RESUMEN Introducción: Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT) tienen las tasas de mortalidad y morbilidad más altas del mundo. El uso de plantas medicinales en la terapia de estas enfermedades es una realidad muy extendida. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las especies vegetales contienen cristales de oxalato cálcico, producto del metabolismo vegetal y su ingesta se correlaciona con la aparición de problemas renales como la litiasis urinaria, especialmente en personas predispuestas a estas afecciones. Objetivo: Determinar la cantidad de ácido oxálico en especies vegetales que se utilizan en el tratamiento de las ECNT. Metodología: Se obtuvieron extractos acuosos y ácidos de 0,5 g del fármaco vegetal de la especie y, posteriormente, se tituló con una solución estandarizada de permanganato de potasio 0,02 mol.L-1con las concentraciones de ácido oxálico expresadas en g/100g de fármaco vegetal seco. Resultados: La concentración de ácido oxálico osciló entre 4,58 ± 0,09 g/100 g a 17,21 ± 0,07 g/100 g en especies de plantas y la extracción de ácido fue más eficiente. Se realizó una optimización metodológica para las especies que presentaron los mejores resultados, Psidiumguajava y Artocarpus heterophyllus. Conclusión: Los datos obtenidos pueden servir de base para decisiones médicas y para profesionales que prescriben plantas medicinales.

SUMMARY Introduction: Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are a group of diseases characterized by having the highest mortality and morbidity rates in the world. Despite the increase in new drug technologies, the use of medicinal plants as an aid in therapy for these diseases is a widespread reality. However, most plant species contain inorganic crystals of calcium oxalate, a product of plant metabolism, which has several functions in plant tissues. For the human species, its ingestion is associated with the arising of kidney problems such as urinary lithiasis, especially in people who have a predisposition to these conditions. Aim: To determine the amount of oxalic acid in plant species, which are used in the treatment of CNCDs. Methodology: After collection and characterization the plant species, aqueous and acidic extracts were obtained from 0.5 g of the plant drug of each species and, subsequently, were titrated with a standardized 0.02 mol.L-1 potassium permanganate solution and the concentrations of oxalic acid were expressed in g/100 g of dry vegetable drug. Result: The data obtained from the concentration of oxalic acid ranged from 4.58 ± 0.09 g/100 g to 17.21 ± 0.07 g/100 g and demonstrated that the concentrations from acid extraction are higher compared to the aqueous extraction, for all vegetables species analyzed. Methodological optimization was performed for the species that showed the highest results, Psidium guajava and Artocarpus hetero phyllus. Conclusion: The data obtained can serve as input for medical decisions and for professionals who prescribe medicinal plants.

RESUMO Introdução: As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) são um grupo de doenças caracterizadas por apresentar as maiores taxas de mortalidade e morbidade do mundo. Apesar do aumento de novas tecnologias medicamentosas, o uso de plantas medicinais como auxiliar na terapia dessas doenças é uma realidade bastante difundida. No entanto, a maioria das espécies vegetais contém cristais inorgânicos de oxalato de cálcio, um produto do metabolismo vegetal, que possui diversas funções nos tecidos vegetais. Para a espécie humana, sua ingestão está associada ao surgimento de problemas renais como a litíase urinária, principalmente em pessoas com predisposição a essas condições. Objetivo: Determinar a quantidade de ácido oxálico em espécies vegetais, que são utilizadas no tratamento de DCNT. Metodologia: Após a coleta e caracterização das espécies vegetais, extratos aquosos e ácidos foram obtidos a partir de 0,5 g da droga vegetal de cada espécie e, posteriormente, titulados com solução padronizada de permanganato de potássio 0,02 mol.L-1 e as concentrações de ácido oxálico foram expressos em g/100 g de fármaco vegetal seco. Resultado: Os dados obtidos da concentração de ácido oxálico variaram de 4,58 ± 0,09 g/100 g a 17,21 ± 0,07 g/100 g e demonstraram que as concentrações da extração ácida são maiores em relação à extração aquosa, para todas as espécies vegetais analisadas. A otimização metodológica foi realizada para as espécies que apresentaram os maiores resultados, Psidiumguajava e Artocarpus heterophyllus. Conclusão: Os dados obtidos podem servir de subsídio para decisões médicas e para profissionais que prescrevem plantas medicinais.

Abstract Averrhoa bilimbi L. and A. carambola L., Oxalidaceae, are the only two species of the genus Averrhoa L. Their leaves are widely used in folk medicine as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetes. Some species may contain, for example, calcium oxalate crystals, which may lead to risk in its use when there is predisposition of individuals with reduced renal activity. Therefore, there are still few studies on the content of oxalic acid present in them, highlighting the importance of this investigation. The objective of this work was to conduct a comparative anatomical and histochemical study between the species and determining its content of oxalic acid. Semipermanent histological slides were prepared, following common plant anatomy procedures, for analysis of the leaflets in optical microscopy, polarization and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. To determine the total, soluble and insoluble oxalate content was used titration with potassium permanganate. The anatomical characterization allowed identifying the characters useful in the differentiation of the species. The histochemistry revealed the location of the metabolites. Chemical microanalyses demonstrated that the crystals are of calcium oxalate. A. carambola presented the highest levels of total oxalate and soluble oxalate. The study assists in the identification and quality control of A. bilimbi and A. carambola and brings new data on its oxalic acid content, which are important, in view of the medicinal use of the species.

Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen, popularly known as sapoti or sapota (sapodilla), is a tree bearing an important fruit, in addition to different parts of the plant being widely used in folk medicine in the management of inflammation, pain, fevers, coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, among other ailments. This study aimed to conduct a pharmacobotany standardization study of M. zapota. Semi-permanent slides, containing transversal sections of stem, petiole, leaf blade and fruit; and paradermic sections of leaf blade were prepared, and analyzed by light microscopy. Histochemical tests were also performed in cross-sections of the leaf blade. Microscopic analysis allowed the identification of important elements in the diagnosis of the species; while the use of histochemical techniques on the leaf blade showed evidence of the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins, triterpenes and steroids, lipophilic compounds, starch, lignin and calcium oxalate crystals. The results presented contributed to characterization of the species.

Chrysobalanaceae is a family composed of seventeen genera and about 525 species. In Africa and South America some species have popular indications for various diseases such as malaria, epilepsy, diarrhea, inflammations and diabetes. Despite presenting several indications of popular use, there are few studies confirming the activities of these species. In the course of evaluating the potential for future studies, the present work is a literature survey on databases of the botanical, chemical, biological and ethnopharmacological data on Chrysobalanaceae species published since the first studies that occurred in the 60's until the present day.

Este estudo descreve a anatomia e analisa a histoquímica dos órgãos vegetativos de Priva lappulacea (L.) Pers. Secções transversais e paradérmicas, à mão livre, de material fresco e fixado foram utilizadas para as análises anatômicas e histoquímicas, usando microscopia óptica. Os caracteres anatômicos são comuns àqueles descritos para a família, podendo ser utilizados como diagnóstico na sua identificação. Destacam-se, nas folhas, os tricomas, glandular e não-glandular, estômatos anomocíticos, em ambas as faces da epiderme, e mesofilo dorsiventral. As expansões no pecíolo são acrescentadas à diagnose da espécie. Estudo fitoquímico realizado com as partes aéreas mostrou a presença de triterpeno (ácido ursólico) e esteróide (β-sitosterol), iridóides (ipolamida e catalpol), açúcar redutor (glucose), flavonóide (luteolina) e fenilpropanóide (verbascosídeo). Nas raízes foi encontrada apenas glucose e dois iridóides estiveram presentes no caule e folhas. Alcalóides, saponinas, cumarinas, derivados cinâmicos, proantocianidinas condensadas e leucoantocianidinas não foram constatados nas partes analisadas. A descrição anatômica e os testes histoquímicos são inéditos para P. lappulacea.

This study describes the anatomy and analyzes the histochemistry of the vegetative organs of Priva lappulacea (L.) Pers. Freehanded transversal and paradermal sections of fresh and fixed material were used for the anatomical and histochemical analyses, using optical microscopy. The anatomical characters are common to those described for the family, being able to be used to diagnosis in its identification. The leaves are highlighted by the presence of glandular and non-glandular trichomes, anomocytic stomata on both faces of the epidermis and dorsiventral mesophyll. The expansions in the petiole are added to the diagnosis of this species. The phytochemical study carried out with aerial organs showed the presence of triterpene (ursolic acid) and steroid (β-sitosterol), iridoids (ipolamide and catalpol), reducing sugar (glucose), flavonoid (luteolin) and fenilpropanoid (verbascosides). In the roots only glucose was found and two iridoids are present in stem and leaves. Alkaloids, saponins, cumarines, cinamic acid derivates, condensed proantocianidines and leucoantocianidines were not checked in the analyzed parts. The anatomical description and the histochemical tests are unpublished for P. lappulacea.

A própolis é uma substância resinosa coletada pelas abelhas de diversas partes das plantas. Sua composição depende da época, vegetação e local de coleta. Apresenta diversas atividades biológicas como antimicrobiana, antioxidante, antitumoral, dentre outras. Foi realizado estudo da variabilidade sazonal, nos meses de fevereiro, junho e outubro de 2006, dos constituintes voláteis da própolis vermelha de Pernambuco através da extração por headspace dinâmico e identificação por cromatografia gasosa acoplada com espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). Foram identificados 34 constituintes voláteis, sendo monoterpenos e monoterpenóides, sesquiterpenos e sesquiterpenóides, fenilpropanóides, aldeídos, cetonas e η-alcanos. Os constituintes majoritários foram o trans-anetol, α-copaeno e o metil cis-isoeugenol. Também foi realizado o perfil fitoquímico por cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD), através da qual os constituintes fenólicos foram identificados como majoritários. Com o extrato bruto metanólico da própolis, realizou-se o ensaio de letalidade em Artemia salina, que demonstrou DL50 de 18,9 µg/mL, sugerindo uma possível atividade antitumoral.

Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by honeybees from plant sources. The composition of the propolis depends on the season, the vegetation, and the area of collection. It presents a diverse biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumoral. The seasonal variability of the red propolis constituents from Pernambuco State were accomplished in the months of February, June and October of 2006. The volatile red propolis constituients were captured by the dynamic headspace technique and analyzed by GC-MS. In the analysis of the samples, 34 constituents were identified as the mono and sesquiterpens, phenylpropanoids, aldehydes, cetons and n-alcanes, presenting as majority constituents the trans-anethol, α-copaene and methyl cis-isoeugenol. The phytochemistry profile was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Through this technique the majority constituents were identified as phenols. The Brine shrimp bioassay was used to evaluate of the red propolis methanolic extract, which demonstrated a DL50 of 18.9 µg/mL and an activity antitumoral was possibly suggested.