Biological activities of arrabidaea chica (Bonpl.) B. Verl. Leaves

Leaves of Arrabidaea chica (Bonpl.) B. Verl., Bignoniaceae, are commonly used in the Amazon region as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent and as a wound healing agent. In the Southeast Region of Brazil, this species is used for urinary infection treatment. Ethanol extract from leaves of Arrabidaea chica and its fractions were prepared and tested for antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial and diuretic activities. All samples, with the exception of the hexane fraction, showed a potential antioxidant activity. Hexane, ethyl acetate fraction and luteolin, a flavone isolated from dichlorometane fraction, demonstrated diuretic activity. None of the samples assayed showed cytotoxicity or antimicrobial activity. Therefore, our results suggest that folk use to treat urinary tract infections may be modulated by the diuretic activity found, since increase of water diuresis serves to ‘flush out’ the urinary tract of infecting organisms. This could reduce bacterial multiplication in the bladder.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Chemical composition of essential oils and anticholinesterasic activity of Eugenia sulcata Spring ex Mart.

The chemical composition of the essential oils from leaves and stems of Eugenia sulcata Spring ex Mart., obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed by GC-MS and quantified by CG-FID. In all, 37 components were identified and sesquiterpenes represented the largest fraction of both oils, in the leaves (58.2 %) and stems (85.3 %). The major constituent found in the essential oil from leaves and stems of E. sulcata was β-caryophyllene, corresponding to 24.6 % and 18.8 %, respectively. The substances α- cubebene (1.1 %), β-copaene (0.5 %), cis-muurola-3,5-diene (0.6 %), cis-muurola-4(14),5-diene (1.3 %), γ- himachalene (2.0 %), epizonarene (0.8 %), trans-calamenene (4.4 %) and trans-cadina-1,4-diene (3.4 %) were identified for the first time as chemical constituents of essential oil from leaves of E. sulcata. To our knowledge, this was the first phytochemical contribution to the essential oil from stems of E. sulcata. It was also performed the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory bioassay of the essential oil from leaves of E. sulcata, which was considered active and exhibited an IC50 value of 4.66 ± 0.48 μg.mL-1.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Anticholinesterasic activity of Manilkara subsericea (Mart.) Dubard triterpenes

Manilkara subsericea (Mart.) Dubard (Sapotaceae) is popularly known in Brazil as "guracica". The species from the genus Manilkara have been studied and several substances were found, including triterpenes. In the present study, we describe the anticholinesterasic activity of an extract of M. subsericea containg beta-amyrin acetate (76.3 %) and alpha-amyrin acetate (23.7 %) using a TLC bioassay.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Baccharis reticularia DC. and Limonene Nanoemulsions: Promising Larvicidal Agents for Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Control

Baccharis reticularia DC. is a plant species from the Asteraceae family that is endemic to Brazil. Despite the great importance of Baccharis genus, no study has been carried out regarding either the phytochemical composition of B. reticularia or the evaluation of its larvicidal potential. Considering the intrinsic immiscibility of essential oils, this study shows larvicidal nanoemulsions containing the B. reticularia phytochemically characterized essential oil and its main constituent against Aedes aegypti. The major compound found was d-limonene (25.7%). The essential oil inhibited the acetylcholinesterase, one of the main targets of insecticides. The required hydrophile-lipophile balance of both nanoemulsions was 15.0. The mean droplet sizes were around 90.0 nm, and no major alterations were observed after 24 h of preparation for both formulations. After 48 h of treatment, the estimated LC50 values were 118.94 μg mL−1 and 81.19 μg mL−1 for B. reticularia essential oil and d-limonene nanoemulsions, respectively. Morphological alterations evidenced by scanning electron micrography were observed on the larvae treated with the d-limonene nanoemulsion. This paper demonstrated a simple and ecofriendly method for obtaining B. reticularia essential oil and d-limonene aqueous nanoemulsions by a non-heating and solvent-free method, as promising alternatives for Aedes aegypti control