Equisetum arvense is an evolutionary old species that is common as a perennial weed in Europe, North America and Australia. It reproduces vegetatively via rhizomes and tubers and due to this it spreads efficiently below ground after initial establishment. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge of performance during early growth of the species. This included differences between clones along a gradient throughout Sweden, development of tubers and rhizomes, local adaptation and the overall variation within the species. Rhizomes of E. arvense were collected from three different places in each of four regions, up to 1000 km apart, in Sweden. Clones from the twelve places were planted in spring for a common garden study. During summer the plants were watered when needed and during late summer the plants were harvested every second week until late autumn. Data recorded were tuber and rhizome biomass, aboveground biomass, number of tubers and three different tuber characteristics. The results showed clone specific phenotypes, but no gradient response or adaptation to regions, e.g. the clone with the highest and the clone with the lowest tuber biomass in relation to the rhizome biomass were from the same region. During early growth, the plants developed continuously with rapid increase of belowground biomass after development of aboveground photosynthetic parts. Tuber productions differed a lot between clones. The relationship between tubers and rhizomes may affect the clone’s possibility to be competitive in different environments. Management advice may need to be based on clone specific knowledge.

Medicinal plants have been used in popular medicine for centuries, a practice that has been practiced between generations. They are rich in active substances, which can lead to the discovery of a new herbal remedy and even the discovery of a new drug. The Equisetum arvense, popularly known as horsetail and present in RENISUS is a plant rich in silicon and also consisting of polyphenols and tannins, being used in therapy as diuretic, but also has a healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action. Considering the current panorama of microbial resistance, studies that are proposed to evaluate antimicrobial activity, as well as cytotoxic, are of great relevance. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the phytochemical profile, antimicrobial activity and the cytotoxicity of the extract and fractions of E. arvense. The gross extract was obtained by maceration of the horsetail in ethanol, while the fractions were by maceration of the horsetail in solvents of different polarities (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol), and then concentrated in a rotary evaporator. The phenolic profile was composed by the phenol content by Folin-Ciocalteu, total flavonoids and identification of phenolic substances by HPLC with UV-DAD detector; the antioxidant activity was verified by DPPH; the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity was verified by the disc diffusion method using ATCC strains of S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa; and, cytotoxicity was performed on J774 lineage macrophages and determined by the Elisa assay at 530 nm using MTT as the cell death indicator. The results obtained showed the presence of phenolic compounds in the horsetail, such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, resulting in a good content of phenols and flavonoids in its extract and fractions and also in a high antioxidant activity, being this greater than 90% for the ethyl acetatel fraction. In relation to the antimicrobial activity, the ethyl acetate fraction was able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, while the chloroform fraction was able to inhibit the growth of E. coli as well, being this concentration dependent inhibition of the fraction. As for cytotoxicity, the hexane and methanol fractions of the plant presented LC50 of 67,66 and 74,33 μg/mL, respectively, these fractions being the most cytotoxic for J774 lineage macrophages, whereas gross ethanolic extract and fractions chloroform and ethyl acetate showed LC50 greater than 100 μg/mL. Therefore, the ethyl acetate fraction was highlighted, being the fraction with higher content of phenols and flavonoids, resulting in a high antioxidant activity, besides being able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa when used in concentration of 500 mg / mL, and did not present significant cytotoxicity, without significantly damaging the cells. It is emphasized, then, that the horsetail has bioactivity with pharmacological function depending on its concentration, however it is a plant and due to the great diversity of its constituents may also exhibit certain toxicity. