Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Euterpe oleracea Mart., Arecaceae, oil

The oil of the fruits of Euterpe oleracea Mart., Arecaceae (OEO), was evaluated in models of inflammation and hyperalgesia in vivo to study its effects on these conditions. The experimental models contained the writhing test in mice, rat paw edema, granuloma test in rats, vascular permeability in rats, cell migration to the peritoneal cavity in rats and ear erythema induced by croton oil in mice. Doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg of OEO were administered orally. The observed number of writhes was inhibited by 33.67, 45.88 and 55.58%, respectively. OEO produced a dose-dependent effect, with linear correlation coefficient R=0.99 (y=0.0219x+23.133), and the median effective dose found was 1226.8 mg/kg. The oral administration of 1226.8 mg/kg of OEO inhibited carrageenan-induced edema by 29.18% (p<0.05) when compared to the control group. The daily administration of OEO for six days inhibited the formation of granulomatous tissue by 36.66% (p<0.01). In ear erythema induced by croton oil, OEO presented a significant inhibition (37.9%). In the vascular permeability test, treatment with OEO decreased the response to histamine, inhibiting vascular permeability by 54.16%. In carrageenan-induced peritonitis, OEO reduced the number of neutrophils migrating compared to the control group by 80.14%. These results suggested that OEO has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, probably of peripheral origin and linked to prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibition.

Avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória do extrato hidroetanólico de partes aéreas de Portulaca pilosa L. (Portulacaceae)

Este estudo investigou a toxicidade aguda oral, o efeito antinociceptivo em modelos de nocicepção química e térmica, bem como a atividade anti-inflamatória em modelos de carragenina e óleo de cróton do extrato hidroetanólico de partes aéreas de Portulaca pilosa (EHEPp). Identificou também alguns possíveis mecanismos envolvidos na antinocicepção do extrato, além dos seus efeitos sobre o sistema nervoso central de ratos. No teste de toxicidade aguda oral, o tratamento com EHEPp (2000 mg/kg) não causou óbitos. No teste de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético, o EHEPp (100, 200, 400 e 600 mg/kg), por via oral (v.o.), reduziu significantemente o número de contorções em 18.18, 33.25, 47.27, 65.81 e 73.94%, respectivamente. No teste da placa quente, o tratamento com EHEPp (200, 400 e 600 mg/kg, v.o.) não alterou a latência ao estímulo térmico de 50 ± 0,5 ºC. No teste da formalina, o tratamento com EHEPp (200,400 e 600mg/kg, v.o.) reduziu de maneira significativa o tempo de lambida nas fases neurogênica (1ª fase) em 38.79, 60.61 e 75.18 %, e inflamatória (2ª fase) em 49.23, 53.03 e 87.53 %, respectivamente. A administração prévia de naloxona reverteu, significativamente, o efeito do EHEPp (600 mg/kg, v.o.) em ambas as fases do teste da formalina. O pré-tratamento com o L-NAME e azul de metileno reverteu o efeito do EHEPp (600 mg/kg, v.o.) de maneira significante em ambas as fases do teste da formalina. O pré-tratamento com o fármaco glibenclamida também reverteu de maneira significativa o efeito do EHEPp (600 mg/kg, v.o.) em ambas as fases do teste da formalina. O EHEPp, na dose 600 mg/kg, v.o., não afetou a atividade locomotora dos ratos submetidos ao teste do campo aberto. No teste de edema de pata induzido por carragenina e edema de orelha induzido pelo óleo cróton, o EHEPp (400 e 600 mg/kg, v.o.) não inibiu a formação de edema de maneira significante em ambos os testes. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que o HEEPp, oralmente, apresentou baixa toxicidade e sua atuação antinociceptiva observada na fase neurogênica pode envolver interações periféricas com receptores opióides e ativação da via NO/GCs/GMPc/ K_ATP. Já a atividade antinociceptiva observada na fase inflamatória parece não depender de inibição da via bioquímica fosfolipase A2/ciclo-oxigenases, mas de interações periféricas com receptores opióides e com a via NO/GCs/GMPc/K_ATP.

