Antioxidant Potential and Chemical Evaluation of Extracts from Endophytic Fungus Lasiodiplodia sp.

Antioxidants are compounds that can eliminate free radicals and are known to prevent cell damage and health disorders, in turn, improving the quality of life of human beings. This study aims to evaluate the presence of antioxidants in ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts from Lasiodiplodia endophyte, which was previously isolated and cultivated by our research group, given its ability to produce a variety of metabolites with different chemical and biological properties. The antioxidant activities were determined using ABTS+⋅, DPPH and FRAP.

Anti-Leishmania effect of icetexanes from Salvia procurrens.

Background And Purpose: Leishmaniasis is a globally prevalent vector-borne disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. The available chemotherapeutic drugs present problems related to efficacy, emergence of parasite resistance, toxicity and high cost, justifying the search for new drugs. Several classes of compounds have demonstrated activity against Leishmania, including icetexane-type diterpenes, previously isolated from Salvia and other Lamiaceae genera.

Characterisation of Sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil and investigation of the geographical origin by applying similarity calculations, differential NMR and hierarchical cluster analysis.

Introduction: The marula fruit is an important indigenous African fruit since various commercial products are produced from the pulp and the seed oil. The increased demand requires methods for authentication, quality control and determination of geographical origin.

Objective: The study aimed to establish a fast and reliable method for characterisation and authentication of marula seed oil.

Towards a holistic view of tablet quality, an extensive study on paracetamol tablets with nuclear magnetic resonance using similarity calculations, differential NMR and hierarchical cluster analysis.

The H NMR spectra obtained from 56 different paracetamol tablets were thoroughly investigated to analyse and quantify besides paracetamol, the excipients and eventual minor components present in the formulations. In the NMR spectra the amide-iminol tautomerism of paracetamol was observed, with the iminol form present at a quantity of only 0.80% of the amide form.

Differential NMR and chromatography for the detection and analysis of adulteration of vetiver essential oils.

Adulteration of essential oils is a common and serious problem. Adequate and fast methods are required to establish the authenticity and purity. GC-MS, H and C NMR were compared in combination with similarity calculations as well as differential spectroscopy and chromatography for the authentication and determination of purity of vetiver essential oils.

Rapid and accurate verification of drug identity, purity and quality by H-NMR using similarity calculations and differential NMR.

The illegal trade in counterfeit and fake drugs is a worldwide multi-billion dollar industry, not only generating enormous economic losses, but health problems for the general population, through direct toxicity, treatment failure and the increased generation of antibiotic resistance. Techniques for high-throughput testing of suspect medicines are needed to face the challenges of the problem. In this study we show that with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) drug compliance can be verified in a few minutes, providing data on drug identity, purity and quality without the necessity to develop a specific methodology and using a direct extraction with deuterated solvent.

Antifungal activity of Allamanda polyantha seed extract and its iridoids promote morphological alterations in Cryptococcus spp.

Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus spp., is an invasive fungal infection of the central nervous system, associated with high mortality, affecting mainly immunocompromised patients. Due to the development of resistance to the current therapy, there is an urgent need for less toxic and more effective antifungal agents.

Metabolomic fingerprinting of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler leaf extract and correlation with its spasmolytic activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler (Menispermaceae) is popularly used in northeastern Brazil for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma. Despite many pre-clinical pharmacological studies, the compounds mediating the anti-asthma activity of polar extracts of Cissampelos sympodialis leaves have not been definitively identified.

Aim Of The Study: Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the bioactivity of polar extracts prepared from the leaves of C.

Can soil phosphorus availability in tropical forest systems be increased by nitrogen-fixing leguminous trees?

Understanding the role of N-fixing leguminous trees for phosphorus (P) cycling in highly weathered tropical soils is relevant for the conservation of natural forests as well as the sustainable management of agroforests and forest plantations with low P input in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest region. We hypothesized that N-fixing leguminous trees can increase the availability of soil P by exploiting different P sources without causing a depletion of soil organic P due to efficient biogeochemical cycling, but empirical evidence remains scarce. For this purpose, P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P NMR) was used for quantifying soil P forms and the Hedley sequential extraction to determine soil P fractions.

Similarity and differential NMR spectroscopy in metabolomics: application to the analysis of vegetable oils with H and C NMR.

Introduction: In NMR based metabolomics there is a need for tools to easily compare spectra and to extract the maximum of information from the data.

Objectives: The calculation of similarity and performing differential NMR spectroscopy provides important additional information for classification and validation in metabolomics experiments.

Methods: From 13 different vegetable oils samples were analysed by H and C NMR.

Two-Phase Extraction for Comprehensive Analysis of the Plant Metabolome by NMR.

Metabolomics is the area of research, which strives to obtain complete metabolic fingerprints, to detect differences between them, and to provide hypothesis to explain those differences [1]. But obtaining complete metabolic fingerprints is not an easy task. Metabolite extraction is a key step during this process, and much research has been devoted to finding the best solvent mixture to extract as much metabolites as possible.

Combining molecular and bioprocess techniques to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) with controlled monomer composition by Burkholderia sacchari.

Biopolymers as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) composed by different co-monomers 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] has attracted interest since its properties are similar to low density polyethylene. Burkholderia sacchari produces this copolymer with a very low 3HHx molar fraction, about 2 mol%. B.

Persistence of Only a Minute Viable Population in Chlorotic Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 Cultures Obtained by Nutrient Limitation.

