The dichloromethane extract of the root bark of the Panamanian plant Cordia anisophylla J.S. Mill. (Boraginaceae) presented antifungal activity against a susceptible strain of Candida albicans in a bioautography primary screening. The susceptible strain was used to detect minor active compounds that would not have been detected using a classical approach. In order to identify the antimicrobial compounds, the active extract was fractionated by semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and the fractions were submitted to the antifungal bioassay. This procedure enabled a precise localization of the antifungal compounds directly in the chromatogram of the crude extract and allowed for an efficient, targeted isolation. Four compounds were isolated, one of which is a new natural product. The structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. Their antifungal properties were evaluated by determination of the minimum inhibitory quantity and concentration by bioautography and dilution assay against a wild type strain of C. albicans.

Cyathodium is a thalloid marchantialean liverwort with five species reported for the Neotropics. Three species that occur in Panama (C. bischlerianum, C. spruceanum, C. cavernarum) and one from Costa Rica (C. foetidissimum) were studied chemically. Female and male plants of the dioecious C. spruceanum were very similar in their chemical composition except for two compounds that were found only in female plants. All samples of C. spruceanum and C. bischlerianum contained, in less than three percent, the sesquiterpenes germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene. The presence of these compounds suggests a close affinity between these two species. Cyathodium bischlerianum contained mainly aromatic monoterpenes with nerolidol as the main compound. Cyathodium cavernarum also had a very distinct chemical composition with an octane derivative as its major compound. Indole compounds were found only in C. foetidissimum. The presence of these compounds in plants from Costa Rica and Tahiti suggests that they could be considered as potential chemosystematic markers for the species. Based on their chemical composition there is a clear distinction between the four species of Cyathodium studied. The chemistry of these species supports previous morphological and genetic studies. Only two compounds could be identified in Leiosporoceros dussii. There is a need for additional genetic and chemical studies on neotropical Cyathodium and Leiosporoceros.

Cyathodium es una hepática marchantial con cinco especies comunicadas para el Neotrópico. Se estudió la composición química de tres especies que crecen en Panamá (C. bischlerianum, C. spruceanum, C. cavernarum) y, una que crece en Costa Rica (C. foetidissimum). Plantas femeninas y masculinas del dioico C. spruceanum fueron muy similares en su composición química excepto por dos compuestos que se encontraron solo en plantas femeninas. Todas las muestras de Cyathodium spruceanum y C. bischlerianum contenían, en un porcentaje de menos del tres por ciento, los sesquiterpenos germacreno D y biciclogermacreno. La presencia de estos compuestos sugiere una afinidad muy cercana entre las dos especies. Cyathodium bischlerianum contiene principalmente monoterpenos aromáticos con nerolidol como el compuesto principal. Cyathodium cavernarum también tuvo una composición química muy distintiva con un derivado del octano como su compuesto principal. Compuestos de indol fueron encontrados solo en C. foetidissimum. La presencia de estos compuestos en plantas de Costa Rica y Tahiti sugiere que puedan ser marcadores quimosistemáticos para esta especie. Las cuatro especies de Cyathodium estudiadas se pueden distinguir de acuerdo con su composición química. La química de estas especies apoya estudios genéticos y morfológicos previos. Solo dos compuestos pudieron ser identificados en Leiosporoceros dussii. Se necesitan estudios genéticos y químicos adicionales para los Cyathodium y Leiosporoceros neotropicales.

As a part of a broad screening of antifungal agents from plant origin, crude extracts from Panamanian plants having related types of constituents displayed significant activities in an agar overlay thin layer chromatography assay against a susceptible strain of Candida albicans. These were the methanolic extract of the leaves of Schefflera systyla and Odontadenia puncticulosa and of the stems of Conostegia speciosa, that are species not previously investigated from a phytochemical viewpoint. For all plants, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) antifungal activity based profiling allowed the rapid localization of antifungal agents that were further obtained by targeted isolation procedure by semi-preparative HPLC or medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC) after LC gradient transfer. Different hederagenin saponins and one aglycone were found to be responsible for the antifungal activities of the extracts. Alpha-hederin was the antifungal of S. systyla, pulsatilla saponin D and 3β-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranosylhederagenin of O. puncticulosa and arjunolic acid of C. speciosa. Their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against planktonic and biofilm cells of C. albicans were determined. Alpha-hederin was the most potent compound with a MIC of 4 µg mL-1. Structurally related compounds (hederagenin, medicagenic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and medicagenic acid) were used as standards and tested for comparison purposes. In order to better estimate the potential of these triterpenoids as antifungal agents, their cytological effects on C. albicans were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the in vivo activity of alpha-hederin, medicagenic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and medicagenic acid was evaluated for the first time in the Galleria mellonella larvae model.

The essential oils from two native species from Guatemala were studied for their chemical composition and the dichloromethane and methanol extracts for their biological activity. A GC-MS analysis of the essential oil from Piper jacquemontianum Kunth, Piperaceae, showed 34 constituents, consisting mainly of linalool (69.4%), while Piper variabile C. DC. essential oil had 36 constituents, camphor (28.4%), camphene (16.6%) and limonene (13.9%) being the major components. Dichloromethane extracts of both species were cytotoxic against MCF-7, H-460 and SF-268 cell lines (<7 µg/mL). Dichloromethane extract of P. jacquemontianum was slightly active against bacteria (0.5 mg/mL), was active against promastigotes of Leishmania (20.4-61.0 µg/mL), and epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (51.9 µg/mL). The methanol extract of P. variabile showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum F32 (4.5 µg/mL), and the dichloromethane extract against Leishmania (55.8-76.3 µg/mL) and T. cruzi (45.8 µg/mL). None of the extracts from the two species was active against Aedes aegypti larvae and Artemia salina nauplii.

