The Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Caulerpin,a Bisindole Alkaloid Isolated from Seaweeds of the Genus Caulerpa     

éverton Tenório de Souza  Daysianne Pereira de Lira  Aline Cavalcanti de Queiroz  Diogo José Costa da Silva  Anansa Bezerra de Aquino  Eliane A. Campessato Mella  Vitor Prates Lorenzo  George Emmanuel C. de Miranda  Jo?o Xavier de Araújo-Júnior  Maria Célia de Oliveira Chaves  José Maria Barbosa-Filho  Petr?nio Filgueiras de Athayde-Filho  Bárbara Viviana de Oliveira Santos  Magna Suzana Alexandre-Moreira 《Marine drugs》2009,7(4):689-704

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of caulerpin was investigated. This bisindole alkaloid was isolated from the lipoid extract of Caulerpa racemosa and its structure was identified by spectroscopic methods, including IR and NMR techniques. The pharmacological assays used were the writhing and the hot plate tests, the formalin-induced pain, the capsaicin-induced ear edema and the carrageenan-induced peritonitis. Caulerpin was given orally at a concentration of 100 μmol/kg. In the abdominal constriction test caulerpin showed reduction in the acetic acid-induced nociception at 0.0945 μmol (0.0103–1.0984) and for dypirone it was 0.0426 μmol (0.0092–0.1972). In the hot plate test in vivo the inhibition of nociception by caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) was also favorable. This result suggests that this compound exhibits a central activity, without changing the motor activity (seen in the rotarod test). Caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) reduced the formalin effects in both phases by 35.4% and 45.6%, respectively. The possible anti-inflammatory activity observed in the second phase in the formalin test of caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) was confirmed on the capsaicin-induced ear edema model, where an inhibition of 55.8% was presented. Indeed, it was also observed in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis that caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, reducing significantly the number of recruit cells by 48.3%. Pharmacological studies are continuing in order to characterize the mechanism(s) responsible for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions and also to identify other active principles present in Caulerpa racemosa.  相似文献   

Genetic variability and heterotic groups of Brazilian popcorn populations   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Glauco Vieira Miranda  Leandro Vagno de Souza  João Carlos Cardoso Galvão  Lauro José Moreira Guimarães  Aurélio Vaz de Melo  Izabel Cristina dos Santos 《Euphytica》2008,162(3):431-440

The development of successful advanced lines and cultivars in maize is dependent on parental selection and assignment to defined heterotic groups. So, the objectives of this study were to evaluate genetic variability and identify heterotic groups among Brazilian popcorn varieties. Thus, diallel crosses of advanced generations of the popcorn hybrids, IAC 112 and Zélia, and of three open-pollinated popcorn varieties, RS 20, Branco, and SAM were performed. Ten hybrid combinations, the five parents, and five check treatments were arranged in a block design with four replicates in two tropical-zone locations (CWb climate). Both additive and non-additive effects were important for grain yield, plant height, ear height, and husk cover. For popping expansion, only the additive effects were important. Hybrid combinations between the local variety (Branco) and F₂ populations (IAC 112 and Zelia) resulted in the third and fourth highest values for popping expansion. The best grain yields were obtained with hybrid combinations involving SAM. Cultivars Zélia, IAC 112, and RS 20 increased popping expansion, whereas cultivar Branco increased grain yield of hybrid combinations. The following conclusions may be drawn: Brazilian popcorn populations have reduced heterosis and genetic variability to popping expansion in relation commercial cultivars; there is genetic variability among Brazilian popcorn populations that allows the exploitation of additive and non-additive effects for grain yield; it is possible to increase grain yield by using local varieties; but it would be difficult to obtain commercial hybrids from local varieties because they have poor performance for popping expansion.  相似文献   

Survey of Vitamin B<Subscript>6</Subscript> Content in Commercial Presentations of Table Olives     

López-López A  Montaño A  Cortés-Delgado A  Garrido-Fernández A 《Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)》2008,63(2):87-91

For nutritional purposes, a survey of the vitamin B₆ levels from a variety of commercial presentations of table olives was carried out, taking into account the three main processing types (Spanish-style, directly brined, and ripe olives). The analysis was performed by HPLC, following the official French method for vitamin B₆ determination in foodstuffs. In-house validation data for two commercial table olives showed that the method precision was good (coefficient of variation <6%) and recovery was quantitative (104% on average). There was a wide range of values for vitamin B₆ in table olives (0–69.3 μg/100 g edible portion). The highest mean content was found in directly brined olives (33.9 μg/100 g edible portion) followed by Spanish-style (14.4 μg/100 g) and ripe olives (4.3 μg/100 g). On average, samples of the Gordal and Carrasqueña cultivars showed the highest vitamin B₆ content in the case of Spanish-style olives, but in directly brined olives as well as in ripe olives the effect of cultivar was not statistically significant (p?相似文献   

Comparative assessment of five methods of determining sap flow in peach trees   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

P. Gonzlez-Altozano  E.W. Pavel  J.A. Oncins  J. Doltra  M. Cohen  T. Pao  R. Massai  J.R. Castel 《Agricultural Water Management》2008,95(5):503-515

