Protein expression upon desiccation and imbibition of Magnolia ovata A. St.-Hil seeds

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Germinação e vigor de sementes de Talisia esculenta (St. Hil) Radlk em função de diferentes períodos de fermentação

The present study had the aim of testing the effect of different fermentation periods on the germination and vigour of pitomba seeds. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Seed Section of the Agrarian Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, PB. The fruits were picked directly from maternal trees located in the same municipal district, peeled manually and fermented for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours, in addition to seeds with pulp (without fermentation). The experiment was entirely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds per treatment. After each fermentation period, the seeds were washed in tap water and left in the laboratory environment for 24 hours on paper towels. Water content, germination and vigor (germination velocity index, seedling length and dry mass., relative frequency and medium time of germination) were measured. Less water content was shown in the seeds fermented for 96 hours (38.5%), while the largest germination percentages were observed after 76 hours of fermentation (93%). In relation to vigour, the best values occurred with 86 and 105 hours of fermentation. Fermentation is recommended for up to 105 hours as appropriate to removal of the pitomba seed aril.

Evaluation of Strychnos pseudoquina St. Hil. leaves extract on gastrointestinal activity in mice

Strychnos pseudoquina St. Hil. (Loganiaceae) was investigated for its ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (piroxicam) and a necrotizing agent (HCl/EtOH) in mice. The MeOH extract and enriched alkaloidic fraction (EAF) provided significant protection in experimental models wheer used at doses of 250 and 1000 mg/kg. In vivo tests were carried out to evaluate for possible toxic effects and no mortality was observed up to the 5 g/kg dose level. Phytochemical investigation led to the isolation of a new indole alkaloid, which elucidated the observed pharmacological effects. © 2005 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.

Alterações reprodutivas em ratos machos expostos perinatalmente aos frutos da Solanum lycocarpum

This work employed pregnant rats treated with Solanum lycocarpum unripe fruits (10% in diet) from gestation day (GD) 06 to post-natal day (PND) 07, for the evaluation of the sperm number, daily sperm production and epididymal sperm transit time of the male offspring at PND 60 and PND 90. No differences were observed in the daily sperm production (DSP) and sperm number in the testis of the exposed males at PND 60 and PND 90. Also, no alterations were observed in sperm transit time in the caput epididymis of the exposed males at PND 60 and PND 90. However, a reduced sperm transit time was observed in the corpus/cauda epididymis of the experimental males at PND 90. The last data may explain the reduced sperm number observed in the corpus/cauda epididymis of the experimental male rats at PND 90. These data show that the male rats exposed to S. lycocarpum fruits during gestation did not present alterations in testis sperm production and number, however the sperm transit time through epididymis was impaired, resulting in a decreased number of spermatozoa in epididymis cauda. We conclude that S. lycocarpum may cause imbalance on hypothalamus-pituitary gland axis.

Avaliação da atividade mutagênica e fitoestrogênica das plantas Davilla nitida Vahl. e Davilla elliptica St. Hil (Dilleniaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Atividade antifúngica de extratos de Momordica charantia L. e Lafoensia pacari St. Hil. sobre Colletotrichum musae (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) Arx

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

In vitro trypanocidal activity of solamargine and extracts from Solanum palinacanthum and Solanum lycocarpum of brazilian cerrado

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a potencial atividade tripanocida do extrato bruto etanólico dos frutos de Solanum palinacanthum, Solanum lycocarpum e do glicoalcalóide solamargina. Pó do fruto seco de S. palinacanthum e S. lycocarpum foram submetidos a extracção por refluxo com etanol a 96% e solamargina foi isolada a partir do extrato bruto de S. palinacanthum. Foram determinadas de ambos os extratos e a solamargina a atividade tripanocida utilizando o ensaio colorimétrico MTT. O Extrato de S. palinacanthum mostrou-se mais ativo (IC50 = 175,9 µg.ml–1) de que o extrato de S. lycocarpum (IC50 = 194,7 µg.ml–1). A solamargina apresentou forte atividade tripanocida (IC50 = 15,3 µg.ml–1), o que pode explicar a melhor atividade de ambos os extratos. O benzonidazol (IC50 = 9,0 µg.ml–1) é a única droga utilizada para o tratamento da doença de Chagas. Estes resultados demonstram pela primeira vez que os extratos etanólicos obtidos a partir de frutos de S. palinacanthum e S. lycocarpum, além da solamargina apresentam uma atividade tripanocida potencial.

