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O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana, in vitro, dos óleos essenciais de Cymbopogon citratus e Lippia alba (Mill) N. E. Brown contra microrganismos patogênicos e deterioradores de alimentos. Os óleos foram extraídos por hidrodestilação e caracterizados quanto à composição química por cromatografia gasosa. A atividade antimicrobiana dos óleos foi determinada pelo método de difusão em ágar e, as concentrações inibitórias e bactericidas mínimas foram determinadas pelo método de microdiluição em caldo. As espécies bacterianas utilizadas foram Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Salmonella choleraesuis. Os principais componentes identificados no óleo de C. citratus foram geranial e neral, enquanto os componentes majoritários do óleo de L. alba foram e-citral e neral. Os dois óleos apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana contra todas as espécies bacterianas testadas. A zona de inibição do óleo de C. citratus variou de 33 ± 2,8 mm (S. aureus) a 10 ± 0,0 mm (S. choleraesuis) e a zona de inibição do óleo de L. alba variou de 15,5 ± 0,7 mm (S. aureus) a 8,0 ± 0,0 mm (P. aeruginosa). As concentrações inibitórias mínimas (CIM) e as concentrações bactericidas mínimas (CBM) do óleo essencial de L. alba foram menores para S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, L. innocua e E. coli, enquanto que o óleo de C. citratus apresentou CIM e CBM menores para P. aeruginosa e S. choleraesuis. Os resultados mostram que os óleos essenciais avaliados podem ser uma alternativa eficiente para o controle de bactérias patogênicas e deterioradoras de alimentos.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the essential oils of Lippia alba chemotypes carvone and citral on H. contortus. Chemical characterization was performed by means of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The anthelmintic effects of the essential oils were assessed through the egg hatch test (EHT) and the adult worm motility test (AWMT) using a multidrug-resistant H. contortus Kokstad isolate. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of eggs and adults of H. contortus and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of adults were performed after treatment with oils for qualitative observations of their effects. The carvone chemotype of L. alba (LaCV) presented 70% carvone, and the citral chemotype of L. alba (LaCT) presented 29.4% geranial and 20.4% neral, respectively. In the EHT, the EC50 values of LaCV and LaCT were 0.2 and 0.3 mg/mL, respectively. In AWMT, after 12 h of exposure to 2 mg/mL LaCV and 2 mg/mL LaCT, 100% of adult nematodes were immobile. CLSM showed changes in larval motility inside the egg caused by LaCV, while LaCT promoted changes in larval formation. In adults exposed to both chemotypes, alterations in the anterior portion of the oesophagus were observed. In SEM, morphological changes were observed in the buccal capsule and in the medial portion of H. contortus adults. It is concluded that the two essential oils of L. alba, the chemotypes carvone and citral, caused morphological changes and inhibited the hatching of eggs and the motility of adult H. contortus nematodes.

Hippeastrum elegans is a Brazilian Amaryllidaceae plant producing galantamine (GAL), an anticholinesterase drug for Alzheimer's disease, besides other alkaloids such as pseudolycorine (PSE), narciclasine (NAR) and sanguinine (SAN). Therefore, we used a metabolomic approach to investigate the influence of the harvest time on its chemical composition and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). Alkaloid extracts were analyzed by UPLC-ESI-MS and 1H NMR, then assessed for AChE inhibitory activity. These data were combined and analyzed by Partial Least Square (PLS) regression. H. elegans was found to be rich in PSE and NAR, achieving higher contents in 270 and 390 days of cultivation, respectively. However, the highest anti-AChE activities were observed for 450 days-bulbs extracts. PLS indicated pseudolycorine as the discriminant compound for this extract, hence responsible for its higher anti-AChE activity jointly with the known AChE inhibitors GAL and SAN. Thus, the cultivation of H. elegans appears to be a promising way for providing bioactive alkaloids.

