Morus nigra has been used popularly for several proposes, including diabetic. In an attempt to support medicinal value, the acute hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidant effects of the ethanolic extract of Morus nigra (EEMn 200 or 400 mg/kg b.w.) were evaluated in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic treated for 14 days. Serum biochemical and antioxidant analysis were performed at the end of experiment. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 10th and 15th days. Chromatographic analysis by HPLC-DAD of EEMn was performed. Insulin was used as positive control to glycemic metabolism as well as fenofibrate to lipid metabolism. EEMn (400 mg/kg/day) reduced fasting and postprandial glycaemia, improved oral glucose tolerance, and reduced lipolysis and proteolysis in diabetic rats. EEMn decreased the blood levels of total cholesterol and increased HDL level when compared to the diabetic control rats. At higher levels, EEMn reduced triglycerides and VLDL levels in diabetic rats. Also, EEMn reduced malondialdehyde and increased the reduced glutathione levels in liver of diabetic rats. Chromatographic analysis identified the presence of the flavonoids rutin, isoquercetin, and kaempferitrin. Acute EEMn treatment reduced hyperglycemia, improved oral glucose tolerance, and minimized dyslipidemia and oxidative stress leading to a reduction in atherogenic index in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

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In this paper, we report the influence of the extraction process on the flavonoid content obtained from leaves of C. quercifolius and its antioxidant activity. A factorial design 2² was performed, using temperature and agitation as independent variables. Qualitative and quantitative analyzes of the extracts were performed by HPLC-DAD. Rutin and apigenin were identified in the extracts and chosen as analytical markers. Pareto chart and Surface response plots suggested that rutin content was increased up to 3.93 times when temperature was employed during the extraction process. However, apigenin content was significantly reduced in the method whose temperature or agitation were used (p<0.05). A higher antioxidant activity was observed in extracts whose rutin extraction was favored, suggesting that this flavonoid contributes at least in part to the antioxidant potential of the species.

Peganum harmala belongs to the family Zygophyllaceae and is popularly known as "Arruda of Syria". It presents a broad therapeutic potential, highlighting the anti inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, antiseptic and antibacterial activities. It is used in the preparation of religious rituals beverages with effects on the central nervous system as an inhibitor of the enzyme monoaminoxidase, whose action is due to the presence of harmonic alkaloids of the β-carbolines group, with harmine and harmaline being the most found in P. harmala seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and pharmacognostic characteristics of P. harmala seeds with the aid of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Pharmacognostic characterization was performed following the 5th edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. Scanning electron microscopy coupled to X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy was performed for the seeds elemental identification. The compounds present in the species were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Phytochemical evaluation demonstrated the major secondary metabolites. The scanning electron microscopy coupled to X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy analysis showed the morphology of the surface and interior of the seeds, as well as the atomic chemical analysis of the structures. By gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, the chemical profile of P. harmala seeds was identified and the β-carbolines (harmaline and harmine) were identified, which are compounds of great pharmacological importance for the species. Therefore, it is concluded that this study is of great contribution to the plant material standardization that will serve as the basis for the future development of a pharmaceutical product.

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Alternanthera brasiliana is popularly known in Brazil as "penicillin" or "benzetacil" and is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of infections and for the healing of wounds. It is also used as an ornamental plant due to the characteristic purple coloration of its leaves when cultivated in shade. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an analytical methodology by Ultraviolet-Visible absorption spectroscopy to quantify total flavonoids in crude ethanolic extract of A. brasiliana. The parameters analyzed in validation were those indicated in resolution 166/2017 of ANVISA, as selectivity/specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, limits of detection and quantification, and also by ICH Q2(R1) for analytical validation. The method developed was simple, fast, low cost, linear, selective, precise, accuracy and robust. All parameters analyzed were within the limits recommended by the Brazilian legislation. Thus, this methodology can be useful for quality control of the extract and vegetal derivatives of A. brasiliana.

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The genus Mikania (Asteraceae) comprises about 450 species of these, 203 are found in Brazil and present several chemical and biological activities. Considering the variety of species and their therapeutic properties, the present study aimed to perform technological prospecting of this genus, since this approach aims to contribute to technological, scientific and innovation research. For this purpose, the patent documents were analyzed, regarding the applicant countries, year of filing and the international classification of patents of the genus Mikania. The search was conducted in the databases World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), European Patent Office (EPO) and the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in October 2020, using the descriptor “Mikania”; present in the title and/or abstract in addition, documents that included medicinal approaches were selected. Thus, taking into consideration the filing countries, Japan, Brazil and the United States led the patent deposits, with the first document filed in 1991 and the largest number of applications in the years 2000 and 2010. The data concerning the international patent classification are concentrated in subclass A61K, which deals with preparations for medical, dental or hygienic purposes. These results demonstrated the therapeutic and technological potential of the Mikania species and thus which can be evidenced the potential of this study.