Development and characterization of novel edible films based on Cordia dichotoma gum incorporated with Salvia mirzayanii essential oil nanoemulsion.

Salvia Mirzaiani essential oil (SMEO) was extracted using hydrodistillation and its GC-MS analysis identified 54 compounds. SMEO nanoemulsion (SMEO-NE) was produced using ultrasound. Then, gum-based films extracted from Cordia dichotoma containing SMEO-NE were prepared at concentrations of 0 (control), 1, 1.5 and 2% (v/v). Addition of SMEO-NE increased thickness, contact angle and elongation at break of the films. It decreased moisture content, water solubility, ultimate tensile strength, water vapor permeability, percentage of light transmission in the visible and ultraviolet range with a significant change in color factors. Formation of new hydrogen bonds between SMEO-NE and film matrix was confirmed by FTIR. Besides, dynamic mechanical-thermal analysis showed a decrease in storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the films. Electron microscope images showed that presence of SMEO-NE led to changes in microstructure of the films. Furthermore, increasing the concentration of SMEO-NE increased antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the films.

Phytochemical and pharmacological profile with biogenetic correlation of bioactive phytoconstituents from the stems of Cordia sinensis Lam.

Present investigation reports first phytochemical profile of Cordia sinensis Lam. stems utilising GC-FID and GC-MS analyses. Moreover, antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic and insecticidal potential of stems was also evaluated. Altogether 33 (∼69%) compounds were identified. n-Hexadecanoic acid (15.62-35.55%), methyl hexadecanoate (11.22-29.49%), methyl octadecanoate (4.10-8.66%) and n-octadecanoic acid (4.24-6.64%), present in all the fractions were the major components identified. Overall 4 hydrocarbons, 7 fatty acids, 12 fatty acid esters, 3 phytosterols, 2 terpenes, a terpenoid and 4 aromatics were identified. It is important to note that methanolic mother extract showed moderate phytotoxic activity at higher dose only. However, GC-MS identifications revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents with reported bioactive potential. Moreover, biogenetic correlation of identified phytoconstituents with other parts of plant confirms their natural existence. Newly identified secondary metabolites of C. sinensis stems may also serve as the chemotaxonomic markers and can be correlated with the genus Cordia and Boraginaceae.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their applications as colorimetric probe for determination of Fe3+ and Hg2+ ions.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by a green method using Cordia myxa leaf extract. They were characterised by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and their X-ray diffraction pattern. Their sizes were determined by scanning electron micrographs, transmission electron micrographs imaging and dynamic light scattering analysis. The shapes of nanoparticles were spherical or truncated triangular and their average size was determined to be 51.6 nm. Their solution was stable at least for one month. The prepared AgNPs were used as a selective chemical sensor for determination of iron(III) (only when Cl- ions were present in the medium) and mercury(II) ions with detection limits of 0.084 and 0.037 nM, respectively. It was shown that the mechanism of these detections is through oxidation of Ag atoms by Fe3+ and Hg2+ ions.

Determinação do perfil fitoquímico de extrato com atividade antioxidante da espécie medicinal Cordia verbenacea DC. por HPLC-DAD / Phytochemical profile determination from extracts with antioxidant activity of the medicinal species of Cordia verbenacea DC. by HPLC-DAD

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a atividade antioxidante dos extratos das folhas de Cordia verbenacea obtido por maceração em etanol e partição em solventes orgânicos. O infuso das folhas também foi investigado. O teor de fenóis totais foi avaliado pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteau e o de flavonoides totais pela formação de complexo com cloreto de alumínio. O extrato etanólico, as subfrações e o infuso foram testados em diversas concentrações para determinar a atividade sequestradora de DPPH expressa em termos de sua CE50. A melhor atividade antioxidante encontrada foi para o extrato em acetato de etila, EA, CE50 15,0 ± 0,5 µg.mL-1. Os ensaios espectrofotométricos revelaram altas concentrações de fenóis e de flavonoides no extrato EA. A análise por HPLC-DAD foi realizada para se obter o perfil de UV-Vis dos picos cromatográficos do extrato EA. As características espectrais foram relacionadas a compostos fenólicos e flavonoídicos.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of extracts from Cordia verbenacea leaves obtained by maceration in ethanol and partitioned with organic solvents. The infusion of leaves was also investigated. The total phenolic and total flavonoid content was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteau method and by the aluminum chloride complex method, respectively. The ethanol extract, the subfractions and the infusion were assayed at various concentrations to determine the DPPH scavenging activity expressed in terms of CE50. The best antioxidant activity was found on the ethyl acetate extract, EA, CE50 15.0 ± 0.5 µg.mL-1. The spectrophotometric assays revealed high phenol and flavonoid concentrations on the EA extract. The HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to reveal the UV-Vis profile of the chromatographic peaks of the EA extract. The UV spectral characteristics were related to phenol and polyphenol compounds.

