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Padina sanctae-crucis Børgesen is distributed worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas; belongs to the Dictyotaceae family, and has proven to be an exceptional source of biologically active compounds. Four compounds were isolated and identified, namely: dolastane diterpene new for the genus Padina ; phaeophytin and hidroxy-phaeophytin new for the family Dictyotaceae, and; mannitol first described in this species. Saturated fatty acids as compared to the percentages of unsaturated fatty acids were shown to be present in greater abundance. Palmitic and linolenic acid were the main saturated and unsaturated acids, respectively. Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities were evaluated using human erythrocytes. In vivo evaluations of acute toxicity and genotoxicity were performed in mice. Methanolic extract of P. sanctae-crucis presented antioxidant activity and did not induce cytotoxicity, genotoxicity or acute toxicity. Since Padina sanctae-crucis is already used as food, has essential fatty acids for the nutrition of mammals, does not present toxicity and has antioxidant activity, it can be considered as a potential nutraceutical., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: The essential oil from Mesosphaerum sidifolium (L'Hérit.) Harley & J.F.B.Pastore (syn. Hyptis umbrosa), Lamiaceae (EOM), and its major component, have been tested for toxicity and antitumor activity., Methods: EOM was obtained from aerial parts of M. sidifolium subjected to hydro distillation, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to characterize the EOM chemical composition. The toxicity was evaluated using haemolysis assay, and acute toxicity and micronucleus tests. Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model was used to evaluate the in vivo antitumor activity and toxicity of EOM (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), and fenchone (30 and 60 mg/kg) after 9 d of treatment., Results: The EOM major components were fenchone (24.8%), cubebol (6.9%), limonene (5.4%), spathulenol (4.5%), β-caryophyllene (4.6%) and α-cadinol (4.7%). The HC50 (concentration producing 50% haemolysis) was 494.9 μg/mL for EOM and higher than 3000 μg/mL for fenchone. The LD50 for EOM was approximately 500 mg/kg in mice. The essential oil induced increase of micronucleated erythrocytes only at 300 mg/kg, suggesting moderate genotoxicity. EOM (100 or 150 mg/kg) and fenchone (60 mg/kg) reduced all analyzed parameters (tumor volume and mass, and total viable cancer cells). Survival also increased for the treated animals with EOM and fenchone. For EOM 150 mg/kg and 5-FU treatment, most cells were arrested in the G0/G1 phase, whereas for fenchone, cells arrested in the S phase, which represents a blockage in cell cycle progression. Regarding the toxicological evaluation, EOM induced weight loss, but did not induce hematological, biochemical or histological (liver and kidneys) toxicity. Fenchone induced decrease of AST and ALT, suggesting liver damage., Conclusions: The data showed EOM caused in vivo cell growth inhibition on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model by inducing cell cycle arrest, without major changes in the toxicity parameters evaluated. In addition, this activity was associated with the presence of fenchone, its major component.

Xylopia langsdorffiana A. St.-Hil. & Tul. (Annonaceae) is popularly known as "pimenteira-da-terra". Various constituents have been isolated from this species, including diterpenes, such as 8(17), 12E, 14-labdatrien-18-oic acid, ent-atisan-7α, 16α-diol (xylodiol), ent-7α-hydroxytrachyloban-18-oic acid (trachylobane-318) and ent-7α-acetoxytrachyloban-18-oic acid, a crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 360 and molecular formula of C22H32O4 (trachylobane-360). When administered intraperitoneally to mice, trachylobane-360 (T-360) significantly inhibits growth of the solid tumor sarcoma 180 transplanted in mice, without causing alterations in biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters that are frequently associated with the clinical use of antineoplastic. Furthermore, this diterpene blocks voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav), showing spasmolytic activity. The present study shows that variables such as extraction solvent (methanol, acetonitrile and chloroform), centrifugation force (1000, 7000 and 14,000×g), and centrifugation time (5, 15 and 25min), are important in the liquid-liquid extraction of T-360 from male Swiss mice blood in HPLC-MSn studies. The study confirms matrix influence on recovery and detection of T-360. The recovery for T-360 was 37.02% using chloroform as better extractor solvent, while centrifuged at 14,000×g for 15min demonstrated the importance of the parameters chosen for the extraction/recovery process of analyte. The effect of mice blood matrix for T-360 was -51.23%. This method was optimized by repeating the extraction procedure and acidification of samples. These conditions were essential in increasing recovery (49.47%) by decreasing the matrix effect (-37.60%). The efficiency of the process, after optimization with two extractions and acidification, increased by 14.19% when compared to the initial method, from 18.05% to 32.24%. According to Marchi et al. (2010), the matrix effect does not necessarily need to be reduced or eliminated, but it does need to be identified and quantified. Therefore, these findings are essential for the subsequent evaluation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of this promising natural product., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)