A alta demanda por material vegetal de Calendula officinalis para produção de fitoterápicos e cosméticos, configura a técnica de cultura de tecidos vegetais como uma das alternativas para o aprimoramento das culturas em curto período de tempo. Um protocolo de cultura de tecidos foi desenvolvido a partir de segmentos de plântulas de C. officinalis, no intuito de melhorar a proliferação de brotos e o enraizamento. Foi utilizado o meio Murashige e Skoog (MS½N) reduzido à metade das concentrações de NH4NO3 e KNO3, para verificar o efeito de diferentes tipos de explantes (basal, intermediário e apical), meio contendo areia de praia como suporte em substituição do agar, e o efeito de citocininas e auxinas (TDZ, tidiazuron; BAP, 6-benzilaminopurina; AIA, ácido indol-3-acético; AIB, ácido indol-3-butírico; ANA, ácido naftaleno acético) no desenvolvimento vegetal in vitro. Os resultados mostraram pronunciado enraizamento a partir dos explantes apicais, e também maior alongamento dos brotos e número de folhas. O meio sólido foi mais apropriado para as culturas de C. officinalis. A proliferação de brotos mostrou-se dependente de citocininas, com melhores resultados sob efeito de TDZ ou BAP em relação aos outros tratamentos. As plantas regeneradas a partir do meio contendo TDZ apresentaram aspecto vitrificado e deformações na morfogênese. A maior taxa de enraizamento (80%) foi obtida utilizando AIA 0.1 mg L-1. Através da propagação in vitro foram obtidas plantas de C. officinalis saudáveis e com raízes, capazes de serem aclimatizadas, e permitindo contínuo suplemento de matéria-prima.

The high demand for plant material from Calendula officinalis in the production of herbal medicines and cosmetics, turns the technique of plant-tissue culture into one of the alternatives for the improvement of crops over a short period of time. A protocol for tissue culture was developed from segments of seedlings of C. officinalis, in order to improve the proliferation of shoots and roots. We used a Murashige and Skoog (MS½N) medium, reduced to half the concentrations of NH4NO3 and KNO3 to verify the effect of different types of explants (basal, intermediate, and apical), a medium containing beach sand as support instead of agar, and the effect of auxins and cytokinins (TDZ tidiazuron; BAP, 6-benzylaminopurine, IAA, indol-3-acetic acid, IBA, indol-3-butyric acid, NAA, naphthalene-acetic acid) on plant development in vitro. The results showed pronounced rooting from the apical explants, as well as a greater elongation of shoots and number of leaves. The solid medium was more suitable for the C. officinalis cultures. Shoot proliferation was dependent on cytokinins with better results from the influence of TDZ or BAP compared to the other treatments. Plants regenerated from the medium containing TDZ displayed a glazed appearance and morphogenetic deformations. The highest rate for rooting (80%) was obtained using IAA 0.1mgL-1. Through in-vitro propagation, healthy C. officinalis plants were obtained with roots which can acclimatise, allowing the continuous supplement of raw material.

O estabelecimento de cultura in vitro de Polygala paniculata L. permitiu a propagação rápida de matéria-prima vegetal sob condições assépticas e padronizadas. As plantas in vitro foram submetidas à extração e destilação simultâneas (EDS) e a composição química do óleo essencial foi analisada por CG/DIC e CG/EM. Foram avaliados os efeitos de BAP (6-benzilaminopurina) sobre o desenvolvimento in vitro e produção de voláteis em P. paniculata. A principal característica do óleo essencial consistiu na presença marcante de salicilato de metila. Plantas cultivadas em meio controle MS (Murashige & Skoog) produziram mais do que 80% de salicilato, enquanto o uso de BAP, reduziu a produção de salicilato de metila a 71% e 21% para as concentrações de 2 e 4 mg L-1, respectivamente. A cultura de tecidos de P. paniculata pode ser indicada como fonte de salicilato de metila.

The establishment of Polygala paniculata L. tissue culture allowed a rapid propagation of raw plant material under aseptic and standardized conditions. Plantlets were subjected to simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE) and volatiles composition analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. The effect of BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) on in vitro development and volatiles production was evaluated. The main feature of volatile compounds was the significant amount of methyl salicylate. Plantlets cultured on control MS (Murashige & Skoog) medium showed more than 80% of salicylate, while the addition of BAP at 2 and 4 mg L-1 concentrations reduced methyl salicylate production to 71% and 21%, respectively. Tissue culture of P. paniculata proved to be a potential source of methyl salicylate.

The power of patent is expressed when the innovative product or process goes to market, and the exclusive right that patent ensures generates the market power, and the holder possibility to obtain competitive advantage over competitors. Thus, it becomes compelling the discussions on the universities need for transformation of patent applications efforts into granted patents, which could be negotiated with a higher degree of juridical certainty and, consequently, higher value added. To establish an Index of Patents Granting, and understand the importance of Technological Innovation Nuclei for the increase of this index, it was developed a survey on the number of patents granted to Brazilian universities and evaluated the structure of Technological Innovation Nuclei of these universities. From the survey on the granting cases, it was verified that the universities presenting, among other characteristics, better structured Technological Innovation Nuclei stood out.

