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The distribution of many plant species has been shaped by climate changes, and their current phenotypic and genetic variability reflect microclimatically suitable habitats. This study relates contemporary climate to variability patterns of phenotypic traits and molecular markers in the Argentinean distribution of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, as well as to identify the most relevant phenotypic trait or molecular marker associated with those patterns. Individuals from four populations in both biogeographic provinces, Paranaense and Yungas, were investigated. Multivariate analyses and multiple linear regressions were carried out to determine relationships among phenotypic traits and nuclear microsatellites, respectively, to climatic variables, and to identify the phenotypic traits as well as nuclear microsatellite loci most sensitive to climate. Two and three clusters of individuals were detected based on genetic and phenotypic data, respectively. Only clusters based on genetic data reflected the biogeographic origin of individuals. Reproductive traits were the most relevant indicators of climatic effects. One microsatellite locus Ac41.1 appeared to be non-neutral presenting a strong correlation with climate variable temperature seasonality. Our findings show complex patterns of genetic and phenotypic variability in the Argentinean distribution of A. colubrina var. cebil related to the present or contemporary climate, and provides an example for an integrative approach to better understand climate impact on contemporary genetic and phenotypic variability in light of global climate change. more...

Introducción y objetivos: El género Anadenanthera está representado en Argentina por una única especie, A. colubrina, con dos variedades, var. cebil y var. colubrina. Estas variedades pueden ser claramente diferenciadas por el patrón de venación de los folíolos. En este trabajo se describe una tercera variedad, var. glabra, circunscripta por una combinación de caracteres de sus hojas y corteza. M&M: Se estudiaron especímenes de CTES y MCNS, y se realizaron observaciones de campo en ambientes naturales de Argentina. Los especímenes se analizaron morfológicamente con microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido. Resultados: La nueva variedad glabra se distingue de las variedades cebil y colubrina por sus tallos sin mamelones, hojas con raquis glabro sobre ambas superficies o únicamente sobre la superficie abaxial, y los folíolos con una venación compleja, reticulada y cerrada. Se provee una ilustración, fotografías, un cuadro morfológico comparativo, una clave para diferenciar las variedades y un mapa de distribución. Conclusiones: Las tres variedades de Anadenanthera colubrina, var. cebil, var. colubrina y var. glabra, habitan los Bosques Secos Estacionales del norte de Argentina, mostrando la nueva variedad una distribución restringida hacia la región nororiental del país. more...

Herbicides are a key element in agriculture but they do cause environmental problems and natural alternatives are being sought. In this context, invasive plants could provide an as yet unexplored source for the development of future herbicides. Urochloa humidicola has great invasive potential in Brazilian environments as it hampers the establishment of other plants. The phytotoxicity of U. humidicola root extracts has been evaluated, and the major components have been identified. The phytotoxicity of the extract was assessed in the wheat coleoptile assay on seeds of troublesome weeds and on Anadenanthera colubrina, a tree species used in ecological restoration programs. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity, and the most affected weeds were E. crus-galli, M. maximus, and A. viridis with the latter weed more affected by the extract than by the herbicide Logran. Microscopic ultrastructural analysis of A. colubrina roots indicated possible signals of cell death. Seven compounds were identified in the ethyl acetate extract of which one diterpene and four saponins are new. Six of these compounds were tested in the wheat coleoptile bioassay. The most active were diterpene 1 and saponins 2, 3, and 6. The phytotoxic activity of U. humidicola explains the issues observed in ecological restoration with A. colubrina in the presence of Urochloa species, and its effect on weeds reinforces its potential use in agriculture. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan is an endemic tree to South America and different parts of it are used by the population for the treatment of various diseases, as well as in indigenous rituals. This species has high pharmacological potential but may present toxic potential due to the presence of psychotropic compounds.To review published studies with the species A. colubrina regarding ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects, as well as discuss perspectives for new research and protection of this species.A literature review was performed by accessing published articles on databases such as: PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, Scopus, Taylor and Francis online, Springer Link, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), ACS Publications, Chemspider and Google Scholar. The keywords used were: "Anadenanthera colubrina" or "Mimosa colubrina" or "Piptadenia colubrina" or "Piptadenia macrocarpa" or "Piptadenia grata" or "Anadenanthera macrocarpa" and "medicinal plants" or "pharmacological" or "phytochemicals" or "traditional use" or "toxicological" or "ethnobotanical" or "pre-clinical trial" or "clinical". Articles found by database searches and search engines were screened at four stages: (i) title screening, (ii) locality screening, (iii) abstract screening, and (iv) full text. Other articles found through supplementary searches were screened in the full text whenever available. Each article was assessed by three reviewers at the title and abstract screening stages, except for those found in Portuguese databases that were assessed by the native reviewer.This robust tree has been popularly useful for agroeconomic, medicinal and as a hallucinogen in religious rituals. According to the published studies, the main parts of the plant are the bark and seeds that are mostly used for respiratory conditions and as entheogens, respectively. It is a rich traditional herbal medicine with many pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, wound healing, antimicrobial, antitumoral, antioxidant, antiaddictive, insecticide and allelopathic that were described in in vitro and in vivo assays, and approximately 56 compounds were identified, suggesting a therapeutic potential for this species. Although most relate to medicinal uses, these are preliminaries and do not show the mechanism of action. The phytochemical assays showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids and alkaloids. Some of the compounds are anadanthoflavone, which is exclusive to this species, and no pharmacological or toxicological studies have yet demonstrated this compound. Another important compound is bufotenine which was isolated from seeds and is related to hallucinogenic and antiviral activity. The extracts made from leaves, bark, gum, and fruits appear to be safe, according to both in vivo and in vitro toxicology testing, which all shown low toxicity. Due to the presence of bufotenine in the seeds, it can be toxic, however, it was not found in toxicological assays with the seed extracts.Therefore, part of the studies confirms the popular use of A. colubrina, however, more assays with isolated compounds and with the different extracts are necessary to corroborate other uses and the mechanism of action of their pharmacological effects needs to discuss in more detail. Therefore, the present review would be identified the gaps and suggests further studies oriented to validate the popular use. Thus, it must be noted that the use of this species must be controlled in order to minimize the environmental impact, as most of the pharmacological potential was shown with the bark and seeds. Due to its wide use in folk medicine, it is part of the Brazilian medicinal species with priority for conservation. more...

Africanized and wild bees are sensitive to synthetic insecticides, but may not be sensitive to botanical extracts. In this work, we evaluated the toxicity of botanical extracts with homemade preparations used in agroecological crops and their constituents on the bees Apis mellifera and Partamona helleri. Toxicity bioassays of adult bees were done by means of oral exposure and ingestion, using the insecticide imidacloprid as a positive control. Dietary consumption, respiration rate and bee flight were evaluated as sublethal parameters. Although some extracts were toxic to bees, survival was always higher compared to the results obtained with the imidacloprid, which was lethal to 100% of bees. In dietary consumption, P. helleri consumed less (5 mg/bee) in 3 h than A. mellifera (11 mg/bee), and P. helleri consumed less (7 mg/bee) in 24 h than A. mellifera (22 mg/bee). There was no difference in consumption of food containing plant extracts or food containing water only. We did not detect any adverse effects of the botanical extracts on bee respiration rates or flight. The major constituent of N. tabacum is nicotine (8.4–15.1%), in A. americana it is β-caryophyllene (11.3%), and in A. colubrina, lupeol (12.2%). Imidacloprid and nicotine were more toxic to bees (LC50 ≤ 1.3 and LC50 ≤ 44.3). Botanical extracts were selective to A. mellifera and the native bee P. helleri, and therefore, have the potential for ecofriendly pest control. more...

Plant extracts with antimicrobial properties are an ecological alternative to fungicides, and preliminary investigation of their chemical components provides information on their properties. The present study determined the phytochemical profiles of plant extracts from Momordica charantia , Caesalpinia ferrea and Anadenanthera colubrina and evaluated the effect of these extracts on microorganisms and on the physiology of A. colubrina seeds. Extracts were obtained by cold extraction. The phytochemical characteristics of the studied species were investigated by determining the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. Major secondary metabolites were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Seed health and germination tests were performed using plant extract concentrations of 500, 1000 and 1500 ppm, chemical treatments and a control. For the health test, 200 seeds per treatment were immersed in 20 mL of extract at the tested concentrations for five minutes. For the germination test, 200 seeds were germinated at 27 °C. A completely randomized design was used. A chemical survey of the extracts indicated the presence of alkaloids, steroids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins, as well as the absence of steroids in the M. charantia and A. colubrina extracts and of saponins in the C. ferrea extracts. All extracts and concentrations efficiently reduced Periconia sp., Fusarium sp. and Macrophomina sp. C. ferrea and A. colubrina extracts efficiently reduced Botrytis sp., Alternaria sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. at all concentrations. C. ferrea extract at 1000 and 1500 ppm and A. colubrina extract at all concentrations reduced Colletotrichum sp. A. colubrina extract negatively affected seed germination. more...