Platão e a matemática: uma questão de método

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo fitossociológico de floresta estacional semidecidual e de cerrado no município de Patrocínio Paulista, SP

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Systematic Screening of Plant Extracts from the Brazilian Pantanal with Antimicrobial Activity against Bacteria with Cariogenic Relevance

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

Florística e fitossociologia da comunidade arbustivo-arbórea em um trecho de floresta estacional semidecidual Ribeirinha no município de Indaiatuba, SP

As formações ribeirinhas são caracterizadas como um mosaico vegetacional complexo, definido principalmente pelo histórico de evolução da paisagem regional, que se expressa nas condições topográficas locais. A mata ribeirinha estudada encontra-se dentro dos domínios da Floresta Atlântica de interior, denominada Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, que constitui-se no tipo florestal mais rápida e extensamente devastado em toda a sua área de ocorrência natural. Atualmente a vegetação remanescente nativa encontra-se em fragmentos, sendo a queda da biodiversidade um dos aspectos mais graves da fragmentação florestal. O presente estudo tem como objetivo principal caracterizar florística e fitossociologicamente a comunidade arbustivo-arbórea presente na faixa ciliar de um fragmento de aproximadamente 50 ha, no município de Indaiatuba, SP. O método fitossociológico empregado foi o de parcelas além de coletas aleatórias complementares para a florística. O critério de inclusão para os indivíduos foi de PAP ≥10 cm, servindo tanto para amostrar indivíduos arbóreos quanto arbustivos. Foram levantadas ao todo 126 espécies distribuídas em 39 famílias. No levantamento fitossociológico amostrou-se 717 indivíduos onde constatou-se 101 espécies e 37 famílias. As espécies mais importantes em VI foram Croton piptocalyx, Myrciaria cf. floribunda e Sebastiana commersoniana, as famílias mais importantes tanto em número de espécies quanto de indivíduos foram Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae e Rutaceae. O índice de diversidade (H’), de 3,591, ficou dentre o esperado para Florestas Estacionais Semideciduais. Em relação às comparações florísticas, a área mais similar ao presente estudo foi a Mata do Ribeirão Cachoeira em Campinas, SP, seguidas pela Mata São José em Rio Claro, SP, e outras duas áreas ciliares em Ipeúna e Caconde, ambas no Estado de São Paulo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Composição florística e fitossociológica de três fragmentos de floresta ribeirinha em Ajapi, Rio Claro - SP

A vegetação ribeirinha é conhecida como o conjunto de formações que se encontram associadas aos corpos d’água, ocorrendo ao longo dos cursos d’água e no entorno de nascentes, formando um mosaico vegetacional. É de vital importância na proteção de mananciais, controlando a chegada de nutrientes, sedimentos e a erosão de ribanceiras, atua na estabilidade térmica e abastece o lençol freático a partir da contenção de águas pluviais, além de exercer um papel fundamental como corredores ecológicos de fluxo gênico animal e vegetal. No Brasil, há legislação que protege tais áreas, entretanto, estas vem sofrendo sistemática degradação por desmatamento, despejo de esgotos domésticos e industriais, canalização e desvio de cursos d’água. O estudo presente teve como objetivo caracterizar a florística e a estrutura fitossociológica de três fragmentos do ambiente ribeirinho localizados na Fazenda Água Branca, em Ajapi, Rio Claro - SP. Através de parcelas de 10x10m, foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com PAP ≥ 10cm. Foram estabelecidas 16 parcelas na vegetação ribeirinha com influência fluvial sazonal ao longo do Ribeirão Claro, tratadas no trabalho como floresta ciliar. Foram estabelecidas 14 parcelas distribuídas em dois fragmentos de vegetação ribeirinha com influência fluvial permanente, tratadas ao longo do trabalho como floresta paludosa. Na mata ciliar, foram amostrados 316 indivíduos, pertencentes a 32 famílias, distribuídos em 74 espécies. As espécies mais importantes foram: Syzygium cuminii, Esenbeckia febrifuga e Croton urucurana. As famílias com maior riqueza foram: Myrtaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae e Meliaceae. O índice de diversidade (H’) encontrado foi 3,62; valor esperado para Florestas Estacionais Semideciduais. Na mata paludosa, foram amostrados 469 indivíduos, pertencentes a 34 famílias, distribuídos em 60 espécies... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Uso e conservação de plantas medicinais nativas por comunidades quilombolas no município de Alcântara, Maranhão

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Avaliação in vitro da eficácia de extratos de plantas medicinais do Cerrado frente Staphylococcus aureos isolado de difetentes fontes de propriedades leiteiras

