Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynam... more Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynamics and succession depend on natural regeneration (NR). To test whether NR is influenced by the mature stratum and environmental variables, we compared structural and floristic patterns of mature trees [Mt (DBH ≥ 5 cm)] with the NR of a SDTF on limestone outcrops in Central Brazil. Additionally, we tested for effects of environmental variables on species abundance in these different strata. Within NR categories [JuvA (total height < 100 cm) and JuvB (total height ≥ 100 cm and DBH < 5 cm)], we recorded 597 individuals in 69 angiosperm species. Within NR and Mt we recorded 110 species distributed in 33 families, and 54 were common to both (~50% of total richness). Shannon diversity was 3.83, 3.13 and 3.33 for Mt, JuvA and JuvB, respectively. Besides the high number of exclusive species recorded in Mt (23), JuvA (18) and JuvB (24), comparisons indicated high floristic similarity (51%) between strata. Mt, JuvA and JuvB were influenced by different environmental variables, indicating that species requirements change along the establishment process. This highlights the importance of environmental variability for maintaining tree species diversity in SDTFs, and the importance of this remnant for the conservation of SDTFs in Central Brazil.
Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared... more Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, although the use of non-traditional plants - the so-called “Ayahuasca analogues” -, such as Banisteriopsis and related species, are also reported. These species are highly polymorphic and inconsistent in flowering periods, being difficult to identify when collecting to prepare the brew. To aid their separation in a vegetative state, some species used in Ayahuasca analogues (B. laevifolia, B. muricata and Diplopterys pubipetala) were characterized in their wood, outer bark and leaf morphoanatomy. We also verified whether their use is supported by histochemical data and investigated other compounds of pharmaceutical importance, in comparison with B. caapi. Usual techniques and methodology were used for histochemical and histological investigations, in addition to X-ray imaging for examining crystal organization and venation patterns. The wood anatomy descriptions of these species are given for the first time, and new characters were described, such as the tangential alignment of prismatic crystals in ray cells of D. pubipetala. Vegetative characters aid the species identification when reproductive material is unavailable, as the species differed in outer bark morphology, leaf morphology and anatomy and wood anatomy. Statistical analyses based on qualitative and quantitative anatomical features reinforce the recent distinction of Banisteriopsis and Diplopterys genera. Histochemical analyses revealed the presence of important compounds of potential pharmacological use: alkaloids, saponins, essential oils, lipids, pectin, tannins and general phenolic compounds, mostly in parenchymatous tissues in the bark and lesser in the wood. Alkaloids found mainly in the bark support the use of these plants in Ayahuasca analogues, although further studies are needed to ensure its safety and to exploit their pharmacological potential. It also raises an alternative extraction technique that could use solely strips of bark for small preparations of Ayahuasca, allowing for sustainable plant management.
Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared... more Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, although the use of non-traditional plants - the so-called “Ayahuasca analogues” -, such as Banisteriopsis and related species, are also reported. These species are highly polymorphic and inconsistent in flowering periods, being difficult to identify when collecting to prepare the brew. To aid their separation in a vegetative state, some species used in Ayahuasca analogues (B. laevifolia, B. muricata and Diplopterys pubipetala) were characterized in their wood, outer bark and leaf morphoanatomy. We also verified whether their use is supported by histochemical data and investigated other compounds of pharmaceutical importance, in comparison with B. caapi. Usual techniques and methodology were used for histochemical and histological investigations, in addition to X-ray imaging for examining crystal organization and venation patterns. The wood anatomy descriptions of these species are given for the first time, and new characters were described, such as the tangential alignment of prismatic crystals in ray cells of D. pubipetala. Vegetative characters aid the species identification when reproductive material is unavailable, as the species differed in outer bark morphology, leaf morphology and anatomy and wood anatomy. Statistical analyses based on qualitative and quantitative anatomical features reinforce the recent distinction of Banisteriopsis and Diplopterys genera. Histochemical analyses revealed the presence of important compounds of potential pharmacological use: alkaloids, saponins, essential oils, lipids, pectin, tannins and general phenolic compounds, mostly in parenchymatous tissues in the bark and lesser in the wood. Alkaloids found mainly in the bark support the use of these plants in Ayahuasca analogues, although further studies are needed to ensure its safety and to exploit their pharmacological potential. It also raises an alternative extraction technique that could use solely strips of bark for small preparations of Ayahuasca, allowing for sustainable plant management.
Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynam... more Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynamics and succession depend on natural regeneration (NR). To test whether NR is influenced by the mature stratum and environmental variables, we compared structural and floristic patterns of mature trees [Mt (DBH ≥ 5 cm)] with the NR of a SDTF on limestone outcrops in Central Brazil. Additionally, we tested for effects of environmental variables on species abundance in these different strata. Within NR categories [JuvA (total height < 100 cm) and JuvB (total height ≥ 100 cm and DBH < 5 cm)], we recorded 597 individuals in 69 angiosperm species. Within NR and Mt we recorded 110 species distributed in 33 families, and 54 were common to both (~50% of total richness). Shannon diversity was 3.83, 3.13 and 3.33 for Mt, JuvA and JuvB, respectively. Besides the high number of exclusive species recorded in Mt (23), JuvA (18) and JuvB (24), comparisons indicated high floristic similarity (51%) between strata. Mt, JuvA and JuvB were influenced by different environmental variables, indicating that species requirements change along the establishment process. This highlights the importance of environmental variability for maintaining tree species diversity in SDTFs, and the importance of this remnant for the conservation of SDTFs in Central Brazil.
Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the “Chapada dos Veadeiros” region... more Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the “Chapada dos Veadeiros” region, in the Cerrado biome, Brazil, is here described and illustrated. It is included in the informal Notata group of Paspalum, because of the inflorescences with two distal conjugated racemes. The new species has a chromosome number of 2n=20, which is in agreement with the basic chromosome number of other species of the Notata group. As there are similarities between Paspalum cerradoense, P. cromyorhizon, and P. ionanthum, morphological and anatomical characters of these three species are compared. There are at least 30 differences between these species, which corroborate the consistency of their circumscriptions.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Information regarding the beneficial use of native Brazilian plan... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Information regarding the beneficial use of native Brazilian plants was compiled by a number of European naturalists in the 19th century. The Scottish surgeon botanist George Gardner (1812-1849) was one such naturalist; however, the useful plants recorded in his manuscripts have not yet been studied in depth. Aim of the study: To present data recorded by Gardner in his manuscript Catalogue of Brazilian Plants regarding the use of native plants by Brazilian people and evaluate the extent to which they have been explored. Materials and methods: Data on useful plants were obtained from Gardner's manuscript Catalogue of Brazilian Plants deposited in the Archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. The identification of each plant was determined and/or updated by consulting the preserved botanical collections of Gardner deposited in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (hereafter K), and expert determinations in other herbaria where duplicates are held. Correlated pharmacological studies for each plant were obtained from the PubMed database. Information recorded in Gardner's diary and previously published elsewhere complemented these data. Results: A total of 63 useful plants was recorded from the Catalogue and a further 30 from Gardner's book Travels in the Interior of Brazil (Gardner, 1846). Of the recorded names in the Catalogue, 46 (73%) could be identified to species by consulting specimens collected by Gardner and held at Kew. Thirty-six different traditional uses were registered for the identified plants, the most common being as febrifuges, to treat venereal complaints and as purgatives. Fewer than 50% of these species have been the focus of published pharmacological studies, yet for those which have been thus investigated, the efficacies reported by Gardner were confirmed. Conclusion: The data recorded by Gardner represent a rich, relatively unexplored source of information regarding the traditional uses of Brazilian plants which merits further investigation.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bitter tasting plant species are used as tonics and have been pre... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bitter tasting plant species are used as tonics and have been previously used to treat intermittent fevers in Brazil, the principal symptom of malaria. Many of these species were named quina and were used as substitutes of Cinchona spp., the source of quinine. Aim of the study: To present data on these bitter species named quina and to discuss their potential as sources of bioactive substances. Materials and methods: Data about the plants were obtained from a survey of the literature and documents written by early naturalists and clinical doctors living in the 18th and 19th centuries in Brazil. Correlated pharmacological studies were obtained from different scientific databases. Results: A total of 29 species were recorded. The largest number of species belonged to the Rubiaceae family (14), being Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil) DC. the most representative. Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Loganiaceae), Hortia brasiliana Vand. ex DC. (Rutaceae) and Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Solanaceae) were also frequently mentioned in the historical bibliography. Pharmacological studies have shown the presence of bitter bioactive substances useful to treat digestive disorders and/or with antimalarial activities, in all of the recorded botanic families. Conclusion: This study shows that several bitter species named quina were used in the past as substitute of Cinchona spp. and studying these plants can lead to the development of new products.
This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as... more This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as "quinas" and used as substitute of Cinchona species. In this study, we have performed the botanical characterization of the stem bark of Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil.) DC., Rubiaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. Stem bark is thin and has the color and the texture of its external and internal surfaces as diagnostic features. Types and sizes of sclerified cells in the cortical parenchyma and in the secondary phloem are important features for analysis of the transversal sections and in the macerate. Alkaloids, flavonoids and chlorogenic acid were detected in the chemical analysis for TLC. These standard references can be used in the quality control of the bark of quinas.
