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The production of grafted seedlings requires longer periods of time. The technique of mini-grafting onto rootstocks previously obtained from herbaceous cuttings can guarantee the genetic fidelity of scion and rootstock and allows grafting onto smaller-diameter stems, accelerating the time required to obtain seedlings. The aim of this study was to anticipate the formation of ‘Paluma’ guava seedlings grafted onto clonal rootstocks with smaller-diameter stems. Treatments consisted of grafting onto rootstocks with five stem diameter classes. The experimental design was randomised blocks with three replicates and five seedlings per plot. Rootstocks were produced from cuttings of herbaceous branches of mother plants originating from crossing between P. guineense and P. cattleianum. Mini-grafts were obtained from a clonal ‘Paluma’ guava mini-garden . Seedlings grafted onto rootstocks with stem diameters from 3.7 to 10.3 mm presented the same success rate however the greatest seedling vigour was observed when grafted onto larger-diameter rootstocks. Grafting success and seedling height show that mini-grafting onto clonal rootstocks with diameters from 3.7 to 5.5 mm allows producing seedlings suitable for transplanting 300 days after cutting. Resumo A produção de mudas enxertadas demanda maior período de tempo. A técnica da minigarfagem sobre porta-enxertos obtidos previamente por estaquia herbácea pode garantir a fidelidade genética da copa e do porta-enxerto e possibilitar a enxertia em caules de menor diâmetro, antecipando o período de obtenção dessas mudas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a antecipação da formação da muda da goiabeira ‘Paluma’ enxertada sobre porta-enxertos clonais com caules de menor diâmetro. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela enxertia sobre porta-enxertos com cinco classes de diâmetros do caule. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições e cinco mudas por parcela. Os porta-enxertos foram produzidos por estaquia de ramos herbáceos de matrizes oriundas de cruzamento entre P. guineense x P. cattleianum. Os minigarfos foram obtidos de um minijardim clonal da goiabeira ‘Paluma’. Mudas enxertadas sobre porta-enxertos com diâmetros de caule entre 3,7 e 10,3 mm tiveram a mesma taxa de pegamento de enxertia; entretanto, o maior vigor das mudas foi observado quando estas foram enxertadas sobre porta-enxertos de maior calibre. O pegamento de enxertia e a altura das mudas indicam que a minigarfagem sobre porta-enxertos clonais, com diâmetros entre 3,7 e 5,5 mm, permite a produção de mudas aptas ao transplantio, aos 300 dias após o estaqueamento.

Guava rootstocks can be multiplied by minicuttings in environment with a high relative humidity, being necessary an acclimatization period. Certain growth regulators favor the acclimatization, with brassinosteroids being successfully used in other fruit plants. This study aimed to shorten the multiplication time of the BRS Guaraçá hybrid by applying Biobras-16 (BB-16) during the acclimatization of seedlings obtained from minicuttings. The treatments consisted of five BB-16 concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mg L-1), applied in a randomized block design, in a split-plot arrangement, with four replications and five seedlings per plot, repeated at two seasons: winter and spring/summer. After 60 days of acclimatization, shoot and root growth indicators increased as a function of the BB-16 application, particularly at concentrations between 0.3 and 0.6 mg L-1. The brassinosteroid can be used to stimulate the growth of BRS Guaraçá seedlings obtained from minicuttings, shortening its production time and improving its seedling quality. RESUMO Porta-enxertos para goiabeira podem ser multiplicados por miniestaquia em ambiente com alta umidade relativa, sendo necessário um período para aclimatação. Alguns reguladores de crescimento favorecem a aclimatação, sendo os brassinosteroides utilizados com sucesso em outras frutíferas. Objetivou-se reduzir o tempo de multiplicação do híbrido BRS Guaraçá com aplicações de Biobras-16 (BB-16) na fase de aclimatação de mudas obtidas por miniestaquia. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco concentrações de BB-16 (0; 0,1; 0,3; 0,5; e 1,0 mg L-1), aplicadas em delineamento experimental com blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições e cinco mudas por parcela, repetidos em duas épocas do ano: inverno e primavera/verão. Ao final de sessenta dias de aclimatação, indicadores de crescimento da parte aérea e raízes tiveram incrementos em função da aplicação de BB-16, notadamente nas concentrações entre 0,3 e 0,6 mg L-1. O brassinosteroide pode ser utilizado para estimular o crescimento de mudas de BRS Guaraçá oriundas de miniestaquia, reduzindo o seu tempo de produção e incrementando sua qualidade.

