This study aimed to evaluate the initial growth of aroeira in Oxisol soil with the addition of different organic (humus and vermicompost) and organic/mineral substrates (commercial substrate) and rock powder. Seeds were collected and, after germination, transplanted to different types of substrate. The treatments assembled, with different proportions of compounds, were: T1 (50% humus + 50% Oxisol); T2 (50% commercial substrate + 50% Oxisol); T3 (50% vermicompost + 50% Oxisol); T4 (40% humus + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T5 (40% commercial substrate + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T6 (40% vermicompost + 40% Oxisol + 20% rock powder); T7 (30% humus + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder); T8 (30% commercial substrate + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder); and T9 (30% vermicompost + 30% Oxisol + 40% rock powder). Initial plant development was influenced by the treatments; 20% powder and 40% nitrogen from humus (T4) produced seedlings with the greatest root, aerial part and total weight, in addition to greatest height and collar diameter. The data obtained indicate that aroeira develops better when in argillaceous substrates, with the addition of 40% humus and 20% rock powder, indicating the adequacy of this composition for its initial growth.

The Brazilian Cerrado has several botanical species for medicinal purposes used by traditional communities and many of these plants are not included in the list of Medicinal Plants Research Program of Central Medicines. The purpose of this study was the phytochemical screening and toxicology bioassay front of Brine shrimp L. of ethanolic extracts of eight species of plants used in folk medicine of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The ethanolic extracts were submitted to phytochemical screening, determination of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Toxicological assays were carried front of Brine shrimp according to standard methodology. The analysis TLC and HPLC-DAD confirmed the predominance of phenolic compounds and derivatives, specifically for the quercetin. The most toxic was the C. affinis DC. with death at all concentrations, the A. humile A. St. Hil. showed no mortality and the other species showed intermediate toxicity. The extracts of the investigated species are rich in phenolic compounds and derivatives, specifically quercetin, and feature toxicity between moderate to high, a fact that requires attention, since much of the traditional communities rely on herbal drugs in its raw form with preventive and curative purpose, meeting the basic health care.

The constant use of chemical insecticides for Aedes aegypti control has caused resistance in the mosquito populations. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the larvicidal potential of extracts and fractions of plants on A. aegypti larvae. The analysis included sixty one extracts and twenty five fractions of fifty botanical species at concentrations of 0.25; 0.12; 0.06 to 0.03 mg mL^-1; 4 replications and one negative control of dechlorinate water and 1% DMSO; and a positive control with rotenone. The toxicity index in descending order with LC₅₀ for the most active of the extracts selected were ethanol extract of Ormosea arborea (0.111 mg mL^-1) seeds and ethanol extracts of leaves such as Piper hispidum (0.169 mg mL^-1), Solanum variabile (0.188 mg mL^-1), O. arborea (0.238 mg mL^-1), Turnera umifolia (0.242 mg mL^-1) and Piper hispidum (0.567 mg mL^-1). For plant fractions, the most active were chloroform (0.192 mg mL^-1) and hexane (0.342 mg mL^-1) P. aduncum leaves, hexane fraction (0.415 mg mL^-1) and methanol extract (0.625 mg mL^-1) of Spermacocea latifolia leaves. Regarding the extract of T. umifolia single species, there is no bibliographic report on their degree of efficiency as an insecticide.

The use of natural products obtained from plants, for example, invasive plants, offers a variety of allelochemicals with fungicidal potential. With this in perspective, the objective was to evaluate the fungicidal potential of ethanolic extracts of Cerrado plants on Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. The ethanolic hydroalcoholic extract of the 12 plants identified as invaders in the Brazilian Cerrado was prepared (Anacardium humile Saint Hill; Baccharis dracunculifolia DC.; Cenchrus echinatus L; Commelina erecta L.; Erigeron bonariensis L.; Digitaria horizontalis Willd.; Digitaria insularis L.; Porophyllum ruderale Jacq. Cass; Richardia brasiliensis Gomes; Sida rhombifolia L.; Turnera ulmifolia L.; Smilax fluminensis Steud)) and phytochemical screening and determination of total phenols and flavonoids were performed. To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity, the hydroalcoholic solutions at concentrations of 800, 1200, 1600, 2000, and 2400 µL 100 mL^-1 were separately incorporated into BDA agar and poured into Petri dishes, followed by the mycelium disk of the fungus. As a control, two solutions were prepared, one ethanolic solution added to the BDA medium (2400 µg 100 mL^-1) and the other with BDA medium only. They were poured into Petri dishes, followed by a 0.5 cm diameter disk of mycelium of the fungus, incubated (23±2 ºC), with a 24-hour photoperiod. Among the constituents found in the plants, 75% are phenolic compounds, 58.3% are cardiotonic heterosides, 50% are steroids, 33.3% are flavonoids, 16.7% are anthraquinones, and 8.3% are alkaloids, saponins, and reducing sugars. Out of the 12 species, only the extracts of C. erecta and R. brasiliensis were active for M. phaseolina and R. solani. Thus, it is concluded that the ethanolic extract of C. erecta has the fungicidal potential to control diseases caused by fungi that are soil inhabitants. Of the other species, A. humille, B. dracuncufolia, D. insulares, C. erecta, D. insulares, P. ruderale, and R. brasiliensis have natural fungitoxic potential because they stand out in the content of polyphenols efficient in reducing the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina and R. solani.

