On the current search for renewable energy sources, residual biomass has been highlighted as a potential source of chemical compounds that are currently obtained from petroleum. Among the derivatives obtained from this, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural are considered key parts in this process as they are key compounds in the fine chemical industry. This work aims at the use of the rice husks and soybean peel for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural using the ionic liquid [BMOM][Br]. The physical pre-treatment of biomasses was carried out followed by acid hydrolysis. For the synthesis of the furanic compounds, different temperatures and reaction times were used. The products obtained in each step were analyzed by infrared spectrophotometry and by high performance liquid chromatography. The best yields for rice husks was obtained with 4 hours of reaction at 120 °C (34%) and for soy peel with 3 hours of reaction at 120 °C (59%), for furfural production. For 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production the yields were 8.7% and 3.4% for rice and soy husks, respectively. Ot was found that glucose was the main group related to bio-products obtaining.

The study of phytotherapy in dentistry holds great relevance because of the scarcity of research conducted on the treatment of oral pathologies, specifically, caries and periodontal disease. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the chemical composition of extracts from Couroupita guianensis Aubl. leaves, evaluate their toxicity, and assess their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans. Three extracts were prepared using assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Crude Ultrasound Extract (CUE), Crude Soxhlet Extract (CSE), and the Ethanol Soxhlet Extract (ESE). Flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were detected in the chemical analysis, while LC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, sinapic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and apigenin in all extracts. GC-MS analysis identified stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in the CUE and CSE. The ESE showed higher antioxidant activity (2.98 ± 0.96 and 4.93 ± 0.90) determined by the DPPH• and ABTS•+ methods, respectively. In the toxicity evaluation, the CUE at 50 μg/mL and the ESE at 50 μg/mL stimulated the growth of Allium cepa roots, while all extracts inhibited root growth at 750 μg/mL. None of the extracts exhibited toxicity against Artemia salina. Antibacterial activity was observed in all extracts, particularly against the microorganisms S. aureus and S. mutans. However, no antifungal activity against C. albicans was detected. These results suggest that extracts of C. guianensis have therapeutic potential for controlling microorganisms in the oral microbiota.

This study evaluated the chemical composition, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities, and the toxicity of hydroethanolic extracts of the Parkia platycephala Benth. Hot extraction with 70% hydroethanolic solution was used to obtain crude extracts of the leaf (LE), bark (BE), flower (FE), and seed (SE). Separation and identification of the compounds were performed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities were performed by the 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and Ellman methods, respectively, and the preliminary toxicity by the method with Artemia salina. Chromatography analysis indicated naringin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol in all extracts. Gallic acid is prominent in the LE and FE, while ferulic acid is abundant in the BE and lupeol and lupeol acetate are prominent in the SE. The BE antioxidant activity (lethal concentration of 50% (IC50) = 14.72 ± 0.13 μg mL-1) is equivalent to the standard rutin (IC50 = 15.85 ± 0.08 μg mL-1). The SE had the best acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential (IC50 = 5.73 ± 0.68 μg mL-1). Aside from the SE, which is not toxic, the other extracts had low (LE, FE) and moderate (BE) toxicity. The extracts of P. platycephala have potential antioxidant and therapeutic uses, especially against Alzheimer’s disease.

O bioma Cerrado vem se destacando quanto à fonte de compostos bioativos devido à sua flora vegetal, estimada em cerca de sete mil espécies. O uso de plantas para o tratamento de doenças é tão antigo quanto à espécie humana e essa utilização saiu do âmbito do empirismo e hoje ganha status de ciência. Dentre as doenças com maiores índices de crescimento da taxa de mortalidade destacamos a Doença de Alzheimer (DA), a qual está associada ao “déficit” nos níveis de neurotransmissores cerebrais, dentre eles a acetilcolina, responsável pela memória e raciocínio lógico. Os medicamentos modernos elevam os níveis desse neurotransmissor pela inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE). Atualmente, as pesquisas buscam novos inibidores da  AchE a partir de extratos de plantas. Neste estudo foi realizada uma busca bibliográfica em periódicos especializados nas bases Scientific Eletronic Library Online, Science Direct e Google Acadêmico, utilizando-se as seguintes palavras-chaves: atividade anticolinesterásica e Cerrado. Como resultado obteve-se 28 estudos que após serem submetidos à análise dos títulos possibilitaram a recuperação de 16 trabalhos publicados entre 2009 e 2019. Ao todo foram identificados estudos com 31 famílias botânicas, sendo que a família Fabaceae foi à majoritária. Contabilizou-se 61 espécies analisadas, sendo que 57% apresentaram atividade anticolinesterásica.

The present work evaluated the inhibitor potential of acetylcholinesterase, the preliminary toxicity and determination of active components of different leaf and seed extracts of Parkia platycephala. All extracts were obtained through hot extraction in a closed system (Soxhlet). To obtain the leaf and seed hexanic, methanolic, and ethanolic extracts (LHE, LME, LEE, and SHE, SME, and SEE), sequential extraction was performed on the same plant sample using hexane, methanol, and hydroethanol solution (70%). Preliminary Phytochemical analysis and the characterization by gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was performed. The content of phenols total flavonoids and the antioxidant potential was then quantified.The preliminary toxicity against Artemia salina was also evaluated and the potential for acetylcholinesterase inhibition was determined. The presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols/triterpenoids and alkaloids were detected in phytochemical analysis. The leaf extracts showed antioxidant potential, LEM (IC 50 = 30.19 ± 0.75 μg/ml) and LEE (IC 50 = 40.62 ± 0.65 μg/ml). The analysis by GC-MS indicated a diversity of volatile compounds, evidencing urs-12-ene (triterpenoid) and 1,2,3-benzenetriol (phenol) in the leaf extracts, and linoelaidic acid (fatty acid), (Z)-9-octadecenamide, tricycle [20.8.0.0 (7.16)] triacontane,1(22),7(16)-diepoxy-, (Z)-7-hexadecenal (fatty aldehyde) in the seed extracts. The preliminary toxicity analysis demonstrated that the use of P. platyceplaha leave and seeds for medicinal purposes is relatively safe. All the extracts inhibited acetylcholinesterase, compared to the physostigmine control, with IC 50 values in the range of 9.85 to 15.68 mg/ml. Thus, these data support the use of P. platycephala as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease.