Avaliação da atividade antioxidante e alelopática do extrato etanólico e frações das cascas do caule de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam., Rutaceae / Assessment of antioxidant and allelopathic activities of ethanolic extract and solvent fractions from stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (Rutaceae)

The purpose of this study was to test for antioxidantand allelopathic activities in stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam., Rutaceae, with the eventual aim of discovering biologically active substances. The plant material was subjected to ethanolic extraction and this extract was partitioned, yielding hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and hydroalcoholic fractions. Antioxidant activity was estimated by the reduction of phosphomolybdenum complex, of DPPH. and of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). To detect allelopathy, the samples were tested, at four concentrations, on the germination and development of the radicle and hypocotyl of L. sativa seeds. The samples showed significant antioxidant activity against the reduction of the phosphomolybdenum complex, as compared to rutin, and reduction of TBARS, ascompared to BHT, as well as allelopathic activity, since they stimulated growth and seed germination. The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed the best antioxidant potentials, with 204.17% and 127.11% compared to rutin, in the reduction of phosphomolybdenum complex, as did the crude ethanolic extract and hexane fraction, with 64.2% and 60.9% compared to BHT, in the TBARS method. In the allelopathic assay, the chloroform fraction stood out as the only sample that stimulated the growth of both the radicle and hypocotyl at most concentrations, ranging from 41 to 144%, while the ethyl acetate fraction achieved the greatest stimulus in this bioassay, increasing the growth of the hypocotyl by 274%. This is the first study that demonstrates the antioxidant and allelopathic activities of the species Z. rhoifolium...

Este trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo das atividades antioxidante e alelopática das cascas do caule de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam., Rutaceae, de modo a conduzir à descoberta de substâncias biologicamente ativas. O material vegetal foi submetido à extração etanólica e este extrato foi fracionado obtendo as frações (hexano, clorofórmio, acetato de etila e hidroalcoólica). Para a avaliação da atividade antioxidante, empregaram-se os métodos de redução do complexo fosfomolibdênio, de redução do radical DPPH e das substâncias reativas ao acido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Quanto à alelopatia, as amostras foram testadas em quatro concentrações sobre a germinação e o desenvolvimento de radícula e hipocótilo das sementes de Lactuca sativa. As amostras evidenciaram atividade antioxidante significativa frente ao método de redução do complexo fosfomolibdênio quando comparada à rutina, e do TBARS quando comparado ao BHT, assim como a atividade alelopática, uma vez que estimularam tanto a germinação como o crescimento das sementes. A fração clorofórmica e acetato de etila demonstraram melhor potencial antioxidante com 204,17% e 127,11% em relação à rutina no método de formação do complexo fosfomolibdênio, e o extrato bruto e a fração hexano com 64,2% e 60,9%, em relação ao BHT, no método TBARS. No ensaio alelopático, destaca-se a fração clorofórmica, pois foi a única amostra que estimulou o crescimento do hipocótilo e radícula na maioria das concentrações, variando de 41 a 144%, e a fração acetato de etila que apresentou a maior porcentagem de estímulo nesse bioensaio, demonstrando estímulo de 274% do crescimento do hipocótilo. Este é o primeiro trabalho que demonstra a atividade antioxidante e alelopática de Z. rhoifolium...

Forest pit viper (Bothriopsis bilineata bilineata) bite in the Brazilian Amazon with acute kidney injury and persistent thrombocytopenia.

There are six species of Bothriopsis in Latin America, accidents caused by this genus are unusually reported. A 37-year-old man admitted thirty hours after a snakebite to the emergency department of Santarém City Hospital (SCH), northern Brazil. The patient presented local erythema, edema, increased local temperature and blister with serous fluid in the right arm. He developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and prolonged thrombocytopenia. The blood was incoagulable and he was treated with anti-bothropic antivenom and antibiotics. The patient had complete regression of all clinical and laboratory manifestations at varying intervals. The platelet counts returned to normal almost 2 weeks after administration of specific antivenom. The present report is the first accident caused by a snake of forest pit viper (Bothriopsis bilineata) in the Brazilian Amazon forest.

Phylogeny of snake trypanosomes inferred by SSU rDNA sequences, their possible transmission by phlebotomines, and taxonomic appraisal by molecular, cross-infection and morphological analysis.

