Metabolite profiling reveals the influence of grapevine genetic distance on the chemical signature of juices.

BACKGROUND: Yield, disease tolerance, and climate adaptation are important traits in grapevine genetic breeding programs. Selection for these characteristics causes unpredictable changes in primary and specialized metabolism, affecting the physicochemical properties and chemical composition of the berries and their processed products, juice, and wine. In this study, we investigated the influence of the genetic distance between grapevine genotypes on the chemical signatures of the juices, by integrating comprehensive metabolic profiling to genetic analyses. RESULTS: The studied grapevine cultivars exhibited low genetic diversity. Breeding for agronomic traits promoted higher contents of soluble sugars, total phenolics, and anthocyanins in the juices. Untargeted juice metabolomics identified a total of 147 metabolites, consisting of 30 volatiles, 21 phenolics, and 96 ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) features. Juices from grapes of the most recent cultivars exhibited increased levels of trans-resveratrol, catechin, and luteolin. The blend of volatiles from juices of later cultivars was also more complex, consisting of 29 distinct metabolites in 'BRS Magna'. Grapes from 'BRS Carmem', an intermediate cultivar, gave the most divergent UHPLC-MS juice profile. CONCLUSION: Contents of soluble solids, total phenolics, and anthocyanins in grape juices were increased by controlled crosses and hybrid selection. Integrative analyses demonstrated that the juices' metabolic profiles accurately represent the cultivars' genetic distances. Juices from 'BRS Violeta' and 'BRS Magna' show relevant positive association with health-related phenolics and a distinct set of odor volatiles, although these characteristics were specifically sought by breeding. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative analysis indicates a simple protocol for DNA extraction of the aromatic plant Lippia alba.

An efficient method of genomic DNA extraction that provides high quality and yield is a crucial pre-requisite and limiting factor in plant genetic analysis. However, pure genomic DNA can be challenging to obtain from some plant species due to their sugar and secondary metabolite contents. Lippia alba is an important aromatic and medicinal plant, chemically characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and essential oils, which interfere with the extraction of pure genomic DNA. In this scenario, optimizing the extraction methods and minimizing the effects of these compounds are necessary. This study compares six plant DNA extraction protocols based on the CTAB method. The quality and quantity of DNA samples obtained were determined by physical appearance by electrophoresis in agarose gels and spectrophotometry. The results highlight the difficulty in obtaining pure and clear bands for all tested methods, except for the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based protocol created by our team, which was the better option for obtaining high-quality genomic DNA of L. alba. We conclude that adding PVP-40 into DNA extraction buffers can optimize the DNA extraction of L. alba and indicate this protocol for DNA extraction from other aromatic plants.

Influence of Mycosphaerella and Teratosphaeria leaf diseases on chemical composition of essential oils of Eucalyptus globulus and effect of these essential oils on ascospores germination.

In a first step, essential oils were extracted from Eucalyptus globulus leaves, healthy and with symptoms and signs of Mycosphaerella leaf disease (MLD) and Teratosphaeria leaf disease (TLD), in two leaf stages. Stage 1: sessile, oval leaves covered by a waxy layer of a bluish colour, with opposite phyllotaxis, inserted along stems of quadrangular section. Stage 2: narrow and sickle leaves with a greyish green surface, mainly on the abaxial surface, inserted in alternating pairs along rounded stems. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Chemical composition data and percentages of essential oil constituents were submitted to cluster analysis and principal component analysis. In a second step, under in vitro conditions, was evaluated the germination of Teratosphaeria nubilosa (one of the causal agents of TLD) ascospores in contact with the four types of essential oils extracted. The evaluations were performed at 24, 48 and 72 h after the experiments were assembled. The present study made it possible to distinguish and identify the chemical composition of essential oils from the eucalypt leaves used, and allowed 1,8-cineole to be identified as the major component for the essential oils investigated. The contact between essential oils and T. nubilosa spores allowed to prove the inhibition of the ascospores germination, being more efficient for the essential oils extracted from materials with the disease, which presented high amounts of 1,8-cineole.

