Species Of Aspidosperma Research Articles

Taxonomy and nomenclature of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae)

Aspidosperma is one of the most diverse and economically relevant taxa within Apocynaceae, leading to several taxonomic studies being carried out with the genus. However, since its species number varies widely depending on the treatment, questions regarding which species ought to be recognized in the genus are frequent. We addressed all names and designations in Aspidosperma and proposed 19 new synonyms, six neotypes, 59 lectotypes, and 15 second-step lectotypes. We also created an online interactive identification key for the 80 recognized species of Aspidosperma.

Reestablishment, new records, and a key for the species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT As a result of systematic study of the Neotropical genus Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae), we reestablish the species A. centrale and A. duckei, and report A. steinbachii and A. tambopatense as new records for Brazil. We provide taxonomic descriptions of these species along with plates, distribution maps, and information on their conservation status, habitat and phenology. We also provide an identification key for all the species of Aspidosperma from the Brazilian Amazon.

Biological activities of extracts from Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. and in silico prediction for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase

Species of Aspidosperma are traditionally used to treat malaria, leishmaniasis, microbial, and inflammatory diseases. Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. known as "guatambu" is used in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and digestive diseases. Its tonic properties have been employed by the indigenous populations to stimulate the circulatory and genitourinary tracts and to improve respiratory function as well as to relieve spasms and to reduce fever. The species is known to contain antitumoural and antimalarial indole alkaloids. In the present study, various less explored biological activities of extracts from leaves and branches of A.subincanum were investigated, that is, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Twenty-one known indole alkaloids from this species were targeted for predicting the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and their biological activities were collected from the literature. Through in silico the prediction, the indole alkaloids uleine and derivatives demonstrated a strong probability of being able to inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, as well as the olivacine derivatives 3,4-dihydroolivacine and N-methyl-tetrahydro-olivacine (guatambuine), and the subincanadines C and E. Indeed, the extracts of A.subincanum showed acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, antioxidant activity in the lipid peroxidation assay, and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and their pharmacological properties should be explored further.

Taxonomy of Aspidosperma Mart. (Apocynaceae, Rauvolfioideae) in the State of Pará, Northern Brazil

Aspidosperma Mart. is one of the most important genera from Apocynaceae Juss. occurring in Brazil. It is present in many plant formations and has species with both medicinal and economic value. From a taxonomic point of view, many of its species are difficult to identify, especially those occurring in the Amazonian region. In order to complement the information already available with regard to the taxonomy and distribution of the genus, the goal of this work was to provide a taxonomic study of the Aspidosperma species occurring in the state of Pará, northern Brazil. This study was based on the analysis of vouchers from the BHCB, HBRA, IAC, IAN, INPA, MG, R, RB and UEC herbaria, as well as scanned images of vouchers from Brazilian and foreign herbaria, and specimens collected in the field. Species identification was confirmed by analysis of protologues and types (or images). We present taxonomic descriptions, illustrations and one identification key for the 20 species of Aspidosperma found in Pará, with the Baixo Amazonas Mesoregion presenting the largest number of species (17), and the Metropolitana de Belém Mesoregion presenting the smallest number of species (3). Aspidosperma eteanum, A. oblongum, A. salgadense (endemic of Pará) and A. sandwithianum are accepted as species here. Aspidosperma cuspa is a new record for Pará. The fruits of Aspidosperma eteanum and A. salgadense, and the seeds of A. eteanum, have been described and illustrated for the first time.

Anti-malarial activity of indole alkaloids isolated from Aspidosperma olivaceum.

BackgroundSeveral species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are used as treatments for human diseases in the tropics. Aspidosperma olivaceum, which is used to treat fevers in some regions of Brazil, contains the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) aspidoscarpine, uleine, apparicine, and N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine. Using bio-guided fractionation and cytotoxicity testing in a human hepatoma cell line, several plant fractions and compounds purified from the bark and leaves of the plant were characterized for specific therapeutic activity (and selectivity index, SI) in vitro against the blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum.MethodsThe activity of A. olivaceum extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds was evaluated against chloroquine (CQ)-resistant P. falciparum blood parasites by in vitro testing with radiolabelled [3H]-hypoxanthine and a monoclonal anti-histidine-rich protein (HRPII) antibody. The cytotoxicity of these fractions and compounds was evaluated in a human hepatoma cell line using a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the SI was calculated as the ratio between the toxicity and activity. Two leaf fractions were tested in mice with Plasmodium berghei.ResultsAll six fractions from the bark and leaf extracts were active in vitro at low doses (IC50 < 5.0 μg/mL) using the anti-HRPII test, and only two (the neutral and basic bark fractions) were toxic to a human cell line (HepG2). The most promising fractions were the crude leaf extract and its basic residue, which had SIs above 50. Among the four pure compounds evaluated, aspidoscarpine in the bark and leaf extracts showed the highest SI at 56; this compound, therefore, represents a possible anti-malarial drug that requires further study. The acidic leaf fraction administered by gavage to mice with blood-induced malaria was also active.ConclusionUsing a bio-monitoring approach, it was possible to attribute the anti-P. falciparum activity of A. olivaceum to aspidoscarpine and, to a lesser extent, N-methyl-tetrahydrolivacine; other isolated MIA molecules were active but had lower SIs due to their higher toxicities. These results stood in contrast to previous work in which the anti-malarial activity of other Aspidosperma species was attributed to uleine.

