Ana Maria Caetano Pereira - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ana Maria Caetano Pereira

European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2015

Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista ... more Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2005

RESUMO: Estudou-se a variabilidade química sazonal em Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), c... more RESUMO: Estudou-se a variabilidade química sazonal em Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), conhecida como "espinheira santa", em exemplares cultivados em Ribeirão Preto, SP, através da análise das substâncias presentes nas folhas, ao longo das quatro estações em dois anos. O teor de fenóis totais variou de 21,96 a 45,92 mg / g (expresso em mg ácido tânico / g folhas secas), de 55,88 a 93,20 mg triterpenos totais / g folhas secas, e de 1,349 a 3,859 mg fl avonóides / g folhas secas. A amostra Primavera 92 apresentou o maior teor de fl avonóides e fenóis totais, e a amostra Inverno 94 apresentou o maior teor de triterpenos.

Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 2000

Cells of Mikania glomerata, Cephaelis ipecacuanha and Maytenus aquifolia were co-cultured in a tw... more Cells of Mikania glomerata, Cephaelis ipecacuanha and Maytenus aquifolia were co-cultured in a two-phase system using filter paper as a solid support. The species were co-cultured in all possible paired combinations. Interaction between Mikania and Maytenus cells resulted in increased biomass production of Maytenus cells, but the friedelin content was reduced. Co-cultivation of Cephaelis and Mikania cells enhanced coumarin content, but inhibited the growth of Mikania cells. However, yield of emetine as well as Cephaelis biomass accumulation were positively stimulated by the co-cultivation. Results indicate a possible occurrence of allelopathy in such a system.

Phytochemistry, 1994

Seedlings and micropropagated leaves of Virola surinamensis afforded (2S, 3R, 4S')-3-hydroxy-4-me... more Seedlings and micropropagated leaves of Virola surinamensis afforded (2S, 3R, 4S')-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(~-pi~ronyl-n-heptyl~butanolide, a novel representative of the juruenolide group. Correlations between enhancement of shoot pro~eration and increased lactone fo~ation were observed by adding several ph~oho~ones to culture media of seedling explants.

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 1995

Micropropagated shoots of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. were obtained from axillary buds cultured in ... more Micropropagated shoots of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. were obtained from axillary buds cultured in Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 13.3 #M 6-benzyladenine (BA). Addition of 1.1/IM 1-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to the medium increased shoot elongation. The number of shoots formed was influenced by BA concentration, degree ofjuvenility of the explant, and by bud explant position on the stem. Cultures of buds taken from stem parts located close to the shoot tip yielded more callus than shoots, whereas axillary buds at distant positions from the apical bud yielded more shoots.

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 1995

A protocol for in vitro micropropagation of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk from nodal segment explants h... more A protocol for in vitro micropropagation of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk from nodal segment explants has been established. The maximum number of shoots was obtained after 60 days of culture in Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.4 ttM benzyladenine. Multiple rooting was acl-deved using MS medium with 2.4 ttM 2-isopentyladenine. Wedelolactone was present in shoots cultured in media containing cytokinins.

Plant Cell Reports, 2004

In order to produce explants of Mandevilla illustris (Vell) Woodson for the "Cerrado in ... more In order to produce explants of Mandevilla illustris (Vell) Woodson for the "Cerrado in vitro", the Germplasm Bank of UNAERP, we carried out a micropropagation protocol using MS or MS/3 medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladeninepurine (BA), Zeatin or 2-isopentenyladenine for nodal segment growth, and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 1,4 dithiothreitol for rooting. For nodal segments, all the cytokinins tested yielded similar results. However, 2.22 micro M BA is more economical to use. MS/3 medium supplemented with 0.49 micro M IBA was the most appropriate medium for rooting, resulting in 29% rooted explants. The crude aqueous extract from the subterranean system (SS) of M. illustris was assayed for its inhibitory action on the enzymatic activity of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, isolated basic phospholipase A2 (CB) and crotoxin. It totally inhibited the phospholipase activity of crude Cdt venom and CB toxin and inhibited the phospholipase activity of crotoxin by 49%. The toxic action of both the crude venom and crotoxin was partially inhibited-there was a prolonged survival time and a 40.0% decrease in lethality.

