Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of dry standardizedextract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl, in mice

Due to its chemical composition and use in folk medicine, the dry standardized extract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. (Tiliaceae) leaves (DSEAT) was tested to assess its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The animals were treated with DSEAT previously for 7 days, at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg of rosmarinic acid; the liver damage was induced by administering CCl4 intraperitoneally (i.p.) at days 3 and 7, and 1 h before treating with DSEAT. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical assays such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopatological studies. DSEAT doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg were not capable of protecting the liver against CCl4. However, the dose of 50 mg/kg reduced AST by 31.50% the dose of 25 mg/kg reduced GGT by 57.18% compared to the CCl4 (p < 0.05). In the liver, DSEAT dose of 50 mg/kg and rosmarinic acid reduced MDA by 27.45% and 63.61%, respectively, whereas in plasma, MDA was reduced in all the groups treated with DSEAT and rosmarinic acid. In conclusion, DSEAT exhibits hepatoprotective effect only at low doses and antioxidant activity in vivo after peroral administration. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee of UFG (CEUA, no. 177/2011).(AU)

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of dry standardizedextract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl, in mice

Due to its chemical composition and use in folk medicine, the dry standardized extract of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. (Tiliaceae) leaves (DSEAT) was tested to assess its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. The animals were treated with DSEAT previously for 7 days, at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and 18 mg/kg of rosmarinic acid; the liver damage was induced by administering CCl4 intraperitoneally (i.p.) at days 3 and 7, and 1 h before treating with DSEAT. The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical assays such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and histopatological studies. DSEAT doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg were not capable of protecting the liver against CCl4. However, the dose of 50 mg/kg reduced AST by 31.50% the dose of 25 mg/kg reduced GGT by 57.18% compared to the CCl4 (p < 0.05). In the liver, DSEAT dose of 50 mg/kg and rosmarinic acid reduced MDA by 27.45% and 63.61%, respectively, whereas in plasma, MDA was reduced in all the groups treated with DSEAT and rosmarinic acid. In conclusion, DSEAT exhibits hepatoprotective effect only at low doses and antioxidant activity in vivo after peroral administration. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Research Ethics Committee of UFG (CEUA, no. 177/2011).

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in Excentrodendron hsienmu (Chun & How) H.T. Chang& R.H. Miau.

Microsatellite markers were isolated using dual-suppression-PCR for the endangered species Excentrodendron hsienmu (Tiliaceae) to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of this species. A total of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized in E. hsienmu. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, with an average of 5.27. The expected heterozygosity value ranged from 0.053 to 0.780, with an average of 0.568 and the observed heterozygosity value ranged from 0 to 0.595, with an average of 0.268. The polymorphic information content value ranged from 0.051 to 0.740, with an average of 0.521. These newly designed markers will be of great potential significance and profound influence in future research related to the genetic diversity, population structure, and patterns of gene flow of this species, which will contribute to the implementation of conservation and management strategies for this species.

Avaliação da toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), em camundongos e ratos / Assessment of acute toxicity of water extract from Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae) in mice and rats

O teste de toxicidade aguda estima a dose letal mediana (DL50 ) e classifica os toxicantes quanto à periculosidade, inclusive para extratos de plantas. A espécie Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), conhecida como pau-de-jangada ou pente-de-macaco, é empregada popularmente como antirreumática, antiespasmódica e expectorante, embora seja desconhecida quanto aos seus efeitos tóxicos. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar o potencial de toxicidade aguda do extrato aquoso de A. tibourbou (EAT), administrado por gavagem, em camundongos fêmeas e ratos fêmeas, seguindo as diretrizes OECD Guideline 423/2001 e o screening hipocrático. Os camundongos fêmeas foram divididos em três grupos de três animais cada (C1 – controle, água filtrada, 0,25 mL; C2 –300 mg/kg de EAT; e C3 – 2000 mg/kg de EAT). Os ratos fêmeas foram divididos em dois grupos de três animais cada (R1 – controle, água filtrada, 0,5 mL; e R2 – 2000 mg/kg de EAT). O grupo C2 consumiu 28% de água a mais que o grupo C1 (p < 0,05); o grupo C3 produziu 31% de excretas a mais que o grupo C1 (p < 0,0001); o grupo R2 reduziu o consumo de ração e a produção de excretas em 20% e 28% em relação ao grupo R1 (p < 0,05), respectivamente. No screening hipocrático, nenhuma alteração motora e/ou sensorial foi observada. Não houve morte nem estado moribundo de nenhum animal. Conclui-se que o EAT possui DL50 estimada maior que 2000 mg/kg (Classe 5 de toxicidade, segundo o Globally Harmonized System – GHS, ONU), demonstrando reduzido potencial de toxicidade aguda.

