The chemical composition and biological activity of a sample of yellow propolis from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (EEP-Y MS), were investigated for the first time and compared with green, brown, and red types of Brazilian propolis and with a sample of yellow propolis from Cuba. Overall, EEP-Y MS had different qualitative chemical profiles, as well as different cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities when compared to the other types of propolis assessed in this study and it is a different chemotype of Brazilian propolis. Absence of phenolic compounds and the presence of mixtures of aliphatic compounds in yellow propolis were determined by analysing 1H-NMR spectra and fifteen terpenes were identified by GC-MS. EEP-Y MS showed cytotoxic activity against human tumour strain OVCAR-8 but was not active against Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria. Our results confirm the difficulty of establishing a uniform quality standard for propolis from diverse geographical origins. The most appropriate pharmacological applications of yellow types of propolis must be further investigated.

A atividade antioxidante do suco de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) frente ao reagente DPPH foi avaliada (EC 50 ) e as principais substâncias com atividade seqüestradora de radicais livres do suco e extratos de folhas foram identificadas por CLAE-UV/DAD combinada com CLAE-microfracionamento monitorado por CCD, usando -caroteno e DPPH como reagentes de detecção. As substâncias mais importantes com atividade seqüestradora de radicais livres foram: nas folhas, luteolina-8-C-(ramnosilglucosídeo) (1); no suco, as flavonas diosmetina-8-Cglucosídeo (2), vitexina (3), schaftosídeo (9), isoschaftosídeo (10) e 4´,5´-dimetil-luteolina-8-Cglucosídeo (11). O conteúdo de flavonóides totais do suco (0,241 ± 0,001 mg flavonóides totais/mL suco), comparável ao de outras fontes de flavonóides, sugere o potencial da cana-de-açúcar como fonte alimentícia de antioxidantes naturais. Porém, a baixa capacidade antioxidante da garapa (EC 50 = 100,2 ± 2,6 g L -1) indica a necessidade de estudos sobre o consumo na dieta e seus efeitos na saúde humana.The antioxidant activity of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice towards DPPH reagent was determined (EC 50 ) and the main compounds with radical scavenging activity in juice and leaves extracts were identified by HPLC-UV/PAD analysis combined with HPLC microfractionation monitored by TLC using -carotene and DPPH as the detection reagents. In sugarcane leaves, luteolin-8-C-(rhamnosylglucoside) (1) was the most important compound with radical scavenging activity; in sugarcane juice, the flavones diosmetin-8-C-glucoside (2), vitexin (3) schaftoside (9), isoschaftoside (10) and 4´,5´-dimethyl-luteolin-8-C-glucoside (11) were the most relevant compounds. The content of juice flavonoids (0.241 ± 0.001 mg total flavonoids/mL juice), comparable to other food sources of flavonoids, suggest the potential of sugarcane as a dietary source of natural antioxidants. However, the low antioxidant ability of sugarcane juice (EC 50 = 100.2 ± 2.6 g L -1 ) also points to the need for further studies about the dietary intake of sugarcane flavonoids and its effects on human health.

A re-investigação química do extrato bruto da esponja Aplysina caissara levou ao isolamento de cinco novos derivados da dibromotirosina, denominados agelocaissarinas A1, A2, B1, B2 e caissarina C, além dos já conhecidos fistularina-3 e 11-hidroxiaerotionina. Os compostos isolados tiveram suas estruturas determinadas pela análise de seus espectros de RMN mono-e bidimensionais, espectro de massas de alta resolução, infravermelho e ultravioleta. A configuração relativa das agelocaissarinas pôde ser estabelecida por análise dos espectros de RMN-1 H e modelagem molecular, enquanto que a configuração absoluta do sistema espiroxazolidínico da fistularina-3, da caissarina C e da 11-hidroxiaerotionina pôde ser estabelecida pela análise de seus espectros de dicroísmo circular. A fistularina-3 e a 11-hidroxiaerotionina apresentaram atividade antibiótica moderada contra várias linhagens de bactérias patogênicas.The re-investigation of the crude extract obtained from the sponge Aplysina caissara led to the isolation of five new dibromotyrosine derivatives, named agelocaissarines A1, A2, B1, B2 and caissarine C, along with the already known fistularin-3 and 11-hydroxyaerothionin. All compounds were identified by analysis of mono-and bidimensional NMR spectra, high resolution mass spectra, infrared and ultraviolet spectra. The relative stereochemistry of agelocaissarines could be established by analysis of 1 H NMR spectra and molecular modeling, while the absolute configuration of the spiroxazolidine moieties of fistularin-3, caissarine C and 11-hydroxyaerothionin was established by analysis of 1 H NMR and circular dichroism spectra. Fistularin-3 and 11-hydroxyaerothionin displayed moderate antibiotic activity against several pathogenic bacteria.

Propolis is a resin produced by bees from raw material collected from plants, salivary secretions, and beeswax. New therapeutic properties for the Central Nervous System have emerged. We explored the neurobehavioral and antioxidant effects of an ethanolic extract of yellow propolis (EEYP) rich in triterpenoids, primarily lupeol and β-amyrin. Male Wistar rats, 3 months old, were intraperitoneally treated with Tween 5% (control), EEYP (1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg), or diazepam, fluoxetine, and caffeine (positive controls) 30 min before the assays. Animals were submitted to open field, elevated plus maze, forced swimming, and inhibitory avoidance tests. After behavioral tasks, blood samples were collected through intracardiac pathway, to evaluate the oxidative balance. The results obtained in the open field and in the elevated plus maze assay showed spontaneous locomotion preserved and anxiolytic-like activity. In the forced swimming test, EEYP demonstrated antidepressant-like activity. In the inhibitory avoidance test, EEYP showed mnemonic activity at 30 mg/kg. In the evaluation of oxidative biochemistry, the extract reduced the production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde without changing level of total antioxidant, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, induced by behavioral stress. Our results highlight that EEYP emerges as a promising anxiolytic, antidepressant, mnemonic, and antioxidant natural product.

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