Antimicrobial Activity of the Extract of Stem Bark of Diplotropis Ferruginea Benth

This is the first report about the antibacterial activity of Diplotropis ferruginea Benth. In this study, the ethanol extract of D. ferruginea was tested for its antimicrobial activity against strains gram-positive and gram-negative. In order to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration, assays were carried out by micro dilution method. The extract was screened for antimicrobial activity, and it showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Atividade anti-helmíntica de plantas nativas do continente americano: uma revisão Anthelmintic activity of native American plants: a review

O presente trabalho faz uma revisão de plantas nativas do continente americano com atividade anti-helmíntica com a finalidade de subsidiar pesquisas e o desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos na área de produtos naturais. Na literatura, foram citadas 22 famílias de plantas, tais como: Moraceae, Asteraceae e Cucurbitaceae, e estudadas cerca de 35 espécies, como a Ficus sp, Cucurbita máxima, e Ruta graveolens, usadas por sua alegada atividade anti-helmíntica. Destas espécies, 26 foram ativas contra alguns helmintos: Strongyloides stercolaris, Ancylostomidae, Trichostrongylus sp, Capillaria sp, Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia saginata, Haemonchus contortus, e Hymenolepsis diminuta. Foi verificado maior número de estudos com parasitas de animais, possivelmente devido ao desenvolvimento de resistência dos helmintos aos tratamentos convencionais disponíveis.<br>This paper is a review of native American plants showing anthelmintic activity in order to give support to research and development of new drugs in the field of natural products. In the literature, 22 plant families were cited, such as: Moraceae, Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae, and around 35 species were studied, including Ficus sp, Cucurbita maxima and Ruta graveolens, used for their putative anthelmintic activity. From these species, 26 were active against some helminthes: Strongyloides stercolaris, Ancylostomidae, Trichostrongylus sp, Capillaria sp, Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia saginata, Haemonchus contortus and Hymenolepsis diminuta. Data indicated a larger number of studies with animal parasites, probably due to the resistance of these helminthes to the conventional treatments available

Diterpenes From Xylopia Langsdorffiana Inhibit Cell Growth And Induce Differentiation In Human Leukemia Cells