The acute toxicity test estimates the median lethal dose (LD50) against a given test organism and classifies toxic substances, including plant extracts, according to their intrinsic toxicity. Apeiba tibourbou Aubl (Tiliaceae), a tree known in Brazil as “raft-wood” or “monkey’s comb”, is popularly used as an antirheumatic, antispasmodic and expectorant agent, although its toxic effects are unknown. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the potential acute toxicity to female mice and rats of a water extract of A. tibourbou leaves (WET), administered by gavage, following OECD Guideline 423/2001 and hippocratic screening. The female mice were divided into three groups of three animals each (C1 – control, given 0.25 mL filtered water; C2 – treated with 300 mg/kg WET; C3 – with 2000 mg/kg WET). The female rats were divided into two groups of three animals each (R1 – control, given 0.5 mL filtered water; R2 – 2000 mg/kg WET). Group C2 consumed 28% more water than group C1 (p < 0.05); group C3 produced 31% more excreta than group C1 (p < 0.0001); group R2 reduced food consumption and excretion by 20% and 28%, relative to group R1 (p < 0.05), respectively. During the Hippocratic screening, no motor and/or sensorial alterations were observed. Neither death nor symptoms of impending death were observed in any animals. It can be concluded that WET has an estimated LD50greater than 2000 mg/kg (Class 5 toxicity, according to the UN Globally Harmonized System – GHS), demonstrating low acute toxicity potential.

New Meliolaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic forest 2: species on host families Annonaceae, Cecropiaceae, Meliaceae, Piperaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae and Tiliaceae.

Continuing the study of black mildews in fragments of the Atlantic forest, three new species and five new records are described herein. Irenopsis luheae-grandiflorae, Meliola vicosensis and Meliola xylopia-sericiae are new species. Cecropia hololeuca, Piper gaudichaudianum and Trichilia lepidota are new hosts for Asteridiella leucosykeae, Asteridiella glabroides and Meliola trichiliae respectively. Asteridiella obesa and Meliola psychotriae var. chiococcae are reported for the first time from Brazil. The new species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopy and tables with main characteristics of morphologically similar specimens with species collected in Viçosa are provided. Other species belonging to Meliolaceae collected on hosts belonging to the Annonaceae, Meliaceae and Tiliaceae in Brazil also were studied.

Short dry spells in the wet season increase mortality of tropical pioneer seedlings.

Variation in plant species performance in response to water availability offers a potential axis for temporal and spatial habitat partitioning and may therefore affect community composition in tropical forests. We hypothesized that short dry spells during the wet season are a significant source of mortality for the newly emerging seedlings of pioneer species that recruit in treefall gaps in tropical forests. An analysis of a 49-year rainfall record for three forests across a rainfall gradient in central Panama confirmed that dry spells of > or = 10 days during the wet season occur on average once a year in a deciduous forest, and once every other year in a semi-deciduous moist and an evergreen wet forest. The effect of wet season dry spells on the recruitment of pioneers was investigated by comparing seedling survival in rain-protected dry plots and irrigated control plots in four large artificially created treefall gaps in a semi-deciduous tropical forest. In rain-protected plots surface soil layers dried rapidly, leading to a strong gradient in water potential within the upper 10 cm of soil. Seedling survival for six pioneer species was significantly lower in rain-protected than in irrigated control plots after only 4 days. The strength of the irrigation effect differed among species, and first became apparent 3-10 days after treatments started. Root allocation patterns were significantly, or marginally significantly, different between species and between two groups of larger and smaller seeded species. However, they were not correlated with seedling drought sensitivity, suggesting allocation is not a key trait for drought sensitivity in pioneer seedlings. Our data provide strong evidence that short dry spells in the wet season differentially affect seedling survivorship of pioneer species, and may therefore have important implications to seedling demography and community dynamics.

