Abstract Background: Qualea grandiflora (QG) (Vochysiaceae), also known as "pau-ferro", "pau-terra" or "pau-de-tucano", is a very common deciduous tree in the Brazilian Cerrado used in traditional medicine to treat inflammations, ulcers, diarrhea, and infections. There are reports in the scientific literature that demonstrate the medicinal effects of the bark and leaf of the QG. However, studies involving this plant are rather imited. Aim of the study: To perform the phytochemical analysis of the QG hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of leaves, and to investigate it effects on fibroblast and preosteoblasts. Methods: Phytochemical analysis was done by HPLC-DAD. Murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts cell lines (ATCC) were used for the experiments. Cell viability was assessed by the MTT colorimetric assay and the expression of MMP-14 and HIF-1α by immunofluorescence. Results and conclusion: The following compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD, such as quinic acid, ethyl galate, ellagic acid derivatives as O-methylellagic acid O-galloyl, O-methylellagic acid O-deoxyhexoside, galloyl derivatives, flavonol glycoside as kaempferol-O-deoxyhexoside, quercetin-O-deoxyhexoside, myricetin-O-deoxyhexoside and the pentacyclic triterpene arjunglucoside. Cell viability results demonstrated no cytotoxic effects in the studied concentrations. We found in QG HAE some compounds with therapeutic properties that can increase the expression of MMP-14 and HIF-1α, in fibroblasts and preosteoblasts. These data suggest that QG HAE has an action on these two molecules widely involved in physiological conditions, such as collagen remodeling, bone development and growth and pathological processes as HIF signaling in cancer metastasis.

Abstract: Hymenaea courbaril has been used to treat different diseases, although its properties are yet to be scientifically validated. The objective of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, antigenotoxicity and antioxidant potentials of hydroethanolic extract from H. courbaril seeds. Therefore, for the cytotoxicity test an anti-melanoma assay was performed in B16F10 strain cells. The genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity was evaluated in bone marrow cells (Permit number: 002/2010) of mice, the antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH test and the total flavonoid content was also determined. The hydroethanolic extract showed antigenotoxic effect and antioxidant activity. It was verified that total flavonoid content was 442.25±18.03 mg RE/g dry extract. HPLC-PAD chromatogram revealed presence of flavones as majority compound in evaluated extract. The results allowed us to also infer that the hydroethanolic extract from seeds shows cytotoxic activity against B16F10 melanoma cells line and it has dose-and-time-dependency.

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Myracrodruon urundeuva All. and Qualea grandiflora Mart. leaves hydroalcoholic extracts on viability and metabolism of a microcosm biofilm and on enamel demineralization prevention. Methodology: Microcosm biofilm was produced on bovine enamel using inoculum from pooled human saliva mixed with McBain saliva, under 0.2% sucrose exposure, for 14 days. The biofilm was daily-treated with the extracts for 1 min. At the end, it was analyzed with respect to viability by fluorescence, CFU counting and extracellular polysaccharides (phenol-sulphuric acid colorimetric assay) and lactic acid (enzymatic assay) production. The demineralization was measured by TMR. The data were compared using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis (p<0.05). Results: M. urundeuva All. at 100, 10 and 0.1 μg/mL and Q. grandiflora Mart. at 100 and 0.1 μg/mL reduced biofilm viability similarly to positive control (chlorhexidine) and significantly more than the negative-vehicle control (35% ethanol). M. urundeuva at 1000, 100 and 0.1 μg/mL were able to reduce both lactobacilli and mutans streptococci CFU counting, while Q. grandiflora (1000 and 1.0 μg/mL) significantly reduced mutans streptococci CFU counting. On the other hand, the natural extracts were unable to significantly reduce extracellular polysaccharides and lactic acid productions neither the development of enamel carious lesions. Conclusions: The extracts showed antimicrobial properties on microcosm biofilm, however, they had no effect on biofilm metabolism and caries protection.