Two new diterpenes were isolated from stems and leaves of Xylopia langsdorffiana, entatisane-7α,16α-diol (xylodiol) and ent-7α-acetoxytrachyloban-18-oic acid (trachylobane), along with the known 8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-18-oic acid (labdane). We investigated their antitumour effects on HL60, U937 and K562 human leukemia cell lines. We found that xylodiol was the most potent diterpene in inhibiting cell proliferation of HL60, U937 and K562 cells, with mean IC 50 values of 90, 80 and 50 μM, respectively. Based on the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay, all the diterpenes were found to induce terminal differentiation in HL60 and K562 cells, with xylodiol being the most effective. NBT reduction was increased by almost 120% after 12 h exposure of HL60 cells to xylodiol at a concentration lower than the IC 50 (50 μM). Thus, xylodiol inhibited human leukemia cell growth in vitro partly by inducing cell differentiation, and merits further studies to examine its mechanism of action as a potential antitumoural agent. © 2009 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, Tübingen.649-10650656Denizot, F., Lang, R., Rapid colorimetric assay for cell growth and survival, modifications to the tetrazolium dye procedure giving improved sensitivity and reliability (1986) J. Immunol. Methods, 89, pp. 271-277Dimas, K., Demetzos, C., Vãos, V., Ioannidis, P., Trangas, T., Labdane type diterpenes down-regulate the expression of c-Myc protein, but not of Bcl2, in human leukemia T-cells undergoing apoptosis (2001) Leukemia Res, 25, pp. 449-454Faulkner, D.F., Lebby, V., Waterman, P.G., Further diterpenes from stem bark of Xylopia aethiopica (1985) Planta Med, 4, pp. 354-355Graikou, K., Aligiannis, N., Skaltsounis, A.L., Chinou, I., Michel, S., Tillequin, F., Litaudon, M., New diterpenes from Croton insularis (2004) J. Nat. Prod, 67, pp. 685-688Jiang, H., Lin, J., Fisher, P.B., A molecular definition of terminal cell differentiation in human melanoma cells (1994) Mol. Cell Differ, 2, pp. 221-239Kohroki, J., Muto, N., Tanaka, T., Itoh, N., Inada, A., Tanaka, K., Induction of differentiation and apoptosis by dithizone in human myeloid leukemia cell lines (1998) Leukemia Res, 22, pp. 405-412Kondoh, M., Suzuki, I., Sato, M., Nagashima, F., Simizu, S., Harada, M., Fujii, M., Watanabe, Y., Kaurene diterpene induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells partly through a caspase-8-dependent pathway (2004) J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther, 311, pp. 115-122Leszczyniecka, M., Roberts, T., Dent, P., Grant, S., Fisher, P.B., Differentiation therapy of human cancer: Basic science and clinical applications (2001) Pharmacol. Ther, 90, pp. 105-156Li, W.-X., Cui, C.-B., Cai, B., Yao, X.-S., Labdane-type diterpenes as new cell cycle inhibitors and apoptosis inducers from Vitex trifolia L (2005) J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res, 7, pp. 95-105Maas, P.J.M., Kamer, H.M.V., Junikka, L., Silva, R.M., Rainer, H., Annonnaceae from centraleastern Brazil (2001) Rodriguésia, 80, pp. 65-98Morais, M.P.L., Roque, N.F., Diterpenes from the fruits of Xylopia aromatica (1988) Phytochemistry, 27, pp. 3205-3208Newman, D.J., Cragg, G.M., Snader, K.M., Natural products as sources of new drugs over the period 1981-2002 (2003) J. Nat. Prod, 66, pp. 1022-1037Oliveira, A.P., Furtado, F.F., Silva, M.S., Tavares, J.F., Mafra, R.A., Araújo, D.A.M., Cruz, J.S., Medeiros, I.A., Calcium channel blockade as a target for the cardiovascular effects induced by the 8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-18-oic acid (labdane-302) (2006) Vasc. Pharmacol, 44, pp. 338-344Perry, N.B., Burgess, E.J., Baek, S.-H., Weavers, R.T., The first atisane diterpenoids from a liverwort: Polyols from Lepidolaena clavigera (2001) Org. Lett, 3, pp. 4243-4245Sun, I.C., Kashiwada, Y., Morris-Natschke, S.L., Lee, K.H., Plant-derived terpenoids and analogues as anti-HIV agents (2003) Curr. Top. Med. Chem, 3, pp. 155-169Tavares, J.F., Queiroga, K.F., Silva, M.V.B., Diniz, M.F.F.M., Barbosa-Filho, J.M., Da-Cunha, E.V.L., Simone, C.A., Silva, M.S., Ent-Trachylobane diterpenoids from Xylopia langsdorffiana (2006) J. Nat. Prod, 69, pp. 960-962Tavares, J.F., Silva, M.V.B., Queiroga, K.F., Diniz, M.F.F.M., Barbosa-Filho, J.M., Haun, M., Melo, P.S., Silva, M.S., Xylodiol, a new atisane diterpenoid from Xylopia langsdorffiana St.-Hil. & Tul. (Annonaceae) (2007) Z. Naturforsch, 62 c, pp. 742-74

Microbiologia de farinhas de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) durante o armazenamento Microbiology of cassava flour (Manihot esculenta Crantz) during the storage

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as características microbiológicas em farinhas de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) simples e temperadas, armazenadas durante 180 dias. Os materiais consistiram de cinco amostras, sendo uma de farinha de mandioca sem mistura (simples) e as demais de farinhas de mandioca temperadas. A farinha simples foi embalada em sacos de polietileno de baixa densidade com capacidade de 1,0kg e as farinhas temperadas foram embaladas em sacos plásticos de polipropileno pigmentado, com capacidade 0,5kg. Em todas as amostras, foram realizadas contagens de coliformes fecais, Staphylococcus aureus, bactérias mesófilas, bolores e leveduras e pesquisa de Salmonella sp. As análises foram realizadas em intervalos de 30 dias. Não foram detectadas diferenças entre as características microbiológicas das amostras simples e das temperadas. O armazenamento não alterou os padrões microbiológicos das amostras. As amostras apresentaram esterilidade para coliformes fecais, Salmonella sp. e Staphylococcus aureus. Os valores encontrados para coliformes fecais, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, bactérias mesófilas e para bolores e leveduras estavam dentro dos padrões fixados pela legislação brasileira.<br>This work was accomplished with the aim of evaluating the microbiological characteristic in cassava flours (Manihot esculenta Crantz) simple and temperate, stored during 180 days. The materials consisted of five samples, being one of cassava flour without mixture (simple) and the others of temperate cassava flours. The simple flour was packed in polyethylen bags of low density with capacity of 1,0kg and the temperate flours were packed in colored polipropilen bags, with capacity of 0.5kg. In all the samples fecal coliformes, Staphylococcus aureus, mesophile bacterias, yeasts counting and Salmonella sp research were accomplished. The analyses were accomplished in intervals of 30 days. Differences were not detected among the microbiological characteristic of the simple samples and the temperate ones. The storage didn’t affect the microbiological standard of the samples. The samples presented sterility for fecal coliformes, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. The values found for fecal coliformes, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, mesophile bacterias and yeasts were inside the patterns fastened by the Brazilian legislation

