In this study, short-term liquid nitrogen (LN) storage was used as a strategy to conserve Pyrostegia venusta embryos, and its effects on in vitro germination, phenotypic and biochemical ...characteristics, and in vitro secondary metabolite production were assessed. Embryos stored in LN for 1 and 7 days presented a higher germination rate and germination speed index compared to those of the control (non-cryostored embryos). Short-term LN storage also favored the phenotypic characteristics of seedlings. LN storage significantly affected the proteins (PTN), soluble sugar (SS) and reducing sugar (RS) contents, oxidative metabolism, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, as well as the total phenolic compound, flavonoid, phytosterol, and alkaloid levels in seedlings regenerated from embryos cryostored for 7 days. Benzoic acid derivatives and flavonoids were observed in regenerated non-acclimatized seedlings. LN storage did not affect the survival rate or phenotypic characteristics of seedlings during acclimatization. Acclimatization promoted significant changes in PTN, SS and RS contents, oxidative metabolism, and PAL activity in seedlings from embryos cryostored for 7 days. Roots from acclimatized seedlings exhibited the highest phenolic, phytosterol, and total alkaloid levels. Differences in the chromatographic profiles of the acclimatized seedlings compared with the non-acclimatized seedlings were observed. LN storage can be an effective means of ex situ conservation of P. venusta genetic resources.
Dichloromethane (DCM) fraction and sub-fractions obtained from Smilax brasiliensis leaves were examined in order to determine their phytotoxic and antioxidant effects. The dichloromethane fraction ...was submitted to a preparative layer chromatography leading to seven sub-fractions (DCM1-DCM7). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed on the dichloromethane sub-fractions. The DCM sub-fractions presented phytotoxic potential; at a concentration of 125 µg per plate, DCM6 and DCM4 showed the strongest results on Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa, respectively. The DCM fraction and DCM4 sub-fraction were more effective than 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) at scavenging the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Analysis by GC-MS showed the presence of methyl palmitate (33.05%) in DCM4 and methyl palmitate (17.29%) and methyl oleate (50.96%) in DCM6, suggesting that the activities exhibited by the sub-fractions may be attributed, at least partially, to these major compounds. These results indicate that the DCM sub-fractions of S. brasiliensis could be used as natural herbicides and antioxidants.
This study developed a methodology for callus induction in leaf segments of B. verbascifolia and evaluated the bioactive phenolic compounds production. Leaf explants were cultured in MS medium with ...30 g L-1 sucrose, solidified with 7 g L- 1 agar supplemented with 2,4-D (0; 4.52; 9.05; 18.10 μM) and BAP (0; 4.44; 8.88; 17.75 μM ) in the presence and absence of light. Forty-five days after inoculation we assessed the percentage of callus induction, color, consistency, fresh and dry matter, total phenols, flavonoids, tannins contents, and chromatographic profile by HPLC-DAD method. Callus induction occurred only in medium with growth regulators. Maximal induction (100%) was found in medium containing 2,4-D combined with BAP in the presence and absence of light. We obtained friable and compact callus in yellow, green, and red. Culture media containing 4.52 μM 2,4-D + 4.44 μM BAP induced 100% of friable callus with higher fresh and dry weight in the absence of light. The callus produced higher amounts of total phenols and flavonoids than the initial explant. Total tannins were detected only in callus induced in media containing 17.75 μM BAP and 4.52 μM 2,4-D + 17.75 μM BAP, and were not found in the initial explant. The bioactive phenolic compounds detected are derived from benzoic, p-coumaric, cinnamic, gallic acids, and catechins.
An ethnopharmacological survey indicates that the genus
Byrsonima
has some medicinal species that are commonly found in the Brazilian Cerrado and has been used as an anti-inflammatory and for ...gastroduodenal disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity along with qualitative chemical characterization of the methanolic extract of the leaves of
Byrsonima verbascifolia
(BvME) obtained by exhaustive percolation. The data from the chemical analyses by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry led to tentative identification of 42 compounds belonging to proanthocyanidins, galloyl quinic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and triterpene glycoside derivatives. BvME contain flavonoids and show an antioxidative activity. The methanolic extract administered intraperitoneally at doses of 50, 100, or 300 mg/kg showed a significant reduction in paw edema and modulated the neutrophil influx in a mouse model. Furthermore, the anti-edematogenic activity of the extract provided in smaller doses (12.5 and 25 mg/kg) was also demonstrated in a mouse paw edema model. The extract inhibited NO production by macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide. We presume that the anti-inflammatory effects of BvME are due to a combination of compounds present in
B. verbascifolia
, including catechins (procyanidins), flavonoids, and triterpene glycosides and that these anti-inflammatory actions should be mediated, at least partly, through the inhibition of NO production. This study supports and validates the ethnopharmacological uses of
B. verbascifolia
as an anti-inflammatory.
