Assessment of DDT and mercury levels in fish and sediments in the Iriri River, Brazil: Distribution and ecological risk.

In order to assess the risk of exposure of human populations to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and mercury, muscles of five fish species were analysed, along with the surface sediment of 14 Iriri River sampling sites. The fish specimens were sacrificed by the spinal section, prior to sex identification, body weight determination and total length. Considering the fish specimens studied, 11% of them showed concentrations of mercury higher than the maximum established by the World Health Organization for safe human consumption. A positive correlation between fish body weight and mercury concentration was observed, besides a positive correlation between the fish size and Hg concentration. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between mean concentrations of DDT and metabolites among species of fish studied. In the Plagioscion squamossissimus species, the highest concentration of total DDT (151.4 ng/g) was found, while in Eugerres Brasilianus species, the lowest. However, the DDT levels in fish muscle of studied species are below the maximum set by FAO-Alimentarius CODEX. In the sediments, total DDT ranged from 11.58 ng/g to 48.4 ng/g, which is associated with the historical DDT use in the Amazon. According to sediment quality guidelines, these levels have a moderate toxic effect in almost all of the studied region.

A new xanthone from Moutabea guianensis Aubl.

The ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Moutabea guianensis gave 1,6-dihydroxy-4,7,8-trimethoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one (1), a new xanthone. The isolation was accomplished by column chromatography on silica gel and the structural elucidation of this compound was established by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS.

Xanthones from the roots of Moutabea guianensis Aubl.

The phytochemical investigation of Moutabea guianensis roots led to the isolation of five polyoxygenated xanthones, including two new ones named moutabeone B (1,8-dihydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetramethoxyxanthone) and moutabeone C (1-hydroxy-4,5,6,7,8-pentamethoxyxanthone), along with the three known xanthones, 1,8-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-4,5,6-trimethoxyxanthone and augustin A (1,8-dihydroxy-4,6,7-trimethoxyxanthone). Structural characterization of all compounds was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and comparison with literature data. The antioxidant activity of compounds was tested through a thin layer chromatography (TLC) bioautography assay using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH·) as detection reagent. All tested compounds were more active (DL < 0.13-0.03 µg) than Trolox (DL < 0.15 µg), used as reference standard.

Active polyketides isolated from Penicillium herquei.

In this work we are reporting the isolation by classical methods of chromatography of six polyketides from Penicillium herquei. The compounds citreorosein ( 1) , emodin ( 2) , janthinone ( 3) , citrinin ( 4) , citrinin H1 ( 5) and dicitrinol ( 6) were identified by spectral methods of 1D and 2D NMR and MS. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were tested against promastigotes forms of Leishmania brasiliensis and 1 and 2 were also assayed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis and showed good activity.

Chemical constituents of Aspergillus sp EJC08 isolated as endophyte from Bauhinia guianensis and their antimicrobial activity.

The present work reports the isolation of five compounds from Aspergillus sp EJC08 isolated as endophytic from Bauhinia guianensis, a tipical plant of the Amazon. The compounds ergosterol (1), ergosterol peroxide (2), mevalolactone (3), monomethylsulochrin (4) and trypacidin A (5) were isolated by chromatographic procedures and identified by spectral methods of 1D and 2D NMR and MS. Compounds 3, 4 and 5 were tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and showed good activity.

Flavonoids from leaves of Derris urucu: assessment of potential effects on seed germination and development of weeds.

In some previous studies, we described the isolation of nine compounds from leaves of Derris urucu, a species found widely in the Amazon rainforest, identified as five stilbenes and four dihydroflavonols. In this work, three of these dihydroflavonols [urucuol A (1), urucuol B (2) and isotirumalin (3)] were evaluated to identify their potential as allelochemicals, and we are also reporting the isolation and structural determination of a new flavonoid [5,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-(7,6:5″,6″)-2″,2″-dimethylpyranoflavanone (4)]. We investigated the effects of the dihydroflavonols 1-3 on seed germination and radicle and hypocotyl growth of the weed Mimosa pudica, using solutions at 150 mg.L-1. Urucuol B, alone, was the substance with the greatest potential to inhibit seed germination (26%), while isotirumalin showed greater ability to reduce the development of the hypocotyl (25%), but none of the three substances showed the potential to inhibit radicle. When combined in pairs, the substances showed synergism for the development of root and hypocotyl and effects on seed germination that could be attributed to antagonism. When tested separately, the trend has become more intense effects on seed germination, while for the substances tested in pairs, the intensity of the effect was greater on development of weed.

Volatiles, a glutarimide alkaloid and antimicrobial effects of Croton pullei (Euphorbiaceae).

