Anacardic acids are the main constituents of natural cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), obtained via the extraction of cashew shells with hexane at room temperature. This raw material presents high technological potential due to its various biological properties. The main components of CNSL are the anacardic acids, salicylic acid derivatives presenting a side chain of fifteen carbon atoms with different degrees of unsaturation (monoene–15:1, diene–15:2, and triene–15:3). Each constituent was isolated by column chromatography using silica gel impregnated with silver nitrate. The structures of the compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance through complete and unequivocal proton and carbon assignments. The effect of the side chain unsaturation was also evaluated in relation to antioxidant, antifungal and anticholinesterase activities, and toxicity against Artemia salina. The triene anacardic acid provided better results in antioxidant activity assessed by the inhibition of the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), higher cytotoxicity against A. salina, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Thus, increasing the unsaturation of the side chain of anacardic acid increases its action against free radicals, AChE enzyme, and A. salina nauplii. In relation to antifungal activity, an inverse result was obtained, and the linearity of the molecule plays an important role, with monoene being the most active. In conclusion, the changes in structure of anacardic acids, which cause differences in polarity, contribute to the increase or decrease in the biological activity assessed.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked with oxidative stress, acetylcholine deficiency in the brain, and inflammatory processes. In the northeast region of Brazil, various plants are used to treat several diseases associated with these processes; then an antioxidant test was performed with those plants in a previous work and twelve species with higher antioxidant activity were selected for AChE inhibition evaluation. The phenolic compounds content was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu test and flavonoid content with AlCl3 reagent using UV-visible spectrophotometry. The antioxidant activity was assessed analyzing the inhibitory activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and by the β-carotene/linoleic acid system and acetylcholinesterase inhibition using qualitative and quantitative tests. The combination of better acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities pointed out six species, in descending order, as the best potential sources of therapeutic agents against AD: Hancornia speciosa > Myracrodruon urundeuva > Copaifera langsdorffii > Stryphnodendron coriaceum > Psidium guajava > Mangifera indica. Besides, the phenolic compounds in the species probably contribute to these activities. However, further pharmacological studies to assess the specific applications of these plants against AD are required to confirm these results.

Caryocar coriaceum fruits, found in Brazilian Cerrado and Caatinga, are commonly used as food and in folk medicine, as anti-inflammatory, bactericide, fungicide, leishmanicide, and nematicide. Due to the biological potential of this plant, this study focuses on the evaluation of antifungal and antileishmanial activities, including anticholinesterase and antioxidant tests, correlating with total phenols and flavonoids content. Peel extracts contain higher yield of phenols and flavonoids as analyzed by spectrophotometric methods. HPLC analysis of flavonoids revealed that isoquercitrin is the main flavonoid in both parts of the fruit, and peel extract showed the best antioxidant activity. In the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase assay, both extracts demonstrate action comparable to physostigmine. The antimicrobial activity of extracts was evaluated against strains of Malassezia sp. and Microsporum canis, using the broth microdilution technique, in which the extracts showed similar MIC and MFC. The extracts present antileishmanial activity and low toxicity on murine macrophages and erythrocytes. Therefore, these results suggest a potential for the application of C. coriaceum fruit's ethanol extracts in the treatment against dermatophyte fungi and leishmaniasis, probably due to the presence of active flavonoids. Further in vivo studies are recommended aiming at the development of possible new pharmaceutical compounds.

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This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations (10, 20, or 40 μM) of eugenol (EUG 10, EUG 20, or EUG 40), ascorbic acid (50 μg/mL; AA) or anethole (300 μg/mL; ANE 300) on the in-vitro survival and development of goat preantral follicles and oxidative stress in the cultured ovarian tissue. Ovarian fragments from five goats were cultured for 1 or 7 days in Alpha Minimum Essential Medium (α-MEM+) supplemented or not with AA, ANE 300, EUG 10, EUG 20 or EUG 40. On day 7 of culture, when compared to MEM, the addition of EUG 40 had increased the rate of follicular development, as observed by a decrease in the proportion of primordial follicles alongside with an increase in the rate of normally developing follicles. Furthermore, EUG 40 significantly increased both follicular and oocyte diameters. Subsequently, ovarian fragments from three goats were cultured for 1 or 7 days in α-MEM+ supplemented or not with AA, ANE 300 or EUG 40. All tested antioxidants, except ANE 300, were able to significantly decrease the levels of reactive oxygen species in the ovarian tissue, but EUG 40 could most efficiently neutralize free radicals. All ovarian tissues cultured in the presence of antioxidants, especially EUG 40, presented a significant decrease in H3K4me3 labeling, indicating a silencing of genes that play a role in the inhibition of follicular activation and apoptosis induction. When compared to cultured control tissues, both EUG 40 and ANE 300 significantly increased the intensity of calreticulin labeling in growing follicles. The mRNA relative expression of ERP29 and KDM3A was significantly increased when the culture medium was supplemented with EUG 40, indicating a response to ER stress experienced during culture. In conclusion, EUG 40 improved in-vitro follicle survival, activation and development and decreased ROS production, ER stress and histone lysine methylation in goat ovarian tissue.

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