Five different methods of determining sap flow (SF), three based on heat pulse (compensation heat pulse, New Zealand—cHP–NZ; compensation heat pulse, Greenspan/Australia—cHP–G (South oriented), and cHP–G–EW (East and West oriented, average); non-compensation heat pulse, Ariel/Israel—ncHP), one based on stem heat balance (Dynamax/USA—SHB), and another based on heat dissipation (Granier/France—HD) were compared in an experiment performed on peach trees in Northeast Spain. Two irrigation treatments (drip-irrigated) were applied: a control and a stress treatment, the latter consisting of withholding water from day 190 to 199. Between 1 and 3 different systems were installed in some trees of both, the control and stress treatments. All the techniques reflected the evolution of water stress in the stressed trees with a very similar tendency and in agreement with the evolution of predawn water potential (Ψp). Ψp correlated well with sap flow (SF) determined with all the systems (r² > 0.65) in the stress treatment, indicating that all the SF techniques detected changes in tree water status. The cHP–NZ system was the first to detect a SF reduction through the outer xylem vessels, as a response to water withholding. In control trees, daily SF rates provided by the three heat pulse and heat balance methods were well correlated with ETo and somewhat less with global radiation; all regressions improved on an hourly basis. Daily pattern and magnitude of mean SF rates monitored by the three heat pulse systems were quite similar in control trees. This was reflected by high regression coefficients when compared with each other. Higher SF rates recorded by ncHP methods in comparison with cHP–G and cHP–NZ might be attributed to technical limitations and to different sensor orientation. In an accompanying experiment, substantial differences between East and West location of the cHP–G sensors were observed, but when taking the mean value of those daily SF rates, differences between ncHP and cHP–G–EW were lower. Mean monthly crop coefficients, calculated by using SF data computed with ncHP method and soil evaporation as determined with microlysimeters, were 0.64 in July and 0.67 in August. SF systems can be used to detect plant water stress related to control, and might be useful for irrigation scheduling based on plant water status. The SF techniques analysed showed potential to better determine actual plant water necessities than other traditional methods, but a preceding calibration is needed.  相似文献   

The effect of Tuber melanosporum Vitt. mycorrhization on growth, nutrition, and water relations of Quercus petraea Liebl., Quercus faginea Lamk., and Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings     

José Alfonso Domínguez Nú?ez  Rosa Planelles González  José Antonio Rodríguez Barreal  José Antonio Saiz de Ome?aca González 《New Forests》2008,35(2):159-171

Mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Quercus faginea Lamk., Quercus petraea Liebl., and Pinus halepensis Mill. one-year-old seedlings inoculated with Tuber melanosporum Vitt. have been analyzed with the purpose of studying the influence of mycorrhization on their growth, water relations, and mineral nutrition. The mycorrhization improved Q. petraea and P. halepensis seedling growth. In addition, the mycorrhization created an elastic adjustment in P. halepensis, although it did not cause any osmotic adjustment. Additionally, the mycorrhization increased phosphorus uptake in Q. faginea and P. halepensis, content of all nutrients in P. halepensis, and N content in Q. petraea.  相似文献   

Variations in growth, survival and carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C) among Pinus pinaster populations of different geographic origins     

Correia I  Almeida MH  Aguiar A  Alía R  David TS  Pereira JS 《Tree physiology》2008,28(10):1545-1552

To evaluate differences in growth and adaptability of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.), we studied growth, polycyclism, needle tissue carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C) as an estimate of water-use efficiency (WUE) and survival of seven populations at 10 years of age growing in a performance trial at a provenance test site in Escaroupim, Portugal. Six populations were from relatively high rainfall sites in Portugal and southwestern France (Atlantic group), and one population was from a more arid Mediterranean site in Spain. There were significant differences between some populations in total height, diameter at breast height, delta(13)C of bulk needle tissue, polycyclism and survival. A population from central Portugal (Leiria, on the Atlantic coast) was the tallest and had the lowest delta(13)C. Overall, the variation in delta(13)C was better explained by the mean minimum temperatures of the coldest month than by annual precipitation at the place of origin. Analyses of the relationships between delta(13)C and growth or survival revealed a distinct pattern for the Mediterranean population, with low delta(13)C (and WUE) associated with the lowest growth potential and reduced survival. There were significant negative correlations between delta(13)C and height or survival in the Atlantic group. Variation in polycyclism was correlated with annual precipitation at the place of origin. Some Atlantic populations maintained a high growth potential while experiencing moderate water stress. A detailed knowledge of the relationships between growth, survival and delta(13)C in contrasting environments will enhance our ability to select populations for forestry or conservation.  相似文献   

Thinning intensity and growth response in SW-European Scots pine stands     

Miren del Río  Rafael Calama  Isabel Cañellas  Sonia Roig  Gregorio Montero 《Annals of Forest Science》2008,65(3):308-308

