Biased-corrected richness estimates for the Amazonian tree flora

Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, but the estimated species richness is very much debated. Here, we apply an ensemble of parametric estimators and a novel technique that includes conspecific spatial aggregation to an extended database of forest plots with up-to-date taxonomy. We show that the species abundance distribution of Amazonia is best approximated by a logseries with aggregated individuals, where aggregation increases with rarity. By averaging several methods to estimate total richness, we confirm that over 15,000 tree species are expected to occur in Amazonia. We also show that using ten times the number of plots would result in an increase to just ~50% of those 15,000 estimated species. To get a more complete sample of all tree species, rigorous field campaigns may be needed but the number of trees in Amazonia will remain an estimate for years to come

In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum Welch field isolates to infusions prepared from Artemisia annua L. cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon

Artemisinin is the active antimalarial compound obtained from the leaves of Artemisia annua L. Artemisinin, and its semi-synthetic derivatives, are the main drugs used to treat multi-drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (one of the human malaria parasite species). The in vitro susceptibility of P. falciparum K1 and 3d7 strains and field isolates from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, to A. annua infusions (5 g dry leaves in 1 L of boiling water) and the drug standards chloroquine, quinine and artemisinin were evaluated. The A. annua used was cultivated in three Amazon ecosystems (várzea, terra preta de índio and terra firme) and in the city of Paulínia, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Artemisinin levels in the A. annua leaves used were 0.90-1.13% (m/m). The concentration of artemisinin in the infusions was 40-46 mg/L. Field P. falciparum isolates were resistant to chloroquine and sensitive to quinine and artemisinin. The average 50% inhibition concentration values for A. annua infusions against field isolates were 0.11-0.14 μL/mL (these infusions exhibited artemisinin concentrations of 4.7-5.6 ng/mL) and were active in vitro against P. falciparum due to their artemisinin concentration. No synergistic effect was observed for artemisinin in the infusions

Cashew gum microencapsulation protects the aroma of coffee extracts

Microencapsulation of materials rich in volatile compounds by spray drying presents the challenge of removing water by vapourization without loss of odour and/or flavour components. Crioconcentrated coffee extracts rich in odour components were used as a substrate core to evaluate microencapsulation with cashew gum from Anacardium occidentale L. In Brazil, cashew gum is a low cost alternative to the traditional Arabic gum. A suspension containing coffee extract and the wall material was dissolved in water and then passed through a spray dryer. Core microcapsules were microwave-assisted extracted (MAE) and the aroma protection of the microcapsules produced was evaluated using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The external morphology and size distribution of the microcapsules were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light scattering techniques, respectively. When comparing Arabic and cashew gum microencapsulation of coffee extracts both wall materials were observed to have similar aroma protection, external morphology and size distribution. Sensory analysis was employed to examine flavour protection and consumer preference with microencapsulation. These biochemical, sensory and structural data suggest that low cost cashew gum is a well suited alternative for odour microencapsulation to the more costly Arabic gum currently used in Brazil.251132

A cyclopropenone route to new pyrrolizidine derivatives

New pyrrolizidine derivatives 6 and 7 were prepared from the 1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-one 3a via an acidic intramolecular aldol condensation in 16% and 42% yields, respectively. Compound 6 was obtained by dehydration of 7 with p-toluenessulfonic acid in 67% yield.34375775

Study of the variation of the composition of the essential oil of leaves and flowers of Achyrocline alata (DC) along a period of the day

Leaves and flowers of Achyrocline alata were picked in an experimental garden throughout the period of 7 AM until 2 PM, in hourly intervals. The leaf and flower oils were obtained by hydrodistillation. Analyses of the oils by GC/MS reveals that the main components of the leaf oil varied as follows: alpha-pinene (1.7-7.6%), 1-octen-3-ol (1.7-5.6%), 1,8-cineole (0.4-5.1%), beta-caryophyllene (14.6-16.7%), alpha-humulene (20.6-25.1%) and bicyclogermacrene (7.3-12.4%). The flower oil also varied-alpha-pinene (5.4-21.9%), 1-octen-3-ol (8.0-11.6%),1,8-cineole (7.3-10.9%), beta-caryophyllene (12.0-17.5%), alpha-humulene (17.2-22.8%) and bicyclogermacrene (5.8-8.3%)-throughout the 8-h period.14428028

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ANALYTICAL METHODOLOGY BY HPLC-IR FOR EVALUATION OF ARTEMISININ ON Artemisa annua L.