This work aimed to obtain and characterize protease inhibitors from A. colubrina leaves and evaluate their potential as inflammatory mediator and cell viability. The protein extract was analyzed and characterized by SDS-PAGE, RP-HPLC-PDA, MALDI-TOF/MS and Zeta potential. Bioassays were conducted in order to evaluate the cell viability in RAW 264.7, in vitro (NO and TNF-α production inhibition) and in vivo anti-inflammatory potential, inhibition rate of trypsin and hemagglutination activity from protein extract. The results revealed the presence of bands at 14, 21 and 30 kDa in SDS-PAGE, the RP-HPLC-PDA analysis showed peaks at 12, 13, 28 and 40 minutes and MALDI-TOF/MS showed peaks with 3.4, 4.7, 5.6, 9.4 and 11.2 kDa. The protein extracts presented enzymatic activity inhibition of trypsin (IC50 59.2 μgmL−1), did not show any cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells, hemagglutination 8HU and insignificant reduction in NO and TNF-α production and reduced anti-inflammatory potential in vivo compared to dexamethasone. more...

Timber forests contribute to the sustainable development of the biomes in tropical regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological and chemical properties of the soil as a consequence of the cover with native and non-native species in the Acarau basin, a transition area from the coast to the Brazilian semi-arid region. Areas planted with four native species (Anadenanthera colubrina, Astronium fraxinifolium, Handroanthus impetiginosus, Colubrina glandulosa) and three exotic species (Acacia mangium, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus urophylla) plus a non-forested agricultural area were evaluated for organic carbon contents, and microbial and chemical soil properties. The levels of soil organic carbon were highest in A. colubrina and C. equisetifolia plantations. Low basal soil respiration was observed but the microbial biomass was particularly low in the non-forested area. In the C. equisetifolia, E. urophylla, and H. impetiginosus plantations, elevated soil metabolic quotients were found. The A. colubrina and H. impetiginosus plantations had the highest levels of easily extracted-glomalin related soil protein. Tree species affect concentrations of essential nutrients and the biological quality of the soil in different ways. They can also improve the biological and chemical properties of the soil in the coastal plains of tropical regions. more...

Candida albicans is the most commonly implicated agent in invasive human fungal infections. The disease could be presented as minimal symptomatic candidemia or can be fulminant sepsis. Candidemia is associated with a high rate of mortality and high healthcare and hospitalization costs. The surveillance programs have reported the distribution of other Candida species reflecting the trends and antifungal susceptibilities. Previous studies have demonstrated that C. glabrata more frequently presents fluconazole-resistant strains. Extracts from Mexican plants have been reported with activity against pulmonary mycosis, among them Colubrina greggii. In the present study, extracts from the aerial parts (leaves, flowers, and fruits) of this plant were evaluated against clinical isolates of several species of Candida (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis) by the broth microdilution assay. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, three antifungal glycosylated flavonoids were isolated and characterized. The isolated compounds showed antifungal activity only against C. glabrata resistant to fluconazole, and were non-toxic toward brine shrimp lethality bioassay and in vitro Vero cell line assay. The ethyl acetate and butanol extracts, as well as the fractions containing the mixture of flavonoids, were more active against Candida spp. more...

Wood-boring beetles develop in live trees and dead wood, performing ecological services such as decomposition and regulation of forest resources. Species of the Cerambycidae family, widely distributed in the world, bore into the trunks of trees and dead wood in native and cultivated areas. The objective is to report the first host plant for Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Thomson, 1865) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and a new host plant for Temnopis megacephala (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Three logs, with one-meter-long by 20 cm in diameter, were cut from the trunk of a healthy Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) tree in October 2013 and tied in the understory at 1.5m high in the Rio Doce State Park, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The logs, exposed in the forest, were each removed after 40, 80 and 120 days and stored individually in a cardboard box in the “Laboratório de Campo do Projeto de Ecologia de Longa Duração (PELD-CNPq)” in the Rio Doce State Park. A total of 94 individuals of T. lineatocolle and 228 of T. megacephala emerged from the A. colubrina logs. This is the first report of a host plant for T. lineatocolle and a new host plant for T. megacephala. Resumo Besouros broqueadores se desenvolvem em árvores vivas e madeira morta, realizando serviços ecológicos como decomposição e regulação de recursos da floresta. Espécies da família Cerambycidae, amplamente distribuídas no mundo, perfuram o caule de árvores e madeira morta em áreas nativas e cultivadas. O objetivo é relatar a primeira planta hospedeira de Thoracibidion lineatocolle (Thomson, 1865) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) e uma nova planta hospedeira para Temnopis megacephala (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) no bioma da Mata Atlântica brasileira. Três toras, com um metro de comprimento por 20 cm de diâmetro, foram cortadas de uma árvore sadia de Anadenanthera colubrina (Fabaceae) em outubro de 2013 e amarradas no sub-bosque a 1,5m de altura no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. As toras, expostas na floresta, foram removidas, cada uma, após 40, 80 e 120 dias e armazenadas, individualmente, em caixas de papelão no “Laboratório de Campo do Projeto de Ecologia de Longa Duração (PELD-CNPq)” no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce. Um total de 94 indivíduos de T. lineatocolle e 228 de T. megacephala emergiu das toras de A. colubrina. Esse é o primeiro registro de uma planta hospedeira para T. lineatocolle e o de uma nova planta hospedeira para T. megacephala. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul, a plant often found in areas of the Caatinga in northeastern Brazil, is widely used in unconventional medicine for the treatment of infections and inflammations. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of A. colubrina bark extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates, to investigate if intact and regenerated bark extracts have the same effect against MRSA and to determine the interaction between these extracts and antibiotics. The antibacterial activity was performed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the interaction assay was performed by the checkerboard method. A. colubrina extracts showed bacteriostatic activity (MIC = 8-32 mg/L) against MRSA clinical strains and no difference was found in antibacterial activity between intact and regenerated barks, suggesting that even after regeneration, the barks of this species have the same antibacterial activity. Moreover, the in vitro interaction of A. colubrina extracts with ciprofloxacin or erythromycin was additive (FICI = 0.52). Thus, the bark extracts of Anadenanthera colubrina exhibit antibacterial activity and can be used alone or in combination with antibiotics against MRSA clinical isolates. Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul, una planta que a menudo se encuentra en areas de la Caatinga en el noreste de Brasil, es ampliamente utilizada en medicina no convencional para el tratamiento de infecciones e inflamaciones. Así, el objetivo del presente estudio era evaluar la actividad antibacteriana de los extractos de corteza de A. colubrina contra aislados clínicos Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) resistentes a la meticilina, investigar si los extractos de corteza intactos y regenerados tienen el mismo efecto contra el SARM y determinar la interacción entre estos extractos y antibióticos. La actividad antibacteriana se realizó mediante la determinación de la concentración inhibitoria mínima (MIC) según el Instituto de Normas Clínicas y de Laboratorio (CLSI) y el ensayo de interacción fue realizado por el método de tablero de ajedrez. Los extractos de A. colubrina mostraron actividad bacteriostática (MIC = 8-32 mg/L) contra cepas clínicas MRSA y no se encontró ninguna diferencia en la actividad antibacteriana entre cortezas intactas y regeneradas, lo que sugiere que incluso después de la regeneración, las cortezas de esta especie tienen la misma actividad antibacteriana. Además, la interacción in vitro de extractos de A. colubrina con ciprofloxacino o eritromicina fue aditiva (FICI = 0,52). Por lo tanto, los extractos de corteza de Anadenanthera colubrina exhiben actividad antibacteriana y se pueden utilizar solos o en combinación con antibióticos contra aislados clínicos MRSA. Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) A Altschul, planta frequentemente encontrada em áreas da Caatinga, no Nordeste do Brasil, é amplamente utilizada em medicamentos não convencionais para o tratamento de infecções e inflamações. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana dos extratos de casca de A. colubrina contra isolados clínicos Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina (MRSA), investigar se extratos de casca intactos e regenerados têm o mesmo efeito contra o MRSA e determinar a interação entre esses extratos e antibióticos. A atividade antibacteriana foi realizada pela determinação da concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) de acordo com o Instituto de Normas Clínicas e Laboratoriais (CLSI) e o ensaio de interação foi realizado pelo método de tabuleiro de xadrez. Os extratos de A. colubrina mostraram atividade bacteriostática (MIC = 8-32 mg/L) contra cepas clínicas MRSA e nenhuma diferença foi encontrada na atividade antibacteriana entre cascas intactas e regeneradas, sugerindo que mesmo após a regeneração, as cascas desta espécie têm a mesma atividade antibacteriana. Além disso, a interação in vitro de extratos de A. colubrina com ciprofloxacina ou eritromicina foi aditiva (FICI = 0,52). Assim, os extratos de casca de Anadenanthera colubrina apresentam atividade antibacteriana e podem ser usados sozinhos ou em combinação com antibióticos contra isolados clínicos MRSA. more...

Maize (Zea mays L.) is among the most cultivated crops in the world and can be affected by several diseases, especially those transmitted by seeds. The study of alternatives to fungicides used for seed treatment has a promising field in essential oils. Thus, this study determined the phytochemical profile of the ethanolic extract from Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan and to evaluate its antifungal activity on the sanitary and physiological quality of maize seeds. The seeds used were of the Jaboatão cultivar, which were submitted to the following treatments: control (untreated seeds), commercial fungicide (dicarboximide) and A. colubrina extract at 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,000 ppm. The seeds were subjected to sanitary and germination tests in a completely randomized experimental design. Phytochemical prospecting of A. colubrina extract indicated the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins, as well as the major compounds lupeol, gallic acid, ferulic acid, catechin and quercetin. The A. colubrina extract reduced the incidence of Aspergillus spp., including Aspergillus niger, Alternaria spp., Curvularia spp. and Fusarium spp. at all concentrations. The highest concentrations (800 and 1,000 ppm) of the A. colubrina extract reduced the incidence of Penicillium spp. and yielded an effective control of Rhizoctonia spp. The extract of A. colubrina did not present phytotoxic effect, guaranteeing the viability and vigor of maize seeds. more...

The Rio Doce State Park (“PERD”) is the largest Atlantic Forest remnant in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with predominantly semi-deciduous forests. The longhorned beetles of the Cerambycinae subfamily (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are distributed worldwide, developing on healthy, stressed or recently dead trees. Faunistic surveys are necessary to understand about the Minas Gerais’ cerambycid fauna due to a lack of research, especially in the eastern region of the state. A list of species of the subfamily Cerambycinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), collected in the PERD during the rainy season (September 2013- February 2014), is presented. The beetles were collected using a light trap and through their emergence from Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Fabaceae) logs. A total of 663 individuals of 33 species, 30 genera, and 15 tribes of the Cerambycinae subfamily were collected. The species Malacopterus tenellus (Fabricius, 1801) was registered for the first time in Minas Gerais State, while A. colubrina is a new host plant for 14 Cerambycinae species. The geographical distribution, number of host plants and materials examined are presented for each species collected. This is the first list of Cerambycidae species from the Rio Doce State Park. more...

The deterioration and degradation of crops by insects causes economic losses of several billion dollars and affects food security. Sitophilus zeamais and Tetranychus urticae are two economically important species of agricultural crops around the world. The high toxicity of synthetic insecticides and the development of insect resistance to currently used chemicals stimulate the investigation of plant-derived insecticides as new alternatives for pest control. The insecticidal properties of secondary metabolites have been recognized, and have been confirmed scientifically in the last decades. The extract in cyclohexane (Ch) and ethyl acetate (Ea) of the leaves of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil collected in the dry and rainy seasons were evaluated for the survival and nutritional physiology of S. zeamais (maize weevil) and for the acaricidal effect front T. urticae (two-spotted spider). All extracts induced mortality of S. zeamais ; however, only cyclohexane dry season (Chd) and ethyl acetate in the rainy season (Ear) caused significant mortality (p more...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Plant materials used in this study were selected based on the ethnobotanical literature. Plants have either been utilized by Thai practitioners as alternative treatments for cancer or identified to exhibit anti-cancer properties. Aim of the study To screen ethnomedicinal plants using a yeast cell-based assay for synthetic lethal interactions with cells deleted for RAD1, the yeast homologue of human ERCC4 (XPF) Materials and methods Ethanolic extracts from thirty-two species of medicinal plants utilized in Thai traditional medicine were screened for synthetic lethal/sick interactions using a yeast cell-based assay. Cell growth was compared between the parental strain and rad1∆ yeast following exposure to select for specific toxicity of plant extracts. Candidate extracts were further examined for the mode of action using genetic and biochemical approaches. Results Screening a library of ethanolic extracts from medicinal plants identified Bacopa monnieri and Colubrina asiatica as having synthetic lethal effects in the rad1∆ cells but not the parental strain. Synthetic lethal effects for B. monneiri extracts were more apparent and this plant was examined further. Genetic analysis indicates that pro-oxidant activities and defective excision repair pathways do not significantly contribute to enhanced sensitivity to B. monneiri extracts. Exposure to B. monneiri extracts resulted in nuclear fragmentation and elevated levels of ethidium bromide staining in rad1∆ yeast suggesting promotion of an apoptosis-like event. Growth inhibition also observed in the human Caco-2 cell line suggesting the effects of B. monnieri extracts on both yeast and human cells may be similar. Conclusions B. monneiri extracts may have utility in treatment of colorectal cancers that exhibit deficiency in ERCC4 (XPF). more...

The objectives of the present study were to morphologically characterize the seeds, study post-seminal development, and report the best treatment to overcoming dormancy of colubrina (Colubrina glandulosa Perkins). Eight replicates of 100 seeds were weighed and the length, width, and thickness of each seed were measured for the physical characterization. External and internal aspects were considered for the morphological description of the seeds. Seven pre-germination treatments were used to overcoming dormancy: (T1) intact seeds; immersion in sulfuric acid for 60 (T2) and 90 min (T3); (T4) manual scarification in the region opposite the hilum; (T5) immersion in water at 80 degreesC, followed by standing in the same water outside the heat for 24 hours at room temperature; and immersion in distilled water for 24 (T6) and 48 hours (T7). The germinative process was recorded for 19 days in the post-seminal study. The variables analyzed were germination, first count, speed, average germination time, germination uncertainty and synchrony, seedling length, and dry mass. This was a completely randomized designed study, with four replicates of 25 seeds in each treatment. The seeds were morphologically highly variable. The testal and the embryo were the invaginated type. Germination was epigeal and the phanerocotyledonal type. Manual scarification induced maximum germinability in the mean time, resulting in a unimodal distribution of the relative frequency and high synchronization of germination, which allowed for the maximum number of highly vigorous seedlings. These results indicate a treatment for overcoming dormancy in C. glandulosa. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina is a species native to Brazil, from the Fabaceae family and has potential for use in the timber industry, in the reforestation of degraded areas, besides having medicinal properties. Its propagation is mainly by seeds, but basic subsidies regarding the requirements for optimal germination conditions are still lacking. Aiming to contribute to the expansion of its cultivation, rational use and conservation, the objective of this study was to investigate the morphology and anatomy of fruits and seeds, as well as the responses to factors as thermal regimes and substrates in seed germination. The 1000-seed weight and seeds per fruit were determined. To characterize the seed tissues, histochemical test with Sudan III and Lugol was used. The temperatures analyzed in the germination test were 15-25 °C; 25 °C; 20-30 °C and 30 °C. Different substrates for germination (paper rolls, paper sheet such as “germitest”, commercial substrate and sand) were also analyzed in the presence of light at 30 °C. The average number of seeds per fruit is 10 and the 1000-seed weight is 118 g. Germination is fast and high over a wide temperature range; however, the temperature of 25 °C contributes to a substantial increase in the percentage of abnormal seedlings and dead seeds, both in the absence and presence of light. A. colubrina seeds are indifferent to light and the highest vigor was verified at 30 °C. Sand and commercial substrates are efficient in initial seedling development. more...

