Copaiba oilresins present medicinal uses that demand the development of methodologies that could ensure the authenticity and guarantee the species differentiation. The usual way to differentiate the copaiba oils is analyze the terpene composition, mainly the diterpenic acids profile. Unlike caryophyllene and its oxide, copaiba diterpenes are not commercially available and lab obtention is expensive and time consuming. At this paper, a new methodology is presented that allows the fast and reliable detection of copaiba biomarkers using HPTLC retention factor relative to an appropriate standard. Several commercially available substances were analyzed and the monoterpene linalool oxide was chosen. The comparison of relative retention factors allowed the confirmation of caryophyllene and its oxides and the diterpenic acids copalic, hydroxy-copalic, acetoxy-copalic, agathic, and hardwickiic. Calibration curve showed strong correlation (│r│ ≥0.9962) with R2 ≥0.9928.

ABSTRACT The bioavailability, toxicity, and therapeutic efficacy of a drug is directly related to its administration route. The pulmonary route can be accessed by inhalation after fumigation, vaporization or nebulization. Thus, pharmacological and toxicological evaluation accessed by an apparatus specifically designed and validated for this type of administration is extremely important. Based on pre-existing models, an inhalation chamber was developed. This presents a central structure with five animal holders. The nebulized air passes directly and continuously through these holders and subsequently to an outlet. Evaluation of its operation was performed using clove essential oil, a nebulizer, and a flow meter. The air within the chamber was collected by static headspace and analyzed by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. For this purpose, a 2.5 minutes chromatographic method was developed. The air flow in each of the five outputs was 0.92 liters per minute. During the first minute, the chamber became saturated with the nebulized material. Homogeneous and continuous operation of the chamber was observed without accumulation of volatile material inside it for 25 minutes. The inhalation chamber works satisfactorily for in vivo tests with medicines designed to be administrated by inhalation.

The Neotropical region has the highest freshwater sponge diversity in the world, with the presence of species of the families Metaniidae, Potamolepidae, and Spongillidae. Due to the remarkable lipid diversity in these organisms, this study aimed to characterize the sterols and volatile compounds of the sponge Trochospongilla paulula collected in the Tapajós River. Seven volatile compounds were identified, with the long-chain alcohols tetradecanol, pentadecanol, and hexadecanol representing 51.65% of this fraction. Cholesterol is the major sterol species, as reported for other species of the family Spongillidae; however, T. paulula may be distinguished by a chromatographic profile of its sterols.

Leaves and stems from Aniba panurensis (Meisn.) Mez, Aniba rosaeodora Ducke and Licaria martiniana (Mez) Kosterm. were collected in the Reserva Florestal Adolpho Ducke-AM and their essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation procedures. The oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS resulting on fifty and six compounds being identified. The major components were linalool in A. rosaeodora, and β-caryophyllene in A. panurensis and L. martiniana. At qualitative assays the oils showed antioxidant and antiplatelet activities, but only weak activities were found at quantitative spectrometric assays.

O breu exsudado das espécies de Burseraceae é amplamente utilizado tanto em cosméticos e perfumes quanto na medicina tradicional, para tratamento de diversos males. Amostras de breu de cinco espécies (Protium cf. apiculatum, P. cf. hebetatum, P. cf. heptaphyllum, P. tenuifolium e Trattinnikia peruviana), provenientes da Reserva Biológica Adolfo Ducke (Manaus-AM, Brasil), foram analisadas por FRXDE para determinação e quantificação dos elementos químicos com número atômico entre 11 e 92. Em todas as amostras foram observados os elementos S, Cl, Ca, Fe, Ti, V e Si, este último com as maiores concentrações (média de 13,1%, m/m). Além destes, foram detectados Na, P, Al, Mg, K, Cr e Mn. Excetuando-se o enxofre e o alumínio, a variação na concentração dos elementos presentes foi muito pequena (CV < 13%), sugerindo um padrão de composição inorgânica para os breus desta região. Alguns elementos foram detectados em apenas algumas espécies, sugerindo capacidades diferenciadas de absorção.