Todos los países de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) han definido e implementado políticas de ciencia, tecnología e innovación (CTI) con diferentes grados de éxito y dentro de tres modelos económicos, "substitución de importaciones", "liberalización y privatización", y mas recientemente en algunos países "socialismo del siglo XXI". Mientras que las políticas de CTI estaban siendo adoptadas e implementadas dentro de tales modelos, la tasa de cambio tecnológico aceleró grandemente y ocurrieron cambios en el proceso de innovación, pasando de un modelo lineal a uno no lineal y evolucionando hacia un modelo "abierto". Tales cambios indujeron una creciente complejidad en los sistemas nacionales de innovación y presentan nuevos desafíos a la elaboración de políticas de CTI. Las políticas adoptadas permitieron avances significativos, evidenciados por indicadores existentes; sin embargo, la región de ALC como un todo esta atrás de otras regiones. Numerosos estudios han analizado esta situación, y más recientemente, en el contexto de un proyecto auspiciado por el IDRC, el presente estudio llevó a cabo una encuesta entre antiguos y presentes líderes de CTI, para realizar un análisis en profundidad sobre la efectividad e impacto de las políticas publicas de CTI. Las respuestas muestran los logros y los problemas que el desarrollo de la CTI enfrenta en ALC. La insatisfaccion existente con la aplicación del proceso de liberalización y otras reformas económicas de los 1990’s convocan a una nueva agenda del desarrollo, que debe incluir la CTI para ser exitosa. Esto requiere, a su vez, nuevas condiciones y reglas de gobernabilidad, en particular la definición de políticas, de tal manera que la CTI sea estimulada y guiada por la búsqueda de soluciones a los desafíos sociales y económicos existentes, considerando la creciente complejidad de los sistemas de innovación.

All countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have defined and implemented science, technology and innovation (STI) policies with varying degrees of success within three broad economic models, "import substitution", "liberalization and privatization", and later, in some countries, "21st century socialism". While STI policies were being adopted and implemented within the three models, the rate of technological change greatly accelerated and changes in the innovation process occurred, passing from a linear to a non-linear model and further evolving into an "open" model. Such changes induced a growing complexity in the national innovation systems and present new challenges to STI policy making. The adopted policies permitted significant advances, evidenced by existing indicators; however, the LAC region as a whole lags behind other regions. Numerous studies have analyzed this situation and more recently, in the context of an IDRC funded project, the present study surveyed current and former STI leaders for an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness and impact of public STI policies. The responses highlight the achievements and problems that the development of STI faces in LAC. Existing dissatisfaction with the application of the liberalization process and other economic reforms of the 1990’s, call for a new development agenda that must include STI to succeed. This requires, in turn, new conditions and rules for governance, in particular policy making, so that STI are stimulated and guided by the search for solutions to existing social and economic challenges considering the growing complexity of innovation systems.

Todos os países da América Latina e o Caribe (ALC) tem definido e implementado políticas de ciência, tecnologia e inovação (CTI) com diferentes graus de êxito e dentro de três modelos econômicos, "substituição de importações", "liberalização e privatização", e mais recentemente em alguns países "socialismo do século XXI". Enquanto que as políticas de CTI estavam sendo adotadas e implementadas dentro de tais modelos, a taxa de câmbio tecnológico acelerou grandemente e ocorreram mudanças no processo de inovação, passando de um modelo linear a um não linear e evolucionando para um modelo "aberto". Tais mudanças induziram uma crescente complexidade nos sistemas nacionais de inovação e apresentam novos desafios à elaboração de políticas de CTI. As políticas adotadas permitiram avanços significativos, evidenciados por indicadores existentes; entretanto, a região de ALC como um todo esta atrás de outras regiões. Numerosos estudos têm analisado esta situação, e mais recentemente, no contexto de um projeto auspiciado pelo IDRC, o presente estudo realizou uma pesquisa entre antigos e presentes líderes de CTI, para realizar uma análise em profundidade sobre a efetividade e impacto das políticas públicas de CTI. As respostas mostram as conquistas e os problemas que o desenvolvimento da CTI enfrenta em ALC. A insatisfação existente com a aplicação do processo de liberalização e outras reformas econômicas dos 1990’s convocam a uma nova agenda de desenvolvimento, que deve incluir a CTI para ser exitosa. Isto requer, por sua vez, novas condições e regras de governabilidade, em particular a definição de políticas, de tal maneira que a CTI seja estimulada e guiada pela busca de soluções aos desafíos sociais e econômicos existentes, considerando a crescente complexidade dos sistemas de inovação.

O suco fervido de Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Verbenaceae, do material vegetal inteiro é utilizado etnomedicinalmente em diferentes países da América Latina para tratar os sintomas da malária. No extrato acetato de etila, cinco glicosídeos feniletanóides puderam ser identificados. Três destes glicosídeos feniletanóides, leucosceptosídeo A, martinosídeo e jionosídeo D foram detectados pela primeira vez no gênero Stachytarpheta.

The boiled juice of Stachytarpheta cayennensis, Verbenaceae, whole plant material is used ethnomedicinally in different countries of Latin-America to treat symptoms of malaria. In the ethyl acetate extract, five phenylethanoid glycosides could be identified. Three of these phenylethanoid glycosides, leucosceptoside A, martynoside and jionoside D were detected for the first time in the genus Stachytarpheta.