Volatile oils of Microlobius foetidus were used for the evaluation of mortality, trypsin, chymotrypsin and acetylcholine inhibition and Aedes aegypti morphology. Bioassays were made with different concentrations (25, 50 and 100 μg/ml) and alterations in the gut of 4th stage larvae were observed. Volatile oils affected larvae in all stages, with 100% mortality for the 100 μg/ml concentration (LD 50 >33.02). The acute toxic unit (2.7 μg/ml), chronic toxic unit (32.68 μg/ml) and toxic load (2.7 μg/ml) confirm the sensibility of the 4th stage larvae. These larvae and 3rd presented a lesser trypsin (0.176 μmol/min), chymotrypsin (0.110 μmol/min) and acetylcholinesterase (0.172 μmol/min) synthesis. Larvae of the 4th stage also had their internal morphology observed, and the main alterations were discontinuity of the peritrophic epithelium, thickening of the peritrophic membrane, decrease/increase of the subjacent epithelium and decrease of endoperitrophic space were observed in the mid gut. The results show the repellent activity of the volatile oils of M. foetidus, with a retardation of overall growth, that are associated with the inhibition of the trypsin and chymotrypsin synthesis. Mortality and enzymatic inhibition in all developmental stages confirm the insecticide potential of M. foetidus.
‘Jurubeba’ (Solanum paniculatum L.) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for liver problems, in addition to being used as a cholagogue, emmenagogue, healing agent, febrifuge, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, tonic, decongestant, diuretic and against inappetence. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, concentration of phenolic compounds and total alkaloids of aqueous extracts prepared from ‘Jurubeba’ leaves subjected to drying. ‘Jurubeba’ leaves were dried at different temperatures (40, 50, 60 and 70 °C) and velocities (0.4 and 0.8 m s-1) of the drying air. Aqueous extracts of the leaves, subjected to drying, were evaluated by absorbance reading in a spectrophotometer. Increase in drying air temperature reduced the contents of total phenolics and total alkaloids of the leaf aqueous extracts, whereas increment in air velocity increased the concentration of these substances. Antioxidant activity was not influenced by the increase in air temperature at air velocity of 0.4 m s-1, but under air velocity of 0.8 m s-1 there was reduction with increasing temperature. Drying of ‘Jurubeba’ leaves can be carried out with temperature of 40 or 50 °C and drying air velocity of 0.4 m s-1.
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