Essential Oils from Annonaceae Species from Brazil: A Systematic Review of Their Phytochemistry, and Biological Activities

The present work involves a systematic review of the chemical composition and biological effects of essential oils from the Annonaceae species collected in Brazil from 2011 to 2021. Annonaceae is one of the most important botanical families in Brazil, as some species have economic value in the market as local and international fruit. In addition, the species have useful applications in several areas—for instance, as raw materials for use in cosmetics and perfumery and as medicinal plants. In folk medicine, species such as Annona glabra L. and Xylopia sericea A. St.-Hil. are used to treat diseases such as rheumatism and malaria. The species of Annonaceae are an important source of essential oils and are rich in compounds belonging to the classes of mono and sesquiterpenes; of these compounds, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, (E)-caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene, caryophyllene oxide, germacrene D, spathulenol, and β-elemene are the most abundant. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antileishmania, antioxidant, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, larvicidal, trypanocidal, and antimalarial activities of essential oils from the Annonaceae species in Brazil have been described in previous research, with the most studies on this topic being related to their antiproliferative or cytotoxic activities. In some studies, it was observed that the biological activity reported for these essential oils was superior to that of drugs available on the market, as is the case of the essential oil of the species Guatteria punctata (Aubl.) R. A. Howard., which showed a trypanocidal effect that was 34 times stronger than that of the reference drug benznidazol.

BIOACTIVITY ANALYSIS OF Annona glabra L. SEED EXTRACTS FOR WOOD PROTECTION AGAINST TERMITES (Cryptotermes cynocephalus Light. AND Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren.)

Pond apple (Annona glabra L.) belongs to the family of Annonaceae. The seed of A. glabra contains bioactive substance that is toxic to some organisms, however the effectiveness to control wood degrading termites has not yet been scientifically reported. This research analyzes the efficacy of A. glabra seed extract to wood degrading termites. Seed extraction was conducted using n-hexane and ethyl acetate. The paper disc test showed that the extract of A. glabra is toxic to Cryptotermes cynocephalus (dry-wood termites) and Coptotermes curvignathus (subterranean termites). The higher extract concentration (up to 63%) resulted in a higher termite mortality (up to 100%) and lower weight loss of paper sample (less than 1%). Ethyl acetate extract of A. glabra seeds has a better toxicity effect than n-hexane extract against dry wood termites and subterranean termites.

Effect of Water Level and Salinity on the Growth of Annona Glabra L. Seedlings

During the last century the mean sea level has been increasing at a rate of 0.2 to 0.4 mm·year -1 , and that rate is expected to accelerate during this century. Coastal wetland ecosystems are sensitive to the potential changes and impacts of resulting from a rise in sea level. In the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico, freshwater swamps are wetlands located further inland than mangroves, and while influenced by the tides maintain freshwater conditions. Due to their location, the rise in sea level could increase the levels of flooding and salinity in these ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate, under greenhouse conditions, the effect of nine flood and salinity treatments on the survival, growth and increase in the biomass of Annona glabra (pond apple) seedlings. The treatments combined two factors: water level (saturation, flood, flood-drought) and salinity (0, 5 and 15 ‰). Germinated seedlings were used (average height: 18.6 ± 1.61 cm). Seedling survival was greater under freshwater conditions. Increase in height and diameter, as well as leaf and biomass gain, were greater under saturation and freshwater conditions. Based on our results, we conclude that under a scenario of rising sea level, increased flood levels and salinity will negatively affect the natural establishment of Annona glabra seedlings in freshwater swamps.