Volatiles produced by plantlets of Alpinia zerumbet were obtained by means of simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE). The effects of indole-3-acetic acid, kinetin, thidiazuron and 6-benzylaminopurine on leaf and root volatile composition obtained by tissue cultures were investigated. A higher content of b-pinene and a lower content of sabinene were observed in leaf volatile of plantlets cultured in control, IAA and IAA+ TDZ media, as compared with those of donor plants. In vitro conditions were favorable to increase caryophyllene content. Volatile compounds from the root were characterized mainly by camphene, fenchyl-acetate and bornyl acetate; which constitute about 60% of total volatile.

Exigências como matérias-primas vegetais fidedignas fazem parte das necessidades da fitoterapia moderna. A propagação in vitro permite a obtenção em massa de genótipos superiores, em curto espaço de tempo. Este estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um protocolo de organogênese direta e indireta de Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. Segmentos nodais de plântulas obtidas por germinação in vitro foram introduzidos em meio Murashige e Skoog adicionado de diferentes reguladores de crescimento vegetal: AIA (ácido indol-3-acético), AIB (ácido indol-3-butírico), AG3 (ácido giberélico-3) e CIN (cinetina). A maior taxa de proliferação foi obtida utilizando as combinações: AIB, CIN + AG3 (3,5 mg L-1) e AIB + CIN (2,4 mg L-1). A rizogênese foi intensificada após 40 dias de cultivo, atingindo 100% para todos os meios contendo AIB. A adição de ácido 2,4 diclorofenoxiacético (2,4D) proporcionou os melhores resultados para produção de calos friáveis. A aclimatização foi 100% eficaz para as plantas cultivadas em meio controle, com a diminuição da taxa de sobrevivência para as plantas cultivadas em meios adicionados de reguladores de crescimento.

Exigencies as ethic plant raw material are part of the needs of modern phytotherapy. Micropropagation offers opportunities to obtain mass propagation of superior genotypes in short time. This study aimed to develop a protocol of direct and indirect organogenesis of Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. Nodal segments from plantlets obtained by in vitro germination were subcultured in modified Murashige and Skoog medium added with different plant growth regulators: IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA (indole-3-butyric acid), GA3 (3-giberelic acid) and KIN (kinetin). The highest proliferation rate was obtained using the combinations: IBA, KIN + GA3 (3.5 mg L-1) and IBA + KIN (2.4 mg L-1). Rooting was intensified after 40 days, reaching 100% for all media with indole-3-butyric acid. Addition of 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) provided the best results for production of friable calli. Acclimatization was 100% effective for plantlets cultured in control medium, with decrease in survival rate in grown plantlets from media added with growth regulators.

Chemical composition of leaf volatiles of Rosmarinus officinalis and Baccharis dracunculifolia cultured in Southeast of Brazil has been characterized by GC/MS after simultaneous distillation-extraction. The main components in volatiles of these species showed in common α-pinene, myrcene, 1,8 cineole and camphor. Camphor was the major component among volatiles of B. dracunculifolia and R. officinalis with concentrations exceeding 25%. B. dracunculifolia volatiles possessed more sesquiterpenes (21.4%) than R. officinalis (16.7%), such as caryophyllene (1.9%) and α-humulene (0.4%). Lower concentrations of nerolidol and spathulenol were achieved in volatiles of B. dracunculifolia. Considering both species, there was a predominance of monoterpenes.

Atualmente, a hipertensão arterial é uma das maiores causas de morte e de doenças cardiovasculares. Os vasodilatadores são freqüentemente utilizados no tratamento da hipertensão. Extratos hidroalcoólicos de Alpinia purpurata de campo e de A. zerumbet cultivada in vitro sob diferentes reguladores de crescimento vegetal foram ensaiados no leito mesentérico de ratos Wistar. Os extratos de A. purpurata e A. zerumbet produziram efeito vasodilatador com padrão de resposta dose-dependente de duração prolongada. Extratos da espécie A. purpurata tiveram efeito vasodilatador de 87% na dose de 60 μg. O extrato obtido de folhas de A. zerumbet oriundas das culturas mantidas em meio contendo AIA (ácido indol acético) inibiu o relaxamento (17,4%) na dose de 90 μg em relação ao controle (MS0), com o qual foi verificado melhor efeito vasodilatador (60%). Estes resultados estão de acordo com a concentração de fenóis totais que foi 50% menor para os extratos de plantas cultivadas in vitro em AIA. A espécie A. purpurata foi pela primeira vez ensaiada quanto à atividade vasodilatadora. Os resultados obtidos indicaram a presença de substâncias fenólicas provavelmente correlacionadas à ação terapêutica de A. purpurata.