Essential Oils of New Lippia alba Genotypes Analyzed by Flow-Modulated Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC) and Chemometric Analysis.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Br. (Verbenaceae) is an aromatic shrub whose essential oils have stood out as a promising source for application in several industrial fields. In this study, the essential oils chemical characterization of eight new L. alba genotypes was performed. The selected materials were collected from the Active Germplasm Bank of the Agronomic Institute and the essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation. Flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) was employed for chemical characterization and evaluation of possible co-eluted compounds. In addition, the chemical analyses were submitted to multivariate statistical analyses. From this investigation, 73 metabolites were identified in the essential oils of the genotypes, from which α-pinene, ß-myrcene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, neral, geranial, and caryophyllene oxide were the most abundant compounds among the accessions. This is the first report disclosing α-pinene in higher amounts in L. alba (19.69%). In addition, sabinene, trans-verbenol, myrtenol, (E)-caryophyllene, α-guaiene, germacrene D, and α-bulnesene were also found in relevant quantities in some of the genotypes, and myrtenal and myrtenol could be well separated through the second dimension. Such results contributed to the understanding of the chemical composition of those new genotypes, being important to drive a future industrial applicability and studies in genetic breeding.

Biogenic Amines and the Antioxidant Capacity of Juice and Wine from Brazilian Hybrid Grapevines.

Some biogenic amines (BAs) are used as quality markers in grape-derived products. The prolife of 9 BAs was determined in juices and wines elaborated from hybrid grapes. Low levels of histamine, tyramine and cadaverine were found. Juices elaborated from 'BRS Rúbea' showed the highest tyramine levels (1.56 mg/L), while no histamine was found in wines elaborated from 'Seleção 34' and its higher content was detected in 'BRS Carmem' (3.55 mg/L). Juices elaborated from 'BRS Violeta' showed elevated content (472.88 mg/L) of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and mono-hydrated serotonin (6.20 mg/L), and wines elaborated from 'Violeta' presented a high serotonin mono-hydrate content (23.63 mg/L) and high antioxidant activity with FRAP test (77.24 mmol FeSO4/L). Juices elaborated from hybrid grapes 'BRS Violeta' and wines from 'BRS Violeta', 'Seleção 34' and 'Seleção 13' had high levels of bioactive compounds, emphasizing the great potential of these cultivars for winemaking.

Improvement of lipase obtaining system by orange waste-based solid-state fermentation: production, characterization and application.

Lipases are an economic important group of biocatalysts that can be produced by some fungal under solid-state fermentation. Orange wastes are source of lipases and potential substrates for lipases production. This work assessed 19 fugal strains cultivated in Citrus sinensis cv. Hamlin orange wastes (peel, frit and core) for production of lipases in order to generate compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. Fifteen of those fungi grew and produced lipases, mainly the Aspergillus brasiliensis [National Institute of Quality Control (INCQS) 40036]/frit system, which showed 99.58 U/g total lipase. The substrate with the highest production of lipase was frit with 26.67 and 78.91 U/g of total lipases produced on average by the 15 microorganisms. Aspergillus niger 01/frit (33.53 U/g) and Aspergillus niger (INCQS 40015)/frit (34.76 U/g) systems showed the highest specificity values in all the herein tested synthetic substrates with 4, 12 and 16 carbons. Analysis of the fatty acid profile of hydrolysis products obtained in the most prominent systems applied to corn and sunflower oils showed: palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid. These acids showed antioxidant capacity of up to 58% DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-pierylhydrazyl) radical reduction and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Salmonella Enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as cytotoxicity to SCC9 cells (squamous cancer cells).

In vitro evaluation of schistosomicidal activity of essential oil of Mentha x villosa and some of its chemical constituents in adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni.

