Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of crude extracts and essential oils from medicinal plants

We aimed to establish a phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts and performed GC-MS of the essential oils (EOs) of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) and Asteraceae species Baccharis dracunculifolia DC, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Vernonia polyanthes Less, as well as determining their antimicrobial activity. Establishment of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts and EOs against 16 Staphylococcus aureus and 16 Escherichia coli strains from human specimens was carried out using the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Some phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties were established, and all EOs had a higher antimicrobial activity than the extracts. Matricaria chamomilla extract and E. uniflora EO were efficient against S. aureus strains, while E. uniflora and V. polyanthes extracts and V. polyanthes EO showed the best antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains. Staphylococcus aureus strains were more susceptible to the tested plant products than E. coli, but all natural products promoted antimicrobial growth inhibition.

In vitro cytotoxic activity of Brazilian Middle West plant extracts

Cytotoxic activity of eight plant extracts, native from the Mid-West of Brazil comprising Cerrado, Pantanal and semideciduous forest, was evaluated for MDA-MB-435, SF-295, and HCT-8 cancer cell strains. A single 100 µg.mL-1 dose of each extract was employed with 72 h of incubation for all tests. Doxorubicin (1 µg.mL-1) was used as the positive control and the MTT method was used to detect the activity. Cytotoxicity of distinct polarities was observed in thirty extracts (46%), from different parts of the following species: Tabebuia heptaphylla (Vell.) Toledo, Bignoniaceae, Tapirira guianensis Aubl., Anacardiaceae, Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão, Anacardiaceae, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae, Gomphrena elegans Mart., Amaranthaceae, Attalea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng., Arecaceae, Eugenia uniflora L., Myrtaceae, and Annona dioica A. St.-Hil., Annonaceae. Extracts of at least two tested cell strains were considered to be highly active since their inhibition rate was over 75%.

Study of some Brazilian Myrtaceae in Jaboticabal sp

The family Myrtaceae is one of the most important related to fruit species. In Brazil it encloses more than 100 species of native fruit from North to South of the country (Giacometti, 1992; Donadio, 1992; Mattos, 1992). The genus Eugenia, Campomanesia, Psidium and Myrciaria are the most important, grouping most of the species of some importance. The germplasm bank of the Universidade Estadual Paulista includes some of the major species. Some characteristics are typical for most of the Myrtaceae fruit species. The most relevant are the long juvenile period presented by the trees, taking long time to produce, when propagated by seed; the slow growing tree behavior; difficult to propagated by vegetative means; large variability in trees obtained by seed propagation. The cited characteristics are commented for some species as well as the fruit quality, from data obtained in trees at the same ecological conditions.The species evaluated are: 1) Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh; 2) Eugenia tomentosa Cambes; 3) Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.; 4) Eugenia uniflora L.; 5) Eugenia luchsnathiana Berg.; 6) Eugenia uvalha Cambess; 7) Camponesia spp; 8) Plinia edulis (Veil. Sobral); 9) Eugenia involucrata D.C.; 10) Psidium acutangulum Mart.; 11) Myrciaria dubia Mc Vaugh; 12) Engenia guabiju Berg. The main conclusions based on the data analysed are: the fruits of some species present good general characteristics, mainly for fresh consumption, as high Vitamin C, sugars, pulp and other characteristics; 'Araca-boi' presents some good fruit characteristics, but is more adapted for processing, by its high acidity; Some species present low % of edible portion and need to be improved to gain commercial acceptance. mainly the 'cabeludinha' and 'cambuca'.

Study of some brazilian myrtaceae in jaboticabal-sp

The family Myrtaceae is one of the most important related to fruit species. In Brazil it encloses more than 100 species of native fruit from North to South of the country (Giacometti, 1992; Donadio, 1992; Mattos, 1992). The genus Eugenia, Campomanesia, Psidium and Myrciaria are the most important, grouping most of the species of some importance. The germplasm bank of the Universidade Estadual Paulista includes some of the major species. Some characteristics are typical for most of the Myrtaceae fruit species. The most relevant are the long juvenile period presented by the trees, taking long time to produce, when propagated by seed; the slow growing tree behavior; difficult to propagated by vegetative means; large variability in trees obtained by seed propagation. The cited characteristics are commented for some species as well as the fruit quality, from data obtained in trees at the same ecological conditions. The species evaluated are: 1) Eugenia stipitata Me Vaugh; 2) Eugenia tomentosa Cambes; 3) Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.; 4) Eugenia uniflora L.; 5) Eugenia luchsnathiana Berg.; 6) Eugenia uvalha Cambess; 7) Camponesia spp; 8) Plinia edulis (Veil. Sobral); 9) Eugenia involucrata D.C.; 10) Psidium acutangulum Mart.; 11) Myrciaria dubia Me Vaugh; 12) Eugenia guabiju Berg. The main conclusions based on the data analysed are: The fruits of some species present good general characteristics, mainly for fresh consumption, as high Vitamin C, sugars, pulp and other characteristics; 'Araca-boi' presents some good fruit characteristics, but is more adapted for processing, by its high acidity; Some species present low % of edible portion and need to be improved to gain commercial acceptance, mainly the 'cabeludinha' and 'cambuca'.

