Cornoside and other constituents from the latex of Parahancornia amapa (Hub. ) Ducke (Apocynaceae) a medicinal plant in Northern Brazil / Cornosídeo e outros constituintes do látex de Parahancornia amapa (Hub. ) Ducke (Apocynaceae) uma planta medicinal no Norte do Brasil

Latex of Parahancornia amapa which is known as "amapa milk" in folk medicine was extracted with hexane, dichloromethane and methanol. From the hexane and dichloromethane were identified mixtures of 3-O-acyl lupeol esters such as identified previously. In the methanol extract, a large amount of carbohydrates, the phenylethanoid glucoside known as cornoside, other phenylethanoids derivatives and methylmyoinositol were identified. The analysis of IR, NMR and GC-LRMS of the natural compounds and tetra-acetylcornoside and comparison with literature data were used to identify the compounds.

O látex de Parahancornia amapa, popularmente conhecido como "leite do amapá" foi extraído com hexano, diclorometano e metanol. As frações obtidas com hexano e diclorometano forneceram misturas de 3-O-acil-lupeol e triterpenos confirmando resultados de estudos já realizados. No extrato metanólico identificou-se uma grande quantidade de mistura de carboidratos, metilmioinositol e derivados de feniletanóides tendo como principal constituinte o cornosídeo. Estes constituintes foram identificados através da análise de espectros de IV, RMN ¹H e 13C e CG-EM das frações e do derivado acetilado do cornosídeo e do metilmioinositol.

In vivo evaluation of the mutagenic potential and phytochemical characterization of oleoresin from Copaifera duckei Dwyer

We characterized the chemical constituents of Copaifera duckei oleoresin and used dermal application to Wistar rats to evaluated its possible mutagenic and cytotoxic activities on peripheral blood reticulocytes and bone marrow cells. Chemical characterization of the oleoresin revealed the presence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, an unidentified neutral diterpene and diterpene acids. To evaluate mutagenicity evaluation the rats were treated with 10, 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin for three consecutive days and peripheral blood collected after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h for micronucleus analysis. The rats were humanly sacrificed 24 hours after the last treatment and chromosome preparations made using standard techniques. At the three concentrations and the three time intervals tested we found that there were no statistically significant differences in either the mean number of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) or the number of chromosomal aberrations as to the negative control. However, at 25 and 50% of the LD50 dose of the oleoresin there was a significant decrease in the mitotic index (MI) as compared to the negative control. Under our experimental conditions, C. duckei V11 oleoresin produced no mutagenic effects on bone marrow cells or in peripheral reticulocytes as assessed by chromosome aberrations and the micronucleus test respectively, but showed cytotoxic activity at high doses

Activities of the Pharmaceutical Technology Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation with medical insecticidal and insect repellent plants

In addition to original research, Far-Manguinhos, the Pharmaceutical Division of the Brazilian Ministry of Healthïs Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), devotes major attention to the finalising of products for use in public health campaigns or, under contract, for private industrial development. Emphasis is on standardisation, adequate supply, safety in use and efficacy. Among the products discussed in this summary of some of its activities in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields are medicinal plants Bidens pilosa, Cymbopogon citratus, Copaifera species, mentha crispa, Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb, and other Physllanthus species, insecticidal plants, Lonchocarpus urucu and Quassia amara, and the insect antifeedant plants Carapa guianensis and Peterodon emarginatus.

The official use of medicinal plants in public health

Medicinal plants are widely employed in both rural and urban Brazil, many in accordance with traditional practices that were developed by the native population or were brought to the country by immigrant peoples from Europe, Africa and Asia. Their use in official public health care requires however more than traditional knowledge. Recently published laws which will come into force by the end of the century, require that scientific evidence be brought to support the popular use, that possible toxicity, especially when chronic use is contemplated, be known to the medical profession and that the raw plant material and final formulation have a chemical composition that lies within limits that can be specific and checked by analysis. Clinical evidence of efficacy should be provided and wherever possible some indication of the mechanism of action and what components of the original plant contribute to this action, are desirable. At the same time, once a plant of given chemical compositon is approved for use, then its widespread production must be organized in such a way that suppy of a product of established quality meets the demand.