Volatile compounds from Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. Growing in southeast coast of Brazil

Chemical composition of leaf volatiles of Rosmarinus officinalis and Baccharis dracunculifolia cultured in Southeast of Brazil has been characterized by GC/MS after simultaneous distillation-extraction. The main components in volatiles of these species showed in common α-pinene, myrcene, 1,8 cineole and camphor. Camphor was the major component among volatiles of B. dracunculifolia and R. officinalis with concentrations exceeding 25%. B. dracunculifolia volatiles possessed more sesquiterpenes (21.4%) than R. officinalis (16.7%), such as caryophyllene (1.9%) and α-humulene (0.4%). Lower concentrations of nerolidol and spathulenol were achieved in volatiles of B. dracunculifolia. Considering both species, there was a predominance of monoterpenes.

Óleos essenciais das folhas de Vernonia Remotiflora e Vernonia Brasiliana: composição química e atividade biológica

The chemical composition of the essential oils, obtained by hidrodistillation, from leaves of two Vernonia species (V. remotiflora and V. brasiliana), was determined by GC-FID and GC-MS. Both essential oils were predominantly constituted by sesquiterpenes (92.0 - 93.4%). The main constituents of the oil from V. brasilana were (E)-caryophyllene (36.7%), germacrene D (35.5%), and α-humulene (11.7%), while (E)-caryophyllene (42.2%) and bicyclogermacrene (20.0%) were the major ones in the oil from V. remotiflora. Although with moderate activity both oils showed acetylcholinesterase and antibacterial activities.

Chemical composition of volatile oils from leaves of Nectandra megapotamica Spreng. (Lauraceae)

The volatile oils from Nectandra megapotamica Spreng. leaves, collected in February and August of 2007 and at 7:00 and 12:00 h (samples A - D), were extracted by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was analyzed by GC-FID and GC/MS. A total of nineteen compounds were identified with predominance of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, among them, α-bisabolol, was the main constituent (62.3-69.4 %). After chromatographic separation procedures, this compound was purified from crude oil and its structure was confirmed by analysis of NMR data. This paper describes for the first time the composition of the leaves volatile oil from N. megapotamica.

Interespecific variation in the composition of volatile oils from the leaves of Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae)

The volatile oils from leaves of five Brazilian specimens of Swietenia macrophylla King (Meliaceae) collected in three different Amazon Rainforest Conservation Areas in the States of Mato Grosso, Pará, and Rondônia were extracted and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The oils showed to be composed by terpenoids, majority hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes, being germacrene D (20.5-46.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (8.3-11.1%) the main components. Besides these derivatives, only α-cubebene, β-caryophyllene, β-gurjunene and γ-cadinene were detected in all of the analyzed samples. This analysis indicated a great diversity of constituents in the oils obtained from specimens collected in these regions, which could be associated to the different susceptibility in the attack of H. grandella in S. macrophylla cultures.

Constituintes químicos e atividade Leishmanicida de Gustavia elliptica (Lecythidaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of the stem bark and leaves of G. elliptica provided a mixture of the norisoprenoids blumenol B and 6-epiblumenol B along with the triterpenes friedelin, as the major constituent, friedelanol, ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol, a-amyrin, β-amyrin, morentenol, epifriedelanol, as well as the sesquiterpenes trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, ethyl hydnocarpate and other fatty acid esters. The identification of the compounds was performed on basis of spectrometric methods such as GC-MS, IR, MS and 1D and 2D NMR. Stem bark extracts showed significant leishmanicidal activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis, with the best results for the chloroform extract.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from verbenaceae species: alternative sources of (E)-caryophyllene and germacrene-D

Volatile oils from the leaves of Verbenaceae species Aloysia virgata, Lantana camara, Lantana trifolia, Lantana montevidensis, Lippia brasiliensis and Lippia sericea were investigated for its chemical composition and antibacterial activity. The volatile oils were characterized by a high content of sesquiterpenes of which (E)-caryophyllene (10-35%), germacrene-D (5-46%) and bicyclogermacrene (7-17%) were the major components for all studied species. For the flowers, a higher concentration of monoterpenes was observed for the species L. camara, L. trifolia and L. brasiliensis. These compounds probably act as attractive to specific pollinators. The volatile oils from A. virgata was the most active, exhibiting moderate antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli.

Constituintes químicos das folhas de Rollinia leptopetala R. E. Fries

The phytochemical investigation of Rollinia leptopetala led to the isolation of a new compound named α-terpinyl caffeate, and five known compounds, being three sesquiterpenes, spathulenol, β-caryophyllene and 4β,10α-aromadendrane-diol, and two alkaloids, (-)-3-hydroxynornuciferine and (+)-norisocorydine. These alkaloids are being described for the first time in this genus. The structures of the compounds were determined by analysis of IR, MS and NMR data, as well as by comparison with literature data. The crude extract of R. leptopetala leaves demonstrated a weak cytotoxicity on sarcoma 180 cells with an IC50 of 512.3 µg/mL. However, the in vivo results showed that the extract exhibited a significant dose-dependent tumor growth reduction.

Sesquiterpenos de sementes de Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae)

Two new sesquiterpenes 6α-ethoxyeudesm-4(15)-en-1β-ol (1) and (7R*)-5-epi-opposit-4(15)-ene-1β,7-diol (7) were isolated from the seeds of a specimen of Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae). Five other known sesquiterpenes, eudesm-4(15)-ene-1β,6α-diol (2), 5-epi-eudesm-4(15)-ene-1β,6β-diol (3), eudesm-4(15)-ene-1β,5α-diol (4), eudesm-4(15),7-dien-1β-ol (5) and (7R*)-opposit-4(15)-ene-1β,7-diol (6), were also isolated in this work. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data (MS, IR, and NMR-1D and 2D) and subsequent comparisons with the literature. The substances 3, 4 and 6 are reported for the first time in Meliaceae and 5 for the first time in the genus Guarea.

Flavonoides e sesquiterpenos de Croton pedicellatus Kunth

The chemical investigation of the ethanolic extract from leaves of Croton pedicellatus yielded the bis-nor-sesquiterpenes blumenol A and blumenol A glucoside, along with the flavonoids: tiliroside, 6"-O-p-coumaroyl-β-galactopyranosyl- kaempferol, 6"-O-p-coumaroyl-β-glucopyranosyl-3"-methoxy- kaempferol, kaempferol, 3-glucopyranosyl-quercetin and alpinumisoflavone, as well as 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. The identification of all isolated compounds was performed by spectrometric methods, including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and by comparison with previously-described physical and spectral data.

Sesquiterpenos produzidos pelo fungo endofítico Phomopsis cassiae com atividade antifúngica e inibidora de acetilcolinesterase

SESQUITERPENES PRODUCED BY ENDOPHYTIC FUNGUS Phomopsis cassiae WITH ANTIFUNGAL AND ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION ACTIVITIES. Two new diastereoisomeric cadinanes sesquiterpenes 3,9-dihydroxycalamenene (1-2), along with the known 3-hydroxycalamen-8-one (3) and aristelegone-A (4), were isolated from ethyl acetate extract of Phomopsis cassiae, an endophytic fungus in Cassia spectabilis. Their structures, including relative stereochemistry, were determined on the basis of detailed interpretation of 2D NMR spectra and comparison with related known compounds. Compounds 1-4 displayed antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum, as well as inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.

Towards new botanical pesticides: the toxic effect of Eremanthus goyazensis (Asteraceae) leaves essential oil against Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae)

This work reports the chemical characterization of Eremanthusgoyzensis essential oil and its toxic effect over Brevipalpus phoenicis. The essential oil displayed a major composition of sesquiterpenes (61.87%) including trans-caryophillene (26.81%) and germacrene-D (13.31%). The fumigation test indicated a promising bioactivity over adult B. phoenicis individuals at 24 h (2.03 µL/L of air) and 48 h (1.08 µL/L of air) of exposition. A brief discussion of essential oils composition and their singular role on the toxic effect over B. phoenicis is provided here. Our results may contribute to a new and profitable use of a species of Brazilian flora on agribusiness.

