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The antiplasmodium assay-guided investigation of the roots, stem bark, and leaves of Persea americana Mill. led to the isolation of a new fatty alcohol, perseatriol (1), along with six known compounds (2–7). Their structures were elucidated based on the analysis of their NMR and MS data. All crude extracts and fractions exhibited good antiplasmodial activity on Plasmoduim falciparum 3D7 with IC50 values ranging from 0.76 to 10.5 μg/mL; they also displayed cytotoxicity against HeLa cells with low selectivity indexes (SIs). A preliminary Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay was also performed on the isolated compounds. 9,9′-Di-O-feruloyl-5,5′-dimethoxysecoisolariciresinol (4) turned out to be non-toxic and displayed the best activities on P. falciparum with an IC50 value of 0.05 μM, comparable to the reference drug chloroquine with an IC50 value of 0.03 μM. Furthermore, besides compound 4, this work reports the first isolation of lutein (2) and scopoletin (3) from P. americana. The crude extracts of roots, stem bark, and leaves of P. americana, their fractions and compounds completely suppressed the growth of P. falciparum. The observed activity supports the use of P. americana in folk medicine for the treatment of malaria.

The present work aimed to study the composition and antibacterial properties of the essential oils (EO) ofOcotea zahamenensisleaves (LEO), stem (SEO) and root (REO) barks from two harvest periods (March and June). All EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation from fresh plant parts with yields up to 4.5%. They are colourless, clear, with a strong odour, heavy, levogyre, with a low acid index and an ester index up to 14.89. Gas chromatography/flame ionisation detection analysis of these EOs identified 5 to 12 components representing 96.06 to 99.96% of the overall composition. Safrole was by far the most predominant constituent with contents ranging from 77.45% (SEO, June) to 97.05% (REO, March). The antibacterial activity was tested against eight pathogenic bacteria including 4 Gram (-) and 4 Gram (+) using microdilution assays. With Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of less than 1 mg/mL, all EOs showed antibacterial activity which varied according to the strain. There was not much difference between the activities of March and June Eos, and in both cases SEO were slightly more effective than LEO and REO. All EOs had bacteriostatic action onBacillus cereusandVibrio fischeriand bactericidal on almost other strains. When administered orally to mice at 0.5 mg/kg body weight, all EOs caused symptoms of intoxication. Their LD50varied from 1.019 to 2.73 g/kg body weight. These EOs could be a new source of safrole and could be used for various purposes with further toxicological studies.

Schistosomiasis is a widespread human parasitic disease currently affecting over 200 million people, particularly in poor communities. Chemotherapy for schistosomiasis relies exclusively on praziquantel (PZQ). Previous studies have shown that licarin A (LIC-A), a dihydrobenzofuran neolignan, exhibited in vitro antiparasitic activity against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. This study aimed to investigate the potential of LIC-A, isolated as main metabolite from leaves of Nectandra oppositifolia Nees & Mart. (Lauraceae), as an antischistosomal agent orally active in schistosomiasis animal model. PZQ was used as a reference compound. As result, LIC-A showed, at a single dose of 400 mg/kg, to be able to partially cure infected mice (worm burden reductions of ~50%). Parasite eggs, that are responsible for a variety of pathologies and transmission of schistosomiasis, were also moderately inhibited by LIC-A (egg burden reductions of ~50%-60%). Furthermore, it was observed that LIC-A achieved a slight reduction of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Collectively, although LIC-A was partially active when administered orally, these results give support for the antiparasitic potential LIC-A as lead compound for novel antischistosomal agent.