Objectives Antineoplastic effects of molecules derived from plants have recently gained increasin... more Objectives Antineoplastic effects of molecules derived from plants have recently gained increasing attention as an additive to traditional therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of plant extracts from the Brazilian Cerrado biome associated with radiotherapy in head and neck carcinoma cells (HNSCC). Materials and methods Fifteen extracts derived from five Cerrado plants were tested in HNSCC cell lines (SCC-25, SCC-9, FaDu) and keratinocyte cells (HaCat). Cell cytotoxicity of extracts and association extract/radiation (2Gy/min) was assessed by MTT assay. Cisplatin (50 μg/mL) was used as a positive control. Extracts with the major cytotoxic activity were selected and their IC50 concentrations were defined. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometric analysis. Results Ten isolated extracts resulted in moderate cytotoxicity (>20 and ≤50 % of viable cells), while three extracts induced severe cytotoxic effects (≤20 % of viable cells). Plant extracts treatment improved radiotherapy cytotoxicity in all cell lines. Although plant extracts are not as potent as cisplatin plus radiation, in FaDu cells, seven extracts associated with irradiation showed cytotoxic activity similar or better than the association of cisplatin and radiation. Hexanic extract of Erythroxylum daphinites could induce apoptosis in oral cancer cells; however, necrosis was the prevalent kind of death in FaDu cells treated with hexanic extract of Erythroxylum suberosum. Conclusions Pre-treatment of HNSCC cells with the extract derived from Cerrado plants followed by irradiation induced a supra-additive cytotoxic effect. Clinical relevance This study highlights the potential biological relevance of the Cerrado biome when associated with traditional therapy for cancer.
Highlights • Herbarium specimens have traditionally been used for purely taxonomic purposes. • We... more Highlights • Herbarium specimens have traditionally been used for purely taxonomic purposes. • We review and illustrate new uses for herbarium data. • Herbarium data can provide ecological baseline data, especially in poorly sampled regions. • Herbarium data are important data sources for conservation and should be protected.
Pouteria caimito (Sapotaceae) is widely distributed throughout Latin America, including Brazil. T... more Pouteria caimito (Sapotaceae) is widely distributed throughout Latin America, including Brazil. The yellow fruits, known as abiu, caimito, or abiurana, are eaten in natura or used to prepare desserts. In addition to being a commercially available Brazilian fruit, P. caimito has also been used as a traditional medicine. Therefore, hexane, ethanol, and aqueous extracts from its leaves were evaluated for radical-scavenging activity. Free radical-scavenging activity was tested using the DPPH assay. Total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents were also determined. The aqueous extract comprised the highest total phenol and proanthocyanidin contents (173.6 g/mL) and showed the highest radical-scavenging activity (ED50= 36.1 g/mL). Phytochemical analysis of the hexane extract allowed the isolation of spinasterol. We found a high correlation between total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents and radical-scavenging activity. To our knowledge, this is the first time spinasterol has been isolated from P. caimito leaves.
This study aims to evaluate the microbial contamination of Mikania sp. (plant drug, tincture and ... more This study aims to evaluate the microbial contamination of Mikania sp. (plant drug, tincture and syrup) and Cordia verbenacea (plant drug, tincture and ointment). Furthermore, it had been investigated the possible interference caused by secondary metabolites from these species on proposed evaluation. The microbial contamination was determined using the pour plate method. The evaluation of the interference in the process of the microbiological quality was performed by determining the recovery of viable microorganisms using Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). In the evaluation the microbiological quality, dried leaves from C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. showed 4.5 x 104 CFU/g and 2.08 x 104 CFU/g of bacteria, respectively. Regarding count of C. verbenacea tincture, was found 3.3 x 103 CFU/mL for yeasts and molds and 2.2 x 103 CFU/ mL for bacteria. For the ointment containing C. verbenacea tincture was found 1.1 x 103 CFU/g of bacteria, while fungi were not detected. Regarding microbial contamination of the syrup was not observed growth of bacteria, molds and yeasts in any of repetitions. Also, derivatives from both species were able to inhibit the growth of strains of E. coli and C. albicans. Thus, the presence of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity on C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. seems to interfere in the evaluation of the microbiological quality of products derived from plant drug.
The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, bu... more The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, but few phyto-geographical studies have been undertaken in the region. A total of 70 land systems based on climate, landscape and soils have been identified in the region, but it remains to be seen if the distribution and structure of the plant communities support these divisions. The aim of this work was to compare the floristic and structural similarity of cerrado sensu stricto within and between three physiographic units, named Pratinha, Veadeiros and São Fran-cisco, which contain six land systems in central Brazil and cover 10 degrees of latitude and five degrees of longitude. The woody vegetation of 15 selected sites of the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy was surveyed under a standardized methodology. The number of species per site varied from 55 to 97, with most sites having around 60 to 70 species, and Shannon´s diversity indices ranged from 3.44 to 3.73, with most sites around 3.5 suggesting high alpha diversity. Sørensen´s floristic similarity index was high, with all Figures above 0.5 between the sites in the same land system in each physiographic unit but low between sites in different land systems in the Veadeiros. Czekanowski similarity indices were lower than Sørensen's in the comparisons due to a high structural differentiation between the sites. There is a large overlap in species occurrence in the sites but the size of their populations is very different at each site. Therefore, the high beta diversity is mostly due to differences in abundance of species between sites. The sites were separated by physiographic units, considering the first three divisions of TWINSPAN classification. The first axis of DCA ordination showed a gradient going from the cer-rado on deep soils in Pratinha, through to those on sandy soils in São Francisco and ending on the shallower soils of the Veadeiros. Land systems conformed well with the floristic and structural variations of the vegetation, indicating their potential use in designing a network of conservation areas in the cerrado region and as a basis for decision-making on management.
