High-performance liquid chromatographic separation and identification of polyphenolic compounds from the infusion of Davilla elliptica St. Hill

The isolation of polyphenolic compounds from an infusion of the Brazilian plant Davilla elliptica (Dilleniaceae), used as tea by virtue of its digestive properties, is described. An improved preparative HPLC method was used in order to isolate pure polyphenols from the complex mixture. Liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction were employed to minimise the interference of polymeric compounds and to provide an enriched fraction of the compounds of interest. The identification of the isolated compounds was performed using analytical HPLC as well as direct injection electrospray ionisation ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-IT-MS/MS). The high flavonoid content suggests that D. elliptica may be a promising source of compounds to produce natural phytomedicines. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Control aspects in nonlinear Hill's equation

The Hill's equations-even in the linear original version are a describer of phenomenon having chaotic flavor, giving sometimes very unusual situations. The theory of the so called intervals of instability in the equation provides the precise description for most of these phenomena. Considerations on nonlinearities into the Hill's equation is a quite recent task. The linearized version for almost of these systems it reduces to the Hill's classical linear one. In this paper, some indicative facts are pointed out on the possibility of having the linear system stabilizable and/or exactly controllable. As consequence of such an approach we get results having strong classical aspects, like the one talking about location of parameters in intervals of stability. A result for nonlinear proper periodic controls, is considered too. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isozyme characterization of Eucalyptus urophylla (S.T. Blake) and E-grandis (Hill ex Maiden) populations in Brazil

Seedling taken from 2 species of Eucalyptus growing in Brazil were electrophoretically analysed at 14 isozyme loci representing 6 enzyme systems: alpha-EST, beta-EST, SKDH, IDH, MDH, and LAP. Genetic variability measures were determined using 11 putative isozyme loci. on average, 81.8% and 54.5% of the loci were found to be polymorphic by the criterion of 95% in E. urophylla and E. grandis, respectively. The mean number of alleles per loci was 3.0 in E. urophylla and 2.5 in E. grandis. Observed mean heterozygosity was 0.283 in E. urophylla and 0.166 in E. grandis. Levels of genetic diversity in these species were similar to those in other Eucalyptus species which have widespread distributions. The possible hybridization of E. urophylla with E. alba is also discussed.

On the periodic orbits and the integrability of the regularized Hill lunar problem

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Preparative separation of flavonoids from the medicinal plant Davilla elliptica St. Hill. by high-speed counter-current chromatography

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

Antimicrobial activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill (Dilleniaceae)

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

Immunological and microbiological activity of Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Dilleniaceae) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for over 8 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) annually. Natural products may play important roles in the chemotherapy of TB. The immunological activity of Davilla elliptica chloroform extract (DECE) was evaluated in vitro by the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release in peritoneal macrophages cultures. DECE was also tested for its antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis using the microplate alamar blue assay. DECE (50, 150, 250 µg/ml) stimulated the production of H2O2 (from 1,79 ± 0,23 to 7,27 ± 2,54; 15,02 ± 2,86; 20,5 ± 2,1 nmols) (means ± SD), NO (from 2,64 ± 1,02 to 25,59 ± 2,29; 26,68 ± 2,41; 29,45 ± 5,87 µmols) (means ± SD) and TNF-alpha (from 2,44 ± 1,46 to 30,37 ± 8,13; 38,68 ± 1,59; 41,6 ± 0,90 units/ml) (means ± SD) in a dose-dependent manner and also showed a promising antimycobacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 62,5 µg/ml. This plant may have therapeutic potential in the immunological and microbiological control of TB.

Características histoquímicas e estruturais do testículo do morcego hematófago (Desmodus rotundus rotundus, Geoffrey, 1810).

The testicular stroma of the vampire bat including the testicular capsula and the lamina propria of the seminiferous tubuli, was strongly PAS-positive. This observation was a possible indication of great amounts of structural glycogen and other glycoconjugates at the level of smooth muscle cells; elongated contractile cells and/or collagen frameworks of the tunica albuginea and tubular lamina propria. In the last the basement membranes of the seminiferous tubules were particularly strongly PAS positive, as an indication of their neutral mucosubstances structural composition, previously described (Malmi et al., 1987). The epithelium lining from the cavitary and surface rete testis complex showed low reactivities to mucosubstances; total proteins and lipids and oxidative enzymes studied. Although the apical granulation at the rete testis epithelium showed an intense PAS reactivity with hypothesis of glycoprotein secretion, through the rete. The PAS, Sudan Black B, NADH, MDH and LDH reactions of the testicular interstitium seem correlate to steroid metabolism (biosynthesis and secretion), at the Leydig cells level. The seminiferous epithelium generally had low reactions to all the histochemical studies realized. Particularly in the adbasal compartment the histochemical localizations of NADH diaphorase and LDH were possible related to glycolytic activities and general carbohydrates metabolism, both enzymes, and hydrogen transport, the NADH. The strong PAS, diastase and PAS, and alcian blue pH 2.5 and PAS reactions observed in the adluminal seminiferous epithelium compartment were directly related to the spermatids acrosomal glycoconjugates structuration. Also the SDH localization at this level seems to be related to the mitochondrial activities at the middle piece level in the late spermatids.

