Aspectos químicos, biológicos e etnofarmacológicos do gênero Cassia

Species of Cassia are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, and have been extensively investigated chemically and pharmacologically.They are known to be a rich source of phenolic derivatives, most of them with important biological and pharmacological properties. Some Asian, African and Indian tribes use these species as a laxative, purgative, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agent. Among a number of other classes of secondary metabolites, such as anthracene derivatives, antraquinones, steroids and stilbenoids, biologically active piperidine alkaloids are an especially important bioactive class of compounds that showed to be restricted to a small group of Cassia species. In this paper we present an overview of the chemical, biological and ethnopharmacological data on Cassia piblished in the literature.

Fungos endofíticos: Uma fonte inexplorada e sustentável de novos e bioativos produtos naturais

Endophytic fungi are a rich source of new and biologically active natural products. They colonize a relatively unexplored ecological habitat and their secondary metabolism is particularly active, presumably due to metabolic interactions with their hosts. In the course of our continuing investigations for new and bioactive compounds from endophytic fungi from brazilian flora Alibertia macrophylla, Caseria sylvestris, Ocotea corymbosa, Cassia spectabilis, Piper aduncum, Cryptocaria mandioccana, Xylopia aromatica and Palicourea marcgravii were investigated. Forty two natural products were isolated and their structures were established on the basis of comprehensive spectral analysis, mainly using 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The compounds were tested in their antifungal, antioxidant, anticholinesterasic and anticancer activities.

Influência das condições de cultivo e métodos de extração na produção de metabólitos antioxidantes por fungos isolados do litoral paulista

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização dos frutos e dos óleos extraídos da polpa e amêndoa de guariroba (Syagrus oleracea), Jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) e macaúba (Acromia aculeata)

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

Atividade anti-tumoral e imunomodulatória de complexos de paládio (II) utilizando modelo experimental de Ehrlich

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação da atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extratos, frações e compostos isolados de Arrabidaea brachypoda

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da remoção do herbicida atrazina por biofiltração em filtros lentos de areia e carvão ativado associada à ação microbiana

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS

Propriedades funcionais de óleos extraídos de sementes de frutos do cerrado brasileiro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems and herbal medicines: a review

Herbal medicines have been widely used around the world since ancient times. The advancement of phytochemical and phytopharmacological sciences has enabled elucidation of the composition and biological activities of several medicinal plant products. The effectiveness of many species of medicinal plants depends on the supply of active compounds. Most of the biologically active constituents of extracts, such as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, are highly soluble in water, but have low absorption, because they are unable to cross the lipid membranes of the cells, have excessively high molecular size, or are poorly absorbed, resulting in loss of bioavailability and efficacy. Some extracts are not used clinically because of these obstacles. It has been widely proposed to combine herbal medicine with nanotechnology, because nano-structured systems might be able to potentiate the action of plant extracts, reducing the required dose and side effects, and improving activity. Nanosystems can deliver the active constituent at a sufficient concentration during the entire treatment period, directing it to the desired site of action. Conventional treatments do not meet these requirements. The purpose of this study is to review nanotechnology- based drug delivery systems and herbal medicines.

Use of Guanidine Compounds in the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases

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

Avaliação das atividades citotóxicas e imunomoduladora de paládio(II) contendo o ligante DMBA= N,N-dimetilbenzilamina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação dos parâmetros físico-químicos e estabilidade de compostos bioativos em óleos de polpa e amêndoa de frutos amazônicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Zeyheria montana Mart. (Bignoniaceae) as source of antioxidant and immunomodulatory compounds with beneficial effects on intestinal inflammation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Leishmanicidal activity of different parts from Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau (Bignoniaceae)

Infections by protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of hidro-ethanolic extracts from different parts (leves, caule and root) of one same plant the Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau. Its has been used to relieve general pain, painful joints and kidney stones in Brazilian folk medicine. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce; there are no reports related to its possible leishmanicidal activity. The leves extract presented the best activity on promastigotes forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. It showed significant activity on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

Antibacterial compound from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis longicolla isolated from the tropical red seaweed Bostrychia radicans

Endophytic fungi isolated from the red seaweed Bostrychia radicans were studied to identify their molecularly diverse and biologically active natural chemical products. According to 28S ribosomal DNA-based identification, the strain named C81 was 98% identical to Phomopsis longicolla. This strain was cultivated in solid rice medium and produced three major metabolites identified as 18-deoxycytochalasin H (1), mycophenolic acid (2), and dicerandrol C (3). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance as well as by mass spectrometry. Dicerandrol C had significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (ATCC 15305), with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1 and 2 mu g ml(-1) (1.33 and 2.66 mu M), respectively. These results show the presence of promising metabolites and indicate that these natural products should be considered in the development of new antibiotics.