Reguladores vegetais e substratos no enraizamento de estacas de erva-baleeira (Varronia curassavica Jacq. ) / Growth regulators and substrates on rooting of Varronia curassavica Jacq

A erva-baleeira, espécie medicinal anti-inflamatória, pode ser propagada por sementes, no entanto, o desenvolvimento de métodos eficientes para a propagação vegetativa possibilitará a uniformidade nas populações e a clonagem de plantas de interesse quanto aos aspectos agronômico e de composição química. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos do ácido naftaleno acético (NAA) e do ácido indolbutírico (IBA) e de diferentes substratos no enraizamento de estacas semi-lenhosas de erva-baleeira. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação em Montes Claros em delineamento inteiramente casualizados. Para o experimento teste da influência das auxinas, as estacas foram submetidas a tratamentos com NAA e IBA nas concentrações de 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 e 4000 mg L-1, e para o experimento dos substratos, cinco substratos foram avaliados (vermiculita expandida + casca de arroz parcialmente carbonizada (proporção de 1:1); vermiculita expandida; substrato orgânico comercial para hortaliça (Tropstrato HT ®); areia; solo + compostagem (proporção de 1:1)). Após 90 dias, para ambos os experimentos, foram avaliadas porcentagem de estacas enraizadas, de estacas mortas, de estacas vivas com calos, de estacas mortas com calos, número de raízes formadas por estaca e comprimento das três maiores raízes (cm). O regulador vegetal ideal para o enraizamento da espécie é o IBA, na concentração de 2.000 mg L-1, sendo que o NAA não é recomendado para a indução radicial em estacas erva-baleeira. O substrato vermiculita com casca de arroz carbonizada na proporção de 1:1 proporcionou maior porcentagem de enraizamento nas estacas da erva-baleira que o substrato solo + compostagem (1:1), os demais substratos não diferenciaram entre si.

The Varronia curassavica Jacq., black sage, is an anti-inflammatory medicinal species that can be propagated by seed; however, the development of efficient methods for vegetative propagation will enable uniformity in the populations and cloning of plants of interest regarding the agronomic aspects and chemical composition. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole butyric acid (IBA) and different substrates on the rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of black sage. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at Montes Claros, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, as a randomized complete design. For the experiment to test the influence of auxin, the cuttings were subjected to treatments with NAA and IBA at the concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg L-1, and for the experiment with substrates, five substrates were evaluated (expanded vermiculite + carbonized rice husk (1:1); expanded vermiculite; commercial organic substrate for vegetable (Tropstrato ® HT); sand; soil + compost (1:1)). After 90 days, in both experiments, we evaluated the rooting percentage of cuttings, dead cuttings, live cuttings with callus, dead cuttings with callus, number of roots per cutting and length of the three longest roots (cm). The best plant growth regulator for the rooting of the species is the IBA at a concentration of 2.000 mg L-1, and the NAA is not recommended for the induction of roots in cuttings of black sage. Vermiculite with carbonized rice husk in the ratio of 1:1 showed greater percentage of rooting in cuttings of black sage than soil + composting (1:1); other substrates did not differ among themselves.

Avaliação da atividade fitotóxica com enfoque alelopático do extrato das cascas de Celtis iguanaea (Jacq. ) Sargent Ulmaceae e purificação de dois triterpenos / Evaluation of the phytotoxic activity focused on the allelopathic effect of the extract from the bark of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq. ) Sargent Ulmaceae and purification of two terpenes

A espécie Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent é popularmente conhecida como esporão de galo ou grão de galo. As folhas são indicadas pelo uso popular para o tratamento de dores no corpo e no peito, para reumatismo, asma, cólicas, má digestão e como diurético; as raízes são utilizadas para infecções urinárias e as cascas para a febre. O presente trabalho objetivou contribuir para o estudo fitoquímico e atividade fitotóxica com enfoque alelopático das cascas de Celtis iguanaea. O extrato etanólico foi submetido à partição com os solventes hexano, clorofórmio e acetato de etila. As substâncias friedelina e epifriedelinol (triterpenos) foram isoladas da fração hexano e identificadas por meio de métodos espectroscópicos de RMN de ¹H e 13C. O extrato bruto na concentração de 0,1 mg mL-1 causou inibição acentuada do hipocótilo em 34,97% e estimulou o crescimento da radícula em 29,64% de plântulas de Lactuca sativa. No ensaio de toxicidade frente à Artemia salina o extrato bruto e frações apresentaram uma CL50 superior a 1000 μg mL-1, indicando que o mesmo não possui efeito tóxico.

