Guettarda uruguensis (Rubiaceae): antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant with quercetin and esters of p-coumaric acid.

Guettarda (Rubiaceae) is a genus known for its diverse range of bioactive compounds, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Guettarda uruguensis Cham. & Schltdl., commonly known as 'jasmim uruguaio' or 'veludinho,' is a native species of the Atlantic Forest that get interested in its potential therapeutic applications. In this study, we evaluated the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the crude ethanol extract obtained from G. uruguensis leaves (EBGF) and fractions, as well as the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and toxicity activity of the EBGF. Our findings revealed that the EBGF and its fractions contain polyphenolic compounds, including long-chain esters of p-coumaric acid and quercetin, which contribute to their potent antioxidant activity. The EBGF exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, highlighting its potential as a natural product for treating pain and inflammation. Our study supports G. uruguensis as a promising source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential.

Susceptibly of Alphitobius diaperinus to Beauveria bassiana extracts.

Alphitobius diaperinus is an important pathogen with worldwide distribution that causes severe economic loss of efficiency in broilers. This study evaluates the potential of organic extracts of two strains entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (CG71 and UNI40) as a biocontrol agent on A. diaperinus and promotes the phytochemical investigation. The effective percentages of mortalities were 95.97% (UNI40 methanolic extract), 69.23, 64.64, and 50.39% (CG 71 methanolic, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts). However, there was a decrease in the lesser mealworms susceptibility in relation to the use of insecticides and extracts. The metabolites 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furanoic acid, dipicolinic acid and monomethyl dipicolinate were isolated from ethyl acetate extract, and ß-adenosine of butanolic extract of B. bassiana CG 71. In addition, the cyclodepsipeptides were identified in methanolic extracts of the two strains. The insecticide activity results indicated that the B. bassiana extracts are an alternative to A. diaperinus control.

Emodin, Physcion, and Crude Extract of Rhamnus sphaerosperma var. pubescens Induce Mixed Cell Death, Increase in Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, and Inhibition of AKT in Cervical and Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cell Lines.

There have been few studies on the pharmacological properties of Rhamnus sphaerosperma var. pubescens, a native Brazilian species popularly known as "fruto-de-pombo." The aim of this study was to investigate the scavenging capacity of emodin, physcion, and the ethanolic crude extract of Rhamnus sphaerosperma var. pubescens against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as their role and plausible mechanisms in prompting cell death and changes in AKT phosphorylation after cervical (SiHa and C33A) and oral (HSC-3) squamous cell carcinoma treatments. Emodin was shown to be the best scavenger of NO• and O2•-, while all samples were equally effective in HOCl/OCl- capture. Emodin, physcion, and the ethanolic extract all exhibited cytotoxic effects on SiHa, C33A, HSC-3, and HaCaT (immortalized human keratinocytes, nontumorigenic cell line), involving mixed cell death (apoptosis and necrosis) independent of the caspase activation pathway. Emodin, physcion, and the ethanolic extract increased intracellular oxidative stress and DNA damage. Emodin decreased the activation of AKT in all tumor cells, physcion in HSC-3 and HaCaT cells, and the ethanolic extract in C33A and HaCaT cells, respectively. The induction of cancer cell death by emodin, physcion, and the ethanolic crude extract of Rhamnus sphaerosperma var. pubescens was related to an increase in intracellular oxidative stress and DNA damage and a decrease in AKT activation. These molecules are therefore emerging as interesting candidates for further study as novel options to treat cervical and oral carcinomas.