Biological properties of medicinal plants: a review of their antimicrobial activity

Plants have been used for thousands of years to flavor and conserve food, to treat health disorders and to prevent diseases including epidemics. The knowledge of their healing properties has been transmitted over the centuries within and among human communities. Active compounds produced during secondary vegetal metabolism are usually responsible for the biological properties of some plant species used throughout the globe for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, data on the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empirical, have been scientifically confirmed, concomitantly with the increasing number of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from plants may potentially control microbial growth in diverse situations and in the specific case of disease treatment, numerous studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of these plant antimicrobials and the mechanisms involved in microbial growth inhibition, either separately or associated with conventional antimicrobials. Thus, in the present work, medicinal plants with emphasis on their antimicrobial properties are reviewed.

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.

Seasonal effect of three pasture plants species on the free-living stages of Haemonchus contortus

Avaliaram-se o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência dos estágios de vida livre de Haemonchus contortus em fezes obtidas de ovinos infectados por esse nematódeo, depositadas nas quatro estações do ano, em pastagens de três espécies de gramíneas (Brachiaria decumbens cv Australiana, Cynodon dactylon cv. Coast-cross e Panicum maximum cv. Aruana), com duas alturas (5cm e 30cm) no momento da deposição das fezes. Amostras de fezes e de capim foram coletadas uma, duas, quatro, oito, 12 e 16 semanas após a deposição das fezes e processadas em laboratório, para recuperação de larvas infectantes. O maior número de larvas infectantes foi recuperado das amostras de capim e de fezes nas pastagens com 30cm de altura. As condições climáticas que mais favoreceram o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência das larvas nas fezes, bem como a sobrevivência e a manutenção das larvas no capim foram aquelas com temperaturas médias em torno de 17ºC, acompanhadas de baixas precipitações pluviométricas. As temperaturas mais altas e as precipitações elevadas, que ocorrem na chamada estação das águas, foram desfavoráveis para a recuperação de larvas infectantes da pastagem. de forma geral, a pastagem de Aruana foi a que possibilitou as maiores recuperações de larvas.

Nitric oxide in plants: a brief discussion on this multifunctional molecule

Diversos estudos vêm sendo realizados com a finalidade de aumentar o conhecimento sobre a ocorrência e a atividade do óxido nítrico (ON) nas plantas. Nesse sentido, a presente revisão objetivou abordar alguns aspectos referentes ao on nas plantas, tais como propriedades químicas, vias de síntese, efeitos fisiológicos, ação antioxidante, transdução do sinal, interação com hormônios vegetais e expressão gênica. Nos últimos anos, muitos avanços têm sido obtidos em relação à síntese de on e seus efeitos fisiológicos nas plantas. Porém, os mecanismos moleculares que fundamentam seus efeitos permanecem pouco compreendidos. É sinalizada uma investigação em detalhes sobre as estreitas interações entre ON, Ca2+, ADP-ribose cíclica (cADPR) e proteínas quinases. Além disso, ainda não foi possível identificar uma enzima vegetal que apresente atividade semelhante à da óxido nítrico sintase (NOS). A elucidação de tais aspectos representa um desafio para futuros trabalhos.

Differential responses between mature and young leaves of sunflower plants to oxidative stress caused by water deficit

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

Ultraviolet-B and water stress effects on growth, gas exchange and oxidative stress in sunflower plants

The effects and interaction of drought and UV-B radiation were studied in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L. var. Catissol-01), growing in a greenhouse under natural photoperiod conditions. The plants received approximately 1.7 W m(-2) (controls) or 8.6 W m(-2) (+UV-B) of UV-B radiation for 7 h per day. The UV-B and water stress treatments started 18 days after sowing. After a period of 12 days of stress, half of the water-stressed plants (including both UV-B irradiated or non-irradiated) were rehydrated. Both drought and UV-B radiation treatments resulted in lower shoot dry matter per plant, but there was no significant interaction between the two treatments. Water stress and UV-B radiation reduced photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration. However, the amplitude of the effects of both stressors was dependent on the interactions. This resulted in alleviation of the negative effect of drought on photosynthesis and transpiration by UV-B radiation as the water stress intensified. Intercelluar CO(2) concentration was initially reduced in all treatments compared to control plants but it increased with time. Photosynthetic pigments were not affected by UV-B radiation. Water stress reduced photosynthetic pigments only under high UV-B radiation. The decrease was more accentuated for chlorophyll a than for chlorophyll b. As a measure for the maximum efficiency of photosystem II in darkness F (v)/F (m) was used, which was not affected by drought stress but initially reduced by UV-B radiation. Independent of water supply, UV-B radiation increased the activity of pirogalol peroxidase and did not increase the level of malondialdehyde. on the other hand, water stress did not alter the activity of pirogalol peroxidase and caused membrane damage as assessed by lipid peroxidation. The application of UV-B radiation together with drought seemed to have a protective effect by lowering the intensity of lipid peroxidation caused by water stress. The content of proline was not affected by UV-B radiation but was increased by water stress under both low and high UV-B radiation. After 24 h of rehydration, most of the parameters analyzed recovered to the same level as the unstressed plants.

