Unusual branching in the palm Euterpe edulis Mart

The unusual development of branches along the stem of Euterpe edulis is described for the first time. Branches originated at 2 to 190 cm from the ground. Ramified individuals and branches were able to produce reproductive structures and some branches produced roots. A plausible cause for the observed anomaly could be genetic problems due to small population sizes. The better agreement of this process can have a positive effect in the harvest of the heart of palm through the artificial induction of sprouts, what would prevent the death of the individual.

Evaluation Of The Mutagenicity And Antimutagenicity Of Ziziphus Joazeiro Mart. Bark In The Micronucleus Assay.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutagenicity (clastogenicity/aneugenicity) of a glycolic extract of Ziziphus joazeiro bark (GEZJ) by the micronucleus assay in mice bone marrow. Antimutagenic activity was also assessed using treatments associated with GEZJ and doxorubicin (DXR). Mice were evaluated 24-48 h after exposure to positive (N-nitroso-N-ethylurea, NEU - 50 mg.kg(-1) and DXR - 5 mg.kg(-1)) and negative (150 mM NaCl) controls, as well as treatment with GEZJ (0.5-2 g.kg(-1)), GEZJ (2 g.kg(-1)) + NEU and GEZJ (2 g.kg(-1)) + DXR. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice treated with GEJZ and GEJZ + DXR compared to the negative controls, indicating that GEZJ was not mutagenic. Analysis of the polychromatic:normochromatic erythrocyte ratio revealed significant differences in the responses to doses of 0.5 g.kg(-1) and 1-2 g.kg(-1) and the positive control (NEU). These results indicated no systemic toxicity and moderate toxicity at lower and higher doses of GEZJ. The lack of mutagenicity and systemic toxicity in the antimutagenic assays, especially for treatment with GEZJ + DXR, suggested that phytochemical compounds in Z. joazeiro bark attenuated DXR-induced mutagenicity and the moderate systemic toxicity of a high dose of Z. joazeiro bark (2 g.kg(-1)). Further studies on the genotoxicity of Z. joazeiro extracts are necessary to establish the possible health risk in humans and to determine the potential as a chemopreventive agent for therapeutic use.

Morfoanatomia da raiz tuberosa de Vernonia oxylepis Sch. Bip. in Mart. ex Baker - Asteraceae

Several native herbaceous and subshrub species native to the Cerrado in Brazil are geophytes, that is, they survive the unfavorable dry season and low temperatures, that sometimes coincide with fire, with only the underground system intact. Vernonia oxylepis is one of these species and the aim of this study was to describe the morpho-anatomy of the tuberous root and bud formation on this structure. The main axis of this root is perpendicular to the soil surface, and from which aerial shoots arise periodically throughout the life cycle. On the upper portion of the root, self-grafting of the shoots occurs. The root stores lipids and fructans, exhibits contraction and produces reparatory buds; adventitious buds arise from proliferated pericycle. These characteristics may be related to adaptation of this species to conditions in the Cerrado.

Estudo químico de Sinningia allagophylla guiado por testes de atividade antiproliferativa

Activity guided fractionation of Sinningia allagophylla (Mart.) Wiehler ethanolic extract yielded a new benzochromene 8-methoxylapachenol, besides seven known compounds: lapachenol, sitosteryl oleate, sitosteryl linoleate, stigmasteryl oleate, stigmasteryl linoleate, dunniol and tectoquinone. Extract, fractions, and compounds lapachenol, 8-methoxylapachenol, and dunniol were tested in vitro against human cancer cell lines U251 (glioma, CNS), MCF-7 (breast), NCI-ADR/RES (drug-resistant ovarian), 786-0 (kidney), NCI-H460 (lung, no small cells), PC-3 (prostate), OVCAR-3 (ovarian), HT-29 (colon), K562 (leukemia) and against VERO, a normal cell line. The most active compound was dunniol, which inhibited the growth of U251, MCF-7, NCI-ADR/RES, OVCAR-3 and K562 cell lines.

As Apocynaceae da região de Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brasil

A floristic study of the family Apocynaceae im Poços de Caldas was carried out, since the family is well represented in the region and many species have phytochermical and ornamental value. The family is represented by 17 species distributed in 8 genera: Aspidosperma Mart e Zucc., Condylocarpon Desf., Forsteronia G.F.W. Mey., Macrosiphonia Muell. Arg., Mandevilla Lindl., Peltastes R.E. Woodson, Prestonia R. Br. and Rauvolfia L.

Descrição e discriminação de formas de nervuras foliares utilizando a representação polinomial cúbica de Hermite

This paper describes a method for leaf vein shape characterization using Hermite polynomial cubic representation. The elements associated with this representation are used as secondary vein descriptors and their discriminatory potential are analyzed based on the identification of two legume species (Lonchocarpus muehlbergianus Hassl. and L. subglaucescens Mart, ex Benth.). The elements of Hermite geometry influence a curve along all its extension allowing a global description of the secondary vein course by a descriptor of low dimensionality. The obtained results shown the analyzed species can be discriminated by this method and it can be used in addition to commonly considered elements in the taxonomic process.

As Apocynaceae s. str. da região de Bauru, São Paulo, Brasil

The present study describes a survey of the Apocynaceae in different types of vegetation, in the region of Bauru, in the Center-West of São Paulo State. Of the 25 species encountered, distributed into 15 genera, representation ranges as follows: Forsteronia G. Mey, five species; Aspidosperma Mart., four species; Mandevilla Lindl., three species; Prestonia R. Br., two species; and Condylocarpon Desf., Hancornia Gomez, Himatanthus Willd. ex Roem. et Schult., Macrosiphonia Müll. Arg., Mesechites Müll. Arg., Odontadenia Benth, Peltastes Woodson, Rhodocalyx Müll Arg., Secondatia A. DC., Tabernaemontana L. and Temnadenia Miers, one species each. In addition to both distribution data, and flowering and fruiting times, identifications keys, descriptions and illustrations of the species are presented.

O gênero Nectandra Rol. ex Rottb. (Lauraceae) no Estado do Paraná, Brasil

Nectandra Rol. ex Rottb. has 14 species in Paraná: Nectandra angustifolia (Schrader) Nees & Mart., N. cissiflora Nees, N. cuspidata Nees & Mart., N. grandiflora Nees & Mart., N. hihua (Ruiz & Pav.) Rohwer, N. lanceolata Nees & Mart., N. leucantha Nees & Mart., N. megapotamica (Sprengel) Mez, N. membranacea (Sw.) Griseb., N. nitidula Nees & Mart., N. oppositifolia Nees & Mart., N. paranaensis Coe-Teixeira, N. puberula (Schott) Nees and N. reticulata (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez. We present an identification key and species descriptions, as well as illustrations and data on phenology and geographic distribution. N. hihua is cited for the first time in Paraná State.