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.

A novel anti-inflammatory hybrid 3-ibuprofenyl-copalic acid (3-IbuCA) was synthesized from 3-hydroxy-copalic acid isolated from Amazonian copaiba oil (Copaifera multijuga Hayne), and the anti-inflammatory ibuprofen. After full characterization, several assays to verify its anti-inflammatory effects were performed in vitro, in vivo and in silico (molecular docking). Induced fit docking was performed to observe the interactions with the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In vitro tests of cytotoxicity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibition, and in vivo tests of pleurisy, protein expression and gastrocytotoxicity were performed. Molecular docking studies with COX-1 and 2 showed binding free energies (ΔG) of -2.2 and -7.8 kcal mol-1, respectively, while for mofezolac and indomethacin, the binding free energies ΔG presented values of -8.5 and -10.1 kcal mol-1, which makes 3-IbuCA selective for COX-2 inhibition. This hybrid showed no toxicity against human macrophage at concentrations up to 2 µM, and inhibited TNF-α production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. In the pleurisy assays, 3-IbuCA reduced the total leukocytes and mononuclear cells, which was followed by reduction of p-IKBα (phosphorylated nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha) protein expression. Compared with ibuprofen alone, the hybrid caused less gastric damage. Thus, the docking, together with in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that this novel hybrid has potential as a new anti-inflammatory agent.

Copaifera multijuga Hayne is the main species of the genus in the Amazon region, being exploited for copaiba oil production mainly because of its therapeutic properties. The plant parts (leaves, branches, and barks) are widely used in folk medicine. However, they are little explored in terms of chemical composition. In this study, the polar extracts of leaves, branches, and barks of the species were analysed by direct infusion in ESI-MS with the aid of reference standards and MS2 fragmentation experiments. Twenty-six substances (carboxylic acids, flavonoids, condensed tannins, a diterpene and fifteen isomers of galoylquinic acids) were detected. Metabolic profiles were similar between extracts of leaves and branches, especially with the detection of galloylquinic acids and carboxylic acids. In bark extract, condensed tannins epicatechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin (dimer) and epicatechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin-(4β-8)-epiafzelechin (trimer) were detected. The PCA showed differences and similarities in the chemical composition of the copaíba mari-mari extracts. Thus, galloylquinic acids and flavonoids kaempferol, 7-O-methyl-kaempferol, quercetin-3-O-L-pentoside, and quercetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside are described for the first time in C. multijuga. The phytotherapeutic properties of teas of the plant parts of the species may be associated with the suggested polyphenols.

Civilian defense devices are physical and chemical artefacts used to incapacitate an aggressor without causing death or injury. As city violence increases, safety feelings became worst and a growing commercial demand for these materials supply faces technologically challenges not only to riot control but also to self-protection. Controversies on the use of these devices have been discussed, especially on their toxicity when synthetic chemical agents are used. Natural metabolites are a less explored alternative to meet this demand. They have the capacity to generate a temporary disabling effect due to their pungency. Those metabolites, which include capsaicinoids, gingerols and piperine, can be used as deterrent agents in civilian defense devices due to their low toxicity to humans. Although they are a viable alternative, there are few studies focused on their quality control, efficiency and toxicity. This review aimed to present relevant aspects about the development and use of natural products as deterrent agents in self-defense devices against aggressors and animals, and as non-lethal weapons for riot control in order to help the scientific development of this type of bioproduct.

Chagas' disease is a parasitic disease with unsatisfactory treatment, mainly in chronic stage. This study aimed to evaluate the trypanocidal activity and action mechanisms of α/β-amyrin and its semi-synthetic derivatives, together with four isolated natural triterpenes, tested against trypomastigote and amastigote forms. The structure-activity relationship was suggested and cytotoxicity was measured. In general, greater polar compounds may have improved the selectivity to the protozoan. Action mechanisms were only performed for the amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi by evaluating the ultrastructural alterations, membrane permeability, mitochondrial membrane potential and cell volume, since the majority of compounds displayed promising antiamastigote activities. Triterpenes promoted changes on mitochondrial membrane potential and ultrastructural features that suggest autophagy processes. Both combinations between α/β-amyrin and 3-O-acetyl-11-oxo-α/β-amyrin and 3-O-acetyl-α/β-amyrin with benznidazole displayed synergistic effects against amastigotes and antagonistic effects on LLCMK2 cells. The antiamastigote activities, chemical derivatization, drug combinations and action mechanisms revealed to be crucial approaches toward this chronic disease.

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.

Piquiá (Caryocar villosum - Caryocaraceae) is a native fruit from the Amazon region rich in bioactive substances. Fruit pulp extracts were analyzed by HPLC, together with extracts obtained from fruit pulp industry residual parts, byproducts such as husks (shells) and seeds. Extracts were prepared with two ethanolic solvent systems. Phenolic substances ellagic and gallic acids were detected with standards and quantified by HPLC. Cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro were also evaluated. Shell extracts showed free radicals scavenger capacity in ABTS (IC50: 3.93 ± 0.12 µg mL-1) and DPPH models (IC50: 7.81 ± 0.34 µg mL-1), low cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts, but high at tumor strains, and also a high anti-inflammatory potential observed by the inhibition of nitric oxide production. At low concentrations (20 µg mL-1), excellent antioxidant activities were verified in cellular assays, with percentages of 70.69 ± 2.77%, 79.89 ± 6.50% and 79.48 ± 8.6% for shell, pulp and seed extracts, respectively. With this set of results, C. villosum fruit extracts become a high potential raw material to be used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

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.

The essential oils of branches and leaves of Endlicheria citiodora were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed using GC-FID, GC-MS and both NMR 13C and ¹H, resulting in the identification of methyl geranate as major constituent (93%) in both oils. Cytotoxicity, tyrosinase-inhibition and antioxidant activities were studied and characterized. High antioxidant potential (15.52 and 13.53 µg/mL), low cytotoxicity and tyrosinase inhibition (53.85%) were observed. This is the first paper reporting the biological activities and composition of the essential oils of this species.

Óleos de copaíba são importantes produtos naturais que têm sido amplamente utilizados por suas atividades cicatrizantes e anti-inflamatórias. Constituídos de sesquiterpenos e diterpenos, estes óleos apresentam composição química variável que, segundo a literatura pode ser originada por diversos fatores bióticos e abióticos. Com o objetivo de analisar a relação entre a composição química e fatores abióticos como sazonalidade, diâmetro à altura do peito (DBH) e composição do solo, dezesseis amostras de óleo-resina de Copaifera multijuga Hayne, provenientes da Reserva Florestal Ducke (Manaus-AM, Brasil), foram analisadas por cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização de chama (GC-FID) e acoplada à espectrometria de massas (GC-MS). Trinta e cinco substâncias foram identificadas e os resultados avaliados por técnicas de análise multivariada (análises de agrupamento hierárquico (HCA) e a análise de componentes principais (PCA)), permitindo a diferenciação das amostras em dois grupos com composições distintas. Um deles apresentou como substância majoritária b-cariofileno enquanto o outro apresentou o óxido de cariofileno, essa variação na composição parece depender do tipo de solo. Outros fatores, anteriormente descritos como essenciais para a definição da composição química dos óleos de copaíba, como sazonalidade e DBH, não mostraram influência significativa sobre a composição química dos óleos-resina desta espécie.

Copaiba oils are important medicinal products used primarily for their healing and anti-inflammatory activities. Consisting of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, these oils have variable composition which, according to the literature, may originate from several factors. In order to analyze the relationship between chemical composition and abiotic factors such as seasonality, diameter at breast height (DBH) and soil composition, sixteen of oilresin samples of Copaifera multijuga Hayne, from the Ducke Forest Reserve (Manaus City, Amazon State, Brazil), were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-five compounds were identified and the results evaluated by multivariate analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA)), allowing differentiation of the samples into two groups with different compositions. One of them presented β-caryophyllene as the major constituent, while the other presented caryophyllene oxide. This variation in composition appears to depend on soil type. Other factors previously described as essential for defining the chemical composition of copaiba oils, such as seasonality and DBH, showed no significant influence on the chemical composition of oils of this species.

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.