Fruits of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: allying biodiversity conservation and food security.

Supplying food to growing human populations without depleting natural resources is a challenge for modern human societies. Considering this, the present study has addressed the use of native arboreal species as sources of food for rural populations in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The aim was to reveal species composition of edible plants, as well as to evaluate the practices used to manage and conserve them. Ethnobotanical indices show the importance of many native trees as local sources of fruits while highlighting the preponderance of the Myrtaceae family. Conservation analysis allowed to identify Campomanesia hirsuta Gardner and Plinia edulis (Vell.) Sobral as being of high Biological Value and Conservation Priority. In spite of that, the local management practices of native fruits appear to be sustainable and contribute to the maintenance and dissemination of valuable species. These results suggest a number of recommended future conservation actions and show the potential of Myrtaceae species for future agronomical development in Neotropical regions.

Phytochemical screening, antibacterial activity and in vitro interactions between Costus cf. arabicus L. with UV-A and aminoglycosides.

In this study, the methanol extracts of of Costus cf. arabicus L. were evaluated for antibacterial activity against multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial and modulatory activity of the extracts was assayed by microdilution. The light-enhanced antibacterial activity was assayed by light regimen. The growth of the bacteria tested was not inhibited by the extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 512 to ≥1024 µg·m L(-1). However, the antibiotic activity of the aminoglycosides was synergistically enhanced when these extracts were associated in sub-inhibitory concentrations with the antibiotics. Both extracts showed activity against at two standard bacterial strains. Because of this, we suggest that the ethanol extracts of the stems and leaves of Costus cf. arabicus L. show potential antibacterial, light-induced and synergistic antibiotic activity. With such results, these extracts are proven to be a promising source of antibacterial and modulatory agents.

In vitro antibacterial, phototoxic, and synergistic activity of ethanol extracts from Costus cf. arabicus L.

In this study, ethanol extracts of stems and leaves of Costus cf. arabicus L. were evaluated for antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibacterial and modulatory activities of the extracts were assayed by microdilution. The light-enhanced antibacterial activity was assayed by a light regimen. The growth of the bacteria tested was not inhibited by the extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration values were ≥1,024 µg/mL. However, the antibiotic activity of aminoglycosides was synergistically enhanced when these extracts at subinhibitory concentrations were combined with the antibiotics. Also, both extracts showed activity against the wild-type bacterial strains, but the leaf extract was the more active extract, being active against both S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, we conclude that the ethanol extracts of stems and leaves of C. cf. arabicus L. have potential light-induced antibacterial activity and synergistic antibiotic activity. This study showed that these extracts may be a promising source of antibacterial and modulatory agents.