Phytotherapy Research, 2003

and could hence play a role in the defense of the organism against oxidative stress (Gordon, 1996... more and could hence play a role in the defense of the organism against oxidative stress (Gordon, 1996; Pietta, 2000). Reactivity of flavonoids has been studied under many experimental conditions and towards several free radicals. These investigations have demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids is mainly due to radical scavenging properties (Cotelle et al., 1996; Nanjo et al., 1996). In addition, the antioxidant activity of a compound depends ultimately on its ease of oxidation and, for a variety of natural or synthetic compounds, good correlations have been observed between antioxidant activities and low oxidation potentials (Born et al., 1996; Chevion et al., 2000). The present work deals with the isolation and identification of flavonoids from M. aquifolium, which have inhibited the bleaching of β-carotene on TLC plates, and the evaluation of parameters related to the antioxidant activity by separately measuring their oxidation potentials through cyclic voltammetry and the free radical scavenging ability towards DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). MATERIALS AND METHODS General experimental procedures. Silica gel (Merck, 230-400 and 70-230 Mesh), Sephadex LH-20 (Pharmacia) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) were used for column chromatography unless otherwise stated and solvents were redistilled prior to use. NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AC-200 or Varian INOVA 500 spectrometers at 200 or 500 MHz, respectively, for 1 H NMR, and at 50 or 125 MHz, respectively, for 13 C NMR, with TMS as internal standard and DMSO-d 6 or MeOH-d 4 as solvent. ES-MS were recorded on a VG Platform II spectrometer. IR and UV spectra were

Phytochemistry, 1998

Two new sesquiterpene evoninate alkaloids, were isolated together with the known compounds syring... more Two new sesquiterpene evoninate alkaloids, were isolated together with the known compounds syringaresinol and 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epigallocatechin from the root bark ofMaytenus aquiJolium. The structures of the two alkaloids were elucidated by interpretation of their spectral data, and both exhibited very weak activity in a mechanism-based DNA-modifying yeast assay.

Phytochemical Analysis, 1998

Explants of Maytenus aquifolium were induced to form callus and, subsequently, suspension culture... more Explants of Maytenus aquifolium were induced to form callus and, subsequently, suspension cultures. The isolation of natural products from callus led to the identification of the cytotoxic triterpene quinonemethides, maitenin (1) and 22b-hydroxymaitenin (2). A rapid, sensitive and reliable reversedphase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed using a C 18 column and isocratic elution for the determination of 1 and 2. The elaborated method gave well-resolved peaks for these compounds with good detection response and linearity in the range of 0.08-72.0 mg. The quantification of 1 and 2 was performed by an external standard method.

Phytochemical Analysis, 2003

GC-MS has also proved to be a viable technique to quantify pyridone amides (Dodson et al., 2000).... more GC-MS has also proved to be a viable technique to quantify pyridone amides (Dodson et al., 2000). We have previously isolated and determined the structures of the amides dihydropiplartine (1), piplartine (2), ∆ α,β-dihydropiperine (3) and pellitorine (4) from mature Piper tuberculatum plants (Navickiene et al., 2000). The isolated compounds have now been used as standards in the quantitative analysis of these bioactive amides by HPLC with photodiode array detection (PAD) in plantlets in vitro and ex vitro, and in callus of P. tuberculatum. EXPERIMENTAL Materials. HPLC grade methanol was purchased from Mallinckrodt Baker (Xalostoc, México); nanopure water (> 18 MΩ) was obtained using a Millipore (Bedford, MA, USA) purifier. All solvents and samples were filtered through 0.2 µM nylon membranes prior to use. Compounds 1-4 were isolated from seeds and leaves of P. tuberculatum as described previously (Navickiene et al., 2000). The NMR, IR and MS data of these compounds matched those previously reported (

Phytochemical Analysis, 1990

Although medicinal plants are widely used throughout the world, few studies have been carried out... more Although medicinal plants are widely used throughout the world, few studies have been carried out concerning the levels of heavy metal contaminants present. Such metals are highly toxic to living organisms even in low concentrations owing to their cumulative effect. The present paper describes the the development of a pre-concentration flow injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometric system to determine the lead content in medicinal plants at the ppb level. To develop a pre-concentration flow injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometric system to determine the lead content in medicinal plants at the ppb level. A pre-concentration flow system was coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The plant samples were analysed after nitroperchloric digestion. The proposed system was optimised by evaluating the following parameters: nature, concentration and volume of the eluent solution, elution flow rate, elution efficiency, pre-concentration flow rate and pre-concentration time. The proposed system exhibited good performance with high precision and repeatability (RSD < or = 2.36%), excellent linearity (r = 0.9999), low sample consumption (10.5 mL per determination) and an analytical throughput of 55 samples/h. Lead concentrations ranged from 3.37 + or - 0.25 to 7.03 + or - 0.51 microg/g in dry material. This concentration interval is greater than that previously published in the literature. The inclusion of a pre-concentration column in the flow manifold improved the sensitivity of the spectrometer. Thus, it was possible to determine the analyte at the ng/mL level in sample solutions of medicinal plants. This is a very important accomplishment, especially when the cumulative effect of heavy metals in living organisms is considered.

Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2009

O presente trabalho descreve a elucidação estrutural de uma nova β-lapachona tipo naftoquinona, i... more O presente trabalho descreve a elucidação estrutural de uma nova β-lapachona tipo naftoquinona, isolada a partir das raízes de Distictella elongata. A nova substância, apresentando fórmula molecular C 16 H 16 O 6 , foi identificada como sendo 4,7-diidróxi-10-metóxi-2,2-dimetil-3,4-diidro-2H-benzo[h]cromeno-5,6-diona, de acordo com os dados obtidos por meio de análises espectrométricas. A elucidação estrutural foi realizada utilizando-se as técnicas espectrométricas [HRESIMS, 1D RMN (1 H e 13 C) e 2D RMN (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC e g-HMBC]. O extrato clorofórmico das raízes de D. elongata demonstrou significante inibição no crescimento de células do tipo SK-MEL (melanoma) e SK-OV-3 (carcinoma de ovário), com valores de IC 50 de 40 µg mL-1 e 56 µg mL-1 , respectivamente. Entretanto, a naftoquinona não foi responsável pela atividade citotóxica exibida pelo extrato. The present study describes the structure elucidation of the new β-lapachone type naphthoquinone isolated from the roots of Distictella elongata. Its structure, according to the molecular formula C 16 H 16 O 6 , was identified as 4,7-dihydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione. The structure was assigned by spectrometric methods [HRESIMS, 1D NMR (1 H and 13 C), and 2D NMR (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC and g-HMBC]. Root chloroform extract of D. elongata showed significant inhibition of the growth of SK-MEL (melanoma) and SK-OV-3 (ovary adenocarcinoma) cells with IC 50 values of 40 µg mL-1 and 56 µg mL-1 , respectively. However, the naphthoquinone was not responsible for the cytotoxic activity exhibited by the extract.

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2009

Objectives The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of dif... more Objectives The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of different L. alba chemotypes and to correlate the obtained data to the presence of chemical constituents detected by phytochemical analysis. Methods Essential oils from each L. alba chemotype (LP1—LP7) were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and extracted non-volatile compounds were analysed by HPLC and GC-MS. The anticonvulsant actions of the extracted compounds were studied in pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures in mice and their effect on motor coordination was studied using the rota-rod test in rats. The synaptosomes and synaptic membranes of the rats were examined for the influence of LP3 chemotype extract on GABA uptake and binding experiments. Key findings Behavioural parameters encompassed by the pentylenetetrazole test indicated that 80% ethanolic extracts of LP1, LP3 and LP6 L. alba chemotypes were more effective as anticonvulsant agents. Neuroche...

Journal of Natural Products, 2007

One new erythrinian alkaloid derivative, (+)-11alpha-hydroxyerythravine (1), and the known (+)-er... more One new erythrinian alkaloid derivative, (+)-11alpha-hydroxyerythravine (1), and the known (+)-erythravine (2) and (+)-alpha-hydroxyerysotrine (3) were isolated from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic/spectrometric data interpretation of 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR and MS experiments. The relative configuration was established by NOESY analysis, while the conformation adopted by these molecules was evaluated through molecular modeling studies and coupling constants obtained by NMR analysis. Furthermore, the anxiolytic effects of the E. mulungu aqueous alcoholic crude extract and of the purified alkaloids were evaluated using the elevated T-maze test.