Comparison of polyamine, phenol and flavonoid contents in plants grown under conventional and organic methods

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Proteomic analysis reveals suppression of bark chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in citrus plants affected by the citrus sudden death disease

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

Immunity in plants and animals: common ends through different means using similar tools

A comparative approach is potentially useful for understanding the role of mammal innate immunity role in stimulating adaptive immunity as well as the relationship between these two types of immune strategies. Considerable progress has been made in the elucidation of the co-ordinated events involved in plant perception of infection and their mobilisation of defence responses. Although lacking immunoglobulin molecules, circulating cells, and phagocytic processes, plants successfully use pre-formed physical and chemical innate defences, as well as inducible adaptive immune strategies. In the present paper, we review some shared and divergent immune aspects present in both animals and plants. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Candida leandrae sp nov., an asexual ascomycetous yeast species isolated from tropical plants

The novel yeast species Candida leandrae is described based on eight isolates from decaying fruits of Leandra reversa Cogn. (Melastomataceae) in an Atlantic rainforest site in Brazil, one from a Convolvulaceae flower in Costa Rica and one from a drosophilid in Hawai'i. The strains differed in their colony morphology, one being butyrous and smooth and the other being filamentous and rugose. Sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit rRNA gene from both morphotypes were identical. C. leandrae belongs to the Kodamaea clade and is closely related to Candida restingae. The two species can be separated on the basis of growth at 37degreesC and the assimilation of melezitose, negative in the novel species. The type culture of C. leandrae is strain UNESP 00-64R(T) (= CBS 9735(T) = NRRL Y-27757(T)).

Nodule ultrastructure and initial growth of Anadenanthera peregrina (L.) Speg. var. falcata (Benth.) Altschul plants infected with rhizobia

The anatomy and ultrastructure of root nodules of Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) were analysed, as was plant growth. To ensure that nodules developed, seedlings were inoculated with a mixture of six strains of rhizobia. Nodules were produced that differed in appearance-and probably also effectiveness-but their structure was similar and they showed characteristics typical of indeterminate nodules, such as persistent meristematic tissue and a gradient of cells at different stages of development. Many starch grains were present in inner cortex cells and interstitial cells of infected tissue. Infected cells were densely packed with bacteroids, which contained many poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules. The high incidence of these granules, together with high levels of starch accumulation in interstitial cells, suggested low N-2-fixation efficiency of the rhizobia isolates used for inoculation. In the symbiosomes of early-senescent infected cells, reticulum-like structures, small vesicles and a fibrillar material were observed; these may be related to bacteroid degradation. In the cytoplasm of late-senescent infected cells, many vesicles and membrane-like structures were observed, probably associated with membrane degradation of bacteroids and peribacteroids. The total biomass of plants inoculated with rhizobia was low and their xylopodia and shoots had low levels of N compared with non-inoculated plants fertilized with ammonium nitrate. However, inoculated plants did not show N-deficiency symptoms and grew better than non-inoculated plants without N fertilization. These growth results, together with ultrastructural observations of nodules, suggest that nitrogen fixation of rhizobia isolates associated with Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata roots is poor. (C) 2002 Annals of Botany Company.

Aluminum in corn plants: influence on growth and morpho-anatomy of root and leaf

A toxicidade do alumínio (Al) é um dos fatores mais limitantes para a produtividade. Esta pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar a influência do Al, em solução nutritiva, na altura de plantas, no peso da matéria seca e nas alterações morfoanatômicas de raízes e folhas de milho (Zea mays L.). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com tratamentos constituídos de cinco doses de Al (0; 25; 75; 150; e 300 µmol L-1) e seis repetições. As soluções foram constantemente aeradas e o pH foi ajustado a 4,3, inicialmente. A matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes e a altura das plantas diminuíram significativamente com o aumento da concentração de Al. As raízes de plantas de milho cultivadas em soluções com Al tiveram seu crescimento inibido e apresentaram menos raízes laterais e desenvolvimento do sistema radicular inferior, em comparação com as das plantas-controle. As folhas das plantas crescidas em soluções que continham 75 e 300 µmol L-1 de Al não apresentaram muita diferença anatômica em relação às das plantas-controle. A bainha da folha das plantas exposta ao Al apresentou epiderme uniestratificada revestida por uma fina camada de cutícula e as células da epiderme e do córtex foram as que menos se desenvolveram. No feixe vascular, o metaxilema e protoxilema não tinham paredes secundárias, e o diâmetro de ambos foi muito menor quando comparado com os das plantas-controle.

Leaf structure of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) woody plants

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

Antiviral activities of plants occurring in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Part 2. Screening Bignoniaceae species

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Epiphyte plants use by birds in Brazil

This study firstly reviewed the interspecific interaction records between birds and epiphyte plants in Brazil. Forty two documents, including articles, scientific notes, books and thesis, and 35 personal records and from collaborators were argued, totaling 112 species of birds that interacted with 97 species of epiphyte plants. Two articles treated the theme specifically and another 40 treated related subjects, such as: pollination of epiphytes, ecology and feeding behavior of birds. Studies were concentrated mainly in Atlantic Forest, in the southeastern Brazilian region. The epiphyte species more visited by birds was Aechmea nudicaulis (Bromeliaceae). The main visitor of epiphytes was Ramphodon naevius (Trochilidae). According to the number of authors' citations an index of generality in bird-epiphyte interactions was created. As result the index inferred that the ovenbird Cichlocolaptes leucophrus and the bromeliad Nidularium procerum are less generalist and more specialist species in bird-epiphyte interactions. The totality of the papers showed a considerable number of bird species that use the epiphytes plants and its resources, including nectar, fruits, invertebrates, nest material, nesting place, water and bath. Considering the importance of epiphytes to supply a variety of resources for birds, these results highlighted the necessity of additional and specific studies about the theme in various Brazilian regions and biomes.