Medicinal plants, such as E. pyramidale, are alternatives against infections and assist in the healing process of wounds. We evaluated the effects of Hydrogel of E. pyramidale on the healing of cutaneous wounds in animal models by morphological, morphometric and histological analyses, and elucidated major components. The ethanolic extract of E. pyramidale shoots was submitted to phytochemical analysis. For cicatrizing activity assay, Wistar rats were used, and the groups evaluated were hydrogel containing ethanolic extract of E. pyramidale at 2% compared to control groups. The treatment periods were 3, 7 and 21 days, and macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed. Data were submitted to Analysis of Variance (p <0.05). Phytochemistry and quantification evidenced that flavonoids are main constituents and that they were evidenced by thin layer chromatography (TLC), high efficiency (HPLC) and infrared (IR) methods. In TLC, using flavonoid patterns, we observed pinocembrin. The hydrogel containing ethanolic extract of E. pyramidale at 2% was effective in wound regression. E. pyramidale can be used for the treatment of second intention wounds, and the effective healing may be due to a high flavonoid content.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, causes damage at several stages of the maize crop cycle. Due to its resistance to synthetic insecticides and the high costs of pest control, there is an ever-increasing amount of research on alternative or complementary products that have a minor environmental and financial impact on agriculture. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and insecticidal potential of Ocimum gratissimum (african basil) leaves essential oil and the effect of its major component, thymol, on S. frugiperda control. Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified p-cymene, γ-terpinene, and thymol compounds as the main constituents of the oil, which presented a yield of 4.75%. Among the 30 identified compounds, thymol (33.2%) was the major constituent, representing 97.8% of the total oil. The efficacy of both the oil and thymol standard (Sigma-Aldrich) was evaluated against S. frugiperda using topical acute toxicity and contact surface tests at different concentrations. The oil was more active than thymol standard, with topical acute toxicity of LD50 at 0.020 μl/insect and LC50 at 0.171 μl/cm2 for contact surface toxicity. The oil proved to be superior to the thymol standard, offering an effective and promising alternative for the control of S. frugiperda, which is most likely due to the contribution of other oil components that acted synergistically. Consequently, this result provides an opportunity for further study and the development of an effective fall armyworm control system. El cartucho de oruga, Spodoptera frugiperda, causa daños en varias etapas del ciclo del cultivo del maíz. Debido a su resistencia a los insecticidas sintéticos y los altos costos del control de plagas, existe un número creciente de investigaciones sobre productos alternativos con menor impacto ambiental y financiero en la agricultura. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la composición química y el potencial insecticida del aceite esencial de hojas de Ocimum gratissimum (albahaca africana) y el efecto de su componente principal, el timol, en el control de S. frugiperda. Los análisis de cromatografía de gases (CG) y cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas (CG-EM) identificaron los compuestos p-cimeno, γ-terpineno y timol como los principales constituyentes del aceite, con un rendimiento del 4,75%. Entre los 30 compuestos identificados, el timol (33,2%) fue el constituyente principal, representando el 97,8% del aceite total. La efectividad del aceite y el timol estándar (Sigma-Aldrich) se evaluó contra S. frugiperda usando pruebas de toxicidad tópica aguda y superficies de contacto a diferentes concentraciones. El aceite fue más activo que el timol estándar, con toxicidad tópica aguda de LD50 a 0.020 μL/insecto y LC50 a 0.171 μL/cm2 para la toxicidad de la superficie de contacto. El aceite demostró ser superior al estándar de timol, ofreciendo una alternativa efectiva y prometedora para el control de S. frugiperda, lo que probablemente se deba al aporte de otros componentes del aceite que actuaron sinérgicamente. En consecuencia, este resultado brinda la oportunidad de realizar más estudios y desarrollar un sistema de control de oruga de cartucho eficaz. A lagarta-do-cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda, causa danos em vários estágios do ciclo da cultura do milho. Devido à sua resistência aos inseticidas sintéticos e aos altos custos do controle de pragas, há um número cada vez maior de pesquisas sobre produtos alternativos com menor impacto ambiental e financeiro na agricultura. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a composição química e o potencial inseticida do óleo essencial de folhas de Ocimum gratissimum (manjericão africano) e o efeito de seu principal componente, o timol, no controle de S. frugiperda. As análises por Cromatografia Gasosa (CG) e Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massa (CG-EM) identificaram os compostos p-cimeno, γ-terpineno e timol como principais constituintes do óleo, que apresentou rendimento de 4,75%. Entre os 30 compostos identificados, o timol (33,2%) foi o principal constituinte, representando 97,8% do óleo total. A eficácia do óleo e do timol padrão (Sigma-Aldrich) foi avaliada contra S. frugiperda usando toxicidade aguda tópica e testes de superfície de contato em diferentes concentrações. O óleo foi mais ativo do que o timol padrão, com toxicidade aguda tópica de LD50 em 0,020 μL/inseto e LC50 em 0,171 μL/cm2 para toxicidade de superfície de contato. O óleo mostrou-se superior ao padrão timol, oferecendo uma alternativa eficaz e promissora para o controle de S. frugiperda, o que provavelmente se deve à contribuição de outros componentes do óleo que atuaram sinergicamente. Consequentemente, este resultado fornece uma oportunidade para estudos adicionais e o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle eficaz da lagarta do cartucho.