Egletes viscosa (L.) Less (Asteraceae) is a tropical aromatic herb whose flower buds are used for gastrointestinal disorders. Its gastroprotective properties have been attributed to the flavonoid ternatin and the furan diterpenes tanabalin and centipedic acid. The aim of this study was to develop a method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) for identifying the constituents from E. viscosa flower buds as well as quantifying its bioactive compounds in herbal products. Infusions and tincture from wild and commercial E. viscosa materials were directly injected on a UPLC-quadrupole-time-of-flight system (UPLC-q-TOF). Afterwards, reference standards were used to quantify ternatin, tanabalin and centipedic acid in these samples, employing a UPLC-single quadrupole system set up for positive mode and Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM). Seventeen compounds were identified, including caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids and diterpenes, from which seven have been reported for the first time in this specie. The quantification method showed good linearity (R > 0.99), accuracy, precision and sensitivity. The intra-day and inter-day precisions presented relative standard deviations inferior to 6.04 and 8.78%, respectively. The recoveries of all the analytes varied 82.25–117.87%. The limits of detection and quantification ranged between 10–25 μg/L and 25–75 μg/L, respectively. For the samples, the contents of ternatin, tanabalin and centipedic acid ranged from 0.89 to 8.03 mg/L, 0.84–16.8 mg/L and 3.21–16.8 mg/L, respectively. The method demonstrated to be rapid, sensitive and reliable for the quality control of E. viscosa-based products, besides being applicable to other plant extracts containing flavonoids and diterpenes.

The cultivar BRS Avai was originated from recurrent phenotypic selection in the original American cultivar Tabasco Macllhenny™, used in the worldly famous Tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) sauce. The determination of the aroma profile of this new cultivar could reveal important qualitative descriptors that will help in future crosses and in the improvement of the desirable characteristics. Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-olfactometry techniques were used to analyze the volatile compounds from a new Brazilian cultivar, estimating the most powerful odor-active compounds. In the volatile fraction of BRS Avai pepper, esters were the predominant chemical class and major compounds were isohexyl and hexyl esters. Thirty-five odorants were detected and sixteen were considered as having moderate to high intensity, with hexyl 2-methylbutanoate, α-pinene, hexyl butanoate and hexyl 3-methylbutanoate contributing the most to the typical sweet, herbal and pepper-like aroma of this cultivar.

The Amazonian Rubiaceae species Uncaria guianensis (UG) is locally used as antiinflammatory, antitumor, antidiabetic, anti-ulcers, and others. The phenolic content of its leaves is characterized by the great predominance of the flavonoid kaempferol-3,7-O-(alpha)-L-dirhamnoside (kaempferitrin). The present study quantitatively evaluates the kaempferitrin content in the leaves and branches of cultivated and wild UG specimens collected in different locations of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest by employing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Besides, the understanding of the polyphenol profile performed by electron spray ionization is deepened by tandem mass spectrometry analysis (ESI-MS/MS), using a previously approached leaf UG extract, and the flavonoid quercetin-3,7-O-(alpha)-L-dirhamnoside was first isolated from UG. All samples showed quite similar qualitative polyphenol profiles. Kaempferitrin in UG ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 mg 100 mg-1 for dry leaves of adult wild plants, 0.3 to 0.7 mg 100 mg-1 for dry leaves of cultivated young plants and 0.00 to 0.04 mg 100 mg-1 for dry branches of adult wild plants. Besides suggesting the distribution of kaempferitrin in the species, these results reinforce this flavonol as a suitable chemical marker for UG leaves and the products derived from them. This work was supported by Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) (No. E-26/170.742/2002), and in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - International Cooperation Program (CAPES-PrInt) (No. 88881.312008/2018-1). DP thanks the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) for his fellowship. The authors thank Dr Peter May and N.G.O. Pro-Natura (Brazil) and Dr Jose A. Cabral from CBA-Amazonas for the kind donation of part of the plant material used. Thanks to Dr Helida B. N. Borges of the Central Herbarium of the UFMT, Brazil and Mr Jorginaldo W. de Oliveira of the Herbarium of the UFRJ, Brazil for their cooperation. The authors are grateful to Mr Ricardo Coelho for his support.

