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Leishmaniasis is a disease that affects millions of people and it is an important public health problem. The drugs currently used for the treatment of leishmaniasis present undesirable side effects and low efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro activity of Melampodium divaricatum (MD-EO) and Casearia sylvestris (CS-EO) essential oils (EO) against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis . Sesquiterpenes E -caryophyllene (56.0%), germacrene D (12.7%) and bicyclogermacrene (9.2%) were identified as the main components of MD-EO , whereas E -caryophyllene (22.2%), germacrene D (19.6%) and bicyclogermacrene (12.2%) were the main constituents of CS-EO. CS-EO and E -caryophyllene were active against promastigote forms of L. amazonensis (IC 50 24.2, 29.8 and 49.9 µg/mL, respectively). However, MD-EO, CS-EO and E -caryophyllene were more active against amastigote forms, with IC 50 values of 10.7, 14.0, and 10.7 µg/mL, respectively. E -caryophyllene presented lower cytotoxicity against macrophages J774-A1 (CC 50 of 62.1 µg/mL) than the EO. The EOs and E -caryophyllene should be further studied for the development of new antileishmanial drugs.

Trees of the genus Pterodon, commonly known as “sucupira-branca” or “faveira,” are native to central Brazil. The Pterodon fruits are traditionally used in ethnomedicine as an infusion, in small doses, and at regular time intervals as an antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, tonic, and depurative agent. The various compounds present in the Pterodon class are, generally, water-insoluble and derived from the fusion of high-molecular weight pentacarbonate units. Scientific research has shown that the major compounds isolated from Pterodon species are linear and/or tetracyclic diterpenes with vouacapane skeletons that partly underlie the pharmacological activities of the fruit-derived oil. Material from Pterodon species has several biological properties, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Therefore, recent studies have sought to microencapsulate these extracts to protect them from potential chemical degradation and improve their water solubility, ensuring greater stability and quality of the end products. This review presents a succinct overview of the available scientific evidence of the biological activity and toxicity of Pterodon species in addition to other important aspects, including phytochemical and technological features.

The crude hydroalcoholic extract from fruits of P. pubescens is widely used because of its anti-rheumatic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Furanoditerpenes have a vouacapan skeleton and are involved with the pharmacological activity of the oil extracted from P. pubescens fruits. Furanoditerpenes methyl 6α-acetoxy-7β-hydroxyvouacapan-17β-oate and methyl 6α-hydroxy-7β-acetoxyvouacapan-17β-oate from P. pubescens were isolated and identified. The present study developed and validated a GC-MS-SIM method for the separation and quantification of vouacapan constituents in a semipurified extract from P. pubescens fruits. The GC-MS analyses were carried out using a system equipped with a HP-5 capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm). Temperature program: 100°C (4°C min(-1))-270°C (5 min), injector 260°C, detector 270°C. Helium was used as the carrier gas (0.7 bar, 1 mL min(-1)). The MS was taken at 70 eV. Scanning speed was 0.5 scans s(-1), from 50 to 650. Sample volume was 1 μL. Split 1:20. Analyses for validation of methodology were conducted by GC-MS-SIM (Single Ion Monitoring), where the ions monitored were 131, 145 and 146 (between 43 and 44.5 min), 105, 145 and 197 (from 44.5 to 45.3 min) and 131, 178 and 312 (from 45.3 to 48.5 min).Validation of the analytical method was based on the following parameters: linearity, robustness, limits of detection and quantification, precision (within-day and between-day variabilities), recovery and stability. The method was linear over a range of 12.81-2.56 μγμΛ(-1) of vouacapan 1, 112.78-22.56 μg mL(-1) of vouacapan 2, and 333.34-66.67 μg mL(-1) of vouacapans 3 and 4, with detection limits of 0.39, 3.45 and 9,44 μg mL(-1) and quantification limits of 1.19, 10.47 and 28.62 μg mL(-1), respectively. Recovery values were 100.69%, 97.48% and 96.98% for vouacapans 1, 2 and 3-4, respectively. Thus, the method was efficient to separate and quantify furanoditerpenes in the extract or fraction.

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The present work was designed to quantify the caffeine and total polyphenols in the extractive

Fruits of Pterodon pubescens Benth have been used traditionally for the treatment of rheumatism, sore throat, and respiratory disorders, and also as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, depurative, tonic, and hypoglycemic agent. The study was aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane fraction of an ethanolic extract of P. pubescens fruits. The oil from P. pubescens fruits was extracted with ethanol and partitioned with hexane. The anti-inflammatory activity was measured with increasing doses of the hexane fraction (FHPp) by using a carrageenan-induced rat model of pleurisy and a rat model of complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis by using an FHPp dose of 250 mg/kg for 21 days. Treatment with an FHPp resulted in anti-inflammatory activity in both models. The results of biochemical, hematological, and histological analyses indicated a significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels (18.32%, 34.20%, and 41.70%, resp.) and reduction in the numbers of total leukocytes and mononuclear cells. The FHPp dose of 1000 mg/kg induced no changes in behavioral parameters, and no animal died. The results of this study extend the findings of previous reports that have shown that administration of extracts and fractions obtained from species of the genus Pterodon exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and lacks toxicity.