Características ultra-estruturais das células de Sertoli do morecego hematófago (Desmodus rotundus rotundus, Geoffrey, 1810).

This paper deals with the ultrastructural study of mature vampire bat Sertoli cells and their relationships with the different stages of testicular germ cells. In vampire bat seminiferous epithelium there are different types of junctional specializations among Sertoli cells and among Sertoli cells and different germ cells, with special emphasis to tight junctions and to junctions like as desmosomes. Ectoplasmic junctions through the Sertoli cells, including the smooth ER, are observed. These cellular interactions and their cytophysiological roles are discussed. Also are related some ultrastructural peculiarities of the Sertoli cell nucleus, nucleolus, cytoplasmic organelles and lipidic inclusions.

Níveis críticos de fósforo no solo e nas folhas para a implantação de Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden, em quatro tipos de solos

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

Envelhecimento acelerado em sementes de Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden classificadas por tamanho

Two experiments of seed ageing of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden were carried out at laboratory conditions. In the first experiment, two seed lots were classified in two square mesh screens (< 0.84 to ≥ 0.71 mm and < 0.71 mm to ≥ 0.59 mm), submitted to 42 °C and 100% relative humidity, for 0, 8, 12, 24, and 32 hours of stress treatments. Seed germination tests were done with just aged seeds. The results showed that the stress period was not sufficient for ageing the seeds. In the second experiment, the best quality seed lot was separated in the same two sizes. The seeds were submitted under the same stress conditions of the first experiment but for 0, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The germination test was done right after the seeds were taken from the stress conditions, and with stored seeds at dry chamber (2 weeks and 26 months). It was concluded that both seed sizes reached 30% of moisture content under 72 hours of ageing conditions and showed significant germination losses when compared with seeds without ageing (control), as the moist seeds as the stored ones at dry chamber, for both 2 weeks and 26 months.

Efeito da densidade de plantas de Bracharia decumbens Stapf sobre o crescimento inicial de mudas de Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden

In order to verify the effect of Brachiaria decumbens plant density on the initial growth of Eucalyptus grandis plants, one assay was conducted under semi-controlled conditions of soil fertility and humidity. Dark red Latossol, collected from the arable layer, was used as substrate in 50 liters amianthus cement boxes. One seedling of Eucalyptus was planted in each box. Fifteen days later, seedlings of B. decumbens were transplanted on the same box. The treatments consisted of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 plants of B. decumbens. The experimental design was the complete randomized design, with 15 treatments and four replicates. The Eucalyptus plants that lived with B. decumbens were evaluated for stem diameter, plant high, leaf area, and dry weight of stem, branches and leaves. B. decumbens plants were evaluated for dry weight of aerial parts. B. decumbens, at the density level of four plants per m 2 and over, reduced of the initial growth of the Eucalyptus plants. B. decumbens reduced on average 27.78% stem diameter, 18.47% plant high, 70.56% leaf number, 63.26% leaf area, and 55.22%, 77.29% and 55.30% of stem, branch and leaf dry weight, respectively. Plant high was not a good parameter to evaluate the B. decumbens interference.

Efeito da densidade de plantas de Panicum maximum Jacq. sobre o crescimento inicial de Eucalyptus grandis W.Hill ex Maiden

In order to verify the effect of Panicum maximum plant density on the initial growth of Eucalyptus grandis plants, one assay was conducted under semi-controlled conditions of soil fertility and humidity. Dark red Latossol, collected from the arable layer, was used as substrate in 50 liters amianthus cement boxes. One seedling of Eucalyptus was planted in each box. Fifteen days later, seedlings of P. maximum were transplanted on the same box. The treatments consisted of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 plants of P. maximum per m 2. The experimental design was the complete randomized design, with six treatments and eight replicates for P. maximum. One hundred and ten and 190 days after transplanting, Eucalyptus plants grown among P. maximum showed an average reduction of 30.80 and 46.55% stem diameter, 25.10 and 22.50 plant high, 40.18 and 31.29% stem dry weight, 61.32 and 54.06% branch dry weight, 53.72 and 51.82% root dry weight, 44.62 and 38.50% leaf dry weight, 22.51 and 23.16 branch number, 20.72 and 19.97% leaf number, and 33.88 and 17.05% leaf area, respectively.

Pharmacognostical evaluation of fruits of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hill. (Solanaceae)

This study describes the chemical and physical-chemical profile of plant drug and ethanolic extract obtained from fruits of Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hill. (Solanaceae). The physical and chemical analysis involved the granulometry determination, non-compacted apparent density, loss on drying in oven and in infrared scale, pH, ash values and extractive values. The results determined the physical-chemical characteristics of the drug plant. It was also carried out the microbiological control of the plant drug. The preliminary phytochemical screening featured the presence of tannins, flavonoids and saponins in the plant drug and alkaloids and steroids in the ethanolic exctract. The solamargine and solasonine glycoalkaloids were identified through TLC and GC/ MS. The levels of total phenols and tannins were quantified in the extract (8.90% and 6,85% respectively). Such studies contribute to the chemical identification and quality control of S. lycocarpum fruits. © 2010 Phcog.net.