This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as... more This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as quinas and are usually used as substitute of Cinchona species. The purpose of the present study was the botanical characterization of the whole and powdered stem bark of Polyouratea hexasperma (A. St.-Hil.) Tiegh., Ochnaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. The external texture of the bark, the whitened pit in the inner bark and the presence of cristarque cells, as well as the shape and arrangement of other lignified cells, are the most important macroscopic and microscopic features for the characterization of the bark. Chlorogenic and cafeic acids were detected in the chemical analysis and can also be used in the identification of the bark. Keywords: bark anatomy chemical analysis cristarque cells sclereids phenolic acids Article Morpho-anatomy and chemical profile of native species used as substitutes of quina (Cinchona spp.) in Brazilian traditional medicine. Part I: Polyouratea Nádia S. Somavilla et al. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. Braz. J. Pharmacogn. 23(4): Jul./Aug. 2013 593
The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, bu... more The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, but few phytogeographical studies have been undertaken in the region. A total of 70 land systems based on climate, landscape and soils have been identified in the region, but it remains to be seen if the distribution and structure of the plant communities support these divisions. The aim of this work was to compare the floristic and structural similarity of cerrado sensu stricto within and between three physiographic units, named Pratinha, Veadeiros and São Francisco, which contain six land systems in central Brazil and cover 10 degrees of latitude and five degrees of longitude. The woody vegetation of 15 selected sites of the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy was surveyed under a standardized methodology. The number of species per site varied from 55 to 97, with most sites having around 60 to 70 species, and Shannon´s diversity indices ranged from 3.44 to 3.73, with most sites around 3.5 suggesting high alpha diversity. Sørensen´s floristic similarity index was high, with all Figures above 0.5 between the sites in the same land system in each physiographic unit but low between sites in different land systems in the Veadeiros. Czekanowski similarity indices were lower than Sørensen's in the comparisons due to a high structural differentiation between the sites. There is a large overlap in species occurrence in the sites but the size of their populations is very different at each site. Therefore, the high beta diversity is mostly due to differences in abundance of species between sites. The sites were separated by physiographic units, considering the first three divisions of TWINSPAN classification. The first axis of DCA ordination showed a gradient going from the cerrado on deep soils in Pratinha, through to those on sandy soils in São Francisco and ending on the shallower soils of the Veadeiros. Land systems conformed well with the floristic and structural variations of the vegetation, indicating their potential use in designing a network of conservation areas in the cerrado region and as a basis for decision-making on management.
Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +B... more Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +Business Media Dordrecht. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com". Abstract Plants continue to be an important source of new bioactive substances. Brazil is one of the world's mega-diverse countries, with 20 % of the world's flora. However, the accelerated destruction of botanically rich ecosystems has contributed to a gradual loss of native medicinal species. In previous study, we have observed a fast and intensive change in trade of medicinal plants in an area of Amazon, where human occupation took place. In this study, we surveyed 15 public markets in different parts of Brazil in search of samples of 40 plants used in traditional medicine and present in first edition of Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia (FBRAS), published in 1926. Samples of plants commercialized as the same vernacular name as in Pharmacopoeia were acquired and submitted to analysis for authentication. A total of 252 plant samples were purchased, but the laboratory analyses showed that only onehalf of the samples (126, 50.2 %) were confirmed as the same plant species so named in FBRAS. The high number of unauthenticated samples demonstrates a loss of knowledge of the original native species. The proximity of the market from areas in which the plant occurs does not guarantee that trade of false samples occurs. The impact of the commerce of the substitute species on their conservation and in public health is worrying. Strategies are necessary to promote the better use and conservation of this rich heritage offered by Brazilian biodiversity.
Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the "Chapada dos Veadeiros" region... more Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the "Chapada dos Veadeiros" region, in the Cerrado biome, Brazil, is here described and illustrated. It is included in the informal Notata group of Paspalum, because of the inflorescences with two distal conjugated racemes. The new species has a chromosome number of 2n=20, which is in agreement with the basic chromosome number of other species of the Notata group. As there are similarities between Paspalum cerradoense, P. cromyorhizon, and P. ionanthum, morphological and anatomical characters of these three species are compared. There are at least 30 differences between these species, which corroborate the consistency of their circumscriptions.
An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Object nam... more An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Consultant paediatrician Hitchin, Luton, and Stevenage 1950-80 (b south London 1916; q St Bartholomew&amp;#x27;s Hospital 1938; FRCP, FRCPCH), died from a stroke on ...
Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynam... more Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynamics and succession depend on natural regeneration (NR). To test whether NR is influenced by the mature stratum and environmental variables, we compared structural and floristic patterns of mature trees [Mt (DBH ≥ 5 cm)] with the NR of a SDTF on limestone outcrops in Central Brazil. Additionally, we tested for effects of environmental variables on species abundance in these different strata. Within NR categories [JuvA (total height < 100 cm) and JuvB (total height ≥ 100 cm and DBH < 5 cm)], we recorded 597 individuals in 69 angiosperm species. Within NR and Mt we recorded 110 species distributed in 33 families, and 54 were common to both (~50% of total richness). Shannon diversity was 3.83, 3.13 and 3.33 for Mt, JuvA and JuvB, respectively. Besides the high number of exclusive species recorded in Mt (23), JuvA (18) and JuvB (24), comparisons indicated high floristic similarity (51%) between strata. Mt, JuvA and JuvB were influenced by different environmental variables, indicating that species requirements change along the establishment process. This highlights the importance of environmental variability for maintaining tree species diversity in SDTFs, and the importance of this remnant for the conservation of SDTFs in Central Brazil.
Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared... more Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, although the use of non-traditional plants - the so-called “Ayahuasca analogues” -, such as Banisteriopsis and related species, are also reported. These species are highly polymorphic and inconsistent in flowering periods, being difficult to identify when collecting to prepare the brew. To aid their separation in a vegetative state, some species used in Ayahuasca analogues (B. laevifolia, B. muricata and Diplopterys pubipetala) were characterized in their wood, outer bark and leaf morphoanatomy. We also verified whether their use is supported by histochemical data and investigated other compounds of pharmaceutical importance, in comparison with B. caapi. Usual techniques and methodology were used for histochemical and histological investigations, in addition to X-ray imaging for examining crystal organization and venation patterns. The wood anatomy descriptions of these species are given for the first time, and new characters were described, such as the tangential alignment of prismatic crystals in ray cells of D. pubipetala. Vegetative characters aid the species identification when reproductive material is unavailable, as the species differed in outer bark morphology, leaf morphology and anatomy and wood anatomy. Statistical analyses based on qualitative and quantitative anatomical features reinforce the recent distinction of Banisteriopsis and Diplopterys genera. Histochemical analyses revealed the presence of important compounds of potential pharmacological use: alkaloids, saponins, essential oils, lipids, pectin, tannins and general phenolic compounds, mostly in parenchymatous tissues in the bark and lesser in the wood. Alkaloids found mainly in the bark support the use of these plants in Ayahuasca analogues, although further studies are needed to ensure its safety and to exploit their pharmacological potential. It also raises an alternative extraction technique that could use solely strips of bark for small preparations of Ayahuasca, allowing for sustainable plant management.
Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared... more Abstract Ayahuasca is a traditional psychoactive beverage with pharmaceutical potential, prepared with Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, although the use of non-traditional plants - the so-called “Ayahuasca analogues” -, such as Banisteriopsis and related species, are also reported. These species are highly polymorphic and inconsistent in flowering periods, being difficult to identify when collecting to prepare the brew. To aid their separation in a vegetative state, some species used in Ayahuasca analogues (B. laevifolia, B. muricata and Diplopterys pubipetala) were characterized in their wood, outer bark and leaf morphoanatomy. We also verified whether their use is supported by histochemical data and investigated other compounds of pharmaceutical importance, in comparison with B. caapi. Usual techniques and methodology were used for histochemical and histological investigations, in addition to X-ray imaging for examining crystal organization and venation patterns. The wood anatomy descriptions of these species are given for the first time, and new characters were described, such as the tangential alignment of prismatic crystals in ray cells of D. pubipetala. Vegetative characters aid the species identification when reproductive material is unavailable, as the species differed in outer bark morphology, leaf morphology and anatomy and wood anatomy. Statistical analyses based on qualitative and quantitative anatomical features reinforce the recent distinction of Banisteriopsis and Diplopterys genera. Histochemical analyses revealed the presence of important compounds of potential pharmacological use: alkaloids, saponins, essential oils, lipids, pectin, tannins and general phenolic compounds, mostly in parenchymatous tissues in the bark and lesser in the wood. Alkaloids found mainly in the bark support the use of these plants in Ayahuasca analogues, although further studies are needed to ensure its safety and to exploit their pharmacological potential. It also raises an alternative extraction technique that could use solely strips of bark for small preparations of Ayahuasca, allowing for sustainable plant management.
Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynam... more Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) have high tree species richness and endemism, whose dynamics and succession depend on natural regeneration (NR). To test whether NR is influenced by the mature stratum and environmental variables, we compared structural and floristic patterns of mature trees [Mt (DBH ≥ 5 cm)] with the NR of a SDTF on limestone outcrops in Central Brazil. Additionally, we tested for effects of environmental variables on species abundance in these different strata. Within NR categories [JuvA (total height < 100 cm) and JuvB (total height ≥ 100 cm and DBH < 5 cm)], we recorded 597 individuals in 69 angiosperm species. Within NR and Mt we recorded 110 species distributed in 33 families, and 54 were common to both (~50% of total richness). Shannon diversity was 3.83, 3.13 and 3.33 for Mt, JuvA and JuvB, respectively. Besides the high number of exclusive species recorded in Mt (23), JuvA (18) and JuvB (24), comparisons indicated high floristic similarity (51%) between strata. Mt, JuvA and JuvB were influenced by different environmental variables, indicating that species requirements change along the establishment process. This highlights the importance of environmental variability for maintaining tree species diversity in SDTFs, and the importance of this remnant for the conservation of SDTFs in Central Brazil.
Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the “Chapada dos Veadeiros” region... more Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the “Chapada dos Veadeiros” region, in the Cerrado biome, Brazil, is here described and illustrated. It is included in the informal Notata group of Paspalum, because of the inflorescences with two distal conjugated racemes. The new species has a chromosome number of 2n=20, which is in agreement with the basic chromosome number of other species of the Notata group. As there are similarities between Paspalum cerradoense, P. cromyorhizon, and P. ionanthum, morphological and anatomical characters of these three species are compared. There are at least 30 differences between these species, which corroborate the consistency of their circumscriptions.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Information regarding the beneficial use of native Brazilian plan... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Information regarding the beneficial use of native Brazilian plants was compiled by a number of European naturalists in the 19th century. The Scottish surgeon botanist George Gardner (1812-1849) was one such naturalist; however, the useful plants recorded in his manuscripts have not yet been studied in depth. Aim of the study: To present data recorded by Gardner in his manuscript Catalogue of Brazilian Plants regarding the use of native plants by Brazilian people and evaluate the extent to which they have been explored. Materials and methods: Data on useful plants were obtained from Gardner's manuscript Catalogue of Brazilian Plants deposited in the Archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. The identification of each plant was determined and/or updated by consulting the preserved botanical collections of Gardner deposited in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (hereafter K), and expert determinations in other herbaria where duplicates are held. Correlated pharmacological studies for each plant were obtained from the PubMed database. Information recorded in Gardner's diary and previously published elsewhere complemented these data. Results: A total of 63 useful plants was recorded from the Catalogue and a further 30 from Gardner's book Travels in the Interior of Brazil (Gardner, 1846). Of the recorded names in the Catalogue, 46 (73%) could be identified to species by consulting specimens collected by Gardner and held at Kew. Thirty-six different traditional uses were registered for the identified plants, the most common being as febrifuges, to treat venereal complaints and as purgatives. Fewer than 50% of these species have been the focus of published pharmacological studies, yet for those which have been thus investigated, the efficacies reported by Gardner were confirmed. Conclusion: The data recorded by Gardner represent a rich, relatively unexplored source of information regarding the traditional uses of Brazilian plants which merits further investigation.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bitter tasting plant species are used as tonics and have been pre... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Bitter tasting plant species are used as tonics and have been previously used to treat intermittent fevers in Brazil, the principal symptom of malaria. Many of these species were named quina and were used as substitutes of Cinchona spp., the source of quinine. Aim of the study: To present data on these bitter species named quina and to discuss their potential as sources of bioactive substances. Materials and methods: Data about the plants were obtained from a survey of the literature and documents written by early naturalists and clinical doctors living in the 18th and 19th centuries in Brazil. Correlated pharmacological studies were obtained from different scientific databases. Results: A total of 29 species were recorded. The largest number of species belonged to the Rubiaceae family (14), being Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil) DC. the most representative. Strychnos pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Loganiaceae), Hortia brasiliana Vand. ex DC. (Rutaceae) and Solanum pseudoquina A. St.-Hil. (Solanaceae) were also frequently mentioned in the historical bibliography. Pharmacological studies have shown the presence of bitter bioactive substances useful to treat digestive disorders and/or with antimalarial activities, in all of the recorded botanic families. Conclusion: This study shows that several bitter species named quina were used in the past as substitute of Cinchona spp. and studying these plants can lead to the development of new products.
This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as... more This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as "quinas" and used as substitute of Cinchona species. In this study, we have performed the botanical characterization of the stem bark of Remijia ferruginea (A. St.-Hil.) DC., Rubiaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. Stem bark is thin and has the color and the texture of its external and internal surfaces as diagnostic features. Types and sizes of sclerified cells in the cortical parenchyma and in the secondary phloem are important features for analysis of the transversal sections and in the macerate. Alkaloids, flavonoids and chlorogenic acid were detected in the chemical analysis for TLC. These standard references can be used in the quality control of the bark of quinas.
