Chemical constituents of the volatile oil from leaves of Annona coriacea and in vitro antiprotozoal activity

The essential oil of the leaves from Annona coriacea Mart., Annonaceae, was extracted by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by GC/MS and GC/FID. The oil yield was 0.05% m/m. Sixty compounds were identified, in a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes (76.7%), monoterpenes (20.0%) and other constituents (3.3%). Bicyclogermacrene was its major compound (39.8%) followed by other sesquiterpenes. Most of the monoterpenes were in low concentration (<1%). Only β-pinene and pseudolimonene presented the highest level of 1.6%. The volatile oil presented anti-leishmanial and trypanocidal activity against promastigotes of four species of Leishmania and trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, showing to be more active against Leishmania (L.) chagasi (IC50 39.93 µ g/mL) (95% CI 28.00-56.95 µ g/mL).

Polinização e biologia reprodutiva de Araticum-liso (Annona coriacea Mart.: Annonaceae) em uma área de cerrado paulista: implicações para fruticultura

Anonáceas, em geral, são espécies cantarófilas e altamente especializadas, apresentando pétalas espessas, carnosas e nutritivas que formam uma câmara floral com ocorrência de termogênege. Este estudo objetivou verificar os efetivos polinizadores e sistema reprodutivo prevalente em A. coriacea. Flores foram marcadas e acompanhadas durante períodos do dia e da noite para verificar os polinizadores legítimos. Tratamentos de polinização manual foram realizados para determinar o sistema reprodutivo. Besouros escarabeídeos Cyclocephala atricapilla e Cyclocephala quatuordecimpunctata (Dynastinae) foram atraídos pelo odor emitido pelas flores no início da noite já contendo pólen em seus corpos e penetraram na câmara floral, onde permaneceram por até 48h alimentando-se das pétalas e de pólen, copulando, e ao tocarem nos estigmas receptivos, depositaram pólen. Posteriormente, flores em fase masculina liberaram pólen que novamente sujou o corpo dos besouros e, com a queda da flor, voaram para outra flor recém-aberta e em fase feminina, iniciando novo ciclo de polinização. A. coriacea é uma espécie autocompatível e Cyclocephala foram polinizadores muito eficientes.

Effects of Annona squamosa extract on early pregnancy in rats

Annona squamosa Linn., family Annonaceae, is said to show varied medicinal effects, including insecticide, antiovulatory and abortifacient. The purpose of present study was to investigate if A. squamosa seed aqueous extract, in doses higher than that popularly used to provoke abortion, interferes with reproductive performance, and to correlate the ingestion of this extract with possible alterations in rat embryonic implantation. Doses of 300 mg/kg (Treated Group I, n = 17) and 600 mg/kg (Treated Group II, n = 12) body wt. were administered by gavage, during days 1 to 5 of pregnancy (preimplantation period). The control group (n = 13) received water in the same manner, during the same period for comparison with experimental groups. The animals were euthanized on day 10 of pregnancy. Treatment of dams during the preimplantation period showed no signs of toxicity, and no alteration in the corpora lutea, implantations and embryo in terms of development numbers. The percentage of preimplantation and postimplantation losses in treated groups I and II did not differ from those of control. Treatment with aqueous extract of A. squamosa seeds caused no morphological change in the endometrium. The absence of morphological alterations in uterine epithelial cells in treated groups I and II permitted a viable embryonic implantation, as verified by the number of embryos in development at day 10 of pregnancy. Thus, A. squamosa seed aqueous extract did not interfere with the reproductive performance of pregnant rats.

