Eugenia calycina Cambess extracts and their fractions: Their antimicrobial activity and the identification of major polar compounds using electrospray ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry.

Eugenia calycina, which is described as "red pitanga or pitanga cherry of cerrado," is widely distributed in the Cerrado area of Brazil. Its leaf and bark extracts are used in folk medicine for many applications. In this study, the compositions of the major polar compounds of the bark and leaf extracts and their fractions were obtained from a liquid-liquid extraction using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water. They were then evaluated using electrospray ionization negative FT-ICR mass spectrometry (ESI(-) FT-ICR MS), which revealed a large number of oxygen-containing compounds, such as flavonoids, terpenes, tanins, steroids, and fat acids. The biological activity of these extracts towards several bacterial and fungal strains was then evaluated. The highest activity was found using aqueous fractions, in which the ESI(-) FT-ICR MS analysis revealed compounds with a high content of oxygen (e.g., glycosed flavonoids, tannins, and polyphenolic compounds) against Cryptococcus sp. D (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]=15.62µg/mL). Strong activity was also found using the hexanic fractions-in which the ESI(-) FT-ICR MS analysis revealed that the compounds contained a decreased amount of oxygen (e.g., fat acids and steroids)-towards Cryptococcus gatti L48, Cryptococcus neoformans L3 (MIC=31.2µg/mL), and Cryptococcus sp. D (MIC=62.5µg/mL). Therefore, antimicrobial assays using the bark/leaf extracts of E. calycina present prospects for the research of active substances that may be used for the treatment of cryptococcosis, a disease that is common in immunosuppressed patients.

Influence of environmental factors on the composition of essential oils from leaves of Myrcia tomentosa (Aubl) DC / Influencia de los factores ambientales sobre la composición de los aceites esenciales de hojas de Myrcia tomentosa (Aubl) DC

The leaves of Myrcia tomentosa were collected from five sites and four different months in the Brazilian Cerrado and their essential oils were obtained by hidrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of environmental factors on essential oils composition in the leaves of M. tomentosa. The results were submitted to stepwise Multiple Regression and Canonical Correlation Analysis that indicated a relationship between compounds in essential oils and some environmental factors (foliar nutrients, soil nutrients and climatic data). Cluster Analysis indicated a high chemovariability in the essential oils from different sites, also showed that the collection time had a minor effect on oil composition.

Las hojas de Myrcia tomentosa se obtuvieron de cinco sitios diferentes y cuatro meses en el Cerrado brasileño y sus aceites esenciales fueron obtenidos por hidrodistillation y analizados por GC/MS. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la influencia de los factores ambientales sobre la composición de los aceites esenciales en las hojas de M. tomentosa. Los resultados fueron sometidos a múltiples etapas de regresión y análisis de correlación canónica indicó que la relación entre los compuestos en los aceites esenciales y algunos factores ambientales (nutrientes foliares, fertilizantes y datos climáticos). El análisis de agrupamiento indicó chemovariability un alto en los aceites esenciales de diferentes sitios, también mostró que el equipo de recolección tuvo un efecto menor sobre la composición del aceite.

Determinação de taninos e metilxantinas no guaraná em pó (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência / Determination of tannins and methylxanthines in powdered guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) by high performance liquid chromatography

As sementes de guaraná (Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae) são utilizadas como estimulante e os principais constituintes químicos são as metilxantinas e os taninos, tais como catequina e epicatequina. Este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar um método por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) para quantificar, simultaneamente, cafeína, teofilina, teobromina, catequina e epicatequina em pó de guaraná. Os valores obtidos foram comparados com os resultados encontrados no método espectrofotométrico da Farmacopéia Brasileira IV ed. Pelo método cromatográfico, os teores de metilxantinas e taninos totais foram de 4,04 por cento e 1,48 por cento, respectivamente. Os teores de metilxantinas e taninos totais, obtidos pelo método espectrofotométrico, foram de 4,88 por cento e 4,05 por cento, respectivamente. Acredita-se que, nas condições experimentais empregadas, o método espectrofotométrico não foi específico, quantificando outras substâncias fenólicas presentes no guaraná. Portanto, sugere-se o emprego desse método cromatográfico no controle de qualidade do guaraná em pó, por ser preciso, sensível, específico e rápido.

The seeds of Paullinia cupana Kunth, Sapindaceae, are used as a stimulant and the main chemical constituents are the methylxanthines and tannins, as catechin and epicatechin. This study aimed to investigate a method by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to quantify both caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, catechin and epicatechin in powdered of P. cupana. The values obtained were compared with the results of the spectrophotometric method of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia IV ed. For the chromatographic method, the levels of methylxanthines and total tannins were 4.04 percent and 1.48 percent, respectively. The levels of methylxanthines and total tannins obtained by the spectrophotometric method, were 4.88 percent and 4.05 percent, respectively. It is believed that, under our experimental conditions, the spectrophotometric method was not specific and quantified others phenolic substances present in the P. cupana. Therefore we suggest the use of this chromatographic method in quality control of P. cupana powder, to be accurate, sensitive, specific and fast.

Estudo farmacognóstico das folhas de Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L.R. Landrum - Myrtaceae / Pharmacognostic study about Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum leaves - Myrtaceae

O intuito deste trabalho de pesquisa foi obter parâmetros de controle de qualidade para a identificação da matéria-prima vegetal (folha) de Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum - Myrtaceae que ocorre no cerrado brasileiro. Para tanto foram coletadas amostras em Minas Gerais - Brasil e no Distrito Federal - Brasil e as exsicatas foram depositadas no Herbário da UFG n. UFG-27.159 e no Herbário Ezechias Paulo Heringer n. 21.745-0, respectivamente. Parte desse material botânico foi preparada para análises macro e microscópicas. Outra parte foi seca, triturada e usada para a triagem fitoquímica. O estudo mostrou que as folhas de P. pseudocaryophyllus são hipoestomáticas, têm grande quantidade de tricomas unicelulares na superfície abaxial, têm cavidades secretoras contendo compostos lipídicos e as células epidérmicas possuem paredes celulares espessas. Na triagem fitoquímica foram detectados compostos fenólicos, taninos e flavonóides. Os taninos foram dosados por diferentes métodos envolvendo reações colorimétricas e de precipitação com proteínas. Os diferentes resultados verificados chamam a atenção para a necessidade de se especificar o método utilizado juntamente com o limite mínimo de taninos totais estabelecido. Os resultados obtidos configuram-se como importantes parâmetros para o controle de qualidade da matéria-prima vegetal e denotam que a espécie em estudo possui um importante potencial fitoterápico que merece ser investigado em estudos farmacológicos e toxicológicos.

The goal of this research was to obtain quality control parameters for the identification of the plant drug of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) L. R. Landrum that occurs in Brazilian savannah. So, two samples were collected, one in Minas Gerais state - Brazil, and the other one in Brasilia city - DF - Brazil, and the vouchers were deposited in the UFG Herbarium code number UFG-27159 and Ezechias Paulo Heringer Herbarium code number 21745-0, respectively. Part of the botanical material in both samples was prepared for microscopic analysis. The other one was air-dried, crushed to powder and used for phytochemical screening. The study has shown that P. pseudocaryophyllus leaves are hypostomatic, there are abundant unicellular trichomes in abaxial surface, there are secretory cavities with oily content and epidermal cells have thick wall. Tannins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids were detected in the phytochemical screening. The tannins had been quantified by different methods involving colorimetric and protein precipitation reactions, getting different results. This fact calls the attention for the necessity of specifying the method used together with the minimum tannins limit established. The results configure as important parameters for the quality control of the plant material and denote that the species in study take an important potential as herbal medicine that it deserves to be investigated in pharmacologic and toxicologic studies.