Hippeastrum elegans is an Amaryllidaceae species producing alkaloids with pharmaceutical potential including lycorine and galanthamine. Herein, we developed a non-targeted metabolomic study associated to chemometrics and biological evaluations to identify the H. elegans constituents that were able to reduce the human neutrophils proinflammatory mechanisms. The alkaloid fractions were extracted from bulbs cultivated for 15 months (m) and harvested in six harvest periods (5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 m). The GC–MS analysis allowed the detection of 41 alkaloids being 31 identified. All alkaloid components varied over the cultivation and most of them were lycorine-type skeletons. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) distinguished three groups according to the chemical profile (group I: 5, 7, and 9 m; group II: 11 m and group III: 13 and 15 m). Therefore, the biological assays were only performed with one of the representative samples of each group: 7 m, 11 m and 15 m. None of them was toxic to human neutrophils by LDH activity and MTT test. The 7 m and 15 m-alkaloid fractions showed anti-inflammatory effects by reducing human neutrophil degranulation. However, the former one was more effective in inhibiting the cell activation based on the reduction of myeloperoxidase (MPO) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Afterwards, Partial Least Squares analysis (PLS) indicated lycorine and 11,12-dehydro-2-methoxy-assoanine as the compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of the bioactive fraction. Thus, the 7 m-alkaloid fraction of H. elegans seems to be a promising anti-inflammatory drug that deserves additional research.

Our study aimed at the development of a method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) using selected ion monitoring for the simultaneous quantitation of the alkaloids galantamine, pseudolycorine, sanguinine and narciclasine in Amaryllidaceae species (Hippeastrum elegans, Habranthus cf. irwinianus, Hymenocallis littoralis and Griffinia nocturna). The alkaloids were extracted from dried and ground bulbs (100 mg) using liquid-liquid microextraction followed by solid phase extraction in cation exchange cartridges. The quantification method showed good linearity (correlation coefficient, R ≥ 0.9968) and selectivity for a run time of 10 min. All values were within the acceptable limits for recovery (87.5-96.2%), interday (coefficient of variation, CV%, 1.3-8.4%) and intraday precision (CV% 5.7-8.1%), except narciclasine (70%). The limits of detection and quantification were 5-100 and 20-350 ng mL-1, respectively. Our method demonstrated to be rapid, sensitive and reliable, therefore appropriate for being employed in the prospection of new source of galantamine and other alkaloids.

In this study, the drying kinetics of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus niruri were investigated experimentally in an air-drying oven as a function of drying temperature (50, 60, and 70°C). The ef...

Egletes viscosa is a Brazilian medicinal herb consumed as flower bud tea due to its gastroprotective properties. This plant possesses two essential oil-based chemical varieties: trans-pinocarveyl acetate-rich chemotype A and cis-isopinocarveyl acetate- rich chemotype B. Therefore, we developed two simple, fast and reliable methods for discrimination of E. viscosa chemotypes using NIR and 1H qNMR spectroscopies combined with the chemometrics tools (iPLS and PLS-DA). Both methods showed high sensitivity, precision and specificity in the cross-validation tests. The NIR method has the advantages of being non-destructive and analyzable by portable devices, enabling its application for field and industrial evaluations. Meanwhile, the 1H qNMR method allows the quantification of the bioactive components ternatin, tanabalin, and centipedic acid. These aforementioned compounds were found higher in the chemotype A. Accordingly, our methods showed to be complimentary approaches for authenticity and/or quality control of E. viscosa-derived raw materials and herbal products.

Lippia sidoides (Verbenaceae) is a medicinal plant from Northeastern Brazil, whose essential oil is rich in thymol, being a well-known antimicrobial phenol compound. The aim of this study was to produce suspensions of polycaprolactone (PCL)-coated nanocapsules incorporated with the essential oil from the L. sidoides leaves (EOLS) by the emulsion-diffusion method. EOLS nanocapsules were prepared by mixing EOLS and PCL with Kolliphor P 188® as the surfactant and ethyl laurate (core oil), all of them in varying concentrations (1, 2.5 and 5%). The said nanoformulations were assessed for their particle size and encapsulation efficiency (EE). The best condition was achieved with the nanoformulation containing 1% Kolliphor P 188®, 2.5% polycaprolactone, 2.5% EOLS and 5% ethyl laurate, emulsified at 10,000 rpm for 5 min, which presented an average particle diameter with 173.6 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.2 and an EE of 70.6%. Additionally, the nanoemulsion was characterized by the nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy- DOSY), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and the differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, the suspension of nanocapsules of the EOLS was demonstrated to be stable at 5 °C during 60 days of storage in an accelerated stability study.