Antiviral activity of plants occurring in the state of minas gerais (Brazil): Part III

A total of 24 extracts from 14 plant species collected at the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and belonging to five botanical families (Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Ochnaceae, Polygonaceae and Vitaceae) was screened for cytotoxicity in cultured Vero cells and for antiviral activity against human herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1), vaccinia virus (VACV) and murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). The highest cytotoxicity (CC 50 < 10 μg/mL) was observed for the ethanol extracts from Annona coriacea fruits and seeds. Extracts from Hancornia speciosa, Ouratea castaneafolia and O. semisrrata were the only ones that have shown activity against all the three viruses assayed. Extracts from Polygonum spectabile, Hancornia speciosa, Himatanthus phagedaenica, Ouratea spectabilis and O. semiserrata were the most active against HSV-1 (EC 50 < 50 mg/mL), with favorable SI values (8.0 to 10.0). Hancornia speciosa and Anaxagorea dolichocarpa were the most active against EMCV (EC 50 50 - 100 μg/mL), with reasonable SI values (5.2 to 6.1), while moderate to low activity (EC 50 > 100 μg/mL) was observed for Ouratea spectabilis and O. semiserrata. A total of 7 plant species, Ouratea semiserrata, O. spectabilis, O. castanaeafolia, Rollinia laurifolia, Cissus erosa, Polygonum spectabile, and Hancornia speciosa, were active against VACV, disclosing EC50 < 50 μg/mL and SI values ranging from 6.6 to 67.3. In total, 10 out of the 14 species were selected from a literature survey on plants used to treat viral diseases in Brazil; these species were responsible for 70% of the positive results.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of medicinal plants of the Brazilian cerrado, using Brazilian cachaca as extractor liquid

Ethnopharmacological importance: Many species of plants in the Brazilian cerrado (savanna) are widely used in ethnomedicine. However, the safety and effectiveness of medicinal plants used in communities with little or no access to manufactured drugs should be evaluated. Aim of the study: Evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of extracts from eight plant species, obtained using Brazilian cachaca as the extractor liquid. Materials and methods: The extracts were tested against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis, and poliovirus. In addition, cytotoxic activity was assayed in Vero cells and in human erythrocytes. Results: The plant species Curatella americana, Sclerolobium aureum, and Plathymenia reticulata showed the best activity against yeasts, especially the crude extract of C. americana and its ethyl-acetate fraction. Kielmeyera lathrophyton showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 250 mu g/ml against S. aureus, and was inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. The extract obtained from Annona coriacea showed the best activity against the promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (IC(50) = 175 mu g/ml). Only C. americana showed potential for antipoliovirus activity. The concentrations of the crude extracts that showed toxicity to VERO cells had CC(50) between 31 and 470 mu g/ml, and the lyophilized Brazilian cachaca showed a CC(50) of 307 mu g/ml. None of the extracts showed toxicity against human erythrocytes. Conclusions: Among the plant species studied. C americana proved to be effective against microorganisms, especially as an antifungal. The results will help in the search for alternative drugs to be used in pharmacotherapy, and will contribute to establish safe and effective use of phytomedicines in the treatment of infectious diseases. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Annona sp: Plants with multiple applications as alternative medicine - a review

Annona species have been used as a natural remedy for a variety of illnesses with antiparasitic, antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, sedative, analgesic, hypotensive, and vermifugal effects. These properties are due to the presence of a number of bioactive compounds on the leaves, fruit, seeds, and stem. The aim of this review is to show the main species of Annona, their medicinal properties and the chemical constituents that may be related to these effects. In the leaves it is possible to find acetogenins, annopentocins A, B, and C, cis- and trans-annomuricin-D-ones, goniothalamicin, arianacin, and javoricin, related to anticancer properties. Quercetin-3-O-glucoside, also found in the leaves mediates antidiabetic and antioxidative effects. In the fruit are found annonaine, nornuciferine and asimilobine, associated to antidepressive effects. In the seeds are found muricatetrocin A and muricatetrocin B, longifolicin, corossolin, corossolone, uvarigrandin A, bullatacin, squamotatin. These acetogenins are associated with anticancer effects. Cyclosquamosin B, quercetin, and cyclosquamosin from the seeds have respectively vasorelaxant, antithyroidal and, antiinflammatory activity. In the stem parts there are several components as N-trans-feruloyltyramine, N-p-coumaroyltyramine, and N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, lignans, syringaresinol, syringaldehyde, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside which exhibit antiplatelet aggregation activity. Copaene, patchoulane, 1H-cycloprop (e) azulene and kaur-16-en-19-oic acid found in the barks exhibit significant central as well as peripheral analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The properties of the biological compounds in Annona species support information that may provide validation for its medicinal uses, but further studies should be performed to establish ideal and safe doses of consumption to ensure the effectiveness of the benefits. © 2012 Bentham Science Publishers.

