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Abstract In this study, a dichloromethane fraction dry extract from the underground parts of Jatropha isabellei (DFJi) was used to prepare lipid nanocarriers (LNCJi) aimed at providing the oral delivery of terpenic compounds in the treatment of arthritis. The lipid nanocarriers were prepared by the spontaneous emulsification method. The lipid nanocarriers displayed sizes ranging from 180 to 200 nm and zeta potential values of around -18 mV. A high value of entrapment efficiency (> 90%) was obtained for jatrophone, which was used as the chemical marker of DFJi. LNCJi stored at 4°C were demonstrated to be stable through measurements of transmitted light after analytical centrifugation of the samples. In vitro drug release studies conducted in biorelevant dissolution media demonstrated that jatrophone release was faster from LNCJi than from free DFJi. When tested in an acute arthritis model, the LNCJi exhibited antinociceptive properties after oral administration of a 50 mg/kg dose, unlike the free DFJi, although no reduction in articular diameter was observed. These results suggest that an increase in the oral absorption of DFJi constituents may have occurred through the carrying of this fraction in LNCJi, thus improving the antinociceptive activity of this compound.

Context: Jatropha isabellei Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) has been used in the traditional medicine to treat arthritis. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the dichloromethane fraction (DFJi) from underground parts of J. isabellei, and to develop an analytical method to quantify the diterpene jatrophone. Materials and methods: Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the DFji were determined by an acute arthritis model through assessment of the paw elevation time (PET) and articular diameter (AD) of Wistar rats treated orally (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg in a single-dose), and intravenously (0.1, 1, 10, 25 or 50 mg/kg in a bolus administration). The isolation of jatrophone from the DFji was carried out and confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. A UFLC-DAD method was developed and validated. Results: When orally administered, the highest dose (200 mg/kg) of DFJi was able to significantly reduce the PET to 24.8 ± 1.4 s (p

Vitex megapotamica (Sprengel) Moldenke belongs to the Verbenaceae family and is popularly known as “tarumã”. The antioxidant capacity of fractions and crude extract from the leaves of V. megapotamica were determined in this study through the capacity to remove reactive species and phenolic compounds were quantified in the various fractions. The IC50 (DPPH) ranged from 14.17 ± 0.76 to 37.63 ± 0.98 µg/mL. The ethyl acetate fraction might contain the strongest lipid peroxidation inhibitory compounds with an IC50 of 16.36 ± 5.09 µg/mL, being also the one with the highest content of polyphenols (522.4 ± 1.12 mg/g), flavonoids (220.48 ± 0.30 mg/g) and condensed tannins (3.86 ± 0.53 mg/g). Compounds quantified by HPLC/DAD in the crude extract and fractions were chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids. Higher dosages of the extracts were more effective in reducing levels of plasma protein carbonyls and were also shown to be able to remove reactive species by a 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay, reducing oxidative stress in all tested fractions. Results obtained indicated that V. megapotamica exhibits good potential to prevent diseases caused by the overproduction of free radicals and it might also be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant agents.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi quantificar flavonóides nas raízes de Urera baccifera. As raízes da planta foram coletadas no município de São Francisco de Assis (RS) em Maio de 2010. O extrato bruto foi obtido através demaceração com etanol (70%). Após a eliminação do etanol, o extrato foi fracionado com clorofórmio, acetato de etilae n-butanol e levados a secura. As amostras foram testadas frente a uma solução de cloreto de alumínio 2%, segundo Woisky e Salatino (1998). Para quantificação utilizou-se uma curva com o padrão quercetina e os resultados foram expressos em mg de planta/g de equivalentes de quercetina, sendo eles: extrato bruto:16,43 mg/g EQ; fração clorofórmio:76,78 mg/g EQ; fração acetato de etila: 15,38 mg/g EQ e fração n-butanol: 9,24mg/g EQ. Esses resultadosindicaram uma boa concentração de flavonóides na fração clorofórmio, o que indica que a planta é promissora para mais estudos que aprofundem os conhecimentos.

A atividade antimicrobiana de plantas medicinais tem sido pesquisada em diversas espécies, tanto no Brasil quanto em outros países. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antimicrobiano do extrato bruto e das frações diclorometano, acetato de etila e n-butanol das folhas de Tabernaemontana catharinensis e determinar sua concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) sobre amostras de Micrococcus sp., Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Aeromonas sp., Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus e Pseudomonas aeruginosa utilizando atécnica de microdiluição em caldo. Somente a fração n-butanol apresentou-se ativa frente às cepas testadas, nessafração são extraídos os compostos de natureza polar podendo ser estes os compostos responsáveis pelo resultado obtido.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o doseamento de flavonóides do extrato bruto e frações dos ramos de Tabernaemontana catharinensis. Os ramos da planta foram coletadas no município de São miguel (RS) em Janeiro de 2009. O extrato aquoso foi obtido através de maceração com etanol (70%). Após foi eliminado o etanol, o extrato aquoso foi fracionado com solventes: clorofórmio, acetato de etila e n-butanol e levados a secura. O dosemaneto de flavonóides foi realizado segundo o método de Woisky e Salatino (1998) com pequenas modificações, o qual utiliza o reagente AlCl 2% leitura em 420 nm. O resultados mostraram que a fração clorofórmica seguida das frações acetato de etila e butanólica obtiveram maior teor de flavonóides. Esta espécie é promissora para novos estudos que comprovem sua atividade antioxidante e sua ação terapêutica.