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Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, Volume: 28, Número: 5, Publicado: 2018
  • Morpho-anatomical characters of Limonium brasiliense leaves Original Articles

    Gancedo, Naiara C.; Medeiros, Daniela C. de; Milaneze-Gutierre, Maria A.; Mello, João C. P. de

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Limonium brasiliense (Boiss.) Kuntze, Plumbaginaceae, is a coastal herb of the Southern Brazilian states and Rio de Janeiro State. In folk medicine, it is used in the treatment of female genitourinary tract infections and menstrual cycle irregularities. The aim of this study was to describe morpho-anatomical characters with details on venation pattern of L. brasiliense leaves, collected on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, in Southern Brazil. Leaf samples fixed in FAA50 (5% formaldehyde, 5% acetic acid and 90% ethanol: water mixture 50:50 v/v) and 1% glutaraldehyde and preserved in 70% ethanol, were histologically sectioned and analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. The L. brasiliense leaves were simple, entire, incomplete, oboval-lanceolate, venation penninervous and showed rosulated phyllotaxy, entire and revolute margin, with apex rounded to slightly retuse, base attenuate and venation pattern brochidodromous. On microscopic analysis, these leaves showed a thick and striated cuticle, salt glands, isobilateral mesophyll thicker in the apical region of the leaf blade, abundant aerenchyma in the petiole and main vein, collateral vascular bundles surrounded by fiber-sclereids, lipid substances in the cuticle and polyphenols in phloem cells.
  • Pharmacognostical studies of Premna microphylla Original Articles

    Tang, Gengqiu; Lin, Xiaojing; Li, Junni; Li, Rong; Wang, Dong; Ji, Shengguo

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Various traditional systems of medicine enlightened the importance of Premna microphylla Turcz., Lamiaceae, medicinally. The present study was carried out to provide a scientific basis of the identification and the authenticity of P. microphylla with the help of pharmacognostical parameters, which is not done before. Roots, stems, and leaves of P. microphylla were collected for pharmacognostical studies involving macros, microscopic evaluation, physicochemical parameters analysis like fluorescence analysis and thin layer chromatography, in addition with DNA barcodes of internal transcribed spacer and psbA-trnH regions. Transverse section of root indicated the presence of stone cell bands. Transverse section of stem showed the presence of stone cells and vessels. Transverse section of leaf midrib revealed the presence of shaft type of porosity. Microscopic studies of powder revealed the presence of cork cells, fibers, vessels, nonglandular hairs, stone cells and glandular scale cells. Thin layer chromatography of the extract revealed the presence of oleanolic acid in P. microphylla with specific R f values. Identification through DNA barcode showed the sequence of internal transcribed spacer region was novel while the sequence of psbA-trnH region displayed no differences from known sequence. The observations confirmed that P. microphylla has an obvious pharmacognostical characteristics, which will be useful toward providing a reliable basis for identification, purity, quality and classification of the plant.
  • HPLC fingerprint and simultaneous quantitative analysis of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin for identification and authentication of Phyllanthus niruri from related species Original Articles

    Nasrulloh, Roni; Rafi, Mohamad; Wahyuni, Wulan Tri; Shimma, Shuichi; Heryanto, Rudi

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract A precise and accurate method for the identification and authentication of Phyllanthus niruri L. from P. debilis Klein ex Willd. and P. urinaria L., Phyllanthaceae, was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Chromatographic fingerprint analysis was combined with simultaneous quantification of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin for the developed method. Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin were successfully separated and quantified under this proposed method. The highest amount of phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin was found in P. niruri compared to P. debilis and P. urinaria. Fingerprint chromatogram of the three Phyllanthus species showed distinct profiles that these may be used to identify and authenticate each Phyllanthus species, which improved by marker compounds present in each species. The combination of chromatographic fingerprint analysis and discriminant analysis was successfully discriminated all three species, including P. niruri adulterated with P. debilis or P. urinaria. The method can be used for the identification and authentication of P. niruri from related species, such as P. debilis and P. urinaria.
  • Comprehensive chemical analysis of the flower buds of five Lonicera species by ATR-FTIR, HPLC-DAD, and chemometric methods Original Articles