Evaluation of the anti-Leishmania mechanisms of Annona glabra L. (Annonaceae): A brief review

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania and characterized by the formation of skin ulcers. Despite the large number of cases, reaching worldwide proportions, there are many factors to be discussed regarding the treatment of the disease, which although much discussed, is still poorly elucidated. The objective of this review study is to identify the main anti-Leishmania mechanisms of Annona glabra L. (Annonaceae). This is a literature review study. To this end, we used the following descriptors in the search: natural products, leishmaniasis, mechanism of action and Leishmania (together and separately). In the selection criteria we opted for full articles, in the period 2012 - 2021 (last 10 years), in Portuguese and English. The searches were performed in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) and Google Scholar. The articles were selected first by title, then by abstract, and finally by complete reading. The potential of natural products and their use in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases makes them the target of research for new drugs. Different Annona species have demonstrated antileishmanial activity when evaluated in vitro. The substances that show leishmanicidal activity in Annona glabra extract are the alkaloids. New studies can be developed to elucidate even more specifically the effects of this natural product in vivo, in an attempt to obtain a new pharmacological alternative for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Variaciones espacio-temporales del nivel y salinidad del agua afectan la composición de especies del manglar-tular

. La ubicación de los manglares ribereños vinculada al constante aporte de aguadulce favorece su productividad y diversidad, así como a los principales humedales dulceacuícolas adyacentes (selvas inundables, popales, tulares). Por lo mismo, la conectividadhidrológica entre los manglares y humedales adyacentes es un aspecto importante paradeterminar el grado de influencia entre ecosistemas y los posibles impactos al manglar porlas afectaciones a otros humedales con los que interactúa. En este estudio se monitoreó,a mediano plazo (2015-2016 y 2018-2019), la composición y estructura de la vegetación yse caracterizó la conectividad hidrológica entre el manglar ribereño y humedales de aguadulce adyacentes en 27 unidades de monitoreo (22 en manglar, cinco en humedal). Elnivel del agua aumentó gradualmente conforme aumentó la distancia al río, mientras que locontrario ocurrió con la salinidad. En el periodo de 2018-2019 la salinidad del agua intersticialaumentó en promedio 10 UPS, lo que provocó cambios en la presencia y cobertura dealgunas especies como Laguncularia racemosa en la zona del tular, alta mortandad deespecies herbáceas (Acrostichum danaeifolium, Typha domingensis, Phragmites australis) yespecies arbóreas como Annona glabra y Acoelorraphe wrightii, entre las más evidentes. Sinembargo, no se detectaron cambios estructurales significativos en las zonas dominadas pormanglar. En conclusión, la vegetación respondió a un gradiente de nivel del agua y salinidaddel agua intersticial, ya que cerca del río se presentaron niveles bajos de agua y altos desalinidad y lo contrario ocurrió tierra adentro

Annona glabra (pond apple).

A datasheet on Annona glabra covering, as an economically important tree, its taxonomy, importance, silviculture, distribution, biology and ecology, uses, products and pests.

Nitrato de prata e tiossulfato de prata como inibidores da ação do etileno em cultivo in vitro de Annona glabra L.

RESUMO: A Annona glabra L., espécie frutífera tropical pertencente à família Annonaceae, tem despertado o interesse por partes de pesquisadores devido a sua capacidade adaptativa a ambientes extremos, possuindo grande potencial como porta-enxerto para espécies do mesmo gênero. Uma das dificuldades relatadas na literatura na propagação sexuada dessa espécie, é a lentidão no processo germinativo, com acentuada desuniformidade. Métodos de propagação assexuada, como o cultivo in vitro, apresentam algumas limitações, dentre elas, o acúmulo de etileno no microambiente formado no interior do frasco, provocando abscisão foliar precoce nos explantes. Esse trabalho objetivou estudar dois inibidores da ação do etileno, nitrato de prata e tiossulfato de prata no cultivo in vitro de Annona glabra L. Os explantes foram obtidos de ramos vegetativos jovens de plantas matrizes com 3 anos de idade, cultivadas no viveiro do Laboratório de Biotecnologia Vegetal do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Os experimentos foram realizados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituído de 4 tratamentos e 20 repetições. O meio de cultura utilizado nos dois experimentos foi o MS, suplementado com 30g L-1 de sacarose e 7g L-1 de ágar. As concentrações testadas foram: 0; 0,2; 2,0 e 20,0 μmol L -1 de nitrato de prata e tiossulfato prata respectivamente, adicionadas ao meio MS. O inibidor da ação do etileno, tiossulfato de prata, foi mais eficiente para reduzir a abscisão foliar precoce no estabelecimento in vitro da espécie em estudo. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Araticum-do-brejo, micropropagação, abscisão foliar.