Eugenia dysenterica DC: Actividad antioxidante, Perfil de ácidos grasos y determinación de tocoferoles

This work aimed to characterize the proximate composition, antioxidant activity and fatty acids profile and tocopherol composition of the oil from Eugenia dysenterica DC seeds. To obtain the extract, the dehydrated and triturated seeds were extracted with ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes, at a proportion of 1:3 of seeds:ethyl alcohol, under continuous agitation at room temperature. Afterwards, the mixture was filtered and the supernatant was dehydrated at 40°C in order to determine by direct weighing the dry matter yield of the extract. The cagaita seeds showed to be an important source of total carbohydrates, had relevant antioxidant activity and a high content of total phenolic compounds. In comparison to other oils and fats, cagaita seeds oil do not constitutes a good source of tocopherols.

O gênero Eugenia: da química à farmacologia

Research on natural products is extremely important either for new compound discovery with possible pharmacology uses or for its impact on economy, which moves millions of dollars for year. Scientific studies related on utilization and characterization of bioactive substances are important due to the fact that many drugs currently used by the population were synthetized from isolated compounds of natural products. Among many medicinal species commonly used, there are that ones from the genus Eugenia, witch belongs to Myrtaceae family. Eugenia is one of the biggest genus from this family and has about 5000 species and Brazil has 400 of them, which are appreciated on gastronomy for its fruits, for example, pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), cherry (Eugenia involucrata), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) and cagaita (Eugenia dysinterica). Phytochemical studies of plants from this genus report the presence of several secondary metabolites like flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, anthocyanins and more. Eugenia species have important pharmacology activity as antioxidant, hypothermic, antidiarrheal, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and fungicide. Thus, Eugenia is a genus which has species with potencial phytotherapic products

Potencial de atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extratos vegetais do cerrado frente estirpes de Staphylococcus aureus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação in vitro da eficácia de extratos de plantas medicinais do Cerrado frente Staphylococcus aureos isolado de difetentes fontes de propriedades leiteiras

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potencial microbial activity in-vitro from the extract of some endemic plants from Cerrado such as Baccharis dracunculifolia, Cochlospermum regium, Croton antisyphiliticus, Eugenia dysenterica and Lippia sidoides, against the agent Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitic milk, osteo from cow’s teat, milker equipament, nasal cavitites and milker’s gullet. The extracts were prepared from aerial parts as well as the reticular systems of plants using the solvents methanol, hexane and chloroform at a concentration of 10%. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity, the technique of microdilution in broth was used for determining the Minimal Inibitory Concentration (MIC) followed by the determination of Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). The extracts from Baccharis dracunculifolia and Croton antisyphiliticus, followed by extracts from Lippia sidoides, reported respectively, presented better inhibitory activity against the multiplication of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the isolated strains from the milk and nasal cavities of the milker showed strong resistance against gentamicin, active agent commonly applied to combat mastitis bovine. However, there was sensitivity against extracts from the reported plants, reinforcing the importance of the medicinal plants as a therapeutic resource and its aplicability.

Adubação nitrogenada e fosfatada no desenvolvimeno de mudas de uvaia (Eugenia uvalha)

Considering the reduced number of works with fertilization of Eugenia uvalha in national literature and being overcome as base the results of the research with fertilization of other fruitful ones, the present work had as objective to study the effect of nitrogen fertilization and phosphorus, in the culture of the Eugenia uvalha. The work was lead in the Department of Agriculture of the Federal University of Lavras, Lavras - MG, in the first semester of 2005. The experiment was adopted the experimental delineation of randomized blocks in factorial project 4 X 4, with four repetitions and 5 plants for parcel, having been 4 doses of phosphorus: 0 kg m(-3); 2,5 kg m(-3); 5,0 kg m(-3); 10,0 kg m(-3); using itself as seasoning source the triple superphosphate. Already for nitrogen, the applications proceeded from 10 in 10 days had been used 4 doses in covering being, had been carried through 4 applications. The applications consisted of a solution with urea, in the doses: 0; 0,8; 1,6 e 3,2 Kg m(-3), in each application had been added to the polyethylene bags, 20 mL of solution contend the N. had been evaluated the following characteristics: height of the dumb one (cm); root length (cm); leaf number; dry substance of the root and the aerial part (g). For the production of changes of Eugenia uvalha of quality, incorporation to the substratum of up to 1,30 kg m(-3) of P(2)O(5) sends regards to it.

Lack of antidiabetic effect of a Eugenia jambolana leaf decoction on rat streptozotocin diabetes

Streptozotocin-diabetic rats were treated for 17 days with a decoction of Eugenia jambolana (Myrtaceae) leaves (15%, w/v) as a substitute for water. Body weight, food and fluid intake, urine volume, glycemia, urinary glucose and urea were evaluated every 5 days. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation and blood samples collected for the determination of glycemia, serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and angiotensin-converting enzyme. The weight of adipose and muscle tissues was also determined. There were no statistically significant differences between treated and untreated rats for any of the biochemical or physiological parameters. We conclude that, at least in this experimental model, Eugenia jambolana leaf decoction has no antidiabetic activity.

