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ABSTRACT Laetia suaveolens (Poepp.) Benth., Salicaceae, popularly known as "casinga-cheirosa", "caferana", or "laranjinha", is native to Brazil but not endemic to this country. A crude organic extract was obtained from the leaves and stem and intraperitoneally administered in male Balb-c mice. Its behavioral effects were evaluated in the open field and elevated plus maze in a two-stage experiment that assessed ten different parameters related to behavior as locomotion, emotionality, and anxiety. In the first stage of the experiment, intraperitoneal the crude organic extract administration dose-dependently impaired locomotion and emotionality 30–120 min after administration. A significant decrease in defecation was observed, which was related to emotionality. No alterations in the elevated plus maze were found; thus, this apparatus was not used in the next stage of the experiment. In the second stage, the previously determined non-lethal dose of 0.1563 g/kg was intraperitoneally administered, which impaired locomotion and rearing frequency and increased immobility time. Necropsy revealed smooth intestine hemorrhage. Rutin, leucoside, nicotiflorin, guaijaverin, and astragalin were isolated from the crude organic extract. This is the first time that these compounds have been identified in L. suaveolens. In conclusion, the crude organic extract impaired locomotion and emotionality and caused hemorrhage in male Balb-c mice, indicating that its consumption can be harmful to humans and animals. The present results provide a basis for further studies on the pharmacology, toxicology, and natural product chemistry of the crude organic extract.

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Laetia suaveolens, known as "casinga-cheirosa", crude extract EB719 has previously shown cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer and squamous cell carcinoma. For the first time, seven molecules were isolated from its apolar-α-tocopherol (1) and sitosterol (2)-and polar-3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 5-O-feruloylquinic acid (5), hyperoside (6), and isoquercitrin (7)-fractions. Acute toxicity was determined in a two-stage experiment: (1) a reduced number of Balb-c male mice received 5000 mg/kg of EB719 to allow evaluation of general activity and other 27 parameters, plus death, up to the establishment of non-lethal dose (NLD), as well as lethal dose 50% (LD50); (2) NLD was administered and diazepam introduced as reference drug. EB719 showed LD50=178.0 mg/kg, and NLD 156.3 mg/kg. In stage one EB719 did not influence general activity, but provoked impairment in grasp reflexes, tail squeeze and breathing; piloerection and cyanosis were increased. In stage two, alterations occurred in auricular reflex, piloerection and breathing after diazepam administration, but not in response to EB719. Intestinal hemorrhage caused by local bleeding was observed after necropsy, and may be the main cause of animals' death other than a systemic effect of the extract. Although the isolated compounds are biologically and pharmacologically active in both men and animal systems, it is premature to relate their occurrence in EB719 to the observed intestine hemorrhage in mice.

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The cytotoxicity of extracts obtained from plants occurring in the Amazon and Atlantic rain forests against NCI-H460, KM-12, SF-268 and RPMI-8226 cancer cell lines was investigated. Expressive activity was observed in the extracts of Toulicia cf. pulvinata, Ampirrhox sp., Macoubea sprucei, Calophyllum brasiliense, Vismia guianensis, Caryocar microcarpum, Xylopia aromatica and Distictella magnoliifolia.

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Twelve extracts obtained from nine plants belonging to six different genera of Clusiaceae were analyzed against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria using the microdilution broth assay. Tovomita aff. longifolia, T. brasiliensis, Clusia columnaris, Garcinia madruno, Haploclathra paniculata, and Caraipa grandifolia extracts showed significant results against the bacteria. The organic extract obtained from the leaves of T. aff. longifolia showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 70 microg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 90 microg/ml against E. faecalis and the organic extract made with the stem of C. columnaris showed MIC = 180 microg/ml and MBC = 270 microg/ml against P. aeruginosa. None of the antibacterial extracts showed lethal activity against brine shrimp nauplii. On the other hand, both aqueous and organic extracts obtained from the aerial organs of Vismia guianensis that were cytotoxic to brine shrimp nauplii did not show a significant antibacterial activity in the assay.

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Twelve extracts obtained from nine plants belonging to six different genera of Clusiaceae were analyzed against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) bacteria using the microdilution broth assay. Tovomita aff. longifolia, T. brasiliensis, Clusia columnaris, Garcinia madruno, Haploclathra paniculata, and Caraipa grandifolia extracts showed significant results against the bacteria. The organic extract obtained from the leaves of T. aff. longifolia showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 70 µg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 90 µg/ml against E. faecalis and the organic extract made with the stem of C. columnaris showed MIC = 180 µg/ml and MBC = 270 µg/ml against P. aeruginosa. None of the antibacterial extracts showed lethal activity against brine shrimp nauplii. On the other hand, both aqueous and organic extracts obtained from the aerial organs of Vismia guianensis that were cytotoxic to brine shrimp nauplii did not show a significant antibacterial activity in the assay.

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