The species Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent is popularly known as "esporão de galo" or "grão de galo". Its leaves are recommended by the popular use for the treatment of body and chest aches, as well as for rheumatism, asthma, cramps, indigestion and as diuretic; its roots are used for urinary infections and its bark for fever. This study aimed to contribute to the phytochemical investigation of the toxic activity focused on the allelopathic effect of the bark of Celtis iguanaea. The ethanol extract was subjected to solvent partition with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The substances friedelin and epifriedelinol (triterpenes) were isolated from the hexane fraction and identified by spectroscopic methods ¹H and 13C NMR. The crude extract at a concentration of 0.1 mg mL-1 caused marked inhibition of hypocotyl in 34.97% and stimulated radicle growth in 29.64% seedlings of Lactuca sativa. In the toxicity test against Artemia salina the crude extract and fractions showed an LC50 higher than 1000 μg mL-1, indicating that it has no toxic effect.

Lactobacillus pobuzihii sp. nov., isolated from pobuzihi (fermented cummingcordia).

Twenty-one homofermentative lactic acid bacteria were isolated from fermented cummingcordia (pobuzihi), a traditional food in Taiwan. The isolates had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences that were distinct from those of other lactobacilli, and their closest neighbours in the 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic tree were strains of Lactobacillus acidipiscis. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between representative pobuzihi isolates and strains of L. acidipiscis were 17% and below. Furthermore, the new isolates could be differentiated clearly from L. acidipiscis NBRC 102163T and NBRC 102164 in terms of acid production from L-arabinose, rhamnose, mannitol, lactose and 5-ketogluconate. It was concluded that the new isolates represent a single novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus pobuzihii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E100301T (=RIFY 6501T =NBRC 103219T =KCTC 13174T).

Diversity of hydraulic traits in nine Cordia species growing in tropical forests with contrasting precipitation.

Inter- and intraspecific variation in hydraulic traits was investigated in nine Cordia (Boraginaceae) species growing in three tropical rainforests differing in mean annual precipitation (MAP). Interspecific variation was examined for the different Cordia species found at each site, and intraspecific variation was studied in populations of the widespread species Cordia alliodora across the three sites. Strong intra- and interspecific variation were observed in vulnerability to drought-induced embolism. Species growing at drier sites were more resistant to embolism than those growing at moister sites; the same pattern was observed for populations of C. alliodora. By contrast, traits related to hydraulic capacity, including stem xylem vessel diameter, sapwood specific conductivity (K(s)) and leaf specific conductivity (K(L)), varied strongly but independently of MAP. For C. alliodora, xylem anatomy, K(s), K(L) and Huber value varied little across sites, with K(s) and K(L) being consistently high relative to other Cordia species. A constitutively high hydraulic capacity coupled with plastic or genotypic adjustment in vulnerability to embolism and leaf water relations would contribute to the ability of C. alliodora to establish and compete across a wide precipitation gradient.

Comparative study of lipids in mature seeds of six Cordia species (family Boraginaceae) collected in different regions of Brazil.

The oil content, FA, and lipid class composition of the mature seeds of six Cordia species were analyzed. Mature seeds of each species were collected in their natural habitat from 2002 to 2004. The total lipid content varied from 1.9% to 13.2%, there being significant differences between the results found in different years for each species and between the species analyzed. The contents of FFA varied from 2.0% to 7.9% of total lipids. Neutral lipids (NL) were the largest class, making up between 89.6% and 96.4% of the total lipids; the phospholipids (PL) were the second largest class (3.0% to 8.9% of the total lipids), and the glycolipids (GL) were the smallest class (0.6 to 3.4%). The presence of GLA was determined in each class of lipids; it is predominant in the NL. Levels of GLA ranged from 1.2% to 6.8% of total seed FA. This is, to our knowledge the first study of lipid composition in seeds of species of Cordia from Brazil.