Cultures from the cyanobacterial strain Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806 submitted to nutrient limitation become chlorotic. When returned to nutrient rich conditions these cultures regain their green colour. The aim of this study was to verify whether the cells in these cultures could be considered resting stages allowing the survival of periods of nutrient starvation as has been reported for Synechococcus PCC 7942.

3'-R/S-hydroxyvoacamine, a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from Tabernaemontana divaricata.

Guided by the acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activity, the bisindole alkaloid 3'-R/S-hydroxyvoacamine was isolated from a stem extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata, a plant used in Thailand in traditional rejuvenation remedies for improving the memory. The structure of the alkaloid was elucidated by extensive use of NMR spectroscopy and the complete assignment of the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra is reported. The alkaloid acted as a non-competitive inhibitor against AChE with an IC50 value of 7.

Anthraquinones from the bark of Senna macranthera.

2-acetyl physcion (2-acetyl-1,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone, 2), a rare anthraquinone, was isolated from Senna macranthera var. nervosa (Vogel) H.S.

Acaricidal properties of the essential oil and precocene II obtained from Calea serrata (Asteraceae) on the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

Calea serrata Less. (Asteraceae), an endemic species of south Brazil known as "quebra-tudo", is used in Afro-Brazilian religious rituals and in folk medicine for treating liver disorders. Phytochemical studies of the n-hexane extract of this plant demonstrated the presence of precocene II, a benzopyran derivative known for its insecticidal activity.

The anti-immobility effect of hyperoside on the forced swimming test in rats is mediated by the D2-like receptors activation.

The crude extracts of HYPERICUM species native to South Brazil showed analgesic and antidepressant-like effects in rodents. The chemical characterization of these species revealed that they are rich in flavonoids and phloroglucinol derivatives. In the present study a detailed investigation was performed on the activities of hyperoside (HYP), a common flavonoid in the genus HYPERICUM.

Application of NMR in plant metabolomics: techniques, problems and prospects.

The present state-of-the-art of NMR in plant metabolomics is reviewed. Attention is paid to the different practical aspects of the application of NMR. The sample preparation, the measurement of the spectrum, quantitative aspects and data analysis are discussed.

Synthesis and stereochemistry-activity relationship of small bacteriocin, an autoinducer of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum.

The four stereoisomers of small bacteriocin, an autoinducer of the symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum, were synthesized via a versatile methodology for 3'-hydroxyacyl homoserine lactones based on the Nagao asymmetric aldol reaction. The synthetic isomers were much less effective at inhibiting the growth of R. leguminosarum RBL5523 than the natural isomer, showing the importance of stereochemistry for activity.

Comprehensive analysis of polar and apolar constituents of butter and margarine by nuclear magnetic resonance, reflecting quality and production processes.

The separation of butter or margarine into polar (soluble in water) and apolar fractions (soluble in chloroform) and subsequent analysis of these fractions by (1)H NMR permits a comprehensive analysis of its constituents. In the polar fraction the preservatives benzoic and sorbic acid, the organic acids citric, lactic, butyric, acetic, and formic acid, and, furthermore, the carbohydrate lactose were quantified. In the apolar fraction the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) rumenic acid, diglycerides, and linoleic acid were quantified.

Antimicrobial activity of wax and hexane extracts from Citrus spp. peels.

Antibacterial and antifungal properties of wax and hexane extracts of Citrus spp. peels were tested using bioautographic and microdilution techniques against three plant pathogenic fungi (Penicillium digitatum, Curvularia sp., and Colletotrichum sp.

Iridoids from Pentas lanceolata.

From the aerial parts of Pentas lanceolata, belonging to the family Rubiaceae, a series of iridoid glucosides was isolated by preparative HPLC. Seven iridoid glucosides were identified. Besides asperuloside and asperulosidic acid, characteristic iridoids for Rubiaceae, five new iridoids were isolated, namely, tudoside (1), 13R-epi-gaertneroside (2), 13R-epi-epoxygaertneroside (3), and a mixture of E-uenfoside (4) and Z-uenfoside (5).

Herpes virus inhibitory substances from Hypericum connatum Lam., a plant used in southern Brazil to treat oral lesions.

Hypericum connatum (Guttiferae) is used in southern Brazil in the treatment of lesions in the mouth, often related to acute herpetic gingivo-stomatitis. The chemical investigation of the plant revealed the presence of phloroglucinol derivatives and flavonoids. From the n-hexane extract of the aerial parts a phloroglucinol derivative, hyperbrasilol B, was isolated, while the methanolic extract afforded four flavonoids: amentoflavone, hyperoside, guaijaverine and luteoforol.

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments and anti fungal activity of two 8-hydroxy flavonoids in mixture.

A mixture of the two new flavonols 8-hydroxy-3, 4', 5, 6, 7-pentamethoxyflavone (1) and 8-hydroxy-3, 3', 4', 5, 6, 7-hexamethoxyflavone (2) was isolated from a commercial sample of Citrus aurantifolia. An array of one- (1HNMR, {1H}-13C NMR, and APT-13C NMR) and two-dimensional NMR techniques (COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) was used to achieve the structural elucidation and the complete 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments of these natural compounds. In addition, the antifungal activity of these compounds against phytopathogenic and human pathogenic fungi was investigated.

Cyathenosin A, a spiropyranosyl derivative of protocatechuic acid from Cyathea phalerata.

Cyathenosin A, a spiropyranosyl derivative of protocatechuic acid was isolated from the stem pith of Cyathea phalerata Mart. Its structure was determined by MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Cyathenosin A is the first example of a naturally occurring compound containing a spirocyclic orthoester pyranosidic structure.