The intrinsic value of biodiversity extends beyond species diversity, genetic heritage, ecosystem variability and ecological services, such as climate regulation, water quality, nutrient cycling and the provision of reproductive habitats it is also an inexhaustible source of molecules and products beneficial to human well-being. To uncover the chemistry of Brazilian natural products, the Nuclei of Bioassays, Ecophysiology and Biosynthesis of Natural Products Database (NuBBEDB) was created as the first natural product library from Brazilian biodiversity. Since its launch in 2013, the NuBBEDB has proven to be an important resource for new drug design and dereplication studies. Consequently, continuous efforts have been made to expand its contents and include a greater diversity of natural sources to establish it as a comprehensive compendium of available biogeochemical information about Brazilian biodiversity. The content in the NuBBEDB is freely accessible online (https://nubbe.iq.unesp.br/portal/nubbedb.html) and provides validated multidisciplinary information, chemical descriptors, species sources, geographic locations, spectroscopic data (NMR) and pharmacological properties. Herein, we report the latest advancements concerning the interface, content and functionality of the NuBBEDB. We also present a preliminary study on the current profile of the compounds present in Brazilian territory.

This research contributes to the study of the genus, it is the first report of the chemical composition of B. sericea and demonstrates the importance of the dereplication process, allowing the identification of known compounds without time-consuming procedures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A bioassay-guided study aiming at identifying inhibitors of the glycation process on the leaves of Ocotea paranapiacabensis afforded four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (1–4), with 1 and 2 identified as new naturals products, while 3 and 4 were previously described in the literature, with 3 being identified as magnocurarine. Purification was performed by column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including UV, NMR, and HRMS. The process of skin aging has been recently associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and strategies inhibiting their formation have been addressed by pharmaceutical companies for the development of novel antiaging compounds. Alkaloids 1–4 were evaluated for their potential to inhibit AGE formation and showed inhibition of 62.9%, 83.3%, 26.1%, and 98.2% (150 μM), respectively. The antiaging potential of compounds 1 and 4 were evaluated with a reconstructed human skin model in vitro, and results showed a decrease in dermis contraction (8.7% and 4.2% respectively for 1 and 4) when compared to the glycated control (57.4%). Additionally, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and toxicity properties were predicted using in silico methods, and the results were considered significantly promising for alkaloids 1 and 4 to continue the development of these alkaloids with skincare properties.

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Eight phenolic compounds were isolated from Eugenia pyriformis leaves fraction by semipreparative HPLC and characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Five compounds were isolated and identified for the first time in E. pyriformis species, while this is the first report of the accumulation of isoquercitrin, quercitrin, and the aglycone quercetin in its leaves. E. pyriformis leaves and fruits extracts, as well as the compounds isolated from the leaves most active fraction, were evaluated for their antiglycation and antioxidant activities. The mixture of myricetin-3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnoside and myricetin-3-O-(4″-O-galloyl)-α-L-rhamnoside showed the highest antiglycation activity. These results suggest that this species is a promising source of bioactive compounds. Further studies to investigate the inhibition of the glycation process in vivo are necessary to evaluate its use in the treatment and/or prevention of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)-associated diseases.

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Praziquantel (PZQ) is an anthelminthic agent active against parasitic flatworms of the Schistosoma type and the most important drug for the treatment and morbidity control of schistosomiasis. In this study, a highperformance liquid chromatography method was employed for quantification of PZQ in the physical mix (PM) and solid dispersion (SD) prepared by Fusion Method utilizing the carriers Gelucire Ò 50/13 and mannitol in ratio 3:1; 1:1; 1:3 PZQ/carrier. Furthermore, PM and SD were characterized by Thermogravimetry-Differential Thermal Analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Solubility assay was made to evaluate the solubility of PZQ in purified water, in 0.1 mol L-1 HCl solution and 0.2 mol L-1 buffered phosphate solution. PZQ dissolution test was carried out in 0.1 mol L-1 HCl and 0.2 M buffered phosphate (pH 6.8). The interaction between PZQ and carriers in PMs and SDs was evidenced due to experimental enthalpy, which was different from expected enthalpy. However, this interaction did not affect the solubility of the drug. In PZQ dissolution test, the best result was for SD 1:1 PZQ/Gelucire, which presented higher dissolution rate and release extension than PM and PZQ. Thus, SD may be a strategy to enhance the solubility and dissolution, a crucial step in the development of a pharmaceutical dosage form containing PZQ for possible application in the treatment of schistosomiasis.