The twigs of cinnamon plants are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of tumors, hypertension, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, digestive system disease, and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the volatile compounds of cinnamon twigs from three species and eleven habitats based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared analysis. The results showed that cinnamon twigs from Cinnamomum loureiroi Nees, Lauraceae, had a high volatile oil yield (1.49%) with a high percentage of trans-cinnamaldehyde (75.45%). The cinnamon twigs from C. verum J.Presl contained high contents of eugenol (4.42%), except for trans-cinnamaldehyde (57.25%). The contents of oil and trans-cinnamaldehyde in C. cassia (L.) J.Presl twigs varied among habitats from 0.74–2.18% and 65.27–74.56%, respectively. Additionally, the trans-cinnamaldehyde content of C. cassia twigs from Guangxi (70.32–74.56%) was higher than that of C. cassia twigs from Guangdong (65.27–68.69%). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that thirteen samples were divided into three dominant classes. Sample B (C. verum) was distinguished as a single cluster because it had a high content of eugenol. Our work indicated that chemometrics, in combination with gas chromatography and Fourier transform infrared, proved to be effective for identifying species, determining their geographical distribution, and controlling the quality of cinnamon twigs.

(+)-β-Sesquiphellandrene-12-oic acid (1) and 4-oxo-lanceolic acid (3), two new bisabolane derivatives; (+)-2-methyl-6[4-oxo-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]-2-(E)-heptenoic acid (4), a new nor-bisabolane derivative; (+)-(E)-exo-α-bergamoten-12-oic acid (5), a new bergamotene-type sesquiterpene; (2E,6E)-2,6-dimethyl-10-methylene-dodecatrienoic acid (6), a farnesene-type sesquiterpene reported for the first time as a natural product; and (–)-curcumen-12-oic acid (7), an aromatic bisabolene derivative that is new in Lauraceae, were obtained, together with lanceolic acid (2) and the terpenic lactone loliolide (8), from the leaves of Ocotea minarum. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR and HRESIMS. Evaluated in vitro against standard strains of Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans, compounds 1, 2, and 4-8 exhibited MIC values in the 50–100 μg mL–1 range.

Avocado (Persea americana) is a fruit part of the Lauraceae family, which can be widely found in tropical and subtropical regions. With an annual harvest of more than 300,000 tons in Indonesia and only flesh as edible part, avocado has large byproducts such as skin and seed. The later contains 23% of starch and fat, which can be utilized as an alternative source of starch. This study aimed to examine consumer preference for steamed brownies with avocado seed as additive. Preference was measured using a hedonic test on 55 untrained panelists at a measurable scale of 1-7. Results showed that brownies made by 90 g shredded avocado seed and 80 g wheat flour had the highest hedonic score for color, appearance, texture, aroma, and flavor of 4.4, 4.2, 4.1, 3.75, and 3.7, respectively. These results indicated the possibility to develop a better formula to produce steamed brownies with avocado seed preferable by consumers.

A novel cyclopropanoid, 4-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)cyclopropoxy)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (1) was isolated from the stems of Cinnamomum osmophloeum (Lauraceae). The structure of the novel cyclopropanoid was elucidated by chemical and physical evidence.

A new β-ionone, burmanic acid A (1), was isolated from the roots of Cinnamomum burmanni (Nees & T. Nees) Blume (Lauraceae). The structure of the new β-ionone was elucidated by chemical and physical evidence.

Dehaasia cuneata, locally known in Malaysia as ‘gajus hutan or pekan’, belongs to family Lauraceae. From its bark, A triterpenoid, lupeol was isolated and characterized. The chemical structure of the isolated compound was determined using spectroscopic methods, such as UV–vis, FT-IR, 1D & 2D-NMR, and ESIMS spectrometer. The isolated compound was tested against Gram-negative and positive bacteria using agar disc diffusion technique. The results showed that lupeol had a moderate inhibition zone value of 10.0±0.00 mm against Gram-negative Serratia marcescens ATCC 14756 whereas low inhibition which is 7.0±0.00 mm against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Vibrio fluvialis ATCC 33809, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300.

The barks of Cinnamomum species found to contain essential oil, namely, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. camphora, C. tamala etcetra. The major component is Cinnamaldehyde. Essential oils from leaves of Lauraceae family have not yet been isolated. It was therefore thought to isolate essential oils from leaves of mentioned species and check presence of Cinnamaldehyde presence. It was found that Cinnaldehyde is found only in C. zeylanicum. At same time, as Cinnamaldehyde is a chief constituent present in Cinnamomum species; it was observed that Cinnamaldehyde has been derivatized to make Schiff’s bases for very few compounds. For example, Cinnamyl chitosan Schiff base was prepared by coupling chitosan with trans-Cinnamaldehyde -the mean component of cinnamon oil- under acidic conditions to form cinnamyl chitosan Schiff base. Therefore, it was further thought worthwhile to derivatise Cinnamldehyde with available Substituted amines available in the local market followed by physical characterization. Keywords: Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. camphora, C. tamala, Cinnamaldehyde, Essential oils, Clevenger Apparatus, LC-MS, Schiff’s bases.