Chemical investigation of Croton pullei (Euphorbiaceae) collected in the Brazilian Amazon region was revisited. The chemical composition of the essential oils of leaves and stems was analyzed by GC/MS. It was found that both the oils comprise mainly terpenes, among which linalool was the major one (24.90 and 39.72%, respectively). Phytochemical investigation of the stem methanol extract led to the isolation of a new natural product from the glutarimide alkaloid group named N-[2,6-dioxo-1-(2-phenylethyl)-3-piperidinyl]-acetamide, confirming that C. pullei is a rich source of this class of alkaloids. The hexane and methanol extracts of the stems of C. pullei showed moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity and the highest inhibition was observed when the methanol extract was tested against Staphylococcus aureus CCMB 262 and CCMB 263.

Identification of (-)(E)-N-[2(S)-Hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl]ferulamide, a natural product isolated from Croton pullei: theoretical and experimental analysis.

Ferulic acid (FA) and its derivatives (FADs) are known for a variety of biological activities, such as photo-protective agent, antioxidant, antiatherogenic and antiplasmodial activities. During structural definition of a FAD isolated from Croton pullei, the possibility of a heterologous series made this definition difficult. In this regard, computational simulations were performed using theoretical calculations at DFT level to predict Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) data. The IR and NMR (13)C and (1)H data were compared with the theoretical calculations performed for three structural possibilities of a heterologous series. The theoretical results were compared with the experimental data through linear regression in order to define the most probable structure and showed satisfactory values.

Flavonoids, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of Myrcia rufipila mcvaugh leaves (myrtaceae).

This paper reports the first chemical study of the non-volatile compounds, antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial effect of the methanol extract of the leaves of Myrcia rufipila McVaugh. Samples of the leaves were collected in Maracanã Municipality, Pará, Brazil. The chemical investigation led to the identification of the triterpenoids ß- and α-amyrin, the flavonoids 4'-O-galloyldihydromyricetin, myricetin, myricitrin, desmantin-I, myricetin-3-O-(3"-O-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside and isovitexin, in addition to gallic acid. The methanol extract showed antioxidant capacity (>90%) against DPPH radical (IC50 356.3 ± 3.1 µg.mL-1) and was active only at high concentrations against the tested microorganisms, including the chloramphenicol resistant E. coli CCMB261 and S. aureus CCMB285 and a nystatin resistant C. parapsilosis CCMB 288. This study shows that M. rufipila, like other Myrcia species, is another source of flavonoids such as desmantin-I and myricitrin which have shown hypoglycemic potential, besides triterpenes and phenolic acids.

Activity of the julocrotine, a glutarimide alkaloid from Croton pullei var. glabrior, on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

The antiproliferative effect of julocrotine, an alkaloid isolated from Croton pullei var. glabrior (Euphorbiaceae), was studied in the macrophage amastigote and promastigote stages of the protozoan Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, which causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Julocrotine showed a dose-dependent effect against the amastigote and promastigote forms, where 79 µM julocrotine inhibited promastigote growth by 54%, with an IC50 of 67 µM. To analyze the antiamastigote activity of the drug, murine peritoneal macrophages infected with L. amazonensis promastigotes were treated with different concentrations of julocrotine. An 80% inhibition of amastigote development was observed using 79 µM julocrotine for 72 h, with an IC50 of 19.8 µM. In addition, ultrastructural observation of the parasites showed a significant reduction in the number of amastigotes in the parasitophorous vacuoles and morphological changes in promastigotes, such as swelling of the mitochondrion, chromatin condensation, presence of membranous structures near the Golgi complex, and some vesicle bodies in the flagellar pocket. A colorimetric assay (MTT), which measures cytotoxic metabolic activity, showed that macrophages maintain their viability after treatment with the drug. These results suggest that julocrotine effectively inhibits the growth of parasites and does not have any cytototoxic effects on the host cell.

Lupane triterpenoids, antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg.

Chemical composition of the methanol extract of Myrciaria floribunda leaves was investigated. The nor-lupane triterpenoids platanic acid and messagenic I acid were identified, along with other known triterpenoids (betulinic aldehyde, ursolic acid acetate and betulinic acid), a new lupane triterpenoid (2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid) and the flavonoids catechin, quercetrin and mirycitrin. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods (NMR, LC-MS, GC-MS). The major isolated compound was betulinic acid. The methanol extract and 2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid were evaluated for their DPPH scavenging potential. The tested triterpenoid was one hundred times more active than betulinic acid, but less active than the extract. Screening for antimicrobial activity showed that the methanol extract was active against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, but inactive against Candida albicans and Candida krusei, while 2α,6α,30-trihydroxybetulinic acid was inactive to all tested microorganisms.

Synthesis, antimalarial activity in vitro, and docking studies of novel neolignan derivatives.

