Antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities of diterpenoids isolated from the roots of salvia deserta

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Quality control of cosmetics containing Calendula officinalis, Melampodium divaricatum, Matricaria chamomila linné and Acchilea millefolium extracts

The use of medicinal plants occurs since the Antiquity, but has become more popular in the present time. In the United States, 50% of the population uses the phytotherapy. Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum have components called flavonoids. Matricaria chamomila Linn and Acchilea millefolium, popularly known as camomila and mil folhas, respectively, have sesquiterpenic components called azulens. These substances present many effects; some of them offer benefits to the human health. Thus, these plants had their extract incorporated in cosmetic-dermatological formulations. This study aimed to prove the presence of the active substances, sesquiterpenes and flavonoids, in cosmetic creams with Matricaria chamomila Linn, Acchilea millefolium, Calendula officinalis and Melampodium divaricatum extracts. Also, aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of the products. Flavonoids and sesquiterpernes were detected in the emulsions and the microbiological quality was verified. Thus, the products are safe to the users in relation to the microbiological aspects and should present beneficial effects due to the presence of flavonoids and sesquiterpenes.

Superação de dormência em sementes de messlina (Melissa officinalis L.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação de atividades biológicas dos extratos de Rosmarinus officinalis L. (alecrim) e Thymus vulgaris L. (tomilho)

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Phenolic compounds from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) attenuate oxidative stress and reduce blood cholesterol concentrations in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats

Abstract Background Phenolic compounds combine antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activities and, consequently, are expected to prevent or minimize cardiometabolic risk. Methods To evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract (AQ) and non-esterified phenolic fraction (NEPF) from rosemary on oxidative stress in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, 48 male 4-week old Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 chow diet group (C) and 5 hypercholesterolemic diet groups, with 1 receiving water (HC), 2 receiving AQ at concentrations of 7 and 140 mg/kg body weight (AQ70 and AQ140, respectively), and 2 receiving NEPF at concentrations of 7 and 14 mg/kg body weight (NEPF7 and NEPF14, respectively) by gavage for 4 weeks. Results In vitro, both AQ and NEPF had remarkable antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) assay, which was similar to BHT. In vivo, the group that received AQ at 70 mg/kg body weight had lower serum total cholesterol (−39.8%), non-HDL-c (−44.4%) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels (−37.7%) compared with the HC group. NEPF (7 and 14 mg/kg) reduced the tissue TBARS levels and increased the activity of tissular antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase). Neither AQ nor NEPF was able to ameliorate the alterations in the hypercholesterolemic diet-induced fatty acid composition in the liver. Conclusions These data suggest that phenolic compounds from rosemary ameliorate the antioxidant defense in different tissues and attenuate oxidative stress in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats, whereas the serum lipid profile was improved only in rats that received the aqueous extract.

Bacteriostatic effect of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis) against Streptococcus mutans

This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of copaiba oil (Copaifera officinalis against the cariogenic microorganism, Streptococcus mutans. For such purpose, a minimum inhibition concentration test of copaiba oil against S. mutans was performed, using the serial dilution in broth technique, with a negative control, a positive control (0.12% chlorhexidine) and a 10% copaíba oil solution as a test. A minimum bactericidal concentration test with tubes presenting microbial inhibition was also conduced. In the minimum inhibitory concentration test, copaiba oil showed inhibition of bacterial growth at all concentrations tested up to 0.78 µL/mL of the 10% copaiba oil solution in the broth. In addition, the negative control had no inhibition, and the 0.12% chlorhexidine solution was effective up to 6.25 µL/mL in the broth. Copaiba oil showed a bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans at low concentrations, and could be a an option of phytotherapic agent to be used against cariogenic bacteria in the prevention of caries disease.

Ornithophily in the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae)

This dissertation presents for the first time a survey of bird pollinated (ornithophilous) Salvia species. Within the approximately 1000 species of the worldwide distributed genus roughly 20% (186 spp.) are bird pollinated. Excepting four species in the Old World (South Africa and Madagascar), ornithophilous species are restricted to the New World where they represent about one third of the species. They occur mainly in higher altitudes (1500-3000m) and usually grow as shrubs or perennial herbs (97%). The bilabiate to tubular flowers are often red (at least 49%), averaging 35mm (7-130mm) in length and produce a large to medium volume of nectar with rather low sugar concentration. Pollination by sunbirds and white-eyes is documented in a South African species, and that by hummingbirds in 16 species of the New World (USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Bolivia). Beside pollinator observations, the functionality of the staminal levers, the process of pollen transfer and the fitting between flowers and birds are tested by inserting museum skins and metal rods into fresh flowers. The most surprising result is the finding of two different main pollen transfer mechanisms. In at least 54% of the species an active staminal lever mechanism enables pollen deposition on the birds body. This is illustrated in detail in the South African S. lanceolata at which birds were observed to release the lever mechanism and became dusted with pollen. In contrast, the lever mechanism in about 35% of the New World species is reduced in different ways. Pollen transfer by inactive ‘levers’ is demonstrated in detail in S. haenkei in Bolivia, at which four pollinating hummingbird species could be observed. The tubular corolla forced the birds in a specific position, thereby causing pollen transfer from the exserted pollen-sacs to the birds body. With respect to the floral diversity and systematic affiliation of the species, parallel evolution of ornithophily and lever reduction is likely. Considering that bird pollinated species might have derived from bee pollinated species and that the staminal levers have become secondarily inactive, it is concluded that the shift in pollinators induced phenotypic changes even disabling such a sophisticated structure as the staminal lever mechanism.