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 1998

ABSTRACT

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 1998

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 2000

Mikania glomerata Spengal extract contains approximately 0.5 percent of coumarin, a substance tha... more Mikania glomerata Spengal extract contains approximately 0.5 percent of coumarin, a substance that displays anti-inflammatory and expectoratory activities. Extracts from different young leaves of plants collected during the early evening of December and July contained the highest levels coumarin. Plants dried in oven with circulating air contained 7.3 mg of coumarin/g of dry weight, demonstrating that this was the most

European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2015

Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista ... more Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2005

RESUMO: Estudou-se a variabilidade química sazonal em Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), c... more RESUMO: Estudou-se a variabilidade química sazonal em Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), conhecida como "espinheira santa", em exemplares cultivados em Ribeirão Preto, SP, através da análise das substâncias presentes nas folhas, ao longo das quatro estações em dois anos. O teor de fenóis totais variou de 21,96 a 45,92 mg / g (expresso em mg ácido tânico / g folhas secas), de 55,88 a 93,20 mg triterpenos totais / g folhas secas, e de 1,349 a 3,859 mg fl avonóides / g folhas secas. A amostra Primavera 92 apresentou o maior teor de fl avonóides e fenóis totais, e a amostra Inverno 94 apresentou o maior teor de triterpenos.

Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 2000

Cells of Mikania glomerata, Cephaelis ipecacuanha and Maytenus aquifolia were co-cultured in a tw... more Cells of Mikania glomerata, Cephaelis ipecacuanha and Maytenus aquifolia were co-cultured in a two-phase system using filter paper as a solid support. The species were co-cultured in all possible paired combinations. Interaction between Mikania and Maytenus cells resulted in increased biomass production of Maytenus cells, but the friedelin content was reduced. Co-cultivation of Cephaelis and Mikania cells enhanced coumarin content, but inhibited the growth of Mikania cells. However, yield of emetine as well as Cephaelis biomass accumulation were positively stimulated by the co-cultivation. Results indicate a possible occurrence of allelopathy in such a system.

Phytochemistry, 1994

Seedlings and micropropagated leaves of Virola surinamensis afforded (2S, 3R, 4S')-3-hydroxy-4-me... more Seedlings and micropropagated leaves of Virola surinamensis afforded (2S, 3R, 4S')-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(~-pi~ronyl-n-heptyl~butanolide, a novel representative of the juruenolide group. Correlations between enhancement of shoot pro~eration and increased lactone fo~ation were observed by adding several ph~oho~ones to culture media of seedling explants.

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 1995

Micropropagated shoots of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. were obtained from axillary buds cultured in ... more Micropropagated shoots of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. were obtained from axillary buds cultured in Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 13.3 #M 6-benzyladenine (BA). Addition of 1.1/IM 1-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to the medium increased shoot elongation. The number of shoots formed was influenced by BA concentration, degree ofjuvenility of the explant, and by bud explant position on the stem. Cultures of buds taken from stem parts located close to the shoot tip yielded more callus than shoots, whereas axillary buds at distant positions from the apical bud yielded more shoots.

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 1995

A protocol for in vitro micropropagation of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk from nodal segment explants h... more A protocol for in vitro micropropagation of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk from nodal segment explants has been established. The maximum number of shoots was obtained after 60 days of culture in Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.4 ttM benzyladenine. Multiple rooting was acl-deved using MS medium with 2.4 ttM 2-isopentyladenine. Wedelolactone was present in shoots cultured in media containing cytokinins.

Plant Cell Reports, 2004

In order to produce explants of Mandevilla illustris (Vell) Woodson for the "Cerrado in ... more In order to produce explants of Mandevilla illustris (Vell) Woodson for the "Cerrado in vitro", the Germplasm Bank of UNAERP, we carried out a micropropagation protocol using MS or MS/3 medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladeninepurine (BA), Zeatin or 2-isopentenyladenine for nodal segment growth, and alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 1,4 dithiothreitol for rooting. For nodal segments, all the cytokinins tested yielded similar results. However, 2.22 micro M BA is more economical to use. MS/3 medium supplemented with 0.49 micro M IBA was the most appropriate medium for rooting, resulting in 29% rooted explants. The crude aqueous extract from the subterranean system (SS) of M. illustris was assayed for its inhibitory action on the enzymatic activity of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, isolated basic phospholipase A2 (CB) and crotoxin. It totally inhibited the phospholipase activity of crude Cdt venom and CB toxin and inhibited the phospholipase activity of crotoxin by 49%. The toxic action of both the crude venom and crotoxin was partially inhibited-there was a prolonged survival time and a 40.0% decrease in lethality.

