Formação das substâncias de reserva durante o desenvolvimento de sementes de urucum (Bixa orellana L. - Bixaceae)

Annatto seeds do not germinate during early stages of their development because of insufficient reserve substances. In situ analysis showed that the principal reserves are proteins and starch, deposited in endosperm cells. During the early stages of development, the starch grains were elliptic, because amylose was the minor component. During development, these grains became more spherical due to an increase in amylose relative to amylopectin. Endosperm cells do not contain protein bodies, but they accumulate proteins dispersed in the cytoplasm. At the final stage of development the proteins became compacted due to the dehydration of the seeds wich is part of the global process of orthodox seeds maturation. Natural fluorescence revealed aromatic amino acids, principally tryptophan and tyrosine in the proteins. The seeds reached their maximum dry weight after moisture contents had declined to around 60%. At this point the seeds presented maximum germination capacity.

Preliminary assessment of medicinal plants used as antimalarials in the southeastern Venezuelan Amazon

Eighteen species of medicinal plants used in the treatment of malaria in Bolívar State, Venezuela were recorded and they belonged to Compositae, Meliaceae, Anacardiaceae, Bixaceae, Boraginaceae, Caricaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, Myrtaceae, Phytolaccaceae, Plantaginaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae and Verbenaceae families. Antimalarial plant activities have been linked to a range of compounds including anthroquinones, berberine, flavonoids, limonoids, naphthquinones, sesquiterpenes, quassinoids, indol and quinoline alkaloids.

Induction of liver monooxygenases by annatto and bixin in female rats

Annatto or urucum is an orange-yellow dye obtained from Bixa orellana seeds. It has been used as a natural dye in a variety of food products, drugs and cosmetics, and also in Brazilian cuisine as a condiment ('colorau'). Bixin, a carotenoid devoid of provitamin A activity, is the main pigment found in annatto. Some carotenoids (canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and ß-Apo-8'-carotenal) are known to be potent inducers of CYP1A1, a property not shared by others (ß-carotene, lycopene and lutein). Little is known, however, about the CYP1A1-inducing properties of bixin and annatto. The present study was performed to determine the effects of an annatto extract (28% bixin) and bixin (95% pure) on rat liver monooxygenases. Adult female Wistar rats were treated by gavage with daily doses of annatto (250 mg/kg body weight, which contains approximately 70 mg bixin/kg body weight), bixin (250 mg/kg body weight) or the vehicle only (corn oil, 3.75 g/kg body weight) for 5 consecutive days, or were not treated (untreated control). The activities of aniline-4-hydroxylase (A4H), ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD), ethoxy- (EROD), methoxy- (MROD), pentoxy- (PROD) and benzyloxy- (BROD) resorufin-O-dealkylases were measured in liver microsomes. Annatto (250 mg/kg containing 70 mg bixin/kg) induced EROD (3.8x), MROD (4.2x), BROD (3.3x) and PROD (2.4x). Bixin (250 mg/kg) was a weaker inducer of EROD (2.7x), MROD (2.3x) and BROD (1.9x) and did not alter PROD, A4H or ECOD activities. These results suggest that constituents of the extract other than bixin play an important role in the induction of CYP1A and CYP2B observed with annatto food colorings.

Neutralization of the edema-forming, defibrinating and coagulant effects of Bothrops asper venom by extracts of plants used by healers in Colombia

We determined the neutralizing activity of 12 ethanolic extracts of plants against the edema-forming, defibrinating and coagulant effects of Bothrops asper venom in Swiss Webster mice. The material used consisted of the leaves and branches of Bixa orellana (Bixaceae), Ficus nymphaeifolia (Moraceae), Struthanthus orbicularis (Loranthaceae) and Gonzalagunia panamensis (Rubiaceae); the stem barks of Brownea rosademonte (Caesalpiniaceae) and Tabebuia rosea (Bignoniaceae); the whole plant of Pleopeltis percussa (Polypodiaceae) and Trichomanes elegans (Hymenophyllaceae); rhizomes of Renealmia alpinia (Zingiberaceae), Heliconia curtispatha (Heliconiaceae) and Dracontium croatii (Araceae), and the ripe fruit of Citrus limon (Rutaceae). After preincubation of varying amounts of each extract with either 1.0 µg venom for the edema-forming effect or 2.0 µg venom for the defibrinating effect, the mixture was injected subcutaneously (sc) into the right foot pad or intravenously into the tail, respectively, to groups of four mice (18-20 g). All extracts (6.2-200 µg/mouse) partially neutralized the edema-forming activity of venom in a dose-dependent manner (58-76% inhibition), with B. orellana, S. orbicularis, G. panamensis, B. rosademonte, and D. croatii showing the highest effect. Ten extracts (3.9-2000 µg/mouse) also showed 100% neutralizing ability against the defibrinating effect of venom, and nine prolonged the coagulation time induced by the venom. When the extracts were administered either before or after venom injection, the neutralization of the edema-forming effect was lower than 40% for all extracts, and none of them neutralized the defibrinating effect of venom. When they were administered in situ (sc at the same site 5 min after venom injection), the neutralization of edema increased for six extracts, reaching levels up to 64% for C. limon.

