Chemical composition and antioxidant and antimycobacterial activities of Bromelia balansae (Bromeliaceae).

Bromelia balansae (Family Bromeliaceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used in the central region of Brazil as a cough syrup and also eaten roasted. The methanolic extract of ripe fruits was analyzed by chromatographic methods and spectrometrically. Four glycoside flavonols were isolated: kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-ß-d-glucopyranoside (3), and kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4).

Lichen metabolites modulate hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in mouse macrophages.

The activities of perlatolic acid (1), atranorin (2), and lecanoric acid (3) and their derivatives, such as orsellinates and beta-methyl orsellinates obtained by alcoholysis, were assessed for stimulation of the release of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in cultures of peritoneal macrophage cells from mice. The hydrogen peroxide production was estimated by oxidation of phenol red, while the Griess reagent was used to determine the nitric oxide production. 1 and 4-methoxy-ethyl orsellinate (XVII) were the compounds that induced the greatest release of H2O2, whereas n-pentyl orsellinate (IV), iso-propyl orsellinate (V), sec-butyl orsellinate (VI), and XVII induced a small release of NO.

Quantitative determination of jatrophone in "cachaça" prepared with Jatropha elliptica.

A method for sample preparation and analysis by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was developed for analysis of jatrophone in "cachaça" prepared with Jatropha elliptica, administered orally, employed in Brazil for the treatment of venomous snake bites. The linearity, accuracy, precision of the procedure was evaluated. Analytical curve for jatrophone was linear in the range of 16.