RESUMO
This paper aims to investigate, for the first time, physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity of Psidium myrtoides ripe and unripe fruit. In addition, essential oil was extracted from fresh leaves (PM-EO) collected in dry and rainy seasons to investigate the influence of seasonality and, after that, to evaluate its antifungal activity on mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Both GC-FID and GC-MS analyses revealed that major components determined in PM-EO were ß-caryophyllene (20.0% and 32.9%) and limonene (10.4% and 19.8%) in rainy and dry seasons, respectively. High antioxidant capacity was displayed by unripe fruit (IC50 = 3.57 mg/mL) and ripe ones (IC50 = 3.68 mg/mL). Both showed high total phenolic and tannin contents. In sum, PM-EO showed satisfactory antifungal activity, since its inhibitory action on mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides was above 70% in the dry season, while it exhibited weak activity in the rainy season.
Assuntos
Óleos Voláteis , Psidium , Antifúngicos/química , Frutas/química , Óleos Voláteis/química , Folhas de Planta/química , Psidium/química , Estações do AnoRESUMO
Costus spiralis is a Brazilian native plant used in popular medicine, but the safety of this therapeutic use needs investigation. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytogenotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of C. spiralis leaves or stems aqueous extracts on Allium cepa root cells. Moreover, a phytochemical screening and an antioxidant and antifungal activities evaluation were performed. C. spiralis aqueous extracts presented cytotoxicity, but no mutagenicity was observed. When the antigenotoxicity was evaluated, C. spiralis leaves aqueous extract presented preventive and modulatory effects on A. cepa root cells, reducing the sodium azide cytogenotoxic effects. In contrast, C. spiralis stems aqueous extract enhanced the sodium azide cytogenotoxicity in some conditions. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in C. spiralis. When total phenolic content was determined, the leaves presented 73% more phenolic content than stems. Corroborating this data, C. spiralis leaves antioxidant potential was 30% higher than C. spiralis stems. However, these extracts did not present antifungal activity against Candida spp. In conclusion, empirical utilization of C. spiralis aqueous extracts should be avoided. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of C. spiralis leaves and stems can play an important role in anticancer therapy and must be deeply studied.