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:31:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-11-01 Seed removal has been considered an important ecological filter in plant community assembly during the first years of restoration. However, little is known about the influence of the restored ecosystems attributes on seed consumption patterns by predators and, consequently, on the composition and structure of the regenerating community. We tested whether seed removal differs between natural and restored ecosystems and whether it depends on the seed consuming agent (insects, rodents and birds). We evaluated seed removal in three forest restoration treatments (two active and one passive) established over 20 years ago. We used a fragment of old-growth native seasonal semideciduous tropical forest close to the experimental area, as a reference ecosystem. We installed exclusion stations for different consumer groups (insects, rodents and birds) of seeds belonging to four tree species from different successional groups and dispersal syndromes (Tabernaemontana hystrix Steud, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Pterogyne nitens Tul and Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul. Insects were the main agent removing seeds from the species tested as a whole, regardless of the restoration treatment. Seed removal proportions were generally low and differed between active and passive restoration treatments, depending on the tree species. However, they were similar to the native forest, regardless of the restoration treatment. We found an effect of the interaction of restoration treatments and consuming agents only for one of the zoochoric species tested (Tabernaemontana hystrix). Seed removal no longer seems to represent a biotic filter limiting plant recruitment for T. hystrix, S. terebinthifolius, P. nitens and A. colubrina recruitment in the restoration treatments, regardless of the restoration technique. Department of Forests Soil and Environmental Sciences School of Agriculture/FCA São Paulo State University/UNESP Department of Forests Soil and Environmental Sciences School of Agriculture/FCA São Paulo State University/UNESP more...

We collected stomach contents of sea kraits, Laticauda laticaudata, L. colubrina, and L. semifasciata around Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands of the southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Twelve species belonging to three families of Anguilliformes (Congridae, Muraenidae, and Ophichthidae) were detected as prey of fifteen individuals of L. laticaudata and seven individuals of L. colubrina. On the other hand, four species of the families Labridae, Opistognathidae, and Ptereleotridae were found in the stomach of three individuals of L. semifasciata. These results indicate that L. laticaudata and L. colubrina around the northern limit of their distribution (Ryukyu Islands, Japan) preyed upon anguilliform fish, as previously found at the southern limit of their distribution (Vanuatu and New Caledonia), whereas L. semifasciata consumed various families of fish other than Anguilliformes, as reported in Taiwan. Thus, it is confirmed that L. laticaudata and L. colubrina are specialist predators on anguilliform fi... more...

Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae) is a widely-distributed tree in seasonally dry tropical forests of South America that was classified previously as lacking nectaries. However, some studies have stated that its flowers produce nectar, while others analyzed the composition of unifloral honey produced from A. colubrina flowers, raising the question about nectar production in the species. We studied the pollination and reproductive biology of A. colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul in a natural population in the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil. Reproductive phenology, sexual system, floral biology, resource, and pollinators were investigated. We analyzed the breeding system through controlled pollinations for addressing its dependence on pollen vectors for reproduction. Anadenanthera colubrina flowered in the dry season, flower heads are heteromorphic, with staminate flowers at the base and perfect flowers at the apex of the inflorescence, characterizing andromonoecy. Anthesis is diurnal. We observed small drops of nectar at the apex of the petals of some flowers per inflorescence. Together with observations on flower visitor behavior and histochemical tests, we propose that A. colubrina produces floral nectar at the apex of the corolla, characterizing a substitutive nectary (sensu Vogel). This is the first record of substitutive nectary in the Mimosoideae and the first record of andromonoecy in the genus. Bees were the main pollinators (higher frequency), although other insects such as wasps, butterflies, and small beetles were also observed collecting nectar and/or pollen. The species is self-incompatible, thus depending on insect pollen vectors, mainly bees, for reproduction. more...

Introduction: Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) are one of the most threatened terrestrial ecosystems on the planet as a consequence of global change. They harbor high biodiversity and provide a wide range of ecosystem services; therefore, their conservation is a priority worldwide. Climate warming, as well as land use patterns, are leading to species distribution range shifts. Objective: The objective of this work was to study the current and future potential distribution of a SDTF representative tree species (Anadenanthera colubrina) in the Argentinian Sub Andean Piedmont nucleus and to assess the effects of land use and climate changes. Methods: Current and future potential distribution was modeled with Maxent, using 49 presence points and 20 variables. Climate change effects were estimated in four different temperature and carbon dioxide concentration scenarios. Land use changes were determined subtracting the deforested area until 2017 to the current and future potential distribution of the species. Results: A. colubrina current distribution represents 18 % of Northwestern Argentina. Land use changes decreased almost 25 % of it and climate change will probably cause a retraction in the East and a slight expansion towards the West and South of the current distribution. The synergistic effect of land use and climate change projected to the worst scenario would reduce 63 % of its current distribution. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the central role of distribution range studies to assess the effects of anthropic activities. Climate change and land use change would have a negative and synergistic effect on the distribution of A. colubrina. Although a possible expansion of the Sub Andean Piedmont nucleus of SDTF would occur, this expansion may be limited by the Sub Andean mountain range that could act as an orographic barrier. Introducción: Los Bosques Tropicales Estacionalmente Secos (BTES) son unos de los ecosistemas terrestres más amenazados del planeta como consecuencia del cambio global. Estos bosques albergan una alta biodiversidad y proporcionan una amplia gama de servicios ecosistémicos, por lo que su conservación es una prioridad a nivel mundial. El cambio climático y el cambio en los usos del suelo están afectando la distribución de las especies. Objetivo: El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la distribución potencial de una especie representativa de BTES (Anadenanthera colubrina) en el núcleo del Piedemonte subandino argentino y evaluar los efectos del cambio en los usos del suelo y del cambio climático sobre su distribución. Métodos: La distribución actual y futura de A. colubrina fue modelada con Maxent, utilizando 49 puntos de presencia y 20 variables. Los efectos del cambio climático se estimaron en cuatro escenarios que difieren en los niveles de temperatura y concentración de dióxido de carbono. Los efectos del cambio en el uso del suelo se estimaron descontando el área deforestada hasta el 2017 a la distribución actual y futura de la especie. Resultados: La distribución actual de A. colubrina representa un 18 % del Noroeste Argentino. Los cambios en el uso del suelo produjeron una disminución del 25 % del área de distribución actual y el cambio climático probablemente causará una retracción al Este y una expansión hacia el oeste y sur de su distribución. El efecto sinérgico del cambio en el uso del suelo y el cambio climático podría producir una pérdida del 63 % considerando el peor escenario de cambio climático. Conclusiones: Nuestros datos demuestran el rol fundamental de los estudios de distribución para evaluar los efectos de las actividades antrópicas. Los cambios en los usos del suelo y el cambio climático podrían tener un efecto negativo y sinérgico sobre la distribución de A. colubrina. La posible expansión del núcleo Piedemonte de SDTF hacia el oeste y el sur de la región no estaría limitada por cambios en el uso del suelo, aunque las cadenas montañosas podrían actuar como barreras orográficas y limitar la expansión. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Griseb.) Altschul (Fabaceae family), commonly known as the red angico tree, is a medicinal plant found throughout Brazil&rsquo, s semi-arid area. In this study, a chemical analysis was performed to investigate the antidiarrheal activity and safety profile of red angico gum (RAG), a biopolymer extracted from the trunk exudate of A. colubrina. Upon FT-IR spectroscopy, RAG showed bands in the regions of 1608 cm&minus, 1, 1368 cm&minus, 1, and 1029 cm&minus, 1, which relate to the vibration of O&ndash, H water molecules, deformation vibration of C-O bands, and vibration of the polysaccharide C-O band, respectively, all of which are relevant to glycosidic bonds. The peak molar mass of RAG was 1.89 &times, 105 g/mol, with the zeta potential indicating electronegativity. RAG demonstrated high yield and solubility with a low degree of impurity. Pre-treatment with RAG reduced the total diarrheal stool and enteropooling. RAG also enhanced Na+/K+-ATPase activity and reduced gastrointestinal transit, and thereby inhibited intestinal smooth muscle contractions. Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) demonstrated that RAG can interact with GM1 receptors and can also reduce E. coli-induced diarrhea in vivo. Moreover, RAG did not induce any signs of toxicity in mice. These results suggest that RAG is a possible candidate for the treatment of diarrheal diseases. more...