Study on the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of a natural food colour (annatto) in mouse bone marrow cells

Most manufactured foods contain chemicals added as a deliberate part of the manufacturing process. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of annatto, a natural pigment extracted from the Bixa orellana L. and widely used as a colorant in foods. The micronucleus test was performed in bone marrow cells from Swiss male mice treated with one of the three concentrations of annatto (1330, 5330 and 10,670 ppm), incorporated into the diet. The animals were fed with the diets for 7 days and sacrificed 24 h after the last treatment. For the evaluation of the antimutagenic potential of annatto, at day 7, the animals received an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg body weight). Under the concentrations tested annatto did not present mutagenic or antimutagenic activities on the mice bone marrow cells. However, an increased frequency of micronucleated cells was observed when the highest concentration (10,670 ppm) was administered simultaneously with cyclophosphamide. In conclusion, the data indicate that annatto colour, for the conditions used, is neither mutagenic nor an inhibitor of induced mutations, although it should be used carefully since high doses may increase the effect of a mutagen. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Histochemical investigation of Cochlospermum regium (Schrank) Pilg. leaves and chemical composition of its essential oil

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

Herbários podem atuar como banco de germoplasma para o cerrado paulista?

Diante do fato da existência de inúmeros diásporos preservados em exsicatas nos herbários e da necessidade de se desenvolverem novas práticas conservacionistas esta pesquisa buscou avaliar a capacidade de um herbário de atuar como banco de germoplasma complemetar através da propagação de espécies vegetais pela germinação sementes retiradas de exsicatas. O estudo teve como foco espécies típicas do cerrado lato sensu, pois estas tiveram uma trajetória evolutiva com pressões de queimadas naturais, o que provavelmente proporciona às sementes destas espécies maior resistência à dessecassão provocada pelo processo de herborização. Foram utilizados apenas propágulos que apresentavam maturação completa no momento de coleta. Estes provieram de duplicatas do herbário ESA (sediado na ESALQ - USP – Piracicaba). Os testes de germinação foram realizados em substrato de vermiculita fina peneirada, previamente esterelizada, e conduzidos em câmaras de germinação tipo B.O.D. (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) sob fotoperíodo por 24 horas e temperatura constante de 25°C. Estes foram mantido e avaliados 3 vezes por semana durante 60 dias. A pesquisa abrangeu 80 espécies, 25 famílias e um total de 1346 sementes. O N amostral de cada espécie variou de 1 a 30, dependendo da disponibilidade do material. Não foram realizados métodos de quebra de dormência, mas mesmo assim praticamente todas as sementes apresentaram embebissão, com excessão de 8 sementes de Stryphnodendron adstringens. Sementes de cinco espécies germinaram, o que representa que representam 6,25% (N=80) do total de espécies. Elas petencem à duas famílias: Cochlospermum regium e Cochlospermum vitifolium da família Bixaceae e Bowdichia virgiloides, Hymenaea stigonocarpa e Stryphnodendron adstringens da família Fabaceae. A germinação ocorreu entre 10 e 30 dias após a montagem dos testes... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Germination of Cochlospermum regium Seeds: Influence of Seed Size, Vials, Vial Sealing In vitro, and Substrate In vivo

Aims: This work aimed to assess how seed size, vials, vial sealing (in vitro), and substrate (in vivo) affect C. regium germination and emergence. This study shall contribute to the viable production of C. regium seedlings. Study Design: The experimental design used in these experiments was randomized. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Biotechnology, Universidade de RibeirãoPreto, between March 2010 and December 2010. Methodology: This work has evaluated how seed size, vials, vial sealing (in vitro), and substrate (in vivo) influence the germination and emergence of C. regium. Results: The results showed that cultivation of C. regium seedlings from seeds is viable, irrespective of seed size. Vial oxygenation is an important parameter to consider in vitro, to obtain a larger number of normal seedlings. As for in vivo conditions, germination should be conducted in sand, to ensure a greater amount of young seedlings. Conclusion: The results presented here attested that it is possible to produce C. regium seedlings from seeds of any size both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In vitro, it is important to consider vial oxygenation, in order to obtain a greater amount of normal seedlings. In vivo, germination should be conducted in sand, to ensure production of a large quantity of seedlings.

