OVICIDAL EFFECT OF PIPERACEAE SPECIES ON Biomphalaria glabrata, Schistosoma mansoni HOST

SUMMARY Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease with public health importance in tropical and subtropical regions. An alternative to the disease control is the use of molluscicides to eliminate or reduce the intermediate host snail population causing a reduction of transmission in endemic regions. In this study nine extracts from eight Piperaceae species were evaluated against Biomphalaria glabrata embryos at blastula stage. The extracts were evaluated in concentrations ranging from 100 to 10 mg/L. Piper crassinervium and Piper tuberculatum extracts were the most active (100% of mortality at 20 mg/L and 30 mg/L respectively)

Study of the secondary metabolism in Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae)

Este trabalho descreve o estudo do metabolismo secundário em folhas diferenciadas e em suspensões celulares de Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae). Este estudo foi monitorado pela análise do extrato de folhas por CLAE, assim como pela comparação entre os diferentes tecidos desta espécie (folhas, caule e raízes). Do extrato das folhas foram isoladas duas flavanonas, duas hidroquinonas preniladas e uma hidroquinona com um endoperóxido na cadeia lateral. A análise do óleo volátil das folhas através de CG e CG-EM, revelou a presença de trinta e seis componentes, sendo majoritários o germacreno-D (10,05%) seguido por β-cariofileno (9,91 %) e 6-metil-5-hepten-2-ona (7,47%). Todas as substâncias isoladas foram submetidas ao ensaio antifúngico bioautográfico contra Cladosporium sphaerospermun, sendo que as flavanonas, as duas hidroquinonas e o óleo volátil mostraram-se ativos. As suspensões celulares foram desenvolvidas a partir de calos, iniciados a partir de ápices, em meio B5 modificado, contendo ácido naftalenoacético (ANA) e 6-benzilamino purina (BAP) como reguladores de crescimento. As células não produziram flavonóides, mas alcalóides do tipo aristolactamas, que são parcialmente excretados para o meio de cultura. A curva de crescimento estabelecida para as células foi analisada quanto à atividade específica da fenilalanina amônia-liase (PAL), à variação do pH e o acúmulo dos alcalóides. Alguns experimentos de eliciação demonstraram respostas positivas face ao uso de luz UV, adição de L-fenilalanina e uso de extratos de levedura.The present work studies the secondary metabolism in leaves of Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae) and in its cell suspension culture as well. The profile of secondary compounds in differenciatted and undifferenciated tissues were evaluated by HPLC. The aerial parts of Piper crassinervium yielded two flavanones and three prenylated hydroquinones, one having an endoperoxide group in the side chain. The analysis of the volatile oil of Piper crassinervium by GC-MS allowed the identification of 36 compounds, germacrene-D (10,05%), β-cariofilene (9,91 %) and 6-methyl-5-heptene-2-one (7,47%) being detected as the major ones. Ali isolated substances were evaluated using a bioautography technique against the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermun. The isolated flavanones, two hydroquinones and the essential oil were found to be active against the fungus. The cell suspensions had their growth curve established on basis of the dry weight and pH variations. The cells were showed to accumulate several aristolactams alkaloids instead. Determinations of these alkaloids by HLPC indicated that the cells excreted them partially to the culture media. Determinations of specific activity of PAL and concentration of alkaloids during the growth cycle were further performed. Additional experiments revealed that UV light and the addition of either phenylalanine or yeast extract cause elicitation response with increased production of alkaloids

Study of the secondary metabolism in Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae)

Este trabalho descreve o estudo do metabolismo secundário em folhas diferenciadas e em suspensões celulares de Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae). Este estudo foi monitorado pela análise do extrato de folhas por CLAE, assim como pela comparação entre os diferentes tecidos desta espécie (folhas, caule e raízes). Do extrato das folhas foram isoladas duas flavanonas, duas hidroquinonas preniladas e uma hidroquinona com um endoperóxido na cadeia lateral. A análise do óleo volátil das folhas através de CG e CG-EM, revelou a presença de trinta e seis componentes, sendo majoritários o germacreno-D (10,05%) seguido por β-cariofileno (9,91 %) e 6-metil-5-hepten-2-ona (7,47%). Todas as substâncias isoladas foram submetidas ao ensaio antifúngico bioautográfico contra Cladosporium sphaerospermun, sendo que as flavanonas, as duas hidroquinonas e o óleo volátil mostraram-se ativos. As suspensões celulares foram desenvolvidas a partir de calos, iniciados a partir de ápices, em meio B5 modificado, contendo ácido naftalenoacético (ANA) e 6-benzilamino purina (BAP) como reguladores de crescimento. As células não produziram flavonóides, mas alcalóides do tipo aristolactamas, que são parcialmente excretados para o meio de cultura. A curva de crescimento estabelecida para as células foi analisada quanto à atividade específica da fenilalanina amônia-liase (PAL), à variação do pH e o acúmulo dos alcalóides. Alguns experimentos de eliciação demonstraram respostas positivas face ao uso de luz UV, adição de L-fenilalanina e uso de extratos de levedura.The present work studies the secondary metabolism in leaves of Piper crassinervium (Piperaceae) and in its cell suspension culture as well. The profile of secondary compounds in differenciatted and undifferenciated tissues were evaluated by HPLC. The aerial parts of Piper crassinervium yielded two flavanones and three prenylated hydroquinones, one having an endoperoxide group in the side chain. The analysis of the volatile oil of Piper crassinervium by GC-MS allowed the identification of 36 compounds, germacrene-D (10,05%), β-cariofilene (9,91 %) and 6-methyl-5-heptene-2-one (7,47%) being detected as the major ones. Ali isolated substances were evaluated using a bioautography technique against the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermun. The isolated flavanones, two hydroquinones and the essential oil were found to be active against the fungus. The cell suspensions had their growth curve established on basis of the dry weight and pH variations. The cells were showed to accumulate several aristolactams alkaloids instead. Determinations of these alkaloids by HLPC indicated that the cells excreted them partially to the culture media. Determinations of specific activity of PAL and concentration of alkaloids during the growth cycle were further performed. Additional experiments revealed that UV light and the addition of either phenylalanine or yeast extract cause elicitation response with increased production of alkaloids

Lignoids in seedlings of Virola sebifera

Quantitative analysis carried out by high performance liquid chromatography indicated the accumulation of a major secondary compound in seedlings of Virola sebifera which was isolated and identified as the lignan hydroxy-otobain. This lignan occurs only in trace amounts in the seeds, where cyclolignans (aryltetralones) are by far the major components. In addition to hydroxy-otobain, only hydroxy-aryltetralones were detected in the seedlings, indicating a selective process in the translocation of secondary compounds. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd