20-30C and 25-35C) with 4 replications of 100 seeds each. Emergence (%E) and Emergence Rate (ER) were evaluated. The means of the resulting values were then compared by the Tukey test at 5% confidence level. There was a significant interaction amongst substrates and temperatures for all analyzed variables. For seeds sown in vermiculite and sand, the seedlings had higher %E and emerged fastest at 20C, room temperature and 20-30C that did not present statistically significant data. In sphagnum, seedlings showed greater %E in the alternated at 20-30C, room temperature and 20C and emerged quickly at room temperature and 20C that did not present statistically significant data. At room temperature and 20C, the seedlings had higher %E and emerged faster in vermiculite and sand that did not present statistically significant data. At 25, 30 and 25-35C, the seedlings showed better %E and emerged fastest in sand. At 35C, the seedlings showed either in vermiculite and sand were not significantly different in their emergence, but emerged faster in sand. There was not significantly different among substrates in their emergence at 20-30C, but the seedlings emerged faster in vermiculite and sand. It was concluded that the Phacelia sp. seedlings in all substrates showed greater %E at room temperature, 20C and 20-30C. For all temperatures, the seedlings growth parameters were superior when seeds were sown in sand.

Anatomia comparada da madeira de Cordia trichotoma (Vell.) arráb. ex steud. (Boraginaceae) proveniente de sementes de duas procedências e análise dos anéis de crescimento

Pós-graduação em Ciência Florestal - FCA

Flora polínica da reserva do parque estadual das fontes do Ipiranga (São Paulo, SP, Brasil). Famílias: 141-Boraginaceae e 149-Gesneriaceae

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

Cordia verbenacea and secretion of mast cells in different animal species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chuva de sementes e regeneração natural sob três espécies arbóreas em uma floresta em processo de restauração

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estrutura de uma comunidade arbórea de floresta estacional semidecídua não pertubada no noroeste paulista em relação à outra comunidade com indicadores de perturbação

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cordia verbenacea DC: perfil morfo-anatômico, histoquímico, farmacognóstico e avaliação da atividade anti-candida do extrato hidroetanólico e suas frações

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação de alantoína e avaliação farmacológica de Cordia ecalyculata VELL (chá de bugre)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Produtividade e perfil químico de óleo essencial de acessos de Varronia curassavica Jacq. em diferentes horários de coleta e período sazonal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)