The effect of different thinning intensities on growth and yield was studied in Pinus sylvestris L. stands at the south-western limit of its distribution area (Central Spain), using five long-term thinning trials. Data were analysed collectively considering several factors (trial, block, plot and period) as random effects. Total volume and volume increment decreased with thinning intensity, this loss being more significant in the case of moderate and heavy thinning. No difference was found among treatments for total basal area or the increment in basal area. The results revealed an optimum basal area (Assmann’s definition) between 85 and 100% of the basal area in unthinned plots. Volume growth loss associated with heavy thinnings (reduction of 18% in volume increment) was smaller than that reported in Central and Northern European regions (greater than 25%). Height increment was not influenced by thinning, whereas dominant and quadratic mean diameter increments increased with the thinning intensity. The response of diameter growth to thinning was greater at younger ages (less than 50 y) and in medium-sized trees.  相似文献   

The influence of heartwood on the pulping properties of Acacia melanoxylon wood     

Ana Lourenço  Isabel Baptista  Jorge Gominho  Helena Pereira 《Journal of Wood Science》2008,54(6):464-469

The pulping wood quality of Acacia melanoxylon was evaluated in relation to the presence of heartwood. The sapwood and heartwood from 20 trees from four sites in Portugal were evaluated separately at 5% stem height level in terms of chemical composition and kraft pulping aptitude. Heartwood had more extractives than sapwood ranging from 7.4% to 9.5% and from 4.0% to 4.2%, respectively, and with a heartwood-to-sapwood ratio for extractives ranging from 1.9 to 2.3. The major component of heartwood extractives was made up of ethanol-soluble compounds (70% of total extractives). Lignin content was similar in sapwood and heartwood (21.5% and 20.7%, respectively) as well as the sugar composition. Site did not influence the chemical composition. Pulping heartwood differed from sapwood in chemical and optical terms: lower values of pulp yield (53% vs 56% respectively), higher kappa number (11 vs. 7), and lower brightness (28% vs 49%). Acacia melanoxylon wood showed an overall good pulping aptitude, but the presence of heartwood should be taken into account because it decreases the raw-material quality for pulping. Heartwood content should therefore be considered as a quality variable when using A. melanoxylon wood in pulp industries  相似文献   

Changes in soluble and cell wall-bound hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids in sugarcane cultivars inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporisorium scitamineum</Emphasis> sporidia     

Rocío Santiago  Roberto de Armas  Blanca Fontaniella  Carlos Vicente  María-Estrella Legaz 《European journal of plant pathology / European Foundation for Plant Pathology》2009,124(3):439-450

The accumulation of soluble and cell wall-bound phenolics in the sugarcane stems of young plants from highly resistant cv. My 5514 and susceptible cv. B 42231, inoculated or not inoculated with smut sporidia, was studied. The ratio of inoculated to uninoculated plants of some cell wall-bound phenolics, such as ferulic, caffeic, and syringic acids increased for the resistant cv. My 5514, whereas it was maintained more or less constantly for the susceptible cv. B 42231. The highest increase of this ratio in the resistant cv. My 5514 corresponded to both caffeic and syringic acids. This could result in a better capacity to cv. My 5514 for an increase in the frequency of bridges between lignin fragments through ester-ether linkages for reinforcing the cell wall and major resistance to the disease. This reinforcement of the cell wall could provide an effective barrier to pathogen entry and spread. Soluble sub-fractions of all phenolics detected showed non-stable patterns. Caffeic acid, that regulates phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in sugarcane, showed a significant decrease in its titre at 24 h in the resistant cultivar, principally in the free soluble fraction, whilst the susceptible cultivar enhanced it. We hypothesise that the pathway of hydroxybenzoic acids is only activated once the level of p-coumaric acid justifies the accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acids required for reinforcing the cell wall after inoculation.  相似文献   

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of new pyrethroids     

Flaviano O Silvério  Elson S de Alvarenga  Shaiene C Moreno  Marcelo C Picanço 《Pest management science》2009,65(8):900-905

BACKGROUND: Pyrethroids are among the most potent pesticides known, with great potential for structural variation with retention or enhancement of potency. The simple methyl ester is easier to prepare (at least one step shorter) than the more complex pyrethroids modified on the alcohol moiety. The objective was to synthesise methyl esters of pyrethroid acids containing an aromatic ring on the acid moiety and evaluate their biological activity against Ascia monuste orseis Latr., Tuta absoluta Meyrick, Periplaneta americana (L.), Musca domestica L. and Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.). RESULTS: The synthetic sequence required seven steps: protection of the hydroxyl groups of D ‐mannitol, diol oxidative cleavage with sodium metaperiodate, alkene formation by Wittig reaction with methoxycarbonylmethylidene(triphenyl)phosphorane, cyclopropanation, acetal hydrolysis with perchloric acid and oxidative cleavage with sodium metaperiodate gave methyl (1S, 3S)‐3‐formyl‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate. The final step comprised reaction of the aldehyde with five different aromatic phosphorus ylides to give the pyrethroids. CONCLUSION: An efficient and versatile synthesis of ten new pyrethroid methyl esters has been accomplished from the readily available D ‐mannitol in seven steps. All compounds showed insecticidal activity, and methyl (1S, 3S)‐3‐[(Z)‐2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)vinyl]‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate was the most active, killing 90% of A. monuste orseis and 100% of T. absoluta and P. americana. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry  相似文献