Características anatômicas de espinheira-santa (Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek e Maytenus aquifolia Mart.) e mata-olho (Sorocea bonplandii (Baill.) Burg. Lanj. & Boer.) para o controle de qualidade da matéria prima

Maytenus ilicifolia and Maytenus aquifolia (Celastraceae) both designated espinheira-santa have proven anti-ulcer activity. Morphologic similarities between leaves of espinheira-santa and mata-olho (Sorocea bonplandii), has motivated fakes in the market of phytotherapy. The present work consisted of the anatomical study, including stem and leaf, of the species M. ilicifolia, M. aquifolia and S. bomplandii. Samples of adult leaves and stem of plants located in the cities of Maringá and Marialva were collected. Both are located in the northwest region of Paraná State. The botanical material was prepared with using usual techniques of anatomy. The leaves of both Maytenus species presented great similarities, characterizing itself for the presence of epidermal cells with straight walls, biseriate palisade tissue, petiole vascular system represented by unique amphicribal bundle and sclereids, which were present in the stems of these two species. S. bomplandii leaves differed of Maytenus species for presenting epidermal cells with undulated walls, uniserite palisade tissue, petiole vascular system represented by many collateral bundles and gelatinous fibres. Non-glandular trichomes, glandular trichomes, and laticifer only occur in S. bomplandii.

Co-cultivation of plant cells as a technique for the elicitation of secondary metabolite production

Cells of Mikania glomerata, Cephaelis ipecacuanha and Maytenus aquifolia were co-cultured in a two-phase system using filter paper as a solid support. The species were co-cultured in all possible paired combinations. Interaction between Mikania and Maytenus cells resulted in increased biomass production of Maytenus cells, but the friedelin content was reduced. Co-cultivation of Cephaelis and Mikania cells enhanced coumarin content, but inhibited the growth of Mikania cells. However, yield of emetine as well as Cephaelis biomass accumulation were positively stimulated by the co-cultivation. Results indicate a possible occurrence of allelopathy in such a system.

Flora arbórea da bacia do rio Tibagi (Paraná, Brasil): Celastrales sensu Cronquist

A study of the tree species of the order Celastrales sensu Cronquist from the Tibagi river basin, Paraná state, Brazil, is presented, based on herbarium material. This basin is subdivided into three zones, from north to south: lower Tibagi (BT), mid Tibagi (MT) and upper Tibagi (AT), each with different environmental conditions and vegetation types. The order Celastrales is represented in the basin by 15 tree species belonging to three families: Aquifoliaceae, Celastraceae and Icacinaceae. Icacinaceae has only two species, Citronella gongonha and C. paniculata. The former is distinguished by a glabrous ovary and leaves that usually bear thorns. Aquifoliaceae has six species: Ilex brasiliensis, I. brevicuspis, I. chamaedryfolia, I. dumosa, I. paraguariensis and I. theezans. These species are found mainly in AT and MT and are distinguished by leaf size, indument, apices and margins, and by sepal features. Celastrales is represented by seven species and two genera; Plenckia populnea, a Brazilian savannah species found only in MT, and six species of Maytenus (M. evonymoides, M. robusta, M. dasyclada, M. salicifolia, M. ilicifolia and M. aquifolia) distinguished by leaf size and margins, branch shape and number of flowers per inflorescence.

Determinação espectrométrica dos flavonóides das folhas de Maytenus (Celastraceae) e de Passiflora (Passifloraceae) e comparação com método CLAE-UV

Este trabalho apresenta uma modificação dos procedimentos descritos nas Farmacopéias Francesa e Européia para a análise de flavonoides de Passiflora incarnata L., Passifloraceae, por espectrometria UV-Visível e propõe a sua aplicação na determinação dos flavonoides totais das folhas da espinheira-santa (Maytenus aquifolium Mart. e Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch., Celastraceae) e do maracujá (Passiflora edulis Sims. e Passiflora alata Curtis, Passifloraceae). Os resultados obtidos por espectrometria no UV-Visível foram comparados aos obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE-UV), encontrando-se resultados estatisticamente similares entre os métodos espectrométrico modificado da Farmacopéia Francesa e CLAE-UV.