    Li, Yanqun; Kong, Dexin; Wu, Hong

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Lonicera japonica Thunb., Caprifoliaceae, has been employed in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. However, it is frequently confused with closely related species, and thus, a mixture of these species is commonly used. The sources of Lonicera species must be accurately and rapidly determined to ensure the clinical efficacy of herbal medicines. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector, combined with chemometrics methods, were used to comprehensively evaluate the Lonicera quality. The infrared fingerprint results indicated that the spectra of L. japonica and its related species were very similar in the range 4000–1800 cm-1, however a large number of chemical absorption peaks were observed in the region 1800–600 cm-1 with certain differences. The five Lonicera species had high chlorogenic acid (25.85–67.75 µg/mg), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (11.63–62.58 µg/mg), and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (2.64–30.91 µg/mg) contents. The chemical fingerprints of L. hypoglauca Miq. and L. confusa DC were the most similar to that of L. japonica Thunb. The chemical fingerprints of L. fulvotomentosa P.S. Hsu & S.C. Cheng and L. macranthoides Hands.-Mazz. were very different from that of L. japonica. A loading analysis indicated that the differences in the chemical fingerprints of the Lonicera species were mainly due to variations in the contents of the organic acids and flavonoids. Soft independent modeling of class analogy model was successfully developed to classify unknown samples of the five Lonicera species. This comprehensive, unbiased strategy provides adequate, reliable scientific evidence for authenticating herbal sources, therefore offering a powerful, new route for herbal analysis.
  • Trifolium pratense: Friable calli, cell culture protocol and isoflavones content in wild plants, in vitro and cell cultures analyzed by UPLC Original Articles

    Reis, Andressa; Scopel, Marina; Zuanazzi, José Angelo Silveira

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Trifolium pratense L., Fabaceae, is a rich source of isoflavones and has become the focus of several studies related to its phytoestrogenic activity. The aim of this study was to establish germination and cell cultures protocol for T. pratense and quantify isoflavones content in cell cultures, in vitro cultured and wild plants harvested in two different seasons. Murashige Skoog medium supplemented with naphthalene acetic acid and kinetin was able to produce the highest formation of friable calli. Calli cultures were analyzed qualitatively after 60 days of culture, and in vitro plants after 30, 45 and 60 days of cultivation. The chemical analysis was performed by ultra performance liquid chromatography, using the linearity curves of daidzein, genistein, formononetin and biochanin A as standards. The concentrations of isoflavones detected in wild plants were different in the two harvest periods and contrasted in content when compared to the in vitro plants. Cell cultures exhibited diverse profiles and concentration of isoflavones, none of which presented the isoflavonoid biochanin A. Pectinase was used to promote reduction of clumps and ended up altering the characteristics of secondary metabolites production in some cultures. Formononetin showed higher concentration in wild red clover samples (15.407 mg g-1), and in the in vitro grown plants the highest concentration was daidzein (17.591 mg g-1) at 60 days. The methods used for this research were effective, and the red clover plants of the analyzed variety can be cultivated in vitro aiming the commercial productivity by having contents greater than or equal to the wild plants in the periods studied, even without the use of elicitors during the cultivation.
  • In vitro antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of compounds isolated from the roots of Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba Original Articles

    Costa, Rafael S.; Souza Filho, Otávio P.; Dias Júnior, Otávio C.S.; Silva, Jaqueline J.; Hyaric, Mireille Le; Santos, Marcos A.V.; Velozo, Eudes S.

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Five coumarins (5,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin (1), sabandin (2), cubreuva lactone (3), 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin (5) and braylin (6)), seven furoquinoline alkaloids (isopimpinelin (4), pteleine (7), maculine (8), skimianine (10), robustine (11), y-fagarine (12) and dictamine (13) and the furofuran type lignin syringaresinol (9)) have been identified for the first time in the roots of Zanthoxylum tingoassuiba A. St.-Hil., Rutaceae. Pure compounds 1, 6, 9, 12 were tested against Leishmania amazonensis parasites and epimastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. All the tested products displayed an antiparasitic activity similar to that of the positive controls (benznidazole and amphotericin B). Compound 9 was the most active against both parasites with IC50 values of 11.98 µM and 7.55 µM against L. amazonensis and T. cruzi, respectively.
  • Carnosol from Lepechinia mutica and tiliroside from Vallea stipularis: Two promising inhibitors of BuChE Original Articles

    Ramírez, Jorge; Suarez, Alírica I.; Bec, Nicole; Armijos, Chabaco; Gilardoni, Gianluca; Larroque, Christian; Vidari, Giovanni

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Lepechinia mutica (Benth.) Epling, Lamiaceae, and Vallea stipularis L.f., Elaeocarpaceae, are the object of the present study. These plants are endemic to the Andean region and have attracted our attention on the basis of interesting results obtained in a preliminary anticholinesterase screening. Actually, carnosol and tiliroside, isolated from L. mutica and V. stipularis, respectively, have shown a promising selective inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase. Specifically, the anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity of carnosol was 5.15 µM and that of tiliroside was 52.9 µM, compared to 8.568 ± 0.570 µM of the positive control Donepezil. Carnosol and tiliroside were purified chromatographically from the ethyl acetate extract of L. mutica and V. stipularis, respectively. Spectrophotometric methods were used for enzymatic studies.
  • Salvastearolide, a new acyl-glyceride, and other constituents from the seeds of Salvadora persica Original Articles

    El-Desouky, Samy K.; Hawas, Usama W.; Khemira, Habib; Kim, Young-Kyoon

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract The chemical investigation of the n-hexane fraction of Salvadora persica L., Salvadoraceae, seeds afforded a new stearic acid ester, salvastearolide, together with five other phytosteroids identified as stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ7-campesterol, Δ7-avenasterol and campesterol. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments and HRESI mass spectrometry. In addition, salvastearolide and the isolated fractions were tested for their cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and HT-29. The n-hexane fraction exhibited significant anti-proliferative effect against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 (IC50 50 µg/ml), while salvastearolide possessed a weak cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cells with IC50 103.98 µg/ml.
  • Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of a neurosteroidal alkaloid from the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda venom Original Articles

    Mohebbi, Gholamhossein; Nabipour, Iraj; Vazirizadeh, Amir; Vatanpour, Hossein; Farrokhnia, Maryam; Maryamabadi, Ammar; Bargahi, Afshar

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Natural compounds from marine organisms have been rarely studied for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The aim of this study was to isolate novel compounds with antiAChE activity from the venom of upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda Forskål, 1775. The compounds of the fractionated venom on gel filtration chromatography were identified by analyzing gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy data. The structure of the isolated compound that showed the most potent antiAChE activity in a docking study was elucidated by different spectral data, including 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Three compounds, including a neurosteroidal alkaloid androtoxin B, were identified from two venom fractions. This neurosteroidal alkaloid showed strong acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 2.24 ± 0.1 µM) compared with the reference standard, galantamine. The results obtained by a docking study demonstrated that Androtoxin B had close contact with two of the three amino acid residues of the catalytic triad of acetylcholinesterase gorge and was accommodated within a peripheral hydrophobic pocket composed of numerous aromatic site chains. In conclusion, the isolated neurosteroidal alkaloid from Cassiopea andromeda was a potent antiAChE agent with strong binding to both the catalytic and peripheral sites of acetylcholinesterase that correlated well with the experimental data. Further studies are required to determine whether androtoxin B could be a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
  • Pharmacological and chemical properties of some marine echinoderms Original Articles

    Marmouzi, Ilias; Tamsouri, Naoufal; El Hamdani, Maha; Attar, Aisha; Kharbach, Mourad; Alami, Rachid; El Jemli, Meryem; Cherrah, Yahia; Ebada, S. Sherif; Faouzi, My El Abbes

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Echinoderms have attracted the attention of scientists over the past few years after identifying a variety of unique structures endowed by interesting biological properties. However, the Moroccan coast biodiversity is still uninvestigated. In our ongoing attempts to valorize the rich Moroccan marine environment, this study aimed at assessing the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from three echinoderms Astropecten irregularis, Luidia sarsi and Ophiura albida against the human pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica and Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, their antioxidant activities were tested using standard methods in addition to the antidiabetic activity which has been evaluated in vitro against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS analysis revealed a significant content of some phenolic compounds such as pyrogallol, gallic, sinapic, ferulic, p-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acids whose existence can be related to the endophytic fungi and/or dietary intake whereas GC-MS analysis exhibited diverse chemical structures such as cholesterol, oleic acid and glycerol 1-palmitate.
  • LC–MS/MS determination of deoxyelephantopin, a novel anti-tumor candidate in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats Original Articles

    Niu, Kai; Guo, Chunjie; Yan, Huiyu; Teng, Shiyong

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract A specific, sensitive and robust LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of deoxyelephantopin in rat plasma using simvastatin as an internal standard as per regulatory guidelines of Bioanalytical Method Validation. Plasma sample was prepared through liquid-liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agela-C18 analytical column (1.8 µm, 2.1 mm × 50 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 0.05% formic acid (dissolved in acetonitrile) and water (55:45, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The column oven was maintained at 40 ºC and the injection volume was 4 µl. Elution of deoxyelephantopin and the internal standard occurred at 5.1 and 6.3 min, respectively. The total chromatographic run time was 7.5 min. A linear response function was constructed in the concentration range of 13.2–2640 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were in the range of 1.4–14.8% and –11.7 to 14.1%, respectively. The validated LC–MS/MS was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of deoxyelephantopin after intravenous injection of 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg and oral administration of 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg deoxyelephantopin in rats. After oral and intravenous administration, the C max and AUC values of deoxyelephantopin increased dose-dependently.
  • Hydroethanolic extract of Tropaeolum majus promotes anxiolytic effects on rats Original Articles

    Melo, Ailton C.; Costa, Simone C.A.; Castro, Alanna F.; Souza, Amanda N.V.; Sato, Samantha W.; Lívero, Francislaine A.R.; Lourenço, Emerson L.B.; Baretta, Irinéia P.; Lovato, Evellyn C.W.

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Tropaeolum majus L., Tropaeolaceae, popularly known in Brazil as ‘capuchinha’ is widely used due its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-hypertensive and anti-depressive properties. However, scientific investigations about its effects on the central nervous system are still scarce. This study investigated the central pharmacological actions of the prolonged treatment with a hydroethanolic extract of T. majus in male Wistar rats in the elevated plus maze and hole-board behavioral models. For this, rats were daily treated with distillated water (negative control); diazepam (1 mg/kg) or hydroethanolic extract of T. majus (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg), for 29 days (by gavage) and were submitted to elevated plus maze and hole-board. Animals treated with all hydroethanolic extract of T. majus or diazepam doses increased the percentage of entries in open arms when compared to control group. However, only treatment with diazepam increased the length of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze. No differences between all groups were observed regardless rearing, grooming, stretched-attend postures and defecation rates. In the HB test, in opposite to diazepam, treatment with hydroethanolic extract of T. majus did not interfere in the exploratory activity of rats. The hydroethanolic extract of T. majus promotes anxiolytic-like effects when orally administered in rats.
  • Phenolic-antioxidant capacity of mango seed kernels: therapeutic effect against viper venoms Original Articles

    Abdel-Aty, Azza M.; Salama, Walaa H.; Hamed, Mohamed Belal; Fahmy, Afaf S.; Mohamed, Saleh A.

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract In this study, mango seed kernels extract contained a considerable amount of phenolics and flavonoids (17,400 and 3325 mg/100 g seed, respectively). The HPLC profiling revealed that hesperidin was the major phenolic compound of the mango seed kernels extract. This is the first report find hesperidin in mango extracts. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract were effective in scavenging free radicals of DPPH and ABTS with IC50 values of 47.3 and 7.9 µg/ml, respectively. The total antioxidant activity of mango seed kernels extract based on the reduction of molybdenum was also measured. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract potentially inhibited the protease, fibrinogenase, phospholipase A2, l-amino acid oxidase, hyaluronidase, and hemolytic activities of the most dangerous Cerastes cerastes and Echis coloratus viper venoms. The phenolic compounds of mango seed kernels extract could completely neutralize the hemorrhage and lethality of both venoms in experimental animals. It could be concluded that the mango seed kernels extract phenolic compounds with potential antioxidant activity are considered as a new avenue in the viper bite treatment.
  • Antitumor activity and toxicity of volatile oil from the leaves of Annona leptopetala Original Articles

    Brito, Monalisa Taveira; Ferreira, Rafael Carlos; Beltrão, Daiene Martins; Moura, Ana Paula Gomes; Xavier, Aline Lira; Pita, João Carlos Lima R.; Batista, Tatianne Mota; Longato, Giovanna Barbarini; Ruiz, Ana Lúcia Tasca Góis; Carvalho, João Ernesto de; Medeiros, Karina Carla de Paula; Santos, Sócrates Golzio dos; Costa, Vicente Carlos de Oliveira; Tavares, Josean Fechine; Diniz, Margareth de Fátima F.M.; Sobral, Marianna Vieira

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Annona leptopetala (R.E.Fr.) H. Rainer, Annonaceae, is used in folk medicine like antitumor and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study was to determine chemical composition, toxicity and antitumor activity of A. leptopetala leaves volatile oil. Fresh leaves were hydrodistilled and then the volatile oil chemical composition was assessed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Toxicity was assessed using haemolysis, micronucleus and acute toxicity protocols. Antitumor effects were determined in vitro and in vivo, using sulforhodamine B assay and sarcoma 180 murine tumor model, respectively. Spathulenol was the major component identified (12.56%). The volatile oil showed in vitro antitumor activity mainly in leukemia cell line (K-562), with Total growth inhibit (TGI) (concentration producing TGI) of 0.64 µg/ml. In other hand, the volatile oil <250 µg/ml did not inhibit HaCat non-tumor cell line growth. The concentration that produced 50% haemolysis was 372.8 µg/ml. The 50% lethal dose in mice was approximately 447.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Sarcoma 180 tumor growth inhibition rates were 59.29% and 58.77% at 100 and 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally, respectively. The volatile oil presented moderate gastrointestinal toxicity and no genotoxicity was observed at 350 mg/kg. Thus, the volatile oil shows antitumor activity with moderate toxicity.
  • Optimization of flavonoid extraction from Passiflora quadrangularis leaves with sedative activity and evaluation of its stability under stress conditions Original Articles

    Echeverry, Sandra M.; Medina, Hilbert I.; Costa, Geison M.; Aragón, Diana M.

