The Plectranthus species (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional medicine in several places around the world, including Brazil, to treat different diseases. P. grandis and P. ornatus, growing in north-eastern Brazil, were collected at four different times of day and the essential oils from the leaves were analysed by GC-MS. The oil of P. grandis contained mainly trans-β β β β β -caryophyllene (31.3-40.2%), germacrene D (12.5-24.5%) and eugenol (15.4%) and the oil of P. ornatus contained trans-β β β β β -caryophyllene (9.6-62.4%), eugenol (38.0%) and thymol (14.1%) as the major components. The oils were submitted to DPPH antioxidant assay. The oil of P. ornatus showed a higher antioxidant activity than that of P. ornatus, probably due to its higher yield of the phenolic compounds eugenol and thymol.

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Seven residues from tropical fruit (acerola, cashew apple, guava, mango, papaya, pineapple, and sapota) processing were prospected for physicochemical parameters (pH, total soluble solids, water activity, reducing sugar, acidity, protein, moisture, ash, and lipids), functional compounds (total phenolic content, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, and free radical scavenging activity-DPPH), fatty acid profile, and mineral content. Prospection of these industrial residues aimed its use as potential sources for food supplementation. Acerola residue was found to be a valuable source of anthocyanins, phenolics, and vitamin C; cashew apple residue could be a source of unsaturated fatty acids; pineapple and papaya residues could be used, respectively, as manganese and phosphorous source.

Recebido em 31/12/09; aceito em 15/6/10; publicado na web em 22/9/10 Chemical COMPOUNDS OF LEAVES FROM SENNA SPECTABILIS (DC) IRWIN & BARNEBY var. excelsa (SCHRAD.) IRWIN & BARNEBY. From leaves of Senna spectabilis var. excelsa were isolated caffeine, the triterpenes lupeol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, cycloeucalenol, friedelin and ursolic, oleanolic and betulinic acids, besides the steroids sitosterol and stigmasterol and their respective glucosides. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis including two-dimensional NMR methods and comparison with published spectral data. This paper deals with the first report of these compounds in S. spectabilis var. excelsa.Keywords: Senna spectabilis var. excelsa; triterpene; caffeine. INTRODUÇÃONo Brasil ocorrem 200 gêneros e 1.500 espécies da família Fabaceae. Presente na maioria dos ecossistemas brasileiros, é relatada como a família botânica mais bem representada na caatinga, com 293 espécies em 77 gêneros, constituindo aproximadamente um terço de todos os vegetais deste bioma. 3 Atividade laxativa comparável ao padrão bisacodil (princípio ativo da Lacto-purga ® ) e anti-inflamatória similar ao diclofenaco de sódio foi observada para o extrato das folhas de Senna macranthera. 4 Outras diversas atividades relevantes como antimicrobiana, analgésica, antiparasitária, inseticida, antitumoral e hepatoprotetora são comprovadas para várias espécies de Senna. O estudo químico das folhas de S. spectabilis var. excelsa (Schrad) levou ao isolamento e identificação de oito triterpenos pentacíclicos: quatro na forma pura (ácido betulínico, lupeol, cicloeucalenol, friedelina) e quatro como misturas (α-amirina, β-amirina, ácido ursólico e oleanólico). Apesar de serem substâncias conhecidas, este é o primeiro relato dessa classe química na espécie Senna spectabilis var excelsa. Também foram identificadas duas misturas de esteroides (estigmasterol e β-sitosterol) na forma livre e glicosilada, além de um alcaloide (cafeína) ainda inédito no gênero Senna. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃOO extrato etanólico das folhas de S. spectabilis var. excelsa (Schrad) através de técnicas cromatográficas levou ao isolamento dos triterpenos pentacíclicos ácido betulínico (1), lupeol (2), α-amirina e β-amirina (3 e 4), da fração não alcaloídica (FNA) (m = 13,5 g). A identificação foi possível após a análise dos dados espectrais de RMN 1 H, RMN 13 C e DEPT 135 e comparação com dados da literatura. A comparação dos dados obtidos com a literatura permitiu identificar o composto 1 como um triterpeno pentacíclico de esqueleto lupano denominado ácido betulínico. O tratamento cromatográfico da fração diclorometânica levou ao isolamento e identificação de (5), (6) (7)

The prickly pear is a cactaceae that have chemical compounds that act as natural antioxidants. In addition, the prickly pear is a plant widely used in semiarid region as it's considered very important forage for animal feed, especially in the dry season. The objectives of this research were to characterize the main classes of phytochemicals, determine the phenols content, flavonoids and anthocyanins and evaluate the antioxidant activity of the prickly pear cultivars Opuntia and Nopalea grown in the semiarid region of Pernambuco in two collection periods (dry and rainy). In the work crude ethanol extracts from cladodes of cultivars (IPA-20, Elephant Ear Mexican, F-08, V-19, Small palm, F-21 and IPA-Sertânia) were used. As for the class of phytochemical compounds from ethanol extract only the flavonoids and steroids were detected in all prickly pear cultivars, in both periods analyzed. The content of phenolic compounds ranges from 1.24 to 5.41 mg GAE g -1 DM, flavonoids 0.90 to 3.43 mg QE g -1 DM, anthocyanins from 0.05 to 0.34 µg QE 100 g -1 DM and antioxidant activity 39.59 to 217.17 µM TEAC g -1 DM. The occurrence of chemical variability and antioxidant activity were observed, both among the botanical cultivars studied and among the collection periods.Keywords: biodiversity and nutrition; cactus pear; flavonoids; phenolic acids; phytochemicals.Practical Application: Use of cladodes of prickly pear cultivars as functional foods in the diet human and animal.