Flora da Paraíba, Brasil: Loganiaceae Flora of Paraíba, Brazil: Loganiaceae

Neste trabalho apresenta-se o tratamento taxonômico da família Loganiaceae, como parte do projeto "Flora da Paraíba", que vem sendo realizado com o objetivo de identificar e catalogar as espécies da flora local. Realizouse coletas e observações de campo para as identificações, descrições e ilustrações botânicas que foram efetuadas após estudos morfológicos, com o auxílio da bibliografia especializada, complementados pela análise de fotos de tipos, espécimes dos herbários EAN, JPB e IPA, e comparação com material identificado por especialistas. Registrou-se para a Paraíba quatro espécies: Spigelia anthelmia L., com ampla distribuição, e três espécies de Strychnos, somente coletadas em remanescentes de Mata Atlântica, S. atlantica Krukoff & Barneby, S. parvifolia A. DC. e S. trinervis (Vell.) Mart.<br>This work constitutes a taxonomic treatment of the Loganiaceae family as part of the project "Flora da Paraíba", which have been carried out with the objective to identify and catalogue the species of the local flora. The botanical identifications and illustrations were made by morphological studies supported by bibliography, analysis of the types, specimens from herbaria EAN, JPB and IPA, and comparison with samples previously identified by specialists, complemented by field observations. Four species of Loganiaceae belonging two genera were found in State of Paraíba: Spigelia anthelmia L. that has wide distribution and three species of Strychnos, found on remains of Atlantic forest, which are S. atlantica Krukoff & Barneby, S. parvifolia A. DC. and S. trinervis (Vell.) Mart

Morfologia de sementes e do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de espécies de Bromeliaceae Seed and post-seminal development morphology on Bromeliaceae species

O estudo teve como objetivos caracterizar as sementes, fornecendo informações sobre o tipo e o tempo médio de germinação e de formação de plântulas, além de descrever a morfologia do desenvolvimento pós-seminal de seis espécies de Bromeliaceae. Os resultados mostram germinação do tipo epígea e plântulas criptocotiledonares para todas as espécies. As porcentagens máximas de germinação obtidas, acima de 80%, indicam alta qualidade fisiológica das sementes. O tempo médio de germinação e de formação de plântulas foi de 4-15 e 8-18 dias, respectivamente. As sementes são filiformes a elípticas, lisas ou com apêndices plumosos. Os caracteres morfológicos mais relevantes para a diferenciação entre gêneros e subfamílias de Bromeliaceae referem-se à forma e ao tipo de apêndices das sementes, e na forma e tamanho da bainha cotiledonar, hipocótilo e raiz primária das plântulas, subsidiando estudos taxonômicos, ecológicos e na área de tecnologia de sementes.<br>The aim of this study was to characterize the seeds, providing information about germination type and seedling rate, in addition to describe the post-seminal development morphology of the six species of Bromeliaceae. The results showed that the germination is epigeal with cryptocotylar seedlings. Maximum germination percentage was over 80%, for all species, indicating high physiological quality of the seeds. Germination and seedling rate was 4-15 and 8-18 days, respectively. Seeds are filiform to elliptical, smooth or with flight apparatus. The most relevant morphological characters for distinguishing among genera and subfamilies are shape and appendices of the seeds, form and size of the cotyledonal sheath, hypocotyl and primary root, providing information on taxonomic, ecological and seed technology studies