Ocorrência de flavonas, flavonóis e seus glicosídeos em espécies do gênero Solanum (Solanaceae)

During the last decades several flavonoids of Solanum species have been isolated. This review describes the flavones, flavonols and their glycosides presently known as constituents of Solanum species.

Espectrometria de massas com ionização por "electrospray" aplicada ao estudo de espécies inorgânicas e organometálicas

Although electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ES-MS) has been extensively applied to study organic and biochemical species, it is also specially suitable to study inorganic and organo-metallic species. Such species, even those that are low-volatile or thermo-unstable, can be easily ionized or simply transferred from liquid to gas phase by electrospray. However, chemical transformations frequently occur during the process. This paper discusses the fundamental aspects of electrospray ionization as well as its analytical applicability to inorganic and organo-metallic species in order to spread the technique and make its characteristics more familiar to potential users.

Óleos voláteis de espécies de Myrcia nativas do Rio Grande do Sul

Essential oils from M. richardiana, M. arborescens, M. selloi, M. oligantha, M. rostrata, M. lajeana, M. obtecta, M. pubipetala and M. hatschbachii were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Sixty-seven compounds have been identified ranging from 90-99% of the oil contents. All analyzed species were rich in cyclic sesquiterpenes (66-99%), mainly those from the cadinane, caryophyllane and germacrane cyclization pathway, among them b-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, d-cadinene, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, globulol and a-cadinol. The acyclic sesquiterpene series was well represented by M. lajeana (32.1%), with 25,3% of (E)-nerolidyl acetate.

Estresse oxidativo: relação entre geração de espécies reativas e defesa do organismo

This work describes the mechanism of action of some reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in the oxidative stress of the human body, and their consequences on damage to DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. It also illustrates the defense system of our organism against these ROS and RNS species. The action of nonenzymatic protection systems is reported, with emphasis on micromolecules like Q10 coenzyme, vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, carotenoids and flavonoids. The importance of flavonoids is also emphasized, and their body protection mechanism is detailed.

Estudo espectroscópico do equilíbrio entre espécies hexacoordenada e pentacoordenada dos monômero d nativo e reconstituído da hemoglobina extracelular gigante de Glossoscolex paulistus em meio alcalino

UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies of native and reconstituted d monomers from Glossoscolex paulistus were performed in alkaline pH. In addition to the presence of aquomet and hemichrome hexacoordinated species, a pentacoordinated species occurs. This latter species, which presents an imidazolate group of axial histidine as fifth ligand, is identified by the blue-shifted low-intensity Soret band and LMCT band. The pentacoordinated species must occur due to partial polypeptide unfolding.

Atividade antioxidante de óleos essenciais de espécies de Croton do nordeste do Brasil

Three Croton species, C. zenhtneri, C. nepetaefolius and C. argyrophylloides, were collected at two different times, 6:00 and 13:00 h, their essential oils were extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry. The percentage yield of oil constituents changes along the day. The oils were submitted to the antioxidant test thiobarbituric acid reactive species, using BHT and a-tocoferol as the reference compounds. All oils exhibited good antioxidant activities. In general, C. zenhtneri and C. argyrophylloides essential oils showed higher antioxidant activity than C. nepetaefolius.

Alcalóides pirrolizidínicos em espécies do gênero Senecio

Senecio species contain a large variety of secondary metabolites and many of these plants afford pyrrolizidine alkaloids. This paper is a review of the literature, describing 62 pyrrolizidine alkaloids already isolated in 62 of more than 2000 species of Senecio, distributed worldwide. The structure-activity relationships involving their toxicity are also discussed, since some Senecio species used for medicinal purposes are responsible for causing serious adverse effects.

Metabólitos secundários de espécies de Anacardiaceae

This review describes some aspects of the family Anacardiaceae dealing with the presence and distribution of secondary metabolites in the main genera of this family and their biological activities. It reports the occurrence of different natural compounds present in their species with special emphasis on phenolic lipids, flavonoids and triterpenes that are typical metabolites of this family.

Sensores eletroquímicos: considerações sobre mecanismos de funcionamento e aplicações no monitoramento de espécies químicas em ambientes microscópicos

Electrochemical sensors have attracted considerable attention in recent years because they provide data about the chemical state of our surroundings and the dynamics of the chemical transformations in the form a spatially resolved image. Particular interest has been directed to measurements in restricted-volume samples as new technologies enable the fabrication of miniaturized versions of sensors with reproducible characteristics. Taking these aspects into consideration, this review focuses on the use of electrodes of micrometer dimensions to acquire chemical information in microdomains in which concentrations may not be spatially homogeneous. This is possible because microelectrodes allow fast-response measurements with micrometer resolution to be performed. On the other hand, the use of microelectrodes as amperometric sensors presents an inherent drawback owing to the insufficient specificity toward the substrate of interest. Hence, some comments on strategies to enhance the selectivity of amperometric sensors are also made. Finally, recent applications of structurally microscopic electrodes as in vivo sensors are shown, as well as a prospect of the future trend in this field.

