Essential Oils of Duguetia Species A. St. Hill (Annonaceae): Chemical Diversity and Pharmacological Potential.

Duguetia A. St. Hill (Annonaceae) is recognized as one of the major genera with approximately 100 species, 67 of which are found in Brazil (29 of those are endemic). They are arboreal species with edible fruits known as "pindaíba", "pindaíva" "pinha", and "envira" in Brazil. Many Duguetia species, in particular, have been used in traditional medicine to treat renal colic, stomachache, rheumatism, cough, toothache, muscle pain, fever, gastrointestinal pain, and breathing difficulties. In this study, we reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of essential oils (EOs) from Duguetia species. A total of 12 species were found, along with their EO chemical constituents and bioactivities. Bicyclogermacrene, humulene epoxide II, spathulenol, germacrene D, caryophyllene oxide, viridiflorene, α-pinene, ß-caryophyllene, and ß-pinene were the main chemical constituents reported. The pharmacological effects of Duguetia species EOs included anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-trypanosoma, cytotoxic and antitumor properties. This information adds to our understanding of the potential of the EOs of Duguetia species.

Lower bone density and microarchitecture alterations in HIV-infected Brazilian men aged 50 years and older are associated with estradiol levels.

OBJECTIVE: Combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) allows for longer survival for people living with HIV and hence long-term complications of both disease and treatment are common. Our purpose was to evaluate bone alterations in men living with HIV (MLWH) and receiving cART and to identify associated factors that can be corrected or mitigated. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: Thirty MLWH and 36 healthy controls (≥50 years) were studied for areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microstructure (high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography [HR-pQCT]), serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, 25(OH)D, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2 ), glucose, creatinine, and albumin levels. RESULTS: The proportion of patients classified as osteoporosis (according to the lowest aBMD T-score) was higher among MLWH as compared to controls (17.9% vs. 5.9%, p = .011). The MLWH showed significant alterations in cortical and trabecular bone on HR-pQCT, which were not associated with the duration of HIV infection or cART. These differences in vBMD and bone microstructure seen in HR-pQCT persisted in the nonosteoporotic MLWH as compared to nonosteoporotic control subjects. Body mass index (BMI) and fat mass were lower in MLWH and positively associated with total vBMD, cortical bone area, and thickness. E2 and E2 /T ratios were lower in MLWH than in controls and significantly correlated with several cortical and trabecular bone parameters. Multivariate regression analysis entering simultaneously age, BMI, and E2 defined that E2 is an independent influence on bone parameters evaluated by HR-pQCT. CONCLUSION: MLWH have alterations in bone volumetric density and microstructure when compared with controls, irrespective of aBMD, which are associated with lower E2 and BMI.

Essential Oil from Bark of Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae) Reduces HepG2 Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Tumor Development in a Xenograft Model.

Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae) is an aromatic plant of the Amazon rainforest, which has a tremendous commercial value in the perfumery industry; it is popularly used as flavoring sachets and aromatic baths. In Brazilian folk medicine, A. parviflora is used to treat victims of snakebites. Herein, we analyzed the chemical composition of A. parviflora bark essential oil (EO) and its effect on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-MS and GC-FID. The main constituents of EO were linalool (16.3±3.15), α-humulene (14.5±2.41 %), δ-cadinene (10.2±1.09 %), α-copaene (9.51±1.12 %) and germacrene B (7.58±2.15 %). Initially, EO's cytotoxic effect was evaluated against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, HCT116, HL-60 and B16-F10) and one non-cancerous one (MRC-5), using the Alamar blue method after 72 h of treatment. The calculated IC50 values were 9.05, 22.04, >50, 15.36, 17.57, and 30.46 µg/mL, respectively. The best selectivity was for HepG2 cells with a selective index of 3.4. DNA Fragmentation and cell cycle distribution were quantified in HepG2 cells by flow cytometry after a treatment period of 24 and 48 h. The effect of EO on tumor development in vivo was evaluated in a xenograft model using C.B-17 SCID mice engrafted with HepG2 cells. In vivo tumor growth inhibition of HepG2 xenograft at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg were 12.1 and 62.4 %, respectively.

In vitro and in vivo anti-leukemia activity of the stem bark of Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A. C. Smith (Celastraceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A. C. Smith (family Celastraceae) is a traditional medicinal plant found in the Amazon Rainforest known as "miraruíra", "cipó-miraruíra" or "panu" and is traditionally used to treat dengue, flu, inflammation, pain, diabetes, male impotency, renal affections, rheumatism and cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemia activity of the stem bark of S. impressifolia in experimental models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro cytotoxic activity of extracts, fractions and quinonemethide triterpenes (22-hydroxytingenone, tingenone and pristimerin) from the stem bark of S. impressifolia in cultured cancer cells was determined. The in vivo antitumor activity of the ethyl acetate extract (EAE) and of its fraction (FEAE.3) from the stem bark of S. impressifolia was assessed in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice engrafted with human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. RESULTS: The extract EAE, its fraction FEAE.3, and quinonemethide triterpenes exhibited potent cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, including in vitro anti-leukemia activity against HL-60 and K-562 cells. Moreover, extract EAE and its fraction FEAE.3 inhibited the in vivo development of HL-60 cells engrafted in C.B-17 SCID mice. Tumor mass inhibition rates were measured as 40.4% and 81.5% for the extract EAE (20 mg/kg) and for its fraction FEAE.3 (20 mg/kg), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ethyl acetate extract and its fraction from the stem bark of S. impressifolia exhibit in vitro and in vivo anti-leukemia activity that can be attributed to their quinonemethide triterpenes. These data confirm the ethnopharmacological use of this species and may contribute to the development of a novel anticancer herbal medicine.