Psidium guajava L. has extensive use in folk medicine. The aim of this study was to quantify the levels of phenolic, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, leathality assay and antibacterial and antitumoral activities of the extract of P. guajava. In the dry guava extract there were high levels of phenolics (766.08 ± 14.52 mg/g), flavonoids (118.90 ± 5.47 mg/g) and antioxidant activity (87.65%). The LD50 was 185.15 µg/ml. The MIC value was 250 µg/ml for Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus oralis. IC50 of the extract tested in the HeLa, RKO and Wi cell lines was 15.6 ± 0.8 µg/ml, 21.2 ± 1.1 µg/ml and 68.9 ± 1.5 µg/ml, respectively. The results of all analyses allow us to conclude that the dry extract of guava leaves has promising activity to be applied topically in the oral cavity or in the development of antitumor formulation or even be used as a functional food.

RESUMO:Diabetes mellitus (DM) é uma doença metabólica crônica caracterizada por hipeglicemia que tem impacto significante em seus pacientes. Sua incidência está crescendo rapidamente conduzindo para aumento no custo dos cuidados da doença e de suas complicações. O tratamento envolve, além de controle dietético e atividade física, o uso de fármacos que ocasionam efeitos colaterais para atingir ações farmacológicas desejadas. Entretanto, produtos de plantas são, freqüentemente, considerados menos tóxicos e com menos efeitos colaterais que drogas sintéticas e amplamente utilizadas pela população. Nesse trabalho várias espécies de plantas utilizadas experimentalmente ou na medicina popular, agindo de diferentes formas de modo a controlar glicemia e/ou inibir sintomas e complicações características da diabetes serão revisadas para avaliação de seus supostos efeitos terapêuticos.Unitermos: Diabetes, glicose, hipoglicemia, colesterol, estresse oxidativo.ABSTRACT: "Antidiabetic effects of the medicinal plants". Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemy that has a significant impact for their patients. Its incidence is raising leading to an increase in the cost of the cares of the disease and of its complications. The treatment involves, besides dietary control and physical activity, the use of drugs that cause side effects to reach wanted pharmacological actions. However, products of plants are, frequently, considered less poisonous and with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs and widely used by the population. In this paper, several species of plants, used experimentally or in the popular medicine, acting by different ways to control glycemia and/or to inhibit symptoms and characteristic complications of the diabetes, they will be reviewed for evaluation of their supposed therapeutic effects.

Citrus fruit is preferred in the choice of consumers. Kumquat (F. margarita) is an unconventional citrus of increasing consumer interest because of its exotic flavor, and its functional potential that offers health benefits to consumers. It is a fruit traditionally consumed by whole fruit (peel and pulp), giving this fruit a distinctive flavor. For this reason, this study analyzed the physical, chemical, and nutritional characteristics of kumquat (peel and pulp). The physicochemical analysis was performed according to the Adolfo Lutz Institute. Analysis of moisture, ashes, macronutrients, and total dietary fiber was carried out according to AOAC. Minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Vitamins C and E, carotenoids and flavonoids were analyzed by HPLC. Phenolic compounds (Folin-Ciocalteu) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH) were determined by spectrophotometry. The kumquat had low pH, soluble solids content and low caloric value. It was a source of dietary fiber, minerals (K, Ca, P, Mg) and carotenoids; the most expressive was α-carotene (661.81 μg 100 g−1). The ascorbic acid concentration was 2326.24 μg 100 g−1. α-tocopherol (569.00 μg 100 g−1) was the most expressive component of vitamin E. There was a presence of apigenin and eriodictyol. The fruit (peel and pulp) has a high concentration of total phenolic compounds (98.55 ± 1.93 mg GAE 100 g−1) and good antioxidant capacity (62%) was found. Kumquat is a good source of fiber and vitamin A, and due to its antioxidant capacity and the presence of other essential and beneficial nutrients for a diet, consumption of kumquat can be suggested to complement the diet. This fruit is a viable food alternative, and its consumption should be encouraged, contributing a source of income, sovereignty, and food security.

Intercropping of vegetables and medicinal plants might produce favorable interactions for both crops, resulting in increased production and profit per unit area. It is known that

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Mikania laevigata leaves are used worldwide as herbal medicines. Our study investigates the production differences among three different genotypes of this herb: the genotypes' influence on the essential oil yield, chemical composition, and the plant tissues involved in the secretion of the chemical compounds produced by the leaves. The study performed the analysis during the summer and winter seasons. Plants were grown under an organic cultivation system in Oratórios, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The analysis highlighted substantial genetic variability among the genotypes. The genotype CENARGEN showed higher biomass production, oil yield, and a high concentration of major constituents detected by chromatographic analysis in essential oils, such as germacrene D and caryophyllene oxide. The season affected the chemical composition of the essential oils. Germacrene D and bicyclogermacrene were the major constituents in the winter-essential-oils; spatulenol and caryophyllene oxide were the major constituents in the summer-essential-oils.

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