Antitumor and cytotoxic activity of Kielmeyera coriacea mart. Zucc. and Pyrostegia venusta (ker-gawl.) Miers extracts

This study aimed to investigate the antitumor and cytotoxicity activities of Kielmeyera coriacea and Pyrostegia venusta extracts. Therefore, the hydroalcoholic extracts of P. venusta flowers and K. coriacea leaves were prepared. The extracts were evaporated and the dry extracts were diluted at concentrations of 1.0, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mg/ml for carrying out the bioassays. Artemia salina eggs were incubated in saline solution at 28°C for 24 h. The larvae were treated with different extracts concentrations and the mortality was evaluated after 24 and 48 h. Five discs of potato were placed in Petri dishes and 50 μl of inoculum of Agrobacterium tumefaciens were added to it at 28°C for 24 h incubation. So, 50 μl of the extracts in different concentrations were added. Positive and negative controls were made. The P. venusta and K. coriacea extracts did not show statistically significant acute toxicity. K. coriacea extract showed (mean% of tumor ± standard deviation) 15.30 ± 3.24, 6.34 ± 3.82, 7.57 ± 2.92 and 5.77 ± 2.85 and P. venusta showed 25.82 ± 5.15, 38.40 ± 8.28, 15.75 ± 4.44 and 13.38 ± 7.92, with their concentrations for the antitumor bioassay, and the positive control showed 25.80 ± 6.14. According to the obtained results it was established that the K. coriacea and P. venusta extracts showed antitumor activity but did not show significant cytotoxic activity in A. salina test.

Relationships between crown architecture and available irradiance in two cerrado species with different leaf phenologies

Structural differences between cerrado species with different leaf phenologies are linked to crown architecture, leaf production, and biomass allocation to shoots and leaves. The present study characterized crown structures and the patterns of biomass allocation to leaves and shoots in two woody cerrado species with contrasting leaf phenologies and quantified the irradiance reaching their leaves to determine the best period during the day for photosynthetic activity. The shoots and leaves of five individuals of both Annona coriacea (deciduous) and Hymenaea stigonocarpa (evergreen) were collected along a 50 m transect in a cerrado fragment within the urban perimeter of Catalão - GO, to determine their patterns of biomass allocation in their crowns. The evergreen H. stigonocarpa had significantly higher mean values of shoot inclination (SI), petiole length (PL), leaf area (LA), leaf display index (LDI), and individual leaf area per shoot (ILA), while the deciduous species A. coriacea had significantly higher leaf numbers (LN). The more complex crown of H. stigonocarpa had shoots in more erect positions (orthotropic), with intense self-shading within shoots; A. coriacea, on the other hand, had slanting (plagiotropic) shoots in the crown, allowing similar irradiance levels to all leaf surfaces. The production of plagiotropic shoots by the deciduous species (A. coriacea) is a strategy that enables its use of incident sunlight early in the morning and preventing excessive water loss or excessive irradiance. Hymenaea stigonocarpa (an evergreen), by contrast, had orthotropic shoots and uses intense self-shading as a strategy to avoid excessive irradiance, especially at midday. Differences in crown architectures between evergreen and deciduous species of cerrado sensu stricto can therefore be viewed as adaptations to the environmental light regime.

Growth rings in cerrado woody species: occurrence and anatomical markers

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

Mites on Annonaceae species in northeast Brazil and in the state of Para

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evaluation of allelopathic potential of leaf extract of kielmeyera coriacea on lactuca sativa l

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

In Vitro Biological Screening Of The Anticholinesterase And Antiproliferative Activities Of Medicinal Plants Belonging To Annonaceae.