This study aimed to determine the composition of the essential oil of Mentha x villosa and to evaluate its biological effects in vitro on adult worms of S. mansoni. Rotundifolone (70.96 %), limonene (8.75 %), trans-caryophyllene (1.46 %), and ß-pinene (0.81 %) were shown to be the major constituents of this oil. Adult worms of S. mansoni were incubated with different concentrations of the essential oil (1, 10, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL) and of its constituents rotundifolone (0.7, 3.54, 7.09, 70.96, 177.4, 354.8, and 700.96 µg/mL), limonene (43.75 µg/mL), trans-caryophyllene (7.3 µg/mL), and ß-pinene (4.03 µg/mL). No schistosomicidal activity was identified at the trans-caryophyllene and ß-pinene concentrations studied. However, use of the essential oil (10 µg/mL), rotundifolone (7.09 µg/mL), and limonene (43.75 µg/mL) resulted in decreased worm motility continuing until 96 hours of observation. At higher concentrations (100 and 70.96 µg/mL, respectively), both the essential oil and rotundifolone caused mortality among adult worms of S. mansoni. The positive control praziquantel caused the death of all parasites after 24 h of evaluation. The results from this study suggest that the essential oil of Mentha x villosa presents schistosomicidal efficacy.

Efficacy of essential oil of Lippia sidoides (Verbenaceae) for controlling the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus on naturally parasitized animals under field conditions.

Efficacy of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides to control the bovine tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was evaluated in tests on naturally infested cattle under field conditions. Twenty cattle were allocated to one of two groups (Control and Treated). Animals in the treated group were sprayed with three liters of 1 % L. sidoides solution (10,000 ppm) and efficacy was calculated from teleogynous counts between 4.5 and 8 mm in length before (days -3, - 2 and - 1) and after treatment (days +3, +7, +14, +21 and +28). The essential oil of L. sidoides showed an average efficacy of 50.7 % between days + 3 and + 21, with greater efficacy in the larvae (63.2 % - p = 0.0001).

Overexpression of CsSAMT in Citrus sinensis Induces Defense Response and Increases Resistance to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri.

Citrus canker is a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, which affects all commercial sweet orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) cultivars. Salicylic acid (SA) and systemic-acquired resistance (SAR) have been demonstrated to have a crucial role in mediating plant defense responses against this phytopathogen. To induce SAR, SA is converted to methyl salicylate (MeSA) by an SA-dependent methyltransferase (SAMT) and translocated systemically to prime noninfected distal tissues. Here, we generated sweet orange transgenic plants (based on cvs. Hamlin and Valencia) overexpressing the SAMT gene from Citrus (CsSAMT) and evaluated their resistance to citrus canker. We obtained four independent transgenic lines and confirmed their significantly higher MeSA volatilization compared to wild-type controls. Plants overexpressing CsSAMT showed reduced symptoms of citrus canker and bacterial populations in all transgenic lines without compromising plant development. One representative transgenic line (V44SAMT) was used to evaluate resistance response in primary and secondary sites. Without inoculation, V44SAMT modulated CsSAMT, CsNPR1, CsNPR3, and CsWRKY22 expression, indicating that this plant is in a primed defense status. The results demonstrate that MeSA signaling prompts the plant to respond more efficiently to pathogen attacks and induces immune responses in transgenic plants at both primary and secondary infection sites.

Kinetin establish the volatile chemical profile after rhizome dormancy is released in Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe.

The aim of this work was to provide information about kinetin effects on chemical volatile profile of Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe after several days of plant dormancy release. Rhizomes of C. zedoaria were immersed in four kinetin concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 mg ml-1, n = 12 by each concentration) for 30 min. After 240 h of treatment, root length (mm), bud break (%) and bud speed index (BSI) were measured, and three rhizomes at 24 h and 240 h were collected for chemical volatile profile analysis by application of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Kinetin does not alter morphological aspects of the bud dormancy releasing, but drastically changes metabolic aspects of volatile production on C. zedoaria rhizomes, by the selection of several monoterpenes, such as camphene, sabinene, isoborneol, borneol, 1,8-cineole. We assume that kinetin application maintain monoterpene production as a consequence of its signaling over dormancy release.

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae of essential oils from four Guarea species.

