Antioxidant activity of α and β-amyrin isolated from Myrcianthes pungens leaves

Brazil has a great variety of native plants which could be explored and among them guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens) stands out. Thus, this study consisted of isolating pentacyclic triterpenes, α and β-amyrin from guajibu leaves, and determine the antioxidant activity.The leaves were dried, pulverized and submitted to a dynamic maceration process with ethanol 96° GL, concentrated to obtain crude leaf extract (CLE). CLE was eluted with dichloromethane until total depletion, resulting in a dichloromethane fraction (FRDicl) which was concentrated and analyzed by GC/MS and NMR. The result of the chemical analysis revealed the presence of pentacyclic triterpenes of oleanane (β-amyrin), and ursane (α-amyrin) groups. The β-carotene bleaching method revealed a high antioxidant activity for the CLE as well as for FRDicl. The antioxidant protection equivalent to the trolox was of 137 and 129%, respectively at 500 µg/mL. The antioxidant potential of FRDicl can be explained by the presence of α and β-amyrins.

Larvicidal potential of piperovatine in the control of cattle tick

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most important ectoparasites in cattle breeding worldwide, causing direct and indirect losses to animals and producers. Chemical acaricides are utilized in the control of cattle tick and the increase in the development of resistance by ectoparasites makes new alternative necessary. Therefore, research studies have been carried out using bioactive molecules that are quickly degraded and that reduce poisoning to appliers and non-target organisms, environmental contamination and development of resistance. Thus, this study aimed to isolate piperovatine from the roots of Piper corcovadensis, a native species to Brazil, and to evaluate the larvicidal activity against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus by larval packet test and in ex situ in an open environment. Piperovatine was isolated by classical column chromatography, and identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The lethal concentration (LC) of piperovatine that killed 50% (LC₅₀) and 99% (LC₉₉) of the larvae was determined by Probit analysis. The results indicated LC₅₀ 5.17 and LC₉₉ 25.41 μg/mL. LC₉₉ was tested in ex situ in an open environment, and an efficiency of 96.63% was found, indicating that piperovatine kept the larvicidal action determined in in vitro test and in open environment. Therefore, this study shows new perspectives to develop products that can be applied in natural conditions to control this ectoparasite.

GERMINAÇÃO E CRESCIMENTO INICIAL DE Machaerium brasiliense VOGEL (FABACEAE) EM CASA DE VEGETAÇÃO

Machaerium brasiliense Vogel é uma espécie arbórea, conhecida popularmente como pau-sangue, jacarandá-bico-de-pato e sapuva. Com o objetivo de verificar a germinação, sementes de M. brasiliense foram mantidas sob temperatura de 20°, 25° e 30 °C, em câmara de germinação com fotoperíodo de 12h ou escuro contínuo. Para análise do crescimento inicial, avaliaram-se, aos 90, 180, 270 e 360 dias após o transplante (DAT), a altura, o comprimento da raiz, a massa seca da parte aérea, da raiz e total e o número de folhas de plantas mantidas em casa de vegetação. A presença ou ausência de luz não influenciou o desempenho das sementes, observando-se maior porcentagem de germinação (PG) para as sementes submetidas a 20 e 25 °C, o mesmo sendo verificado para o parâmetro índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG). O menor tempo médio de germinação (TMG) foi observado a 30 °C. Em relação aos parâmetros de crescimento, os maiores valores foram obtidos aos 270 e 360 DAT, não ocorrendo diferença estatística entre esses dois períodos de avaliação. A presença de nódulos radiculares foi observada a partir dos 180 DAT.