Chemotherapy treatment of leishmaniasis is based on the use of pentavalent antimonials, but these drugs present low efficacy and high toxicity. In the search for new antileishmanial agents, essential oils (EOs) from four Croton species (C. argyrophylloides, C. jacobinensis, C. nepetifolius and C. sincorensis) were evaluated against Leishmania infantum chagasi, L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis. EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Spathulenol, β-caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene oxide, 1,8-cineole and methyl eugenol were the major constituents. The evaluation of antioxidant activity by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) method showed that all EOs have moderate antioxidant activity. All oils were similarly active against L. i. chagasi, and C. nepetifolius EO showed the best result against L. amazonensis, with median inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 9.87 μg mL-1, similar to amphotericin B (IC50 = 7.38 μg mL-1). The oils presented low cytotoxicity in macrophages. The in silico analysis revealed that spathulenol and 1,8-cineole were active against the enzyme Leishmania infantum trypanothione reductase (LiTR), showing excellent interaction energies, making them promising agents for leishmaniasis control.

Resumo Nesse trabalho apresentamos o tratamento florístico de Malpighiaceae para as cangas da Serra dos Carajás, incluindo comentários taxonômicos para todas as espécies, além de ilustrações e fotografias. Encontramos na área de estudo 14 espécies, pertencentes aos gêneros Banisteriopsis (3 spp.), Byrsonima (3 spp.), Coleostachys (1 sp.), Diplopterys (1 sp.), Heteropterys (3 spp.), Niedenzuella (1 sp.), Peixotoa (1 sp.) e Stigmaphyllon (1 sp.). Heteropterys trigoniifolia, Niedenzuella acutifolia e Peixotoa reticulata são pela primeira vez registradas para o estado do Pará.

Abstract In this work, we present the floristic treatment of the Malpighiaceae of the canga of the Serra dos Carajás, including taxonomic comments about all species, as well illustrations and photographs. In the study area 14 species belonging to the genera Banisteriopsis (3 spp.), Byrsonima (3 spp.), Coleostachys (1 sp.), Diplopterys (1 sp.), Heteropterys (3 spp.), Niedenzuella (1 sp.), Peixotoa (1 sp.), and Stigmaphyllon (1 sp.) were recorded. Heteropterys trigoniifolia, Niedenzuella acutifolia and Peixotoa reticulata are recorded for the first time in the state of Pará.

Os extratos, frações e ácido elágico, isolados da entrecasca de Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae, foram testados in vitro para atividade antifúngica, frente a um painel de leveduras, hialo-hifomicetos e dermatófitos, utilizando o método de microdiluição. O extrato EtOH, frações e ácido elágico exibiram atividade contra Candida spp. e Saccharomyces cerevisiae com valores de CIM entre 250-1000 µg/mL, porιm não mostraram ação contra fungos filamentosos e dermatófitos (CIM>1000 µg/mL). Os extratos ativos foram avaliados nos ensaios de inibição do crescimento das hifas de Neurospora crassa, no teste do sorbitol, e pelo estudo do efeito do ergosterol na CIM do ácido elágico. Os extratos ativos, frações e ácido elágico mostraram zonas manchadas ao redor dos discos de papel e induziram malformações nas hifas. Além disso, a CIM do ácido elágico contra Saccharomyces cerevisiae passou de 62 para 250 µg/mL na presença do sorbitol 0,8 M, sugerindo que o ácido elágico provavelmente poderia exercer ação na parede celular fúngica. Esses resultados indicam que o ácido elágico pode ser o principal composto antifúngico de Lafoensia pacari, sugerindo que o modo de ação antifúngico desses extratos e ácido elágico poderia estar associado à inibição da parede celular fúngica.

Stem-bark extracts, fractions and the isolated constituent, ellagic acid of Lafoensia pacari St. Hil. (Lythraceae) were in vitro assayed for antifungal activity against a panel of yeasts, hialohyphomycetes as well as dermatophytes with the microbroth dilution method. The EtOH extract and its fractions and ellagic acid exhibited activity against Candida spp and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with MIC values between 250-1000 µg/mL, but they showed no action against filamentous fungi and dermatophytes (MIC>1000 µg/mL). Active extracts were evaluated in Neurospora crassa hyphal growth inhibition and sorbitol assays and then the effect of ergosterol on the MIC of ellagic acid was studied. The active extracts and its fractions and ellagic acid showed a blotchy zone around the paper disk and induced malformations of the hypha. Besides, MIC of the ellagic acid against the Saccharomyces cerevisiae was raised from 62 to 250 µg/mL in the presence of sorbitol 0.8 M, suggesting that the ellagic acid would probably exert its action on fungal cell wall. These results indicate that ellagic acid might be the main active antifungal compound of Lafoensia pacari and further suggest that the mode of antifungal action of these extracts and ellagic acid could be associated with the inhibition of fungal cell wall.

Os extratos em hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etila e etanol das entrecascas de Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari e Stryphnodendron obovatum, do rizoma de Simaba ferruginea e do látex de Croton urucurana foram triados contra um painel de bactérias e fungos usando o método de microdiluição em caldo. O látex de Croton urucurana foi o material derivado de planta com maior atividade antimicrobiana. Os extratos em acetato de etila e hexano da entrecasca de Calophyllum brasiliense destacaram-se por suas seletivas atividades antibacterianas. Os extratos polares da entrecasca de Lafoensia pacari notabilizaram-se por suas potentes e seletivas atividades contra leveduras e os extratos polares e não-polares de Bowdichia virgilioides por suas atividades antifúngicas contra hialo-hifomicetos e dermatófitos. Este é o primeiro relato mostrando atividades antifúngicas para os extratos de Cariniana rubra e Simaba ferruginea. Esse trabalho demonstrou a atividade antimicrobiana de plantas medicinais do Cerrado de Mato Grosso em ensaios in vitro e indica que elas podem ser potenciais candidatas para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias no tratamento de infecções bacterianas e fúngicas.

Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts from stem barks of Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari, and Stryphnodendron obovatum and rhizome of Simaba ferruginea and Dragon's blood red sap from Croton urucurana were screened against a panel of bacteria and fungi using the micro-broth dilution method. Dragon's blood from Croton urucurana was the most effective antimicrobial plant material. Ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of Calophyllum brasiliense stem bark deserved distinction by their selective antibacterial activity. Lafoensia pacari stem bark polar extracts distinguished by their potent and selective anti-yeast activity and Bowdichia virgilioides polar and non-polar extracts by their antifungal activity towards hyalohypho-mycetes and dermatophytes. This is the first report showing antifungal activity for polar extracts of Cariniana rubra and Simaba ferruginea. This study has demonstrated antimicrobial activity of Mato Grosso Cerrado ethnomedicinal plants in in vitro assays and has indicated that they can be effective potential candidates for the development of new strategies to treat fungal and bacterial infections.

The selective ion monitoring acquisition mode in mass spectrometry was applied to identify, in the diesel complex matrix, the raw materials (vegetable oil and alcohol) that originate biodiesel. Biodiesel samples obtained from babassu, castor, palm and soybean vegetable oils and pure fatty acid methyl and ethyl esters were used to develop this method, using specific fragments in mass spectrometry and the "window system" in gas chromatography. The commercial Brazilian B2 samples were found to be produced with soybean oil, transesterified with methanol.