Ecdysteroids from two Brazilian Vitex species.

A new ecdysteroid, 26-hydroxypinnatasterone (1), together with 20-hydroxyecdysone, was isolated from the stem barks of Vitex cymosa. 20-Hydroxyecdysone, ajugasterone C, ajugasterone C monoacetonide and turkesterone were isolated from the branches of V. polygama. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods.

3,4-seco-Lupanes and other constituents from Platypodium elegans.

The isolation and NMR data of seco-lupane triterpenes and coumarins from Platypodium elegans are reported.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Bouchea fluminensis.

Dried leaves extract from Bouchea fluminensis was assessed in anti-inflammatory (mouse paw edema) and analgesic models (acetic acid-induced writhings and hot plate). Oral pretreatment of animals with a crude mixture (IG) and a purified mixture of ursolic, oleanolic and micromeric acids (IG-59) at doses ranging from 1 to 30 mg/kg, significantly inhibited carrageenin-induced edema formation. At the same doses, IG and IG-59 also exhibited peripheral and central analgesic activity. It seems that B. fluminensis triterpenes develop their analgesic effect through central opioid receptors, due to the observation that naloxone reverted analgesic activity on the hot plate model.

Anatomical and chemical analyses of leaf secretory cavities of Rustia formosa (Rubiaceae).

Foliar secretory cavities, commonly called leaf pellucid glands, have been reported in many families of vascular plants. In the Rubiaceae, these structures have only been found in the sister genera Rustia and Tresanthera, which are also anomalous within the family because they have poricidal anthers, and in the distantly related Heterophyllaea. General leaf anatomy, with particular attention to secretory cavities, as well as the chemical analysis of the secreted substances of Rustia formosa, is presented here for the first time. The secretory structures have been found in the lamina between the palisade and spongy parenchymas and in the cortical region of the petiole. The chemical analysis showed that the essential oil secreted is a complex mixture of at least 75 components, mostly of sesquiterpenoid composition. Illustrations of the leaf anatomy, details of the secretory structures of Rustia formosa, a gas chromatogram, and a table of the principal components of the leaf essential oil are included.

Screening of Brazilian plant extracts for antioxidant activity by the use of DPPH free radical method.

Brazilian plant extracts belonging to 16 species of 5 different families (71 extracts) were tested against the stable DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free-radical. The ability to scavenge DPPH radical was measured in these experiments by the discoloration of the solution. Ginkgo biloba and rutin, commonly used as antioxidants for medical purposes, were used as standards. Based on our results, we can say that as a general rule the ethanol extracts of plants belonging to the Verbenaceae family showed lower EC(50) values than the other plant extracts. Among the partitions, the more polar ones (ethyl acetate and n-butanol) are those that generally have higher antioxidant activity (AA).

In vitro antiviral effect of flavonoid-rich extracts of Vitex polygama (Verbenaceae) against acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1.

Extracts and fractions rich in flavonoids from fruits and leaves of Vitex polygama Cham. (Verbenaceae) were tested against acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (ACV-HSV-1). Both fruit and leaf extracts exhibited a dose-dependent antiviral activity. The extract from the leaves showed intracellular antiviral activity while the extract from the fruits had virucidal effect. A fraction from the ethyl actetate extract of the leaves inhibited virus propagation by blocking HEp-2 cell receptors.

Análise do óleo essencial de folhas de três quimiotipos de Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. (Verbenaceae) cultivados em condições semelhantes / Analysis of the essential oil from leaves of three Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. (Verbenaceae) chemotypes cultivated on the same conditions

A composição do óleo essencial de Lippia alba apresenta variação quantitativa e qualitativa, levando à separação em quimiotipos. O trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o óleo essencial de folhas de três quimiotipos de Lippia alba, provenientes de diferentes regiões do Brasil, cultivados em condições semelhantes, a fim de verificar se as diferenças na composição do óleo devem-se a fatores ambientais ou a variação genética infraespecífica e se a floração influencia o rendimento e a composição do óleo. Os quimiotipos produtores de citral, carvona e linalol, foram denominados Lippia alba 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. Os óleos essenciais foram extraídos por hidrodestilação de folhas e analisados por cromatografia com fase gasosa e cromatografia com fase gasosa acoplada ao espectrômetro de massas. O melhor rendimento foi obtido das plantas no estágio vegetativo. A composição do óleo essencial manteve-se inalterada para os três quimiotipos após cultivo em condições semelhantes e também não variou qualitativamente durante o crescimento vegetativo e floração. Os dados obtidos reforçam a idéia que as diferenças na composição do óleo essencial dos quimiotipos refletem variações genotípicas entre as plantas e que a extração de óleo essencial de L. alba deve ser efetuada na fase de crescimento vegetativo, quando é maior o rendimento do óleo e a porcentagem dos componentes majoritários.

The composition of Lippia alba essential oil varies in a manner that different chemotypes are recognized. This work deals with the analysis of the essential oil from three chemotypes of L. alba from different regions of Brazil, cultivated in similar conditions, to verify if the differences in their chemical composition can be due to environmental conditions or may be due to infra-specific genetic variation. The influence of flowering was investigated regarding essential oil yield and composition. The chemotypes producing citral, carvone and linalol were denominated chemotypes 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves, at flowering and vegetative growth stages. Essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A better yield was obtained from plants at vegetative stage. The composition of the essential oils remained unchanged after cultivation in the same conditions, and did not vary qualitatively during flowering and vegetative periods. Relative percentages of the major compounds changed during flowering period. Data obtained allow us to reinforce the idea that differences in the essential oil composition of the three chemotypes are due to genotypic variations and that the essential oil extraction during the vegetative period enables a better yield and higher percentages of the major compounds.

Cromatografia em camada fina de extratos de três quimiotipos de Lippia alba (Mill) N.E.Br. (erva-cidreira)

O presente trabalho apresenta os cromatogramas em camada fina dos óleos essenciais, do extrato etanólico e do extrato diclorometano de folhas de três quimiotipos de Lippia alba. Os quimiotipos foram denominados I, II e III para as diferenças no constituinte majoritário dos seus óleos essenciais: citral, carvona e linalol, respectivamente. O óleo e os extratos foram comparados com padrões de citral, carvona e linalol. Etanol e diclorometano podem ser usados para extração desde que ambos os extratos tenham perfis cromatográficos semelhantes. Não houve nenhuma diferença entre os extratos de folhas frescas e secas. Os resultados mostram uma rápida e eficiente identificação dos três quimiotipos através da cromatografia de camada fina.

The present work shows the thin layer chromatography of the essential oils, the ethanolic extract and the dicloromethane extract obtained from leaves of three chemotypes of Lippia alba. The chemotypes were denominated chemotype I, II and III for the differences in the majoritary compound of their essential oils: citral, carvone and linalol, respectivelly. The oil and the extracts were compared with standards of citral, carvone and linalool. Ethanol and dicloromethane can be used for extraction since both extracts have similar cromathografic profiles. There was no diference between extracts of fresh and dried leaves. The results show a fast and eficcient identification of the three chemotypes by thin layer cromatoghraphy.