Estudo mineral das espécies vegetais Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze e Bouchea fluminensis (Vell) Mold. / Mineral evaluation of the species Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze and Bouchea fluminensis (Vell) Mold.

Alternanthera brasiliana e Bouchea fluminensis são plantas encontradas amplamente na América do Sul, sendo utilizada pela população pelas suas propriedades analgésicas e antiinflamatórias. O trabalho objetivou determinar o teor de cinzas totais e os elementos minerais em ambas espécies. O teor de cinzas totais das folhas de A. brasiliana e B. fluminensis foi de 13,23 por cento ± 0,47 e 8,28 por cento ± 0,07, respectivamente. Em relação à presença de macro e micronutrientes nas folhas observou-se uma maior concentração de nitrogênio (3,13 por cento) e manganês (0,296 por cento) para A. brasiliana e de cálcio (3,08 por cento) e ferro (0,256 por cento) para B. fluminensis. Os dados obtidos, cinzas totais, macro e microelementos, contribuem significativamente no controle de qualidade e padronização de ambas drogas vegetais, além de dar suporte ao uso como suplemento nutricional.

Alternanthera brasiliana and Bouchea fluminensis are plants widely distributed in South America. These plants are used by native populations as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this paper was to assay the total ashes and mineral content in both species. The levels of total ashes in leaves of A. brasiliana and B. fluminensis were 13.23 percent ± 0.47 and 8.28 percent ± 0.07, respectively. The analysis of macro and micronutrients content in leaves of A. brasiliana shown as main components, nitrogen (3.13 percent) and manganese (0.296 percent). However, in B. fluminensis they were calcium (3.08 percent) and iron (0.256 percent). These data are very useful for the quality control and standardization of the plant raw materials, and support their use as nutritional agents.

Evaluation of the antioedematogenic, free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities of aerial parts of Tillandsiastreptocarpa Baker-Bromeliaceae.

The crude methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Tillandsiastreptocarpa was investigated for their acute toxicity and antioedematogenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Also, the antioedematogenic activity of the hexane fraction resulting from the partition of the crude methanolic extract was evaluated. The methanolic extract and the hexane fraction showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of ear oedema, observed at 2 mg/ear in the croton oil-induced mice ear oedema test. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging test, a high reactivity and potent antioxidant effect (IC(50) = 0.0056%, w/v) were observed for the methanolic extract. The antimicrobial activity assay showed that the crude methanolic extract was inactive toward Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcusaureus, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Bacillussubtilis, Candidaalbicans, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C. tropicalis (MIC > 500 microg/ml). The methanolic extract showed no toxic effect on mice at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg (p.o). Common side effects including mild diarrhoea, loss of weight and depression were not recorded. The compounds cycloartenol, 4',5-dihydroxy-3',7-dimethoxyflavanone and a mixture of the steroids stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and campesterol, were isolated from the hexane fraction and identified by spectroscopic methods.

Efeitos da intensidade luminosa sobre a morfo-anatomia foliar de Bouchea fluminensis (Vell.) Mold. (Verbenaceae) e sua importância no controle de qualidade da droga vegetal / The effect of light intensity on morpho-anatomy of leaves of Bouchea fluminensis (Vell.) Mold. (Verbenaceae) and their importance on the plant drug control quality

Para a implantação de rigorosos padrões de controle de qualidade das drogas vegetais, além da detecção dos princípios ativos e das metodologias clássicas de microscopia, deve-se também considerar as alterações morfo-anatômicas ocasionadas pelo ambiente, especialmente quando a droga constitui-se de folhas. Neste estudo, foram analisadas as folhas de Bouchea fluminensis cultivadas em pleno sol ou na sombra. As folhas "de sol" são menores do que as "de sombra", com limbo mais ondulado e mais coriáceas ao tato. A análise anatômica revelou espessa cutícula estriada, estômatos anomocíticos em ambas faces, embora raros na face adaxial das folhas de "sombra". Dois tipos de tricomas foram observados, sendo um tector simples com paredes ornamentadas e outro glandular, assim como feixes vasculares colaterais sem tecidos esclerificados, estando os menores envoltos por bainha de células não esclerificadas. A espessura média do mesofilo das folhas "de sol", bem como a altura das células do parênquima paliçádico são significativamente maiores do que nas folhas "de sombra" o que permite diferenciá-las facilmente. A não observância de alterações fotomorfogênicas, nas diversas espécies vegetais utilizadas na forma de droga, pode ocasionar falhas ou dúvidas na identificação das mesmas.

In order to establish rigorous quality control standards for plant drugs, in addition to active substances detection and use of classical microscopical methods, the morpho-anatomical changes caused by the environment must be considered, specially when the plant drug are leaves. In this study, leaves of Bouchea fluminensis cultivated in full sun or in shade were analyzed. Sun leaves are smaller than shade leaves, and their blades are more undulating and leathery to the touch. Anatomical analysis revealed a thick striated cuticle with anomocytic stomates on both faces, although few stomates were present on the adaxial face of shade leaves. Two types of hair were observed, one is a simple tector with ornamented walls, and the other is glandular, as well as collateral vascular sheafs without sclerified tissues, the smaller ones surrounded by a sheath of unsclerified cells. The mean thickness of the mesophyll and the height of the palisade parenchyma cells of sun leaves are significantly higher than in shade leaves, which allows them to be easily distinguished. Failure to observe these photomorphogenic changes in plant species may give misleading results in the identification of plant drugs.