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Ethnopharmacological relevance Joannesia princeps (SOJP) has been used in folk medicine as anthelmintic treatment and cutaneous wound healing. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the pharmacological activity of seed oil of Joannesia princeps, administered systemically and topically, on acute pain and inflammation. Materials and methods Male swiss mice were treated orally and topically with seed oil of Joannesia princeps in models of acute pain (acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin-induced licking behaviour and tail flick tests) and acute inflammation (carrageenan- and histamine-induced paw oedema; arachidonic acid-, capsaicin- and croton oil-induced ear oedema and air pouch tests), besides the open field model in the motor performance evaluation. Results Seed oil of Joannesia princeps showed systemic action against acute pain in abdominal writhing test (37% and 56% inhibition in the number of writhes at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) and in the second phase of formalin-induced licking behaviour test (29%, 47 and 52% inhibition in the licking time at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, respectively), as well as reducing croton oil-induced ear oedema by 72%, leukocyte recruitment and production of TNF-α and IL-6 in the air pouch tests. In addition, topical administration of SOJP inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema by 39% at dose of 500 μg/paw and inhibited histamine-induced oedema by 43 and 52% at doses of 300 and 500 μg/paw, respectively. SOJP also decreased croton oil-induced ear oedema by 67% at dose of 500 μg/paw and arachidonic acid-induced ear oedema by 63% at dose of 500 μg/paw, reducing the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and MIP2 in both. In addition, no adverse effects were observed at doses up to 2000 mg/kg. Conclusions Seed oil of Joannesia princeps presents antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions through its topical and systemic administration, promoted by inhibition of leukocyte recruitment and cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MIP-2).

Acid rain has been detected in natural protected areas of the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil. We evaluated the effects of simulated acid rain on the leaf blade surface of Joannesia princeps, aiming to assess the species potential as biosensor of acidic precipitation. Seedlings were subjected to simulated rain prepared with pH 4.5 H2SO4-acidulated water and, in the control treatment, pH 6.0 deionized water. Severe microstructural damage was detected in the youngest leaves, consisting in wilting of epidermal common cells, which resulted on alteration of the epidermal relief due to formation of grooves among these wilted cells. Stomatal guard cells were also structurally altered, no longer presenting the turgid aspect which was visible in the control treatment. Epidermal microrelief is characterized by the presence of cuticular striae, which might have been crucial to determine the species susceptibility due to increased roughness and decreased wettability. The implications of this hypothesis are further discussed in light of recent research addressing the responses of native tree species to acid rain. The micromorphological alterations found occurred prior to the onset of visible symptoms, and therefore suggest the use of J. princeps as a biosensor of the impact by acid precipitation.

The absolute configuration of assufulvenal [(10 R )-3-((10 R , E )-1 β ,11-cycloguai-4-en-15-ylidene)-guaia-1,4,11-trien-15-al], a novel pigment from the root bark of Joannesia princeps was determined by multiple scattering X-ray experiments.

The novel natural products joannesialactone, (−)-α-barbatenal, 4-hydroxy-10-epirotundone, and the E- and Z-isomers of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl-α- l -rhamnopyranoside and the 3-O-rhamnosides of the dimeric proanthocyanidins afzelechin-(4α → 8)-epiafzelechin-3-O-vanillate, afzelechin-(4α → 8)-epicatechin-3-O-vanillate, afzelechin-(4α → 8)-epiafzelechin-3-O-syringate and afzelechin-(4α → 8)-epicatechin-3-O-syringate have been isolated from the root bark of Joannesia princeps, along with the antibiotic principle cyperenal, the colouring matter assufulvenal, curcusones C and D and 16 further known compounds. Structure determination was achieved manily by spectroscopic studies and/or by comparison with authentic substances.