The metabolic fingerprint of a non-volatile fraction of Ocotea canaliculata (Rich.) Mez (Lauraceae) leaves was determined by UHPLC–HRMS analysis. Twenty-four compounds were suggestively identified ...

Background and Aim: Licania salicifolia (L.S) Cuatrec., Persea ferruginea (P.F) Kunth, Oreopanax floribundus (O.F), and Psychotria buchtienii (P.B) belong to the families Chrysobalanaceae, Lauraceae, Araliaceae, and Rubiaceae, respectively, which have been used as medicines by communities in the Andes. This study evaluated the leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activities of alcohol and non-alcohol extracts from four Andean plant extracts (L.S, O.F, P.F, and P.B). Materials and Methods: Extracts were obtained by percolation with solvents of different polarities – hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Phytochemical screening was conducted based on reported methods. All products were evaluated in vitro to determine the leishmanicidal activity against amastigotes of Leishmania panamensis and cytotoxicity against U937 cells. Results: Flavonoids, triterpenes, and tannins were the main secondary metabolites found. From the results, dichloromethane extracts from O.F and P.B, ethanol extract from P.B, and ethyl acetate extracts of all plants were active, with EC50

The present investigation was aimed to study the anti-diabetic and hypolipidemic potential of Cinnamon cassia (Lauraceae family) bark in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The preliminary ...

Phytochemical investigation of leaves from the American shrub Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume (Lauraceae) resulted in the isolation of one pure compound 1 and a diastereomeric mixture of 2 and 3. The structures of these new bisabolane sesquiterpenes were elucidated via MS and extensive NMR measurements and identified as 6-(2hydroxy-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl acetate (1) and 3-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(5-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl acetate (2 and 3). The compounds were evaluated in vitro for their anti-inflammatory activity. In cellular assays, 1-3 reduced pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 production in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Cinnamon is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Cinnamomun; it is commonly founded in various tropical countries, consisting of more than 250 species of trees and shrubs in the Lauraceae family. This plant has had great medicinal importance in traditional medicine since ancient times. In this research, the chemical composition of the essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees was evaluated. The samples were extracted from the leaves and stem. The main components founded from the leaves were: Benzyl benzoate (74.2%), α-felandrene (6.9%), α-pinene (3.0%), and linalool (2.7%). Cinnamaldehyde (31%), linalool (13.3%), benzyl benzoate (11.3%), and cinnamaldehyde acetate (8.2%) stood out in the essential oil of the stem. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH method, obtaining an inhibition percentage for concentrations of 80 i­g mL-1, 59.17 ± 0.11% for the leaves and 61.34 ± 0.11% for the stem. Key words: Benzyl benzoate, medicinal plant, cinnamon, free radicals.

Cinnamomum stenophyllum (Meisn.) Vattimo-Gil (Lauraceae) is a native and vulnerable Brazilian species restricted to the Atlantic Forest. The leaf essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was characterized for the first time by two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS). This analysis resulted in the tentatively identification of 80 compounds, showing the superior performance of this method in comparison to the seven compounds identified by GC–MS. The identified compounds included 8 ketones, 7 monoterpene hydrocarbons, 30 oxygenated monoterpenes, 4 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and 23 oxygenated sesquiterpenes, showing that the C. stenophyllum oil contained mostly oxygenated mono and sesquiterpenes. The oil cytotoxicity was tested against two human cancer cell lines, colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) and breast cancer carcinoma (MCF-7), and the non-tumor retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) using the colorimetric MTT assay. Both cancer cell lines were sensible to leaf essential oil, with IC50 50 μg/mL), suggesting selectivity to cancer cells. The results showed that the C. stenophyllum leaf essential oil has a cytotoxic potential, presenting several compounds already known as biologically active against tumor cells. Keywords: Cinnamomum stenophyllum, Essential oil, GC×GC-TOFMS, Oxygenated mono- and sesquiterpenes, Cytotoxic activity