Phyllanthus amarus Schum & Thonn is an herb rich in bioactive compounds, mainly phenols, and it is widely used for its medicinal properties. In this study, aqueous extraction from aerial parts of P. amarus was performed using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and conventional extraction (CE). Response surface methodology was used to assess the effect of the time, ultrasonic intensity, and liquid/solid (L/S) ratio in UAE and of time and temperature in PLE on total phenolics and gallic acid extraction. The chemical composition of the extracts obtained through the three techniques was also analyzed using UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. The UAE operational condition that afforded the highest phenolic content (27.23 mg/g plant) used time of 7 min, ultrasonic intensity of 301 W/cm2, and L/S ratio of 40 mL/g. This value was lower than the one obtained by the conventional extraction method (42.78 mg/g plant). However, PLE at 192.4 °C and time of 15 min yielded the highest total phenolic content (52.97 mg/g plant). Regarding the extraction of gallic acid, the non-conventional methods yielded contents three times higher than the conventional extraction. The chemical composition of P. amarus extracts had mainly hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, and lignans. The most significant difference was found in UAE, which proved to be inefficient to extract ellagitannins.

Plant responses to salinity have been long investigated. Nevertheless, how leaf metabolism is affected, and what is the role of salicylic acid (SA) during salt stress remains elusive. Here we evaluated the influence of exogenous SA on the growth, primary and secondary metabolism of the medicinal plant Egletes viscosa under salt stress. Salinity decreased plant biomass, leaf gas exchange, and photosynthetic pigment content. The principal component analysis revealed that both SA and salt altered leaf metabolite profile when analyzed isolated or in combination. Salinity increased several amino acids contents. In contrast, slight changes in the level of organic acids and sugars were observed. Exogenous SA also increased the content of almost all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified. The integrative effect of salt and exogenous SA did not reverse the effects of salinity on the plant biomass, nor did it restore VOCs profile. However, SA was able to increase K+ levels, and decrease H2O2 overproduction in salt-stressed plants by increasing key metabolites, which leads to a higher net photosynthetic rate. Taken together, our results suggest that SA increased several metabolites which may contribute to the portioning of Na+ and K+ among roots and shoots alleviating salt stress-induced photosynthesis impairment by modulating key primary and volatile metabolites.

BACKGROUND Dengue fever may present hemorrhages and cavitary effusions as result of exacerbated immune responses. We investigated hydro-alcoholic extracts from leaves (UGL) and bark (UGB) of the medicinal species Uncaria guinanensis with respect to antiviral effects in Dengue virus (DENV) infection and in immunological parameters associated with in vivo physiopathological features. METHODS Chemical profiles from UGB or UGL were compared in thin layer chromatography and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance using flavonoid compounds and a pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid-enriched fraction as references. DENV-2-infected hepatocytes (Huh-7) were treated with extracts. Cell viability, DENV antigens and immunological factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or flow cytometry. FINDINGS The UGL mainly differed from UGB by selectively containing the flavonoid kaempferitrin. UGB and UGL improved hepatocyte viability. Both extracts reduced intracellular viral antigen and inhibited the secretion of viral non-structural protein (NS1), which is indicative of viral replication. Reduction in secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor was achieved by UGB, of interleukin-6 by UGL, and of interleukin-8 by both UGB and UGL. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The U. guianensis extracts presented, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects for DENV and possibly a hepatocyte-protective activity. Further studies may be performed to consider these products as potential candidates for the development of an herbal product for the future treatment of dengue.