Expeditions in the Jinggangshan National Nature Reserve in China yielded the discovery of some interesting goblin spiders (Oonopidae). Three new species of oonopid spiders are described and illustrated with photographs and SEMs: Ischnothyreus tergeminus sp. nov. (♂), Orchestina colubrina sp. nov. (♀), and O. zhiwui sp. nov. (♂). Both sexes of the species Orchestina bialata Liu, Xiao & Xu, 2016 were also collected and the male is described for the first time in this paper. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil (Griseb.) Altschul is a medicinal plant found throughout the Brazilian semi-arid area. This work performed a bioguided purification of active substances present in ethyl acetate extract from A. colubrina leaves. The anti-Staphylococcus aureus and antioxidant actions were used as markers of bioactivity. The extract was subjected to flash chromatography resulting in five fractions (F1, F2, F3, F4, and F5). The fractions F2 and F4 presented the highest antimicrobial action, with a dose able to inhibit 50% of bacteria growth (IN50) of 19.53 &mu, g/mL for S. aureus UFPEDA 02, whereas F4 showed higher inhibitory action towards DPPH radical (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) [dose able to inhibit 50% of the radical (IC50) = 133 &plusmn, 9 &mu, g/mL]. F2 and F4 were then subjected to preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), resulting in the identification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and hyperoside as the major compounds in F2 and F4, respectively. Hyperoside and p-hydroxybenzoic acid presented IN50 values of 250 &mu, g/mL and 500 &mu, g/mL against S. aureus UFPEDA 02, respectively. However, the hyperoside had an IN50 of 62.5 &mu, g/mL against S. aureus UFPEDA 705, a clinical isolate with multidrug resistant phenotype. Among the purified compounds, the proanthocyanidins obtained from F2 exhibited the higher antioxidant potentials. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of A. colubrina leaves as an alternative source of biomolecules of interest for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. more...

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T01:05:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-07-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Background: Hydration is an important factor to promote skin barrier function, metabolism, and appearance. In this process, the presence of aquaglyceroporins, envelope and lipid synthesis, and metabolism proteins are essential to provide greater corneocyte cohesion and to form a barrier avoiding transepidermal water loss. Objective: We evaluated the effects of a new topical pigment-free agent containing an Anadenanthera colubrina polysaccharide-rich dermocosmetic preparation (ACP) on the aquaporin-3 (AQP-3), filaggrin (FLG), involucrin (INV), glucocerebrosidase (GBA), and elongation of very-long-chain fatty acid (ELOVL) proteins production in skin human fragments, as well as on the transepidermal water loss in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Methods: AQP3, FLG, INV, GBA, and ELOVL3 levels were measured by immunofluorescence analysis in human skin explants. Clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of ACP 1% and ACP 3% on the transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Results: Image and statistical analysis showed that ACP 3% significantly increased at 90% the expression of AQP3. Similarly, ACP 3% was able to promote a significant increase of 68% and 51% in FLG and INV, respectively. ACP 3% produced no effects on the GBA and ELOVL3 proteins. Transepidermal water loss was significantly reduced in human volunteers under treatment with ACP 1% and ACP 3%. Conclusion: ACP reduced transepidermal water loss in a clinical trial, promoting human skin hydration. These effects were related to modulation of the AQP3, FLG, and INV as evidenced by immunofluorescence assay. This way, A colubrina polysaccharide-rich phytopharmaceutical preparation is an effective additive product to skin hydration. Research and Development Department Chemyunion Química Ltda Department of Pharmacology Laboratory of Phytomedicines Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech) Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) Department of Pharmacology Laboratory of Phytomedicines Pharmacology and Biotechnology (PhytoPharmaTech) Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (Unesp) more...

Colubrina glandulosa Perkins is a species of ecological and socioeconomic importance, but in danger of extinction. The present study aimed to evaluate different storage conditions to check the physiological quality of the colubrina seeds. The seeds were stored in a paper bag and glass bottle, in a laboratory environment and in a dry chamber, during 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. For each storage period and condition, the following variables were evaluated: water content, germination, speed of germination, mean time and germination synchrony, total length, and dry mass of seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement (2 packs and 6 storage periods), with 4 replicates of 25 seeds. The water content of the seeds ranged from 8.0% to 17.8%, depending on the packaging and environmental conditions of the storage site, being physiologically classified as orthodox. Under the laboratory conditions, seed physiological potential decreased from 6 months onward in the paper packaging. Seeds conditioned in a porous or impermeable packaging with a water content of 8.0%, in the dry chamber condition, remained viable when stored for 15 months. Colubrina glandulosa Perkins é uma espécie de importância ecológica e socioeconômica, porém, em risco de extinção. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar diferentes condições de armazenamento sobre a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de colubrina. As sementes foram acondicionadas em saco de papel e frasco de vidro, em ambiente de laboratório e em câmara seca, durante os períodos de 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 e 15 meses. Para cada período e condição de armazenamento foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: teor de água, germinação, velocidade de germinação, tempo médio e sincronia de germinação, comprimento total e massa seca de plântulas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2 x 6 (duas embalagens e seis períodos de armazenamento), com quatro repetições de 25 sementes. O teor de água das sementes variou de 8,0 a 17,8%, dependendo da embalagem e das condições ambientais do local de armazenamento, sendo fisiologicamente classificadas como ortodoxas. Em condições de laboratório, verificou-se diminuição no potencial fisiológico das sementes, a partir dos 6 meses, em embalagem de papel. Sementes acondicionadas em embalagem porosa ou impermeável, com teor de água de 8,0%, na condição de câmara seca, mantiveram a viabilidade quando armazenadas por 15 meses. more...

Strychnos colubrina L. belongs to family Loganiaceae was known as snake wood tree.The methanolic extracts from Strychnos colubrina L. leave collected from different provinces in Penchalakona of Nellore district were prepared by decoction and maceration with methanol and evaluated for their antidiabetic, diuretic and analgesic activities. Methanolic extracts from Strychnos colubrina L. leaves (SCM) were evaluated for anti diabetic effect in Streptozocin (STZ) induced diabetes in rats. The blood sugar levels were analysed as indices of diabetes. 200 mg/kg b.w. of the extract showed a greater reduction in blood glucose level which was comparable to glibenclamide. To find out diuretic efficacy, SCM of leaves were administered to experimental rats orally at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and compared with Furosemide (20 mg/kg,o.p) as the standard. The rats treated with SCM of leaves in a dose of 200 mg/kg shown near similar urine output and electrolytes excretion when compared to the respective control. The analgesic activity of SCM of leaves is estimated using tail flick in mice. Results demonstrated that SCM of leaves exhibited a potent dose-dependent analgesic activity in all tested models for analgesia. This report could be used for medicinal and pharmaceutical exploration in the future. more...

This study aimed to evaluate changes in soil chemical attributes and nutrition of Anadenanthera colubrina and a Eucalyptus clone under fertilization using reservoir sediment (RS), fish farming sediment (FFS) and biochar (BC) in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The Eucalyptus clone and A. colubrina leaves and soil were sampled after applying treatments. Leaves were collected for nutritional analysis and soil for mineral and fertility analyses. The K + and P concentration in the soil were influenced by the natural fertilizers, and the biochar increased the C content. The A. colubrina planting reduced the soil K + and P levels, and the Eucalyptus clone cultivation reduced the Mg 2+ content. The FFS was responsible for increasing P availability in both A. colubrina and the Eucalyptus clone, being a good option for use in soils which are naturally poor in P. A. colubrina presented the highest N, P, K and Ca levels, suggesting high demand of this species for these nutrients. The Eucalyptus clone was more demanding for Mg, suggesting that its cultivation should be done in soils rich in Mg 2+ . The use of RS and FFS is important to increase the growth of forest species in semi-arid regions, and this management is recommended in the deforestation policies of these regions. more...

Anadenanthera (Fabaceae) is endemic to the Neotropics and consists of two tree species: A. colubrina (Vell.) Brenan and A. peregrina (L.) Speg. This study examined the mating system and contemporary gene flow of A. colubrina (Acol) and A. peregrina (Aper) in a highly fragmented area of the Atlantic Forest to provide valuable information that informs conservation strategies. Reproductive adults from forest remnants [nA. colubrina = 30 (2.7 ha), nA. peregrina = 55 (4.0 ha)] and progeny-arrays (nA. colubrina = 322, nA. peregrina = 300) were genotyped for seven nuclear microsatellite markers. Mating system analyses revealed that A. colubrina is a mixed mating species (tm = 0.619) while A. peregrina is a predominantly outcrossing species (tm = 0.905). For both Anadenanthera species, high indices of biparental inbreeding were observed (Acol = 0.159, Aper = 0.216), resulting in low effective pollination neighborhood sizes. Categorical paternity analysis revealed different scales of pollen dispersal distance: the majority of crossings occurring locally (i.e., between nearby trees within the same population), with moderate pollen dispersal coming from outside the forest fragments boundaries (Acolmp = 30%, Apermp = 35%). Nevertheless, pollen immigration from trees outside the populations for both species suggests that the populations are not reproductively isolated. This study highlights the importance of evaluating both mating system and contemporary gene flow for a better understanding of the biology of Anadenanthera species. This information should be considered to ensure the effective conservation and management practices of these plant species. more...