Nowadays, the high blood pressure is one of the main causes of death and cardiovascular diseases. Vasodilator drugs are frequently used to treat arterial hypertension. Experiments were undertaken to determine whether hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from leaves of field-grown Alpinia purpurata and A. zerumbet cultured in vitro under different plant growth regulators induce a vasodilator effect on Wistar rat mesenteric vascular bed pre-contracted with norepinephrine. Plant extracts were able to induce a long-lasting endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Efficiency on activity of A. purpurata reached 87% at concentration of 60 μg. The extract of A. zerumbet maintained in medium containing IAA, induced the relaxation (17.4%) at 90 μg, as compared to the control (MS0) that showed a better vasodilator effect (60%). These results are in agreement with the quantification of phenolic compounds in the extracts, which were 50% lower for those plants cultured in IAA. A. purpurata was assayed for the first time in relation to its vasodilator activity. This paper showed a strong probability of correlation between the pharmacological activities of A. purpurata with their content in phenolic compounds.

O fracionamento do extrato etanólico de Piper nigrum biomonitorado por ensaios em larvas de Aedes aegypti resistentes a piretróides resultou no isolamento das amidas larvicidas piperoleína-A e piperina. Comparando-se os valores de CL50, o extrato etanólico (0. 98ppm) foi o mais tóxico, seguido pela piperoleína-A (1. 46ppm) e piperina (1. 53ppm).

Fractionation of Piper nigrum ethanol extract, biomonitored by assays on pyrethroid-resistant Aedes aegypti larvae yielded isolation of the larvicidal amides piperolein-A and piperine. Comparing LC50 values, the ethanol extract (0. 98 ppm) was the most toxic, followed by piperolein-A (1. 46ppm) and piperine (1. 53ppm).

Foram investigados os efeitos de ácido indol acético (11,42 µmol L-1) e benzilaminopurina (8,87 µmol L-1) sobre o crescimento e composição do óleo essencial de plantas in vitro de Melissa officinalis. Plantas desenvolvidas em meio de Murashige e Skoog (MS) apresentaram o incremento de 1,4 vezes na proporção de nerol e de 4,1vezes de geraniol, quando comparadas às plantas ex vitro. Tratamentos com 11,42 µmol L-1 de ácido indol acético mais 8,87 µmol L-1 de benzilaminopurina resultaram em aumentos de 1,7 e 2,2 vezes na proporção de nerol e geraniol, respectivamente, em plantas de 60 dias. Estes aumentos podem estar associados à ação dos reguladores de crescimento, por estimularem o desenvolvimento vegetal (na organogênese e alongamento de brotos) e retardarem a oxidação de álcoois em aldeídos.

It was investigated the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (11.42 µmol L-1), benzylaminopurine (8.87 µmol L-1) on essential oil composition and on the growth of Melissa officinalis in vitro plants. In vitro plantlets developed on MS media, showed 1.4 times in the proportion of nerol and 4.1 of geraniol, when compared with ex vitro plants. Treatments with 11.42 µmol L-1 indole-3-acetic acid plus 8.87 µmol L-1 benzylaminopurine led to 1.7 and 2.2 fold in proportion of nerol and geraniol, respectively in 60-day-old whole plants. These increases might be associated with the action of growth regulators wich stimulate plant growth (shoot organogenesis and elongation) and delaying the alcohol oxidation to aldehydes.

The bioassay-guided fractionation of the hexane extract obtained from the medicinal plant Myroxylon balsamum (red oil) was conducted in preparative thin layer chromatography on silica gel. The obtained fractions and some terpenoids and phenylpropanoids were assayed as larvicidal on third instar Aedes aegypti larvae, NPPN colony. The results indicate that the sesquiterpene nerolidol was the active constituent in the extract and that the sesquiterpenes were more active than the monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids utilized in this study. Lipophilicity seems to be an important property for the activity since the compounds with hydroxyl, carbonyl and methoxyl groups were less active. The results confirm also that essential oils can be a good tool for the control of dengue.

A capacidade de Ipomoea batatas diferenciar parte aérea e raízes foi avaliada após irradiação com raios gama. A diferenciação da parte aérea foi menos sensível que a das raízes. Contudo, na dose de 90 Gy nenhum broto diferenciado regenerou planta, enquanto 76 % das raízes diferenciadas dos segmentos nodais irradiados manteve o crescimento. A radiação também induziu mudanças no perfil elotroforético de isoperoxidases. Plantas originadas de raízes tuberosas irradiadas apresentaram alteração no perfil de isoperoxidases foliares semelhantes ao perfil de folhas diretamente irradiadas. O perfil de isoperoxidases de raízes absorventes irradiadas diretamente não apresentou o mesmo padrão do perfil das raízes absorventes desenvolvidas de raízes tuberosas irradiadas.

The ability of nodal segments of Ipomoea batatas to differentiate shoots and roots was evaluated after gamma irradiation. Shoot differentiation was less sensitive to irradiation than roots. However, at 90 Gy, no shoot was able to regenerate a new plant; in contrast 76 % of the roots from irradiated nodal segments continued to grow. The gamma radiation also induced changes in electrophoretic profiles of peroxidases of storage roots. Plants originated from irradiated storage roots presented changes in leaf peroxidase profiles very similar to those produced by leaves directly irradiated. The peroxidase profile of absorbent roots from irradiated storage roots was different from that obtained from directly irradiated absorbent roots.