Lippia alba is a shrub of the Verbenaceae family, popularly known as lemon balm. It's essential oil is said to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity whose effectiveness varies according to its composition, which is influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of oil taken from the leaves of L. alba collected at different times of the year, against microorganisms of importance in food. The oil, obtained by hydrodistillation, was tested against standard cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua using agar diffusion techniques. The different sampling times had a big influence on the efficiency of the oil, which varied in relation to each microbial species. From December to February the best response was against S. aureus. Against L. monocytogenes, the oil was effective from June to August, while for L. innocua, the oil presented the same response for three periods of the year, differing only from March to May. Correlation of meteorological data for 2010 makes it possible to verify that characteristics typical of the period from December to February in the town of Paraipaba, in the Brazilian state of Ceará (high temperatures, long periods of sunshine and low rainfall) favoured the action of the oil against S. aureus. In turn, from June to August, seasonal conditions enhanced the action of the oil against L. monocytogenes and L. innocua. Lippia alba é um arbusto da família Verbenaceae, popularmente conhecida como erva-cidreira. Seu óleo essencial é citado com amplo espectro de atividade antimicrobiana, cuja eficácia varia em função da sua composição, que sofre influência de fatores bióticos e abióticos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo, avaliar a eficácia antimicrobiana do óleo de folhas de L. alba, coletadas nas diferentes estações do ano, frente a microrganismos de importância em alimentos. O óleo, obtido por hidrodestilação, foi testado contra culturas padrões de Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes e Listeria innocua, utilizando as técnicas de difusão em ágar. Observou-se uma grande influência das diferentes épocas de coleta na eficiência do óleo, que variou em função de cada espécie microbiana. No período dezembro - fevereiro, a melhor resposta foi frente à S. aureus. Para L. monocytogenes a maior eficácia do óleo ocorreu no período junho - agosto, enquanto que para L. innocua o óleo apresentou a mesma resposta em três períodos do ano, diferenciando apenas no período compreendido entre março e maio. A correlação dos dados meteorológicos do ano de 2010 permite aferir, que as características típicas do período dezembro a fevereiro no município de Paraipaba-CE (altas temperaturas, longos períodos de insolação e baixo índice de precipitação pluiométrica) favoreceram a ação do óleo frente S. aureus. No período de junho a agosto, por sua vez, as condições da estação potencializaram a ação do óleo contra L. monocytogenes e L. innocua.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Lippia alba essential oil (EOLa) and to investigate the effect of food ingredients on its efficacy. The antimicrobial potential of the oil was determined by the presence or absence of inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of food ingredients and the pH on the antimicrobial efficacy of oil was assessed by monitoring the maximum growth rate of Listeria monocytogenes in model media. The model media included potato starch (0, 1, 5 or 10%), beef extract (1, 5, 3, 6 or 12%), sunflower oil (0, 5 or 10%) and TSB broth at pH levels of 4, 5, 6 or 7. The EOLa showed efficacy at all concentrations (50%, 25%, 6.25%, 3%, 1.5%, 0.8%, 0.4% and 0.2%) evaluated, against all bacterial species, Gram-positive and Gram-negative. The antimicrobial efficacy of EO was found to be a function of ingredient manipulation. Proteins and lipids had a negative impact on the oil effectiveness, indicating the protective action of both on the microbial specie tested. On the contrary, at the highest concentration of starch (10%), the lower rate growth of L. monocytogenes was detected, therefore indicating a positive effect of carbohydrates on the oil effectivenes. Regarding the pH, the studies showed that the rate of microbial growth increased with increasing pH. It was concluded that the use of EOLa is more effective control pathogenic and spoilage bacteria when applied to starchy foods under an acidic pH.

Coumarin, o-coumaric, and kaurenoic acid are bioactive compounds usually found in the leaves of Mikania laevigata. Genetic and environmental variations in the secondary metabolites of plants may have implications for their biological effects. Three different accessions of M. laevigata cultivated in four sites between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn in Brazil were evaluated aiming to present potential raw materials and discuss relationships among these three bioactive compounds. The results revealed effects of plant accessions and environmental factors and suggested two contrasting chemical phenotypes of M. laevigata. The first phenotype presented the highest levels of kaurenoic acid (2283 ± 316 mg/100 g) besides lower levels of coumarin (716 ± 61 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated by the environment and mild climate at the site nearest to the Tropic of Capricorn. The other phenotype presented the lowest levels of kaurenoic acid (137 ± 17 mg/100 g) besides higher levels of coumarin (1362 ± 108 mg/100 g), which was also stimulated by the environment and tropical climate at the site nearest to the Equatorial beach.

Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. and Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) Gmel., commercially known as cat's claw, are large woody vines native of the Amazon and Central America rainforests. These Rubiaceae species face nowadays an imminent risk of extinction due to indiscriminate harvesting in the wild as well as to increasing deforestation of their natural habitat. This work describes in vitro cultivation methods for both species with determination, by HPLC, of the pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid contents and profiles of the plant material. The results have proved that the methods we developed were able to produce plants with alkaloid profiles and contents similar to the wild and in vivo cultivated species, and with the additional advantage of producing suitable young plants in a shorter period of time. The data showed that the in vitro technique can be a feasible tool for the growth of the species, and may thus be important for their commercialization and for their conservation as a forest resource. Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. e Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) Gmel., conhecidas comercialmente como unha-de-gato, são trepadeiras lenhosas nativas das florestas tropicais amazônica e central-americana. Essas espécies de Rubiaceae enfrentam ultimamente um eminente risco de extinção devido tanto ao extrativismo indiscriminado quanto ao desflorestamento de seus habitats naturais. Esse trabalho descreve métodos de cultivo in vitro para as duas espécies, analisando o perfil e o teor dos alcalóides oxindólicos pentacíclicos marcadores por CLAE no material vegetal obtido. Os resultados mostraram que os métodos desenvolvidos foram capazes de produzir plantas com perfil e teor dos alcalóides alvos similares à plantas nativas e cultivadas in vivo, com a vantagem adicional de produção em menor tempo de mudas próprias para plantio no campo. Os dados evidenciaram que o cultivo in vitro pode ser uma ferramenta viável para a produção das duas espécies com impacto na sua comercialização e na preservação das florestas.

Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf e o efeito dos componentes dos alimentos sobre sua efi cacia. O potencial antimicrobiano do oleo foi determinado pela presenca de zona de inibicao de crescimento e concentracao inibitoria minima contra Listeria monocytogenes, L. innocua, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Salmonella choleraesuis. O efeito dos componentes dos alimentos e do pH sobre a efi cacia antimicrobiana do oleo foi monitorado pelo crescimento de L. monocytogenes em meios de cultura modelos, constituidos de amido de batata (0, 1, 5 e 10 %), extrato de carne (1,5, 3, 6 e 12 %), oleo de girassol (0, 5 e 10 %) e caldo tripticase de soja (TSB) em pH 4, 5, 6 e 7. O OE mostrou efi cacia contra todas as especies bacterianas testadas. O efeito antimicrobiano do oleo variou em funcao da concentracao do componente manipulado. Proteinas e lipidios apresentaram impacto negativo na efi cacia do OE; quanto maior a concentracao destes componentes nos meios maiores foram as medias do crescimento bacteriano. O amido apresentou impacto negativo na efi cacia do oleo nas concentracoes de 1 % e 5 %. Contudo, na mais alta concentracao avaliada (10 %) observou-se um declinio no crescimento bacteriano. A atividade antimicrobiana do OE aumentou com a diminuicao do pH. Os resultados deste estudo comprovaram a efi cacia antimicrobiana do OE do C. citratus para agentes patogenicos e bacterias deterioradoras de alimentos, verifi cando-se maior efi ciencia em alimentos proteicos e amilaceos em pH acido.