Three new 5,6-dihydro-α-pyrones derivatives, named (S)-rugulactone (1) pulchrinervialactone A (2), and pulchrinervialactone B (4), along with one known pyrone, cryptobrachytone C (3), and three known amide derivatives (5-7) have been isolated from the leaves of Cryptocarya pulchrinervia. The structures of 1-7 were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data and comparison with literatures. The configurations of compounds 3 and 4 were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This is also the first report in finding (S)-rugulactone (1) as a natural product. In addition, the preliminary cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against P-388 cells using the [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. All the pyrones, except compound 4, were active significantly inhibiting the growth of P-388 cells, while the amides derivatives (5-7) showed moderate to weak activities. Therefore, compounds 1-3 could be potentially examined further for anticancer agents.

Neolignan licarin A (1) was isolated from leaves of Nectandra oppositifolia (Lauraceae) and displayed activity against trypomastigote forms of the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma cruzi. Aiming for the establishment of SAR, five different compounds (1a – 1e) were prepared and tested against T. cruzi. The 2-allyl derivative of licarin A (1d) exhibited higher activity against trypomastigotes of T. cruzi (IC50 = 5.0 μM and SI = 9.0), while its heterocyclic derivative 1e displayed IC50 of 10.5 μM and reduced toxicity against NCTC cells (SI > 19.0). However, these compounds presented limited oral bioavailability estimation (−6 cm/s) in parallel artificial membrane permeability assays (PAMPA) due to excessive lipophilicity. Based on these results, different simplified structures of licarin A were designed: vanillin (2), vanillyl alcohol (3), isoeugenol (4), and eugenol (5), as well as its corresponding methyl (a), acetyl (b), O-allyl (c), and C-allyl (d) analogues. Vanillin (2) and its acetyl derivative (2b) displayed expressive activity against intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi with IC50 values of 5.5 and 5.6 μM, respectively, and reduced toxicity against NCTC cells (CC50 > 200 μM). In addition, these simplified analogues showed a better permeability profile (Papp > 1.0 × 10−6 cm/s) on PAMPA models, resulting in improved drug-likeness. Vanillyl alcohol acetyl derivative (3b) and isoeugenol methyl derivative (4a) displayed activity against the extracellular forms of T. cruzi (trypomastigotes) with IC50 values of 5.1 and 8.8 μM respectively. Based on these results, compounds with higher selectivity index against extracellular forms of the parasite (1d, 1e, 3d, and 4a) were selected for a mechanism of action study. After a short incubation period (1 h) all compounds increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of trypomastigotes, suggesting cellular oxidative stress. The ATP levels were increased after two hours of incubation, possibly involving a high energy expenditure of the parasite to control the homeostasis. Except for compound 4a, all compounds induced hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, demonstrating a mitochondrial imbalance. Considering the unique mitochondria apparatus of T. cruzi and the lethal alterations induced by structurally based on licarin A, these compounds are interesting hits for future drug discovery studies in Chagas disease.

The polymorph selection during the discovery and development of new drugs is a crucial factor in ensuring the efficacy of a formulation. Thus, the physicochemical properties, including crystal structure, need to be considered in the decision tree that leads to a drug candidate. Riparins, natural alkamides isolated and later synthesized from Aniba riparia, have demonstrated potential therapeutic activities in preclinical studies, such as antidepressant, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, detailed physicochemical characterization is required as a starting point in the development of a new formulation. This contribution aims to study the polymorphism of three riparins, namely I, II, and III. The elucidation of the crystal structures of several polymorphs combined with thermal analysis studies allowed the determination of the thermodynamic relationships of the polymorphic pairs. The solubility of the three riparins was determined through the measurement of the corresponding dissolution profiles.

