Vinhático - Plathymenia reticulata.

2009

Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FOR PLATHYMENIA RETICULATA (LEGUMINOSAE)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed and characterized to investigate genetic diversity and gene flow and to help in conservation efforts for the endangered timber species Plathymenia reticulata. Methods and Results: Eleven microsatellite loci were characterized using 60 adult trees of two populations of P. reticulata from the Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia, Brazil. Of these, nine loci were polymorphic, with an average of 4.39 alleles per locus. The average expected heterozygosity per population ranged from 0.47 to 0.55. The combined exclusion probability was 0.99996. Conclusions: Our results reveal that the microsatellite markers developed in this study are an effective tool for paternity and genetic structure analysis that may be useful for conservation strategies.

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.

Desenvolvimento inicial e nutrição de espécies arbóreas nativas sob ferlilização, em plantios de recuperação de áreas de cerrado degradado

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Critérios para indicação de espécies prioritárias para a restauração da vegetação de cerrado

Knowing the attributes of the most suitable species to overcome the obstacles in different environmental conditions is an important tool for ecological restoration. To evaluate the comparative performance of native Cerrado species being cultivated at an arboretum (Assis State Forest, Assis, SP, Brazil), we categorized 106 species by the following attributes: average annual increment in height and crown diameter, survival rates, frequency of herbivory, frost susceptibility and seed dispersal syndrome. The score of each attribute may vary from 1 to 3, and the value of a species for restoration was generated from the sum of the scores for the different attributes converted to the scale of 0 to 100. Analyzing the species altogether, survival was 70%, the average annual increment was 30 cm in height and 21 cm in crown diameter. Only 8% of the species showed high susceptibility to frost and 17% high frequency of herbivory. Eighteen species had scores above 80, being the first Annona crassiflora, Cecropia pachystachya, Enterolobium gummiferum, Plathymenia reticulata e Protium heptaphyllum. In this group are the species that gather the highest number of favorable attributes for the restoration of Cerrado vegetation. We generated two separate lists of ten species of higher value, one for the cerrado sensu stricto and the other for cerradao the forest type of cerrado vegetation. We believe that using these species accelerates the recovery of vegetation structure and thus provide the restoration of ecological processes of ecosystems undergoing restoration. At the end of the list are species of low scores, which, if used, can lead to higher costs or delay in the recovery of structure and ecological processes of the ecosystem being restored.

Effect of chloral hydrate on metabolic rate of Labeo rohita (Ham) and Poecilia reticulata (Peters)

Comparative impact of chloral hydrate anaesthesia on the metabolic rate of Indian major carp Labeo rohita and larvivorous fish Poecilia reticulata was assessed. Observation on the Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) revealed that in common guppies OCR was substantially low (1.105 and 1.097 mg/g/hr) at 0.1 and 0.25 g/l concentrations of chloral hydrate as against OCR of 1.487 mg/g/hr in the control. Fry of L. rohita in group showed lower metabolic rates in the control as well as treated conditions as compared to the individuals of this fish. This may be due to sympathetic psychophysiological reflex of grouped fish. Higher dose of chloral hydrate (0.25 g/l) also caused higher OCR probably due to distress. Application of chloral hydrate also favoured lesser release of metabolic wastes (ammonia and carbon dioxide). There was significant positive correlation between time and oxygen consumption, whereas, for time and OCR this relationship was negative. Regression of chloral hydrate doses for OCR and time has also been calculated.

Low cost freshwater fish pickle using cheap citrus fruit (C. reticulata)

The juice extracted from a locally abundant cheap variety of citrus fruit namely, Citrus reticulata was utilized for pickling. The paper highlights the trials made to select the optimum concentrations of acetic acid and sodium chloride to be used along with the juice of C. reticulata so as to obtain the best, product. The product can be stored well at room temperature for six months.

In vitro culture of embryonic hearts from guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata)

Forty embryonic hearts were taken out by anatomical needle from denuded embryos of the ovoviviparity guppy fish that were dechorioned by mechanic method or by trypsin digestion, and were in vitro cultured. In the cultured hearts, 80% have maintained beating in vitro for 4 weeks, and the longest record for beating was 142 d. Owing to fish embryo transparency, beating frequency and blood color changes are easily viewed from the embryonic hearts under a dissecting microscope. The current study established the in vitro culture method of embryonic hearts in guppy fish, which can be used as a model for the study of heart and cardiovascular system in vertebrates.

Exploring the role of the substantia nigra pars reticulata in eye movements.

Experiments that demonstrated a role for the substantia nigra in eye movements have played an important role in our understanding of the function of the basal ganglia in behavior more broadly. In this review we explore more recent experiments that extend the role of the substantia nigra pars reticulata from a simple gate for eye movements to include a role in cognitive processes for eye movements. We review recent evidence suggesting that basal ganglia nuclei beyond the substantia nigra may also play a role in eye movements and the cognitive events leading up to the production of eye movements. We close by pointing out some unresolved questions in our understanding of the relationship of basal ganglia nuclei and eye movements.

Reproductive cycle of Ophionereis reticulata (Ophiuroidea, Echinodermata) on the southeast coast of Brazil

The reproductive cycle of Ophionereis reticulata, a common sediment-rocky shore-interface ophiuroid, was examined monthly from January 2002 to January 2003 at Praia Grande beach (Sao Sesbatiao, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil). Mature individuals were found from January 2002 to April 2002 and from November 2002 to January 2003. Spawning was regcorded from January 2002 to March 2002 and from November 2002 to January 2003. Mature sperm is still present in April which could be involved in the fertilization of the last oocytes spawned in March and April. November and December marked the final point in the maturation process, with a high concentration of yolk and lipid nutrients in the oocytes. Ophionereis reticulata showed, for the period analyzed, a single spawning period, during spring and summer.

Indução do florescimento e crescimento de tangerineira 'Poncã' (Citrus reticulata Blanco) em função da irrigação e da aplicação de paclobutrazol

O experimento foi conduzido na Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP/Câmpus de Botucatu (SP), com o objetivo de avaliar o florescimento fora de época e o crescimento vegetativo da tangerineira 'Poncã'. Nesse contexto, adotou-se o delineamento estatístico em blocos casualizados, em parcelas subdivididas, com duas repetições, na instalação do ensaio. Os dois tratamentos de -0,03 e -0,05 MPa, como potenciais mínimos da água no solo, constituíram as parcelas e as quatro doses de paclobutrazol: 0; 4; 8 e 12 g por planta, nas subparcelas. No segundo ano de pesquisa, foram mantidas as mesmas parcelas e foram aplicadas nas plantas das subparcelas as doses de 0; 500; 1000 e 2000 mg l-1 de paclobutrazol, via foliar. Cada parcela foi constituída de 16 plantas, sendo oito destinadas à avaliação. Utilizou-se, em ambas as combinações, de um tratamento sem irrigação (-0,07 MPa) e sem aplicação de paclobutrazol, como testemunha. Foram avaliados parâmetros, como a altura, diâmetro médio, volume e área de projeção da copa e condutância estomática para caracterizar a resposta das plantas aos tratamentos empregados. Concluiu-se que a aplicação do paclobutrazol e a variação do potencial da água no solo não proporcionaram a indução do florescimento fora de época das tangerineiras, e que os níveis de paclobutrazol influenciaram no desenvolvimento das plantas.