Reproductive biology and pollination of Utricularia reniformis A.St.-Hil. (Lentibulariaceae)

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

Divergência genética entre árvores matrizes de Ceiba speciosa St. Hil. para características de frutos e sementes

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV

Sistemática, evolução e biologia reprodutiva de Utricularia com ênfase para Utricularia amethystina Salzm. Ex A.St.-Hil. & Girard (Lentibulariaceae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Methanolic Extract and Fractions from Davilla elliptica St. Hil. (Dilleniaceae) on Bothrops jararaca Envenomation

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

In vivo assessment of genotoxic, antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic activities of Solanum lycocarpum fruits glycoalkaloidic extract

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

Optimization of extraction conditions and antioxidant activity of Solanum lycocarpum fruits

Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. The capacity of natural antioxidant from phytochemical has increase attention from researchers and public. However, the extraction process is affecting the activity and the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. The Solanum lycocarpum is a plant of the Brazilian “cerrado”, popularly used as a hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and control of metabolic diseases. Its effects are attributed to the presence of several glycoalkaloids (solamargine, solasonina) and solasodine. Therefore, the purpose of this communication was, investigate the optimization of extraction condition and evaluation of antioxidant activity from fruits of Solanum lycocarpum. The extracts were obtained using different solvent systems, i.e., water, 50% ethanol, ethanol absolute and ethyl ether (1:10 and 1:20) and different extraction processes: maceration with constant agitation at room temperature, maceration with constant agitation and heating at 30°C and ultrasound. The extracts were characterized by the amount of material extracted (1, 6 and 24 h) and the action of antioxidant activity by DPPH method. The results showed that the polar solvent (50% ethanol) and extractive process maceration with agitation to ambient temperature showed higher contents of extractable of fruits of S. lycocarpum (3.4 g %) and also showed higher antioxidant activity (88.57±2.41% de inhibition). This action whether the presence of glycoalkaloids (solamargine, solasonine and solasodine) in fruits S. lycocarpum which are polar compounds and may explain this increased antioxidant action of this extract.

Antiulcerogenic activity of the aqueous fraction of Anacardium humile St. Hil (Anacardiaceae)

Anacardium humile St. Hil. is being used in traditional medicine to treat ulcer. The present work evaluated the mechanisms of action involved in the anti-ulcer properties of the aqueous fraction from leaves of A. humile (AHQ). Gastroprotection of A. humile was evaluated in ethanol and piroxicam models. Mechanisms of action such as mucus production, nitric oxide (NO), sulfhydryl compounds (SH) and the anti-secretory action were evaluated. The acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model was used to evaluate the A. humile healing properties. Results obtained in the ethanol model showed that AHQ provided significant gastroprotection at all the tested doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Thereby, the following protocols were performed using the dose capable of producing the most effective gastroprotection, which was the AHQ 200 mg/kg (P < 0.001). Moreover, AHQ (200 mg/kg) protected the mucosa from piroxicam-induced damage. Mucus, NO, and SH did not participate on this gastroprotection. AHQ interfere in H+ secretion in gastric mucosa, thus exerting an anti-secretory activity. Our results suggest that the gastroprotection and cicatrisation process executed by AHQ occurred due to its anti-secretory activity. This study reinforces its traditional medicinal use. Considering that the current therapies are based on the use of anti-secretory agents, the A. humile arises as a promising alternative antiulcer therapy.