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / As plantas medicinais são, há séculos, usadas na medicina popular, prática essa passada entre gerações. São ricas em substâncias ativas, que podem levar a descoberta de um novo fitoterápico e até mesmo a descoberta de um novo fármaco. A Equisetum arvense, conhecida popularmente por cavalinha e presente na RENISUS, é uma planta rica em silício e constituída também por taninos e polifenóis, sendo utilizada na terapêutica como diurética, porém também tem ação cicatrizante, antioxidante, anti-inflamatória e antimicrobiana. Considerando o atual panorama da resistência microbiana, estudos que se propõem a avaliar atividade antimicrobiana, como também citotóxica, são de grande relevância. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o perfil fitoquímico, a atividade antimicrobiana e a citotoxicidade do extrato e frações de E. arvense. O extrato bruto foi obtido através da maceração da cavalinha em etanol, enquanto que as frações foram por meio da maceração da cavalinha em solventes de diferentes polaridades (hexano, clorofórmio, acetato de etila e metanol), e em seguida concentrados em evaporador rotatório. O perfil fenólico foi composto pelo teor de fenóis por Folin-Ciocalteu, flavonóides totais e identificação de substâncias fenólicas por CLAE com detector UV-DAD; a atividade antioxidante foi verificada por DPPH; a avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana foi verificada pelo método de difusão em disco, usando cepas ATCC de S. aureus, E. coli e P. aeruginosa; e, a citotoxicidade foi realizada em cultura de macrófagos de linhagem J774 e determinada pelo ensaio de Elisa a 530 nm, usando como indicador de morte celular o MTT. Os resultados obtidos comprovaram a presença de compostos fenólicos na cavalinha, como ácidos fenólicos e flavonóides, resultando em um bom teor de fenóis e flavonóides em seu extrato e frações e também em uma alta atividade antioxidante, sendo esta maior que 90% para a fração acetato de etila. Em relação a atividade antimicrobiana, a fração de acetato de etila foi capaz de inibir o crescimento de S. aureus e P. aeruginosa, enquanto que a fração clorofórmica foi capaz de inibir também o crescimento de E. coli, sendo esta inibição dependente da concentração da fração. Quanto a citotoxicidade, as frações de hexano e metanol da planta apresentou CL50 de 67,66 e 74,33 μg/mL, respectivamente, sendo estas frações as mais citotóxicas para os macrófagos de linhagem J774, enquanto que o extrato bruto etanólico e as frações clorofórmica e de acetato de etila apresentaram CL50 maior que 100 μg/mL. Logo, a fração acetato de etila se destacou, por ser a fração com maior teor de fenóis e flavonóides, resultando em uma alta atividade antioxidante, além de conseguir inibir o crescimento de S. aureus e P. aeruginosa quando utilizado em concentração de 500 mg/mL, e não apresentar citotoxicidade significativa, não lesando significantemente as células. Ressalta-se, então, que a cavalinha possui bioatividade com função farmacológica a depender de sua concentração, entretanto é uma planta e devido a grande diversidade de seus constituintes também pode exibir certa toxicidade.

Submitted by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-06T21:04:37Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Danilo Maciel Carneiro - 2012.pdf: 736566 bytes, checksum: 660a01af596995a79647c05ae709a844 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luanna Matias (lua_matias@yahoo.com.br) on 2015-03-06T21:16:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Danilo Maciel Carneiro - 2012.pdf: 736566 bytes, checksum: 660a01af596995a79647c05ae709a844 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-06T21:16:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Danilo Maciel Carneiro - 2012.pdf: 736566 bytes, checksum: 660a01af596995a79647c05ae709a844 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-28 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / Treatment with medicinal plants is described for centuries as part of traditional medicine and the interest for herbal products is growing consistently in present days. Equisetum arvense (horsetail) has a long traditional use in several countries and in Brazil its marketing is regulated. However, the existence of studies on its pharmacological effects and safety of use is questioned. The present study aims to combine to the traditional use and official regulations, new clinical data on the diuretic effect, safety and acute effects on kidney function of E. arvense. Primarily we preceded a literature review with searches by uniterm "Equisetum arvense" in the databases of PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, BVS, Cochrane, and Scopus. At the same time a double-blind randomized clinical trial randomly distributed 36 male healthy volunteers in 6 groups (n = 6), who have gone through a 3 stages treatment. Alternately for 4 days in a row, where given the drug tested, placebo or hydrochlorothiazide, separated by 10 days of wash out. The literature review showed that, despite of a well-documented traditional use and the regulation