Fitoterapia Familiar no Assentamento Madre Cristina (Ariquemes, Rondônia) / Family Phytotherapy at Madre Cristina Settlement (Ariquemes, Rondônia)

O estudo da fitoterapia tem se tornado muito importante na atualidade, uma vez que possibilita a descoberta de novas substâncias com potencial medicinal e industrial. Dentro desse contexto, a sabedoria popular proveniente da transmissão dos conhecimentos tradicionais entre as gerações desempenha um papel fundamental. O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar um levantamento das plantas com finalidade medicinal utilizadas pelas famílias do Assentamento Madre Cristina, em Ariquemes (RO), contribuindo para o conhecimento e a valorização da sabedoria popular. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas com famílias residentes no assentamento e amostras das plantas listadas foram coletadas para identificação taxonômica e herborização. Foram obtidas 249 citações sobre o uso de plantas para fins medicinais, totalizando 76 espécies, distribuídas em 39 famílias botânicas, empregadas para tratar 72 enfermidades, dentre as quais as mais comuns são do aparelho respiratório, infecções, problemas hepáticos e doenças do sangue. Foram constatadas 9 formas de uso, sendo as folhas e a periderme do caule as partes vegetais mais utilizadas. Dentre as espécies citadas, Hymenolobium alagoanum Ducke, Virola mollissima (A. DC.) Warb., e Quiina glaziovii Engl. se destacaram pela carência de relatos na literatura sobre seu uso curativo. Os resultados demonstram a importância da valorização e da preservação do saber popular, além da necessidade de novas pesquisas que possam comprovar as eficácias terapêuticas relatadas

Borreria verticillata (Rubiaceae): Nutritional characterization and Morphophysiological Responses to Arsenic

O arsênio (As) é um elemento tóxico aos seres vivos liberado no ambiente por fontes naturais e antrópicas. A fitorremediação utilização de plantas na recuperação de ambientes contaminados requer a seleção de espécies tolerantes ao poluente. Borreria verticillata é encontrada em ambientes com alta concentração de As no solo, a exemplo do Morro do Galo (Nova Lima/MG). Estudos desenvolvidos em solução nutritiva de Hoagland constataram maior tolerância nas plantas provenientes do Morro do Galo do que em plantas oriundas de local sem o metaloide (Mata do Paraíso, Viçosa/MG). A escolha da solução nutritiva é um aspecto importante devido à competição entre o arsenato e o fosfato pelos mesmos transportadores de membrana. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o desenvolvimento de plantas de B. verticillata nas soluções nutritivas de Hoagland e de Clark de modo a determinar a formulação mais indicada para estudos de suas respostas morfofisiológicas ao As com o intuito de elucidar mecanismos de tolerância presentes nas populações aclimatada e não aclimatada ao As. Plantas de B. verticillata das populações do Morro do Galo (MG) e da Mata do Paraíso (MP) foram cultivadas em solução de Hoagland e de Clark à 1⁄2 força durante 40 dias e o crescimento e a eficiência nutricional foram determinados. As plantas apresentaram respostas mais homogêneas quando cultivadas na solução de Clark. Quando cultivadas na solução de Hoagland as plantas da MP mostraram-se superiores no acúmulo de nutrientes e no crescimento e semelhantes às plantas do MG na eficiência nutricional. A solução de Clark mostrou-se mais indicada para o estudo da tolerância da espécie ao As devido à resposta semelhante das duas populações e à menor concentração de fósforo. Dessa forma, plantas de B. verticillata provenientes do MG e da MP foram cultivadas em solução de Clark à 1⁄2 força contendo 0,0 e 66,0 μM de As por 4 dias para a investigação dos mecanismos envolvidos na tolerância diferencial ao As nas duas populações. Para tal, estudou-se o acúmulo e a distribuição de As e macronutrientes e as respostas morfofisiológicas das plantas a este elemento. O maior acúmulo de As nas raízes foi responsável pela ocorrência de danos mais severos nesse órgão, no entanto, também foram observados sintomas de toxidez na parte aérea em ambas as populações. A presença de As na solução nutritiva promoveu alterações nas características nutricionais das plantas do MG, como o aumento do acúmulo de cálcio nas raízes, redução do fator de translocação de fósforo, cálcio e enxofre, além de aumento na produção de idioblastos cristalíferos e fenólicos nas raízes, incremento na atividade da dismutase do superóxido e síntese de compostos tiolados nas folhas. Já as plantas da MP exibiram incremento no número de idioblastos fenólicos nas raízes e aumento na atividade da polifenoloxidase nas folhas. As estratégias de detoxificação de As apresentadas pelas plantas do MG conferiram a esta população maior tolerância ao metaloide, sugerindo a possível utilização na revegetação de ambientes contaminados.Arsenic (As) is an element toxic to living beings which is released on the environment by natural and anthropic sources. Phytoremediation the utilization of plants on the recovery of contaminated environments requires selecting species that are tolerant to the pollutant. Borreria verticillata is found in environments with high concentrations of As in the soil, for example Morro do Galo (municipality of Nova Lima/MG). Studies developed in Hoagland nutrient solution found higher tolerance on plants from the Morro do Galo than plants from the site without metalloid (Mata do Paraíso, municipality of Viçosa/MG). Choosing the nutrient solution is an important aspect due to the competition between arsenate and phosphate for the same membrane transporters. This work aimed to study the development of plants of B. verticillata in Hoagland and Clark nutrient solutions, in order to determine the formulation more indicated for studies of their morphophysiological responses to As, with the objective of elucidating tolerance mechanisms present on populations acclimatized and non-acclimatized to As. Plants of B. verticillata of populations from Morro do Galo (MG) and Mata do Paraíso (MP) were cultivated in Hoagland and Clark solutions at 1⁄2 strength during 40 days, and growth and nutritional efficiency were determined. Plants showed more homogenous responses when cultivated in Clark solution. When cultivated in Hoagland solution, plants from MP were superior regarding nutrient accumulation and growth, and similar to plants from MG regarding nutritional efficiency. As such, Clark solution was more indicated for studying the tolerance of the species to As, due to the similar response of the two populations and to the lower phosphorous concentration. Therefore, plants of B. verticillata from MG and MP were cultivated in Clark solution at 1⁄2 strength containing 0.0 and 66.0 μM of As for 4 days, for investigation of the mechanisms that provide differential tolerance to As on the two populations. For this, accumulation and distribution of As and macronutrients, as well as morphophysiological responses of plants to this pollutant, were studied. The higher accumulation of As on roots was responsible for the occurrence of more severe damage on this organ, however, symptoms of toxicity were also observed on shoots of both populations. The presence of As in the nutrient solution promoted alterations on the nutritional characteristics of plants from MG, such as increase on the accumulation of calcium on roots, reduction on the translocation factor of phosphorous, calcium and sulfur, as well as increase on the production of crystalliferous and phenolic idioblasts on roots, increment on the activity of superoxide dismutase and synthesis of thiolated compounds on leaves. Plants from MP, on the other hand, exhibited increment on the number of phenolic idioblasts on roots and increase on the activity of polyphenol oxidase on leaves. The As detoxification strategies presented by plants from MG provided this population with higher tolerance to the metalloid, suggesting possible utilization on revegetation of contaminated environments.Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerai

