This paper aim to characterize the herbaceous and shrub species diversity of Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí (PNSI). We identified 643 herbaceous and shrub species distributed in 110 families being the most representative family Asteraceae (62 species), Melastomataceae (49) and Rubiaceae (30), besides a two new records for Santa Catarina (Thelypteris glaziovii T.F. Reed and Pseudelephantopus spiralis Cronquist). We recorded 22 exotic species. Thus, due to the vast diversity of life and the rather large territory, PNSI is one of the most important spots for biodiversity conservation in Santa Catarina.

This contribution presents and describes Commelina catharinensis, a new, narrow endemic species only known from two very restricted areas of coastal vegetation in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. Both localities where this species has been collected are currently highly threatened by both legal and illegal urban advance. The new species classifies as endangered (EN) according to the IUCN criteria. We also provide here the first identification key to the species of Commelina that occur in Santa Catarina.

Melilotus albus Medik. is a cosmopolite and invasive species, native to the Old World, which in Brazil had its occurrence hitherto recorded only in the states of São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. This study extends its distribution to Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, due to the recent discovery of populations in the municipalities of Florianópolis and Xanxerê. These new records are ca. 250 km distant from the nearest records, in Paraná state, also in southern Brazil.

In the present study, the effects were evaluated of alkaloid fractions (AFs) from Psychotria species and correlated genera, Palicourea and Rudgea, on monoamine oxidases (MAOs) and cholinesterases (ChEs). By HPLC-DAD and UPLC-DAD-MS analyses, indole alkaloids (IA) were detected in all AFs. For the Psychotria and Palicourea species, these IA corresponded to tetrahydro-β-carboline alkaloids (THβCA). On the other hand, pyrrolidinoindoline core compounds were observed for Rudgea species. Regarding their pharmacological activities, none of the AFs was able to inhibit AChE. However, the BChE activity was impaired by the Psychotria and Palicourea AFs. In addition, MAO-A was inhibited by both AFs, but only Psychotria nemorosa AF was able to inhibit significantly MAO-B. Rudgea AFs demonstrated a poor inhibitory profile on MAO-A. Taken together, our results highlighted the Psychotria and Palicourea genera as important sources of scaffolds for the development of MAO-A and BChE inhibitors aiming at the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.

A new total of nine continental gastropod forms are incorporated to the previous systematic malacological inventory of Santa Catarina's State/SC, central southern Brazil region, the species Helicina schereri Baker, 1913, Assiminea sp, Lamellaxis clavulinus (Potiez and Michaud, 1838), Lamellaxis (Leptopeas) cf. mizius Marcus & Marcus, 1968, Plekocheilus (Eurytus) sp, Rhinus cf. longisetus (Moricand, 1846), Simpulopsis cf. ovata Sowerby, 1822, Megalobulimus klappenbachi Leme, 1964, and Zilchogyra cleliae Weyrauch, 1965. Included in eight genera and seven families, raise the state record for 220 species and subspecies regionally known (190 gastropods - 148 terrestrial, 2 amphibian and 40 limnic/freshwater –, and 30 freshwater bivalves).