Campomanesia xanthocarpa, a plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is popularly known as gabiroba. Leaves of gabiroba has been popularly used to treat various diseases, including inflammatory, renal, and digestive, among others. Additionally, studies have shown an effect to reduce blood cholesterol levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa seed extract in hyperglycemic rats. The results showed that 400 mg/kg of seed extract was able to decrease blood glucose levels and to increase the muscular and hepatic glycogen content as well as to inhibit the sucrase and maltase activity. At doses of 200 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg, the activity of these enzymes was also reduced. In the lipid profile 400 mg/kg produced a decrease in total and LDL cholesterol serum levels; and with 200 mg/kg there was an increase in HDL cholesterol levels. The extract did not present hepatic and renal toxic effects at the different doses tested. The results suggest that the treatment with Campomanesia xanthocarpa seeds extract is useful in reducing glycemia, total cholesterol and LDL levels with potential adjuvant therapeutic in the treatment of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, however, additional pharmacological and toxicological studies are still required.

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Helietta apiculata collected in different seasons in southern Brazil, was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectometry (GC.MS). Twenty-eight compounds were identified and limonene was the major compound found for all seasons, 29.1% (spring), 24.8% (summer), 30.2% (autumn) and 28.5% (winter). The essential oil obtained in summer and autumn yielded higher concentrations of monoterpenes, winter and spring yielded the highest concentrations of sesquiterpenes. The essential oil collected in summer and autumn showed higher activity against the bacteria tested, and the oil collected in spring was effective only against E. coli.