The species Cordia curassavica (Boraginaceae), known popularly as "erva baleeira", is used in folk medicine for the treatment of several inflammatory processes and as a healing agent. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antiedematogenic activity of crude dichloromethane extracts of Cordia curassavica and of the artemetinenriched fraction. The crude extract and artemetin fraction were tested in the model of carrageenin-induced paw edema in male Swiss mice (25-30 g). The crude dichloromethane extract (300 and 1000 mg/kg, po, N = 6) showed significant antiedematogenic activity, reducing the edema by 42, 57 and 45% and 46, 62 and 69%, 3, 4 and 5 h after carrageenin administration, respectively. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg, po, N = 6) reduced the edema by 45 and 48%, after 4 and 5 h, but the artemetin-enriched fraction (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg, po, N = 6) had no activity. The dichloromethane extract (300 and 1000 mg/kg, po, N = 6) also showed antinociceptive activity by reducing acetic acid-induced writhing in mice from 37.1 ± 2.28 (control) to 17.3 ± 1.34 and 13.2 ± 1.44, respectively, but had no activity in the hot-plate test.

Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA enveloped virus of the Metapneumovirus genus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family. This virus may cause significant economic losses to the poultry industry, despite vaccination, which is the main tool for controlling and preventing aMPV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiviral activity of extracts of four different native plants of the Brazilian Cerrado against aMPV. The antiviral activity against aMPV was determined by titration. This technique measures the ability of plant extract dilutions (25 to 2.5 μg mL -1 ) to inhibit the cytopathic effect (CPE) of the virus, expressed as inhibition percentage (IP). The maximum nontoxic concentration (MNTC) of the extracts used in antiviral assay was 25 μg mL -1 for Aspidosperma tomentosum and Gaylussacia brasiliensis, and 2.5 μg mL -1 for Arrabidaea chica and Virola sebifera. Twelve different extracts derived from four plant species collected from the Brazilian Cerrado were screened for antiviral activity against aMPV. G. brasiliensis, A. chica, and V. sebifera extracts presented inhibition rates of 99% in the early viral replication stages, suggesting that these extracts act during the adsorption phase. On the other hand, A. tomentosum inhibited 99% virus replication after the virus entered the cell. The biomonitored fractioning of extracts active against aMPV may be a tool to identify the active compounds of plant extracts and to determine their precise mode of action.

As sementes de Pterodon pubescens Benth. (Pp), disponíveis comercialmente no Brasil, são utilizadas na medicina popular em preparações anti-inflamatórias, analgésicas e anti-reumáticas. O presente estudo demonstrou as propriedades antinociceptivas da mistura de isômeros 6α-hidroxi-7β-acetoxi-vouacapano-17β-oato de metila e 6α-acetoxi-7β-hidroxi-vouacapano-17β-oato de metila (C1) isolada de Pp, empregando modelos experimentais diferentes. Um estudo de estabilidade foi realizado para investigar a relação da microencapsulação por "spray-drying" na manutenção do efeito antinociceptivo. Para isso, amostras de C1 e extrato de Pp foram monitorados no estudo de estabilidade acelerada, avaliando tanto amostras microencapsuladas como não microencapsuladas. Foi observado que a amostra C1 possui atividade antinociceptiva, revelada pelos ensaios das contorções abdominais e de formalina; foi observada também atividade significativa antialodínica, mas não efeito anti-hiperalgésico. A microencapsulação manteve a atividade e integridade de C1 e do extrato bruto de Pp, demonstrando que a microencapsulação por "spray drying" é uma alternativa útil para aumentar o tempo de prateleira.Pterodon pubescens Benth. (Pp) seeds, commercially available in Brazil, are used in folk medicine in anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-rheumatic preparations. The present study demonstrated the antinociceptive properties of isomers 6α-hydroxy-7β-acetoxy-vouacapan-17β-oate methyl ester and 6α-acetoxy-7β-hydroxy-vouacapan-17β-oate methyl ester (C1), isolated from (Pp), employing different experimental models. A stability study was performed to investigate the relationship of microencapsulation by spray-drying on the maintenance of antinociceptive action. Therefore, C1 and Pp extract samples were monitored in accelerated stability study, evaluating both microencapsulated and non-microencapsulated samples. It was observed that sample C1 possess antinociceptive activity revealed by writhing and formalin tests; C1 showed significantly anti-allodynic, but not antihyperalgesic effect; the microencapsulation maintained the activity and integrity of both, sample C1 and Pp crude extract; microencapsulation by spray drying is a useful alternative to increase shelf life. Keywords: microcapsules, stability, spray-drying, antinociceptive, Pterodon pubescens IntroductionPterodon pubescens Benth. (Leguminosae) seeds are commercially available in Brazil. The plant's crude alcoholic extract is used in folk medicine in antiinflammatory, analgesic, and anti-rheumatic preparations. 1,2 Phytochemical studies of Pterodon genus have revealed the presence of alkaloids, isoflavones and diterpenes. Furan diterpenes were identified and isolated from Pterodon species. [3][4][5][6][7] Authors have reported that furanoditerpenes possessing vouacapan skeleton are involved with the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiproliferative properties of Pterodon pubescens seed crude extract. [7][8][9][10][11][12] We previously reported the antinociceptive properties of geranylgerani...

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