Phytotherapy Research, 2003

and could hence play a role in the defense of the organism against oxidative stress (Gordon, 1996... more and could hence play a role in the defense of the organism against oxidative stress (Gordon, 1996; Pietta, 2000). Reactivity of flavonoids has been studied under many experimental conditions and towards several free radicals. These investigations have demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids is mainly due to radical scavenging properties (Cotelle et al., 1996; Nanjo et al., 1996). In addition, the antioxidant activity of a compound depends ultimately on its ease of oxidation and, for a variety of natural or synthetic compounds, good correlations have been observed between antioxidant activities and low oxidation potentials (Born et al., 1996; Chevion et al., 2000). The present work deals with the isolation and identification of flavonoids from M. aquifolium, which have inhibited the bleaching of β-carotene on TLC plates, and the evaluation of parameters related to the antioxidant activity by separately measuring their oxidation potentials through cyclic voltammetry and the free radical scavenging ability towards DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). MATERIALS AND METHODS General experimental procedures. Silica gel (Merck, 230-400 and 70-230 Mesh), Sephadex LH-20 (Pharmacia) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) were used for column chromatography unless otherwise stated and solvents were redistilled prior to use. NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker AC-200 or Varian INOVA 500 spectrometers at 200 or 500 MHz, respectively, for 1 H NMR, and at 50 or 125 MHz, respectively, for 13 C NMR, with TMS as internal standard and DMSO-d 6 or MeOH-d 4 as solvent. ES-MS were recorded on a VG Platform II spectrometer. IR and UV spectra were

Phytochemistry, 1998

Two new sesquiterpene evoninate alkaloids, were isolated together with the known compounds syring... more Two new sesquiterpene evoninate alkaloids, were isolated together with the known compounds syringaresinol and 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epigallocatechin from the root bark ofMaytenus aquiJolium. The structures of the two alkaloids were elucidated by interpretation of their spectral data, and both exhibited very weak activity in a mechanism-based DNA-modifying yeast assay.

Phytochemical Analysis, 1998

Explants of Maytenus aquifolium were induced to form callus and, subsequently, suspension culture... more Explants of Maytenus aquifolium were induced to form callus and, subsequently, suspension cultures. The isolation of natural products from callus led to the identification of the cytotoxic triterpene quinonemethides, maitenin (1) and 22b-hydroxymaitenin (2). A rapid, sensitive and reliable reversedphase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed using a C 18 column and isocratic elution for the determination of 1 and 2. The elaborated method gave well-resolved peaks for these compounds with good detection response and linearity in the range of 0.08-72.0 mg. The quantification of 1 and 2 was performed by an external standard method.

Phytochemical Analysis, 2003

GC-MS has also proved to be a viable technique to quantify pyridone amides (Dodson et al., 2000).... more GC-MS has also proved to be a viable technique to quantify pyridone amides (Dodson et al., 2000). We have previously isolated and determined the structures of the amides dihydropiplartine (1), piplartine (2), ∆ α,β-dihydropiperine (3) and pellitorine (4) from mature Piper tuberculatum plants (Navickiene et al., 2000). The isolated compounds have now been used as standards in the quantitative analysis of these bioactive amides by HPLC with photodiode array detection (PAD) in plantlets in vitro and ex vitro, and in callus of P. tuberculatum. EXPERIMENTAL Materials. HPLC grade methanol was purchased from Mallinckrodt Baker (Xalostoc, México); nanopure water (> 18 MΩ) was obtained using a Millipore (Bedford, MA, USA) purifier. All solvents and samples were filtered through 0.2 µM nylon membranes prior to use. Compounds 1-4 were isolated from seeds and leaves of P. tuberculatum as described previously (Navickiene et al., 2000). The NMR, IR and MS data of these compounds matched those previously reported (

Phytochemical Analysis, 1990

Although medicinal plants are widely used throughout the world, few studies have been carried out... more Although medicinal plants are widely used throughout the world, few studies have been carried out concerning the levels of heavy metal contaminants present. Such metals are highly toxic to living organisms even in low concentrations owing to their cumulative effect. The present paper describes the the development of a pre-concentration flow injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometric system to determine the lead content in medicinal plants at the ppb level. To develop a pre-concentration flow injection analysis-flame atomic absorption spectrometric system to determine the lead content in medicinal plants at the ppb level. A pre-concentration flow system was coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The plant samples were analysed after nitroperchloric digestion. The proposed system was optimised by evaluating the following parameters: nature, concentration and volume of the eluent solution, elution flow rate, elution efficiency, pre-concentration flow rate and pre-concentration time. The proposed system exhibited good performance with high precision and repeatability (RSD < or = 2.36%), excellent linearity (r = 0.9999), low sample consumption (10.5 mL per determination) and an analytical throughput of 55 samples/h. Lead concentrations ranged from 3.37 + or - 0.25 to 7.03 + or - 0.51 microg/g in dry material. This concentration interval is greater than that previously published in the literature. The inclusion of a pre-concentration column in the flow manifold improved the sensitivity of the spectrometer. Thus, it was possible to determine the analyte at the ng/mL level in sample solutions of medicinal plants. This is a very important accomplishment, especially when the cumulative effect of heavy metals in living organisms is considered.

Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2009

O presente trabalho descreve a elucidação estrutural de uma nova β-lapachona tipo naftoquinona, i... more O presente trabalho descreve a elucidação estrutural de uma nova β-lapachona tipo naftoquinona, isolada a partir das raízes de Distictella elongata. A nova substância, apresentando fórmula molecular C 16 H 16 O 6 , foi identificada como sendo 4,7-diidróxi-10-metóxi-2,2-dimetil-3,4-diidro-2H-benzo[h]cromeno-5,6-diona, de acordo com os dados obtidos por meio de análises espectrométricas. A elucidação estrutural foi realizada utilizando-se as técnicas espectrométricas [HRESIMS, 1D RMN (1 H e 13 C) e 2D RMN (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC e g-HMBC]. O extrato clorofórmico das raízes de D. elongata demonstrou significante inibição no crescimento de células do tipo SK-MEL (melanoma) e SK-OV-3 (carcinoma de ovário), com valores de IC 50 de 40 µg mL-1 e 56 µg mL-1 , respectivamente. Entretanto, a naftoquinona não foi responsável pela atividade citotóxica exibida pelo extrato. The present study describes the structure elucidation of the new β-lapachone type naphthoquinone isolated from the roots of Distictella elongata. Its structure, according to the molecular formula C 16 H 16 O 6 , was identified as 4,7-dihydroxy-10-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-3,4dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione. The structure was assigned by spectrometric methods [HRESIMS, 1D NMR (1 H and 13 C), and 2D NMR (g-DQF-COSY, g-HMQC and g-HMBC]. Root chloroform extract of D. elongata showed significant inhibition of the growth of SK-MEL (melanoma) and SK-OV-3 (ovary adenocarcinoma) cells with IC 50 values of 40 µg mL-1 and 56 µg mL-1 , respectively. However, the naphthoquinone was not responsible for the cytotoxic activity exhibited by the extract.

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2009

Objectives The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of dif... more Objectives The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of different L. alba chemotypes and to correlate the obtained data to the presence of chemical constituents detected by phytochemical analysis. Methods Essential oils from each L. alba chemotype (LP1—LP7) were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and extracted non-volatile compounds were analysed by HPLC and GC-MS. The anticonvulsant actions of the extracted compounds were studied in pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures in mice and their effect on motor coordination was studied using the rota-rod test in rats. The synaptosomes and synaptic membranes of the rats were examined for the influence of LP3 chemotype extract on GABA uptake and binding experiments. Key findings Behavioural parameters encompassed by the pentylenetetrazole test indicated that 80% ethanolic extracts of LP1, LP3 and LP6 L. alba chemotypes were more effective as anticonvulsant agents. Neuroche...

Journal of Natural Products, 2007

One new erythrinian alkaloid derivative, (+)-11alpha-hydroxyerythravine (1), and the known (+)-er... more One new erythrinian alkaloid derivative, (+)-11alpha-hydroxyerythravine (1), and the known (+)-erythravine (2) and (+)-alpha-hydroxyerysotrine (3) were isolated from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic/spectrometric data interpretation of 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR and MS experiments. The relative configuration was established by NOESY analysis, while the conformation adopted by these molecules was evaluated through molecular modeling studies and coupling constants obtained by NMR analysis. Furthermore, the anxiolytic effects of the E. mulungu aqueous alcoholic crude extract and of the purified alkaloids were evaluated using the elevated T-maze test.

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 1998

ABSTRACT

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 1998

Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants, 2000

Mikania glomerata Spengal extract contains approximately 0.5 percent of coumarin, a substance tha... more Mikania glomerata Spengal extract contains approximately 0.5 percent of coumarin, a substance that displays anti-inflammatory and expectoratory activities. Extracts from different young leaves of plants collected during the early evening of December and July contained the highest levels coumarin. Plants dried in oven with circulating air contained 7.3 mg of coumarin/g of dry weight, demonstrating that this was the most