Efeitos da administração aguda e subcrônica da Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini / Effects of acute and subchronic administration of Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini

As cascas de Luehea divaricata Martus et Zuccarini (Tiliaceae) são usadas na medicina popular como antinflamatório e como anti-rumático. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito toxicológico subcrônico do extrato bruto hidroalcoólico (70 por cento) (CHE) em ratos, pela via oral e intraperitonial.

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba (Tiliaceae) does not inhibit the in-vitro hydrolytic activity of the major pancreatic enzymes

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba is part of the Costa Rican folk pharmacopoeia. It shows no in-vitro inhibitory action on the hydrolytic activity of porcine pancreatic amylase, lipase or proteases, thus diminishing the concern of intestinal malabsorption in human beings.

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba (Tiliaceae) does not inhibit the in-vitro hydrolytic activity of the major pancreatic enzymes.

The aqueous extract of Triumfetta semitriloba is part of the Costa Rican folk pharmacopoeia. It shows no in-vitro inhibitory action on the hydrolytic activity of porcine pancreatic amylase, lipase or proteases, thus diminishing the concern of intestinal malabsorption in human beings.

[Light quality effect on the seeds germination in tropical pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae)]. / Efecto de la calidad de la luz sobre la germinación de semillas en el árbol pionero tropical Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae).

The objective of this study was to determine whether seeds of the pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus possess photoblastic dormancy. Seeds from nine trees were collected in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. In order to test for the presence of photoblastic dormancy, germination experiments were carried out separately on seeds of each individual tree. The seeds from each tree were sown and subjected to four light treatments: fluorescent white light, red light (660 nm), far red light (730 nm), and darkness. A total of 50 seeds were sown in each plastic Petri dish (three replicates per treatment) on an agar solution. Experiments were carried out at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C, and a 12:12 hr (L:D) photoperiod. In addition, seeds of three individuals were sown on agar and subjected to a light quality gradient from red to far red (1.1-0.2). Results show that final germination percentages of seeds were unaffected by light quality in all individuals. Nevertheless, germination was delayed by 24 hr in the seeds of four individuals under the far red light treatment. By the end of fourth day, final germination did not differ among treatments. Further, germination of the three individuals under the red/far red gradient was unaffected. Seeds of H. appendiculatus lack photoblastic dormancy and germination behavior can not be used to explain the absence of seedlings below the canopy. We propose that this absence is due to the failure of the seedlings to establish themselves under the canopy.

Efecto de la calidad de la luz sobre la germinación de semillas en el ßrbol pionero tropical Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae) / Light quality effect on the seeds germination in tropical pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus (Tiliaceae)

The objective of this study was to determine whether seeds of the pioneer tree Heliocarpus appendiculatus possess photoblastic dormancy. Seeds from nine trees were collected in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. In order to test for the presence of photoblastic dormancy, germination experiments were carried out separately on seeds of each individual tree. The seeds from each tree were sown and subjected to four light treatments: fluorescent white light, red light (660 nm), far red light (730 nm), and darkness. A total of 50 seeds were sown in each plastic Petri dish (three replicates per treatment) on an agar solution. Experiments were carried out at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C, and a 12:12 hr (L:D) photoperiod. In addition, seeds of three individuals were sown on agar and subjected to a light quality gradient from red to far red (1.1-0.2). Results show that final germination percentages of seeds were unaffected by light quality in all individuals. Nevertheless, germination was delayed by 24 hr in the seeds of four individuals under the far red light treatment. By the end of fourth day, final germination did not differ among treatments. Further, germination of the three individuals under the red/far red gradient was unaffected. Seeds of H. appendiculatus lack photoblastic dormancy and germination behavior can not be used to explain the absence of seedlings below the canopy. We propose that this absence is due to the failure of the seedlings to establish themselves under the canopy.