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| | 1. |
2005 Jun |
Molluscicidal activity of some Brazilian Solanum spp. (Solanaceae) against Biomphalaria glabrata.
Silva TM, Batista MM, Camara CA, Agra MF
Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2005 Jun;99(4):419-25.
Abstract
Plants in the genus Solanum (Solanaceae) produce a great variety of steroidal saponins and glycoalkaloids that confer natural resistance against several pests. Methanolic extracts of 13 Solanum species have now been tested for molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata. The extracts investigated were prepared from the fruit of S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum, S. paraibanum and S. sisymbriifolium, the aerial parts of S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. crinitum, S. diamantinense, S. megalonyx, S. palinacantum, S. paniculatum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. torvum, and the roots of S. asperum, S. asterophorum, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum and S. stipulaceum. Encouragingly, the extracts from S. asperum, S. diamantinese, S. paludosum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. stipulaceum showed significant molluscicidal activity, the median lethal concentrations recorded (20-50 microg/ml) falling well below the threshold, of 100 microg/ml, set for a potential molluscicide by the World Health Organization.
[Pubmed: 15949190]
| | 2. |
1991 |
Chemical and pharmacological investigation of Solanum species of Brazil--a search for solasodine and other potentially useful therapeutic agents.
Barbosa-Filho JM, Agra MF, Oliveira RA, Paulo MQ, Trolin G, Cunha EV, Ataide JR, Bhattacharyya J
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 1991;86 Suppl 2:189-91.
Abstract
A systematic search for solasodine, an important starting material for the partial synthesis of steroidal hormones as well as other potentially bioactive constituents of various Solanum species of Brazil has been undertaken. Thus, the fruits of S. paludosum, S. asperum, S. sessiliflorum and Solanum sp. were found to contain significant amounts of solasodine. The root bark of S. paludosum which showed curare like activity yielded tomatidenol and another yet unidentified alkaloid responsible for the biological activity. The fruits of S. asperum yielded a new spirosolane alkaloid, solaparnaine. The stem bark of S. pseudo-quina showed convulsive and excitatory activity from which (25S)-isosolafloridine was identified as the active principle. In addition, the latter alkaloid was also found to show antimicrobial activity.
[Pubmed: 1841999]
| | 3. |
2006 Feb |
Plant Sexual Systems and a Review of the Breeding System Studies in the Caatinga, a Brazilian Tropical Dry Forest
MACHADO, LOPES, SAZIMA
Ann Bot 2006 Feb;97(2):277-287.
Abstract
• Backgrounds and Aims The reproductive biology of a community can provide answers to questions related to the maintenance of the intraspecific pollen flow and reproductive success of populations, sharing and competition for pollinators and also questions on conservation of natural habitats affected by fragmentation processes. This work presents, for the first time, data on the occurrence and frequency of plant sexual systems for Caatinga communities, and a review of the breeding system studies of Caatinga species.
[Pubmed: 16377654]
| | 4. |
2004 Aug 7 |
Correlations between adult mimicry and larval host plants in ithomiine butterflies.
Willmott, Mallet
Proc Biol Sci 2004 Aug 7;271(Suppl 5):S266-S269.
Abstract
The apparent paradox of multiple coexisting wing pattern mimicry 'rings' in tropical butterflies has been explained as a result of microhabitat partitioning in adults. However, very few studies have tested this hypothesis. In neotropical forests, ithomiine butterflies dominate and display the richest diversity of mimicry rings. We show that co-mimetic species occupy the same larval host-plant species significantly more often than expected in two out of five communities that we surveyed; in one of these, the effect remains significant after phylogenetic correction. This relationship is most probably a result of a third correlated variable, such as microhabitat. Host-plant microhabitat may constrain adult movement, or host-plant choice may depend on butterfly microhabitat preferences and mimicry associations. This link between mimicry and host plant could help explain some host-plant and mimicry shifts, which have been important in the radiation of this speciose tropical group.
[Pubmed: 15503990]
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