in some countries, studies on E. arvense are still incomplete for a well-established medical use, based on proven effectiveness and acceptable level of safety, necessitating more research mainly on the clinic area. In the clinical study, the extract of E. arvense demonstrated better acute diuretic effect than negative control and similar to hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg), without significant changes in elimination of electrolytes or urinary catabolites, and no signs of acute toxicity, hepatic, renal or cardiac. Further researches are needed to better clarification of the mechanism of action diuretic, as well as other possible pharmacological actions of this phytomedicine. / O tratamento com plantas medicinais é descrito há séculos como parte da medicina tradicional e o interesse em relação aos produtos fitoterápicos é crescente nos dias atuais. A Equisetum arvense (cavalinha) tem longa tradição de uso em vários países e, no Brasil, sua comercialização é regulamentada. Entretanto, há poucos estudos sobre os seus efeitos farmacológicos e segurança. O presente estudo visa contribuir com dados clínicos novos sobre o efeito diurético, segurança e ação na função renal da E. arvense. Inicialmente, procedeu-se uma revisão bibliográfica, de julho de 2011 a agosto de 2012, com buscas pelo unitermo “Equisetum arvense” nas bases de dados do PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, BVS, Cochrane e Scopus. Logo após, foi realizado um ensaio clínico duplo-cego randomizado com 36 voluntários sadios do sexo masculino, com idade entre 20 a 55 anos, alocados em 6 grupos (n=36) que passaram por 3 etapas de tratamento. Administrou-se alternadamente, por 4 dias seguidos, o extrato seco padronizado de Equisetum arvense, o placebo e a hidroclorotiazida, separados por 10 dias de wash out. A revisão bibliográfica revelou que, apesar do uso tradicional bem documentado e regulamentado em alguns países, os estudos sobre a E. arvense ainda são incompletos para o uso médico bem estabelecido, com base em eficácia comprovada e nível de segurança aceitável, necessitando de mais pesquisas principalmente na parte clínica. Contudo, no ensaio clínico, o extrato da E. arvense (900 mg/dia) demonstrou efeito diurético superior ao placebo e comparável à hidroclorotiazida (25 mg/dia), sem diferenças significativas nas taxas urinárias de eletrólitos ou de catabólitos e sem sinais de toxicidade aguda hepática, renal, hematológica ou cardíaca. Novas pesquisas são necessárias para melhor esclarecimento do mecanismo de ação diurética, bem como de outras possíveis ações farmacológicas deste fitomedicamento.

The recognition of fault-perturbed stress fields is an important tool in areas of mineral or hydrocarbon exploration. The Bowie underground coal mines of western Colorado expose a reverse-reactivated growth fault that perturbed the stress field during cleat (fracture) formation, rotating cleat orientations up to 500 m on both sides of the fault. Two unusual fracture types are found only in coal adjacent to the fault: (1) concentric cleats, highly curved fractures that form blocks resembling balls or eggs and (2) horsetail cleats, striated surfaces that superficially resemble shattercones and result from shear failure in coal. Numerical models created with the boundary element program Poly3D were used to estimate the magnitudes and orientations of the paleostress axes during cleat formation, taking into account the depth of burial, 3-D fault orientation, elastic rock parameters, and far-field stress states. When the elastic rock parameters and modeled orientations of the stress axes are held constant, the relative stress ratio, R = (σ_1 — σ_2)/(σ_2 — σ_3), uniquely determines the orientations of fractures forming in the fault-perturbed stress field. Comparison of the models with systematic observations on both sides of the fault allows the selection of a best-fit model. If the depth of overburden during fracture formation is known, this technique can be used to estimate the magnitude of σ_1 in fault-perturbed areas. The rotated face cleats and unusual, fault-related cleat types provide unequivocal evidence of a fault when (1) the fault predates cleat formation and (2) the far-field horizontal stress during cleat formation is oblique to fault strike. In addition, the varying spatial association of these fault-perturbed cleat styles with the fault may provide a qualitative estimate of fault location while mining. Pre-existing faults also strongly control reactivation-related folding, which at formed several low-amplitude folds, including a footwall fold. Igneous sills in three Bowie coal seams show strong preference for fault zones. The recognition of similar fracture trends in other mining or exploration areas is a valuable tool that may significantly reduce economic or human cost by helping to mitigate fault-related hazards and highlighting potentially productive zones in faulted reservoirs.