Effects and toxicity of Eugenia punicifolia extracts in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Extracts and decoctions of Eugenia jambolana Lam., Eugenia uniflora L., and Eugenia punicifolia (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunt) DC. are used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Although there have been reports that Eugenia jambolana and Eugenia uniflora have antidiabetic effects, no study has yet been made on Eugenia punicifolia . We investigated the effects of aqueous, butanol, and methanol extracts of Eugenia punicifolia leaves administered by gavage to streptozotocin-diabetic rats for 26 to 29 days. Body weight, food and fluid intake, urine volume, and urinary glucose and urea were evaluated every 7 days. At the end of the experiment, we measured serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides and bilirubin, hepatic glycogen and serum marker-enzymes (alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, L-lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, alpha-amylase, and angiotensin I converting enzyme). We found that in rats treated with the aqueous extracts, food and liquid intake, urinary volume, and body weight were all reduced, while for rats treated with the methanol extract, not only were liquid intake, urinary volume and body weight reduced, but urinary glucose and urea also decreased. Rats treated with the butanol extract showed no significant alterations in any of the parameters measured. Chronic treatment with extracts had no effect on the marker enzymes nor on serum bilirubin levels. The results indicate that aqueous extracts of Eugenia punicifolia leaves produced an anorexic effect and that methanol extracts had a beneficial effect on the diabetic state by improving carbohydrate and protein metabolism without provoking hepatobiliary, microvascular, muscular, or pancreatic toxic effects.

Fruit of the jambolan tree (Eugenia jambolana Lam.) and experimental diabetes

The fruit of Indian Eugenia jambolana have been shown to have therapeutic properties, but because the therapeutic potential of a plant is related to the geographic region in which the plant was grown and to the part of the plant used, we investigated Brazilian Eugenia jambolana fruit using the same preparation and experimental methods as have been used in India. The well-established metabolic cage model was used to evaluate the physiological and metabolic parameters associated with streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats (n = 10) which had been administered, by gavage, 50 mg per day of lyophilised Eugenia jambolana fruit-pulp extract for 41 days. We found that, compared to untreated controls, rats treated with the lyophilised fruit-pulp showed no observable difference in body weight, food or water intake, urine volume, glycaemia, urinary urea and glucose, hepatic glycogen, or on serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. No change was observed in the masses of epididymal or retroperitoneal adipose tissue or of soleus or extensor digitorum longus muscles. This lack of any apparent effect on the diabetes may be attributable to the regional ecosystem where the fruit was collected and/or to the severity of the induced diabetes. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Potencial de inibição da regeneração de raízes e plântulas em sementes germinantes de Eugenia pyriformis

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de inibição da formação de raízes e plântulas, em sementes germinantes de uvaieira (Eugenia pyriformis), fragmentadas e fissuradas. As sementes foram separadas por tamanho em dois grupos. Cada grupo foi separado em dois subgrupos, um dos quais foi submetido a teste de germinação. As sementes de cada subgrupo foram submetidas a dois tipos de incisão (total ou parcial) e, em seguida, foram avaliadas quanto à produção de raízes e plântulas. em sementes com incisão parcial, que apresentavam apenas uma plântula desenvolvida, completou-se a incisão até que as metades fossem separadas. A metade com a raiz foi descartada, e sua complementar foi colocada para germinar, para avaliação da produção de raízes e plântulas nessas frações sem raízes. em todos os experimentos, utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2x2 (tamanho das sementes x germinação visível) e 2x4 (tamanho das sementes x tipo de incisão). As sementes fracionadas de uvaieira apresentam potencial para regeneração de raízes e plântulas, e podem produzir mais de uma muda por semente. A germinação inicia processos de inibição da regeneração de novas raízes e plântulas na semente, e a incisão dos cotilédones pode bloquear essa inibição.

The development of seedlings from fragments of monoembryonic seeds as an important survival strategy for Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tree species

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Linking frugivore activity to early recruitment of a bird dispersed tree, Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in the Atlantic rainforest

Seed dispersal by animals is a complex process involving several distinct stages: fruit removal by frugivores, seed delivery in different microhabitats, seed germination, seedling establishment, and adult recruitment. Nevertheless, studies conducted until now have provided scarce information concerning the sequence of stages in a plant's life cycle in its entirety. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate consequences of frugivore activity for Eugenia umbelliflora ( Myrtaceae) early recruitment by measuring the relative importance of each fruit-eating bird species on the establishment of new seedlings in scrub and low restinga vegetation in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. We conducted focal tree observations on E. umbelliflora trees recording birds' feeding behaviour and post-feeding movements. We also recorded the fate of dispersed seeds in scrub and low restinga vegetation. We recorded 17 bird species interacting with fruits in 55 h of observation. Only 30% of the handled fruits were successfully removed. From 108 post flight movements of exit from the fruiting trees, 30.6% were to scrub and 69.4% to low restinga forest. Proportion of seed germination was higher in low restinga than in the scrub vegetation. Incorporating the probabilities of seeds' removal, deposition, and germination in both sites, we found that the relative importance of each frugivorous bird as seed dispersers varies largely among species. Turdus amaurochalinus and Turdus rufiventris were the best dispersers, together representing almost 12% probability of seed germination following removal. Our results show the importance of assessing the overall consequence of seed dispersal within the framework of disperser effectiveness, providing a more comprehensive and realistic evaluation of the relative importance of different seed dispersers on plant population dynamics.

The Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous) as a secondary seed disperser of Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in a Restinga forest of southeastern Brazil

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

Vascularização foliar e a identificação de espécies de Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae) da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Tibagi, PR

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of maltodextrin on the freezing point and thermal conductivity of uvaia pulp (Eugenia piriformis Cambess)

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