Prospecção química, atividade antioxidante, anticolinesterásica e antifúngica de extratos etanólicos de espécies de Senna Mill. (Fabaceae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical profile, total phenol content and the antioxidant, antiacetylcholinesterase and antifungal activities of ethanol extracts from leaves (EEF) and stem (EEC) of five species of Senna, as well as to evaluate the correlation between the content of total phenols with the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and with the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase AChEI enzyme. The phytochemical test showed the presence of secondary metabolites in all extracts. The EEF and EEC of Senna trachypus, stood out for presenting the highest values of total phenols. S. trachypus EEF and EEC showed the best action on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. All species showed antioxidant activity, especially the EEF from S. trachypus. A strong correlation was observed for the variables total phenols and antioxidant activity (r = -0.71), very strong for total phenols and anti-acetylcholinesterase (r = -0.84) and moderate activity for antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity (r = 0.43). Only S. trachypus extracts showed activity against all dermatophytes, when compared to the other species. The species S. trachypus was considered the most promising plant for further studies, in order to find compounds with pharmacological actions.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o perfil químico, teor de fenóis totais e as atividades antioxidante, antiacetilcolinesterásica e antifúngica dos extratos etanólicos das folhas (EEF) e do caule (EEC) de cinco espécies de Senna, bem como avaliar a correlação entre o conteúdo de fenóis totais com a atividade sequestradora do radical livre DPPH e com a inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase AChEI. No teste fitoquímico, evidenciou-se a presença de metabólitos secundários em todos os extratos. Os EEF e EEC de Senna trachypus, destacaram-se por apresentar os maiores valores de fenóis totais. Os EEF e EEC de S. trachypus mostraram a melhor ação sobre a enzima acetilcolinesterase. Todas as espécies apresentaram atividade antioxidante, em especial o EEF de S. trachypus. Foi observado correlação forte para as variáveis fenóis totais e atividade antioxidante (r = -0,71), muito forte para fenóis totais e antiacetilcolinesterase (r = -0,84) e atividade moderada para atividade antioxidante e antiacetilcolinesterase (0,43). Apenas os extratos de S. trachypus apresentaram atividade contra todos os dermatófitos, quando comparado às demais espécies. A espécie S. trachypus foi considerada a planta mais promissora para estudos subsequentes, a fim de encontrar compostos com ações farmacológicas

Partial purification of trypsin/papain inhibitors from Hymenaea courbaril L. seeds and antibacterial effect of protein fractions

ABSTRACT The crude extract and protein fractions of Hymenaea courbaril L. seeds were investigated for the presence of trypsin and papain inhibitors and antimicrobial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Protein fractions were obtained from the crude extract after precipitation with ammonium sulfate into three saturation ranges (0-30%, 30-60%, and 60-90%), called Hc030, Hc3060, and Hc6090, respectively. The crude extract and protein fractions inhibited trypsin and papain activity, but to different degrees. Antimicrobial activity was observed in Hc030 and Hc3060 fractions, but only against V. parahaemolyticus.The inhibitor isolated from the Hc3060 fraction was more effective in inhibiting trypsin (100% inhibition) than papain (54% inhibition), and showed an apparent molecular mass of 20 kDa. This study shows that H. courbaril seeds contain proteins with protease-inhibiting and antibacterial activity, indicating that this species is a source of bioactive compounds

Lectin, hemolysin and protease inhibitors in seed fractions with ovicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus

Bioactive molecules of plant species are promising alternatives for the chemical control of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. Extracts of native and exotic seed species from Brazil's semi-arid region were tested in vitro in an egg hatch assay and the bioactivity of their proteins was investigated. Each seed species was subjected to three extractions with three types of solvents. All the seeds showed ovicidal activity, which varied according to the solvents. Higher ovicidal activity was found in the molecule fractions of low molecular weight (0.05, Bonferroni test). Hemagglutinating activity was detected in the fractions of C. spectabilis and M. oleifera fractions, hemolysin activity in the A. lebbeck and M. oleifera fractions, serine protease inhibitory activity in the A. lebbeck, I. asarifolia, J. curcas, M. oleifera and R. communis fractions, cysteine protease inhibitor activity in the M. oleifera fraction, and no protein activity in the L. ferrea fraction. The results of this work reveal new plant species with a potential for use in controlling nematode parasites in goats, thus opening a new field of research involving plant protein molecules with ovicidal properties