Characterization and anti-staphylococcal activity of the essential oil from Turnera subulata Sm

The present study is pioneer in analyzing the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Turnera subulata Sm. and evaluates their antibacterial activity against a panel of drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The aerial parts were kiln-dried and then powdered in mechanical mill, and was subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The components were analyzed using a mass spectrometrycoupled gas chromatography (GC-MS), and the identification of substances was performed by comparison of the mass spectra obtained with the mass spectra of the database of the GC-MS and retention indices . The essential oil was evaluated using the method of broth dilution at concentrations ranging from 3.125µg/mL to 3200µg/mL. It was possible to identify 45 substances (92.1%) of the essential oils, and the major components were trans-caryophyllene (6.7%), citronellol (5.6%), sphatulenol (5.3%), α-cadinol (4.3%), n-tricosano (4.3%), geraniol (4.1%) and trans-geranilacetone (3.7%), n-pentacosano (3.5%), globulol (3.4%), caryophyllene oxide (3.2%). The essential oil of T. subulata Sm. showed effective antibacterial activity for the various strains of S. aureus tested, with the MIC values between 25 µg/mL and 1600 µg/mL. The study of the essential oil of Turnera subulata Sm. showed that it consists of a complex mixture of several classes of compounds having the sesquiterpenes as major constituents followed by monoterpenes, and showed an antibacterial activity significant front the strains tested.

O presente estudo é pioneiro em analisar a composição química dos óleos essenciais das partes aéreas de Turnera subulata Sm. e sua atividade antibacteriana frente à Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a antibióticos. As partes aéreas da planta foram secas em estufa, pulverizadas em moinho mecânico e submetidas à hidrodestilaçao em aparato tipo Clevenger. A composição dos óleos essenciais foi analisada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas (CG-EM), e a identificação realizada por comparação dos espectros de massas com a biblioteca do CG-EM e índices de retenção. A atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial foi avaliada usando o método de diluição em caldo, em concentrações que variaram de 3.125µg/mL to 3200µg/mL. Foi possível identificar 45 substâncias (92,1%) do óleo essencial, sendo os componentes majoritários: trans-cariofileno (6,7%), citronelol (5,6%), espatulenol (5,3%), α-cadinol (4,3%), n-tricosano (4,3%), geraniol (4,1%) e trans-geranilacetona (3,7%), n-pentacosano (3,5%), globulol (3,4%) e óxido de cariofileno (3,2%). O óleo essencial de T. subulata Sm. mostrou atividade antibacteriana eficaz para as várias cepas de S. aureus testadas, com valores de CIM entre 25 µg/mL e 1600 µg/mL. O estudo do óleo essencial de Turnera subulata Sm. evidenciou sua complexa mistura, contendo várias classes de substâncias, tendo os sesquiterpenos como constituintes majoritários seguido dos monoterpenos, e mostrou significativa atividade antibacteriana frente as cepas testadas.

Controle de qualidade dos extratos polares de Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult., Turneraceae / Quality control of polar extracts from Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult., Turneraceae

Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de metodologia para o controle de qualidade dos extratos etanólicos e infusão de Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult., Turneraceae, usando como marcadores os compostos fenólicos. Essa espécie é usada popularmente como afrodisíaca e antiulcerogênica. Foram usadas técnicas cromatográficas: CLAE acoplada com detector de ultravioleta e cromatografia em camada delgada. Foram detectados flavonóides como os principais componentes da planta.

This work describes the development of a methodology for the quality control of ethanol and infusion extracts from Turnera diffusa Wild ex Schult., Turneraceae, using phenolic compounds as chemical markers. This species is used both as aphrodisiac and antiulcerogenic. We used chromatographic techniques: HPLC couplet do ultraviolet detector as well as thin layer chromatography. Flavonoids were detected as major compounds in this species.

Effect of the decontamination using gamma irradiation on the essential oil of Turnera diffusa Wild / Efeito da descontaminação usando irradiação gama sobre o óleo essencial de Turnera diffusa Wild

Este trabalho descreve a investigação do óleo essencial, obtido das partes aéreas de Turnera diffusa (Turneraceae) submetida a descontaminação usando irradiação com 60Co (raios gama). As analises dos óleos irradiados nos permite verificar diferenças quali e quantitativa nas amostras de óleos.