O uso de Maytenus ilicifolia na prevenção da ototoxicidade induzida pela cisplatina

Maytenus ilicifolia é uma planta sul americana apresenta várias propriedades medicinais, entre elas, a ação antioxidante. OBJETIVO: Por meio de um modelo original de ototoxicidade induzida pela cisplatina, verificar uma possível ação otoprotetora do extrato aquoso desta planta. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo clínico e experimental com cobaias fêmeas, albinas divididas em 5 grupos: 9 animais recebendo somente 3 doses de 7,5mg/kg/d do protocolo de cisplatina, 4 animais somente com o extrato, 10 animais com cisplatina e 1g/kg/d de extrato por 8 dias, 5 animais com cisplatina e 3g/kg/d do extrato por 8 dias e 5 animais recebendo extrato por 3 semanas e cisplatina na última semana. Os exames foram emissões otoacústica por produtos de distorção, potencial de tronco encefálico pré e após administração de cisplatina e, microscopia eletrônica de varredura. RESULTADOS: Os animais que receberam a cisplatina com o extrato, independente da dose, obtiveram alterações em todos os testes, com lesões na região basal na microscopia eletrônica. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar do efeito antioxidante da Maytenus ilicifolia, ela não foi suficiente para bloquear o efeito ototóxico da cisplatina.

Antioxidant, cytotoxic and UVB-absorbing activity of Maytenus guyanensis Klotzch. (Celastraceae) bark extracts

Maytenus guyanensis Klotzch. is an Amazonian medicinal tree species known in Brazil by the common name chichuá and in Peru and Colombia by the name chuchuhuasi. It is used in traditional medicine as stimulant, tonic, and muscle relaxant, for the relief of arthritis, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, swollen kidney, skin eruptions, and skin cancer prevention, among others. Initially, different extraction solvents and methods were applied to dried, ground bark which made possible the preparation of extracts having both significant lethality to brine shrimp larvae (Artemia franciscana Leach) as well as antioxidant activity in vitro based on tests involving reactions with 2,2,-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Analysis of fractions from serial extractions with solvents of increasing polarity supports the notion that antioxidant activity is associated with compounds of intermediate polarity and cytotoxicity is associated with compounds of low to intermediate polarity. Variation of extraction time and conditions revealed that hot, continuous ethanol extraction provided good yields of bark extract in several hours. Hot extraction also provided ethanol extracts having greater lethality to brine shrimp and antioxidant activity (compared to the flavonoid rutin in semi-quantitative methods based on DPPH) than extracts obtained from maceration at room temperature. Freeze-dried ethanol extracts were prepared by: 1) maceration at room temperature and 2) hot extraction (eight hours) on several hundred gram scales and the latter extract was shown to have partial screening effects on UVB light. In this work, cytotoxic, antioxidant and potential sun-screening activity are shown for the first time in M. guyanensis.

Estudo anatômico do xilema secundário da raiz e do caule de Maytenus guyanensis Klotzsch ex Reissek (Celastraceae)

Maytenus guyanensis é uma planta medicinal, conhecida popularmente por chichuá, possuindo ação analgésica, antiinflamatória, afrodisíaca e antireumática. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar as características estruturais, da raiz e caule desta espécie como contribuição aos trabalhos anatômicos já realizados para o gênero. O material botânico foi coletado na Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke, Manaus/AM onde foram selecionados três indivíduos e de cada um deles retirados fragmentos de 1cm³ do caule e raiz. Amostras foram seccionadas em micrótomo de deslize e coradas com safranina e azul de astra. A análise estrutural revelou-se de acordo com o registrado pela literatura para o gênero. O xilema secundário da raiz e do caule apresentam parênquima axial apotraqueal, raios multisseriados, heterogêneos, vasos solitários, de distribuição difusa, uniforme, seção circular, com parede delgada, pontoações intervasculares alternas e areoladas.

Estudo fitoquímico do decocto das folhas de Maytenus truncata Reissek e avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva, antiedematogênica e antiulcerogênica de extratos do decocto

The present paper describes the phytochemical investigation and biological activities of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of leaf decocts of M. truncata Reiss (Celastraceae). Our studies afforded two flavonoid glycosides, quercetin-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-glucopyranosyl- O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-galactopyranoside (1) and kampferol-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-glucopyranosyl- O-rhamnopyranosyl-O-galactopyranoside (2) from the methanolic extract and dulcitol (3) from the ethyl acetate extract. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts exhibited considerable antiulcerogenic and analgesic activities. The results of the phytochemical studies suggest that the healing activity of methanol extracts can be related to the presence of glycosyl flavonoids.

Atividade antioxidante de extratos e taninos condensados das folhas de Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss.

Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) is a native plant of South America and popularly known as "espinheira-santa". The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of extracts and isolated compounds from this plant. The antioxidant activity of the crude and semipurified extracts and isolated compounds was evaluated through DPPH-radical and phosphomolybdenum-complex assays. By both methods, the ethyl-acetate fraction demonstrated better antioxidant capacity compared with vitamin C and trolox. In the compounds, the higher the number of hydroxyls, the greater the antioxidant activity. In addition, stereochemistry influenced antioxidant activity, i.e., compounds with 2R,3R showed greater activity than those with 2R,3S.