Blood examination by microhaematocrit and haemoculture of 459 snakes belonging to 37 species revealed 2.4% trypanosome prevalence in species of Viperidae (Crotalus durissus and Bothrops jararaca) and Colubridae (Pseudoboa nigra). Trypanosome cultures from C. durissus and P. nigra were behaviourally and morphologically indistinguishable. In addition, the growth and morphological features of a trypanosome from the sand fly Viannamyia tuberculata were similar to those of snake isolates. Cross-infection experiments revealed a lack of host restriction, as snakes of 3 species were infected with the trypanosome from C. durissus. Phylogeny based on ribosomal sequences revealed that snake trypanosomes clustered together with the sand fly trypanosome, forming a new phylogenetic lineage within Trypanosoma closest to a clade of lizard trypanosomes transmitted by sand flies. The clade of trypanosomes from snakes and lizards suggests an association between the evolutionary histories of these trypanosomes and their squamate hosts. Moreover, data strongly indicated that these trypanosomes are transmitted by sand flies. The flaws of the current taxonomy of snake trypanosomes are discussed, and the need for molecular parameters to be adopted is emphasized. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular phylogenetic study of snake trypanosomes.

Anatomia comparada de espécies de arnica: Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. e Chaptalia nutans (L.) Pohl / Comparative anatomy of species of arnica: Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. and Chaptalia nutans (L.) Pohl

Diferentes espécies vegetais são comumente denominadas de arnica, por associação à droga farmacopéica Arnicamontana L., Asteraceae. Pertencentes à mesma família, Porophyllum ruderale e Chaptalia nutans têm as partes vegetativas aéreas empregadas no tratamento de traumatismos e hemorragias na medicina popular. Pelo fato de serem designadas pelo mesmo nome comum e compartilharem alguns aspectos morfológicos externos, podem ser confundidas entre si. Este trabalho objetivou realizar estudo comparativo entre essas plantas medicinais e estabelecer caracteres anatômicos foliares e caulinares diferenciais, aplicáveis à identificação microscópica do controle de qualidade farmacognóstico. O material botânico foi fixado e submetido a técnicas usuais de microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. Comparativamente, quanto às características diferenciais, em P. ruderale a folha é glabra e revestida por cutícula lisa, a nervura central é plano-convexa e percorrida por um feixe vascular colateral, grandes cavidades secretoras estão presentes nos bordos foliares e o caule possui dutos secretores. Em C. nutans, a folha épilosa na face abaxial, apresentando longos tricomas tectores, a cutícula é estriada, a nervura central é biconvexa e tem feixes vasculares colaterais em arco aberto.

Leaf and stem morphoanatomy of Petiveria alliacea.

Petiveria alliacea is a perennial herb native to the Amazonian region and used in traditional medicine for different purposes, such as diuretic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory. The morphoanatomical characterization of the leaf and stem was carried out, in order to contribute to the medicinal plant identification. The plant material was fixed, freehand sectioned and stained either with toluidine blue or astra blue and basic fuchsine. Microchemical tests were also applied. The leaf is simple, alternate and elliptic. The blade exhibits paracytic stomata on the abaxial side, non-glandular trichomes and dorsiventral mesophyll. The midrib is biconvex and the petiole is plain-convex, both traversed by collateral vascular bundles adjoined with sclerenchymatic caps. The stem, in incipient secondary growth, presents epidermis, angular collenchyma, starch sheath and collateral vascular organization. Several prisms of calcium oxalate are seen in the leaf and stem.

O progresso da pesquisa sobre o gênero Baccharis, Asteraceae: I - Estudos botânicos / Research progress on the genus Baccharis, Asteraceae: I - Botanical studies

Baccharis é um importante gênero da família Asteraceae que compreende aproximadamente 500 espécies, todas americanas, das quais aproximadamente 120 ocorrem no Brasil. Muitos autores como De Candolle, Baker, Heering, Cuatrecasas, Ariza Espinar, Barroso e Giuliano têm tentado estruturar uma adequada divisão do gênero em subgêneros e seções. Espécies desse gênero são importantes economicamente para o homem, pois ajudam no combate à erosão e podem ser utilizadas como plantas ornamentais, mas também podem apresentar-se como pragas de difícil combate em pastagens, podendo intoxicar o gado. Contudo, o destaque maior está na medicina, onde vários representantes são utilizados popularmente. Nesse contexto várias espécies têm sido investigadas contribuindo para a elucidação morfoanatômica e para o controle de qualidade.

Baccharis is an important genus of the Asteraceae family, which comprises about 500 American species, including 120 species from Brazil. Several authors such as De Candolle, Baker, Heering, Cuatrecasas, Ariza Espinar, Barroso and Giuliano have attempted to elaborate an adequate genus division in subgenera and sections. Baccharis species are economically important since they help to prevent erosion and are employed as ornamental plants, although they can become weeds of difficult control in grazing and poison to the cattle. However, in the folk medicine, many species are relevant and have been studied, aiming to contribute to their morpho-anatomical and quality control knowledge.

