Screening for antifungal, DNA-damaging and anticholinesterasic activities of Brazilian plants from the Atlantic Rainforest - Ilha do Cardoso State Park

Author(s)

Cardoso-Lopes, Elaine Monteiro ; Carreira, Rosana Cristina ; Agripino, Debora Gomes ; Brandao Torres, Luce Maria ; Cordeiro, Ines ; Bolzani, Vanderlan da Silva ; de Campos Dietrich, Sonia Machado ; Marx Young, Maria Claudia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY; v. 18, p. 6-pg., 2008-12-01.

Abstract

Crude extracts from 17 plant species collected from an Atlantic Forest region in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil) have been screened for antifungal, DNA-damaging and acetylcholinesterase inhibiting activities. Of the 34 extracts obtained from leaves and stems of plants assayed for antifungal activity with Cladosporium sphaerospermum and C. cladosporioides 26.5% were active. However, only the extract of leaves of Cabralea canjerana showed a strong inhibition of both fungi. The DNA-damaging assay with mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in 11.7 % of the extracts being active whereas 100% of them showed selectivity for the DNA-repair mechanism of topoisomerase II. Of the 17 species analysed, 12 showed anticholinesterasic activity in TLC assay. However, only extracts from Tetrastylidium grandifolium (stems) and Sloanea guianensis (leaves and stems) inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity more than 50% in quantitative assay. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/02176-7 - Conservation and sustainable use of the diversity from Cerrado and Atlantic Forest: chemical diversity and prospecting for potential drugs - phase II
• Grantee: Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants