RESUMEN
Microbial resistance, caused by the overuse or inadequate application of antibiotics, is a worldwide crisis, increasing the risk of treatment failure and healthcare costs. Plant essential oils (EOs) consist of hydrophobic metabolites with antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial potential of the chemical diversity of plants from the Atlantic Rainforest remains scarcely characterized. In the current work, we determined the metabolite profile of the EOs from aromatic plants from nine locations and accessed their antimicrobial and biocidal activity by agar diffusion assays, minimum inhibitory concentration, time-kill and cell-component leakage assays. The pharmacokinetic properties of the EO compounds were investigated by in silico tools. More than a hundred metabolites were identified, mainly consisting of sesqui and monoterpenes. Individual plants and botanical families exhibited extensive chemical variations in their EO composition. Probabilistic models demonstrated that qualitative and quantitative differences contribute to chemical diversity, depending on the botanical family. The EOs exhibited antimicrobial biocidal activity against pathogenic bacteria, fungi and multiple predicted pharmacological targets. Our results demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of EOs from rainforest plants, indicate novel macromolecular targets, and contribute to highlighting the chemical diversity of native species.
RESUMEN
ABSTRACT Chemical investigation of the leaves of Casearia gossypiosperma Briq., Salicaceae, led to the isolation of two known flavonoids, (+)-taxifolin and quercetin, the leaves of Casearia decandra Jacq. have afforded hydroquinone, the leaves of Casearia rupestris Eichler and Casearia lasiophylla Eichler have afforded a diterpene, (E)-phytol, and the leaves of C. rupestris and Casearia obliqua Spreng. have afforded sitosterol. The twigs of Casearia lasiophylla Eichler led to the isolation of two compounds (+)-pinoresinol, and N-trans-feruloyltyramine, and the twigs of C. obliqua have afforded N-trans-feruloyltyramine, N-trans-cumaroyltyramine, and cinamic acid. This is the first report of the compounds (+)-taxifolin, quercetin, hydroquinone, (+)-pinoresinol and N-trans-cumaroyltyramine from the Casearia genus.
RESUMEN
Foram identificadas as espécies arbóreas que rebrotaram a partir de raízes gemíferas em 3,6ha de um fragmento de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual em Campinas, São Paulo, alvo de freqüentes incêndios. A identificação foi feita através de transectos de 100 metros de extensão no trecho de floresta selecionado e da exposição do sistema subterrâneo para verificar a ligação entre os brotos e seus troncos principais. Foram registradas 27 espécies que rebrotaram a partir de raízes, a maioria Leguminosae. Grande parte das espécies é característica de estádios iniciais da sucessão secundária. As distâncias máximas entre brotos e os troncos principais variaram de 0,6m (Guettarda viburnioides Cham. and Schltdt.- Rubiaceae) a 14m (Colubrina glandulosa Perkins- Rhaminaceae). Com os resultados obtidos, discute-se a relação da rebrota a partir de raízes e a ação dos distúrbios, além da influência da rebrota na ocupação espacial e na estrutura de espécies arbóreas com este potencial de regeneração.