Estudo anatômico de folha e caule de Pereskia aculeata Mill. (Cactaceae) / Anatomical study of the leaf and stem of Pereskia aculeata Mill. (Cactaceae)

Pereskia aculeata Mill. (Cactaceae) é uma trepadeira arbustiva conhecida comumente como ora-pro-nobis. Apresenta elevado teor de mucilagem e proteína, sendo empregada na indústria alimentícia e farmacêutica. Na medicina popular, é utilizada externamente como emoliente. Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar a anatomia foliar e caulinar da planta, a fim de fornecer informações complementares à sua identificação e aplicáveis ao seu controle de qualidade. Folhas adultas e fragmentos de caules foram fixados, seccionados à mão livre e corados com azul de astra e fucsina básica ou com azul de toluidina. Testes histoquímicos e análise ultra-estrutural de superfície foram realizados. A folha é simples e elíptica. Possui epiderme uniestratificada, estômatos paracíticos em ambas as faces, mesofilo que tende a ser dorsiventral, contendo numerosas drusas de oxalato de cálcio e células isodiamétricas grandes com conteúdo mucilaginoso. A nervura central é percorrida por um feixe vascular colateral em arco aberto. O pecíolo tem secção plano-convexa e um feixe colateral em formato de arco fechado. O caule, em estrutura secundária incipiente, possui epiderme unisseriada, colênquima angular, parênquima cortical com muitos amiloplastos, calotas de fibras perivasculares e organização vascular colateral. No córtex e na medula, são observadas numerosas cavidades com conteúdo mucilaginoso e drusas de oxalato de cálcio, estas também presentes no floema.

Pereskia aculeata Mill. (Cactaceae) is a climbing shrub commonly known as Barbados gooseberry. It has high mucilage and protein content and it is employed in the food and pharmaceutical industry. In traditional medicine, P. aculeata is used externally as emollient. This work aimed to study the leaf and stem anatomy of this plant, in order to supply additional information for its identification and quality control. Mature leaves and stem fragments were fixed, freehand sectioned and stained either with astra blue and basic fuchsine or toluidine blue. Histochemical tests and ultrastructure analysis were carried out. The leaf is simple and elliptical, and has uniseriate epidermis, paracytic stomata on both surfaces, dorsiventral-like mesophyll, several druses of calcium oxalate and large isodiametric cells containing mucilage. In the midrib a collateral bundle in open arc is embedded. The petiole exhibits a plain-convex transection and a collateral bundle in closed arc shape. The stem, in incipient secondary growth, has uniseriate epidermis, angular collenchyma, cortical parenchyma with many amiloplasts, perivascular fibre caps and collateral vascular organization. In the cortex and pith, numerous cavities containing mucilage and druses of calcium oxalate are seen, the latter also in the phloem.

Contribuição ao estudo anatômico do caule de Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae / Contribution to the anatomical study of the stem of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae

Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae, denominada comumente de sucuuba ou janaguba, é uma espécie arbórea, latescente, da região amazônica, cujo tronco é ereto e a casca rugosa. As atividades antiinflamatória e analgésica e a baixa toxicidade foram estabelecidas em diferentes pesquisas. Com o objetivo de estabelecer caracteres anatômicos aplicáveis à identificação da planta e da droga vegetal, analisou-se o caule em estrutura secundária, que consiste da casca e da região caulinar mais interna. A primeira periderme é observada nas camadas subepidérmicas e o córtex constitui-se de numerosos laticíferos ramificados, idioblastos com cristais de oxalato de cálcio e células parenquimáticas contendo amiloplastos. Uma bainha esclerenquimática descontínua de fibras com paredes espessadas circunda o sistema vascular, cuja organização é bicolateral. As células do parênquima medular apresentam as mesmas características do córtex. Em níveis mais inferiores, a região cortical se reduz e numerosas fibras e células pétreas localizam-se no floema externo.

Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson, Apocynaceae, popularly known as sucuuba and janaguba, is a laticiferous woody species from the Amazonian region. The stem is upright and the bark is rugous. Different investigations have confirmed its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as low toxicity. Aiming to establish anatomical characters for the plant and drug identification, the stem in secondary growth, consisting of the bark and the most internal region, has been analysed. The first periderm is observed in the sub-epidermal layers and the cortex is composed of several branched laticifers, idioblasts containing calcium oxalate crystals and parenchymatic cells having amiloplasts. A non-continuous sclerenchymatic sheath with thick cell-walled fibres encircles the vascular system, whose organization is bicollateral. The pith cells are similar to the cortex ones. On lower caulinar levels, the cortical region is reduced and numerous fibres and stone cells occur in the external phloem.

Anatomical characters of the phyllode and stem of Acacia podalyriifolia A. Cunn. ex G. Don (Fabaceae)

The Acacia genus has presented various secondary metabolites, such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and gums. Preparations from different species have been applied for diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory diseases in the traditional medicine and have demonstrated cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Acacia podalyriifolia A. Cunn. ex G. Don (Fabaceae) is a small wood, indigenous to Australia and cultivated worldwide for its ornamental feature. This work aimed to characterize the anatomy of the phyllode and stem, in order to contribute to the species identification. The botanical material was fixed, sectioned and prepared according to usual light and scanning microtechniques. The epidermal cells, in surface view, are polygonal and coated with striate and thick cuticle, and filaments of epicuticular wax. Paracytic stomata and unicellular non-glandular trichomes are seen. Palisade and ground parenchymas, and minor collateral bundles with xylem directed alternately to upper and lower sides occur in the blade. The midrib shows two collateral bundles facing each other. The stem, in incipient secondary growth, exhibits epidermis, annular collenchyma, sclerenchymatic sheath and collateral vascular organization. Cells containing phenolic compounds and prisms of calcium oxalate are observed.

Stem and leaf morphoanatomy of Maytenus ilicifolia.

Maytenus ilicifolia is a woody medicinal plant, employed mainly for its antiulcerogenic properties. The stem and leaf morphoanatomy has been studied, aiming to supply knowledge for the pharmacognostic and taxonomic species identification. The vegetative material was fixed, freehand sectioned and stained according to usual microtechniques. The stem organization, in secondary growth, shows periderm beneath the remaining epidermis, conspicuous sclerenchymatic ring in the cortex and cambium forming phloem outside and xylem inside. The leaf is simple, alternate and lanceolate and has sparsely spiny teeth along the margin. Epidermal cells containing calcium oxalate crystals, thick cuticle that forms cuticular flanges, dorsiventral mesophyll and amphicrival bundle in the midrib and petiole are observed.

Parâmetros para análise de carqueja: comparação entre quatro espécies de Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) / Parameters for carqueja analysis: comparison among four species of Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae)

Diferentes espécies de Baccharis são conhecidas popularmente como carqueja e empregadas indistintamente na medicina tradicional como estomáquicas e diuréticas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir para a determinação de parâmetros para o controle de qualidade e aplicação na indústria de fitoterápicos, através da análise de quatro espécies de carqueja: Baccharis dracunculifolia DC., B. articulata (Lam.) Pers., B. cylindrica (Less.) DC. e B. gaudichaudiana DC. De um modo geral, B. dracunculifolia apresentou os maiores teores de umidade e de perda por dessecação, enquanto que B. articulata mostrou os maiores índices afrosimétrico e de amargor e teores de extratos secos a frio e a quente e de cinzas totais. B. dracunculifolia foi a espécie que apresentou maior rendimento do óleo volátil. Alguns componentes do óleo volátil ocorrem nas quatro espécies, porém cada uma delas apresentou um perfil cromatográfico característico.

Different species of Baccharis are commonly known as carqueja and are used indistinctly in the traditional medicine as stomachic and diuretic. This research aimed to carry out the drug analysis of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC., B. articulata (Lam.) Pers., B. cylindrica (Less.) DC. and B. gaudichaudiana DC. In general, B. dracunculifolia showed the highest results of water content, essential oil and loss on drying, while B. articulata showed the highest foam and bitter indices, ash and water soluble extractive results. Some components of the essential oil appeared in the four species, although each one showed a charateristic chromatographic profile by TLC analysis.

Wound infections in pediatric surgery: a study of 575 patients in a university hospital.

