Isobutyl amides - potent compounds for controlling Diatraea saccharalis

BACKGROUND: A dichloromethane-methanol extract of the seeds of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) and two isobutyl amides, 4,5-dihydropiperlonguminine (1) and pellitorine (2), which were isolated by chromatographic methods, were assayed for their lethality against the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).RESULTS: Bioassays were carried out with fourth-instar caterpillars through topical application of test solutions to the dorsal surface of the prothorax, and dose-response correlations were determined. Significant insect mortalities were observed 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment at concentrations of >= 100 mu g insect(-1). The LD(50) and LD(90) values for compound 1 were 92.83 and 176.50 mu g insect(-1), and for compound 2 they were 91.19 and 184.56 mu g insect(-1).CONCLUSION: According to the LD(50) and LD(90) for compounds 1 and 2, it can be inferred that the values reflect an acute lethal response to both compounds, based on interaction(s) of the toxicants with a primary target or series of targets. Thus, the amides were demonstrated to have potential value in the control of the sugarcane borer. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry

In vitro efficacy of plant extracts and synthesized substances on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Herbal drugs have been widely evaluated as an alternative method of parasite control, aiming to slow development of resistance and obtain low-cost biodegradable parasiticides. This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus of extracts from Carapa guianensis seed oil, Cymbopogon martinii and Cymbopogon schoenanthus leaf essential oil, and Piper tuberculatum leaf crude extract and similar synthesized substances. In the immersion test, engorged females were evaluated in five dilutions ranging from 10% to 0.030625% concentration. In the larval test on impregnated filter paper, the concentration ranged from 10% to 0.02%. The treatments and controls were done in three replicates. Chemical analysis of the oils was performed by gas chromatography. The main compounds were oleic acid (46.8%) for C. guianensis and geraniol for C. martinii (81.4%), and C. schoenanthus (62.5%). The isolated and synthesized substances showed no significant effect on larvae and adult. C. martinii and P. tuberculatum showed the best efficacy on the engorged females. The LC50 and LC90 were 2.93% and 6.66% and 3.76% and 25.03%, respectively. In the larval test, the LC50 and LC90 obtained for C. martinii, P. tuberculatum, and C. schoenanthus were 0.47% and 0.63%, 0.41% and 0.79%, 0.57% and 0.96%, respectively. The fact that geraniol is present in greater quantities in C. martinii explains its higher activity in relation to C. shoenanthus. It is necessary to validate the in vivo use of safe and effective phytoparasiticidal substances. Efforts should be focused on developing formulations that enhance the efficacy in vivo and lengthen the residual period.

Piperamides and their derivatives as potential anti-trypanosomal agents

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

Study of Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay of (E)-piplartine by the Ames test

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Absolute Configuration and Selective Trypanocidal Activity of Gaudichaudianic Acid Enantiomers

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

Ácaros plantícolas (Acari) da Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

O presente estudo foi realizado na Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista, localizada na região de São José do Rio Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, visando determinar espécies acarinas plantícolas associadas a fragmentos de mata nativa. Foram determinadas 83 espécies, pertencentes a 48 gêneros de 20 famílias, associadas a mais de 60 espécies vegetais. Trinta e oito espécies acarinas foram identificadas nominalmente. As mais freqüentes foram Tetranychus ludeni (Zacher, 1913) (Tetranychidae) e Iphiseiodes zuluagai (Denmark & Muma, 1972) (Phytoseiidae), coletadas sobre 15 e 14 espécies de plantas, respectivamente. A maior diversidade foi observada em Piper sp. (Piperaceae) (21 espécies acarinas), seguida de Luehea speciosa Willd. (Tiliaceae) (17), Alchornea glandulosa Poepp. & Endl. (Euphorbiaceae) (16), Bauhinia rufa (Bong.) Steud (Caesalpinaceae) (14) e Olyra sp. (Poaceae) (12).

Intensidade de dormência durante a maturação de sementes de mucuna-preta

A mucuna-preta é uma leguminosa empregada para adubação verde e como forrageira, cujas sementes apresentam dormência causada pela impermeabilidade do tegumento à água. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a intensidade de dormência das sementes de mucuna-preta em diferentes estádios de maturação quando submetidas à secagem no interior das vagens. Rácemos foram colhidos, semanalmente, a partir de 35 dias do início de florescimento (35 DAF) até o estádio de vagens secas (98 DAF). As sementes de cada colheita foram secadas no interior das vagens, em condições ambientais não controladas de laboratório; quando secas foram extraídas, avaliadas quando a massa de 100 sementes, espessura das sementes e submetidas ao teste de germinação. Foram analisadas as porcentagens de sementes duras, de germinação, de embebição e o índice de velocidade de embebição. Pode-se concluir que o estádio de maturação em que ocorre a secagem afeta a intensidade de dormência das sementes de mucuna-preta.

