Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 4, Issue 4, 2014

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves and flowers of Lippia stachyoides var. martiana (Verbenaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS. Fifty-seven and forty-one essential oil constituents were identified in the flowers and leaves, respectively, being thirty-eight substances found in both oils. Flowers and leaves essential oils were rich in (E)-nerolidol (15.6 and 16.4%), δ-cadinene (15.8 and 18.5%), spathulenol (8.1 and 16.4%), caryophyllene oxide (6.6 and 7.8%) and cubebol (8.5 and 7.4%), respectively. Both essential oils also showed promising results against yeast-like fungi and bacteria. Good antifungal activity was observed for Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC’s of 156 μg/ml and 78 μg/ml for flowers and leaves oils, respectively.

Ficus religiosa Linn. (Moraceae) is cultivated in south-eastern Asia as a holy tree. Its bark is used to treat anxiety, burns, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastrohelcosis, glandular swellings of the neck, gonorrhoea, hiccup, piles, skin diseases, scabies, urinogenital disorders, vomiting and to improve the complexion. Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of F. religiosa bark led to the isolation of two new naphthyl esters characterized as naphthyl-1,3-diol-1-(3β-lanost-5,24-dienyl)-3-n-octadec- 9,12,15-trienoate (1) and naphthyl-1,3-diol-1-(3β-lanostan-19-oic acid-yl)-3- n-octadec-9,12-dienoate (3) and a new triterpenic ester lanostan-19-oic acid-3β-olyl-n-octadec-9,12,15-trienoate (2) along with the known steroids β-sitosteryl oleate (4) and β -sitosterol glucoside (5). The structures of all these isolated phytoconstituents were established on the basis of spectral data analysis and chemical reactions.

Bombacaceae is a small family of flowering plants containing about 28 genera and 200 species. Plants of this family are well-known ornamentals, foods and folk remedies with significant economic and commercial reputation worldwide. Thanks to the growing demand for natural pharmaceuticals, Bombacaceae plants were subjected to several biological investigations due to their richness in numerous bioactive phytoconstituents. Different extracts of these plants and their isolated compounds exhibited a wide range of valuable biological activities with very low toxicity profiles. Besides, a large number of Bombacaceous species as well as their isolated phytochemicals is also still calling for further pharmacological testing. Therefore, this work highlights the results of various pharmacological and toxicological studies conducted on different Bombacaceae plants in light of their ethnomedical uses, along with a future perspective regarding this family as a sleeping giant of nutraceuticals' development.

Aerva lanata is a prostrate under-shrub used as traditional and modern system of medicine. The Prime of current study was to compare the antiproliferative and antioxidant potential of in vitro and in vivo leaf and callus extracts of Aerva lanata against human breast cancer (MCF 7) cell lines. Anticancer proficiency of methanol extracts of in vitro and in vivo leaf and matured callus extracts were evaluated by 3 - (4, 5 – dimethylthiazole – 2 – yl) - 2, 5 -diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and DNA fragmentation assays. Earlier the total antioxidant potential of the different solvent extracts was tested by 2, 2' – azino – bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline – 6 – sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. A dose dependent inhibition of cancer cell proliferation was identified in MTT assay. Further, DNA fragmentation assay was performed and the results show the best IC50 values produced best possible digestion of DNA (by apoptosis). The results of radical scavenging activity of ABTS cation assay was recorded promising inhibitory effects of callus, in vivo and in vitro leaf methanol extracts. The inhibition rate was mainly dependent on concentration of extracts. Total phenols, tannins and flavonoids contents of the test samples were quantified. The overall results from the study highlights the use of least concentrations of methanolic callus extracts of plant has potential use in treatment of cancer related diseases in future.

This study was conducted in order to characterize the volatile and semi-volatile compounds profile of ripe Couroupita guianensis fruits from Brazil, using a solid-phase extraction technique and gas chromatography methods. Fifty compounds were detected in the samples. Linalool, benzyl alcohol, terpineol, hexadecanoic acid and the cis- and trans-furan linalool oxides were considered the most abundant compounds of the total aqueous extract fraction, where linalool and its oxides, terpineol, benzoic acid and 7-methoxy-coumarin were identified as pleasant odor-active compounds and benzothiazole as an off-flavor compound. Linalool appeared to be the most important odorant of this fraction, since its odor activity value was 730. Linalool, 2-ethylhexanol and limonene were the major compounds found in the headspace fraction, where limonene, 1-octen-3-ol and linalool were classified as odor-active compounds. The negative contribution of the fatty acids group to the overall aroma of the ripe fruit could be significant.

The Simira genus belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Studies of this genus have attracted interest, mainly due to phototoxic activities, antifebrile, tonic and purgative presented by some secondary metabolites isolated from drug value of species of this genus. This study is a review of the Simira genus, through the acquisition of data from studies of phytochemicals and evaluation of biological activities of the species that compose it, in order to contribute their chemotaxonomic classification within the family.

Two new ketonic resveratrol tetramers, shoreaplatyclaphenols A (1) and B (2), two known resveratrol tetramers (grandiphenol B and hopeaphenol A), and a known trimer resveratrol (α-viniferin), have been isolated from an acetone extract of the tree bark of Shorea platyclados (Dipterocarpaceae). Structure elucidation, including relative configurations, of the new compounds was determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, mainly with NMR and mass spectral data. Biogenetic relationship of the resveratrol tetramers isolated in S. platyclados and their chemotaxonomic significance is briefly discussed.

Mana-cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal), also known as cocona, mana, and tomate de indio, is a tropical shrub that produces an exotic fruit that is desirable due to its pleasant flavor and aroma. It used in popular medicine to reduce cholesterol, uric acid and glucose in the blood. The major chemical components in the dried fruit are citric acid (14% of the dry weight) and carbohydrates (32% of the dry weight), but also include 5- caffeoylquinic acid as the major phenolic compound, as well as β-carotene (7.15 μg/g dry weight), lutein (2.41 μg/g dry weight) and spermidine hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates. The respiratory behavior, weight loss and firmness of fruits from maná cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum) that were stored refrigerated at 6, 8, 10 and 24 °C were evaluated by the liberation of CO2 and their weights. Based on weight loss, storage at room temperature produced inferior quality after 8 days. At 6 and 8 °C the durability was 12 days. At 10 °C, there was less weight loss and better visual appearance. So, the best temperature for storage was found to be 10 °C.