The trees from the Burseraceae family exude a resin widely used for both cosmetics and perfumes and in folk medicine, for the treatment of many diseases. Samples of oleoresin from five species (Protium cf. apiculatum, P. cf. hebetatum, P. cf. heptaphyllum, P. tenuifolium and Trattinnikia peruviana) were collected in the Reserva Biológica Adolfo Ducke (Manaus-AM, Brazil) and analyzed through EDXRF for determination and quantification of the chemical elements with atomic numbers from 11 to 92. In all samples the elements S, Cl, Ca, Fe, Ti, V and Si, were observed the last one having the highest concentrations (13.1%, m/m). In addition to these elements, Na, P, Al, Mg, K, Cr and Mn were also detected. Except for sulfur and aluminum, the variation of concentration of the elements present in the sample was very small (CV < 13%, m/m), suggesting a pattern of inorganic composition for the resins of this region. Some elements were detected in just some species, suggesting different capacities of absorption.

As monografias sobre plantas medicinais ou drogas vegetais contêm informações para atender não somente aos órgãos de regulamentação, mas também às empresas industriais farmacêuticas e farmácias, e mesmo ao público consumidor. Este artigo revê as monografias da Comissão E, do American Botanical Council, ESCOP, PDR e da Organização Mundial de Saúde em suas origens, objetivos e formatos. Duas publicações recentemente organizadas pela FIOCRUZ do Rio de Janeiro e as contribuições da Farmacopéia Brasileira também são avaliadas.

The medicinal plants monographs are very important information collections about some of the most consumed plants all over the world that attend not only the regulatory agencies but also pharmaceutical industries and the general consumer. This manuscript reviews the origins, objectives and formats of the most important monographs, like Commission E, American Botanical Council, ESCOP, PDR and WHO. Two recently published Brazilian experiences organized by FIOCRUZ and the contributions from Brazilian Pharmacopoeia are also evaluated.

O gênero Copaifera L. é um dos mais importantes economicamente na Região Amazônica devido, principalmente, à produção dos óleos de copaíba, oléo-resinas com diversas propriedades farmacológicas confirmadas. Apesar disso, os estudos fitoquímicos com as sementes das árvores do gênero Copaifera L.são raros. Copaifera officinalis foi a primeira espécie do gênero Copaifera a ser descrita. Este trabalho descreve a composição dos extratos obtidos em hexano e em acetato de etila das sementes de C. officinalis. No extrato obtido em hexano, a análise por cromatografia em fase gasosa utilizando padrões e através de espectrometria de massas permitiu a identificação de: esqualeno, tetradecano, hexadecano, campesterol, estigmasterol e beta-sitosterol; os ácidos graxos hexadecanóico, 9-octadecenóico e octadecanóico (majoritários); e decanóico, eicosanóico, docosanóico e tetracosanóico (minoritários). Cumarina foi isolada do extrato em acetato de etila e identificada por técnicas de RMN.

Copaifera L. is one of the most economically important plant genera in the Amazon Region, since it exudes a resin-oil named copaiba oil possessing several confirmed pharmacological properties. In spite of that, phytochemical studies of the seeds from this genus are rare. Copaifera officinalis L. was the first species in the genus Copaifera to be described. This paper describes the chemical composition of the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of the seeds from this species. In the hexane extract, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses enabled us to identify squalene, tetradecane, hexadecane, campesterol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol; hexadecanoic, 9-octadecenoic and octadecanoic acids (major substances); as well as decanoic, eicosanoic, docosanoic and tetracosanoic (minor substances) acids. Coumarin was detected in the ethyl acetate extract, isolated and identified by NMR.

This paper reviews the recent literature on synergism, adulteration and risks of using medicinal plants. The use of copaiba and sacaca plants as well as their adulteration and side effects, are also described. In addition, the new regulations on phytotherapeutic registration in Brazil and Europe are discussed.

This review details the history, chemistry and pharmacology of the Copaifera L. genus (Leguminosae - Caesalpinoideae), including copaiba oils.