Hemiptera-induced galls of Sapium glandulosum have histological and cytological compartmentalization created with a large amount of carbohydrate.

Gall formation impacts the development of plant species by altering the structure and mobilization of reserves, and the functional and physiological patterns of the host organ. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact generated by the Neolithus fasciatus galling insect (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Sapium glandulosum leaves (Euphorbiaceae) at the cytological, histological, histochemical, and biochemical levels. Non-galled leaves and galls in the young, mature, and senescent stages were evaluated. The non-galled leaf has a uniseriate epidermis, stomata only on the abaxial side, a dorsiventral mesophyll, and parenchyma cells with thin primary walls containing chloroplasts with plastoglobules. The gall has a parenchymatous compartmentalized cortex. The young and mature galls already have a dense cytoplasm, especially in the inner cells of the cortex, with chloroplasts, mitochondria, Golgi complex, and large and evident nuclei. In senescent galls, there are signs of organelle degradation and cell digestion. Carbohydrates occur in greater amounts in the mature gall, mainly in the starch grain form, while proteins and lipids predominate in non-galled leaves. Secondary metabolites occur mainly in the young gall and may be related to its protection and to the signaling of its development. Sapium glandulosum galls have histological and cytological compartmentalization of the cortex with a large amount of carbohydrates, which supply energy to maintain the development of the structure.

3ß-Palmitoyloxy-olean-12-ene analogs from Sapium lateriflorum (Euphorbiaceae): Their cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory properties and docking studies.

Ten compounds, including a new anti-inflammatory acyl triterpene, 3ß-palmitoyloxy-1ß,11α-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene, were isolated from the bioactive organic extract prepared from the leaves of Sapium lateriflorum (syn: S. nitidum). The isolated compounds were screened for their cytotoxic activity against selected human cancer cell lines and did not display significant activity. They were also evaluated as anti-inflammatory agents in mouse models (TPA-induced edema in the ear and in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model). The results indicated that the new compound, 3ß-palmitoyloxy-1ß,11α-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene, was the compound with major anti-inflammatory activity similar to that of indomethacin, being the hydroxyl at C-11 important for the observed activity. The results of docking studies of the 3ß-palmitoyloxy esters of olean-12-ene with NF-κB and with COX-2 receptors were consistent with possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity.

BRIEF-REPORT New set of microsatellites for Chinese tallow tree, Triadica sebifera.

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) is an important crop and ornamental tree. After it was introduced into the USA, it gradually became a noxious invasive tree in south-eastern America since the middle of the 1900s. Because only six microsatellites were reported previously in T. sebifera, to better understand the genetic diversity and population dynamics of such species, we reported here 28 new microsatellite markers. For these 28 microsatellites, the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2-16. The expected heterozygosity and the expected heterozygosity corrected for sample size varied from 0.0796 to 0.9081 and from 0.0805 to 0.9176, respectively. These microsatellites will provide additional choice to investigate the genetic diversity and structure in T. sebifera.

Hydroalcoholic extract of Sapium glandulatum (Vell.) Pax displays potent anti-inflammatory activities through a glucocorticoid receptor-dependent pathway.

BACKGROUND: Ethnobotanical studies of the Sapium genus reveal that many species are widely used in several countries as therapeutic drugs and they are widely used in folk medicine for treatment of different diseases, including skin inflammation. This raises interest in the study of the pharmacological properties and phytochemical composition of these plants. The biological properties of Sapium glandulatum, a native species of southern Brazil, has not been reported in the literature. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Sapium glandulatum (EHSG) leaves in mouse models of acute or chronic skin inflammation. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: Topical effects of EHSG were evaluated in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced edema in the ear. Systemic effects of the extract were studied in a TPA-induced ear edema model, as well as in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model. To gain insight into the mechanism by which EHSG blocked inflammation, we evaluated the role of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) using the TPA-induced ear edema model and also measured specific binding in a glucocorticoid assay. Possible adverse effects of EHSG were evaluated after multiple treatments with the extract in the skin atrophy model on the ear and with the alkaline comet assay. RESULTS: EHSG presented potent anti-inflammatory activity when applied topically in acute and chronic models, inhibiting edema formation and leukocyte migration as well as expression pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the tissue. Similar anti-inflammatory effects were found following oral treatment in both ear and paw edema models. Strikingly, the EHSG-induced blockade of leukocyte migration was reversed by mifepristone, a GR antagonist. Additionally, a specific binding assay revealed that ESGH interacts with GR. Multiple treatments with EHSG failed to induce adverse effects when evaluated in the skin atrophy model and bone marrow genotoxicity test. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our data suggest that EHSG is a potential source of anti-inflammatory tool compounds for the treatment of pro-inflammatory-derived skin diseases, and its mechanism of action may be, at least in part, via the GR pathway.

