Abstract Ximenia americana L., Olacaceae, barks are utilized in folk medicine as analgesic and anti-inflammatory. The objective was to evaluate the toxicity and antinociceptive effect of polysaccharides rich fractions from X. americana barks. The fractions were obtained by extraction with NaOH, followed by precipitation with ethanol and fractionation by ion exchange chromatography. They were administered i.v. or p.o. before nociception tests (writhing, formalin, carragenan-induced hypernociception, hot plate), or during 14 days for toxicity assay. The total polysaccharides fraction (TPL-Xa: 8.1% yield) presented 43% carbohydrate (21% uronic acid) and resulted in two main fractions after chromatography (FI: 12%, FII: 22% yield). FII showed better homogeneity/purity, content of 44% carbohydrate, including 39% uronic acid, arabinose and galactose as major monosaccharides, and infrared spectra with peaks in carbohydrate range for COO- groups of uronic acid. TPL-Xa (10 mg/kg) and FII (0.1 and 1 mg/kg) presented inhibitory effect in behavior tests that evaluate nociception induced by chemical and mechanical, but not thermal stimuli. TPL-Xa did not alter parameters of systemic toxicity. In conclusion, polysaccharides rich fractions of X. americana barks inhibit peripheral inflammatory nociception, being well tolerated by animals.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar histológica e histo- químicamente a pele do jurará (Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides). Foram utilizados seis animais (três machos e três fêmeas). Os animais foram eutanasiados com dose letal de tiopental sódico a 2,5%, para colheita de fragmentos de pele mole das patas e pescoço do animal, que após a fixação em líquido de Bouin, foram incluídos em parafina e corados pelas técnicas de hematoxilina-eosina, Giemsa, Sirius red, Reticulina de Gomori e Fucsina-resorcina de Weigert. Os resultados revelaram que a pele do jurará é delgada e composta de epiderme e derme. A epiderme é formada por estrato germinativo constituído por uma única camada de células cilíndricas; estrato espinhoso apresentando duas ou três camadas de células poliédricas; o estrato granuloso não foi observado nos exemplares estudados O estrato córneo apresenta uma delgada camada de queratina mole. Na derme, os fibroblastos foram as células mais freqüentes e as fibras colágenas formavam feixes espessos dispostos em várias direções. No método do Picro Sirius Red sob luz polarizada observou-se que, independente da região analisada, há predomínio de fibras colágenas tipo I em relação ao colágeno tipo III. Foi também observados mastócitos em pequena quantidade e fibras elásticas na região subepidérmica. Concluiu-se que a pele de Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides possui características semelhantes a dos demais vertebrados (anfíbios, aves e mamíferos), apresenta peculiaridades, como por exemplo, a ausência de papilas dérmicas e glândulas.

The aim of this paper was to study the histology and histochemistry of the skin of six specimens of muçuã (three males and three females). The animals were euthanized through a lethal dose of sodium thiopental at 2.5%. Fragments of the soft skin were fixed in Bouin's solution and processed for inclusion in paraffin. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Giemsa, Sirius red, Gomori's reticulin and Weigert's fuchsin-resorcin. The results revealed that the skin is thin and constituted by epidermis and dermis. The epidermis is made up by one layer of cylindrical cells of stratum germinativum, two or three layers of poliedric cells of stratum spinosum, but without stratum granular. The stratum corneum consists of a thin layer of soft keratin. In the dermis, the fibroblasts were the most frequent cells and collagen fibers formed a thick bound displayed in several directions. The Sirius red under polarized light showed that type I collagen was predominant when compared with the occurrence of type III collagen. Mast cells were also found, and elastic fibers were seen in the subepidermic layer. We concluded that the skin of Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides has histological features similar to other vertebrates (amphibia, aves, mammalia), however without dermal papillae and glands.

Jacaranda decurrens (Bignoniaceae) is an endemic species of the Cerrado with validated antitumoral activity. The genetic diversity of six populations of J. decurrens located in the State of São Paulo was determined in this study by using molecular markers for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Following optimization of the amplification reaction, 10 selected primers generated 78 reproducible RAPD fragments that were mostly (69.2%) polymorphic. Two hundred and five reproducible AFLP fragments were generated by using four selected primer combinations; 46.3% of these fragments were polymorphic, indicating a considerable level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) using these two groups of markers indicated that variability was strongly structured amongst populations. The unweighted pair group method with arithmatic mean (UPGMA) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (RAPD -0.16, p = 0.2082; AFLP 0.37, p = 0.1006) between genetic matrices and geographic distances suggested that the population structure followed an island model in which a single population of infinite size gave rise to the current populations of J. decurrens, independently of their spatial position. The results of this study indicate that RAPD and AFLP markers were similarly efficient in measuring the genetic variability amongst natural populations of J. decurrens. These data may be useful for developing strategies for the preservation of this medicinal species in the Cerrado.

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 flavonóides / g folhas secas. A amostra Primavera 92 apresentou o maior teor de flavonóides e fenóis totais, e a amostra Inverno 94 apresentou o maior teor de triterpenos.

The chemical seasonal variability of Maytenus aquifolium Mart. (Celastraceae), a Brazilian medicinal plant known as "espinheira santa", was investigated on specimens cultivated at Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil, at the four seasons of two years. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenes varied from 21.96 to 45.92 mg total phenolics (expressed as tanic acid) / g dried leaves, 55.88 - 93.20 mg total triterpenes / g dried leaves, and 1.349 - 3.859 mg flavonoid / g dried leaves. Sample Spring 92 had the higher content of flavonoids and total phenolics, while sample Winter 94 had the highest content of triterpenes.