Stilbenes from Deguelia rufescens var. urucu (Ducke) A. M. G. Azevedo leaves: effects on seed germination and plant growth

The Amazon biodiversity may provide plants whose chemical substances are capable of controlling weeds. In this study we report the isolation and identification of five stilbenes from the leaves of "timbó vermelho" (Deguelia rufescens var. urucu): 4-methoxylonchocarpene (1); 3,5-dimethoxy-4´-hydroxy-3´-prenyl-trans-stilbene (2), lonchocarpene (3), 3,5-dimethoxy-4´-O-prenyl-trans-stilbene (4) and pterostilbene (5). Compounds 2 and 4 are new natural products although 2 has been previously cited as synthesis product. Potential allelopathic activity for 1, 2 and 4 was evaluated over seed germination and plant growth of Mimosa pudica weed. The observed effects on seed germination did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) when the analysis of phytotoxicity was performed with the substances alone, the maximum inhibition did not exceed 20%. The most intense inhibitions on radicle and hypocotyl development were found for compound 4 (p 0,05) quando a análise da fitotoxidade foi realizada com as substâncias isoladamente, cuja inibição máxima não ultrapassou 20%. A inibição mais intensa, quanto ao desenvolvimento da radícula e do hipocótilo, foi encontrada para o composto 4 (p < 0,05). Isoladamente, 4 causou efeito inibitório significativamente maior (p < 0,05) no desenvolvimento da radícula e do hipocótilo, do que 1 e 2. Quando testados aos pares, apresentaram antagonismo para a germinação de sementes e sinergismo para o desenvolvimento da radícula e hipocótilo

A New Prenylisoflavone from the Antifungal Extract of Leaves of Vatairea guianensis Aubl.

A new compound, 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-8-prenylisoflavone, was isolated from the leaves of Vatairea guianensis Aubl. (Fabaceae), together with two known isoflavones lupiwighteone and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-methoxy-8-prenylisoflavone. All isolated compounds were characterized based on infrared (IR), UV, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), including 2D NMR analyses and high resolution mass spectrometry. The ethanolic extract from V. guianensis leaves displayed activity against Candida dubliniensis, C. albicans and C. krusei. However, the EtOAc fraction from that extract exhibited more significant activity than the ethanolic extract, showing antifungal activity for all fungi species investigated. The major compound 5,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-8-prenylisoflavone isolated from that EtOAc fraction was also active against C. parapsilosis and C. dubliniensis

New isoflavones from the leaves of Vatairea guianensis Aublé

Four isoflavones were isolated from Vatairea guianensis Aublé leaves and identified as 5,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-2",2"-dimethylpyrano-(5",6":8,7)-isoflavone ( 1: ), 5,7-dihydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxy-8-prenyl-isoflavone ( 2: ), 5,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-7-O-β-glucopyranoside-8-prenyl-isoflavone ( 3: ) and derrone ( 4: ) together with five triterpenes identified in mixture, lupeol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, germanicol and betulinic acid. Substances 1: 3: are novel natural products, although 1: and 2: have been cited as synthetic products. However, all these compounds are first reported from this species. Their chemical structures were elucidated based on their 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data and high resolution mass spectrometry. The ethanol extract from the leaves and 1: 3: were evaluated for their potential in scavenging DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylradical) and the results showed that the extract presented high activity (IC50 = 6.2 ± 0.4 µg mL-1), while the isolated compounds showed low antioxidant power (IC50 ≥ 29.5 ± 2.5 µg mL-1) when compared to Trolox (IC50 = 4.5 ± 0.4 µg mL-1).Das folhas de Vatairea guianensis Aublé foram isoladas quatro isoflavonas identificadas como, 5,3',-diidroxi-4'-metoxi-2",2"-dimetilpirano-(5",6":8,7)-isoflavona ( 1: ), 5,7-diidroxi-3',4'-metilenodioxi-8-prenil-isoflavona ( 2: ) e 5,3'-diidroxi-4'-metoxi-7-O-β-glicopiranosídeo-8-prenil-isoflavona ( 3: ) e derrona ( 4: ), juntamente com cinco triterpenos identificados em mistura de lupeol, α-amirina, β-amirina, germanicol e ácido betulínico. As substâncias 1: 3: são novos produtos naturais, porém 1: e 2: já foram citados como produtos de síntese. No entanto, todas essas substâncias são relatadas pela primeira vez para essa espécie. Suas estruturas químicas foram elucidadas com base nos seus dados de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) 1D e 2D e por espectrometria de massas de alta resolução. O extrato etanólico das folhas e os compostos 1-3: foram avaliados quanto ao seu potencial sequestrador do radical DPPH• (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazila) e os resultados mostram que o extrato apresentou alta atividade (CI50 = 6,2 ± 0,4 µg mL-1), enquanto as substâncias testadas apresentaram baixo poder antioxidante (CI50 ≥ 29,5 ± 2,5 µg mL-1) quando comparadas com TROLOX (CI50 = 4,5 ± 0,4 µg mL-1)

Studies on the Phytochemical Profile of Ocimum basilicum var. minimum (L.) Alef. Essential Oil, Its Larvicidal Activity and In Silico Interaction with Acetylcholinesterase against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important transmitter of diseases in tropical countries and controlling the larvae of this mosquito helps to reduce cases of diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal potential of the essential oil (EO) of Ocimum basilicum var. minimum (L.) Alef. The EO was extracted by stem distillation and the chemical composition was characterized by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS and GC-FID). The larvicidal activity of EO was evaluated against third instar Ae. aegypti following World Health Organization (WHO) standard protocol and the interaction of the major compounds with the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was evaluated by molecular docking. The predominant class was oxygenated monoterpenes with a concentration of 81.69% and the major compounds were limonene (9.5%), 1,8-cineole (14.23%), linalool (24.51%) and methyl chavicol (37.41%). The O. basilicum var. minimum EO showed unprecedented activity against third instar Ae. aegypti larvae at a dose-dependent relationship with LC50 of 69.91 (&micro;g/mL) and LC90 of 200.62 (&micro;g/mL), and the major compounds were able to interact with AChE in the Molecular Docking assay, indicating an ecological alternative for mosquito larvae control