Atividade antibacteriana de óleos essenciais e avaliação de potencial sinergético

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise do teor de compostos fenólicos e de ligninas em diferentes órgãos vegetativos de espécies arbóreas nativas de diferentes grupos sucessionais

O sucesso do desenvolvimento da dinâmica das formações vegetais depende das relações estabelecidas entre as espécies vegetais com outros organismos e com o meio físico. Tais relações estão sujeitas a situações de estresse, podendo esse ser de caráter abiótico, como condições elevadas de radiação solar e temperatura e déficit hídrico ou de caráter biótico, como a herbivoria e o ataque de patógenos. Dessa maneira, em virtude à necessidade de um sistema de defesa, as plantas utilizam compostos químicos, como compostos fenólicos e ligninas, para se desenvolverem com proteção. Os compostos fenólicos são compostos oriundos do metabolismo secundário vegetal e ocorrem na parede celular dos tecidos vegetais, constituindo assim uma rápida linha de defesa vegetal a lesões e infecções e funcionando como substrato para atuação de enzimas de defesa como peroxidases e polifenoloxidases. Junto com a atuação dos compostos fenólicos, as ligninas fornecem à planta maior resistência mecânica e impermeabilidade suficiente aos vasos condutores do xilema, proporcionando, assim, desde um fundamental auxílio aos vegetais na conquista do ambiente terrestre até o estabelecimento de uma barreira protetora eficiente contra o ataque de microorganismos. Assim, por meio da extração e análise dos teores de compostos fenólicos e de ligninas de porção de raiz, caule, ápice caulinar e folhas maduras e imaturas de indivíduos de Erythrina speciosa Andrews, Eugenia uniflora L., Hevea brasiliensis M. Arg., Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang, Joannesia princeps Vell., Lecythis pisonis Cambess, Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch, Pachira aquatica Aubl. e Psidium guajava L., classificou-se como espécies pioneiras Erythrina speciosa Andrews, Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang, Joannesia princeps Vell., Pachira aquatica Aubl... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Análise da atividade de peroxidases e polifenoloxidases em diferentes órgãos vegetativos de espécies arbóreas nativas de diferentes grupos sucessionais

As formações vegetais são altamente dinâmicas e dependem principalmente da taxa de crescimento das espécies vegetais, entretanto, esta está intimamente relacionada e suscetível a estresses abióticos, como elevada ou baixa radiação solar, temperaturas extremas, e bióticos, como taque de patógenos e de herbívoros, o que faz com que as plantas necessitem de um sistema de defesa altamente eficiente o qual consiste na atuação de compostos secundários, e de enzimas como por exemplo peroxidases e polifenoloxidases. A atividade das peroxidases constitui a mais importante via do sistema de defesa vegetal a patógenos no que se refere a cicatrização de ferimentos e à herbivoria, propiciando um aumento da lignificação nos tecidos lesados, o que aumenta a resistência dos mesmos, dificultando assim a ocorrência de novas lesões. Quanto às polifenoloxidases, também pertencentes ao grupo das oxidorredutases, são enzimas que também atuam diretamente na via de defesa das plantas ao ataque de patógenos e na cicatrização de ferimentos e processos de senescência. Por meio da extração e análise da atividade de Peroxidases e Polifenoloxidases em porção de raiz, caule, ápice e em folhas de indivíduos de Erythrina speciosa Andrews, Eugenia uniflora L., Hevea brasiliensis M. Arg., Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang, Joannesia princeps Vell., Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch, Pachira aquatica Aubl. e Psidium guajava L., obteve-se comportamento pioneiro para as espécies Eugenia uniflora L., Hymenaea courbaril L. var. stilbocarpa (Hayne) Lee et Lang, Joannesia princeps Vell. e Psidium guajava L., e comportamento não-pioneiro para as espécies Erythrina speciosa Andrews, Hevea brasiliensis M. Arg., Licania tomentosa (Benth.) Fritsch e Pachira aquatica Aubl.. Dessa maneira foi possível verificar que a análise da atividade peroxidásica... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Estudo das características físico-químicas e funcionalidade de bagaços de frutas tropicais desidratados em leito de jorro

Fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds. Tropical fruit cultivation is an important productive segment in Brazilian Northeast. Its industrialization generates solid wastes as co-products, with potential environmental impact. Considering the recognized bioactive content of fruit and its derivatives, this research has the objective of investigating acerola (Malpighia glabra L.), cajá-umbu (Spondia ssp), jambolan (Syzygium cumini) and pitanga (Eugenia uniflora) dried wastes obtained by spouted bed drier. It was analyzed the physical-chemical composition, solubility and microphotographic aspect of these dried wastes. Besides this, it was also evaluated the bioactive content, antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity against aamylase and a-glycosidase enzymes of water and ethanol (70%, 80% e 100% v/v) extracts prepared from fruit dried wastes, as well as their possible correlations. The dried fruit wastes showed high phenolic (606.04 to 3074.6 mg GAE eq/100 g sample), anthocyanin (478.7 mg/100 g for jambolan) and ascorbic acid (2748.03 mg/100 g for acerola) contents, as well as high antioxidant DPPH activity (14.27 a 36.30 mg Trolox eq/g sample). The extracts exhibited moderate to high a-amylase inhibition (23.97% a 76.58%) and high α-glycosidase inhibition, which 99.32% peak was reached for ethanol 70% pitanga extracts. It was also observed great positive correlation between phenolic content and DPPH activity (0.97 for acerola), anthocyanin (0.95 for jambolan) and α- glycosidase inhibition (0.98 for acerola). The α-glycosidase inhibition also correlated well with the antioxidant activity for all fruit extracts. The results show that these dried fruit wastes are valuable material for further applications as functional ingredients

O gênero Eugenia: da química à farmacologia

Research on natural products is extremely important either for new compound discovery with possible pharmacology uses or for its impact on economy, which moves millions of dollars for year. Scientific studies related on utilization and characterization of bioactive substances are important due to the fact that many drugs currently used by the population were synthetized from isolated compounds of natural products. Among many medicinal species commonly used, there are that ones from the genus Eugenia, witch belongs to Myrtaceae family. Eugenia is one of the biggest genus from this family and has about 5000 species and Brazil has 400 of them, which are appreciated on gastronomy for its fruits, for example, pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), cherry (Eugenia involucrata), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) and cagaita (Eugenia dysinterica). Phytochemical studies of plants from this genus report the presence of several secondary metabolites like flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, anthocyanins and more. Eugenia species have important pharmacology activity as antioxidant, hypothermic, antidiarrheal, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and fungicide. Thus, Eugenia is a genus which has species with potencial phytotherapic products

Frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae, Lonchaeidae) associated with fruit production on Ilha de Santana, Brazilian Amazon.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo identificar as espécies de moscas frugívoras (Tephritidae e Lonchaeidae), seus hospedeiros e parasitoides na Ilha de Santana, Estado do Amapá, Amazônia brasileira. Adicionalmente, objetivou estudar a exploração hospedeira por Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock. Foram realizadas coletas de frutos de diversas espécies vegetais, a cada 30 dias, no período de janeiro a julho de 2015. Foram coletadas 149 amostras de frutos (3.142 frutos, 76,3 Kg), pertencentes a 20 espécies vegetais (9 nativas e 11 introduzidas) de 13 famílias botânicas. Houve infestação por moscas frugívoras em 86 amostras (11 espécies de 8 famílias botânicas). Foram obtidos espécimes de cinco espécies de Tephritidae, quatro de Lonchaeidae e três de parasitoides Braconidae. As espécies de moscas frugívoras mais importantes na Ilha de Santana são: B. carambolae, devido sua expressão quarentenária; e Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) e Anastrepha striata Schiner, pelo fato de infestarem espécies vegetais de importância socioeconômica local. Os hospedeiros Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae), Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae), Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae) e Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) são responsáveis pela manutenção da população de B. carambolae.

Zoneamento da vegetação e sua relação com metais pesados na mina Volta Grande, Lavras do Sul, RS

O conhecimento da vegetação em regiões de ocorrências minerais de cobre e ouro torna-se de grande importância para o desenvolvimento de tecnologias limpas na reabilitação de áreas degradadas pela mineração (fitorremediação) e na bioprospecção mineral no Estado. Buscou-se verificar a relação entre a organização espacial e fitossociológica das unidades e subunidades de vegetação na mina Volta Grande, Lavras do Sul, RS e a presença de cobre nas mineralizações. Com base em Ecologia de Paisagem, realizou-se investigações fitossociológicas, avaliação do conteúdo de cobre em raízes e folhas de Axonopus affinis, Eugenia uniflora, Heterothalamus alienus, Saccharum angustifolium, Schizachyrium microstachyum e Schinus lentiscifolius e o zoneamento da vegetação com sobreposição ao mapa de estruturas mineralizadas conhecidas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, sugere-se que a distribuição das unidades e subunidades de vegetação (unidade de vegetação Eugenia uniflora – Scutia buxifolia, com subunidades Eugenia uniflora – Cupania vernalis e Eugenia uniflora – Allophylus edulis; unidade de vegetação Schinus lentiscifolius – Heterothalamus alienus; unidade de vegetação Eryngium horridum – Saccharum angustifolium, com subunidade Eryngium horridum – Piptochaetium montevidense e unidade de vegetação Axonopus affinis – Paspalum pumilum) pode estar relacionada à posição geomorfológica, à declividade, à umidade do solo e ao manejo para o uso do gado A unidade de vegetação Schinus lentiscifolius – Heterothalamus alienus parece estar relacionada às ocorrências de mineralizações (filões) de cobre e ouro, sendo necessária uma comparação com outras áreas mineralizadas e não-mineralizadas no Estado para utilizar esse dado em prospecção mineral. A espécie Axonopus affinis possui em suas raízes um conteúdo de cobre muito maior do que o considerado normal em plantas, sendo indicada para estudos mais detalhados quanto a sua aplicabilidade na reabilitação de áreas degradadas pela mineração no Rio Grande do Sul.