Application of pH-zone-refining countercurrent chromatography for the separation of indole alkaloids from Aspidosperma rigidum Rusby

Species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) are characterized by the occurrence of indole alkaloids, but few recent reports on Aspidosperma rigidum Rusby chemical constituents were found. The present work shows the application of pH-zone refining countercurrent chromatography on the separation of alkaloids from the barks of A. rigidum. In this study, the dichloromethane extract was fractionated with the solvent system composed of methyl-tert-butyl ether and water with different concentrations of the retainer triethylamine in the organic stationary phase and formic or hydrochloric acids as eluters in the aqueous mobile phase, in order to evaluate the most suitable condition. In each experiment, from circa 200mg of the dichloromethane extract of A. rigidum, three major alkaloids were isolated and identified as 3α-aricine (circa 17mg), isoreserpiline (ca. 22mg) and 3β-reserpiline (ca. 40mg), with relative purity of 79%, 89% and 82% respectively, in a one-step separation of 2h. Two of them – 3α-aricine and isoreserpiline – were isolated and identified for the first time in this species.

The pharmacognosy of the Aspidosperma barks of British Guiana. VI. The microscopy of the bark of Aspidosperma oblongum A. DC. and summary of parts I-VI.

Abstract In Parts I to V of this series of papers the barks of five species of Aspidosperma have been described and illustrated. The present paper deals with the anatomy of a sixth bark, Aspidosperma oblongum A.DC, summarises the results of all six papers and provides keys for the identification of the six barks either in the whole state or in powder.

Preliminary studies on the antibacterial activity of crude extracts and alkaloids from species of Aspidosperma

Screening tests of hydroethanolic crude extracts of six species of Aspidosperma (Apocynaceae) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were performed. Aspidosperma ramiflorum Muell. Arg. showed good activity against Bacillus subtilis with MIC and MBC of 15.7 and 125 μg/mL, moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC and MBC of 250 and 500 μg/mL, and weak activity against Escherichia coli with MIC and MBC of 1000 μg/mL. Aspidosperma pyricolum Muell. Arg. (MIC/MBC 125/250 μg/mL) and Aspidosperma olivaceum Muell. Arg. (MIC/MBC 250/ > 1000 μg/mL) displayed moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Separation of the crude extract of Aspidosperma ramiflorum was performed according to the usual acid–base process, which produces alkaloid mixtures and closely related metabolites. The basic fraction was active against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, with MICs of 31.2, 62.5, and 250 μg/mL, respectively. The basic fractions were more active than the acid fractions, probably because they contained some active alkaloids and/or closely related metabolites absent from the other fractions, or they contained a higher concentration of these active compounds.

Preliminary studies on the antibacterial activity of crude extracts and alkaloids from species ofAspidosperma

Preliminary studies on the antibacterial activity of crude extracts and alkaloids from species ofAspidosperma

Morfologia polínica das espécies arbóreas de Apocynaceae do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Foi analisada no presente trabalho a morfologia polínica de sete espécies pertencentes a três gêneros da família Apocynaceae ocorrentes no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os grãos de pólen das três espécies de Aspidosperma [A. australe Muell. Arg. A. pyricollum Muell. Arg. e A. ramiflorum Muell. Arg.] correspondem a um mesmo tipo polínico e não apresentam características morfológicas específicas. O mesmo fato ocorre com as três espécies do gênero Peschiera (Peschiera cf. australis (Muell. Arg.) Miers, Peschiera catharinensis (DC) Miers e Peschiera aff. histrix (Stend.) DC. Rauvolfia sellowii Muell. Arg. apresenta uma morfologia polínica característica por meio de grãos de pólen oblatos e brevicolpados. Característico para todas as espécies examinadas é a formação de um vestíbulo na área apertural dos grãos de pólen.