Surgical wound infections (WI) remain a significant source of postoperative morbidity. This epidemiologic study was undertaken to determine retrospectively the incidence of postoperative WI in children in a university hospital and include critical comparisons of pediatric surgery WI rates between different international reports. As few data exist on postoperative WIs in pediatric patients, in contrast to numerous reports in adults, all infants and children undergoing operations in the pediatric surgical service in our institution during a 7-year period were reviewed for development of a WI, a total of 537 patients who underwent 575 operations. WIs occurred in 39 cases (6.7%). Clean wounds (56.8% of patients) had an infection rate of 2.7%, clean-contaminated (23.1%) 10.5%, contaminated (12.9%) 13.5%, and dirty/infected (7.2%) 14.6%. Increasing duration of operation ( P < 0.001), contamination at operation ( P < 0.001), and a new element in the operation - a resident or intern - ( P < 0.001) were all associated with a higher incidence of infection, despite efforts at infection-control practices including improved sterilization methods and barriers, surgical technique, and availability of antimicrobial prophylaxis. The total incidence of wound infection in this population was comparable to that in other reports. Comparing children who developed a wound infection with those who did not, there were no significant differences in age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists preoperative assessment score, length of preoperative hospitalization, location of operation (intensive care unit vs operating room), the presence of a coexisting disease or remote infection, or the use of perioperative antibiotics. These baseline data may aid in forming strategies to lower the risk of WI in children. Our results suggest that WIs in children are related more to factors at operation than to the patients overall physiologic status.

Análise farmacognóstica da droga e do extrato fluido das folhas de Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae)

Conhecido popularmente pelo nome de confrei e recomendado como medicamento fitoterápico pela RDC nº 17 de 25/02/00 da ANVISA, Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) vem sendo utilizado por diferentes populações desde 2000 AC, com o intuito de consolidar ossos fraturados e cicatrizar feridas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar subsídios ao controle de qualidade da indústria farmacêutica na produção do fitoterápico de uso tópico, à base de folhas de confrei. Procedeu-se à identificação morfo-anatômica foliar da planta medicinal e a droga vegetal foi submetida à determinação de água, resíduo seco e cinzas totais e insolúveis em ácido. Os extratos etanólico e aquoso foram ensaiados em triplicata, quanto à análise organoléptica, determinação de pH e resíduo seco, detecção de grupos químicos e quantificação do princípio ativo alantoína.

Known popularly by the confrei name and recommended as phytomedicine by Anvisa RDC n.º 17 Act of 25/02/00, Symphytum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) it comes being used by different populations from 2000 AC, with the aim of to consolidate fractured bones and to heal wounds. The objective of this work went present subsidies to the control of quality of the pharmaceutical industry in the production of the phytomedicine of topical use, to the base of confrei leaves. It was proceeded to the morphological and anatomical identification to foliate of the medicinal plant and the vegetable drug was submitted to the determination of water, dry residue and total and insoluble ashes in acid. The etanolic and aqueous extracts were rehearsed in triplicate, with relationship to the sensorial analysis, pH determination and dry residue, detection of chemical groups and quantification of the beginning active allantoin.

Macro and microscopical identification of four species of Baccharis from trimera group

Different species of Baccharis belonging to the Trimera group are commonly named as carqueja and employed for their digestive and diuretic properties. Since the members of this group are alike, this work has aimed to study the macro and microscopical characters of Baccharis articulata, B. cylindrica, B. gaudichaudiana and B. trimera, in order to contribute for the drug analysis and to complement taxonomic knowledge for the Trimera group. These species are shrubs and have three-winged stem, except for B. articulata which possesses two wings. B. gaudichaudiana axis reveals ribs, B. articulata has oval contour and B. cylindrica and B. trimera stem is circular. In B. cylindrica and B. trimera, included phloem has been observed in older basal regions. Calcium oxalate crystals are seen in the four species, being styloid in B. articulata and B. cylindrica and prismatic in B. gaudichaudiana and B. trimera. The other microscopical features observed are similar.

Diferentes espécies de Baccharis pertencentes ao grupo Trimera são comumente denominadas como carqueja e empregadas por suas propriedades digestivas e diuréticas. Como os membros desse grupo são semelhantes, este trabalho objetivou estudar as características macro e microscopicas de Baccharis articulata, B. cylindrica, B. gaudichaudiana e B. trimera, como forma de contribuir à análise das drogas e complementar o conhecimento taxinômico do grupo Trimera. Estas espécies são arbustos e tem caules trialados, com exceção de B. articulata a qual possui duas alas. O axis de B. gaudichaudiana revela nervuras, de B. articulata tem contorno oval e de B. cylindrica e B. trimera stem são circulares. Em B. cylindrica e B. trimera, floema incluso tem sido observado em regiões basais antigas. Cristais de oxalate de calico são vistos nas quarto espécies, do tipo estilóide em B. articulata e B. cylindrica e prismáticos em B. gaudichaudiana e B. trimera. As outras características microscópicas observadas são similares.