The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, intensive chemotherapy, AIDS patients and neonates, is increasing at an alarming rate. 1,2) These mycoses are very difficult to eradicate, and present an enormous challenge for healthcare providers. 3,4) The diversity of plant species in Brazil, together with their known ethnopharmacological uses, creates enormous potential for finding new structures with antifungal properties. 5,6) The Piperaceae is a vast family of plants, which has been extensively used for medicinal purposes.7) It comprises about 10 genus and approximately 2000 species, most of them herbaceous, 8) which are found mainly in tropical areas. Piper and Peperomia, the two greatest genera of the family, are well-represented in the Brazilian flora. 9)Within the Piperaceae family, the genus Piper has over 700 species, distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Its phytochemistry has been object of extensive reviews. 10,11) With regard to the ethnopharmacological information, while the pungent and aromatic fruits of some species of Piper are used as spices, most of them find wide application in traditional systems of medicine 10,11) as insecticides, 7,[12][13][14] antivirals, 15,16) antimicrobials [17][18][19][20][21] and particularly antifungals. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28] These biological properties have been attributed to the presence of lignans and/or amides, such as alkyl or olefinic isobutylamides, 7,23,29) flavonoids, kawa-lactones, butenolides and cyclohexane epoxides, among others. 10)Among the different species of Piper growing in Brazil, Piper solmsianum (syn. P. leucathum or P. santosanum) known popularly as "pariparoba", is a shrub that measures 1-3 m. There are few reports on the chemical or biological studies of this plant. In contrast, phytochemical studies indicated the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, arylpropanoids and neolignans. [30][31][32] Recently, we have demonstrated that the fractions and some pure compounds (lignans) from the leaves of this plant exhibit significant activity against Gram-positive bacteria. 33)The current study extends our previous work on the biological properties of P. solmsianum and describes the in vitro antifungal activity of extracts, fractions and pure compounds against a panel of opportunistic pathogenic fungi using the agar dilution method. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant MaterialPiper solmsianum C. DC. var. solmsianum (Piperaceae) was collected in May, 2001, in Ponta Grossa, State of Paraná, Brazil, and identified by Dr. Elsie Franklin Guimarães (Rio de Janeiro Botanic Museum Herbarium). A voucher specimen was deposited in the same herbarium under the number RB 368597.Phytochemical Analyses Air-dried leaves (1.36 kg) of P. solmsianum var. solmsianum were cut into small pieces and macerated at room temperature for one week in methanol. After filtration, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporat...

The antinociceptive properties of some fractions and two pure compounds, conocarpan and orientin, obtained from P. solmsianum leaves were investigated in several models of pain in mice. The results indicated that this plant exhibits a promising antinociceptive profile, as it produces active principles which are several times more active than some reference drugs used for comparison. The main compound tested, orientin, caused potent and dose-dependent effects against acetic acid-induced writhing and capsaicin- and glutamate-induced nociception, being more effective against the first one, with an ID(50) value of 6.5 mg/kg (14.5 micromol/kg). Orientin was about 20-fold more potent than acetylsalicylic acid and 3.5-fold more active than indomethacin. The antinociceptive effects of this plant may be attributed, at least partially, to the presence of conocarpan and, in particular, to the flavonoid orientin.

Com a finalidade de colaborar para a geração de fitoterápicos, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um screening da atividade antimicrobiana in vitro dos extratos das plantas Piper solmsianum e Equisetum arvensis. Os rendimentos dos extratos brutos etanólicos foram de 18,6% para folhas de P. solmsianum e de 6,7 % para as partes aéreas de E. arvensis. A atividade antimicrobiana foi testada frente ao Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 e Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, utilizando o método de difusão em ágar cilindro em placas. Os extratos foram testados nas concentrações de 2000µg (1:1), 1000 µg (1:2), 500 µg (1:4), 250 µg (1:8) e 125 µg (1:16) dissolvidos em DMSO. O extrato de E. arvensis apresentou atividade antimicrobiana até a concentração de 125 µg (1:16) para ambas as cepas testadas, com halo médio de inibição de 11,5 mm para S. aureus e 11mm para E. coli. O extrato bruto etanólico de P. solmsianum também apresentou atividade antimicrobiana até a concentração de 125 µg (1:16) para ambas as cepas, com halo médio de inibição de 15 mm para S. aureus e 11mm para E. coli. A atividade antimicrobiana dos extratos testados foi considerada moderada tanto para microrganismos Gram positivo como Gram negativo.

In an effort to identify novel biopesticides, the present study aimed to assess the effects of Philodendron meridionale (Buturi & Sakur) stem and leaf ketonic and ethanolic extracts (SKE, SEE, LKE, and LEE, respectively) on the germination, growth, root respiration, and enzymatic activities of Lactuca sativa L. seeds, and to measure the associated saponins, phenolics, and flavonoids that may possess herbicidal, pharmaceutical, or pesticidal activities. The extracts were obtained using a modified Soxhlet apparatus and methanolic extracts of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 mg.mL-1 were tested, with water and methanol as a control. The presence of saponins and the concentration of phenolic compounds were determined. Allelopathic activity was evaluated in tests of germination, growth, cellular respiration and enzymatic activity. The presence of saponins and the concentration of phenolic compounds equivalent to 225.12 for LKE, 240.45 for LEE, 193.28 for SKE, and 265.14 for SEE (mg·g-1.gallic acid), and flavonoids 52.74 for LKE, 54.31 for LEE, 72.74 for SKE, and 67.21 for SEE (mg.g-1.quercetin) were determined. The allelopathy of the P. meridionale extracts against L. sativa was confirmed through negative effects on L. sativa seed germination, radical growth and morphology, dry mass, and the concentrations of α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), and polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1). It was likely that the allelopathic action of the P. meridionale extracts was related to its effects on the membrane permeability and oxidative stress of the treated L. sativa seeds. The P. meridionale extracts contained saponins, calcium oxalate crystals, and flavonoids, including phenolic compounds, which are known allelochemicals with herbicidal activities.

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