RESUMO
This study identified two phenolic compounds in Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi fruits: naringenin (first report in this species) and gallic acid. Their structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data (¹H-, 13C-NMR) and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. A high content of phenolics (659.21 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of sample-Folin-Ciocalteau method) and total flavonoids (140.69 mg of rutin equivalents/g of sample-aluminum chloride method) were quantified in S. terebinthifolius, as well as high antioxidant activity (77.47%-2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH method). The antihypertensive activity related to its phenolic content was investigated. After intravenous infusion in Wistar rats, these phenolics significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the systolic, median, and diastolic arterial pressures of individuals. The rotarod test was performed to determine the mechanism of action of the sample vasorelaxant effect. It was found that its action exceeded that of the positive control used (diazepam). This confirmed the vasodilatory activity exerted by S. terebinthifolius fruits is related to the phenolic compounds present in the plant, which are potent antioxidants and inhibit oxidative stress, mainly in the central nervous system.
Assuntos
Anacardiaceae/química , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Flavanonas/farmacologia , Frutas/química , Ácido Gálico/farmacologia , Vasodilatadores/farmacologia , Animais , Feminino , Flavanonas/química , Flavonoides/análise , Ácido Gálico/química , Masculino , Camundongos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Fenóis/análise , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Staphylococci bacteria are involved in many human and animal infections and development of alternative antimicrobial drugs against pathogenic bacteria is of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry. This study investigated the in vitro effect of Rauvolfia grandiflora methanol extract (root bark fraction) (RGE) on the density of ATCC strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and a clinical enterotoxin-producer, S. aureus bovine strain. The alkaloid, isoreserpiline, obtained from dichloromethane extract of R. grandiflora was ineffective against the strains tested. After incubation of staphylococci strains in the presence of 1.2 mg.mL-1 RGE, a significant inhibition of cell growth was observed using both spectrophotometry and ELISA assays. Twelve drugs were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on culture RGE-treated cells using the disk diffusion method. Penicillin resistant strains became sensitive to the drug after RGE treatment. Furthermore, enterotoxin production by RGE-treated S. aureus was evaluated using a standardized ELISA method. Although staphylococcal LSA 88 bovine strain cells remained viable after exposure to the extract, enterotoxin production was precluded in 20% after RGE treatment. Significant interference in staphylococci cell density, drug sensitivity and enterotoxin secretion was observed after treatment. The study highlights the necessity to find new methods of disease prevention and new antibiotic therapies against staphylococcal infections.
RESUMO
The research was carried out in yellow passion fruit plant (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) grown under field conditions in Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, Brazil, with the aim to evaluate the concentrations of rutin, vitexin, total flavonoids, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cl in leaves at different positions in the branch. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments: leaves 1 (the youngest) to 10 (the olderest) of the same branch, with four replicates. Leaf sampling was done in March 2004, and each sample consisted of 20 leaves from 20 plants. The total concentration of rutin, vitexin and total flavonoids varied in function of the position or age of leaves, being higher in youngest leaves or in the aplical region of the plant branches. The total flavonoids concentration decreased from leaf 1 to leaf 8 of the branch 24.4 and 14.9mg g-1 of dry matter, respectively. The concentrations of N, P, K and Zn were higher in the youngest leaf but the concentrations of Ca, Mg, B, Cl and Mn were lower. The concentrations of S and Fe did not vary with leaves positions in the branch.
Este trabalho foi realizado em maracujazeiro amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) cultivado em condições de campo, no município dos Campos do Goytacazes-RJ, com o objetivo de determinar os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais e dos nutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn e Cl em folhas de diferentes posição no ramo. O experimento constou de 10 tratamentos, que consistiam na coleta das folhas 1 (mais nova) a 10 (mais velha) de um mesmo ramo, com quatro repetições. A amostragem foliar foi feita em março de 2004 e cada amostra constou de 20 folhas coletadas de 20 plantas por repetição. Os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais variaram em função da posição ou idade das folhas, sendo maiores nas folhas mais jovens ou na região apical dos ramos do maracujazeiro amarelo. Os teores de flavonóides totais, expressos em vitexina, diminuíram da folha 1 para a folha 8, de 24,4 para 14,9mg g-1 de matéria seca. Os teores de N, P, K e Zn foram maiores e os de Ca, Mg, B, Cl e Mn foram menores nas folhas mais jovens. Os teores de S e Fe não variaram com a posição da folha no ramo.
RESUMO
The research was carried out in yellow passion fruit plant (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) grown under field conditions in Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ, Brazil, with the aim to evaluate the concentrations of rutin, vitexin, total flavonoids, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cl in leaves at different positions in the branch. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments: leaves 1 (the youngest) to 10 (the olderest) of the same branch, with four replicates. Leaf sampling was done in March 2004, and each sample consisted of 20 leaves from 20 plants. The total concentration of rutin, vitexin and total flavonoids varied in function of the position or age of leaves, being higher in youngest leaves or in the aplical region of the plant branches. The total flavonoids concentration decreased from leaf 1 to leaf 8 of the branch 24.4 and 14.9mg g-1 of dry matter, respectively. The concentrations of N, P, K and Zn were higher in the youngest leaf but the concentrations of Ca, Mg, B, Cl and Mn were lower. The concentrations of S and Fe did not vary with leaves positions in the branch.
Este trabalho foi realizado em maracujazeiro amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) cultivado em condições de campo, no município dos Campos do Goytacazes-RJ, com o objetivo de determinar os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais e dos nutrientes N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Mn e Cl em folhas de diferentes posição no ramo. O experimento constou de 10 tratamentos, que consistiam na coleta das folhas 1 (mais nova) a 10 (mais velha) de um mesmo ramo, com quatro repetições. A amostragem foliar foi feita em março de 2004 e cada amostra constou de 20 folhas coletadas de 20 plantas por repetição. Os teores de rutina, vitexina e flavonóides totais variaram em função da posição ou idade das folhas, sendo maiores nas folhas mais jovens ou na região apical dos ramos do maracujazeiro amarelo. Os teores de flavonóides totais, expressos em vitexina, diminuíram da folha 1 para a folha 8, de 24,4 para 14,9mg g-1 de matéria seca. Os teores de N, P, K e Zn foram maiores e os de Ca, Mg, B, Cl e Mn foram menores nas folhas mais jovens. Os teores de S e Fe não variaram com a posição da folha no ramo.