Diogo Alexandre Siebert

The aim of this study was to characterize the phytochemical profile and potential antiaging and wound‐healing activities of 70% hydroalcoholic crude extract (CHE) from Myrcia neoobscura leaves and its fractions—insoluble (IF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and aqueous (AF)—for use in phytocosmetics for skin application. CHE and its fractions showed high concentrations of total phenolics, including flavanols and flavonoids. Ten phenolic compounds were identified, with gallic acid as the major, followed by chlorogenic and p ‐coumaric acids. Catechin, isoorientin, taxifolin, resveratrol, naringenin, and eriodictyol were reported for the first time in the genus. CHE and AF showed the best results in antioxidant assays. In antiglycation activity, EAF showed the highest oxidative glycation inhibition, comparable to quercetin. CHE and AF exhibited the strongest collagenase and elastase inhibition. CHE, IF, and EAF showed the highest SPF. CHE promoted 81.86% fibroblast migration in 24 h, indicating strong wound‐healing potential. CHE maintained cellular viability in the MTT assay. In the HET‐CAM assay and agarose overlay assays, CHE and fractions were classified as non to mildly irritating. These results suggest potential antiaging applications, mainly attributed to the phenolic profile.

Eugenia involucrata DC. (Myrtaceae), popularly known as “cereja-do-Rio-Grande”, is a native tree from Brazil, popularly used as a hypoglycemiant. Crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) and fractions (insoluble (FI), dichloromethane (FDM), ethyl acetate (FEA) and butanol (FBu)) of leaves were assessed to determine the phenolic chemical composition by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. 10 compounds were identified, being 7 new for this species: rutin, isoquercitrin, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, mandelic acid, naringenin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside and salicylic acid. Extract and fractions showed inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AchE) enzyme (best result: IC₅₀ = 44.19 µg mL⁻¹, for FEA) and α-glucosidase (α-Glu) (best result: IC₅₀ = 31.25 ± 0.15 µg mL⁻¹, for CHE). The observed antioxidant and inhibitory activity on the AchE and α-Glu is due to, at least in part, the presence of phenolic compounds in the samples. Graphical Abstract

Bryophyllum delagoense (Eckl. & Zeyh.) Druce, native to Madagascar, is popularly known as “abyssian cactus” and popularly used in folk medicine as an analgesic and healing agent. The study methodology was divided into the phytochemical study: fractionation and identification of phenolic compounds by HLPC-ESI-MS/MS from the methanolic extract (ME), and fractions (DCMF and EAF) of leaves of B. delagoense, and biological activity with acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibition of extracts and fractions by in vitro enzymatic techniques. Twenty-seven phenolic compounds were identified, being the highest concentration of syringic acid (87.848 mg g⁻¹). The DCMF fraction showed the best biological activity for inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme (0.125 mg mL⁻¹).

This study describes anti-inflamatory activity of epicuticular wax (ECW) extracted from leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam., and its isolated compounds, catechin and gallocatechin in a pleurisy model in mice. The results for exudation and cell migration showed that the extract and isolated compounds from the plant were effective in inhibiting these inflammatory parameters. The ECW demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on the inhibition of cell migration. The results for NO_x levels reveals that the isolated compounds from Eugenia brasiliensis were effective in inhibiting the production of this inflammatory mediator, however, ECW were not able in inhibiting the production of NO in the pleural cavity, at the tested doses. The results here obtained, helps to reinforce the scientifically hypothesis that E. brasiliensis has an important anti-inflammatory activity, and that this effect may be, at least in part, by the presence of the compounds catechin and gallocatechin.

Basidiomycetes fungi have been utilized for the production of several compounds with bioactive properties, such as phenolic compounds. The present work quantified and identified the phenolic compounds produced in a kinetic study (63 days) and evaluated the antimicrobial activity from the extract obtained by Ganoderma lipsiense cultivation in solid-state fermentation using red rice. Phenolic compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS/MS) and caffeic acid content was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC–DAD). Caffeic and syringic acids were produced by G. lipsiense. In the control medium (red rice), the following compounds were identified: p-coumaric acid, salicylic acid, ferulic acid and vanillin. High concentrations of caffeic acid (0.977 µg g⁻¹) were measured in 49 days. Antimicrobial activity was investigated against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) technique. Ganoderma lipsiense extract was only effective against P. aeruginosa. These data have proved to be satisfactory in the study of biosynthesis of caffeic acid and antibacterial compounds by G. lipsiense in solid-state fermentation with red rice.

Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes mellitus are contemporary diseases of great concern. Phenolic compounds are linked to several health benefits and could lead to novel strategies to combat these ailments. The objective of this study was to evaluate by electrophoretically-mediated microanalysis the potential inhibitory activity of the fruit juices from Plinia cauliflora (“jaboticaba”) and Eugenia uniflora (“pitanga”) toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α-glucosidase, target enzymes in strategies for the treatment of these diseases. The phenolic profiles of the samples were also investigated. Jaboticaba and pitanga juices inhibited 85.90 ± 1.73 and 52.67 ± 1.24% of AChE activity at 5 mg mL⁻¹, and 57.91 ± 2.60 and 69.47 ± 2.89% of α-glucosidase activity at 1 mg mL⁻¹, respectively. Total phenolic content of the juices were 303.54 ± 28.28 and 367.00 ± 11.42 mgGA L⁻¹, respectively. The observed inhibitory activity can be explained, at least in part, by the presence of the phenolic compounds.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic effects in vitro and phenolic profile of Citharexylum myrianthum Cham. leaves. Dried leaves were macerated with methanol and subjected to liquid-liquid partition with solvents of increasing polarity, furnishing the methanolic extract (ME), dichloromethane (DCMF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions. They were subsequently analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Six strains of Mycoplasma, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, were used to determine the antimicrobial effects, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of less than 1000 μg.mL−1 were considered active. To evaluate the cytotoxic effects, the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) test was conducted with colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), non-small lung cancer (NCI-H460) and non-cancer fibroblast (MRC5) cell lines. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis identified four main phenolic compounds, vanillic, p-coumaric and salicylic acids and hispidulin. All samples were considered active against Mycoplasmas, mainly against M. hominis, with MIC values of 250 μg.mL−1. With respect to cytotoxicity, the ME and DCMF (100 μg.mL−1) reduced cell viability by 50% in both the HT-29 and NCI-H460 cell lines but were non-cytotoxic against the MRC5. These results in vitro showed that C. myrianthum Cham. may be a possible candidate as an antimicrobial and antitumor agent. However, further studies in vivo are needed to confirm its effects.