The essential oils of four Guarea species collected at Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Except for one diterpene detected, the compounds identified in the essential oils were hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The major sesquiterpenes were alpha-santalene (26.26%) and alpha-copaene (14.61%) from G. convergens branches; caryophyllene epoxide (40.91%) and humulene epoxide II (14.43%) from G. humaitensis branches; cis-caryophyllene (33.37%) and alpha-trans-bergamotene (11.88%) from G. scabra leaves; caryophyllene epoxide (36.54%) in leaves and spathulenol (14.34%) in branches from G. silvatica. The diterpene kaurene (15.61%) was found in G. silvatica leaves. Larvicidal activity assay of essential oils against third-instar Aedes aegypti larvae revealed that at higher concentrations (500 and 250 microg/mL), all the essential oils caused 100% mortality after 24 h of exposure. The most active essential oils were those of G. humaitensis branches (LC(50) 48.6 microg/mL), G. scabra leaves (LC(50) 98.6 microg/mL) and G. silvatica (LC(50) 117.9 microg/mL). The differences in the toxicity of essential oils of Guarea species on A. aegypti are due to qualitative and quantitative variations of the components, therefore the larvicidal effect may be due to higher amount of the sesquiterpenes with caryophyllane skeleton.

Amazon climatic factors driving terpene composition of Iryanthera polyneura Ducke in terra-firme forest: A statistical approach.

Iryanthera polyneura (Myristicaceae) is popularly known as cumala-colorada, and can be found in the Amazon rain forest. The present study aimed the evaluation of the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) obtained from the leaves of I. polyneura throughout a two-year period in order to correlate chemical findings with seasonality and climatic variation. Leaves from I. polyneura were collected 15 times from three different individuals, identified as 22EO, 80EO and 530EO, between the years of 2009 and 2011. The EOs were obtained and tested by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. ANOVA and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between the percentage of terpenes and seasonal/climatic variations. Fifty-nine compounds were detected in the EOs, of which 44 were identified (74.5%). The main components of the EOs were spathulenol (6.42 ± 1.02%), α-cadinol (5.82 ± 0.40%) and τ-muurolol (5.24 ± 0.03%). Higher levels of spathulenol were observed in 22EO during rainy season, while τ-muurolol occurred in high amounts during the dry season, as did α-cadinol in 22EO and 80EO. Correspondence analysis revealed a distinction between two groups of EOs based on seasonality, whereas a canonic correspondence analysis and ANOVA determined how the major compounds were related to both seasonality and climatic factors. Non-metric multidimensional scaling in association with an analysis of similarities showed that the abundance and composition of terpenes in the samples varied moderately among the three Iryanthera individual plants. Present findings have shown that there is variation in the occurrence of the major compounds spathulenol, τ-muurolol and α-cadinol produced by I. polyneura and that the pattern of variation is related to season and climatic changes.

Nitrogen in the defense system of Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer.

The concentration of nitrogen can generate different strategies in plants in response to stress. In this study, we investigated how nitrogen concentration interferes with the defense system of Annona emarginata. Low concentrations of nitrogen increased the allocation of photosynthetic resources to carbon metabolism, resulting in an increase in the synthesis of volatile substances involved in signaling and defense that contributed to antioxidant enzymes in overcoming stress. The availability of nitrogen at 5.62 mM concentration might have helped to induce increased resistance in the plants because at this concentration, signaling substances and defense substances (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) were observed. Plants cultivated with the highest nitrate concentration displaced energy for the reduction of this ion, likely forming nitric oxide, a signaling molecule. This condition, together with the decrease in carbon skeletons, may have contributed to the lower synthesis of volatile substances of the specialized metabolism that are also involved with signaling. Varying the nitrogen in Annona emarginata cultivation revealed that depending on the concentration, volatile substances show higher or lower synthesis and participation in the system of signaling and defense in the plant. These results may suggest that volatile substances participate in resistance to pests and diseases, which is a necessary condition for Annona emarginata to be preferentially used as rootstock for Annona x atemoya.

Seasonality effects on chemical composition, antibacterial activity and essential oil yield of three species of Nectandra.