ABSTRACT The deciduous plant Copaifera langsdorffii contains important medicinal compounds which may also be allelopathic and inhibitory to plant growth. The species is endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado where there is pronounced climatic seasonality. In this study we demonstrate the allelopathic capacity of extracts from the leaves of C. langsdorffii and pre-purified fractions of the extract. Analysis by HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS confirmed the presence of quercetin-3-O-α-rhamnoside and kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnoside as major components, as well as phenolic acid derivatives of gallic acid. The extracts from samples collected during the wet season were rich in flavonoids and reduced the seed germination rate, root emergence time, and root growth of Sorghum bicolor seedlings. Leaves of C. langsdorffii collected in both the wet and the dry season did not differ in the overall phytotoxic potential of their extracts, but differences detected in tested subfractions seem to indicate subtle seasonal changes in chemical composition. These results indicate that changes in the seasonal water status of the Cerrado induces differential synthesis of compounds with higher allelopathic activity.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanolic "aroeira" (Myracrodruon urundeuva) extract on the viability of human gingival fibroblast. For this, fibroblasts (2x103 cells/well) were plated in a 96-well plate and incubated for 24 h; the medium (Eagle's medium modified by Dulbecco - DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum was replaced by DMEM with different ethanolic extract concentration (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1000μg / mL). The fibroblast viability was analyzed after 48,72, and 96 h by the neutral red capture test and violet crystal. The "aroeira" extract, at high concentrations (100 and 1000 µg/mL) caused decrease in both cellular viability tests (p<0.05). However, dilutions between 0.1 and 10 µg/mL did not affect the viability of the cells. It was concluded that "aroeira" extract was able to change the gingival fibroblast viability, and this effect was concentration dependent.

Um novo composto, isolado a partir do extrato metanólico das folhas de Paepalanthus argenteus var. argenteus (Bongard) Hensold foi caracterizado como xeractinol, um novo diidroflavonol C-glucosilado. Sua estrutura foi elucidada com base em extensiva análise espectroscópica (RMN uni- e bidimensionais, EM, HREIMS, IV, UV). Cálculos ab initio de estrutura eletrônica corroboram nossa proposição para a estrutura molecular. O diidroflavonol aqui isolado pode servir como marcador taxonômico de Paepalanthus subg. Xeractis, uma vez que este flavonóide não foi encontrado em nenhum outro taxon de Eriocaulaceae.

New compound isolated from methanolic extract from the leaves of Paepalanthus argenteus var. argenteus (Bongard) Hensold was characterized as xeractinol, a new dihydroflavonol C-glucoside. The structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR, MS, HREIMS, IR and UV). Ab initio electronic structure calculations support our proposal to the molecular structure. The dihydroflavonol herein isolated may serve as taxonomic marker of Paepalanthus subgenus Xeractis, because this flavonoid have not been reported in any other taxon of Eriocaulaceae.

Os efeitos da radiação UV-B foram estudados em plantas de girassol (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Catissol-01) cultivadas em casa de vegetação sob condições fotoperiódicas naturais. As plantas receberam aproximadamente 0,60W m-2 (controle) ou 4,0W m-2 (+UV-B) de radiação UV-B por 7h d-1, centralizadas ao redor do meio-dia. A irradiação com UV-B foi iniciada 15 dias após a semeadura. Plantas sob alta radiação UV-B durante 12 ou 21 dias não apresentaram diferenças em matéria seca da parte aérea, peso foliar específico ou compostos que absorvem UV-B, quando comparadas com o controle. Alta radiação UV-B reduziu a taxa de fotossíntese (A) somente na primeira coleta, sendo acompanhada por uma redução na condutância estomática (g s) e na taxa de transpiração. A inibição da fotossíntese não pode ser somente explicada pela redução na g s, visto que a concentração intercelular de CO2 não foi alterada pelo aumento na radiação UV-B. O conteúdo total de clorofila não foi afetado pelo aumento na radiação UV-B nas duas coletas. No entanto, o conteúdo de clorofila a e a razão clorofila a/b foram reduzidas na primeira coleta. Sob alta radiação UV-B, houve aumento na fluorescência mínima na primeira coleta. Porém, a razão entre a fluorescência variável e a fluorescência máxima das folhas adaptadas ao escuro não foi alterada. Estes resultados sugerem que o atual nível de radiação solar UV-B afeta o desempenho das plantas de girassol, embora a massa seca da parte aérea não seja afetada.

The effects of UV-B radiation were studied in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Catissol-01) growning in greenhouse under natural photoperiod conditions. The plants received approximately 0.60Wm-2 (control) or 4.0Wm-2 (+UV-B) of UV-B radiation for 7h d-1, centered around solar noon from 15 days after sowing. Compared to the control, plants exposed to high UV-B radiation for 12 or 21 days did not show any difference in shoot dry matter, specific leaf weight or UV-B absorbing compounds. Enhanced UV-B radiation caused a significant inhibition of photosynthesis (A) only in the first sampling and this was accompained by reduction in stomatal conductance (g s) and transpiration rate. The inhibition in A can not be fully explained by reduction in g s since intercellular CO2 concentration was not affected by UV-B radiation. In both samplings, the total chlorophyll content was not affected by enhanced UV-B radiation whereas in the first sampling, the chlorophyll a and the ratio of chlorophyll a/b were reduced. Enhanced UV-B radiation increased the minimal fluorescence yield, but did not alter the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence yield of dark adapted leaves. Overall, this study suggests that the present level of solar UV-B radiation affects sunflower plants performance even though the shoot dry biomass may not be affected.