The species Piper ottonoides Yuncker (Piperaceae), known as “joao-brandim”, is a shrub that occurs in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Its roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine as local anesthetic to treat toothache and sore throat. In this study, the structural characterization in mixture of isobutyl amides present in semi-purified fractions from fruits, leaves, stems and roots of P. ottonoides was achieved by employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques (1H, 1H-1H COSY, 1H-13C HSQC, 1H-13C HMBC, TOCSY and 1H-1H J-RES). The MS fragmentation patterns and the NMR chemical shifts, multiplicities, coupling constants and the signal correlations in the two-dimensional spectra were carefully analyzed also taking into account some key elements of differentiation among the compounds. The data set allowed identifying unequivocally the new amide N-isobutyl-7-(4’- methoxyphenyl)-2E,4E-heptadienamide, which we named ottonoidenamide as well as piperovatine and chingchengenamide A in all parts of the plant, the additional presence of pipercallosine and pipercallosidine in roots and of dihydropiperlonguminine in fruits and leaves. The presence of piperovatine and pipercallosine in P. ottonoides should be associated to its traditional use.

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de introduzir e avaliar 40 genótipos de cafeeiros das espécies Coffea arabica e Coffea canephora nas condições edafoclimáticas do Estado do Acre, visando disponibilizar aos cafeicultores acreanos, cultivares com melhor potencial produtivo. Da espécie C. arabica foram avaliados genótipos das cultivares Icatu, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Catuaí, Obatã e Catimor. Da espécie C. canephora foram avaliadas as cultivares Conilon e Robusta, caracterizadas como Grupo Robusta. Os genótipos utilizados foram provenientes do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) e da Embrapa Rondônia. O experimento foi conduzido no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco, AC, no período de 1995 a 2004. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com cinco repetições. As características avaliadas foram: produtividade, altura, diâmetro da copa e vigor. Da espécie C. arabica, grupo Icatu, destacou-se Icatu-PR-182039-1(IAC H 4782-7-788) com produtividade média de café beneficiado de 34 sc/ ha, Icatu IAC-4041; Icatu IAC-2945; Icatu IAC-2944-MT; Icatu IAC-4040 e Icatu IAC-4046 com produtividade variando de 20 a 26 sacas. Para o grupo Catuaí os melhores genótipos foram Obatã IAC 4275, Obatã IAC 1169 e Catimor IAC 4466 com produtividade média de café beneficiado de 49, 45 e 37 sacas por hectare respectivamente. Na espécie C. canephora foram avaliados 8 genótipos das cultivares Conilon e Robusta e quanto à produtividade não houve diferença estatística, observou-se incremento de 7 sacas/ha para a variedade Conilon IAC 66-3 quando comparado ao Conilon plantado na região. Nesta espécie os genótipos apresentaram sintomas de deficiência hídrica na época seca (julho/agosto). This work aimed to introduce and evaluate 40 coffee genotypes of Coffea arabica e Coffea canephora species in soil and weather conditions of Acre and had as main goal to provide cultivars to coffee producers with better potential of production. It was evaluated the genotypes Icatu, Bourbon, Mundo Novo, Catuaí, Obatã e Catimor from Coffea arabica species and genotypes Conilon and Robusta from Coffea canephora species. The genotypes were originated from Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) and Embrapa Rondônia. The study was carried out in the experimental field of Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco, AC from 1995 to 2004 following a randomized block design, with 5 replicates. One studied characteristics such as yield, height, plant diameter and vigor. The best genotype of Coffea arabica species, Icatu group, showed to be the Icatu-PR-182039-1(IAC H 4782-7-788), which yielded 34 sacks/ha of clean coffee; right after came Icatu IAC-4041, Icatu IAC-2945, Icatu IAC-2944-MT, Icatu IAC- 4040 and Icatu IAC-4046 with mean yeld from 20 to 26 sacks. For Catuai group, the best genotypes were Obatã IAC 4275, Obatã IAC 1169 e Catimor IAC 4466 with mean yield of 49, 45 e 37 sacks per hectare of clean coffee respectively. In the Canephora species were evaluated eigth genotypes of conilon and robusta which did not show significant difference among them related to yield, although it was observed a difference of 7 sacks/ha more for the gentotypes IAC 66-3 when compared to the local Conilon. In this group it was noted drought stress during the dry season (July/August) for all the genotypes.

