Leaf geometric morphometrics among populations of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L. ) Taub / Morfometria geométrica foliar entre populações de Dalbergia ecastaphyllum (L.) Taub. do Brasil

Leaves are plant structures that express important traits of the environment where they live. Leaf description has allowed identification of plant species as well as investigation of abiotic factors effects on their development, such as gases, light, temperature, and herbivory. This study described populations of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum through leaf geometric morphometrics in Brazil. We evaluated 200 leaves from four populations. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first four principal components were responsible for 97.81% of variation. The non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (NPMANOVA) indicated significant difference between samples (p = 0.0001). The Mentel test showed no correlation between geographical distances and shape. The canonical variate analysis (CVA) indicated that the first two variables were responsible for 96.77 % of total variation, while the cross-validation test showed an average of 83.33%. D. ecastaphyllum leaves are elliptical and ovate.

As folhas são estruturas presentes nas plantas que expressam importantes características de acordo com o ambiente no qual estão inseridas. Ao longo dos anos, a sua caracterização tem permitido identificar espécies vegetais e correlacionar o efeito de fatores abióticos como gases, luz, temperatura e herbivoria sob o seu desenvolvimento. O presente estudo teve como descrever populações de Dalbergia ecastaphyllum do Brasil utilizando a morfometria geométrica foliar. Foram avaliadas 200 folhas de quatro populações desta espécie. Análise de componentes principais (ACP) mostrou que os quatro primeiros componentes principais explicaram 97,81% da variação. A Análise de variância multivariada com teste não-paramétrico (NPMANOVA) indicou não haver diferença entres as amostras (p= 0,0001). Os resultados do teste de Mentel mostraram que não houve correlação das distâncias geográficas com a forma. Na análise de variação canônica, as duas primeiras variáveis responderam por 96,77 % da variação total, enquanto uma média de 83,33% foi encontrada pelo teste de validação cruzada. As folhas de D. ecastaphullym são elípticas e ovadas.

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum leaf extracts: in vitro inhibitory potential against enzymes related to metabolic syndrome, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases

For the first time, the anti-hemolytic activity and the enzyme inhibitory activities of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum leaves extracts were tested against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, lipase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and hyaluronidase. The phenolic profile of the obtained extracts was also investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PAD). The extracts showed inhibitory activity against all enzymes evaluated, with the highest inhibitory activity reported for the enzyme hyaluronidase (28.28 ± 2.43 to 72.19 ± 1.40 μg mL-1). The obtained extracts also demonstrate anti-hemolytic activity (52.22 ± 1.62 to 71.17 ± 1.82%). Among the phenolic compounds identified, protocatechuic, vanillic and β-resorcylic acids were the most abundant (1.13 ± 0.06 to 2.53 ± 0.06, 0.90 ± 0.06 to 2.19 ± 0.06 and 1.03 ± 1.62 to 22.11 ± 1.62 mg L-1, respectively). In the statistical analysis, a significant correlation was found between the flavonoids content and all enzymes inhibitory activities. The present study showed that D. ecastaphyllum leaves extracts may have the potential to be used in the therapeutic treatment of several diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and pigmentation, as well as those associated with oxidative stress.