A new pyranone, (S)-2-(4-hydroxyphenylethyl)-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one, with unusual carbon skeleton, and three new aristolochic acid derivatives (7-O-methylaristolochic acid F, sodium 7-O-methylaristolochate F and sodium aristolochate F) were isolated from Aristolochia urupaensis (Aristolochiaceae) stems together with 31 known compounds. The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

Maceration and supercritical fluid extraction were used to prepare extracts from parts of plants (Holostylis reniformis) collected in two different regions of Brazil. ¹H NMR, HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, HPLC-DAD, GC-MS, and chemometric techniques were used to analyse lignans in the extracts and showed that yields of SFE-CO2 were less than or equal to those of hexane maceration extracts. These analyses, in conjunction with the concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons, fatty acids and their methyl and ethyl derivatives in the extracts, also allowed the chemical composition of parts and provenance of the plant to be differentiated.

A phytochemical study of Aristolochia melastoma Manso has led to the isolation and identification of 20 known compounds, including aristolochic acids, sodium aristolochates, lignan, flavonoids, and nitro phenylethyl derivatives. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis. The presence of thalictricoside and secoisolariciresinol dimethyl ether diacetate is reported for the first time in the Aristolochiaceae family. In addition, the presence of nitro compounds in this species is significant.

Foram isoladas quatorze substâncias de Aristolochia giberti, entre elas, um novo triterpeno, (-)-onocera-8,8'-diol. Além destas, 3-hidróxipropanoato, acetato e formato foram detectados por técnicas de RMN, o que sugere que estas substâncias sejam derivadas do 2-butinodioato, não detectável por RMN de ¹H. As análises dos óleos essenciais de caules e folhas, por CG-EM e quimiometria, mostraram grande similaridade entre as espécies cultivadas no Brasil e aquelas na Argentina, o que permitiu confirmar a identificação da espécie e diferenciar os óleos de acordo com as partes da planta.

Fourteen compounds were isolated from Aristolochia giberti. These included a new triterperne, (-)-onocera-8,8'-diol. In addition, 3-hydroxypropanoate, acetate, and formate were detected by NMR techniques, which suggests that they are derivatives from 2-butynedioate, which is not detected by ¹H NMR. GC-MS and chemometric analyses of essential oils from stems and leaves showed great similarity between this cultivated species in Brazil and that in Argentina, which allowed us to confirm the species identity and to differentiate the oils according to the plant parts.

Xylella fastidiosa genome sequencing has generated valuable data by identifying genes acting either on metabolic pathways or in associated pathogenicity and virulence. Based on available information on these genes, new strategies for studying their expression patterns, such as microarray technology, were employed. A total of 2,600 primer pairs were synthesized and then used to generate fragments using the PCR technique. The arrays were hybridized against cDNAs labeled during reverse transcription reactions and which were obtained from bacteria grown under two different conditions (liquid XDM2 and liquid BCYE). All data were statistically analyzed to verify which genes were differentially expressed. In addition to exploring conditions for X. fastidiosa genome-wide transcriptome analysis, the present work observed the differential expression of several classes of genes (energy, protein, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, transport, degradation of substances, toxins and hypothetical proteins, among others). The understanding of expressed genes in these two different media will be useful in comprehending the metabolic characteristics of X. fastidiosa, and in evaluating how important certain genes are for the functioning and survival of these bacteria in plants.

From hexane fraction of methanol extract of leaves of Tapirira guianensis (Anacardiaceae) were obtained lupeol, 24-methylenecycloartan-3-ol, phytol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, sitosterol, sitostenone, glycosyl sitosterol, as well as sitosterol esterified with palmitic and stearic acids. Phytol, α-amyrin and β-amyrin esterified with fatty acids were also identified from same extract. The EtOAc extract besides the norisoprenoids (6S,7E,9S)-6,9-dihydroxy-megastigma-4,7-dien -3-one 9-O-β-glucopyranoside and (6S,7E,9R)-6,9-dihydroxy-megastigma-4,7-dien-3-one 9-O-β-glucopyranoside also afforded kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, kaempferol 3-O-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, and kaempferol. The structural elucidation of isolated compounds were based on UV, IR, MS, ¹H and 13C NMR data analysis.

Foram isolados de galhos de Aristolochia gehrtii a cis-N-feruloil-3-O-metildopamina, um derivado hemiacetálico do 5-hidroximetilfurfural, e vinte e dois compostos conhecidos. Entre estes compostos estão cinco lignanas, três terpenos, seis alcalóides dos quais cinco são alcamidas, dois derivados do ácido benzóico e seis derivados constituídos pelo grupo feniletil. As estruturas dos compostos isolados foram determinadas por métodos espectroscópicos e comparação de dados físicos e espectroscópicos dos compostos com aqueles disponíveis na literatura.

From the stems of Aristolochia gehrtii, the cis-N-feruloyl-3-O-methyldopamine and a hemiacetal derivative of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural were isolated, together with twenty-two known compounds. These compounds include five lignans, three terpenes, six alkaloids (five alkamides), two benzoic acid derivatives, and six phenethyl derivatives. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by means of spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature data.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de auto-anticorpos em pacientes com hepatite crônica pelos vírus B e C, antes, durante e após tratamento com interferon-alfa (IFN-alfa), assim como estudar a relação destes anticorpos com o tipo de IFN, com a dose e com a resposta terapêutica. Cinqüenta pacientes com hepatite viral crônica foram divididos em 2 grupos: grupo-controle constituído por 21 pacientes (10 hepatites B e 11 hepatites C), que foram seguidos durante 6 meses sem tratamento e grupo-IFN constituído por 29 pacientes (8 hepatites B e 21 hepatites C), que receberam IFN-alfa durante 6 meses. Anticorpos antinúcleo, antimúsculo liso, antimitocôndria, anticélula parietal e antitireóide foram pesquisados em amostras de soro colhidas antes do início, durante e ao final do estudo. Quatro dos 50 pacientes (8%) apresentavam auto-anticorpos no início do estudo (2 em cada grupo). Durante o estudo nenhum paciente do grupo-controle desenvolveu auto-anticorpos, enquanto que 3 (11%) pacientes do grupo-IFN passaram a apresentá-los. Os auto-anticorpos ocorreram apenas em pacientes tratados com doses mais elevadas de IFN. Verificou-se ainda tendência à resposta desfavorável ao tratamento naqueles indivíduos que apresentaram ou desenvolveram auto-anticorpos. Assim, sugere-se que mais estudos sejam realizados para determinar se existe ou não relação entre resposta desfavorável e a presença ou o desenvolvimento de auto-anticorpos.

This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of autoantibodies in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C, before, during and after interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy and to study their relation to dose and type of IFN-alpha and response to treatment. Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis were divided in two groups, a control-group of 21 patients (10 type B and 11 type C) who were followed for 6 months without treatment and an IFN-group consisting of 29 patients (8 type B and 21 type C) who received IFN therapy for 6 months. Serum samples were tested for a range of antibodies at the start of the study, during therapy and at the end of the 6 month period. Antibodies tested for included: antinuclear, smooth muscle, antimitochondrial, parietal cell and thyroid microsomal. Four (8%) of the total patient group had autoantibodies at the beginning of the study (two in each group). During the follow-up period no patient in the control group developed antibodies compared with 3 (11%) patients in the treatment group. Autoantibodies developed in patients treated with higher doses of IFN and were found in those patients who tended to show a poor response to IFN-therapy. Further studies are needed to establish the relationship between poor response to IFN-alpha and development of autoantibodies.