Pollen-placement and pollen-portioning in diverse Salvia-species

This dissertation addresses the staminal lever mechanism of the genus Salvia. Various hypotheses referring to its purpose and function are tested and elucidated. The first hypothesis maintains that the lever is a mechanical selection mechanism which excludes weak pollinators from the flower. This hypothesis is refuted and the respective results of force measurements and morphological investigations are presented, statistically evaluated and discussed. The force measurements and morphological investigations were conducted on the staminal levers and flowers of 8 bee pollinated (melittophilous) and 6 bird pollinated (ornithophilous) species. For comparison a ninth melittophilous species that lacks the staminal lever was investigated. In this species the force measurements were conducted on floral structures that were suspected to hinder a flower visitor. The hypotheses, which state that the staminal lever is a tool for pollen portioning and reduces the risk of pollen loss as well as hybridisation due to its ability to perform a repeatable, accurate and species-specific pollen placement on a wide range of diverse pollinators, are confirmed. Investigations with respect to pollen portioning were carried out on 13 sages. The lever mechanism can be released several times in a row, while the pollen sacs leave a dosed pollen portion on a well defined spot on the pollinator‘s body. Pollen placement was investigated for 12 sages. In sympatric sages, lever length and the area of pollen placement are of particular interest. A shared pollinator bears species-specific areas of pollen placement for different sages. The accurate pollen placement ensures an efficient pollination. However, the question of the functionality of the lever mechanism can not be answered with absolute certainty. The lever‘s backswing is not caused by the adaxial lever arm; the adaxial lever arm is too light and too short to be an adequate counterweight to the abaxial lever arm. Therefore, the adaxial lever arm can not pull the abaxial lever arm to return it to its neutral position. But there are indications of a cellular mainspring in the filament. According to the current state of knowledge, this is the most plausible explanation for the lever's backswing, but further histological investigations on the joint of the lever mechanism are necessary to confirm this assumption.

Conoscere, conservare, valorizzare. Progetto per l'anfiteatro di Urbs Salvia

La tesi si inserisce nell'odierno dibattito sulla vegetazione all'interno delle aree archeologiche. L'anfiteatro dell'antica Urbisaglia nelle Marche costituisce un eclatante esempio di quanto sia rilevante considerare anche la vegetazione all'interno di un progetto di conservazione. Cercando di affrontare in maniera sistematica il problema dell'interazione tra le strutture vegetali ed il manufatto, il progetto è stato concepito sulla base di un piano di manutenzione programmata per la salvaguardia della struttura archeologica ma anche della particolare vegetazione presente nel parco. Il tutto inserito in un ampio progetto di valorizzazione dell'intera area archeologica.

Effects of shape Rosmarinus officinalis neighbors on resprouting of shape Erica multiflora individuals

To study the effects of competition in Mediterranean shrubland regeneration following disturbance, we used a neighborhood approach to assess the influence of mature Rosmarinus officinalis neighbors on the resprouting of Erica multiflora individuals after clipping. Sprout biomass of target plants 2 years after clipping was regressed against various measures of neighbor abundance within a 2 m radius around target E. multiflora individuals in which all vegetation except R. officinalis had been removed. The largest single influence on the biomass of sprouts produced was the previous biomass of the resprouting plant. The abundance of R. officinalis neighbors had a weak but detectable effect on resprouting of E. multiflora. Abundance of neighbors within 60 cm from target plants was the best predictor of regrowth. At this distance, two simple measures of neighbor abundance within the neighborhood, the number of neighbors and the sum of their heights, were significant in accounting for variation in resprouted biomass. None of the combinations of neighbor variables performed significantly better than single variables. The best models accounted for around 24 percent of the variation in resprout biomass. As in other studies, angular dispersion of neighbors never had a significant effect on performance of target plants. The weak but significant response of resprouting to variation in R. officinalis abundance suggests that the intensity of competition in the experiment was low because of the removal of other species.

Blattformen : Zahlbrucknera paradoxa - Cortusa matthioli - Helleborus viridis - Helleborus niger - Anemone nemorosa - Zahlbrucknera paradoxa - Anemone narcissiflora - Betonica officinalis

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Scutellaria baikalensis - Monarda didyma - Betonica officinalis

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