Objective: To investigate the antifungal potential of A. colubrina , and its phytochemical characteristics, thermal profile and toxicity. Material and Methods: To assess potential antifungal activity, the technique of microdilution was used with the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration, using standard species of Candida and recent clinical isolates of Candida albicans . Analyses of action of the extract were performed on the wall and cell morphology of C. albicans , of the interactive effect between the plant extract and nystatin on C. albicans through the checkerboard method, and of growth kinetics. The phytochemical screening was determined by spectrophotometry. The thermal profile was traced with the determination of thermogravimetric curves (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The toxicity was evaluated by the method of hemolysis. Results: The extract of A. colubrina showed a fungistatic potential against all bacteria tested and it acted by modifying the cellular morphology of C. albicans . There was a synergism between nystatin and the plant extract (FIC=0.375), and 53.18% of total polyphenols were determined. The TG curve showed the occurrence of three steps of thermal decomposition. None of the tested concentrations became the effective cytotoxic concentration. Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted to understand the efficacy and the mechanisms of action involved in the antifungal activity of the plant extract of A. colubrina in order to produce a new drug for the treatment of oral candidiasis. more...

Bean crop occupies a prominent place in medium and large farming units in Brazil. Most of the time, the success of this crop depends, among other factors, on the use of good quality seeds at sowing; which requires strict quality control, harvesting, and storage. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of leaves and shells extracts of Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart., Anadenanthera colubrina and myrtle (Licania rigida benth) in controlling Zabrotes subfasciatus associated with bean seeds and to evaluate the seeds treated and stored in pet bottles for a period of 180 days. The experiments were conducted in the Agricultural Products Storage and Processing laboratory of the Federal University of Campina Grande. It was observed that for leave extracts, germination decreased with storage time for all the extracts and the best germination percentage (95.00%) occurred in 5 ml of A. pyrifolium Mart. leaves extract. These results found for the bark extract A. pyrifolium Mart. showed that germination was 94.00% in the seeds treated with 5 ml dose of this extract. On the other hand, the extracts that had lower efficiency on germination were the extract of myrtle leaf and bark which showed 64.00 to 65.40% germination in 180 days of storage. It is concluded that low percentages of infestation show the efficiency of the extracts tested in the control of insects. The efficiency of these extracts may be due to the action of their secondary metabolites; especially the extracts of A. colubrina’s leaves and bark. Key words: Bioactive plants, bean weevil, stored seeds. more...

A remnant population ofAnadenanthera colubrinavar.cebilin Northern Argentina showed a mixed mating system, high genetic diversity, and moderate spatial genetic structure, which was stronger in saplings than in adults. Demographic history analyses revealed an ancient population expansion. Despite high genetic diversity, high inbreeding suggests caution in the use of this stand as seed source. Context: Information on fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) and demographic history is essential to determine which mechanisms are responsible for population persistence and evolution. This is particularly important in fragmented biomes, such as the seasonally dry tropical forests. Aims: To assess the level of genetic diversity and population genetic structure in a remnant population of A. colubrina var. cebil, and to evaluate the influence of historical and contemporary environmental change on the genetic constitution of this population. Methods: Eight microsatellites were typed in 60 adults and 59 saplings. The existence of (non-spatial) genetic clusters was evaluated using STRUCTURE and PCAs. FSGS was evaluated by kinship analyses and sPCA. MCMCglmm models were used to provide insights into factors underlying FSGS. Demographic history was studied using bottleneck statistics and approximate Bayesian computation. Results: We found high levels of genetic diversity and high inbreeding. Genetic structure was stronger in saplings than in adult trees, probably due to assortative mating, and was not explained by altitude or DBH. Demographic analyses suggested an ancient population expansion. Conclusion: Patterns of inbreeding and relatedness suggest a mixed mating system. High genetic diversity and moderate genetic structure suggest long-term population viability. High inbreeding suggests caution when using this stand as a source of material for reforestation. Fil: Goncalves, Alejandra Lorena. Universidad Nacional de Misiones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina Fil: García, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; Argentina Fil: Heuertz, Myriam. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia Fil: González Martínez, Santiago C.. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; Francia. Universite de Bordeaux; Francia more...

The accumulation of dry biomass, its partitioning and the adjustment of equations were assessed for the initial growth of Piptadenia stipulacea (Benth) Ducke and Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan under water availability variation. The experiment was conducted in pots arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. Water conditions were evaluated using the percentages of reference evapotranspiration. Samples of the biomass were taken at 10-day intervals and used for the achievement of partitioning data and model adjustments. The short period of water scarcity in the initial growth phase of P. stipulacea and A. colubrina does not affect the establishment of these species, but different water regimes alter their root growth dynamics. The A. colubrina allocates more dry matter to the roots, while P. stipulacea sends more dry matter to the aerial part. The Gaussian, Lorentzian, Log-Normal and Gompertz models had excellent adjustments for the biomass variables of the P. stipulacea species, whereas for A. colubrina, we recommend the Exponential model. Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-31T18:15:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PartitioningandModeling2019.pdf: 1791394 bytes, checksum: 5cc0890f59f464b0dffd3e849c073fda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019 more...

Two new ceanothane triterpenes, 3,7

Invasive grasses inhibit the growth of other plant species, and water deficit is one of the major competition problems for native vegetation. We evaluated whether the presence of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata has a negative influence on the competition for water and nutrients between Anadenanthera macrocarpa and Anadenanthera colubrina (Angico species). The interspecific competition was evaluated using a randomized experimental design with the following treatments: 1) free competition (FC), in which the native species were cultivated without the grass presence and 2) under competition (UC), in which the native species grew together with the invasive grass for 120 days. We analysed the water relationships in the two species, the effect of water limitation on the antioxidant stress, the nutritional content of shoots and roots, the relative competition intensity (RCI) and growth. The presence of Piata grass reduced the soil moisture causing a decrease of 21.9% and 29.5% in the relative water content (RWC) of leaves for A. macrocarpa and A. colubrina, respectively. For the two Angico species, the quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (ΦPSII) decreased with reduction of RWC leaf, resulting in the H2O2 increase (57.5% at day 30 for A. colubrina and 38.8% at day 120 for A. macrocarpa). The oxidative stress was evidenced by the increase in the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in leaves and roots of both young native trees. In the UC treatment, reductions in water uptake also led to a decrease in root absorption of N, P, K, a Mg and low transport of these nutrients to the leaves of both Angico species. A. macrocarpa and A. colubrina showed less growth caused by limitation of water uptake, but the joint activity of the physiological and biochemical adjustments provided competitive ability. more...

We evaluated the antifungal and antibiofilm potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of bark from Anadenanthera colubrina (vell.) Brenan, known as Angico, against Candida spp. Antifungal activity was evaluated using the microdilution technique through the Minimum Inhibitory and Fungicide Concentrations (MIC and MFC). The antibiofilm potential was tested in mature biofilms formed by Candida species and analyzed through the counting of CFU/mL and scanning electron micrograph (SEM). In vivo toxicity and therapeutic action was evaluated in the Galleria mellonella model. The treatment with the extract, in low doses, was able to reduce the growth of planktonic cells of Candida species. MIC values range between 19.5 and 39 µg/mL and MFC values range between 79 and 625 µg/mL. In addition was able to reduce the number of CFU/mL in biofilms and to cause structural alteration and cellular destruction, observed via SEM. A. colubrina showed low toxicity in the in vivo assay, having not affected the viability of the larvae at doses below 100mg/kg and high potential in the treatment of C. albicans infection. Considering its high antifungal potential, its low toxicity and potential to treatment of infections in in vivo model, A. colubrina extract is a strong candidate for development of a new agent for the treatment of oral candidiasis. more...

