Contents of constituents and antioxidant activity of seed and pulp extracts of Annona coriacea and Annona sylvatica.

The antioxidant potential of fruit pulp and seeds of extracts of the Annona coriacea, and A. sylvatica (Annonaceae) were investigated, as well contents total phenolics, flavonoids, condensed tannins and ascorbic acid. Was used to determine the antioxidant activity the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), ß-carotene bleaching and ABTS radical cation method. The total phenol, total flavonoid, condensed tannin, and ascorbic acid contents were measured spectrophotometrically. In this study, the pulp and seeds of the fruits were extracted using methanol/water (8:2) for maceration. The seed extracts of A. coriacea demonstrated a moderate antioxidant effect with free radical scavenging activity of 31.53%, by the DPPH test, 51.59% by the ß-carotene bleaching test and 159.50 µM trolx/g of extract in the ABTS assay. We found that the hydromethanolic seed extract of A. coriacea had high total phenol (147.08 ± 4.20 mg of GAE/g of extract) and flavonoid (131.18 ± 2.31 mg of QE/g of extract) content. This indicated that the antioxidant activity of the extracts was related to the contents of these constituents.

Phenolic compounds of Hibiscus sabdariffa and influence of organic residues on its antioxidant and antitumoral properties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenolic and flavonoids contents and the antioxidant and antitumoral activity of leaf and calyx methanolic extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) cultivated with poultry litter and organosuper® under three modes of application. The total phenolic content in the each extract was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and for aluminium chloride flavonoids. The antioxidant parameters were analyzed using a 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) free radical scavenging assay. An antitumor colorimetric assay using sulforhodamine B. The highest contents of phenolic and flavonoids were observed in leaf extracts (389.98 and 104.52 mg g-1, respectively) and calyx extracts (474.09 and 148.35 mg g-1, respectively) from plants cultivated with organosuper®, although these values did not differ significantly from those observed for the other treatments. The average IC50 of leaves (43.48 µg mL-1) and calyces (37.15 µg mL-1) demonstrated that both have substances that may contribute to free radical scavenging action. The methanol extract from calyces showed significant selective activity against a leukemia line (K-562), with IC50 values of 0.12 mg mL-1 (organosuper®) and 1.16 mg mL-1 (poultry litter), with concentration-dependent, cytotoxic and cytocidal effects.

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.

Total biomass and essential oil composition of Ocimum gratissimum L. in response to broiler litter and phosphorus / Produção de biomassa e composição do óleo essencial de Ocimum gratissimum L. cultivado em solo com cama-de-frango e fósforo

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the biomass yield and chemical composition of the essential oil of clove basil in response to doses of broiler litter (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 t ha-1) added in presence of triple superphosphate (200 kg ha-1) or without it. Before the first harvest, the height of the plants increased significantly (34.42 cm) when 15 tonnes ha-1 broiler litter were added to the soil. However, after resprouting, the plant heights ranged only as a function of the vegetative cycle, with maximum height (76.0 cm) observed at 60 days. Phosphate fertilization also significantly influenced the leaf area (1.771 cm2 plant-1) during the first harvest. The fresh weight of leaves increased linearly in response to the addition of broiler litter (20 ton ha-1) with maximum yields of 1,709 and 7,140 kg ha-1 during the first harvest and regrowth, respectively. On average, the oil content of the leaves was 0.7%, with maximum performance (3.8 L ha-1) when 20 tonnes ha-1 of broiler litter were added on the soil. Eugenol was found to be the major compound of the essential oil (71.65%).