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Passiflora species have been widely used in folk medicine as tranquilizers, and previous pharmacological studies have reported sedative activity for P. quadrangularis L., Passifloraceae, leaf extracts. The aim of this work was to contribute to the standardization of P. quadrangularis leaf extract with sedative activity. For this purpose, the extraction of total flavonoids was optimized, evaluating variables such as drug-solvent ratio, extraction solvents and extraction time, using Response Surface Methodology. The stability of total and individual flavonoids on the optimized extract of P. quadrangularis leaves under stress conditions was also evaluated. Sedative activity was verified by the ethyl ether-induced hypnosis test in Swiss ICR mice. Based on the results, the highest concentration of total flavonoids was obtained at a drug-solvent ratio of 1:15 (w:v), extraction solvent EtOH:H2O (1:1, v/v) and percolation time of 48 h. Regarding stability under stress conditions, it was found that the flavonoids from the optimized extract are photostable, and practically stable under neutral hydrolysis and oxidation, but labile by acid and basic hydrolysis, with the main degradation products being identified. Finally, it was demonstrated that the optimized extract improves the sedative effect when compared to previously evaluated extract in the ethyl ether-induced hypnosis test.
  • Nanosuspension of quercetin: preparation, characterization and effects against Aedes aegypti larvae Original Articles

    Pessoa, Leticie Zulmira da Silva; Duarte, Jonatas Lobato; Ferreira, Ricardo Marcelo dos Anjos; Oliveira, Anna Eliza Maciel de Faria Motta; Cruz, Rodrigo Alves Soares; Faustino, Silvia Maria Mathes; Carvalho, José Carlos Tavares; Fernandes, Caio Pinho; Souto, Raimundo Nonato Picanço; Araújo, Raquel Silva

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) is the main vector of some neglected diseases, including dengue. It is very important to develop formulations that increase effectiveness of vector control with low toxicity. Quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid that modulates the development of some insects. The low water solubility of quercetin impairs the development of water-dispersible commercial products. To circumvent this problem, the preparation of nanoformulations is considered promising. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of bulk and quercetin nanosuspension against A. aegypti larvae and also to investigate their ecotoxicity. Quercetin nanosuspension was produced by a solvent displacement method followed by solvent evaporation and was maintained in two different temperatures (4 and 25 ºC). Its size distribution and zeta potential were monitored along 30 days. The influence of quercetin nanosuspension and bulk-quercetin was investigated at various concentrations against A. aegypti and the green algae Chlorella vulgaris. The quercetin nanosuspension presented higher stability at 4 ºC and negative zeta potential values. Quercetin nanosuspension and bulk-quercetin adversely affected the larvae development, especially at the highest concentrations. Larvae mortality was between 44% and 100% (48 h) for quercetin nanosuspension at 100 and 500 ppm, respectively. The bulk-quercetin induced around 50% mortality regardless the concentration used at this same time-period. Absence of emerging mosquitoes from water was observed on the survival larvae of all the treated groups. Quercetin nanosuspension was less toxic than bulk-quercetin against C. vulgaris, especially at higher concentrations. These data indicate that quercetin nanosuspension may represent a potential larvicide for A. aegypti control, once they induced larvae death and inhibited the survival ones to emerge from water. In addition, it did not demonstrated ecotoxicity against a non-target organism, highlighting its better properties, when compared to the bulk-quercetin.
  • Thermal and chemical characterization of Dicksonia sellowiana extract by means of thermal analysis Original Articles

    Malucelli, Lucca C.; Massulo, Tadeu; Magalhães, Washington L.E.; Stofella, Nayana C.F.; Vasconcelos, Eliane C.; Carvalho Filho, Marco Aurélio S.; Murakami, Fábio S.

    Resumo em Inglês:

    Abstract Dicksonia sellowiana Hook., Dicksoniaceae, is a tree-fern which is being recently used in medicine mainly for its phytotherapic activities. While several other studies have focused on D. sellowiana extract characterization in terms of its biological and antioxidant activity, the novelty of this work aims to understand the fate of this extract during thermal disposal through thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry/mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis, to further characterize this plant's extract. Thermal analysis revealed mass loss within three well-defined steps, with the respective mass signals represented generated during heating. Light-volatiles were released during the first step, with release of NO2, CO2, and ethanol in the following, as a result of extract pyrolytic decomposition. Furthermore, mass signals variation during heating indicated the release of harmless by products in contrast to other pharmaceutical and personal care products. Finally, chemical characterization confirmed the observed under thermal analysis suggesting a highly polar structure within extract's composition.
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