The aim of this research was to investigate the antiproliferative and anticholinesterase activities of 11 extracts from 5 Annonaceae species in vitro. Antiproliferative activity was assessed using 10 human cancer cell lines. Thin-layer chromatography and a microplate assay were used to screen the extracts for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitors using Ellman's reagent. The chemical compositions of the active extracts were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography. Eleven extracts obtained from five Annonaceae plant species were active and were particularly effective against the UA251, NCI-470 lung, HT-29, NCI/ADR, and K-562 cell lines with growth inhibition (GI50) values of 0.04-0.06, 0.02-0.50, 0.01-0.12, 0.10-0.27, and 0.02-0.04 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the Annona crassiflora and A. coriacea seed extracts were the most active among the tested extracts and the most effective against the tumor cell lines, with GI50 values below 8.90 µg/mL. The A. cacans extract displayed the lowest activity. Based on the microplate assay, the percent AchE inhibition of the extracts ranged from 12 to 52%, and the A. coriacea seed extract resulted in the greatest inhibition (52%). Caffeic acid, sinapic acid, and rutin were present at higher concentrations in the A. crassiflora seed samples. The A. coriacea seeds contained ferulic and sinapic acid. Overall, the results indicated that A. crassiflora and A. coriacea extracts have antiproliferative and anticholinesterase properties, which opens up new possibilities for alternative pharmacotherapy drugs.

Antibacterial effect (in vitro) of Moringa oleifera and Annona muricata against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria

Antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of seeds of moringa (Moringa oleifera) and pods of soursop (Annona muricata) in the concentration of 1:5 and 1:10 in volumes 50, 100, 150 and 200 µL were examined against Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli (isolated from the organism and the aquatic environment) and Salmonella Enteritidis. Antibacterial activity (inhibition halo > 13 mm) against S. aureus, V. cholerae and E. coli isolated from the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannmaei, was detected in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of moringa. E. coli isolated from tilapiafish, Oreochromis niloticus, was sensitive to the ethanolic extract of moringa. The aqueous extracts of soursop showed an antibacterial effect against S. aureus and V. cholerae, but the antibacterial activity by the ethanol extracts of this plant was not demonstrated.

Characterization of the chemical composition of the essential oils from Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer 'terra-fria' and Annona squamosa L.

The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer 'terra-fria' and Annona squamosa L. The species were grown in a greenhouse for 18 months, which nutrient solution was applied weekly; the plants were then harvested and the leaves dried to extract the essential oil. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to study its chemical profiles. Eleven substances were found in the essential oil of A. emarginata, primarily (E)-caryophyllene (29.29%), (Z)-caryophyllene (16.86%), γ-muurolene (7.54%), α-pinene (13.86%), and tricyclene (10.04%). Ten substances were detected in the oil from A. squamosa, primarily (E)-caryophyllene (28.71%), (Z)-caryophyllene (14.46%), α-humulene (4.41%), camphene (18.10%), α-pinene (7.37%), β-pinene (8.71%), and longifolene (5.64%). Six substances were common to both species: (E)-caryophyllene, (Z)-caryophyllene, α-humulene, camphene, α-pinene, and β-pinene.

Nymphicidal effect of vegetal extracts of Annona mucosa and Anonna crassiflora (Magnoliales, Annonaceae) against rice stalk stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae)

This study aimed to verify the chloroform-methanol nymphicidal action of extracts of Annona mucosa leaves and seeds and of A. crassiflora seeds on second instar nymphs of rice stalk stink bug, Tibraca limbativentris. For each extract the concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, 8.0%, and two control treatments (water and Tween80®) were used. The results show that the seed extracts of A. mucosa and A. crassiflora have insecticidal activity against the T. limbativentris nymphs with statistical significance for all concentrations when compared with controls. The seed extract of A. mucosa showed the higher toxicity with greater than 75% mortality at a concentration of 1.0% in the first 24 h after application. The leaf extract of A. mucosa presented the lowest toxicity with no more than 40% mortality. The seed extract of A. crassiflora showed intermediate toxicity among all the tested extracts, and the nymph's mortality exceeded 80% for the highest concentration after 120 h of application. Considering these results, we were able to observe that the seeds extract of A. mucosa may be an alternative for the control of bed bug nymphs T. limbatriventris, especially for small producers.