Comercialização de Plantas Medicinais no Município de Arapiraca-AL / Medicinal Plants commercialization in the city of Arapiraca-AL

RESUMO O comércio de plantas medicinais em feiras livres faz parte da cultura de muitas cidades da região Nordeste do Brasil. Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa verificar a existência de padrões de comercialização de plantas medicinais nas feiras livres do município de Arapiraca-AL. A metodologia incluiu a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas, aplicadas a vendedores de plantas medicinais, sendo estas gravadas em áudio após assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido, as técnicas da observação direta, “bola de neve” e lista livre. Os informantes indicaram 42 plantas medicinais, tendo Fabaceae com maior destaque em número de espécies. Do total de espécies identificadas, a maior parte é nativa (82%) e o hábito predominante é o arbóreo. Este estudo revelou que a produção e comercialização de plantas medicinais possuem um padrão local, com as plantas adquiridas através de terceiros, não havendo um padrão mínimo de qualidade, sendo necessária a implantação de políticas públicas voltadas a capacitação destes profissionais, agregando valor ao saber popular sobre plantas medicinais.

ABSTRACT The marketing of medicinal plants in street fairs is part of the culture of many cities in the Northeast of Brazil. The aim of this study was to identify the marketing patterns of medicinal plants in Arapiraca-AL city. The methodologies involved semi-structured interviews, givento the merchants of medicinal plants, t after a Free and Clear Consent Form, by which the survey participants were aware of the risks and benefits of it and can stop it if necessary to judge, the interviews were recorded. Snow-ball and free list techniques were also used. The informants indicated 42 species; Fabaceae had the highest number of species. From the total of identified medicinal plants, 80% were native and the predominant habitat was arboreous. This study revealed that the production and marketing of medicinal plants has a local pattern, with the plants being acquired through outsourcing, and there is no minimum quality standard, requiring the implementation of public policies for the training of these professionals, adding value to the common knowledge of medicinal plants.

Contents of constituents and antioxidant activity of seed and pulp extracts of Annona coriacea and Annona sylvatica / Conteúdo de constituintes e atividade antioxidante de extratos de semente e polpa de Annona coriacea e Annona sylvatica

AbstractThe 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-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH), β-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 β-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.

ResumoO potencial antioxidante de extratos da polpa e sementes de frutos da Annona coriacea e A. sylvatica(Annonaceae) foram investigados, bem como os teores de fenóis totais, flavonóides totais, ácido ascórbico total e taninos condensados. Os métodos utilizados para avaliação da atividade antioxidante foram o 1,1-difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) branqueamento do β-caroteno e ensaio do radical ABTS. O teor de fenóis totais, flavonoides totais, taninos condensados e ácidos ascórbico foram determinados utilizando espectrofotômetro. A polpa e as sementes dos frutos foram extraídas por maceração com metanol/água (8:2). O extrato da semente de A. coriacea demonstrou moderado efeito antioxidante, com 31,53% no sequestro de radicais livres pelo ensaio do DPPH, 51,59% pelo teste do branqueamento do β-caroteno e pelo ensaio do ABTS com 159,50 µM trolox/g de extrato. Foi observado que o extrato hidrometanólico das sementes de A. coriacea obteve alto teor de fenóis totais (147,08 ± 4,20 mg of GAE/ g de extrato) e flavonóides totais (131,18 ± 2,31 mg of QE/ g de extrato). Isto indica que atividade antioxidante dos extratos pode estar relacionada com o teor destes constituintes.

Extratos aquosos de inhame (Dioscorea rotundata Poirr. ) e de mastruz (Chenopodium ambrosioides L. ) no desenvolvimento da lagarta-do-cartucho-do-milho Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) / Aqueous extracts of yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poirr. ) and chenopodium (Chenopodium ambrosioides L. ) in the development of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797)

RESUMO: Estudou-se o efeito de extratos aquosos de inhame (0; 5; 10; e 20% p/p) e de mastruz (0; 2; 4; 6; 8 e 10% p/p) na biologia da lagarta-do-cartucho. Secções de folhas de milho foram mergulhadas por 30 segundos em soluções de cada concentração; após a secagem, colocou-se em cada secção uma lagarta recém-eclodida. Foram avaliadas a viabilidade e a duração das fases larval e pupal, peso e comprimento das lagartas e pupas. Em relação ao extrato de inhame, a concentração de 20% causou maior influência na fase larval, sendo a viabilidade reduzida para 12%, com duração de 7 dias, diferindo da testemunha com 17 dias. O extrato da mesma planta a 10% causou 48% de mortalidade. Em todas as concentrações esse extrato também afetou a fase de pupa; na testemunha, 85% das pupas foram viáveis, enquanto nos demais tratamentos a viabilidade não excedeu a 25%. Para o peso e comprimento das lagartas, os resultados não foram significativos. Para o mastruz, o extrato a 20% causou influência na fase larval com baixa viabilidade e mortalidade logo nos primeiros seis dias de avaliação. Outras concentrações de mastruz não deferiram entre si nas fases larval e pupal. Verificou-se que a alimentação das lagartas com folhas tratadas com mastruz diminuiu o peso das pupas.

ABSTRACT: The effect of aqueous extracts of yam (0, 5, 10, and 20% h/h) and chenopodium (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% h/h) on the biology of fall armyworm was studied. Sections of maize leaves were dipped for 30 seconds in solutions of each concentration; after the section dried, a recently hatched caterpillar was placed onto each treated section. The viability and duration of the larval and pupal stages and the weight and length of the caterpillars and pupae were evaluated. For yam, the extract at 20% concentration caused the greatest influence on the larval stage of the insect, significantly reducing larval viability to 12%, with 7 day larval stage duration, differing from the control at 17 days. The extract of the same plant at 10% caused 48% larval mortality. At all concentrations, that extract also affected the pupal stage; in the control, pupal viability was 85%, whereas for the other concentrations the viability did not exceed 25%. No significant differences were observed for the weight and length of caterpillars. For chenopodium, the extract at 20% concentration caused influence on the larval stage, as it showed the lowest viability, causing mortality in six days. Other chenopodium concentrations did not show differences for the larval and pupal stages. Feeding caterpillars with leaves treated with the extract of chenopodium decreased pupal weight.

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.