Chemical fingerprinting of the Brazilian medicinal plant Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less. (Asteraceae) collected at different altitudes.

Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less. is a plant of Brazilian folk medicine. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors on the chemical profile of C. pinnatifida collected during the winter season. C. pinnatifida leaves, alongside soil samples, were collected from two sites of different altitude. Plant samples were sequentially extracted, while soil samples were subject to compositional analysis. Plant extracts were compared using HPTLC-UV, using chemometric analyses to compare samplings harvested at both altitudes. Two marker metabolites, calein A (1) and acetylportentol (2), were isolated from samples collected at the respective altitudes. The differing metabolic profiles observed may be a result of the influence of environmental factors.

Preclinical studies of hydroalcoholic extract of Calea uniflora Less / Estudios preclínicos de extracto hidroalcohólico de Calea uniflora Less

Calea uniflora Less known popularly as Arnica in Brazil, is a native plant from Brazil, popular used by coastal populations from south of Santa Catarina. The purpose of this study was to verify the safety profile in of hydroalcoholic extract of C. uniflora in florescences.The hydroalcoholic extract of C. uniflora in florescences was evaluated for its acute and sub-acute toxicity. Acute topical toxicity was performed using the methodology of guideline 402 from OECD. Acute oral toxicity was performed using the methodology of guideline 423 from OECD and sub-acute toxicity was performed using the methodology adapted of guideline 407 from OECD. The single dose for oral or topical administration of C. uniflora showed DL50> 5000 mg/kg b.w. The sub-acute treatment induced animal death in groups, which was administered extract in the doses 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. The main signs of toxicity observed were respiratory difficulty, increase in lung weigh, lung damage and muscular relation. The topical or oral administration of C. uniflora extract in short period did not caused toxicological effects in animals, however, when administered for a longer period and in concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg (oral.) caused lung damage and even the death of the animal.

Calea uniflora Less conocida popularmente como Arnica en Brasil, es una planta nativa de Brasil, popularmente utilizada por poblaciones costeras del sur de Santa Catarina. El objetivo de este estudio fue verificar el perfil de seguridad del extracto hidroalcoólico de inflorescencias de C. uniflora. El extracto hidroalcoólico de inflorescencias de C. uniflora fue evaluado en cuanto a su toxicidad aguda y subaguda. La toxicidad tópica aguda se realizó utilizando la metodología de la directriz 402 de la OECD. La toxicidad oral aguda fue realizada usando la metodología de la directriz 423 de la OECD y la toxicidad subaguda fue realizada usando la metodología adaptada de la directriz 407 de la OECD. La dosis única para administración oral o tópica de C. uniflora mostro DL50> 5000 mg/kg. El tratamiento subagudo indujo la muerte de animales en grupos a los que se administró extracto en las dosis de 100, 250, 500 y 1000 mg/kg. Los principales signos de toxicidad observados fueron dificultad respiratoria, aumento del peso del pulmón, daño pulmonar y relación muscular. La administración tópica oral del extracto de C. uniflora a corto plazo no causó efectos toxicológicos en los animales, mientras que, cuando se administró por un período mayor y en las concentraciones de 250, 500 y 1000 mg/kg (oral) causaron danos en los pulmones y hasta la muerte del animal.

Evaluation of genotoxicity and coumarin production in conventional and organic cultivation systems of Mikania glomerata Spreng.

Mikania glomerata Sprengel, popularly known as "guaco," is used in Brazilian folk medicine for several inflammatory and allergic conditions. Besides, the popular use "guaco" is indicated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health as a safe and effective herbal medicine. The biological activity of M. glomerata extracts is due to the presence of the coumarins, a large family of phenolic substances found in plants and is made of fused benzene and α-pyrone rings. Considering that there are few data on the biological effects of the extracts of M. glomerata, mainly in genetic level, this work aims to evaluate, in vitro, the genotoxicity and coumarin production in M. glomerata in conventional and organic growing. The data showed that the organic culture system showed double the concentration of coumarin being significantly more productive than the conventional system. Besides, the results of comet assay suggest that extracts of M. glomerata cultivated in a conventional system was genotoxic, increased DNA damage levels while the organic extracts seem to have antigenotoxic effect possibly due to the concentration of coumarins. Additional biochemical investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of action of M. glomerata extracts, which were found to have a role in protection against DNA damage.

Potencial antibacteriano e perfil farmacognóstico das folhas de Hibiscus acetosella Welw Ex Hiern / Antibacterial potential and pharmacognostic profile of Hibiscus acetosella Welw Ex Hiern

Introdução: as Hisbiscus pertencentes à família Malvaceae são amplamente utilizadas na área ornamental e vem ganhando espaço na área alimentícia com suas flores comestíveis e corantes naturais. Alguns estudos demonstraram atividade antibacteriana de algumas espécies deste gênero frente a diversos microorganismos. Hibiscus acetosella, também conhecida popularmente como vinagreira, possui em literatura científica pouca informação sobre sua composição química e ação antibacteriana. Objetivo: caracterizar o perfil farmacognóstico relacionando com a ação microbiológica das folhas de H. acetosella. Metodologia: o perfil farmacognóstico foi realizado através de testes de precipitação, teste colorimétrico, quantificação de compostos fenólicos e análise cromatográfica do extrato hidroalcoólico e das frações das folhas de H. acetocella. A ação antibacteriana do extrato hidroalcoólico (60 mg) e frações (25 mg) foi analisada frente aos microorganismos Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa por meio do método de difusão em ágar. Resultados: a análise farmacognóstica apresentou resultados positivos para as classes de substâncias: taninos, flavonoides, cumarinas, heterosídeos cardiotônicos e alcaloides. O extrato hidroalcoólico possui aproximadamente 352,85 mg/L de polifenóis totais. As frações com caráter mais polar (n-butanol e acetato de etila) apresentaram efeito relevante contra os microorganismos S. aureus e P. aeruginosa. Conclusão: os resultados demonstraram que ação antibacteriana pode estar relacionada com a classe de com compostos fenólicos, uma vez que as frações que apresentaram melhor resultado possuem maior concentração destes metabólitos.

Introduction: the Hisbiscus belonging to the family Malvaceae are widely used in the ornamental area and have been gaining space in the food area with its edible flowers and natural dyes. Some studies have demonstrated antibacterial activity of some species of this genus against different microorganisms. Hibiscus acetosella, also popularly known as vinegar, has little scientific information about chemical composition and antibacterial action. Objective: caracterizar o perfil farmacognóstico relacionando com a ação microbiológica das folhas de H. acetosella. Method: the pharmacognostic profile was performed through precipitation tests, colorimetric test, quantification of phenolic compounds and chromatographic analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract and the fractions of the leaves of H. acetocella. The antibacterial action of the hydroalcoholic extract (60 mg) and fractions (25 mg) were analyzed against the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through the agar diffusion method. Results: the pharmacognostic analysis presented positive results for the classes of substances: tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, cardiotonic heterosides and alkaloids. The hydroalcoholic extract has approximately 352.85 mg / L of total polyphenols. The most polar fractions (n-butanol and ethyl acetate) had a significant effect against the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa microorganisms. Conclusions: the results showed that the antibacterial action may be related to the class of phenolic compounds, since the fractions presented the best antibacterial result have a higher concentration of these metabolites.