In this study, we aimed to determine whether seasonality affects the content, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) from the leaves of three species of Nectandra (Nectandra megapotamica, Nectandra grandiflora, and Nectandra lanceolata) native to the Atlantic rainforest, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. In addition, we identified the compounds potentially related to the antimicrobial activity. Leaves were randomly collected in the middle of winter (August), spring (November), summer (February), and autumn (May). The influence of seasonality on the content and chemical composition of EOs from the Nectandra species was evident in this study. The EOs from N. lanceolata and N. grandiflora were characterized by similarities in the chemical composition and had a higher relative proportion of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. N. megapotamica presented a different chemical profile, with plenty of monoterpenic and sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons. Changes in the EO chemical profile because of seasonality were shown by the similarities between the EOs obtained in spring and autumn and the differences between the EOs obtained in summer and winter. The EO from the leaves of N. megapotamica harvested in winter and spring showed the highest control of the growth of Escherichia coli, and this antimicrobial action can be related to the monoterpenes α-pinene and ß-pinene as well as myrcene and limonene. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the EO from the leaves of N. lanceolata harvested in summer and autumn was lower against the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and can be related to the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons isobicyclogermacrenal, epi-zizanone, and germacrene B.

Ultrastructural study of morphological changes in Schistosoma mansoni after in vitro exposure to the monoterpene rotundifolone.

INTRODUCTION:: Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trematode flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affects more than 200 million people worldwide, and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Here, we report the in vitro effect of rotundifolone, a monoterpene isolated from Mentha x villosa (Lamiaceae), on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. METHODS:: The in vitro effect of rotundifolone on adult Schistosoma mansoni was evaluated by analysis of behavior and mortality and through a scanning electron microscopic analysis of ultrastructural changes in the tegument of the worms. RESULTS:: At concentrations of 3.54 and 7.09µg/mL-1 rotundifolone, no worm mortality was observed at any of the sampling intervals. A minor reduction in movement of the tail, suckers, and gynecophoral canal membrane was observed after 96 h of exposure to 7.09µg/mL-1 rotundifolone. At 70.96µg/mL-1, a lack of movement was observed from 72h onwards and all worms were deemed dead; similar effects were observed at 48h with 177.4µg/mL-1, and at 24h with 354.8µg/mL-1 and 700.96µg/mL-1. Rotundifolone also caused death of all parasites and separation of coupled pairs into individual males and females after 24h at 354.8µg/mL-1. CONCLUSIONS:: The main changes in the tegument induced by the different ROT treatments were: after 24h incubation, bubble lesions spread over the entire body and loss of tubercles occurred in some regions of the ventral region.

PEG-induced osmotic stress in Mentha x piperita L.: Structural features and metabolic responses.

The present study investigated whether osmotic stress induced by the exposure of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.) to moderate and severe stress for short periods of time changes the plant's physiological parameters, leaf anatomy and ultrastructure and essential oil. Plants were exposed to two levels of polyethyleneglycol (50 g L(-1) and 100 g L(-1) of PEG) in a hydroponic experiment. The plants exposed to 50 g L(-1) maintained metabolic functions similar to those of the control group (0 g L(-1)) without changes in gas exchange or structural characteristics. The increase in antioxidant enzyme activity reduced the presence of free radicals and protected membranes, including chloroplasts and mitochondria. In contrast, the osmotic stress caused by 100 g L(-1) of PEG inhibited leaf gas exchange, reduced the essential oil content and changed the oil composition, including a decrease in menthone and an increase in menthofuran. These plants also showed an increase in peroxidase activity, but this increase was not sufficient to decrease the lipid peroxidation level responsible for damaging the membranes of organelles. Morphological changes were correlated with the evaluated physiological features: plants exposed to 100 g L(-1) of PEG showed areas with collapsed cells, increases in mesophyll thickness and the area of the intercellular space, cuticle shrinkage, morphological changes in plastids, and lysis of mitochondria. In summary, our results revealed that PEG-induced osmotic stress in M. x piperita depends on the intensity level of the osmotic stress applied; severe osmotic stress changed the structural characteristics, caused damage at the cellular level, and reduced the essential oil content and quality.