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produção de biomassa e a composição do óleo essencial da alfavaca-cravo cultivada com adição ao solo de cama-de-frango de corte, na ausência ou presença de fósforo. Foram estudadas cinco doses de cama-de-frango semi-decomposta (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20 t ha-1), na ausência ou presença de fósforo (200 kg ha-1), na forma de superfosfato triplo. A altura das plantas na primeira colheita foi maior sob a dose de 15 t ha-1 de cama-de-frango (34,42 cm), ou sem o uso de fósforo (32,4 cm); na rebrota, a altura variou apenas em função do ciclo, sendo máxima (76,0 cm) aos 60 dias após a rebrota. A adubação fosfatada influenciou significativamente a área foliar da primeira colheita, que foi maior com fósforo (1.771 cm2 planta-1). As produções de massas frescas de folhas cresceram linearmente com as doses de cama-de-frango, com máximas de 1.709 e 7.140 kg ha-1 na primeira colheita e na rebrota, respectivamente, sob 20 t ha -1. O teor de óleo essencial foi em média de 0,7% e o rendimento máximo de 3,8 L ha-1 sob a dose de 20 t ha-1 de cama-de-frango; o principal constituinte foi o eugenol, com teor médio de 71,65%.

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.

Chemical composition and free radical-scavenging, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil from Ocimum kilimandscharicum.

OBJECTIVE: The essential oil from the leaves of Ocimum kilimandscharicum (EOOK), collected in Dourados-MS, was investigated for anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and chemical composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The essential oil was evaluated for free radical-scavenging activity using the DPPH assay and was tested in an anticancer assay against ten human cancer cell lines. The response parameter (GI50) was calculated for the cell lines tested. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced pleurisy in mice. RESULTS: The chemical composition showed 45 components with a predominance of monoterpenes, such as camphor (51.81%), 1,8 cineole (20.13%) and limonene (11.23%). The EOOK exhibited potent free radical-scavenging activity by the DPPH assay with a GI50 of 8.31 µg/ml. The major constituents, pure camphor (IC50=12.56 µg/ml) and mixture of the limonene: 1, 8 cineole (IC50=23.25 µg/ml) displayed a potent activity. The oral administration of EOOK (at 30 and 100 mg kg(-1)), as well as the pure camphor or a mixture of 1,8 cineole with limonene, significantly inhibited the carrageenan (Cg) induced pleurisy, reducing the migration of total leukocytes in mice by 82 ± 4% (30 mg kg(-1) of EOOK), 95 ± 4% (100 mg kg(-1) of EOOK), 83 ± 9% (camphor) and 80 ± 5% (mixture of 1,8 cineole:limonene 1:1). In vitro cytotoxicity screening against a human ovarian cancer cell line displayed high selectivity and potent anticancer activity with GI50=31.90 mg ml(-1). This work describes the anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant effects of EOOK for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: The essential oil exhibited marked anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer effects, an effect that can be attributed the presence of majorital compounds, and the response profiles from chemical composition differed from other oils collected in different locales.

Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi in Allium cepa and Swiss mice: a comparative study.

It is estimated that 60% of anticancer drugs are derived directly or indirectly from medicinal plants. Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae) is traditionally used in Brazilian medicine to treat inflammation, ulcers, and tumors. Because of the need to identify new antimutagenic agents and to determine their mechanism of action, this study evaluated the chemopreventive activity of the methanolic extract from leaves of S. terebinthifolius (MEST) in Allium cepa cells and in Swiss mice analyzing different protocols of MEST in association with DNA-damaging agents. The antigenotoxic and antimutagenic aspects in peripheral blood were evaluated using the comet and micronucleus assays, respectively. The percentage of damage reduction was used to compare the A. cepa and mice results. Our results showed for the first time that MEST can act as a chemopreventive compound that promotes cellular genome integrity by desmutagenic and bioantimutagenic activities in vegetal and animal models. This finding may therefore have therapeutic applications that can indirectly correlate to the prevention and/or treatment of the degenerative diseases such as cancer.

