Trends and gaps in the global scientific literature about Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae), a tropical plant of economic importanceTendências e lacunas na literatura científica global sobre Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae), uma planta tropical de importância econômica Abstract Jatropha curcas L., popularly known as the physic nut, is a monoecious, perennial lactiferous species belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Recently, interest in this species has been growing, due to its ability to flourish on degraded land and in soils with low natural fertility, the high oil content of its seeds, its rapid growth and easy propagation, and the identification of several secondary metabolites with medicinal importance. This study aims to report the main trends and gaps in the global scientific literature about J. curcas L, using a scientometric analysis. We have carried out this scientometric analysis on the global literature to identify: 1) temporal publication trends; 2) the quality of scientific production, estimated using citation numbers and journal impact factors; 3) the main journals and countries interested in this topic and the language of scientific divulgation; 4) the main research fields; 5) the use of wild or commercial cultivars; and 6) average authorship levels and international collaboration networks.Our findings have revealed a continuous increase in both quantitative and qualitative parameters in studies about J. curcas. The main trends in physic nut studies involve biofuel production and the plant's agronomic characteristics. The main knowledge gaps relating to J. curcas are in the fields of forestry, sustainability, animal nutrition, and genetic improvement. Another problem identified in this study is a lack of commercial seeds; none of the studies analyzed have used commercial seeds. India, Brazil, and China together are responsible for 55% of the knowledge about this species, obtained through scientific production. Only moderate international collaboration has been observed between countries, perhaps as consequence of conflicts of interest. Despite an increasing number of articles, some countries have stopped producing J. curcas L, and the worldwide crop production has decreased.

The Hancornia speciosa latex reveals angiogenic, osteogenic, and antiinflammatory properties, which present its potential for developing of wound healing drugs; however, the latex compounds responsible for angiogenesis remain unknown.One strategy to screen these active compounds is evaluation of latex fractions. This study aimed to obtain different fractions of latex and evaluate its angiogenic activity separately using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The serum (SE) fraction was responsible for angiogenesis, which was subject to biochemical characterization and computational simulations in order to understand the contribution of H. speciosa latex in wound healing process. Our results revealed weak antioxidant potential and absence of antimicrobial activity in the SE fraction. Phytochemical analysis identified chlorogenic acids (CGA) as the main compound of SE fraction. CGA bioactivity predictions identify different molecules associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, such as metalloproteinases, which also are overexpressed in our CAM assay experiment. Docking simulations revealed the interactions between CGA and matrix metalloproteinase 2. In conclusion, SE latex fraction stimulates angiogenesis and may influence ECM remodeling.These properties may contribute to the wound healing process, and also confirm the widespread use of this plant.

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O uso de plantas medicinais para fins terapêuticos é uma prática utilizada desde os primórdios da humanidade até os dias atuais. O Cerrado é considerado um hotspot de biodiversidade. De toda a diversidade florística existente no bioma há aproximadamente 220 espécies medicinais que são utilizadas diretamente pelo homem. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a percepção de moradores da Cidade de Goiás sobre o uso de plantas medicinais e os impactos ambientais sobre a vegetação do Cerrado. Foram feitas 40 entrevistas com moradores do Município através da abordagem direta com a utilização de um questionário semiestruturado, as perguntas foram relativas ao uso de plantas medicinais e a percepção dos impactos ambientais sobre a vegetação da região. As espécies mais citadas foram Lippia alba, Stryphnodendron adstringens, Lychnophora spp. e Vernonanthura polyanthes, a parte da planta mais utilizada é a folha, seguida da casca. Grande parte das pessoas identificam o Cerrado pelas plantas, a maioria citou Anacardium spp. e Caryocar brasiliense, 92% delas afirmaram perceber diminuição das plantas medicinais com o passar dos anos, o desmatamento foi apontado como a principal causa, seguido de extrativismo predatório. O uso de plantas medicinais na região da Cidade de Goiás é uma prática comum e importante para a população, no entanto, os entrevistados relataram que com o passar do tempo a vegetação tem diminuído devido a ação do homem. Desse modo torna-se necessário medidas de conscientização e proteção do Cerrado para a manutenção da biodiversidade e da cultura popular relacionada ao uso das plantas medicinais.

Low-order streams located near urban areas usually receive domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters that negatively affect river water quality. Additionally, water pollution is associated with land-use variations around the river, which is characterized by unplanned urbanization, intense agricultural activities, and deforestation. This work correlated land-use patterns with physicochemical quality and genotoxic potential of water at four points (P1 to P4) along the Extrema River, located in an industrial and agricultural area of Central Brazil. Physicochemical analyses indicated that the water collected from the Extrema River is inappropriate for human consumption. Using the Allium cepa model, no evidence of cytotoxicity was observed at any point; in contrast, the genotoxic potential of these water samples was observed. The correlation of these results with land use showed that the water collected at P3 was the most contaminated; this is probably due to the inflow of wastewater from municipal, industrial, and agriculture activities. Different results were observed for P2 and P4, where land-use analysis attributed the water quality to forest burns. We concluded that differential use of the land changed the characteristics of the associated river water, and A. cepa parameters were more related to land-use characteristics than to physicochemical parameters. This study highlighted the importance of associating land use with the cyto genotoxic potential of water.