Variabilidade química de compostos orgânicos voláteis e semivoláteis de populações nativas de Maytenus ilicifolia

This work is focused on the chemical distribution of volatile and semi-volatile compounds of 18 native populations of Maytenus ilicifolia collected all over Brazil. The extracts of bulk samples (30 plants) of each population were obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction technique, and analyzed by GC/MS. The quantification of compounds (phytol, squalene, vitamin E, limonene, stigmasterol, friedelan-3-ol, friedelin, fridelan-3-one, palmitic acid and geranyl acetate) showed significant variations within the different populations, which could be related tom microclimate characteristics.

A quantitative validated method using liquid chromatography and chemometric analysis for evaluation of raw material oF Maytenus ilicifolia (Schrad.) Planch., Celastraceae

The hydroalcoholic extracts prepared from standard leaves of Maytenus ilicifolia and commercial samples of espinheira-santa were evaluated qualitatively (fingerprinting) and quantitatively. In this paper, fingerprinting chromatogram coupled with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is described for the metabolomic analysis of standard and commercial espinheira-santa samples. The epicatechin standard was used as an external standard for the development and validation of a quantitative method for the analysis in herbal medicines using a photo diode array detector. This method has been applied for quantification of epicatechin in commercialized herbal medicines sold as espinheira-santa in Brazil and in the standard sample of M. ilicifolia.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and toxic potential of extracts and triterpenes isolated from Maytenus imbricata

The phytochemical study of hexane/ethyl ether (1:1) extract of the roots of M. imbricata, Celastraceae, resulted in the isolation and characterization of six known triterpenes: 11α-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-one, previously isolated from this species besides, 3β,11α-di-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene, 3,7-dioxofriedelane, 3-oxo-29-hydroxyfriedelane, tingenone and 6-oxo-tingenol. The chemical structures of these triterpenes were established by spectrometric data (IR, ¹H and 13C NMR) and through comparison with literature data. The hexane/ethyl ether (1:1), ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, and 11α-hydroxylup-20(29)-en-3-one, tingenone and 6-oxo-tingenol, showed antimicrobial properties on in vitro assays. All extracts and triterpenes, except 3β,11α-di-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene, presented toxicity demonstrated by the larvicidal effect test using Artemia salina.

Isolation and antitrichomonal activity of the chemical constituents of the leaves of Maytenus phyllanthoides Benth. (Celastraceae)

Cyclolignan (+)-lyoniresinol (1), veratric acid (2), vanillic acid (3), lupeol, oleanolic acid, 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-28,13β-lactone (4), the mixture of α- and β-amyrin, trans-polyisoprene, and β-sitosterol were isolated from the leaves of Maytenus phyllanthoides. The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on spectroscopic data, mainly ¹H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Compound 1, its acetate analog 1a, and compounds 2, 3, and 4 were tested against Trichomonas vaginalis. (+)-Lyoniresinol showed activity corresponding to IC50 17.57 µM. This is the first report on the occurrence of 3β-hydroxy-urs-11-en-28,13β-lactone (4) in the Celastraceous family and lyoniresinol in the Maytenus genus, and on the antitrichomonal activity of lyoniresinol.

Indução de Metabólitos Bioativos em Culturas de Células de Maytenus Ilicifolia

Visando a obtenção de triterpenos quinonametídeos em concentração apreciável protocolo para o desenvolvimento de culturas de células de M. ilicifolia foi estabelecido. Estudos visando observar a influência da luminosidade sobre o crescimento das culturas mantidas nas mesmas condições de temperatura e umidade, além da avaliação da influência de diferentes tipos de frascos, que variavam em altura, sobre o crescimento e acúmulo desses metabólitos, foram realizados. O acúmulo desses metabólitos com comprovada atividade biológica se mostrou 100 e 3 vezes maior para a 22beta-hidroximaitenina e maitenina, respectivamente, no sistema in vitro quando comparada à planta in natura. Isto demonstra que o sistema in vitro pode se constituir em uma excelente ferramenta para a produção, em maior escala, destes metabólitos bioativos.

Fenologia reprodutiva de Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) na Floresta Nacional de Irati, Paraná, Brasil

Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a fenologia reprodutiva em uma população natural de Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek na Floresta Ombrófila Mista (Floresta com Araucária). O acompanhamento fenológico foi realizado de abril de 2003 a março de 2005, em 78 indivíduos adultos marcados. As intensidades dos eventos floração (antese) e frutificação foram estimadas utilizando a escala de Fournier. A população apresentou comportamento sazonal. As correlações entre temperatura, comprimento do dia e florescimento foram significativas. Dois morfos florais, um pistilado e outro estaminado, foram identificados e, junto com os resultados dos padrões fenológicos, é sugerido o caráter dióico na espécie.