Objectives Antineoplastic effects of molecules derived from plants have recently gained increasin... more Objectives Antineoplastic effects of molecules derived from plants have recently gained increasing attention as an additive to traditional therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of plant extracts from the Brazilian Cerrado biome associated with radiotherapy in head and neck carcinoma cells (HNSCC). Materials and methods Fifteen extracts derived from five Cerrado plants were tested in HNSCC cell lines (SCC-25, SCC-9, FaDu) and keratinocyte cells (HaCat). Cell cytotoxicity of extracts and association extract/radiation (2Gy/min) was assessed by MTT assay. Cisplatin (50 μg/mL) was used as a positive control. Extracts with the major cytotoxic activity were selected and their IC50 concentrations were defined. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometric analysis. Results Ten isolated extracts resulted in moderate cytotoxicity (>20 and ≤50 % of viable cells), while three extracts induced severe cytotoxic effects (≤20 % of viable cells). Plant extracts treatment improved radiotherapy cytotoxicity in all cell lines. Although plant extracts are not as potent as cisplatin plus radiation, in FaDu cells, seven extracts associated with irradiation showed cytotoxic activity similar or better than the association of cisplatin and radiation. Hexanic extract of Erythroxylum daphinites could induce apoptosis in oral cancer cells; however, necrosis was the prevalent kind of death in FaDu cells treated with hexanic extract of Erythroxylum suberosum. Conclusions Pre-treatment of HNSCC cells with the extract derived from Cerrado plants followed by irradiation induced a supra-additive cytotoxic effect. Clinical relevance This study highlights the potential biological relevance of the Cerrado biome when associated with traditional therapy for cancer.
Highlights • Herbarium specimens have traditionally been used for purely taxonomic purposes. • We... more Highlights • Herbarium specimens have traditionally been used for purely taxonomic purposes. • We review and illustrate new uses for herbarium data. • Herbarium data can provide ecological baseline data, especially in poorly sampled regions. • Herbarium data are important data sources for conservation and should be protected.
Pouteria caimito (Sapotaceae) is widely distributed throughout Latin America, including Brazil. T... more Pouteria caimito (Sapotaceae) is widely distributed throughout Latin America, including Brazil. The yellow fruits, known as abiu, caimito, or abiurana, are eaten in natura or used to prepare desserts. In addition to being a commercially available Brazilian fruit, P. caimito has also been used as a traditional medicine. Therefore, hexane, ethanol, and aqueous extracts from its leaves were evaluated for radical-scavenging activity. Free radical-scavenging activity was tested using the DPPH assay. Total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents were also determined. The aqueous extract comprised the highest total phenol and proanthocyanidin contents (173.6 g/mL) and showed the highest radical-scavenging activity (ED50= 36.1 g/mL). Phytochemical analysis of the hexane extract allowed the isolation of spinasterol. We found a high correlation between total phenolic and proanthocyanidin contents and radical-scavenging activity. To our knowledge, this is the first time spinasterol has been isolated from P. caimito leaves.
This study aims to evaluate the microbial contamination of Mikania sp. (plant drug, tincture and ... more This study aims to evaluate the microbial contamination of Mikania sp. (plant drug, tincture and syrup) and Cordia verbenacea (plant drug, tincture and ointment). Furthermore, it had been investigated the possible interference caused by secondary metabolites from these species on proposed evaluation. The microbial contamination was determined using the pour plate method. The evaluation of the interference in the process of the microbiological quality was performed by determining the recovery of viable microorganisms using Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). In the evaluation the microbiological quality, dried leaves from C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. showed 4.5 x 104 CFU/g and 2.08 x 104 CFU/g of bacteria, respectively. Regarding count of C. verbenacea tincture, was found 3.3 x 103 CFU/mL for yeasts and molds and 2.2 x 103 CFU/ mL for bacteria. For the ointment containing C. verbenacea tincture was found 1.1 x 103 CFU/g of bacteria, while fungi were not detected. Regarding microbial contamination of the syrup was not observed growth of bacteria, molds and yeasts in any of repetitions. Also, derivatives from both species were able to inhibit the growth of strains of E. coli and C. albicans. Thus, the presence of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity on C. verbenacea and Mikania sp. seems to interfere in the evaluation of the microbiological quality of products derived from plant drug.
The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, bu... more The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, but few phyto-geographical studies have been undertaken in the region. A total of 70 land systems based on climate, landscape and soils have been identified in the region, but it remains to be seen if the distribution and structure of the plant communities support these divisions. The aim of this work was to compare the floristic and structural similarity of cerrado sensu stricto within and between three physiographic units, named Pratinha, Veadeiros and São Fran-cisco, which contain six land systems in central Brazil and cover 10 degrees of latitude and five degrees of longitude. The woody vegetation of 15 selected sites of the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy was surveyed under a standardized methodology. The number of species per site varied from 55 to 97, with most sites having around 60 to 70 species, and Shannon´s diversity indices ranged from 3.44 to 3.73, with most sites around 3.5 suggesting high alpha diversity. Sørensen´s floristic similarity index was high, with all Figures above 0.5 between the sites in the same land system in each physiographic unit but low between sites in different land systems in the Veadeiros. Czekanowski similarity indices were lower than Sørensen's in the comparisons due to a high structural differentiation between the sites. There is a large overlap in species occurrence in the sites but the size of their populations is very different at each site. Therefore, the high beta diversity is mostly due to differences in abundance of species between sites. The sites were separated by physiographic units, considering the first three divisions of TWINSPAN classification. The first axis of DCA ordination showed a gradient going from the cer-rado on deep soils in Pratinha, through to those on sandy soils in São Francisco and ending on the shallower soils of the Veadeiros. Land systems conformed well with the floristic and structural variations of the vegetation, indicating their potential use in designing a network of conservation areas in the cerrado region and as a basis for decision-making on management.