One of the most famous plants of the laurel family (Lauraceae) is Laurus nobilis L. The aim of the study was to review scientific information on the study of phenolic compounds of wild-growing and cultivated Laurus nobilis L. Materials and methods . The study was performed using information retrieval (PubMed, ScholarGoogle) and library databases (eLibrary, Cyberleninca), as well as ResearchGate application for semantic search. The research methods are analysis and synthesis of the scientific literature data for the period from 2000 up to the present. Results . The data presented in the review show that leaves, fruits, and shoots of Laurus nobilis L. are valuable sources of phenolic compounds, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins. The quantitative content of these groups of substances varies depending on the collecting ground, the source of raw materials (cultivated or wild plants), the time (phase) of their harvesting, the method of drying, extraction from raw materials, etc. Phenolic compounds exhibit a pronounced antioxidant and antiradical activity, have an inhibitory effect on NO production, sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase, on tumour cell lines (HeLa, MCF7, NCI-H460 and HCT15), and are characterised by an antibacterial action against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion . The analysis of the available scientific information showed that the phenolic compounds of Laurus nobilis L. are one of the main groups of the active compounds of this plant. The use of this information is essential for the development of new effective medicines based on the raw materials of Laurus nobilis L..

Lauraceae families have great diversity in the world’s tropical regions and are represented mainly by aromatic shrubs and trees with significant production of essential oils (EOs). This work presents a review of the EO chemical profiles from specimens of Aniba, including their seasonal variations, geographical distributions, and biological activities in the Amazon biome. Based on the survey, 15 species were reviewed, representing 167 oil samples extracted from leaves, twig barks, and woods. Brazilian Amazon was the most representative geographic area in the number of specimens, highlighting the locations Belém, (Pará state, PA) (3 spp., 37 samples), Santarém (PA) (3 spp., 10 samples), Carajás (PA) (3 spp., 7 samples), and Manaus (Amazonas state, AM) (3 spp., 16 samples). The main compound classes identified in oils were benzenoids and phenylpropanoids, represented by 1-nitro-2-phenylethane, benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and methyleugenol, along with terpenoids, especially monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, such as linalool, α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-selinene, and spathulenol. The EOs from Aniba showed considerable variation in the chemical profiles according to season and collection site. The hierarchical cluster analysis classified the samples into two main groups according to chemical composition. This review highlights its comprehensive and up-to-date information on history, conservation, traditional uses, chemosystematics, pharmacological potential of Aniba species.

Persea lingue Ness is a tree species that lives mainly in temperate forests of south-central Chile. Its leaves are used in ethnomedicine, the fruit is a drupe similar to that of the avocado and has not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity in leukemia cell and antibacterial activity, along with some chemical content characteristics of P. lingue fruit and leaf extracts. The antibacterial activity was determined by the inhibition of bacterial growth in liquid medium assay against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The leukemia cell lines Kasumi-1 and Jurkat were used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity by using propidium iodide and AlamarBlue assays. Total phenolic, flavonoid, condensed tannin, alkaloid and lipid contents were evaluated in the fruit and in the leaf extracts. The antioxidant activity of both extracts were also elavaluated. Leaf extract presented the highest content of total phenols, condensed tannins and flavonoids, and also the highest antioxidant activity. While the fruit extract has a higher amount of lipids and alkaloids and the high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus megaterium and Micrococcus luteus. The leaf extract only showed activity against M. luteus. Concerning the cytotoxic activity, only the fruit extract showed cytotoxicity against the cell lines Jurkat and Kasumi-1. P. lingue fruit extract is a potential source of biologically active molecules for the development of new drugs to be used in some types of leukemia, as well as antibacterial agent.

