Animal–plant interactions are often mediated by chemical compounds. It has been widely reported that herbivore damage to plants induces chemical defenses which may then affect subsequent interactions with both invertebrate and vertebrate herbivores. Our study investigated the effects of the interaction between larvae of an unidentified nymphalid butterfly and the tanimbuca tree (Buchenavia ochroprumna Eichl.; Combretaceae) on subsequent folivory by a primate, the golden-backed uacari (Cacajao ouakary (Spix, 1823); Pitheciidae). Primate-feeding observations, records of the extent of nymphalid – B. ochroprumna interactions, and tree distribution occurred in Jaú National Park, Amazonas State, Brazil. The values of Ivlev’s electivity index showed that C. ouakary strongly rejected trees infested by caterpillars (−0.68), whereas non-infested trees were highly selected by them (+0.84). Given this behavior, we suggest that C. ouakary may be deterred by (i) caterpillars, (ii) change in leaf chemical composition induced by caterpillars, or (iii) a combination of both.

The neotropical genus Swartzia Schreb. (Fabaceae) is an abundant and well distributed taxon. This work aimed to review the chemical and biological data published about Swartzia spp.  For this purpose, there were screened 199 papers which were found related to keyword “Swartzia” in the scientific database ‘SciFinder’ and also checked up to 9,180 results returned from that same term in ‘Google Scholar’. There were obtained chemical and biological information related to 21 species. Chemical screenings performed with Swartzia species allowed to find mostly the chemical classes of: flavonoids, isoflavanones, isoflavones, pterocarpans, triterpenoids, diterpenoids, steroids and saponins. Isolated compounds and extracts were tested for several biological activities showed to be antifungal, antibacterial, larvicidal and antioxidant.