Diagnóstico de los recursos bosque, fauna silvestre, suelo y agua, en la finca El Morro, San Miguelito, Río San Juan, Nicaragua, 2013

Este estudio fue realizado en la finca El Morro, San Miguelito, Río San Juan, el objetivo fue e valuar las características biofísicas de los recursos bosque, fauna silvestre , agua y suelo existentes en la finca. Se aplicó un inventario con diseño de muestreo sistemático utilizando tamaño de parcela de acuerdo a los diferentes tipos de cobertura vegetal , tales como : bosque abierto, tacotal y árboles disp ersos en potrero . Se ubica ron sobre el diseño del inventario dos parcelas circulares, con un radio de 15 metros, separadas a un a distancia de tres km entre ellas, la toma de datos de fauna silvestre se hizo , simultánea al levantamien t o de la información florística. P ara la caracterización se tomaron 20 muestras de suelo en cada tipo de cobertura vegetal para determinar el estado físico y químico del mismo. S e evaluó la calidad del agua para consumo humano en las dos fuentes hídricas existentes. En bosque abierto se encontraron 29 especies y 18 familias. Las familias con más individuos fueron : Bignoniaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Fabaceae y Mimosaceae ; en el tacotal se encontraron 26 especies y 19 familias , sobresaliendo en número de individuos, Tiliaceae, Bixaceae, Sterculiaceae y Mimosaceae; en el área de árboles dis pe rsos potreros se registraron 34 especies y 21 familias , siendo Anarcadiaceae, Fabaceae, Mimosaceae y Sterculiaceae las de mayor abundancia de individuos. El índice de diversidad de Shannon - Wiener indica que todos los tipos de vegetación tienden a la heterogeneidad o equitatividad en especies e individuos. En los tres estratos se encontraron 26 especies de aves, 7 de mamíferos y 8 de reptiles . Se evaluó el pH, nitrito, nitrato, amonio, fosfato, dureza de carbono, dureza total y oxígeno del agua, encontrando que es apta para consumo humano, sin embargo, no se hizo análisis biológico, por tanto se desconoce la concentración de coliformes fecales de las dos fuentes. La textura de los suelos en los tres tipos de vegetación es arcillosa

Anelagem de árvores como tratamento silvicultural em florestas naturais da Amazônia brasileira.

São avaliadas a eficácia de dois tipos de anelagem de árvores, como tratamento silvicultural para florestas naturais da Amazônia e a resistência de oito espécies arbóreas ao tratamento de anelagem, em 5 ha, na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, à margem da BR 163, km 69, no município de Belterra, Pará. As espécies escolhidas foram: Carapa guianensis (andiroba, Meliaceae); Pouteria heterosepala (abiu, Sapotaceae); Hevea guianensis (seringueira, Euphorbiaceae); Helicostylis pedunculata (muiratinga-folha-peluda, Moraceae); Couratari oblongtfolia (tauari, Lecythidaceae); Sclerolobium crysophyllum (taxi-vermelho, Leguminosae); Virola melinonii (ucuuba-da-terra-firme, Myristicaceae); Bixa arborea (urucu-da-mata, Bixaceae). Os dois tipos de anelagem: anelagem completa e anelagem com entalhes foram analisados em três classes diamétricas, perfazendo seis tratamentos. De cada espécie foram escolhidas duas árvores, perfazendo um total de dezesseis árvores em cada tratamento. Tanto a anelagem completa quanto a anelagem com entalhes podem ser considerados tratamentos eficazes quando utilizado em desbastes, pois já aos cinco anos mostraram uma taxa de mortalidade alta. A anelagem completa se mostrou mais indicada como tratamento silvicultural, porque mostra a maior taxa de mortalidade em todos os tratamentos e dificulta a recuperação da área anelada. As espécies Pouteria heterosepala, Helicostylis pedunculata, Hevea guianensis e Couratari oblongifolia se mostraram mais resistentes a ambos os tipos de anelagem, com uma taxa de mortalidade considerada baixa. Nas espécies Sclerolobium crysophyllum, Virola melinonii, Bixa arborea e Garapa guianensis, a anelagem pode ser aplicada com sucesso, considerando que aos cinco anos já atingiram uma taxa média consideravelmente alta (maior que 60%), sem a utilização de arboricidas.