This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as... more This research is part of a larger study of the Brazilian species that are commonly referred to as quinas and are usually used as substitute of Cinchona species. The purpose of the present study was the botanical characterization of the whole and powdered stem bark of Polyouratea hexasperma (A. St.-Hil.) Tiegh., Ochnaceae, by morphological and anatomical description, and the analysis of its chemical profile. The external texture of the bark, the whitened pit in the inner bark and the presence of cristarque cells, as well as the shape and arrangement of other lignified cells, are the most important macroscopic and microscopic features for the characterization of the bark. Chlorogenic and cafeic acids were detected in the chemical analysis and can also be used in the identification of the bark. Keywords: bark anatomy chemical analysis cristarque cells sclereids phenolic acids Article Morpho-anatomy and chemical profile of native species used as substitutes of quina (Cinchona spp.) in Brazilian traditional medicine. Part I: Polyouratea Nádia S. Somavilla et al. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. Braz. J. Pharmacogn. 23(4): Jul./Aug. 2013 593
The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, bu... more The cerrado has been identified as one of the richest and most threatened biomes of the world, but few phytogeographical studies have been undertaken in the region. A total of 70 land systems based on climate, landscape and soils have been identified in the region, but it remains to be seen if the distribution and structure of the plant communities support these divisions. The aim of this work was to compare the floristic and structural similarity of cerrado sensu stricto within and between three physiographic units, named Pratinha, Veadeiros and São Francisco, which contain six land systems in central Brazil and cover 10 degrees of latitude and five degrees of longitude. The woody vegetation of 15 selected sites of the cerrado sensu stricto physiognomy was surveyed under a standardized methodology. The number of species per site varied from 55 to 97, with most sites having around 60 to 70 species, and Shannon´s diversity indices ranged from 3.44 to 3.73, with most sites around 3.5 suggesting high alpha diversity. Sørensen´s floristic similarity index was high, with all Figures above 0.5 between the sites in the same land system in each physiographic unit but low between sites in different land systems in the Veadeiros. Czekanowski similarity indices were lower than Sørensen's in the comparisons due to a high structural differentiation between the sites. There is a large overlap in species occurrence in the sites but the size of their populations is very different at each site. Therefore, the high beta diversity is mostly due to differences in abundance of species between sites. The sites were separated by physiographic units, considering the first three divisions of TWINSPAN classification. The first axis of DCA ordination showed a gradient going from the cerrado on deep soils in Pratinha, through to those on sandy soils in São Francisco and ending on the shallower soils of the Veadeiros. Land systems conformed well with the floristic and structural variations of the vegetation, indicating their potential use in designing a network of conservation areas in the cerrado region and as a basis for decision-making on management.
Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +B... more Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer Science +Business Media Dordrecht. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com". Abstract Plants continue to be an important source of new bioactive substances. Brazil is one of the world's mega-diverse countries, with 20 % of the world's flora. However, the accelerated destruction of botanically rich ecosystems has contributed to a gradual loss of native medicinal species. In previous study, we have observed a fast and intensive change in trade of medicinal plants in an area of Amazon, where human occupation took place. In this study, we surveyed 15 public markets in different parts of Brazil in search of samples of 40 plants used in traditional medicine and present in first edition of Brazilian Official Pharmacopoeia (FBRAS), published in 1926. Samples of plants commercialized as the same vernacular name as in Pharmacopoeia were acquired and submitted to analysis for authentication. A total of 252 plant samples were purchased, but the laboratory analyses showed that only onehalf of the samples (126, 50.2 %) were confirmed as the same plant species so named in FBRAS. The high number of unauthenticated samples demonstrates a loss of knowledge of the original native species. The proximity of the market from areas in which the plant occurs does not guarantee that trade of false samples occurs. The impact of the commerce of the substitute species on their conservation and in public health is worrying. Strategies are necessary to promote the better use and conservation of this rich heritage offered by Brazilian biodiversity.
Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the "Chapada dos Veadeiros" region... more Paspalum cerradoense R.C. Oliveira & Valls, a new species from the "Chapada dos Veadeiros" region, in the Cerrado biome, Brazil, is here described and illustrated. It is included in the informal Notata group of Paspalum, because of the inflorescences with two distal conjugated racemes. The new species has a chromosome number of 2n=20, which is in agreement with the basic chromosome number of other species of the Notata group. As there are similarities between Paspalum cerradoense, P. cromyorhizon, and P. ionanthum, morphological and anatomical characters of these three species are compared. There are at least 30 differences between these species, which corroborate the consistency of their circumscriptions.
An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Object nam... more An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc. Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Object name is fagg. f1. jpg Consultant paediatrician Hitchin, Luton, and Stevenage 1950-80 (b south London 1916; q St Bartholomew&amp;#x27;s Hospital 1938; FRCP, FRCPCH), died from a stroke on ...
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