Evaluation Of Cardiovascular Effects Of Edible Fruits Of Syzygium Cumini Myrtaceae (l) Skeels In Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the hypotensive, vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects elicited by the hydroalcohol extract from the fruits of Syzygium cumini (EHSCF) in non-anesthetized rats.Methods: The rats were anesthetized and polyethylene catheters were inserted into the lower abdominal aorta and into the inferior vena cava for blood pressure measurements and administration of drugs. After a recovery period of 24 h, EHSCF (0.5; 1; 5; 10; 20 and 30 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered in non-anesthetized rats. The mean arterial pressure and the heart rate were recorded. To investigate the effects of extract, doses EHSCF were administered after pretreatment with L-NAME, atropine, indomethacin, and hexamethonium. For measurement of isometric tension, a concentration-response curve was obtained after Phenylephrine and KCl (80 mM) pre-contractions. The bioactive extract was analyzed via mass spectrometry (MS) fingerprinting using direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).Results: EHSCF (0.5; 1; 5; 10; 20  nd 30 mg/kg) induced hypotension (-15 ± 1, -14 ± 1, -15 ± 1, -13 ± 1, -11 ± 1 and -13 ± 2 %) and bradycardia (-6 ± 1, -5 ± 1, -6 ± 1, -14 ± 1, -8 ± 1 and -10 ± 2 %) in normotensive rats. These responses were attenuated by pre-treatment with L-NAME, indomethacin, hexamethonium or atropine. In phenylephrine, pre-contracted mesenteric rings, EHSCF-induced relaxation (Emax = 54.6 ± 4.5 % and pD2 = 2.7 ± 0.1) that were affected by endothelium removal. EHSCF caused relaxant effect of KCl (80 mM) pre-contracted rings (Emax = 100 ± 0.2 % and pD2 = 2.2 ± 0.1). This effect was not changed in denuded rings. A single oral administration of the extract reduced significant mean arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. ESI-MS/MS analyses of EHSCF demonstrated that the major constituents of the analyzed samples coincided with the mass of the malic, gallic, caffeic and ferulic acids.Conclusion: The results suggest that EHSCF induces hypotension probably due to a decrease inperipheral resistance, mediated by the  ndothelium. Bradycardia may be due to indirect cardiac muscarinic activation. 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Caracterização fisionômica - estrutural de um remanescente de floresta ombrófila montana de Pernambuco, Brasil Physiognomic and structural characterization of a montane rain forest remnant in Pernambuco State, Brazil

As florestas ombrófilas montanas de Pernambuco são pouco estudadas quanto a fisionomia, florística, estrutura e semelhanças com as florestas de terras baixas. Visando este entendimento, foi realizada a caracterização fisionômica-estrutural do maior remanescente (São Vicente Férrer, 600 ha) dessa floresta no Estado e sua comparação com outras florestas ombrófilas nordestinas de terras baixas e montanas. A área estudada localiza-se na encosta oriental do planalto da Borborema (07º38' S e 35º30' W), em altitudes entre 600 e 640 m, e tem precipitação média anual de 1.103 mm. Foram alocadas 50 parcelas de 10&times;20 m e incluídos os indivíduos com DAP > 5 cm. Os 1.521 indivíduos amostrados pertenceram a 58 famílias, 96 gêneros e 152 espécies. Cerca de 50% deles tiveram altura entre 6,1 e 12,0 m e diâmetro entre 5 e 10 cm, sendo representados, predominantemente, por Clusiaceae, Quiinaceae, Myrtaceae e Sapindaceae. As famílias de maior valor de importância (Myrtaceae, Clusiaceae, Moraceae, Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Vochysiaceae, Myristicaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Lecythidaceae e Anacardiaceae) foram dominantes em diferentes classes de altura, tiveram número de espécies variado (1 a 10) e, geralmente, as maiores densidades. A floresta estudada foi melhor relacionada em composição de espécies e famílias com as florestas de terras baixas, embora tenha se destacado pela elevada riqueza de taxa, maior altura e principalmente pela abundância de famílias e espécies pouco comuns às florestas ombrófilas de terras baixas de Pernambuco.<br>The montane forests of Pernambuco, Brazil, are poorly understood in relation to their flora, physiognomy, structure, and similarity to lowland forests. The physiognomy and structure of the largest ombrophilous forest fragment in the state of Pernambuco (São Vicente Ferrer, 600 ha) were described and compared with other montane and lowland forests in northeastern Brazil. The study site is located on the eastern slope of the Borborema plateau (07º38' S, 35º30' W), at 600-640 m altitude. Mean annual rainfall is 1103 mm. Fifty 10&times;20 m plots were set up and all plants with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 5 cm were identified and measured. The 1,521 plants recorded belonged to 58 families, 96 genera and 152 species. About 50% had heights ranging from 6.1 to 12 m and dbh between 5 and 10 cm. Most belonged to the families Clusiaceae, Quiinaceae, Myrtaceae, and Sapindaceae. Families with greatest importance indexes (Myrtaceae, Clusiaceae, Moraceae, Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Vochysiaceae, Myristicaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Anacardiaceae) were dominant in different height classes, had different species numbers (1 to 10), and, in general, the highest densities. São Vicente Férrer's montane forest showed a close relationship in composition to lowland forests, in spite of the taller trees, greater richness, and mainly greater abundance of families and species which are not common in lowland forests of Pernambuco

Flora de um brejo de altitude na escarpa oriental do planalto da Borborema, PE, Brasil

Os estudos nas florestas montanas nordestinas (brejos de altitude) indicam que as ombrófilas apresentam elevada riqueza de espécies e são mais relacionadas com a floresta ombrófila de terras baixas. Considerando o desconhecimento sobre as florestas ombrófilas sub-montanas, foi realizado o levantamento do Brejo de Bonito, Pernambuco, com o objetivo de conhecer seu perfil florístico. São apresentadas informações sobre o coletor/número, hábito e padrão de distribuição de cada espécie. Os resultados foram comparados a 22 levantamentos da Floresta Atlântica (latu sensu) nordestina. No brejo de Bonito foram coletadas 217 espécies, distribuídas em 65 famílias. Dessas, cerca de 50% são citados em outras florestas montanas de Pernambuco e de terras baixas de Pernambuco e da Bahia. A maior parte das espécies encontradas tem distribuição na América do Sul, ocorrendo desde a porção norte, penetrando na costa leste brasileira e também na porção central do Brasil e, às vezes, no domínio do semi-árido, nos Brejos de Altitude. Outra porção representativa distribui-se desde a América Central até a porção centro-norte da América do Sul, com poucas ocorrendo também na parte sul da América do Norte (Estados Unidos e México)

Liverworts of Alagoas State, Brazil

A list of liverworts from Alagoas State was compiled and is presented here. The list is based on catalogues and previous papers as well as the results of an unpublished survey carried out at the Murici Ecological Station (EsEc), an important protected area of the Brazilian Northeast (9º11'05" - 9º16'48"S; 35º45'20" - 35º55'12"W). One-hundred and sixteen liverworts have been recorded for the state of Alagoas, of which 106 occur at EsEc Murici. Seventy-eight are new occurrences for Alagoas, and seven of these are also new occurrences for northeastern Brazil. Data on geographic distribution in Brazil and worldwide is given here, in addition to ecological and taxonomic comments on the species that are new occurrences for the Northeast region