Saponins, tannins and flavonols found in hydroethanolic extract from Periandra dulcis roots

Periandra dulcis Mart. ex Benth. Fabaceae (Syn.: P. mediterranea (Vell.) Taub.) is native to the northern and middle parts of Brazil. In Brazilian ethnomedicine, their roots are used as anti inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic and laxative. An HPLC-ESI-MS/MS system was employed to provide a rapid method to make a tentative characterization of the compounds found in the hydroethanolic extract from P. dulcis roots. The structures of sixteen compounds found in this hydroethanolic extract were suggested mainly by MS data conjugated with the UVDAD spectra, reference compounds and available mass spectra data in literature. Saponin derivatives of hederagenin and soyasapogenol E, such as hederagenin-3-O-rhamnosyl glucosyl glucuronide, soyasapogenol E-3-O-rhamnosyl glucosyl glucuronide and periandrin isomers were found as the main constituents, with a minor content of flavonols quercetin and myricetin glycosides derivatives and hydrolysable tannins, such as dihexahydroxydiphenoyl galloyl glucoside and trisgalloyl hexahydroxydiphenoyl glucose.To the best of our knowledge, with exception of periandrins found in the roots, nothing has been published about the chemical composition of P. dulcis..Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Diabetes melito: plantas e princípios ativos naturais hipoglicemiantes

Diabetes mellitus comprises a group of ethiologically and clinically heterogeneous disorders with a common set of symptoms: excessive thirst and hunger, muscular weakness, weight loss, excessive urination and elevation of the blood glucose level among others. There has been a striking emergence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus as a major health problem in populations undergoing modernization of life-style, both in developed and underdeveloped nations. Many species of plants have been used ethnopharmacologically or experimentally to treat symptons of diabetes mellitus. The high percentage of active plants probably reflects, at least in part, the great variety of possible active constituents and mechanisms of action. The wide diversity of chemical classes indicate a variety of mechanisms must be involved in the lowering of the blood glucose level. Some of these compounds may have therapeutic potential, while others may produce hypoglycemia as a side-effect of their toxicity, specially hepatotoxicity. The present article is an actualized review of hypoglicemic medicinal plants and their active constituents.O diabetes melito é considerada como uma síndrome que é, quanto a etiologia e patogênese, caracterizada por alterar a homeostase do organismo, por distúrbios metabólicos complexos e primários dos carboidratos, que envolvem secundariamente, porém de forma importante, lipídeos e proteínas. Grande número de espécies de plantas tem sido usado experimentalmente para tratar os sintomas do diabetes melito e a distância filogenética entre este grupo de plantas é forte indicação da natureza variada de seus constituintes. Tem sido constatado que muitas substâncias extraídas de plantas reduzem o nível de glicose no sangue. A grande diversidade de classes químicas indica que uma variedade de mecanismos de ação deve estar envolvida na redução do nível de glicose no sangue. Algumas destas substâncias podem ter potencial terapêutico enquanto outras podem produzir hipoglicemia como um efeito colateral devido à sua toxicidade, especialmente hepatotoxidade. Este artigo apresenta uma revisão atualizada e acrescenta mais plantas e princípios ativos hipoglicemiantes à extensa lista existente nos artigos de revisão anteriores

Origin and Chemical Variation of Brazilian Propolis

Propolis is a hive product containing chiefly beeswax and plant-derived substances such as resin and volatile compounds. Propolis has been used as an antiseptic and wound healer since ancient times and interest for the product has increased recently. Probably few plant species contribute as major resin sources. Green propolis derives mainly from vegetative apices of Baccharis dracunculifolia (alecrim plants). However, wide variation detected in the chemical composition suggests contributions from alternative resin plant sources. Predominant components of the resin of green propolis are cinnamic acids, chiefly compounds bearing prenyl groups. Terpenoid compounds, such as sesqui, di and pentacyclic triterpenoids, have been detected in many, but not all, samples investigated. Propolis research has uncovered potentialities of substances previously isolated from plants and has detected constituents of plant origin that would hardly be known otherwise

Flavonóides glicosídeos encontrados no extrato hidroalcoólico de Tilia cordata, espécie usada como ansiolítico

