Genetic diversity of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville determined by AFLP molecular markers

Bark extracts of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart) Coville a Leguminosae species, well known in Brazil as barbatimao, are popularly used as healing agent. The objective of this work was to determine the genetic diversity of S. adstringens populations and to correlate genetic distances to the production of tannins. S. adstringens accessions from populations found in Cerrado regions in the states of Goias, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo were analyzed using the AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) technique. A total of 236 polymorphic bands were scored and higher proportion of genetic diversity was found inter populations (70.9%), rather than intra populations (29.1%). F-ST value was found to be significantly greater than zero (0.2906), demonstrating the complex genetic structure of S. adstringens populations. Accessions collected in Cristalina, GO, showed higher percentage of polymorphic loci (87.3%) and the highest genetic diversity. The lowest genetic variability was detected among accessions from the population growing in Caldas Novas, GO. The genetic distance among populations was estimated using the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA), which grouped populations into 3 clusters. Moreover, chemotypes with tannin concentration above 40% showed higher genetic similarity. AFLP analysis proved to be an efficient gene mapping technique to determine the genetic diversity among remaining populations of S. adstringens. Obtained results may be employed to implement further strategies for the conservation of this medicinal plant. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Erysothrine, an alkaloid extracted from flowers of Erythrina mulungu Mart. ex Benth: Evaluating its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic potential

In this study, we isolated the alkaloid erysothrine from the hydroalcoholic extract of flowers from E. mulungu and screened for its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic actions based on neuroethological and neurochemical experiments. Our results showed that the administration of erysothrine inhibited seizures evoked by bicuculline, PTZ, NMDA and most remarkably, kainic acid. Also, erysothrine induced an increase in the number of entries but not in the time spent in the open arms of the EPM. However, we did not notice any alterations in the light-dark choice or in the open-field tests. In preliminary neurochemistry tests, we also showed that erysothrine (0.001-10 mu g/mL) did not alter the GABA or glutamate synaptossomal uptake and binding. Altogether, our results describe an alkaloid with anticonvulsant activity and mild anxiolytic activity that might be considered well tolerated as it does not alter the general behavior of the animals in the used doses. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Viability of recently harvested and stored Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae) seeds

Xylopia aromatica is a native species from Brazil's "Cerrado", recommended for restoration ecology and also as a medicine. Its seeds have embryos with morphophysiological dormancy, making nursery propagation difficult. The objective of this study was to verify the efficiency of X-ray and tetrazolium tests for evaluating the viability of three seed lots, stored for different periods. All seeds were X-rayed (13 kV, 350 seconds) and samples used for tetrazolium and germination tests. In the tetrazolium test, seeds were submitted to six treatments at two temperatures (25 and 30 °C) with imbibition in distilled water and immersion in three concentrations of tetrazolium solution (0.5, 0.75 and 1%) at the two imbibition temperatures. Seeds for the germination test were placed for imbibition in distilled water and a 500 ppm Promalin® (6-Benzyladenine + GA4 + GA7) solution and later sown in sterilized sand. The embryo could not be observed with the X-ray test. However, those seeds observed with an undamaged endosperm did not differ in the percentages of seeds with firm and stained endosperms observed in the tetrazolium test for all the lots. The tetrazolium test is efficient for evaluating seed viability, principally if imbibed at 30 °C and immersed in a 0.5% solution at 30 °C.