Proteinase activity in latex of three plants of the family Euphorbiaceae

In the family of Euphorbiaceae, the genera Euphorbia and Sapium are known to contain essentially latex-bearing species. In the present study, the latex of Euphorbia selloi (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss., Euphorbia papillosa A.St.-Hil., and Sapium glandulosum (L.) Morong, plants native from Brazil, were examined concerning proteolytic activity. All studied species have proteins with significant proteolytic activity and E. papillosa has the greatest specific activity. Aiming to verify the type of protease present, an assay with different inhibitors was performed. In the three tested plants, the proteolytic activity was significantly inhibited by a serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF). Using techniques of electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE), the subunits of proteins were separated according to their molecular masses, and the protein activity was visually detected by zymography.

Dentro da família Euphorbiaceae, os gêneros Euphorbia e Sapium são conhecidos por incluírem basicamente espécies produtoras de látex. No presente estudo, o látex das plantas Euphorbia selloi (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss., Euphorbia papillosa A.St.-Hil. e Sapium glandulosum (L.) Morong, espécies nativas do Brasil, foi analisado em relação à atividade proteolítica. Todas as amostras analisadas possuem proteínas com significativa atividade, sendo que o látex da espécie E. papillosa apresenta a maior atividade específica. Com o objetivo de analisar quais os tipos de proteases responsáveis pela atividade proteolítica, realizaram-se ensaios com diferentes inibidores. Nas três plantas testadas a atividade foi inibida significativamente pelo cloridrato de 4-(fluoreto de 2-aminoetilbenzenossulfonil) (AEBSF), um inibidor de serino-proteases. Utilizando técnicas de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE), as subunidades das proteínas foram separadas de acordo com sua massa molecular e, através da zimografia, a atividade proteolítica pode ser detectada visualmente.

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. and Sapium glandulosum (L.) Morong from Northeastern Brazil.

The aims of this study were to quantify the phenolic content and evaluate the antioxidant potential of extracts from the bark and leaves of C. pyramidalis and S. glandulosum. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total tannin content (TTC) were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoids content (TFC) was measured via complexation with aluminum chloride. The antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FIC (ferrous ion chelating) assays. The TPC ranged between 135.55 ± 9.85 and 459.79 ± 11.65 tannic acid equivalents (TAE) in mg/g material (mg TAE/g). The leaves of both species contained high levels of tannins and flavonoids. The crude ethanol extracts (CEE) from the bark of C. pyramidalis showed high antioxidant activity when compared to ascorbic acid and rutin, whereas the CEE from the leaves was more efficient in chelating ferrous ions. C. pyramidalis had very high phenolic content and anti-radical activity, which indicates a need for further studies aimed at the purification and identification of compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity.

Metodologias de aplicação de AIB no enraizamento de estacas semilenhosas de Sapium glandulatum (vell. ) pax / Methodologies of IBA application in the rooting of Sapium glandulatum (vell. ) pax semi-hardwood cuttings

