Seasonal variation in the essential oil from Varronia curassavica jacq. accessions / Variación estacional en el aceite esencial de accesiones de Varronia curassavica Jacq

Varronia curassavica has anti-inflammatory properties because of the terpenes, α-humulene and ß-caryophyllene, present in the essential oil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of seasonality on the essential oil of V. curassavica accessions. Leaves from six accessions were collected from the Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Minas Gerais over 12 months. Correlations between the essential oil content and meteorological factors were determined. Gas chromatography analysis coupled with mass spectrometry was conducted to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. The content and chemical composition of the oil varied throughout the year. Relative humidity was correlated with accessions ICA-VC2 (-0.64) and ICA-VC4 (0.68). ß-bourbonene, ß-elemene, spathulenol, germacrene, caryophyllene oxide, α-humulene, and ß-caryophyllene occurred in all accessions. Accession ICA-VC3 exhibited lower variation (22.17%), higher average (0.97%) essential oil, and maintained an average abundance of α-humulene greater than 2.6%, which is the amount necessary for phytotherapeutics.

Varronia curassavica tiene propiedades antiinflamatorias debido a los terpenos, α-humuleno y ß-cariofileno, presentes en el aceite esencial. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de la estacionalidad en el aceite esencial de las accesiones de V. curassavica. Se recolectaron hojas de seis accesiones del Banco de Germoplasma de la Universidad Federal de Minas Gerais durante 12 meses. Se determinaron las correlaciones entre el contenido de aceite esencial y los factores meteorológicos. Se realizó un análisis de cromatografía de gases junto con espectrometría de masas para determinar la composición química del aceite esencial. El contenido y la composición química del aceite varió a lo largo del año. La humedad relativa se correlacionó con las accesiones ICA-VC2 (-0,64) e ICA-VC4 (0,68). En todas las accesiones aparecieron ß-bourboneno, ß-elemeno, espatulenol, germacreno, óxido de cariofileno, α-humuleno y ß-cariofileno. La accesión ICA-VC3 mostró una menor variación (22,17%), un promedio más alto (0,97%) de aceite esencial y mantuvo una abundancia media de α-humuleno superior al 2,6%, que es la cantidad necesaria para los fitoterápicos.

New bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex / 中国天然药物

Six new bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids, including plakordiols A-D (1-4), (7R, 10R)-hydroxycurcudiol (5) and (7R, 10S)-hydroxycurcudiol (6) were isolated from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were determined based on extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Their configurations were assigned by coupling constant analysis, NOESY correlations, and the modified Mosher's method. Furthermore, their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities were evaluated.

Antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of the fresh leaf essential oil of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) / Atividades antibacteriana e antiproliferativa do óleo essencial das folhas frescas de Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae)

Abstract This study evaluated the antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of the essential oil of Psidium guajava leaves (PG-EO), traditionally used in folk medicine. The essential oil was obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The major PG-EO chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID as being β-caryophyllene (16.1%), α-humulene (11.9%), aromadendrene oxide (14.7%), δ-selinene (13.6%), and selin-11-en-4α-ol (12.5%). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of P. guajava leaves was determined in terms of its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. PG-EO had moderate activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. mitis (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. sanguinis (MIC = 400 µg/mL), S. sobrinus (MIC = 100 µg/mL), and S. salivarius (MIC = 200 µg/mL). The antiproliferative activity was evaluated against different tumor cell lines: breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and human gliobastoma (M059J). A normal human cell line (GM07492A, lung fibroblasts) was included. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using the XTT assay and the results were expressed as IC50. The essential oil showed significantly lower IC50 values against MCF-7 and M059J lines than that obtained for the normal line, showing selectivity. Our results suggest that the essential oil of Psidium guajava L. has promising biological activities and can be considered a new source of bioactive compounds.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou as atividades antibacteriana e antiproliferativa do óleo essencial das folhas frescas de Psidium guajava (PG-OE), tradicionalmente utilizadas na medicina popular. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação das folhas frescas, utilizando aparelho do tipo Clevenger. Os principais constituintes químicos de PG-OE identificados por CG-EM e CG-DIC foram: β-cariofileno (16,1%), α-humuleno (11,9%), óxido de aromadendreno (14,7%), δ-selineno (13,6%) e selin-11-en-4α-ol (12,5%). A atividade antibacteriana do óleo essencial das folhas de P. guajava foi determinada em termo de sua concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) utilizando o método de microdiluição de caldo em microplacas de 96 poços. PG-OE apresentou moderada atividade contra Streptococcus mutans (CIM = 200 μg/mL), S. mitis (CIM = 200 μg/mL), S. sanguinis (CIM = 400 μg/mL), S. sobrinus (CIM = 100 μg/mL) e S. salivarius (CIM = 200 μg/mL). A atividade antiproliferativa foi avaliada frente a diferentes linhagens de células tumorais como: adenocarcinoma de mama (MCF-7), adenocarcinoma cervical humano (HeLa) e gliobastoma humano (M059J). Foi incluída uma linhagem celular humana normal (GM07492A, fibroblastos pulmonares). A atividade antiproliferativa foi avaliada utilizando o ensaio XTT e os resultados foram expressos como CI50. As linhagens MCF-7 e M059J mostraram valores significativamente mais baixos de CI50 do que os obtidos para a linhagem normal, mostrando seletividade. Nossos resultados sugerem que o óleo essencial das folhas frescas de Psidium guajava L. possui atividades biológicas promissoras e pode ser considerado como uma nova fonte de compostos bioativos.

Actividad in vitro anti-Leishmania (Trypanosomatidae) del epóxido trans-Z-&-bisaboleno y del Safrol, en frutos de Piper auritum (Piperaceae) / Anti-Leishmania (Trypanosomatidae) activity of trans-Z-&-bisabolene epoxide and isolation of safrole, in fruits of Piper auritum (Piperaceae)

Resumen La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad con una alta incidencia en el ser humano, que puede ser controlada, pero como los tratamientos tienen efectos secundarios importantes se han realizado estudios de diversas plantas con el fin de encontrar compuestos con actividad antileishmaniásica que presenten pocos efectos nocivos para el ser humano. El presente estudio consistió en realizar un tamizaje fitoquímico de la planta, para identificar la presencia de cumarinas, terpenos, triterpenos y azúcares reductores. El objetivo fue encontrar componentes químicos puros con actividad contra el parásito Leishmania sp. Por tal razón se purificaron los compuestos: trans-Z-alfabisaboleno y el Safrol, a los que se les realizaron pruebas del efecto anti parasitario que presentaron un CI50 de 50.0 µg/mL y 0.0 µg/mL, respectivamente. Además, se discute la importancia de estos nuevos hallazgos. El compuesto mayoritario presente en los aceites esenciales (Safrol) no es el componente que presentó la actividad. Es importante realizar estudios sobre su proyección en el tratamiento de la leishmaniasis.

Abstract The leishmaniosis disease incidence is high in tropical regions, and its current treatment has shown severe secondary effects. Considering this problem, many studies have focused on plants, looking for chemical components that have anti-leishmanial activity, and are free of adverse effects for human beings. The purpose of this work was to find a chemical component with this kind of activity in Piper auritum. In a phytochemical screening of this plant, we found some cumarins, terpens, triterpens and reducing sugars; and later, we identified the components trans-Z-α-bisabolene epoxide and Safrol. The first component presented a CI50 of 50.0 µg/mL of anti-Leishmania activity. The Safrol, which is the major component of the essential oils of this plant, did not show antiparasitic activity. These results are discussed considering treatment of leishmaniasis. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(2): 826-835. Epub 2018 June 01.