Fruits as unusual food items of the carnivorous bat Chrotopterus auritus (Mammalia, Phyllostomidae) from southeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação de forrageiras de inverno irrigadas sob pastejo

O experimento foi conduzido na UNESP - Jaboticabal com o objetivo de obter informações sobre o rendimento de matéria seca (RMS) e composição química das forrageiras de inverno, aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb) e triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack), em plantio direto sob palhada de área com milheto (Pennisetum americanum (L.) K. Schum.) ou híbrido sorgo sudão (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench x Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) submetidas a pastejo. A forragem foi rebaixada por vacas da raça Holandês. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, em arranjo de parcelas subdivididas, sendo analisado nas parcelas as espécies forrageiras e nas sub-parcelas as épocas de pastejo, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos testados foram: AS: Aveia Preta sobre palhada de sorgo; AM: Aveia preta sobre palhada de milheto; TS: Triticale sobre palhada de sorgo; e, TM: Triticale sobre palhada de milheto. As pastagens apresentaram RMS semelhantes e, em relação às épocas de avaliação observou-se menor rendimento no segundo corte. Foram observados maiores teores de PB e de FDA na forragem colhida no primeiro corte e de hemicelulose no segundo corte, enquanto os valores de FDN não foram diferentes. A forragem de triticale apresentou menor conteúdo de PB e maiores teores de constituintes da parede celular.

Hydrochemical relationships in groundwater from central São Paulo State, Brazil

Groundwater samples from different aquifers occurring at center/northeast portion of São Paulo State, Brazil, were collected and chemically analyzed. The waters leaching Mesozoic sediments are generally more acid (pH(average) = 5.9) and have lower values for total dissolved solids (TDSaverage = 105 mg/L) than those obtained for waters leaching Paleozoic sediments of Tubarao Group. First-degree trend surfaces revealed that the deeper tubular wells occur towards east/southeast and exploit Paleozoic sediments as well fractured/fissured diabases/basalts, whereas the tubular wells in the west/northwest region are shallower. Piper diagrams indicated that the majority of the waters are a blend of waters from different lithologies. Significant correlations were found among nitrate, chloride and bicarbonate, suggesting the occurrence of some anthropogenic inputs, whereas elevated alpha activity of geogenic Ra-226 indicated the need of a broad radiometric survey in the area.

Época de sobressemeadura de gramíneas anuais de inverno e de verão no capim-Tifton 85: produção e composição botânica

The experiment was conducted at UNESP-Jaboticabal during the 2001-2002 winter-spring-summer periods to evaluate the herbage mass, botanical composition, dry matter production of mix pastures, and leaf: sheat-stem ration of Tifton 85 or overseeding with annual winter or summer species. The treatments were: pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) plus bristeal oat (Avena strigosa Schreb); sorghum sudan grass (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench x Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) (SS AG2501 C) plus bristeal oat, overseeded on Tifton 85 area on 06/19/02/04, or 07/02/02, and Tifton 85, conducted in a randomized block design. The AG2501 contributed with a small participation in the botanical composition and the presence of millet in the experiment was not observed. Highest herbage mass at first and second evaluations related to first seeding time was 63% higher compared to the second seeding time. The herbage mass were similar he production in the other evaluations were similar. on the second seeding time, it was observed highest oat species in relation to the first seeding time. The leaf: sheat-stem ration decreased during the experiment due to the pasture botanical composition changes.

Chemistry and evolution of the Piperaceae

The chemistry of members of the family Piperaceae is of great interest owing to the variety of biological properties displayed. A survey of structural diversity and bioactivity reveals that groups of species specialize in the production of amides, phenylpropanoids, lignans and neolignans, benzoic acids and chromenes, alkaloids, polyketides, and a plethora of compounds of mixed biosynthetic origin. Bioassays against Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermun have resulted in the characterization of various amides, prenylated phenolic compounds, and polyketides as potential classes of antifungal agents. Studies on the developmental process in seedlings of Piper solmsianum have shown that phenylpropanoid are produced instead of the tetrahydrofuran lignans found in adult plants. In suspension cultures of P. cernuum and P crassinervium, phenylethylamines and alkamides predominate, whereas in the adult plants prenylpropanoids and prenylated benzoic acids are the respective major compound classes. Knowledge of the chemistry, bioactivity, and ecology of Piperaceae species provides preliminary clues for an overall interpretation of the possible role and occurrence of major classes of compounds.

Effect of the dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan (-)-hinokinin on doxorubicin and methyl methanesulfonate clastogenicity in V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts

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

The effect of the dibenzylbutyrolactolic lignan (-)-cubebin on doxorubicin mutagenicity and recombinogenicity in wing somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Z gamma production and limits on anomalous ZZ gamma and Z gamma gamma couplings in pp collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We present a study of eeγ and μμγ events using 1109 (1009) pb-1 of data in the electron (muon) channel, respectively. These data were collected with the DØ detector at the Fermilab Tevatron p over(p, ̄) collider at sqrt(s) = 1.96   TeV. Having observed 453 (515) candidates in the eeγ (μμγ) final state, we measure the Zγ production cross section for a photon with transverse energy ET > 7   GeV, separation between the photon and leptons Δ Rℓ γ > 0.7, and invariant mass of the di-lepton pair Mℓ ℓ > 30   GeV / c2, to be 4.96 ± 0.30 (stat . + syst .) ± 0.30 (lumi .)   pb, in agreement with the Standard Model prediction of 4.74 ± 0.22   pb. This is the most precise Zγ cross section measurement at a hadron collider. We set limits on anomalous trilinear Zγγ and ZZγ gauge boson couplings of - 0.085 < h30 γ < 0.084, - 0.0053 < h40 γ < 0.0054 and - 0.083 < h30 Z < 0.082, - 0.0053 < h40 Z < 0.0054 at the 95% C.L. for the form-factor scale Λ = 1.2   TeV.