Concentração de alumínio, estado nutricional e perfil metabólico em espécies nativas do Cerrado com diferentes estratégias de resistência ao metal

Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metallic element in the Earth crust. Its toxicity not only depends on the total Al concentration in the soil, but also on the Al chemical form, which is highly dependent on soil pH. In acid soils (i.e., having pH lower than 5.5), Al is solubilized and toxic forms like Al 3+ (exchangeable Al) are then released into the rhizosphere, interfering with root growth and functions and limiting crop productivity. Despite that, natural vegetation that grows on acid soils, such as the ones from the Cerrado, has developed strategies to cope with high Al 3+ concentrations, but unfortunately, research focusing on the Al resistance mechanisms of plant species therein are still scarce. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Al resistance strategies are constitutive features and do not depend on the concentration of the metal in soils. For that, we determined the shoot Al concentration and Al deposition sites in plants of Eugenia dysenterica, Qualea parviflora, and Q. multiflora, all native Cerrado species naturally growing on acid soils with varying fertilities and metal toxicities. Nutritional and metabolic adaptations of the plants were also analyzed. Aluminum and nutrient concentrations in soil samples were determined by energy dispersive X-ray microfluorescence (μEDXRF), while in plant samples they were evaluated by both inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and μEDXRF. Al mapping in plant samples was performed by histochemical test, X-ray probe coupled to scanning electron microscopy, and μEDXRF. Metabolic adaptations were assessed by spectrophotometric analyses and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. E. dysenterica accumulated about 0.5 g Al kg -1 DW in the shoot. In contrast, concentrations of the metal in shoots of Q. parviflora and Q. multiflora were up to 15.0 and 20.0 g Al kg -1 DW, respectively, at all collection sites. Q. parviflora was able to hyperaccumulate Al even on a soil with negligible Al +3 concentration. Pectocellulosic cell walls were the preferential sites for Al deposition, but the metal was also localized in suberized cell walls and in chloroplasts. Al concentration in the species showed different correlations with soil chemical attributes. In Q. parviflora and E.dysenterica, it was positively correlated with mesotrophic soils while in Q. multiflora it was positively correlated with dystrophic ones. In general, nutrient levels in E. dysenterica were lower and more influenced by concentration of total Al in the soil, yet no nutritional deficiency was observed. The levels of K, P, and S in Q. multiflora were increased in plants with highest Al accumulation. Metabolite analyses demonstrated that the levels of chlorophyll, nitrate, total amino acids, insoluble proteins, phenols, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were higher in leaves of E. dysenterica. In contrast, Q. parviflora had higher non-protein thiol concentration and was more efficient in avoiding lipid peroxidation. The synthesis of compatible osmolytes and dehydroascorbate was up-regulated in both species on soils with high metal toxicity. Q. parviflora also showed increased levels of malate and succinate. Altogether, these findings confirm the hypothesis that neither the non-accumulator nature of E. dysenterica nor the Al-hyperaccumulator nature of both Qualea species depends on Al concentration in soils, and support the theory that species adapted to acid soils have mechanisms to cope with Al toxicity and avoid Al-induced nutritional deficiency. Q. parviflora, in especial, seems to have mechanisms for altering Al availability in the soil, which enables the species to hyperaccumulate Al even on a soil with negligible Al +3 concentration. The results on metabolic adaptations reinforce the hypothesis that phenols, thiols, and organic acids are all involved in the detoxification of Al and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Al-hyperaccumulator species. On the other hand, the metabolic adaptations involved in ROS scavenging in E. dysenterica, such as phenol and dehydroascorbate production, were not sufficient to control oxidative stress in plants growing on soils with high metal toxicity.O alumínio (Al) é o elemento metálico mais abundante da crosta terrestre. Sua toxidez depende não somente da concentração total de Al no solo, mas também da forma química, a qual é altamente dependente do pH do solo. Em solos ácidos (com pH menor que 5,5), o Al é solubilizado e formas tóxicas como Al 3+ (Al trocével) são liberadas na rizosfera, interferindo no crescimento e funcionamento das raízes e limitando a produtividade das culturas. Apesar disso, a vegetação natural que cresce em solos ácidos, como os do Cerrado, tem desenvolvido estratégias para lidar com altas concentrações de Al 3+ , mas, infelizmente, pesquisas focando seus mecanismos de resistência ainda são escassas. Neste estudo nós testamos a hipótese de que as estratégias de resistência ao Al são características constitutivas e não dependem da concentração do metal nos solos. Para isso, foram determinados a concentração e os sítios de deposição de Al na parte aérea de plantas de Eugenia dysenterica, Qualea parviflora e Q. multiflora, espécies nativas do Cerrado crescendo naturalmente em solos ácidos com fertilidade e toxidez de metais variável. As adaptações nutricionais e metabólicas destas plantas tamém foram analizadas. As concentrações de Al e nutrientes nas amostras de solo foram determinadas por microfluorescência de raios-x por energia dispersiva (μFRXED), enquanto que nas amostras vegetais elas foram avaliadas por espectrometria de emissão atômica com plasma indutivamente acoplado e μFRXED. O mapeamento do Al nas amostras vegetais foi realizado por teste histoquímico, sonda de raios-x acoplada à microscopia eletrônica de varredura e μFRXED. As adaptações metabólicas foram avaliadas por análises espectrofotométricas e de cromatografia gasosa com espectrometria de massas. E. dysenterica cerca de 0,5 g Al kg -1 MS na parte aérea. Em contraste, a concentração do metal na parte aérea de Q. parviflora e Q. multiflora foi maior que 15,0 e 20,0 g Al kg -1 MS, respectivamente, em todos os sítios de coleta. Q. parviflora foi capaz de hiperacumular Al mesmo em solo com concentração negligenciável de Al +3 . As paredes pectocelulósicas foram os principais sítios de depósito de Al, mas ele também foi localizado em paredes celulares suberificadas e cloroplastos. A concentração de Al nas espécies apresentou diferentes correlações com os atributos químicos dos solos. Em Q. parviflora e E. dysenterica, ela foi positivamente correlacionada com solos mesotróficos, e em Q. multiflora com solos distróficos. Em geral, os níveis de nutrientes em E. dysenterica foram menores e mais influenciados pela concentração de Al total no solo, contudo, não foi observada deficiência nutricional. Os níveis de K, P e S em Q. multiflora foram aumentados em plantas com maior acúmulo de Al. As análises metabólicas demonstraram que os níveis de clorofila, nitrato, aminoácidos totais, proteínas insolúveis, fenóis e substâncias reativas com ácido tiobarbitúrico foram maiores em folhas de E. dysenterica. Em contraste, Q. parviflora teve maior concentração de tióis não proteicos e foi mais eficiente em evitar a peroxidação lipídica. A síntese de osmólitos compatíveis e de desidroascorbato foi aumentada em ambas as espécies em solos com alta toxidez de metais. Q. parviflora também apresentou níveis aumentados de malato e succinato. A análise conjunta dos resultados confirma a hipótese de que a natureza não acumuladora de E. dysenterica e a hiperacumuladora de Al das espécies de Qualea não depende da concentração de Al nos solos e suporta a teoria de que espécies adaptadas a solos ácidos têm mecanismos que as permitem lidar com a toxidez do Al e evitar a deficiência nutricional induzida por este metal. Q. parviflora, em especial, parece ter mecanismos que alteram a disponibilidade de Al no solo, o que permite que ela hiperacumule o metal mesmo em solo com concentração negligenciável de Al +3 . Os resultados acerca das adaptações metabólicas reforçam a hipótese de que fenóis, tióis e ácidos orgânicos estão envolvidos na destoxificação de Al e espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) em espécies hiperacumuladoras de Al. Por sua vez, as adaptações metabólicas envolvidas na eliminação de EROs em E. dysenterica, tais como produção de fenóis e desidroascorbate, não foram suficientes para controlar o estresse oxidativo em solos com alta toxidez de metais.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superio