Sesquiterpenos de Ocotea lancifolia (Lauraceae)

Six new eremophilane sesquiterpenes, (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-9-en-12-oic acid (1), (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-1(10)-en-12-oic acid (2), (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-1(10)-en-2-oxo-12-oic acid (3), (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-9-en-12,8α-olide (4), (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-9-en-12,8β-olide (5) and (rel)-4β,5β,7β-eremophil-9α,10α-epoxy-12-oic acid (6), were isolated from the leaves of a specimen of Ocotea lancifolia (Lauraceae). Two other known sesquiterpenes, 4β,5β,7β-eremophil-11-en- 10α-ol (7) reported for the first time in the genus Ocotea, and the aromadendrene sesquiterpene, spathulenol (8), were also isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data (MS, IR, UV and NMR-1D and 2D) and subsequent comparisons with the literature.

Metabolic response induced by endophytic fungi and bacteria in H. marrubioides Epling in vitro microplants

Hyptis marrubioides Epling is a native plant from Brazilian Cerrado. In this paper, the response of in vitro microplants of this species to inoculation with bacterial and fungal endophytic isolates is evaluated. HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of 3,4-O-(Z)-dicaffeoylquinic acid and quercetin-7-O-glucoside as the main components. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that the sesquiterpenes τ-cadinol and caryophyllene oxide were only produced in microplants inoculated with endophytic bacteria, while methyl hexadecanoate, methyl heptadecanoate and methyl (Z,Z,Z) 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate and the triterpene methyl 3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oate were overexpressed only when the microplant was treated with endophytic fungi.

Sesquiterpenos e outros constituintes das folhas de Pterodon pubescens Benth (Leguminosae)

In addition to β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, phaeophitin A, luteolin, kaempferol, quercetin, (+)-catechin, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, rutin, and p-hydroxy-benzoic acid, six known sesquiterpenes, namely (rel)-2β,6β-epoxy-5β-hydroxy-isodaucane, oplopanone, 1β,6α-dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene, caryophyllene oxide, α-cadinol, and spathulenol, were isolated from the leaves of Pterodon pubescens (Leguminosae) growing in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The (rel)-2β,6β-epoxy-5β-hydroxy-isodaucane corresponds to the correct structure of homalomenol D. The sesquiterpene oplopanone, which bears a modified cadinane skeleton, is being reported for the first time in this genus. The structures of the compounds were determined on the basis of spectral data (MS, IR, and NMR-1D and 2D) and subsequent comparison with data reported in the literature.

Constituintes químicos e atividade antioxidante de folhas e galhos de Eugenia copacabanensis Kiaersk (Myrtaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of Eugenia copacabanensis allowed for the isolation and identification of following compounds: β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-glucoside, eight triterpenes, (mixture of α- and β-amyrins, ursolic acid, 30-hydroxy-ursolic acid, betulin, friedelin, friedelan-3,4-lactone, and taraxerol), a mixture of three sesquiterpenes, (clovandiol, globulol, and viridiflorol), three flavonoids (kaempferol-3-O-β-D-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-α-L-arabinoside, and quercetin), and a mixture of four coumaroyl esters (octacosanyl, heptacosanyl, hexacosanyl, and tetracosanyl coumarates). The structures of these compounds were assigned based on comparison with literature data and spectroscopic analysis, including analysis by two-dimensional NMR techniques. Total phenolic content and total flavonoids were evaluated. Antioxidant activities of methanol extracts and fractions were measured by the 1,2-diphenyl-2-picryl-hidrazyl free radical scavenging assay.