The aim of this work was to develop and validate an analytical methodology for determination of artemisinin used as antimalaric. The method was based on high performace liquid chromatography, using a CN column with mobile phase composed of methanol : H(2)O 50: 50 (V/V). The results showed that the method presented linearity from 50 to 1500 mu g/mL. It was considered selective, accurate, precise according to the specific resolution from ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory agency.32nd Annual Meeting of the Sociedade-Brasileira-de-Quimica : MAY 30-JUN 02, 2009 : Fortaleza, BRAZIL : Soc Brasileira Quim :32487587

Liposomes incorporating essential oil of Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora L.): Characterization of aqueous dispersions and lyophilized formulations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Multilamellar liposomes incorporating essential oil of Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora L.) leaves were produced by dry film hydration. Gas chromatography demonstrated the compounds found in the essential oil were effectively incorporated in the aqueous dispersions of liposomes. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed the incorporation of the essential oil did not cause phase separation in the membrane structure; the gel-liquid crystalline transition temperature (main transition) remained the same despite the higher heterogeneity indicated by the transition peak broadening. Different cryoprotectors (sucrose and trehalose) were added to the liposomal formulations to be tested in their ability to protect the liposomal structure during the lyophilization. The morphological aspect of the lyophilized powders analysed by scanning electron microscopy showed significant differences among the samples with and without cryoprotectors. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the cryoprotectors interacted effectively with the polar heads of phospholipids in the bilayer. In terms of water absorption, trehalose was identified as a much more effective protector agent against it than sucrose. The cryoprotectors showed different degrees of effectiveness of preservation of the liposomal structure when the rehydration assays of lyophilized liposomes were carried out, as particle size measurements indicated a moderate process of fusion when the formulations with sucrose were rehydrated.275416425Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [06/00178-0, 06/02471-7

Geranylgeraniol and 6 alpha,7 beta-dihydroxyvouacapan-17 beta-oate methyl ester isolated from Pterodon pubescens Benth.: Further investigation on the antinociceptive mechanisms of action

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The crude alcoholic extracts obtained from Pterodon pubescens Benth. seeds are widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-rheumatic tonics and depurative preparations. We previously demonstrated the antinociceptive activity on writhing capsaicin, glutamate, and hot-plate tests of two compounds isolated from P. pubescens: geranylgeraniol (C1) and 6 alpha,7 beta-dihydroxyvouacapan-17 beta-oate methyl ester (C2). This work is a continuation of the previous study investigating the possible mechanisms of action for compounds C1 and C2, and the differences between them. The present study demonstrated that when administered intraperitoneally (i.p.): i), compounds C1 and C2 produced significant anti-allodynic activity during the acute phase of the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced persistent pain model; ii) compound C1 produced significant anti-hypernociception activity in the carrageenan-induced pain model; iii) compound C2 presented a significant loss of activity after p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride (PCPA) [5-HT synthesis inhibitor] treatment, suggesting that the mechanisms of action could be related to either the synthesis or release of serotonin; iv) compound C1 presented a significant loss of activity after ondansetron (5-HT(3) receptor antagonist) treatment suggesting activity upon 5-HT3 serotonin receptors; v) compound C1 presented a significant loss of activity after efaroxan (mixed I(1) imidazoline/alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist) treatment suggesting the participation of this compound upon imidazoline receptors: and vi) both compounds C1 and C2 did not appear to exert their activity via 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2A), imidazoline I(2), alpha(2)-adrenoceptor, nitric oxide, GABA(A), acetylcholine muscarinic, and nicotinic receptors when evaluated in acetic acid-induced nociception. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.656416994551Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Performance of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes in the fractionation and retention of patchouli essential oil

Patchouli essential oil consists of over 24 different components. Patchoulol has been known for over a century as the most important component of this essential oil, being widely used in the perfumery and cosmetics industries. Recent research has demonstrated that another component of patchouli essential oil, alpha-bulnesene, has pharmaceutical properties, providing a decrease in thromboxane formation. In this study, three different membranes were evaluated in terms of their fractionation capability and retention of patchouli oil in supercritical media, aiming at the separation and concentration of the main oil components (patchoulol and a-bulnesene) and regeneration of CO2. The membranes tested showed good resistance under the experimental conditions used, but did not show good fractionation and concentration of the patchouli oil components. The reverse osmosis membrane gave the highest oil retention (0.95) and lowest reduction in the permeate flux of the CO2 in the presence of the essential oil