Tilia species, among which is Tilia cordata Mill. (Tiliaceae), have been used in folk medicine as anxiolytic. The hydroethanolic extract was analyzed by using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS in negative ion mode, and its chemical composition was compared to flavonoids reported as anxiolytics. The major flavonoids found were: quercetin-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3,7-di-O-rhamnoside and kaempferol 3-O-(6-p-coumaroyl glucoside) or tiliroside. The anxiolytic activity of the genus Tilia has been attributed to the presence of quercetin and kaempferol derivatives, while the anxiolytic activity of T. americana var. Mexicana was attributed to tiliroside, which was also found among the major constituents of this species.As espécies de Tilia, entre elas, a Tilia cordata Mill. (Tiliaceae) são utilizadas como ansiolíticas na medicina popular. O extrato hidroalcoólico foi analisado usando cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS/MS no modo negativo e a sua composição química foi comparada com os flavonóides já reportados como ansiolíticos. Os principais flavonóides encontrados foram: quercetina-3,7-di-O-rhamnosideo, canferol-3,7-di-O-rhamnosideo, e canferol 3-O-(6-p-cumaroil glucosideo) ou tilirosideo. A atividade ansiolítica do gênero Tília tem sido atribuída à presença de derivados de canferol e quercetina, enquanto que a atividade ansiolítica da T. americana var. Mexicana foi atribuída ao tilirosideo, o qual também foi encontrado entre os principais constituintes desta espécie.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Federal University of São Paulo Department of PsychobiologyUNIFESP, Department of PsychobiologySciEL

Plant Origin of Green Propolis: Bee Behavior, Plant Anatomy and Chemistry

Propolis, a honeybee product, has gained popularity as a food and alternative medicine. Its constituents have been shown to exert pharmacological effects, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Shoot apices of Baccharis dracunculifolia (alecrim plant, Asteraceae) have been pointed out as sources of resin for green propolis. The present work aimed (i) to observe the collecting behavior of bees, (ii) to test the efficacy of histological analysis in studies of propolis botanical origin and (iii) to compare the chemistries of alecrim apices, resin masses and green propolis. Bee behavior was observed, and resin and propolis were microscopically analyzed by inclusion in methacrylate. Ethanol extracts of shoot apices, resin and propolis were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Bees cut small fragments from alecrim apices, manipulate and place the resulting mass in the corbiculae. Fragments were detected in propolis and identified as alecrim vestiges by detection of alecrim structures. Prenylated and non-prenylated phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and compounds from other classes were identified. Compounds so far unreported for propolis were identified, including anthracene derivatives. Some compounds were found in propolis and resin mass, but not in shoot apices. Differences were detected between male and female apices and, among apices, resin and propolis. Alecrim apices are resin sources for green propolis. Chemical composition of alecrim apices seems to vary independently of season and phenology. Probably, green propolis composition is more complex and unpredictable than previously assumed

Genetic diversity and introgression by AFLP analisys in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Phaseolus vulgaris L. is an economically important species whose origin is in the America continent where domestication took place and diverged in Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. After Columbus’s voyage common bean was introduced into the Iberian Peninsula from which this species spread into the European countries and around the world. In this study investigate the extent of diversity of European germplasm compared to the American germplasm and to define the level of introgression between the European Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools are investigated. 68 accessions representative of Mesoamerican and Andean American gene pools and 241 accessions from 24 different countries belonging to an European bean core collection were analysed for three morphologic quantitative (length, height and width ) and 4 qualitative (shape, lighter colour, darker colour and coat pattern of seed) seed characters and for 4 AFLP primer combinations: E-AGT/MGAC, E-AGT/M-GTA, E-ACC/M-AGA and E-ACC/M-ATG. A total of 138 polymorphic bands were scored among the 309 accessions analysed. The European and the Mesoamerican gene pools had a number of common and very common AFLP polymorphic bands higher than the American and the Andean gene pools. The European accessions moreover were used for Structure and cpSSR analysis to identify pure and introgressed lines. These groups were compared for morphological traits and AFLP profiles. Results showed significative differences among diverse groups for morphological traits and for AFLP band frequencies, even though the diversity index were the same (He = 0.23). Hypothesis of introgression among American and European, Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools are discussed