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potencial microbial activity in-vitro from the extract of some endemic plants from Cerrado such as Baccharis dracunculifolia, Cochlospermum regium, Croton antisyphiliticus, Eugenia dysenterica and Lippia sidoides, against the agent Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitic milk, osteo from cow’s teat, milker equipament, nasal cavitites and milker’s gullet. The extracts were prepared from aerial parts as well as the reticular systems of plants using the solvents methanol, hexane and chloroform at a concentration of 10%. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity, the technique of microdilution in broth was used for determining the Minimal Inibitory Concentration (MIC) followed by the determination of Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). The extracts from Baccharis dracunculifolia and Croton antisyphiliticus, followed by extracts from Lippia sidoides, reported respectively, presented better inhibitory activity against the multiplication of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the isolated strains from the milk and nasal cavities of the milker showed strong resistance against gentamicin, active agent commonly applied to combat mastitis bovine. However, there was sensitivity against extracts from the reported plants, reinforcing the importance of the medicinal plants as a therapeutic resource and its aplicability.

Dados espectroscópicos de diterpenos labdânicos: uma análise teórica via RMN e DFT

Labdane diterpenes exhibit important bioactivities such as cardiovascular effects in rats as well as effects in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and Alzheimer syndrome. Recently, the labdane diterpenes ent-13-epi-manoil oxide, ribenone and ribenol were isolated from Croton palanostigma. The computational method DFT/B3LYP/cc-pVDZ was used to optimize the structures of these diterpenes and to calculate infrared data. Chemical shifts (δ_H and δ_C) of the minimum energy structures (local minimum) were calculated and compared with the experimental data. Comparison of the NMR data by simple linear regression (SLR) showed satisfactory statistical results with a correlation coefficient (R²) and predictive ability (Q²) of over 98%. The predicted NMR data were used to confirm the δ_H values that have not been published.

Viability, production and morphology of pollen grains for different species in the genus Manihot (Euphorbiaceae)

(Viability, production and morphology of pollen grains for different species in the genus Manihot (Euphorbiaceae)). The objective of this work was to characterize the viability, production and morphology of pollen for different species in the genus Manihot. Floral buds from Manihot accessions were collected from two germplasm banks at Embrapa Cassava & Fruits. The viability of the pollen was assessed via colorimetric, in vitro and in vivo assays. The diameter of the pollen grains was determined by measuring the transversal length of the grain. The experimental design was entirely randomized. Studies on pollen ultrastructure were performed via scanning electron microscopy. Pollen viability was high in the colorimetric tests and intermediate in vivo tests; there was no germination in the in vitro tests. The average production for all accessions was 1,253 pollen grains per floral bud. The size of the pollen grains varied from 132 to 163 pm in the wild accessions, and 129 to 146 pm in the cultivated accessions. The pollen grains for all accessions were very large, apolar, spherical as well as inaperturate, with an exine ornamented with pila organized in a Croton pattern. The wild accessions, in general, produced more and larger pollen grains compared with the cultivated accessions.

Soil-nutrient availability modifies the response of young pioneer and late successional trees to elevated carbon dioxide in a Brazilian tropical environment

The aim of this work was to determine the impact of three levels of [CO2] and two levels of soil-nutrient availability on the growth and physiological responses of two tropical tree species differing in their ecological group: Croton urucurana Baillon, a pioneer (P), and also Cariniana legalis (Martius) Kuntze, a late succession (LS). We aimed to test the hypothesis that P species have stronger response to elevated [CO2] than LS species as a result of differences in photosynthetic capacity and growth kinetics between both functional groups. Seedlings of both species were grown in open-top-chambers under high (HN) or low (LN) soil-nutrient supply and exposed to ambient (380 mu mol mol(-1)) or elevated (570 and 760 mu mol mol(-1)) [CO2]. Measurements of gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, seedling biomass and allocation were made after 70 days of treatment. Results suggest that elevated [CO2] significantly enhances the photosynthetic rates (A) and biomass production in the seedlings of both species, but that soil-nutrient supply has the potential to modify the response of young tropical trees to elevated [CO2]. In relation to plants grown in ambient [CO2], the P species grown under 760 mu mol mol(-1) [CO2] showed increases of 28% and 91% in A when grown in LN and HN, respectively. In P species grown under 570 mu mol mol(-1) [CO2], A increased by 16% under HN, but there was no effect in LN. In LS species, the enhancement of A by effect of 760 mu mol mol(-1) [CO2] was 30% and 70% in LN and HN, respectively. The exposure to 570 mu mol mol(-1) [CO2] stimulated A by 31% in HN, but was no effect in LN. Reductions in stomatal conductance (g(s)) and transpiration (E), as a result of elevated [CO2] were observed. Increasing the nutrient supply from low to high increased both the maximum rate of carboxylation (V-cmax) and maximum potential rate of electron transport (J(max)). As the level of [CO2] increased, both the V-cmax and the J(max) were found to decrease, whereas the J(max)/V-cmax ratio increased. In the LS species, the maximum efficiency of PSII (F-v/F-m) was higher in the 760 mu mol mol(-1) [CO2] treatment relative to other [CO2] treatments. The results suggest that when grown under HN and the highest [CO2], the performance of the P species C. urucurana, in terms of photosynthesis and biomass enhancement, is better than the LS species C. legalis. However, a larger biomass is allocated to roots when C. legalis seedlings were exposed to elevated [CO2]. This response would be an important strategy for plant survival and productivity of the LS species under drought stresses conditions on tropical environments in a global-change scenario. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antioxidant activity by DPPH assay of potential solutions to be applied on bleached teeth

The aim of this study was to assess, using the DPPH assay, the antioxidant activity of several substances that could be proposed to immediately revert the problems caused by bleaching procedures. The percentage of antioxidant activity (AA%) of 10% ascorbic acid solution (AAcidS), 10% ascorbic acid gel (AAcidG), 10% sodium ascorbate solution (SodAsS), 10% sodium ascorbate gel (SodAsG), 10% sodium bicarbonate (Bicarb), Neutralize® (NE), Desensibilize® (DES), catalase C-40 at 10 mg/mL (CAT), 10% alcohol solution of alpha-tocopherol (VitE), Listerine® (LIS), 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX), Croton Lechleri (CL), 10 % aqueous solution of Uncaria Tomentosa (UT), artificial saliva (ArtS) and 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) was assessed in triplicate by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical assay. All substances exhibited antioxidant activity, except for CL. AAcidS, AAcidG and VitE exhibited the highest AA% (p<0.05). On the contrary, CHX, NE, LIS and NaF showed the lowest AA% (p<0.05). In conclusion, AAcidS, AAcidG, SodAsS, SodAsG and VitE presented the highest antioxidant activity among substances tested in this study. The DPPH assay provides an easy and rapid way to evaluate potential antioxidants.

Compound specific stable isotopes, BIT, pollen and spores of Miocene to Pliocene sediments of ODP Hole 175-1085A

Pollen and stable carbon (d13C) and hydrogen (dD) isotope ratios of terrestrial plant wax from the South Atlantic sediment core, ODP Site 1085, is used to reconstruct Miocene to Pliocene changes of vegetation and rainfall regime of western southern Africa. Our results reveal changes in the relative amount of precipitation and indicate a shift of the main moisture source from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean during the onset of a major aridification 8 Ma ago. We emphasise the importance of declining precipitation during the expansion of C4 and CAM (mainly succulent) vegetation in South Africa. We suggest that the C4 plant expansion resulted from an increased equator-pole temperature gradient caused by the initiation of strong Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation following the shoaling of the Central American Seaway during the Late Miocene.

AMS radiocarbon dates and pollen analysis of ODP Hole 175-1078C

ODP Site 1078 situated under the coast of Angola provides the first record of the vegetation history for Angola. The upper 11 m of the core covers the past 30 thousand years, which has been analysed palynologically in decadal to centennial resolution. Alkenone sea surface temperature estimates were analysed in centennial resolution. We studied sea surface temperatures and vegetation development during full glacial, deglacial, and interglacial conditions. During the glacial the vegetation in Angola was very open consisting of grass and heath lands, deserts and semi-deserts, which suggests a cool and dry climate. A change to warmer and more humid conditions is indicated by forest expansion starting in step with the earliest temperature rise in Antarctica, 22 thousand years ago. We infer that around the period of Heinrich Event 1, a northward excursion of the Angola Benguela Front and the Congo Air Boundary resulted in cool sea surface temperatures but rain forest remained present in the northern lowlands of Angola. Rain forest and dry forest area increase 15 thousand years ago. During the Holocene, dry forests and Miombo woodlands expanded. Also in Angola globally recognised climate changes at 8 thousand and 4 thousand years ago had an impact on the vegetation. During the past 2 thousand years, savannah vegetation became dominant.