Non-Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in the Essential Oil of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. Increase during the Day in the Dry Season.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal and diurnal events on the chemical profile of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. This study was performed in a Brazilian savanna named Cerrado. We identified the best harvesting period for obtaining the highest amount of compounds used for commercial and industrial purposes. The chemical profile of the essential oils was evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS, and the results were assessed through multivariate analyses. The data showed that the time of day and seasonal variations affect the quality of the essential oil obtained. Leaves harvested at the end of the day (5:00 pm) in the dry season resulted in richer essential oils with higher amounts of non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes. To the best of our knowledge, environmental conditions induce metabolic responses in the leaves of C. langsdorffii, which changes the patterns of sesquiterpene production. Therefore, these factors need to be considered to obtain better concentrations of bioactive compounds for pharmacological studies.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES IN Schistosoma mansoni MALE WORMS AFTER in vitro INCUBATION WITH THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF Mentha x villosa Huds.

INTRODUCTION: The essential oil Mentha x villosa (MVEO) has a wide range of actions, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and schistosomicidal actions. The present study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural changes of MVEO on the tegument of adult Schistosoma mansoni. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different concentrations of MVEO were tested on S. mansoni adult worms in vitro. Ultrastructural changes on the tegument of these adult worms were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: The MVEO caused the death of all worms at 500 µg mL(-1) after 24 h. After 24h of 500 µg mL(-1) MVEO treatment, bubble lesions were observed over the entire body of worms and they presented loss of tubercles in some regions of the ventral portion. In the evaluation by TEM, S. mansoni adult worms treated with MVEO, 500 µg mL(-1), presented changes in the tegument and vacuoles in the syncytial matrix region. Glycogen granules close to the muscle fibers were visible. CONCLUSION: The ability of MVEO to cause extensive ultrastructural damage to S. mansoni adult worms correlates with its schistosomicidal effects and confirms earlier findings with S. mansoni.

Chemical composition of essential oils from the vegetative and reproductive structures of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

GC/FID and GC-MS analysis revealed germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, α-cadinol and cubenol as major compounds from aril. Germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, trans-caryophyllene and δ-elemene are major compounds in fruits. Germacrene D, spathulenol, trans-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide are major compounds in leaves. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed distinct groups between the composition of essential oils from aril and fruit, when compared with terpene production found in leaves. Lipid composition found in arils could be protected by the presence of non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes, as germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene. Chemical profiles of essential oils from the fruits, arils and leaves of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. revealed different compositions, which could be related to environmental pressures. Thereby, non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes can also work against herbivory, pathogens and predator's attack, emphasising the importance of further studies among terpenes, ecology interactions and plant physiology.

Development of a Phytocosmetic Enriched with Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Cambess) Oil

Abstract The pulp oil of Caryocar brasiliense Camb., better known as pequi, is used in the typical cuisine of the Brazilian Cerrado region. It is also used in folk medicine to combat several types of disease of the respiratory system and skin. However, since its exploration is purely extractive, the exhaustion of this plant is already foreseen. Thus, in order to establish the sustainable use of pequi and contribute to its maintenance, this study aimed to develop a phytocosmetic with antioxidant and photoprotective properties using the oil of this fruit. Initially, the cytotoxicity of the oil was evaluated in order to establish the safety of its use and its fatty acid composition. Then, from the cream enriched with the oil, it was evaluated the antioxidant and photoprotector potentials, quantified the total phenolic content and examined the quality of the formulation. Pequi oil showed high percentages of palmitic (52.11%) and oleic (44.57%) fatty acids and absence of cytotoxicity. The analysis of the cream revealed 168.8 mg of total phenols in gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of oil. The evaluation of antioxidant activity showed an EC50 of 2.921 mg/mL and a capacity of inhibiting the lipoperoxidation process higher than 100%. The obtained sun protection factor was 11.40 at the concentration of 6.25 mg/mL. The quality tests revealed small disturbances in the cream stability that can be solved by further research and improvement of the formulation. The pequi oil can be converted into a phytocosmetic of great commercial value.