Rudgea viburnoides (Rubiaceae) overcomes the low soil fertility of the Brazilian Cerrado and hyperaccumulates aluminum in cell walls and chloroplasts

Rudgea viburnoides (Cham.) Benth. is an aluminum (Al) hyperaccumulator species native to the Brazilian Cerrado and can be found on soils with different fertilities and Al availabilities. We studied the relationship between the chemical composition of different soils and the Al and nutrient concentrations in the species. Histolocalization of Al and its probable complexation with phenols were investigated. Aluminum in R. viburnoides roots, stems and leaves was detected through histochemical tests, confocal microscopy, and X-ray microanalysis. Phenol localization and concentration were determined, as was the plant nutritional status. Despite the low soil fertilities, nutrient concentrations in vegetative organs were high. Even with the differences in Al availability in the soils, R. viburnoides accumulated more than 10 g Al kg−1 DW on leaves. Pectocellulosic cell walls were preferential sites for Al deposition, but the metal also accumulated in suberized cell walls and chloroplasts. Aluminum localization coincided with Si distribution in cell walls and phenol distribution in the cytosol. Rudgea viburnoides has a great ability to absorb nutrients from poor soils and the hyperaccumulation of Al is independent of the metal availability in the soil. Aluminum accumulation on the phellem and chloroplasts was described for the first time in this species

Arsenic hyperaccumulation induces metabolic reprogramming in Pityrogramma calomelanos to reduce oxidative stress

Arsenic (As) pollution is a major environmental concern due to its worldwide distribution and high toxicity to organisms. The fern Pityrogramma calomelanos is one of the few plant species known to be able to hyperaccumulate As, although the mechanisms involved are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic adjustments involved in the As‐tolerance of P. calomelanos. For this purpose, ferns with five to seven fronds were exposed to a series of As concentrations. Young fronds were used for biochemical analysis and metabolite profiling using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. As treatment increased the total concentration of proteins and soluble phenols, enhanced peroxidase activities, and promoted disturbances in nitrogen and carbon metabolism. The reduction of the glucose pool was one of the striking responses to As. Remarkable changes in amino acids levels were observed in As‐treated plants, including those related to biosynthesis of glutathione and phenols, osmoregulation and two photorespiratory intermediates. In addition, increases in polyamines levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were observed. In summary, this study indicates that P. calomelanos tolerates high concentration of As due to its capacity to upregulate biosynthesis of amino acids and antioxidants, without greatly disturbing central carbon metabolism. At extremely high As concentrations, however, this protective mechanism fails to block reactive oxygen species production, leading to lipid peroxidation and leaf necrosis

Arsenic hyperaccumulation in Pityrogramma calomelanos L. (Link): adaptive traits to deal with high metalloid concentrations

Pityrogramma calomelanos is interestingly the single non-Pteris arsenic (As)-hyperaccumulating fern. It has been pointed as a potential species for phytoremediation and a model plant to study the As toxicity and its mechanisms of action. In order to investigate the morphoanatomical traits associated to As tolerance, P. calomelanos plants were exposed to different As concentrations in hydroponic solution. At low As dose (1 mM As), 90% of the As accumulated in plants was allocated in shoots, and no symptoms of As stress were observed in fronds and roots. Under higher As exposure (10 and 30 mM As), 81–74% of the total As in plants was present in shoots, and apical and marginal necroses on pinnae were observed. Anatomical observations showed that As induces damages mainly in the secondary veins and adjacent cells. High amounts of phenols were observed in pinna tissues of control and treated plants. In the roots, As promoted slight alterations as detachment of border-like cells and accumulation of granular substances in cortical cells. The high root-to-shoot As translocation and the constitutive presence of phenols and border-like cells protecting the root tips showed to be adaptive traits that allow P. calomelanos to survive in contaminated sites