Effects of Methanolic Extracts of Annona Species on the Development and Reproduction of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes significant losses in corn crops and necessitates the use of alternative control strategies, such as the application of bioinsecticides. We report the effect of methanolic leaf extracts of Annona dioica, Annona cacans, and Annona coriacea on the development and reproduction of S. frugiperda. A quantitative analysis was carried out to determine the total concentration of phenolics, flavonoids, and condensed tannin (CT) in leaf extracts. Corn leaves were immersed in a 1% methanolic leaf extract solution and fed to second instars of S. frugiperda. Leaf disks dipped in the synthetic insecticide Connect® (Bayer CropScience Ltda) composed of a neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) and a pyrethroid (ß-cyfluthrin), which are harmful to S. frugiperda, was used as positive control. Distilled water was used as a negative control treatment. The leaf extract of A. coriacea decreased larval survivorship, arrested pupal development, and affected the weight gain of S. frugiperda. A. dioica also affected larval survivorship, but its effects were more pronounced for the adult stage, as fecundity, fertility, egg hatchability, and embryonic development were severely affected. Leaf extracts from A. cacans had no effect on S. frugiperda. The leaf extracts of A. dioica and A. coriacea showed a higher content of flavonoids and phenols, respectively. Our results indicated that both A. dioica and A. coriacea have the potential for development as botanical insecticides.

Influence of poultry litter and plant density on the production and chemical composition of the essential oil of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi fruits / Influência da cama-de-frango e densidade de plantas na produção e composição química do óleo essencial de frutos de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production and chemical composition of the essential oil of Brazilian pepper fruits grown in single and double rows using different doses of semi decomposed poultry litter in two evaluation times. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Grande Dourados, in the city of Dourados, state o- Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from October 2009 to November 2010. Brazilian pepper plants were grown in single and double rows in soil with incorporated poultry litter at the doses of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 t ha-1. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 5 factorial experiment in a randomized block design with four replications. Fruits were harvested 180 and 390 days after transplant (DAT). There was a significant interaction for fresh weight of fruits and weight of 50 fruits, being the values higher at 180 DAT in the double rows with increasing poultry litter doses. Fruits harvested 390 DAT showed higher diameter compared with those harvested 180 DAT. The number of fruits per bunch was significantly influenced by the doses of poultry litter, presenting a linear increase with increasing doses. The essential oil of the Brazilian pepper fruits obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry exhibited predominance of monoterpenes, highlighting α-pinene (20.14%) as the major constituent. The chemical composition of the essential oil was not influenced by the number of plant rows in the plot or by the doses of poultry litter in any evaluation time. Therefore, the cultivation of Brazilian pepper plants is recommended in double rows, with 13.59 t ha-1 of incorporated poultry litter in the soi, and with harvest of 180 DAT for higher fruit production.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a produção e composição química do óleo essencial de frutos de pimenta-rosa cultivados em fileira simples e dupla com diferentes doses de cama-de-frango semidecomposta em duas épocas de avaliação. O experimento foi realizado na Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, em Dourados/MS, de outubro de 2009 a novembro de 2010. Plantas de pimenta-rosa foram cultivadas em fileira simples e dupla, em solo com cama-de-frango incorporada nas doses de 0, 5, 10, 15 e 20 t ha-1. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em fatorial 2 x 5, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os frutos foram colhidos aos 180 e 390 dias após o transplante (DAT). Houve interação significativa para peso fresco de frutos e peso de 50 frutos, sendo os valores maiores aos 180 DAT nas plantas cultivadas em fileira dupla, relacionado com o aumento das doses de cama-de-frango. Os frutos colhidos aos 390 DAT apresentaram maior diâmetro comparado com aqueles coletados aos 180 DAT. O número de frutos por cacho foi influenciado significativamente pelas doses de cama-de-frango, tendo aumento linear em função do aumento das doses. O óleo essencial dos frutos de pimenta-rosa obtido por hidrodestilação e analisado por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massas exibiu predominância de monoterpenos, apresentando como principal constituinte o α-pineno (20,14%). A composição química do óleo essencial não foi influenciada pelo número de fileiras de plantas na parcela, nem pelas doses de cama-de-frango, em nenhuma das épocas de avaliação. Portanto, para maior produção de frutos recomenda-se o cultivo de plantas de pimenta-rosa em fileira dupla e 13.59 t ha-1 de cama-de-frango incorporada ao solo com colheita aos 180 DAT.