Smilax brasiliensis is a medicinal species of the Brazilian Cerrado. The extract and fractions of this plant were analysed by LC-DAD-MS. Identified constituents included glycosylated and ...non-glycosylated flavonoids, especially quercetin, and phenylpropanoids, such as chlorogenic acids. The antioxidant activity was significantly more pronounced for the methanol extract and fractions than that of the commercial antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT). Maximum larvicidal activity of 85.83% was recorded in the dichloromethane fraction (LC
50
= 469.78 µg mL
−1
). The methanol extract and fractions presented low toxicity to larvae of the shrimp brine Artemia salina, indicating selectivity for C. quinquefasciatus. These results contribute to the phytochemical study of S. brasiliensis. These compounds were identified for the first time in this species and encourage additional work on the isolation of compounds present in the extract and fractions of S. brasiliensis to evaluate the possibility of using them as natural sources of antioxidants, since cytotoxic effects were not demonstrated.
Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar fenóis totais e taninos nas cascas de angico-vermelho (Anadenanthera peregrina) em diferentes classes de diâmetro, além de comparar duas metodologias de ...quantificação de fenóis. Foram coletadas cascas de 35 árvores, distribuídas em sete classes diamétricas. As cascas foram secas ao ar livre, trituradas e peneiradas, sendo utilizado o material retido na peneira de 60 mesh. Para a extração dos fenóis, utilizou-se metanol:água (50%). O doseamento de fenóis totais foi realizado pelos métodos de Folin-Denis e Folin-Ciocalteau modificados, e para taninos, pelo método difusão radial. Não foi encontrada diferença estatística entre as metodologias de quantificação de fenóis. Verificou-se aumento nos teores de fenóis e taninos com o aumento do diâmetro das árvores.
The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of petroleum ether and methanol extracts, fatty acids and methyl esters from leaves of Smilax brasiliensis were evaluated, and the composition of the extracts ...was determined. Palmitic, linoleic and linolenic acids were major components of the extracts. For antioxidant activity, all samples exhibited IC
50
values lower than BHT (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol). The extracts, fatty acids and methyl esters from S. brasiliensis presented no toxicity to larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Among the purified substances, only methyl linolenate showed toxicity (LD
50
= 21.47 μg/mL). This study showed, for the first time, the composition of petroleum ether and methanol extracts from S. brasiliensis leaves, as well as the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of extracts, fatty acids and methyl esters.
Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral pathogen and made the disease a major health concern worldwide. However, specific antiviral drugs against this arbovirose or vaccines ...are not yet available for treatment or prevention. Thus, here we aimed to study the antiviral activity of hydroethanolic extract, fraction ethyl acetate and subfractions of the leaves of Bauhinia holophylla (Fabaceae:Cercideae), a native plant of the Brazilian Cerrado, against DENV-2 by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method in mammalian cells culture. As results, the hydroethanolic extract showed the most potent effect, with an inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) of 3.2 μg mL
−1
and selectivity index (SI) of 27.6, approximately 16-times higher anti-DENV-2 activity than of the ribavirin (IC
50
52.8 μg mL
−1
). Our results showed in this study appointed that B. holophylla has a promising anti-dengue activity, which was associated mainly with the presence of flavonoids.
Lectins are proteins of a non-immune nature with activity against microorganisms, insects, and tumor cells. The aim of this work was to predict the physicochemical characteristics, structure, and ...functional properties of a Bauhinia holophylla lectin (BhL), sequenced from genomic material obtained from calli cultures, through bioinformatics tools. The results showed a high similarity between the Bhl gene and nucleotide sequences that encode lectins expressed by Bauhinia species and a high identity between the protein sequence of BhL and lectins from B. forficata (90%), B. variegata (79.04%), B. purpurea (78.01%), and B. ungulata (85.27%). BhL has 289 amino acids, of which 30, 85, and 174 residues are related to α-helix, β-sheet, and disordered regions, respectively. Their estimated molecular weight is 31.9 kDa and the theoretical isoelectric point is 5.79. Bauhinia holophylla lectin possibly undergoes phosphorylation and glycosylation at specific sites. Conserved protein domains, catalytic sites, and conserved amino acids were observed in BhL, bringing it closer to lectin families from other legume species. The prediction signaled the presence of a sequence of 28 amino acids at the N-terminal end of BhL, with a high hydropathicity index and conceptualized as a signal peptide. The molecular function predicted for BhL was associated with carbohydrate recognition activity. BhL could be an extracellular protein, and its three-dimensional structure showed 78.82% identity with the B. purpurea lectin.
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