Secondary plant substances in various extracts of the leaves, fruits, stem and bark of Caraipa densifolia Mart.

Thirty secondary plant substances were detected in various extracts of the leaves, fruits, stem and bark of Caraipadensifolia Mart. Phenolic compounds were preliminarily identified and quantitated by HPLC-ESI-MS and the structures of the compounds, purified by semi-preparative HPLC, were further characterized by nano-ESI-MS-MS. The presence of gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, methyl gallate, p-coumaric acid quinate, epicatechin, procaynidin dimer B(2), procyanidin trimer C(1), syringic acid, 1,2,3,6-tetragallate glucoside, 1,3,4,6-tetragallate glucoside, corilagin, ellagic acid, methyl ellagic acid rhamnoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, two apigenin-C-glycosides (vitexin and isovitexin) and two luteolin-C-glycosides (orientin and isoorientin) are reported in this species for the first time. In addition, the previously reported following terpenoids, lupeol, lupenone, betulinic acid, betulin, friedelin and a previously non-characterized terpenoid in this species, friedelinol were identified and quantitated by GC-MS. A previously identified sterol was beta-sitosterol along with stigmasterol in this species for the first time. The vitamins alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol were also identified in extracts of the leaves of Caraipa species for the first time. The data shows that the botanical parts of C. densifolia Mart. has a much richer spectrum of secondary plant substances than previously reported.

[Atopic diseases in Brazilian children--etiologic multicentric study]. / Etiologia da doença atópica em crianças brasileiras--Estudo multicêntrico.

In order to determine the etiologic agents involved in atopic diseases in Brazilian children, we have performed this multicentric study in 8 areas in Brazil. We have done prick tests with inhalants and food antigens and analyzed skin tests results, considering positive the wheal mean diameter 3 mm. 22,2% of skin tests were negative and the majority were positive to inhalants: D.pteronyssinus(Dpt) (66.6%) and D. farinae(Df) (66.0%), house dust extract (29.0%), dogs epithelium (19.2%), cat's epithelium (8.8%), feather (5.5%), molds (4.2%), Penicillium sp (2.2%) and Lollium perene (0.6%). We have had 9,1% of food positive tests: cow milk (5.2%), peanut (3.5%), corn (3.2%), cocoa and soya (2.2%), eggs and wheat (1.9%). We have concluded that the domestic mites are the most important agents involved in the etiology of atopic diseases in Brazilian children, and the extracts involved, in line with the sensitization of each geographical area.