Cytotoxicity and antibacterial studies of iridoids and phenolic compounds isolated from the latex of Himatanthus sucuuba

The latex of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson, used popularly in the Amazon for the treatment of tumors, gastritis, inflammations and infections, was evaluated for cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities. The iridoid lactones, plumericin and isoplumericin were isolated from latex by bioassay fractionation and were found to be associated with DNA damage. Gallic acid exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity among the phenolic compounds isolated from the aqueous fraction. The compounds associated to cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities could be responsible to the effects of this species used in traditional medicine.Key words: Himatanthus sucuuba, iridoids, phenolics, cytotoxicity, antibacterial

Characterization of woody odorant contributors in copaiba oil (Copaifera multijuga Hayne)

Copaifera multijuga Hayne is one of the Copaifera species from which copaiba oil is extracted. Employed in the composition of anti-inflammatory and antiseptic products used in phytotherapy, it is also used by the fragrance industry as a fixative in perfumes, cosmetics and in products such as soaps. To identify the active aroma compounds in C. multijuga oil bouquet, GC-O-MS using AEDA (Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis) was used after the quantification of the components by GC-FID. The results obtained pointed to minor compounds such as delta-cadinene (1.9%, FD 64), delta-cadinol (0.9%, FD 128), (Z)-alpha-santalol (0.2%, FD 128) caryophyllene oxide (0.2%, FD 64), alpha-cadinol (0.1%, FD 128) and tau-muurolol (0.1%, FD 128) as the most intense compounds in the odor of the copaiba oil studied. Chiral GC-O-MS showed (+)-delta-cadinene as the only enantiomer present in the oil, with a sweet, green and refreshing aroma

In vitro evaluation of neutral oximes as reactivators of parathion-inhibited electric eel acetylcholinesterase

Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) commonly used as pesticides and, unfortunately, as nerve agents in terrorist attacks. These compounds are highly soluble easily crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Clinically, oximes such as pralidoxime and obidoxime are used for the reactivation of AChE. These oximes are not sufficiently effective to reactivate AChE inhibited by different OPs besides the fact that they are permanently charged and do not readily cross the BBB. This work evaluated the ability of ten neutral oximes to reactivate parathion-inhibited eel AChE. Because oximes can bind to AChE as reversible inhibitors, this property was also evaluated, with pralidoxime (2-PAM) used as a reference compound. Unlike 2-PAM, which inhibited AChE in a concentration-dependent manner, neutral oximes were not good inhibitors of AChE. Neutral ligands can present affinity for the PAS site. Neutral oximes 1 and 2 (200 mM) reactivated parathion-inhibited eel AChE by 9% and 11%, respectively; but neither of them surpassed the reactivation efficacy of 2-PAM (25%). Neutral oximes 1 and 2 reactivated AChE at a safe concentration for humans. Both neutral oximes 1 and 2 are good non-quaternary moieties for the synthesis of conjugates with enhanced reactivation potency and BBB penetration

Characterization of Woody Odorant Contributors in Copaiba Oil (Copaifera multijuga Hayne)

Copaifera multijuga Hayne é uma das espécies do gênero Copaifera da qual se extrai o óleo de copaíba. Além do uso como antiinflamatório e anti-séptico, o óleo de copaíba é utilizado na indústria de fragrâncias como fixador para perfumes, cosméticos e sabões. A fim de identificar as substâncias ativas no aroma do óleo de C. multijuga, CG-O-EM utilizando AEDA foi aplicada após a quantificação dos compostos por CG-DIC. Os resultados obtidos apontaram para δ-cadineno (1,9%, FD 64), δ-cadinol (0,9%, FD 128), óxido de cariofileno (0,2%, FD 64), (Z)-α-santalol (0,2%, FD 128), α-cadinol (0,1%, FD 128) e τ-muurolol (0,1%, FD 128) como as substâncias de odor mais ativo no aroma deste óleo de copaíba. Quanto à contribuição aromática dos enanciômeros do δ-cadineno analisada por CG-EM-O-quiral, somente o enanciômero (+)-δ-cadineno foi encontrado no óleo e apresentou aroma adocicado, verde e refrescante. Copaifera multijuga Hayne is one of the Copaifera species from which copaiba oil is extracted. Employed in the composition of anti-inflammatory and antiseptic products used in phytotherapy, it is also used by the fragrance industry as a fixative in perfumes, cosmetics and in products such as soaps. To identify the active aroma compounds in C. multijuga oil bouquet, GC-O-MS using AEDA (Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis) was used after the quantification of the components by GC-FID. The results obtained pointed to minor compounds such as δ-cadinene (1.9%, FD 64), δ-cadinol (0.9%, FD 128), (Z)-α-santalol (0.2%, FD 128) caryophyllene oxide (0.2%, FD 64), α-cadinol (0.1%, FD 128) and τ-muurolol (0.1%, FD 128) as the most intense compounds in the odor of the copaiba oil studied. Chiral GC-O-MS showed (+)-δ-cadinene as the only enantiomer present in the oil, with a sweet, green and refreshing aroma

Identification of impact aroma compounds in Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga) leaf essential oil

The leaf essential oil of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) was extracted by Clevenger apparatus and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaves were collected and immediately extracted for five consecutive days at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. No variance in the oil yields were observed in the period. Furanodiene and its rearrangement product, furanoelemene (or curzerene, 50.2%), beta-elemene (5.9%) and alpha-cadinol (4.7%) were identified as the most abundant compounds. GC-Olfatometry (GC-O) associated to Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA) allowed the identification of nine active aroma compounds, where furanodiene (along with furanoelemene, FD 1024), beta-elemene (FD 256) and (E,E)-germacrone (FD 256) were characterized as the main impact aroma compounds in the odor of this essential oil. Those substances were collected through a sniffing port adapted on the GC allowing to obtain a typical essence of pitanga as indicated by comparative olfatometric analysis