This paper describes the investigation of the essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Turnera diffusa Wild. (Turneraceae) submitted to decontamination using irradiation with 60Co (gamma rays). Analyses of the irradiated oils allowed us to verify quali and quantitative differences among the oils.

Pharmacological evaluation of Bioactive Principle of Turnera aphrodisiaca.

In the present investigation, pharmacological evaluation of apigenin, a bioactive principle of Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward (Turneraceae) was carried out. Apigenin was evaluated for antianxiety activity at a dose of 2 mg/kg using well established models of anxiety, the hole board test, light/dark test and mirrored chamber test. Apigenin significantly increased head dipping in hole board test. Further, apigenin increased latency to leave light zone and the time spent in light compartment of light/dark model of anxiety. Apigenin also decreased the latency time to enter the mirrored chamber, and increased the total time spent/number of entries in the mirrored chamber with respect to control. All these observations confirmed the anxiolytic activity of apigenin. At a higher dose (about 12 fold the anxiolytic dose), apigenin showed mild sedative activity in actophotometer as it decreased activity scores. It (2, 5 or 10 mg/kg) was found to be devoid of anticonvulsant, antidepressant and antistress activity in MES-induced convulsion test, despair swim test and cold swimming endurance test, respectively. In tail immersion test for six hours, apigenin exhibited excellent dose dependent analgesic activity, which was comparable to that of morphine sulphate (5 mg/kg). Maximum activity was observed 30 min after the administration of 10 mg/kg dose of apigenin.

Estudo farmacobotânico comparativo de folhas de Turnera chamaedrifolia Cambess. e Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae) / Comparative and pharmacobotanical study of the leaves of Turnera chamaedrifolia Cambess. and Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae)

Neste trabalho realizou-se um estudo farmacobotânico comparativo entre as folhas de Turnera chamaedrifolia Cambess. e Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae), espécies cujas folhas são usadas na medicina popular. As identificações botânicas e as morfodiagnoses macroscópicas foram realizadas após estudos morfológicos. Para as morfodiagnoses microscópicas realizaram-se secções paradérmicas e transversais de folhas (lâmina e pecíolo), que foram posteriormente clarificadas em hipoclorito (1 por cento) e coradas com safranina hidroalcoólica e safrablue. As duas espécies compartilham o mesmo tipo de estômato, paracítico, entretanto, T. chamaedrifolia possui folhas com a epiderme hipoestomática, com células de paredes ondeadas; o mesofilo dorsiventral; e a vascularização do pecíolo com três feixes nas porções distal e mediana, e apenas um feixe na proximal. Em T. subulata a epiderme é anfi-hipoestomática, com paredes sinuosas; mesofilo isobilateral; e a vascularização do pecíolo possui um feixe na porção distal e três feixes nas porções mediana e proximal. A morfologia das estruturas vegetativas e reprodutivas associada à anatomia foliar são caracteres distintivos para estas espécies.

This work is a comparative pharmacobotanical study between the leaves of Turnera chamaedrifolia Cambess. and Turnera subulata Sm. (Turneraceae), which are used in folk medicine. The botanical identifications and macroscopical morphodiagnosis were done after morphological studies. The microscopical morphodiagnosis was carried out by paradermic and transversal cuts of the leaves (blade and petiole), clarified and coloured with safranin and astrablue. The leaves of T. chamaedrifolia have hypostomatics epidermis, with wavy cells walls; the mesophyll is dorsiventral; and the vascular system of the peciole has three vascular bundles in the distal and medium portions, and only one, in the proximal portion. T. subulata has amphihypostomatic epidermis, with sinuous cells walls; the mesophyll is isobilateral; and the vascular system of the petiole has only one vascular bundle in the distal portion and three in the medium and proximal portions. The vegetative and reproductive morphologies associated to the leaf anatomy constitute a set of distinctive characters for these species.