The absence of effective vaccines against malaria and the difficulties associated with controlling mosquito vectors have left chemotherapy as the primary control measure against malaria. However, the emergence and spread of parasite resistance to conventional antimalarial drugs result in a worrisome scenario making the search for new drugs a priority. In the present study, the activities of nine neolignan derivatives were evaluated as follows: (i) against blood forms of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (clone W2), using the tritiated hypoxanthine incorporation and anti-HRPII assays; (ii) for cytotoxic activity against cultured human hepatoma cells (HepG2); and (iii) for intermolecular interaction with the P. falciparum cysteine protease of falcipain-2 (F2) by molecular docking. The neolignan derivatives 9 and 10 showed activity against the blood form of the chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum clone W2 and were not cytotoxic against cultured human hepatoma cells. A molecular docking study of these two neolignans with FP2 revealed several intermolecular interactions that should guide the design of future analogs.

Structure-activity relationship of antileishmanials neolignan analogues.

Twenty-two synthetic analogues of neolignans comprising beta-ketoethers and beta-ketosulfides were obtained from condensation reactions among beta-bromoketones and phenols or thiophenols, respectively, in basic solutions, and assayed in vitro for activity against intracellular Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani amastigotes, the causative agents of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The highest selective activity was found for compounds with sulfur bridges, whereas beta-ketosulphoxides and beta-ketosulphones had significantly less growth inhibitory activity. Compounds 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)thio]propan-1-one and 1-(3,4-dimethoxy)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)thio]propan-1-one were the most potent, inhibiting the growth parasite species by over 90% at microgram/mL, but only compound 1-(3,4-dimethoxy)-2-[(4-methylphenyl)thio]propan-1-one was selectively toxic to the parasites.

Biflavones and triterpenoids isolated from Ouratea castaneifolia (DC.) Engl., Ochnaceae / Biflavonas e triterpenóides isolados de Ouratea castaneifolia (DC.) Engl., Ochnaceae

This paper presents the chemical investigation of the leaves and stems of Ouratea castaneifolia (DC.) Engl.. There are no chemical or pharmacological studies with this species. Classic phytochemical investigation of the organic extracts together with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures lead to the identification of seventeen metabolites: seven triterpenes (friedelin, 3β-friedelinol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, lupeol, germanicol and taraxerol), four steroids (sitosterol, stigmasterol and the glycosides sitosteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and stigmasteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside), one isoflavone (5,7,4'-trimethoxyisoflavone), one flavone (5,4'-dihydroxy-7,3',5'-trimethoxyflavone) and four biflavones (amenthoflavone, 7,7"-O-dimethylamenthoflavone, heveaflavone and tetramethylamenthoflavone). The structures of the compounds were established by the analysis of ¹H, 13C NMR spectra including bidimensional techniques. The classes of the identified metabolites are in agreement with previous studies of the Ouratea genus.

O presente trabalho trata da investigação química das folhas e caule da espécie Ouratea castaneifolia (DC.) Engl., sobre a qual não há registros de estudos químicos ou farmacológicos anteriores. O estudo fitoquímico clássico dos extratos orgânicos do caule e das folhas de O. castaneifolia foi aliado à técnica da cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) e resultou na identificação de dezessete metabólitos: sete triperpenos (friedelina, 3β-friedelinol, α-amirina, β-amirina, lupeol, taraxerol e germanicol), quatro esteróides (sitosterol, estigmasterol e os glucosídeos sitosteril 3-O-β-D-glicopiranosídeo e estigmasteril 3-O-β-D-glicopiranosídeo), uma isoflavona (5,7,4´-trimetoxiisoflavona), uma flavona (5,4´-diidroxi-7,3´,5´-trimetoxiflavona), quatro biflavonas (amentoflavona, 7,7"-O-dimetil-amentoflavona, heveaflavona e tetrametilamentoflavona). A identificação das substâncias foi feita com base na análise de espectros de RMN de ¹H, 13C e técnicas bidimensionais. As classes dos metabólitos identificados estão de acordo com aquelas citadas em estudos químicos do gênero Ouratea.

Antraquinonas e naftoquinonas do caule de um espécime de reflorestamento de Tectona grandi (Verbenaceae) / Anthraquinones and naphtoquinones from the bark of Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) reforestation specimen

O fracionamento do extrato hexânico do caule de um espécime de reflorestamento de Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae), através de procedimentos fitoquímicos clássicos, levou ao isolamento das naftoquinonas lapachol e desidro-a-lapachona e das antraquinonas tectoquinona e obtusifolina. As estruturas das substâncias foram caracterizadas através da análise de métodos espectrométricos de RMN. Este é o primeiro estudo fitoquímico de um espécime de reflorestamento de Tectona grandis, no Brasil, sendo o objetivo principal deste trabalho a comprovação da presença de tectoquinona em espécimes cultivados.

The hexane extract of the bark of Tectona grandis (Verbenaceae) afforded two anthraquinones and two naphtoquinones. Their caracterizations were obtained through NMR spectroscopic techniques. This is the first phytochemical study of the bark of Tectona grandis reforestation specimen in Brazil. The main interest in this work is proving the presence of tectoquinone in reforestation specimen.