Plants represent the main source of molecules for the development of new drugs, which intensifies the interest of transnational industries in searching for substances obtained from plant sources, especially since the vast majority of species have not yet been studied chemically or biologically, particularly concerning anti-inflammatory action. Anti-inflammatory drugs can interfere in the pathophysiological process of inflammation, to minimize tissue damage and provide greater comfort to the patient. Therefore, it is important to note that due to the existence of a large number of species available for research, the successful development of new naturally occurring anti-inflammatory drugs depends mainly on a multidisciplinary effort to find new molecules. Although many review articles have been published in this regard, the majority presented the subject from a limited regional perspective. Thus, the current article presents highlights from the published literature on plants as sources of anti-inflammatory agents.

The fruit pulp extracts of the species Capsicum baccatum are associated with a number of phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to validate a bioanalytical method for the quantification of the chlorogenic acid present in the UENF 1613 de C. baccatum accession. The quantification was carried out through HPLC. The results obtained for the extract of C. baccatum indicated selectivity for chlorogenic acid. The values obtained for relative standard deviation, as well as for precision, in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision, did not exceed the maximum of 15% set in the criteria for the acceptance of bioanalytical methods. In terms of recovery, the accuracy rate for the phenolic compound of interest was from 77 to 93%. The validated method through external standardization was applied for the quantification of chlorogenic acid of the UENF accession.

The need to increase the product’s shelf life and the growing concern to minimize the use of synthetic products encouraged the researchers to evaluate the antioxidant activity and quantify phenolic compounds as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, quercetin and apigenin through the use of HPLC, in 29 accesses of Capsicum baccatum. Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum is one species of the Capsicum genus widely consumed in Brazil. It is the second largest pepper produced in the world. However, its chemical composition and mainly its extract antioxidant activity have been poorly reported in literature. In order to deepen the study of the access properties relating the antioxidant activity versus content of phenolic compounds. It is suggested that the BRS, 1643a, 1611 and 1613, accession could be used as natural antioxidants in the food industry.

Cattley guava (Psidium catteyanum Sabine) is a widespread native plant species of South America and constitutes important genetic resources for the improvement of guava trees. Fruits of these species are consumed by wild animals and extracted by local human populations. However, the vegetative propagation of adult plants, which is necessary for fixing desired characteristics, has been inefficient. The objective of this work was to evaluate the rescue of adult plants of P. cattleyanum by herbaceous and semi-hardwood cuttings for the establishment of clonal mini-gardens and to evaluate the rooting potential of mini-cuttings of different genotypes. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme with the treatments being different propagule or propagation techniques (herbaceous and semi-hardwood cuttings from mother plants cultivated in the field and by mini-cuttings), with five repetitions and six propagules per plot. The potential for multiplication by the mini-cutting technique and plant vigor were evaluated for 20 genotypes of cattley guava during three seasons of the year (autumn, winter and summer). The use of semi-hardwood cuttings is feasible for the rescue of adult plants and the establishment of clonal mini-gardens. The mini-cutting technique provided the highest rooting percentage, and was most efficient in summer. The genotypes evaluated varied in rooting percentage and plant vigor.

This study identified two phenolic compounds in Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi fruits: naringenin (first report in this species) and gallic acid. Their structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data (1H-, 13C-NMR) and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. A high content of phenolics (659.21 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of sample—Folin-Ciocalteau method) and total flavonoids (140.69 mg of rutin equivalents/g of sample—aluminum chloride method) were quantified in S. terebinthifolius, as well as high antioxidant activity (77.47%—2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH method). The antihypertensive activity related to its phenolic content was investigated. After intravenous infusion in Wistar rats, these phenolics significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the systolic, median, and diastolic arterial pressures of individuals. The rotarod test was performed to determine the mechanism of action of the sample vasorelaxant effect. It was found that its action exceeded that of the positive control used (diazepam). This confirmed the vasodilatory activity exerted by S. terebinthifolius fruits is related to the phenolic compounds present in the plant, which are potent antioxidants and inhibit oxidative stress, mainly in the central nervous system.