The variation in water availability can cause oxidative stress in plant species, which respond by producing antioxidants. Phenolic compounds are among the primary substances responsible for antioxidant activities. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate whether rainfall in a dry forest in Brazil affects the antioxidant activity and the major phenolic compounds in the stem bark of Anadenanthera colubrina, an economically important species from the semi-arid region of Brazil. Monthly samplings were performed over one year for the analysis of free radical sequestration by the DPPH method and for the identification and quantification of major phenolic compounds by HPLC. These data were correlated with each other and with the monthly rainfall. Three major phenolic compounds were identified, one of which was hyperin. The stem bark was highly capable of scavenging free radicals. The antioxidant activity and the production of the three compounds only slightly varied during the year, despite the significant differences among a few of the months studied. These differences are apparently unrelated to rainfall. No correlation was found between the major compounds and free radical scavenging. Our results suggest that rainfall was not the environmental factor responsible for monthly differences in the antioxidant activity of and concentrations of major phenolic compounds in the bark of A. colubrina. more...

RESUMO Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o crescimento e sobrevivência de sete espécies arbóreas nativas em diferentes tratamentos, em uma área degradada na Reserva da COPASA (Juramento, MG). Para tal, foram utilizados aproximadamente 1,2 ha da área, onde foram plantadas 899 mudas, de sete espécies nativas (Anadenanthera colubrina, Copaifera langsdorffii, Dilodendron bipinatum, Myracrodruon urundeuva, Pterogyne nitens, Schinopsis brasiliensis e Senegalia polyphylla), acompanhadas durante 24 meses. A área foi dividida em cinco parcelas de 0,24 ha, que representaram os seguintes tratamentos: (T1) parcela semeada com capim (Brachiaria sp.); (T2) parcela onde as covas foram tratadas com condicionador de solo; (T3) parcela semeada com capim consorciado com leguminosa (Cajanus cajan); (T4) parcela semeada com leguminosa; e (T5) controle. A porcentagem de mortalidade foi maior no T2 e menor no T3, sendo as espécies C. langsdorffii (43,66%) e S. brasiliensis (11,64%) aquelas com maior e menor porcentagem de mortalidade, respectivamente. O crescimento (altura e diâmetro) das mudas foi maior no T2 (24,32 ± 26,05 cm e 0,51 ± 0,37 mm, respectivamente) e menor no T1 (10,82 ± 22,57 cm e 0,26 ± 0,27 mm; respectivamente). As espécies com maior crescimento em altura foram A. colubrina e S. polyphylla, já D. bipinatum e S. brasiliensis apresentaram maior crescimento em diâmetro. Pterogyne nitens apresentou o menor crescimento, além de alta mortalidade, mostrando baixa capacidade de estabelecimento em ambientes degradados. more...

This study aimed to distinguish five native forest species of the Caatinga Biome from the exotic invasive algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.), considering dendrologic characteristics of bark and wood, in order of providing subsidies for the inspection of the wood market in this Biome. The native species studied were jurema-preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.), angico branco (Anadenanthera colubrina var. colubrina (Vell.) Brenan), angico vermelho (Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil (Gris.) Alts.), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva Allem) and braúna-do-sertão (Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.). Studied species were recognized using dendrology identification records, containing characteristics of bark, heartwood and sapwood coloration; and the organoleptic proprieties like color, smell and taste, used for safe wood logs identification. The macroscopic characteristics, organized in dichotomous key, allowed the differentiation among the species, available in logs, during inspection. more...

The venom proteome of Laticauda colubrina (Bali, Indonesia) was elucidated by nano-ESI-LCMS/MS of the venom reverse-phase HPLC fractions. Altogether 31 distinct forms of proteins were identified and clustered into three toxin families: three-finger toxin (3FTX, 66.12% of total venom proteins), phospholipase A2 (PLA2, 33.26%) and cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRiSP, 0.05%). The 3FTX were α-neurotoxins (five long neurotoxins, LNTX, 48.87%; two short neurotoxins, SNTX, 16.94%) and a trace amount of two cytotoxins (CTX, 0.31%). PLA2 were present with a large diversity of homologues (≥ 20 forms), however none was annotated to the lethal proteoform reported previously. The venom is highly lethal in mice (LD50 = 0.10 μg/g) and this is driven primarily by the SNTX and LNTX (LD50 = 0.05–0.13 μg/g), since the PLA2 proteins were non-lethal up to 2 μg/g (20-time the venom LD50). The SNTX and LNTX were effectively cross-neutralized by the heterologous Sea Snake Antivenom (SSAV, Australian product) (potency = 0.27 mg toxin per ml antivenom, and 0.40 mg/ml, respectively), corroborating the cross-neutralization of the whole venom (potency = 1.09 mg/ml) and its antigenic immunoreactivity toward SSAV. Furthermore, compared with earlier studies, the present work reveals geographical variation of venom composition for L. colubrina which may have implication for the evolution and conservation of the species. Biological significance Laticauda colubrina (yellow-lipped sea krait) is a widely distributed, semi-aquatic venomous snake species. The venom proteome at the level of protein family is unsophisticated and consistent with its restricted prey selection. Nonetheless, the subproteomic findings revealed geographical variability of the venom for this widely distributed species. In contrast to two previous reports, the results for the Balinese L. colubrina venom showed that LNTX Neurotoxin a and Neurotoxin b were co-existent while the PLA2 lethal subtype (PLA-II) was undetected by means of LCMS/MS and by in vivo assay. This is an observable trait of L. colubrina considered divergent from specimens previously studied for the Philippines and the Solomon Islands. The stark geographical variation might be reflective of trophic adaptation following evolutionary arms race between the snake and the prey (eels) in different localities. The preferred trait would likely propagate and remain significant within the geographical population, since the strong behaviour of site fidelity in the species would have minimized gene flow between distant populations. Meanwhile, the in vivo neutralization study verified that the efficacy of the heterologous Sea Snake Antivenom (Australian product) is attributable to the cross-neutralization of SNTX and LNTX, two principal lethal toxins that made up the bulk of L. colubrina venom proteins. The findings also implied that L. colubrina, though could be evolutionarily more related to the terrestrial elapids, has evolved a much streamlined, neurotoxin- and PLA2-predominated venom arsenal, with major antigenicity shared among the true sea snakes and the Australo-Papuan elapids. The findings enrich our current understanding of the complexity of L. colubrina venom and the neutralizing spectrum of antivenom against the principal toxins from this unique elapid lineage. more...

Sixteen compounds were isolated from a Thai medicinal plant, Colubrina asiatica. The isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods (IR, 1D and 2D NMR) as six triterpene acids (1–6), five steroids (7–11), one benzoic acid derivative (12), two peptides (13 and 14), one sesquiterpenoid (15) and one jujubogenin (16). Compounds 3 and 10 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Compound 5 showed antimycobacterial activity. Moreover, compounds 3, 5, 6, 10 and 14 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. Compounds 1–15 have been isolated for the first time from this plant. more...

The palynological characterization of 157 honey samples from three northwesternregions of Argentina (Prepuna, Yungas and Chaco) are presented todetermine their botanical origin and species associations to be able to definetheir geographic origin. Samples were harvested during 2003-2011 andprocessed by means of melissopalynological conventional techniques. Onehundred and nine pollen types were identified. Representative pollen types witha frequency of occurrence greater than 50% in descending order of importanceare: Salix humboldtiana, Allophylus edulis, Baccharis sp., Solanaceae,Eucalyptus sp., Schinus sp., Brassicaceae, Papilionoideae, Celtis sp.,Scutia/Condalia type y Parapiptadenia excelsa. The most important monofloralhoneys are from the following: Salix humboldtiana, Scutia/Condalia type,Allophylus edulis, Baccharis sp., Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Gleditsiaamorphoides, Myrtaceae, Sicyos sp., Ziziphus mistol, Schinopsis type,Agonandra excelsa, Anadenathera colubrina var cebil, Mimosa debilis all ofthem native species and among introduced species: Eucalyptus sp., Citrus sp.and Tithonia sp. Three apicultural zones and their corresponding association ofspecies indicators were determined: Zone I: Prepuna: Caesalpinia trichocarpa,Prosopis ferox, Schinus areira, Baccharis sp., Buddleja sp. and Mutisieae. ZoneII: Yungas: Myrtaceae, Parapiptadenia excelsa, Baccharis sp., Salixhumboldtiana, Allophylus edulis, Scutia/Condalia type y Zanthoxylum coco.Zone III: Transitional area Yungas-Chaco: Prosopis sp. Salix humboldtiana,Schinus sp., Anadenanthera colubrina var cebil y Allophylus edulis. Fil: Sánchez, Ana Carina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET - Salta. San Salvador de Jujuy; Argentina Fil: Lupo, Liliana Concepcion. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET - Salta. San Salvador de Jujuy; Argentina more...