Ocotea notata (Lauraceae) is popularly known as white-cinnamon. Ocotea species have several medicinal uses, especially for treating chest pain, rheumatism and wounds. The present study aimed to analyze the chemical composition of O. notata n-hexane fraction, in addition to its anti-mycobacterial and immunomodulatory activities. The n-hexane fraction was analyzed by GC-MS and was chromatographed to afford 15 subfractions (SF1-15), where SF5 was identified, by GC-MS and NMR, as the sesquiterpene spathulenol. The n-hexane fraction was the most potent in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production on LPS-stimulated macrophages (IC50 8.3 ± 0.9 and 5.9 ±1.0 μg/mL, respectively). SF4, a major subfraction, that presents a spathulenol analogous as a constituent, also inhibited NO and TNF-α production. Spathulenol only modulated NO production (IC50 45.6 ± 1.4 μg/mL). The n-hexane fraction, SF4, and spathulenol revealed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium bovis BCG, M. tuberculosis H37Rv, and M299 strains. Spathulenol inhibited the growth of Mtb H37Rv with MIC50 36.9 ± 1.5 μg/mL (167.5 ± 6.8 μM), and Mtb M299 with MIC5042.1 ± 0.5 μg/mL (191.0 ± 2.2 μM). This is the first report describing the isolation of spathulenol from O. notata leaves and its anti-mycobacterial activity. Resumo Ocotea notata (Lauraceae) é popularmente conhecida como canela-branca. As espécies do gênero Ocotea têm vários usos medicinais, especialmente no tratamento de dores no peito, reumatismo e feridas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a composição química da fração n-hexano de O. notata, além de suas atividades antimicobacteriana e imunomoduladora. A fraçao n-hexano foi analisada por GC-MS e fracionada fornecendo 15 subfrações (SF1-15), onde SF5 foi identificado, por GC-MS e RMN, como o sesquiterpeno espatulenol. A fração n-hexano foi a mais potente na inibição da produção de óxido nítrico (NO) e do fator de necrose tumoral-alfa (TNF-α) em macrófagos estimulados por LPS (IC50 8,3 ± 0,9 e 5,9 ±1,0 μg/mL, respectivamente). SF4, urna subfração majoritária, que apresenta um análogo do espatulenol como constituinte, também inibiu a produção de NO e TNF-α. O espatulenol modulou apenas a produção de NO (IC50 45,6 ±1,4 μg/mL). A fração n-hexano, SF4 e espatulenol apresentaram atividade antimicobacteriana contra as cepas de Mycobacterium bovis BCG, M. tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv e M299. O espatulenol inibiu o crescimento de Mtb H37Rv com MIC50 36,9 ± 1,5 μg/mL (167,5 ± 6,8 μM) e Mtb M299 com MIC50 42,1 ± 0,5 μg/mL (191,0 ± 2,2 μM). Este é o primeiro relato que descreve o isolamento do espatulenol das folhas de O. notata e sua atividade antimicobacteriana.

A new dimeric lignan, machiphilippin (1), was isolated from the stems of Machilus philippinensis Merr. (Lauraceae). The structure of the new dimeric lignan was elucidated by chemical and physical evidence.

A new apocarotenoid, burmannic acid (1), was isolated from the roots of Cinnamomum burmannii (Nees & T. Nees) Blume (Lauraceae). The structure of the new apocarotenoid was elucidated by chemical and physical evidence.

The essential oils of Aniba parviflora (Meisn) Mez. (Lauraceae) were evaluated for chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant. The essential oils (EO) from leaf and branch of A. parviflora were active against pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. It has presented respectively 13 and 9 mm of inhibition halos. Using the broth microdilution, the EO presented a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.0 mg/mL for both bacteria, S. aureus and E. faecalis. Regarding its antioxidant activity, the essential oils from leaf and branch has shown no ability to reduce the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 74 compounds were identified in the essential oils of leaves and branches of A. parviflora, in which the monoterpene linalool was the major compound in both oils.

Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae, commonly known as the avocado, is native to tropical and subtropical regions, including Brazil. From the leaves of P. americana, one previously undescribed flavonol glycoside (1) together with ten known flavonoids (2–11), four megastigmane glycosides (12–15) and two lignans (16–17) were isolated. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data. This is the first investigation that reports megastigmane glycoside and lignan classes within the genus Persea. All the isolated compounds have been assessed through the cell survival of larval zebrafish following neomycin-induced damage and the cell viability of a House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 mouse auditory cell line. Among the tested compounds, juglanin (2) and (+)-lyoniresinol (16) showed significant cell regeneration in neomycin-damaged hair cell without cellular toxicity. Keywords: Lauraceae, Flavonol glycoside, Megastigmane glycosides, Lignans