Frugivoria e dispersão de sementes pelo lagarto teiú Tupinambis merianae (Reptilia: Teiidae)

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

As rochas intrusivas da Formação Serra Geral na Porção leste da Bacia do Paraná no Estado de São Paulo: Aspectos petrográficos e geoquímicos - Resultados preliminares

The purpose of this paper is to present preliminary aspects of the petrography and chemistry of intrusive rocks (sills and dykes) from the eastern portion of the Parana Basin in the State of Säo Paulo. Data from 80 samples of the region show a subaphyric and subophitic nature and have plagioclase (25-50%), augite (3-39%), pigeonite (0-10%) and magnetite (4-20%) as an essential minerals. Apatite and quartz are present as accessory minerals. The geochemical data of intrusive rocks show a basic to intermediate composition (48% < SiO 2 < 56%) and a high Ti nature (TiO 2 > 2%). Based on the minor and trace composition of the intrusive rocks, two different magma types were recognized, named Paranapanema and Pitanga. The spatial distribution of these magma types is not alleatory in the studied region. The intrusive rocks of Pitanga magma type are displayed in the Campinas-Paulinia region, while the Paranapanema magma type cover a large region above that one, between Rio Claro and Cajuru. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the lava flows of the Serra Geral Formation, sampled in this work, reveals a magma of Urubici type. So, the intrusive rocks of the eastern portion of the of State Säo Paulo are not the extension of the lava flows, or they aren't a portions which don't reach the surface.

Carotenoid composition of Brazilian fruits and vegetables

Brazil has a wide diversity of food sources of carotenoids. The updated Brazilian database consists of more than 270 items of fruits, vegetables and their prepared and processed products. The database demonstrates variations due to variety, maturity, production technique, climate and processing. Many of these foods are not found in the US and European databases. Good to rich sources (>20 μg/g) of β-carotene are: acerola, bocaiúva, mango 'Extreme' and tucumã. Sources of both α-carotene and β-carotene are buriti, carrot, Cucurbita moschata 'Menina Brasileira', 'Baianinha' and 'Goianinha', and red palm oil. Commercially produced and uncultivated or semi-cultivated leafy vegetables, C. maxima 'Jerimum Caboclo' and the hybrid Tetsukabuto, cooked broccoli are sources of lutein and β-carotene. The edible Tropaeolum majus flower is especially rich in lutein. Although many fruits have β-cryptoxanthin as principal carotenoid (e.g. caja, nectarine, peach, orange-fleshed papaya, tree tomato), the levels are below 20 μg/g. Good to rich sources of lycopene are guava and guava products, papaya, pitanga and pitanga juice, tomato and tomato products, and watermelon. Sources of zeaxanthin are rare; although the principal carotenoid of piqui, the amount is low, lower than that found in buriti.

A tectônica meso-cenozóica de parte da borda nordeste da Bacia do Paraná: traços de fissão em apatita

The possible development of thermal events in the central portion of São Paulo state was described based on apatite fission track analysis. Using apatites of sedimentary rocks of the Paraná Basin, modeling the thermal history was made possible due to the homogeneity of the data. Every thermal history begins with a total annealing of fission tracks, related to the Serra Geral magmatism, evolving into a cooling period. In addition to cooling after the magmatism (Early Cretaceous) two other periods of cooling were also detected, registered in the Late Cretaceous/ Paleocene and Eocene, driven as much by uplift with tectonic denudation as by faulting. The nearest portion of the edge of the basin (external to the Dome of Pitanga), registered a period of warming over the Paleocene that can be attributed to the increase in the geothermal gradient. The periods of cooling have a regional and temporal relationship with the tectonic events that occurred in the southeastern Brazil and were described in the crystalline basement. The period of warming, registered in the Late Cretaceous/ Paleocene, has local occurrence and can be found only in the southern portion of the studied area.