The patterns of relationships between species of Opuntia from southern South America are scarcely known in spite of the importance of this region as a diversification center for the Cactaceae. This paper contributes to the better understanding of the genetic and phylogenetic relationships of 15 Opuntia species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay by generating new genetic data through Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) genotyping and the sequencing of plastid intergenic spacers trnL-trnF and psbJ-petA. The species surveyed are: O. anacantha, O. arechavaletae, O. aurantiaca, O. bonaerensis, O. colubrina, O. discolor, O. elata, O. megapotamica, O. monacantha, O. penicilligera, O. quimilo, O. salmiana, O. schickendantzii, O. sulphurea, and O. ventanensis. The genetic distance-based analysis of 110 ISSR bands, applying the Neighbor-Joining and NeighborNet algorithms, evidenced considerable intraspecific variation in O. aurantiaca, O. elata, O. discolor, and O. salmiana. The emergent clustering pattern and the species assignment to taxonomic series show a general agreement for Armatae and Aurantiacae. The phylogenetic relationships were investigated via haplotype network and maximum likelihood approaches, within a broader sampling that involves most species currently accepted for South America, and samples from throughout the American continent. Hence, 15 haplotypes are recognized for southern South American opuntias whereas eight haplotypes are established for Northern Hemisphere opuntias. Biparentally and maternally inherited genetic data yield partially consistent results, giving genetic support for morphologically defined taxonomic series. Fil: Realini, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: González, Graciela Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Font, Fabiana Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina Fil: Picca, Pablo Ignacio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; Argentina Fil: Poggio, Lidia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Gottlieb, Alexandra Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina more...

This study evaluates the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and phytochemical constituents of leaves and fruits of Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil. the hemolytic action of active fractions was also checked. After a liquid-liquid partition of hydroalcoholic extracts, the following fractions were obtained: cyclohexane (CFL), ethyl acetate (EAFL), n-butanol (NBFL) and aqueous fractions (AFL) from leaves; and cyclohexane (CFF), ethyl acetate (EAFF), n-butanol (NBFF) and aqueous fractions from fruits (AFF). The antimicrobial action of these samples was evaluated by microdilution assay against seven clinical isolates of S. aureus and the standard strain. Finally, the hemolytic activity of active fractions was checked. Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of triterpene, carbohydrate (leaves); flavonoids and tannin (fruit and leaves). All samples showed anti-S. aureus action and the most active fractions were EAL and EAF. The MIC ranged from 0.78125 to 6.25 mg/mL (EAFL) and 0.390625 to 1.5625 mg/mL (EAFL). Both fractions showed low toxicity since the HC50 values were greater than MIC50 values: the ratio MIC50/HC50 for EAFL was 3.68 and 11.61 for EAFF. Our work shows that A. colubrina is a potential source of anti-S. aureus molecules, their isolation and characterization are target of new research of our group. Key words: Anadenanthera colubrina, caatinga, antimicrobial activity, hemolytic activity. more...

Previous studies have shown a nonrandom pattern of ovule fate probabilities according to ovule position in legume pods. Here, we tested how ovule position within the pods of two Fabaceae affects its fate. We expected higher proportion of well-formed seeds near the fruit tips and of unfertilized and aborted ovules near fruit bases. We collected pods of Poincianella pyramidalis and Anandenanthera colubrina in a seasonal dry forest in northeastern Brazil and recorded total pod length and ovule number, position, and fate (unfertilized, well formed, aborted, and predated). The proportion of well-formed ovules at fruit tips was significantly higher than at fruit bases in P. pyramidalis. The opposite pattern was found for unfertilized and aborted ovules, thus corroborating our hypothesis. However, the probability of seed predation in A. colubrina was significantly higher in pod tips, thus providing moderate support for our hypotheses. Interspecific differences in the patterns of ovule fate are likely to be driven by species pollination systems. more...

Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil is a discontinuously distributed native tree species in South American subtropical forests. Thirteen quantitative traits and eight nuclear microsatellite loci were examined in individuals from two biogeographic provinces of Argentina to determine the number and composition of genetically distinguishable groups of individuals and explore possible spatial patterns of the phenotypic and genetic variability. Means of reproductive traits were higher in the Yungas than in the Paranaense biogeographic province, whereas five out of eight nonreproductive quantitative traits showed higher mean values in the latter. Variance coefficients were moderate, and there were significant differences between and within provinces. Three clusters were defined based on spatial model for cluster membership for quantitative traits. One cluster grouped the individuals from the Paranaense biogeographic province whereas the individuals from the Yungas biogeographic province grouped regarding its population of origin. Parameters of molecular genetic variability showed higher values in the Yungas than in the Paranaense biogeographic province. Observed heterozygosity was lower than expected heterozygosity in both biogeographic provinces, indicating an excess of homozygosity. The homozygosity test by Watterson and the exact test by Slatkin suggested diversifying selection for locus Ac41.1. Bayesian clustering spatial model for microsatellites loci data were performed for both all loci and for all loci excluding locus Ac41.1. In both analyses two clusters were inferred. Analysis of molecular variance revealed similar results for all genotypes and for all genotypes defined excluding locus Ac41.1. Most of the total variance is attributable to genetic variation within clusters. The presence of homogeneous clusters was detected for both the phenotypic and molecular genetic variability. Two Bayesian clustering analyses were performed according to molecular genetic data, and two clusters were inferred. Individuals were assigned to their provinces of origin. Genetic molecular variation was higher in the populations of the Yungas biogeographic province which translates into highly qualified populations for conservation. Populations from the Paranaense biogeographic province showed the highest mean value of number of seeds per fruit making them valuable as well with regard to the exploitation of management strategies as a means to recover the impacted areas where these populations are located. more...

The anti-nociceptive and antioxidant activities of the Anadenantheracolubrina stem bark aqueous extract (AEAC) were investigated. AEAC (30 μg/mL) reduced 94.8% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and prevented 64% (200 μg/mL) of lipid peroxidation caused by 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride-induced peroxyl radicals. AEAC treatment (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (p0.001) reduced mice orofacial nociception in the first (61.4% and 62.6%, respectively) and second (48.9% and 61.9%, respectively) phases of the formalin test. Nociception caused by glutamate was significantly (p0.001) reduced by up to 79% at 400 mg/kg, while 56-60% of the nociceptive behaviour induced by capsaicin was significantly inhibited by AEAC (100-400 mg/kg). Mice treated with AEAC did not show changes in motor performance in the Rota-rod apparatus. It appears that AEAC is of pharmacological importance in treating pain due to its anti-nociceptive effects, which were shown to be mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms. more...

We investigated wood samples of five Anadenanthera colubrina trees, aiming to study radial variation of anatomy and basic density. The trees were cut from "lote 5 do Rodoanel trecho sul" in Embu municipality, State of Sao Paulo, where vegetation is classified as Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest and climate is classified as Cwa. We cut discs from the diameter at breast height - DBH, and then cut samples from pith-to-bark to anatomical and basic density analysis. The results suggest that Anadenanthera colubrina has a very common anatomical and basic density radial variation pattern from pith-to-bark between hardwoods with an increase in vessel diameter favoring hydraulic conductivity, fiber wall thickness and length, ray height and width, and basic density. While the negative relationship between vessel diameter and frequency is well reported for many species, it has not been observed in A. colubrina because vessel frequency oscillates radially. This typical radial pattern also occurs in other native species in planting conditions, already demonstrated by our group in other studies, obviously with some changes depending on species. more...

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of Anadenanthera colubrina, Libidibia ferrea and Pityrocarpa moniliformis fruit extracts against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The samples were active for all S. aureus strains (minimum inhibitory concentration: 0.38-3.13 mg mL⁻¹), including the multiresistant strain. The morphological changes suggested the cell wall as the main action target. The treated-cells also lose their ability to form aggregates. The analysis suggests cell wall impairment, which causes the loss of viability and death. This study showed for the first time the morphologic alterations involved in the anti-S. aureus action of fruits of A. colubrina, L. ferrea and P. moniliformis. These findings indicated that these fruit extracts are sources of bioactive compounds that can be used as antibacterial agents. more...