Avaliação da concentração de alguns íons metálicos em diferentes espécies de líquens do cerrado Sul-Mato-Grossense

Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Zn and Cu were determinated using flame atomic absorption spectrometry in nine lichen species of the Sul-Mato-Grossense cerrado. The average metal ion concentrations varied in the following ranges: Fe, 248.41-1568.01; Mn, 98.50-397.33; Co, 10.08-24.81; Cr, 18.24-44.26; Zn, 14.62-34.79 and Cu, 3.23-7.57 mg kg-1. Statistical analysis (Pearson and Cluster) applied to the metal ion concentrations indicated that the accumulation of these ions can be due to several anthropogenic sources including agricultural activities, mineral exploration, biomass burning, soil mineral composition and leather tanning processes by chromium.

Alcalóides indólicos isolados de espécies do gênero Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae)

Species from genus Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are popularly employed to treat various diseases. This genus is characterized by the occurrence of indole alkaloids. Taking into account the various biological activities attributed to these alkaloids, the description of the chemical diversity in genus Aspidosperma is important. A review of simple carbolinic alkaloids isolated from species of various genera was published in 1979. In 1987, it was published another one dealing with the relationships between the chemical structures of the indole alkaloids and the evolution of Aspidosperma species. This work updates the information about the indole alkaloids isolated from Aspidosperma species.

Biodiversidade flavonoídica e aspectos farmacológicos em espécies dos gêneros Ouratea e Luxemburgia (Ochnaceae)

This work describes the flavonoids and biflavonoids found in species of Ouratea and Luxemburgia as chemical markers that serve to detect the difference between these taxa according to the linkage between the flavonoidal units. A rational nomenclature is proposed and the pharmacological potencial is discussed.

Espécies reativas de oxigênio e de nitrogênio, antioxidantes e marcadores de dano oxidativo em sangue humano: principais métodos analíticos para sua determinação

We review here the chemistry of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, their biological sources and targets; particularly, biomolecules implicated in the redox balance of the human blood, and appraise the analytical methods available for their detection and quantification. Those biomolecules are represented by the enzymatic antioxidant defense machinery, whereas coadjutant reducing protection is provided by several low molecular weight molecules. Biomolecules can be injured by RONS yielding a large repertoire of oxidized products, some of which can be taken as biomarkers of oxidative damage. Their reliable determination is of utmost interest for their potentiality in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of maladies.

Diversidade de policetídeos produzidos por espécies de Penicillium isoladas de Melia azedarach e murraya paniculata

Eight compounds comprising four groups of polyketides, the xanthone fusarindin, the mixed peptide alkaloid-polyketide GKK1032, the anthraquinones crisophanol, citreoveridin and janthinone, and the azaphylones dihydrocitrinone, citrinin and citrinin H-1, were identified in Penicillium species isolated as endophytic fungi from Melia azedarach and Murraya paniculata. The antibacterial activity of the azaphylones was tested and showed that citrinin H-1 is more active than citrinin.

Composição química dos óleos essenciais das folhas de seis espécies do gênero Baccharis de "Campos de Altitude" da mata atlântica paulista

The essential oils from the leaves of six species of the Baccharis genus (B. dracunculifolia, B. microdonta, B. regnelli, B. schultzii, B. trimera, and B. uncinella), collected in the "Campos de Altitude" of the Atlantic Forest (SP), were extracted using hydrodistillation procedures and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. There was a predominance of sesquiterpenes in all studied oils as b-elemene in B. dracunculifolia and B. regnelli, a-humulene in B. trimera, g-gurjunene in B. schultzii, bicyclogermacrene in B. regnelli, d-cadinene in B. regnelli and B. uncinella, spathulenol in B. schultzii, caryophyllene oxide in B. microdonta and guaiol in B. uncinella. However, a high amount of monoterpenes was also observed in B. uncinella (a-pinene), B. regnelli (d-car-3-ene) and B. schultzii (limonene). The chemical compounds of the essential oils of B. schultzii, B. regnelli and B. microdonta are described for the first time in this work.