Na Amazônia existe uma diversidade vegetal, onde se encontram muitas plantas com propriedades medicinais e, que durante milênios são utilizadas pelas comunidades nativas. Uma dessas plantas é a unha-de-gato (Uncaria guianensis), cujo valor medicinal se atribui a efeitos imuno-estimulantes, anti-inflamatório e inibidores de crescimento de células cancerígenas. Atualmente, a espécie vem sendo submetida a uma extração indiscriminada e intensiva, podendo levá-la a sua extinção. A micropropagação permite solucionar problemas dessa natureza. Objetivou-se com este trabalho identificar um protocolo de propagação in vitro desta espécie. O melhor meio para germinação dos embriões foi ¼ de MS independente da presença ou não de sacarose. A posição de inoculação do explante da espécie Uncaria guianensis demonstrou exercer influência no número médio de brotações/explante original, assim como no número de gemas iniciais. Presença ou ausência de ácido giberélico não exerceu efeito nesta característica, exceto quando explantes com uma única gema foram inoculados na horizontal. In the Amazon Rain Forest there are a great botanical diversity where can be found a lot of plants with medicinal proprieties, and for ages it has been used by the native people. One of those plants is Uncaria guianensis known as Cat's Claw to which is believed to have antinflammatories, immunostimulating and growth inhibitors effects on cancerigenic cells. Nowadays, those species have been under uncontrolled and long extraction that could take to extinction. The micropropagation can solve these problems. The purpose of this work was to identify in vitro propagation protocol from these specie. The best medium for embryo germination was ¼ MS independent from presence or absence of saccarose. The explant inoculation position from Uncaria guianensis specie influenciated the shoots average number/original explant, as well as, the initial buds numbers. The giberelic acid presence or absence had not effect on this characteristics, except when explants with only one bud were inoculated in the horizontal position.

Avaliou-se o comportamento de 16 genótipos de cafeeiros das espécies C. arabica e C. canephora nas condições edafoclimáticas do estado do Acre. Os genótipos utilizados foram provenientes do extinto Instituto Brasileiro do Café (Natividade, RJ). O experimento foi conduzido no campo experimental da Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco, AC, no período de 1989 a 1996, num delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, com 5 repetições. As características estudadas foram: produção de café em cereja e côco, vigor, altura da planta, diâmetro do caule e aspectos fitossanitários. Os genótipos Icatu PR182039-1 e Conilon ES foram os que apresentaram as maiores produções médias de café côco, 4.345 e 4.147 kg/ha, respectivamente, e em seguida vieram o Catuaí SH1 EP57C-260, Mundo Novo e Catuaí SH1 EP57C-166, todos com produção acima de 2.800 kg/ha. Quanto a incidência de ferrugem (Hemileia vastratrix), os genótipos Mundo Novo e Catuaí Amarelo apresentaram maior incidência, e os mais susceptíveis a queima do fio (Pellicularia koleroga) foram Catuaí EP 57-C-260 e Catuaí EP57 C-166. Os genótipos Icatu PR 182039-1, Conilon ES e Catuaí SH1 EP57C-260 foram superiores aos demais genótipos quanto a capacidade produtiva, bom aspecto dos frutos e grãos, mostrando-se promissores para o cultivo no Estado do Acre. The behavior of 16 genotypes of coffee (C. arabica and C. canephora) was evaluated in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the state of Acre. The genotypes came from the extinct Brazilian Coffee Institute (Natividade, RJ). The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco, AC, in the period from 1989 to 1996, in a randomized block design, with five repetitions. The characteristics studied were yield of "cherry" fruits and coffee beans, vigor, total height, stem diameter and phytossanitary conditions. The Icatu PR 182039-1 and Conilon ES genotypes showed higher average yield of beans, with 4.345 and 4.147 kg/ha, respectively, followed by Catuaí SH1 EP57C-260, Mundo Novo and Catuaí SH1 EP57C-166, with yields above 2.800 kg/ha. Mundo Novo and Catuaí Amarelo presented higher incidence of Hemileia vastratrix, and Catuaí EP 57-C-260 and Catuaí EP57 C-166 were more susceptible to Pellicularia koleroga. Icatu PR 182039-1, Conilon ES and Catuaí SH1 EP57C-260 were superior to the other genotypes with respect to plant vigor, yield capacity, appearance of the cherries and beans, and show promise for cultivation in the state of Acre.