Carlos Martí Arís e i suoi eteronimi. Vocazione all'anonimo

Questa ricerca indaga la prospettiva investigativa di Carlos Martí Arís. È stato assunto il campo d’azione da lui prediletto, ovvero l’articolato rapporto che in architettura si instaura tra teoria e pratica, comprensivo delle svariate ricadute nel mondo dell’arte e della produzione umana in genere, che fanno del progetto architettonico un campo disciplinare complesso. La sua figura è però assunta in modo strumentale, come grimaldello per addentrarsi in un articolato ambito culturale, che se da un lato coincide con la sua città, Barcellona, dall’altro la trascende grazie a quei “ponti della conoscenza” che CMA interrottamente ha teso al suo intorno. Ci riferiamo alla sua costruzione teorica destinata a consolidare la storica reciprocità tra Italia e Spagna, le cui tematiche urbane e tipologiche ne sono la base, Milano e Barcellona ne sono gli estremi. Ci riferiamo al suo sguardo sull’esperienza del Movimento Moderno e il relativo tema della residenza. Ci riferiamo alla sua naturale vocazione al silenzio, che si oppone al fragoroso rumore della contemporaneità e affianca la discreta parola del mestiere: un modo per porsi all’ascolto. All’ascolto dell’altro e del mondo. Ci riferiamo, insomma, alla sua idea di architettura intesa come «territorio dissodato da tempi remoti»; come trama di corrispondenze sincroniche tra terre, tempi, fatti, uomini, vicini e lontani: condizione ideale per chi voglia disciogliere il proprio lavoro nei labirintici sentieri del mondo, indifferente al rischio di perdersi nell’oblio. Oggi, in cui il progetto architettonico risulta sempre più spesso veicolo di soggettive e arbitrarie sperimentazioni formali, la lezione di CMA indica una via d’uscita: un mo(n)do condiviso che all’arroganza opponga la discrezione, che persuada a celarsi nella tradizione e a porsi umilmente all’ombra dei maestri. Tradizione e Maestri, Eteronimi e Nomi, complementarità a cui CMA affida il suo progetto di anonimato, sovrapersonale e ostinatamente teso a rilevarne le relazioni inedite.

Attalea funifera Mart. und Leopoldinia Piassaba Wallace, die beiden Besen-Palmen

anonym

Utopía y praxis revolucionaria : las alternativas de José Martí para América Latina

Fil: Morales, Salvador E..

Civilización y barbarie : dos interpretaciones del rol letrado frente al proyecto modernizador en América Latina: Sarmiento y Martí

Se analizan las concepciones de Domingo Faustino Sarmiento y José Martí acerca del rol letrado en el programa modernizador de América Latina durante la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. Para ello se adopta como eje la divergente significación de las categorías "civilización/barbarie" en los textos Facundo y Nuestra América. Una nueva lectura de estos textos fundacionales de la historia intelectual latinoamericana permite reconocer aspectos críticos muchas veces olvidados por la reconstrucción del discurso letrado en las actuales corrientes de los estudios latinoamericanos.

El 98 cubano : un abordaje histórico - filosófico desde la idea de guerra : los aportes de José Martí

Dentro de la variedad de miradas que se han establecido en torno del 98 cubano desde la historiografía, se considera de suma importancia realizar un cuestionamiento histórico–filosófico sobre el conflicto, pero partiendo de la idea de la “guerra" como concepto complejo. En este escrito se busca teorizar sobre la guerra, con el fin de dar a conocer los postulados de José Martí al respecto, en relación con los debates suscitados en el marco de los neocolonialismos y el desarrollo del proceso independentista de Cuba.

José Martí entre dos crónicas : presiones editoriales y la autonomía relativa de la producción del escritor modernista

La producción de José Martí como cronista en los Estados Unidos para los diarios latinoamericanos El Partido Liberal, de México, y La Nación, de Argentina, estaba sujeta a diversas políticas editoriales. Hasta ahora estos mecanismos que condicionaban su obra no han sido estudiados para comprender un giro radical en su pensamiento. El 2 de setiembre de 1886, Martí escribió para La Nación una crónica acerca de los trágicos acontecimientos que se desencadenaron en Chicago, tras una protesta de trabajadores. En esa, Martí no duda de la responsabilidad de líderes anarquistas por la muerte de un policía. Sin embargo, en una segunda crónica enviada un año después, Martí presenta un giro radical en su apreciación de los anarquistas y critica las causas que los habían empujado a radicalizar el movimiento obrero. El presente ensayo revela cómo Martí modifica su posición al escribir bajo distintos sistemas de autorización y analiza la estrategia narrativa que emplea el escritor para surcar soterradamente estas presiones. El contenido de la segunda crónica para La Nación es analizado como la materialización de la voluntad autonómica del escritor modernista. Una afirmación que marca un clivaje crucial en su trayectoria que al poco tiempo lo conduciría a participar en la guerra de independencia de Cuba en 1895.