RESUMO
The intense environmental degradation in tropical regions suitable for agriculture has decreased native forest populations of plants with important fruits and medicinal properties. Alibertia edulis is a native tree from the Brazilian Cerrado. Knowledge about the effects of drying and storage on the physiological behavior of its seeds may aid in its sustainable exploitation and conservation. The goal of the present study was to determine which fruit ripening stage results in A. edulis seeds with higher tolerance to desiccation, and to investigate the effectiveness of polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced osmotic stress in combination with abscisic acid (ABA) in increasing seed desiccation tolerance during storage. Seeds were dried in activated silica gel (fast) or under ambient conditions (slow). Seeds originating from mid-ripe or fully ripe fruits exhibited better physiological performance than those obtained from green fruits. Slow drying resulted in seeds with high physiological potential. Seeds may be stored for up to 180 days without losing viability when treated with -0.73 MPa PEG without ABA.
Assuntos
Dessecação/métodos , Germinação/fisiologia , Rubiaceae/fisiologia , Sementes/fisiologia , Ácido Abscísico/farmacologia , Adaptação Fisiológica , Rubiaceae/efeitos dos fármacos , Rubiaceae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sementes/efeitos dos fármacos , Sementes/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estresse FisiológicoRESUMO
Introducción: la proliferación de radicales libres en el cuerpo humano induce daños oxidativos a las biomoléculas que provocan daños a nivel celular y generan diversas anomalías en el organismo, como arterosclerosis, envejecimiento y cáncer. Actualmente, la búsqueda por moléculas con características antioxidantes es cada vez mayor, donde las plantas representan una de las principales fuentes de compuestos. Objetivo: determinar la actividad antioxidante y el contenido de fenoles de los extractos de diferentes polaridades de la parte aérea de la especie Palicourea guianensis (Rubiaceae). Métodos: para la evaluación de la actividad biológica, se calcularon los valores de concentración media inhibitoria (IC50) de los extractos más activos mediante los métodos de captura de electrones DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidracilo) y ABTS (ácido 2,2'azinobis-(3-etilbenzotiazolina)-6-sulfónico). Adicionalmente, se determinó la concentración de fenoles totales presentes en los extractos a través del método de Folin-Ciocalteu. Resultados: los extractos en acetato de etilo (PgAEF) y en agua (PgAF) presentaron mayor actividad antioxidante con valores de IC50 de 5 207 y 3 912 mg/L respectivamente. Asimismo, se observó una relación directamente proporcional entre la concentración de fenoles totales presentes en los extractos y la actividad antioxidante exhibida. Conclusiones: las especies de la familia Rubiaceae, especialmente P. guianensis, son una fuente promisoria e importante de metabolitos secundarios con capacidad antioxidante, por lo cual se requieren de mayores estudios que permitan identificar dichas sustancias e integrarlas a programas de terapia antioxidante en el área de la salud(AU)
Introduction: the proliferation of free radicals in the human body induces oxidative damage to biomolecules that cause damage at the cellular level and can generate various abnormalities in the body, such as atherosclerosis, aging and cancer. Currently, the search for molecules with antioxidant properties is increasing, where the plants are a major source of compounds. Objective: to determine the antioxidant activity and phenolic content of extracts of different polarities from the aerial part of Palicourea guianensis (Rubiaceae) species. Methods: for evaluation of the biological activity, the values of the mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the most active extracts were estimated by the methods of electron capture DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidracyl) and ABTS (2,2'azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid). Additionally, the total phenol concentration present in the extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Results: the extracts in ethyl acetate (PgAEF) and in water (PgAF) showed higher antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 5 207 and 3 912 mg/L respectively. Furthermore, there was direct relationship between the concentration of total phenols present in the extracts and the antioxidant activity. Conclusions: Rubiaceae family species, especially P. guianensis are a promising and important source of secondary metabolites with antioxidant capacity, so further studies are required to identify these substances and integrate them to the antioxidant therapy programs of the health areas(AU)
Assuntos
Rubiaceae/efeitos dos fármacos , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , ColômbiaRESUMO
The aim of the present study was to identify the sites of accumulation of Cr in the species of macrophytes that are abundant in the Cachoeira river, namely, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Borreria scabiosoides, Polygonum ferrugineum and Eichhornia crassipes. Plants were grown in nutritive solution supplemented with 0.25 and 50 mg l(-1) of CrCl(3)·6H(2)O. Samples of plant tissues were digested with HNO(3)/HCl in a closed-vessel microwave system and the concentrations of Cr determined using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ultrastructure of root, stem and leaf tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in order to determine the sites of accumulation of Cr and to detect possible alterations in cell organelles induced by the presence of the metal. Chromium accumulated principally in the roots of the four macrophytes (8.6-30 mg kg(-1) dw), with much lower concentrations present in the stems and leaves (3.8-8.6 and 0.01-9.0 mg kg(-1) dw, respectively). Within root tissue, Cr was present mainly in the vacuoles of parenchyma cells and cell walls of xylem and parenchyma. Alterations in the shape of the chloroplasts and nuclei were detected in A. philoxeroides and B. scabiosoides, suggesting a possible application of these aquatic plants as biomarkers from Cr contamination.
Assuntos
Amaranthaceae , Cromo/farmacologia , Eichhornia , Polygonum , Rubiaceae , Poluentes Químicos da Água/farmacologia , Amaranthaceae/anatomia & histologia , Amaranthaceae/efeitos dos fármacos , Cromo/análise , Eichhornia/anatomia & histologia , Eichhornia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Folhas de Planta/química , Folhas de Planta/ultraestrutura , Raízes de Plantas/química , Raízes de Plantas/ultraestrutura , Caules de Planta/química , Caules de Planta/ultraestrutura , Polygonum/anatomia & histologia , Polygonum/efeitos dos fármacos , Rios , Rubiaceae/anatomia & histologia , Rubiaceae/efeitos dos fármacos , Espectrometria de Massa de Íon Secundário , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
Cadmium (Cd) originating from atmospheric deposits, from industrial residues and from the application of phosphate fertilizers may accumulate in high concentrations in soil, water and food, thus becoming highly toxic to plants, animals and human beings. Once accumulated in an organism, Cd discharges and sets off a sequence of biochemical reactions and morphophysiological changes which may cause cell death in several tissues and organs. In order to test the hypothesis that Cd interferes in the metabolism of G. americana, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to measure eventual morphophysiological responses and cell death induced by Cd in this species. The plants were exposed to Cd concentrations ranging from 0 to 16 mg l(-1), in a nutritive solution. In TUNEL reaction, it was shown that Cd caused morphological changes in the cell nucleus of root tip and leaf tissues, which are typical for apoptosis. Cadmium induced anatomical changes in roots and leaves, such as the lignification of cell walls in root tissues and leaf main vein. In addition, the leaf mesophyll showed increase of the intercellular spaces. On the other hand, Cd caused reductions in the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration, while the maximum potential quantum efficiency of PS2 (Fv/Fm) was unchanged. Cadmium accumulated in the root system in high concentrations, with low translocation for the shoot, and promoted an increase of Ca and Zn levels in the roots and a decrease of K level in the leaves. High concentrations of Cd promoted morphophysiological changes and caused cell death in roots and leaves tissues of G. americana.