A espécie Sapium glandulatum, conhecida vulgarmente como leiteiro, é uma das espécies nativas potencialmente recomendada para a recuperação de áreas degradadas, devido principalmente ao seu caráter pioneiro, além de possivelmente possuir características medicinais, uma vez que a família Euphorbiaceae, a qual pertence, é rica em compostos fenólicos. Em abril/2000 e dezembro/2000 foram conduzidos experimentos em casa-de-vegetação para verificar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes concentrações de ácido indolilbutírico (AIB), em solução concentrada (10 segundos de imersão), solução diluída (16 horas de imersão) e em talco, associadas ou não ao ácido bórico, no enraizamento de estacas semilenhosas de Sapium glandulatum. As estacas foram confeccionadas a partir de brotações do ano, coletadas de plantas matrizes localizadas no município de Bocaiúva do Sul -PR, mantendo- as com comprimento de cerca de 10 cm e 2 folhas apicais reduzidas à metade. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: 0, 4000, 6000 e 8000 mg L-1 de AIB, sozinhos e em associação com 150 mg L-1 de ácido bórico (solução concentrada), 0, 200 e 400 mg L-1 de AIB, sozinhos e em associação com 150 mg L-1 ácido bórico (solução diluída) e 0, 4000, 6000 e 8000 mg L-1 de AIB, na forma de talco. Pelos resultados obtidos foi possível concluir que, após 70 dias em casa-de-vegetação, a melhor época para coleta das estacas correspondeu à instalação realizada em dezembro/2000 (verão), onde o tratamento com 8000 mg L-1 de AIB, em solução concentrada, proporcionou o maior percentual de enraizamento (14 por cento), porém não diferindo significativamente dos demais tratamentos. A utilização da solução diluída não se mostrou promissora para a indução do sistema radicial devido à alta mortalidade das estacas. Os tratamentos com AIB veiculados em talco não superaram os resultados obtidos pelos melhores tratamentos para estacas enraizadas em solução concentrada, não sendo um método recomendável para o aumento da indução radicial de Sapium glandulatum. Pelo exposto, pode-se considerar que estacas de brotações do ano desta espécie não são indicadas para sua propagação vegetativa, de acordo com os tratamentos realizados.

The species Sapium glandulatum, commonly known as "leiteiro", is one of the Brazilian native species potentially recommended for the recovery of degraded areas, mainly due to its pioneering character and probable medicinal properties since its family, Euphorbiaceae, is rich in phenolic compounds. In April/2000 and December/2001, experiments were carried out in a greenhouse to investigate the effects of different indolebutyric acid (IBA) levels in concentrated solution (10 seconds immersion), diluted solution (16 hours immersion) and as talc, associated or not with boric acid, on the rooting of Sapium glandulatum semi-hardwood cuttings. The latter were produced from sproutings of the year collected from stock plants located in Bocaiúva do Sul, Paraná State, Brazil. The length of each cutting was about 10 cm, with 2 half apical leaves. The following treatments were evaluated: 0, 4000, 6000 and 8000 mg L-1 IBA, alone and with 150 mg L-1 boric acid (concentrated solution); 0, 200 and 400 mg L-1 IBA, alone and with 150 mg L-1 boric acid (diluted solution); and 0, 4000, 6000 and 8000 mg L-1 IBA as talc. After 70 days in greenhouse, the best period for cutting collection was December/2000 (summer), and 8000 mg L-1 IBA in concentrated solution led to the highest rooting percentage (14 percent), although not significantly different from the remaining treatments. The diluted solution did not show promising results for root system induction due to the high mortality of cuttings. The results for IBA as talc were not higher than those for the best treatments in concentrated solution, which indicates this method is not recommended to increase Sapium glandulatum rooting induction. Thus, sprouting cuttings of the year from this species are not recommended for its vegetative propagation, according to the evaluated treatments.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth inhibition by constituents of Sapium haematospermum.

Four novel compounds consisting of two new pimaranes, lecheronol A (1) and lecheronol B (2), an acylated cycloartane, 3-O-beta-lauroyl-cycloart-(23E)-en-25-ol (10), and a highly oxygenated novel chalconoid, alpha,beta,3,4,5,2',4',6'-octahydroxydihydrochalcone (12), were isolated along with seven known triterpene derivatives and three flavonol glucosides from Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth-inhibiting fractions of the CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH (1:1) extract of the aerial parts of Sapium haematospermum. Compounds 1, 3 (3 alpha-hydroxyolean-12-ene), 8 [3 alpha-hydroxylup-20(29)-en], and 9 (cycloartanol) were found most active, with MIC values of 4, 12.2, 13.4, and 8 microg/mL, respectively. Cytotoxicity tests in Vero cells for compounds 1, 3, 8, and 9 gave IC(50) values of 104.8, 127.2, 127.2, and 102.4 microg/mL, respectively.