The goal of the study was to evaluate the ability of filamentous fungi to biotransform the pentacyclic triterpene lupeol. The microbial transformations were carried out in shake flasks in different media. Experiments were also run with control flasks. Samples of each culture were taken every 24 hours, extracted with ethyl acetate, and analyzed by GC-MS. The biotransformation of lupeol by Aspergillus ochraceus and Mucor rouxii afforded two compounds in each culture, which were detected in the cultures developed for more than seven days only in the Koch’s K1 medium. The obtained data demonstrated that A. ochraceus is a good biocatalyst to introduce double bonds in the lupeol structure, whereas M. rouxii exhibits ability to biocatalyze oxygen insertions in that pentacyclic triterpene. Mass spectrometry was demonstrated to be an efficient analytical method to select promising biocatalysts for the compound investigated in this study. The biotransformation processes were influenced by the culture medium and incubation period. The obtained results open the perspective of using A. ochraceus and M. rouxii in pentacyclic triterpene biotransformations.

Aim:The present study was undertaken to evaluate the acute and subchronic antihyperglycemic effects of methanolic extract of Bowdichia virgilioides root bark of B. virgilioides in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Materials and Methods:The extract (100, 250 or 500 mg/kg) was orally administered to male Wistar diabetic (STZ, 42 mg/kg i.v.) and non-diabetic rats into two main protocols: (i) subchronic experiments, where animals were treated for 21 days with B. virgilioides extract and the following parameters were evaluated: Body weight, fluid and food intake (determined daily), urinary glucose and urea (every 3 days) and glycemia (every 5 days). At the end of the experimental period, skeletal muscles (extensor digitorum longus [EDL] and soleus), retroperitoneal and epididymal white adipose tissues were collected and weighed; liver samples were used for the determination of the lipid and glycogen contents; (ii) acute experiments, which evaluated the alterations on fasting and post-prandial glycemia and on glucose tolerance using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).Results:In subchronic experiments, the treatment with B. virgilioides extract did not change any parameter evaluated in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. On fasting and post-prandial glycemia, the extract treatment did not promote changes in the glycemia values in diabetic or non-diabetic animals. In OGTT, the treatment with 500 mg/kg B. virgilioides extract reduced the hyperglycemia peak after a glucose overload, when compared with non-treated diabetic animals, resulting in a lower area under curve.Conclusion:The results of our work indicate that B. virgilioides root extract promotes an acute antihyperglycemic effect in STZ-diabetic rats; this effect probably occurs through an inhibition of the intestinal glucose absorption. The continuity of the research is necessary to elucidate these possibilities.

RESUMO: O gênero Acosmium possui 17 espécies com distribuição geográfica que se estende do sudeste do México até o Nordeste da Argentina, sendo que a maioria das espécies está localizada no Brasil. A. dasycarpum, A. panamense, A. subelegans são as espécies mais utilizadas popularmente no tratamento de enfermidades. Uma busca na literatura, resguardando aspectos químicos e farmacológicos destas plantas, indicam atividade citotóxica, ação antitérmica, efeito hipoglicêmico, bem como tem sido usada no tratamento da doença de Alzheimer e desordens no sistema nervoso central. Investigação fitoquímica resultou principalmente no isolamento de terpenos, ácido cafêico, alcalóides do tipo diaza-adamantano e quinolizidínicos bem como pironas.

Resumo A raiz de Lonchocarpus longifolius (Benth.) Ducke. sin. Derris longilofia Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae), dos arredores de Manaus, Amazonas, contém rotenona, 12a-hidroxirotenona e 6a, 12a-deshidrorotenona ao lado de deguelina e 12a-hidroxideguelina (tefrosina).

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