Optimization of (-)-cubebin biotransformation to (-)-hinokinin by the marine fungus Absidia coerulea 3A9.

The genus Absidia is widely used in the biotransformation of different classes of natural products. This study evaluates the ability of the Absidia coerulea 3A9 marine derived strain isolated from the ascidian Distaplia stilyfera to perform biotransformations by conducting assays with (-)-cubebin, as substrate. The experiment was optimized using the experimental design proposed by Plackett-Burman for seven factors and eight experiments, to establish the biotransformation conditions that would allow maximum production of biotransformed dibenzylbutyrolactone (-)-hinokinin. An analytical method based on Reverse-Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) was developed to quantify the fungal biotransformation product. The factor that influenced the (-)-hinokinin peak area the most positively was the percentage of seawater (%seawater) given that its %relative standard deviation (%RSD) showed a 32.92% deviation from the real value.

In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Candida spp. Activity of Plant-Derived Products.

Candidiasis therapy, especially for candidiasis caused by Candida non-albicans species, is limited by the relatively reduced number of antifungal drugs and the emergence of antifungal tolerance. This study evaluates the anticandidal activity of 41 plant-derived products against Candida species, in both planktonic and biofilm cells. This study also evaluates the toxicity and the therapeutic action of the most active compounds by using the Caenorhabditis elegans-Candida model. The planktonic cells were cultured with various concentrations of the tested agents. The Cupressus sempervirens, Citrus limon, and Litsea cubeba essential oils as well as gallic acid were the most active anticandidal compounds. Candida cell re-growth after treatment with these agents for 48 h demonstrated that the L. cubeba essential oil and gallic acid displayed fungistatic activity, whereas the C. limon and C. sempervirens essential oils exhibited fungicidal activity. The C. sempervirens essential oil was not toxic and increased the survival of C. elegans worms infected with C. glabrata or C. orthopsilosis. All the plant-derived products assayed at 250 µg/mL affected C. krusei biofilms. The tested plant-derived products proved to be potential therapeutic agents against Candida, especially Candida non-albicans species, and should be considered when developing new anticandidal agents.

Effect of salicylic acid and silver nitrate on rutin production by Hyptis marrubioides cultured in vitro / Efeito do ácido salicílico e nitrato de prata na produção de rutina por Hyptis marrubioides cultivada in vitro

ABSTRACT: Hyptis marrubioides (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant that is native from Brazilian Cerrado. In vitro propagation techniques make use of elicitors to alter metabolic pathways, affecting how molecules are produced both qualitatively and quantitatively. This research aimed to evaluate how abiotic elicitors salicylic acid (SA) and silver nitrate (SN) at concentrations of 30µM or 60µM influence Hyptis marrubioides seedling growth by two different in vitro culture methods. The rutin content was quantified by HPLC-DAD. Compared to an untreated culture, the H. marrubioides methanolic extracts cultured in MS medium for 10 days followed by culture in MS medium containing SN (30µM) for 20 days had 1.28 times higher rutin content. In a second experiment, seedlings were cultured in MS medium for 20 days, and then the desired elicitor was added to the culture and allowed to remain in contact with the medium for three and six days. SA (30µM) gave the best results: rutin production was 16.56-foldhigher than the control after six days. SN (30µM) increased the rutin content by 1.17-fold. At the two concentrations evaluated during the elicitation experiments, neither SA nor SN altered the growth parameters shoot length, leaf number, and fresh and dry weight of H. marrubioides seedlings grown in vitro as compared to the control. Based on these results, the abiotic elicitors SA and SN successfully provide Hyptis marrubioides with increased rutin content in vitro.

RESUMO: Hyptis marrubioides (Lamiaceae) é uma planta medicinal nativa do Cerrado brasileiro. Técnicas de propagação in vitro fazem uso de elicitores para alterar as vias metabólicas, afetando a produção de moléculas qualitativa e quantitativamente. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar como os elicitores abióticos ácido salicílico (SA) e nitrato de prata (SN) nas concentrações de 30µM ou 60µM influenciam no crescimento de plântulas de Hyptis marrubioides por dois diferentes métodos de cultivo in vitro. O teor de rutina foi quantificado por CLAE-DAD. Em comparação com uma cultura não tratada, os extratos metanólicos de H. marrubioides cultivados em meio MS por 10 dias, seguidos de cultura em meio MS contendo SN (30µM) por 20 dias, apresentaram 1,28 vezes maior teor de rutina. Em um segundo experimento, as plântulas foram cultivadas em meio MS por 20 dias, e então o elicitor desejado foi adicionado à cultura e deixado em contato com o meio por três e seis dias. SA (30µM) forneceu os melhores resultados na produção de rutina, sendo 16,56 vezes maior do que o controle após seis dias. SN (30µM) aumentou o teor de rutina em 1,17 vezes. Nas duas concentrações avaliadas durante os experimentos de elicitação, nem SA nem SN alteraram os parâmetros de crescimento, como comprimento da parte aérea, número de folhas ou peso fresco e seco das plântulas de H. marrubioides cultivadas in vitro em relação ao controle. Com base nestes resultados, os elicitores abióticos SA e SN forneceram com sucesso Hyptis marrubioides in vitro com maior conteúdo de rutina.