Phytochemical screening and evaluation of cytotoxicity of stem bark extracts of Genus dolichocarpa and Duguetia chrysocarpa (Annonaceae)

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemistry and cytotoxic activity of stem bark extracts from Genus dolichocarpa and Duguetia chrysocarpa - two species of the Annonaceae family. Methods: The crude ethanol bark extracts (EtOH) of the plants were obtained by maceration. The crude extracts were suspended in a mixture of methanol (MeOH) and water (H2O) (proportion 3:7 v/v) and partitioned with hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (AcOEt) in ascending order of polarity to obtain the respective fractions. The extracts were evaluated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates of silica gel to highlight the main groups of secondary metabolites. Cytotoxicity was tested against human tumor cell lines - OVCAR-8 (ovarian), SF-295 (brain) and HCT-116 (colon) - using 3- (4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: The screening results demonstrated that all the extracts were positive for the presence of flavonoids and tannins. The presence of alkaloids also was detected in some extracts. The hexane extract of A. dolichocarpa showed the strongest cytotoxicity against HCT-116 with cell growth inhibition of 89.02 %. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate for the first time the cytotoxic activity of the extracts of A. dolichocarpa and D. chrysocarpa, thus providing some evidence that plants of the Annonaceae family are a source of active secondary metabolites with cytotoxic activity.

Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract of root bark of Acacia jacquemontii Benth (Fabaceae) in experimental animals

Purpose: To investigate the ethnomedicinal claims regarding the use of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. (Fabaceae) in fever, pain and inflammation. Methods: The methanol root bark extract (AJRBM) of the plant was used in the studies. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out according to established methods. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing, carrageennan-induced rat paw edema and Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia models, respectively. The extract was administered at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Aspirin (300 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a reference drug in all models. Normal saline (10 mL/kg p.o.) was used as negative control. Results: Phytochemical screening results indicate the presence of cardioactive glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the methanol extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) analgesic effect with 58.98 % reduction in writhing response at a dose of 100 mg/kg, compared with untreated control group. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced edema at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg to 36.84 and 47.36 %, respectively, after 1 h of extract administration. The extract exhibited predominantly dose-dependent antipyretic effect in Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia model. Maximum reduction in body temperature to 37.07 and 38.29 ºC at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively, was observed, compared with untreated group (38.90 ºC) after 1 h, but this was not significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The plant extract exerts inhibitory effect on peripheral pain stimuli, edema and dosedependent anti-pyrexia, and thus justifies the ethnomedicinal use of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. in the management of pain, fever and inflammation.

CARACTERÍSTICAS DENDROMÉTRICAS, QUÍMICAS E DENSIDADE BÁSICA DA MADEIRA DE HÍBRIDOS DE Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla

O presente trabalho avaliou características dendrométricas, químicas e a densidade básica da madeira de cinco híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla , com 2,25 anos de idade. O experimento foi implantando no espaçamento 3,5 x 2 m, com 35 repetições e parcelas de uma planta. Quatro repetições do experimento foram cortadas avaliando-se o diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP, a 1,3 m do solo), altura total e comercial, biomassa seca de folhas, galhos, madeira e casca, volume com e sem casca e volume de casca. Das árvores abatidas foram retirados discos de 5 cm de espessura no DAP e a 0 (base), 25, 50, 75 e 100% da altura comercial, para determinação da densidade básica e caracterização química da madeira. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Os clones de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla diferiram quanto ao volume e biomassa com destaque para o C5 com valores superiores aos demais clones. A densidade básica da madeira foi maior na base da árvore; nas demais posições de amostragem, os valores de densidade foram semelhantes entre si; dentre os clones, o C5 apresentou densidade básica da madeira superior ao C3 e ao C4, assim como o C2 superou o C3. As características químicas da madeira foram semelhantes entre os clones e, apesar da avaliação ter sido realizada em plantas jovens, os clones demonstraram bom potencial em Jaboticabal - SP.

EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-FUNGAL PROPERTIES OF EXTRACTS OF Daniella oliveri

The in vitro anti-fungal activity of leaf and stem bark of Daniella oliveri Rolfe was investigated against selected yeasts and moulds including dermatophytes. Water and methanol were used to extract the powdered leaf and stem bark using cold infusion. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by agar-well diffusion. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard procedures. The plant extracts were active against the test organisms at concentrations ranging from 3.125-100 mg/mL. The methanol extracts were more active than the aqueous extracts with the highest inhibition against the yeasts, Candida albicans and Candida krusei (MIC values of 3.125 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL respectively). Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton interdigitale were the least inhibited of all the fungal strains. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, anthraquinones, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids and saponins. The anti-fungal activity of Daniella oliveri as shown in this study indicates that the plant has the potential of utilisation in the development of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of relevant fungal infections.

Immunomodulatory activity of methanol extract of Adansonia digitata L

Purpose: To evaluate the immune-modulatory activities of various plant parts Adansonia digitata L. using delayed-type hypersensitivity rat model. Methods: Defatted leaf, root bark and fruit pulp of A. digitata were extracted with methanol. Immunomodulatory activity of the methanol extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) were evaluated in sheep RBC (SRBC)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity model, cell mediated immune re-sponse and phagocytic activity using carbon clearance test. Results: The extracts exhibited significant increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, indicating the ability of the extracts to stimulate T-cells. It also increased SRBC induced anti-body titer in immunesuppressed rats, and produced significant increase in phagocytic index by rapid removal of carbon particles from the blood stream. Conclusion: These results indicate that methanol extracts of the leaf, root bark and fruit pulp of A. digitata hold promise as immunemodulatory agents.