Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Citronellol (CT) is an alcoholic monoterpene present in the essential oil of some medicinal plants such as Cymbopogon citratus. Some pharmacological effects such as the antispasmodic and anticonvulsant activities have been described, however it s possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect is unknown. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory action of CT in rodents. Therefore, 362 male Swiss mice (25-35 g) with 2 to 3 months were used. The animals were divided into groups and were treated with CT (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), vehicle (saline solution 0.9% + Tween 80 0.2%, i.p.) or standard drug (i.p.). To evaluate the antinociceptive activity, the animals were submitted to the test of abdomnal constrictions induced by acetic acid (0.85%), the formalin test (1%) and hot plate test. In order to evaluate the effect of CT on orofacial nociception, it was conducted the orofacial test induced by formalin (2%), capsaicin and glutamate. Motor coordination was assessed using the motor coordination test (rota rod) and the spontaneous movement test. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated based on the model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy, making up the total leucocyte count. It was also quantified, by using ELISA, TNF-α and nitric oxide generation by macrophages. To determine the central action, the animals were treated with CT, in three doses, or vehicle and, after ninety minutes, were anesthetized, perfused, the brains removed and cut in a cryostat. The brain sections were subjected to immunofluorescence protocol for Fos protein. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM Differences between groups were analyzed by using one way ANOVA test, and followed by Tukey test. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Intraperitoneal administration of CT produced a significant decrease (p < 0.001) of the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid. In nociception induced by formalin, the pretreatment with CT caused a significant antinociceptive effect (p <0.01) in both phases of the test. In the hot plate test, the reaction time increased significantly at all doses of CT (p < 0.05 or p < 0.001), while its effect was antagonized by naloxone. In the three orofacial nociception tests, the CT produced a significant decrease (p <0.001) in the face-rubbing time of the orofacial region. No changes were observed in the motor coordination and in the spontaneous movement test. In the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity, treatment with CT gave rise to a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in total number of leukocytes, decreasing (p < 0.05) the levels of TNF-α and nitric oxide in macrophages (p < 0.05). By immunofluorescence, it was found that CT is able to activate signicantly (p < 0.05) neurons of the olfactory bulb, the piriform cortex, the restrosplenial cortex and the periaqueductal gray. So, it can be concluded that CT has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity and its action is mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms. / O Citronelol (CT) é um monoterpeno alcóolico presente no óleo essencial de algumas plantas medicinais, como o Cymbopogon citratus. Alguns efeitos farmacológicos tais como anti-espasmódico e atividade anticonvulsivante já foram descritos, sendo desconhecido seu possível efeito antinociceptivo e anti-inflamatório. Desta forma, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a possível ação antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória do CT em roedores. Para tanto, foram utilizados 362 camundongos Swiss machos (25 a 35 g) com 2 a 3 meses. Os animais foram divididos em grupos e foram tratados com CT (25, 50 e 100 mg/kg; i.p.), veículo (solução salina 0,9% + tween 80 0,2%; i.p.) ou droga padrão (i.p.). Para avaliação da atividade antinociceptiva, os animais foram submetidos ao teste de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético (0,85%), ao teste da formalina (1%) e ao teste da placa quente. Com o intuito de avaliar a ação do CT na nocicepção orofacial, foram realizados os testes de dor orofacial induzida por formalina (2%), capsaicina e glutamato. A coordenação motora dos animais foi avaliada através do teste da coordenação motora (rota rod) e do teste da movimentação espontânea. A atividade anti-inflamatória foi avaliada a partir do modelo de pleurisia induzido por carragenina, realizando-se a contagem de leucócitos totais. Foi quantificado, ainda, através do ensaio imunoenzimático ELISA, o TNF-α e a geração de óxido nítrico por macrófagos. Para determinar a ação central, os animais foram tratados com CT, nas três doses, ou veículo e, noventa minutos após, foram anestesiados, perfundidos, os cérebros extraídos e cortados em criostato. As secções cerebrais foram submetidas ao protocolo de imunofluorescência para proteína Fos. Os resultados foram expressos como média ± erro padrão da média. As diferenças entre os grupos foram analisadas por meio do teste de variância ANOVA, uma via, seguido pelo teste de Tukey. Valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes. A administração intraperitoneal de CT produziu uma redução significativa (p < 0,001) das contorções abdominais. Na nocicepção induzida por formalina, o pré-tratamento com CT causou um efeito antinociceptivo significativo (p <0,01) em ambas as fases do teste. No teste da placa quente, o tempo de reação aumentou significativamente em todas as doses de CT (p < 0,05 ou p < 0,001), tendo seu efeito antagonizado pela naloxona. Nos três testes de nocicepção orofacial, o CT produziu uma redução significativa (p < 0,001) no tempo de fricção da região orofacial. Não foram observadas alterações no teste da coordenação motora e no teste da movimentação espontânea. Na avaliação da atividade anti-inflamatória, o tratamento com CT causou uma diminuição significativa (p < 0,01) no número total de leucócitos, diminuindo os níveis de TNF-α (p < 0,05) e de óxido nítrico em macrófagos (p < 0,05). Através da imunofluorescência, observou-se que o CT é capaz de ativar signicativamente (p < 0,05) neurônios do bulbo olfatório, do córtex piriforme, do córtex retroesplenial e da substância cinzenta periaquedutal. Conclui-se, assim, que o CT apresenta ação antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória, tendo sua ação mediada por mecanismos centrais e periféricos.

Introducing effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like most areas of South Africa, is an indispensable way of maximising crop yield and enhancing productivity of scarce freshwater resources. Holistic improvements in agricultural water management could be realised through integrating the knowledge of crop-specific water requirements. In order to develop effective irrigation schedules for rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens), greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 October 2004 to 2006. Results from 20, 40, 60 and 80% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of the plant available soil water (ASW) indicated that plant roots extracted most of the soil water from the top 40 cm soil layer, independent of the treatment. Both essential oil yield and fresh herbage mass responded positively to high soil water content. Increasing the MAD level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yields. An increase in the degree of water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. There was no significant relationship between MAD level and essential oil composition. For water saving without a significant reduction in essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium, a MAD of 40% of ASW is proposed. Response of rose-scented geranium to a one-month irrigation withholding period in the second or third month of regrowth cycles showed that herbage mass and oil yield were positively related. Herbage yield was significantly reduced when the water stress period was imposed during the third or fourth month of regrowth. A remarkable essential oil yield loss was observed only when the plants were stressed during the fourth month of regrowth. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) was higher in stressed plants, especially when stressed late, but oil yield dropped due to lower herbage mass. The relationship between essential oil composition and irrigation treatments was not consistent. Water-use efficiency was not significantly affected by withholding irrigation in the second or in the third month of regrowth. With a marginal oil yield loss, about 330 to 460 m3 of water per hectare per regrowth cycle could be saved by withholding irrigation during the third month of regrowth. The overall results highlighted that in water-scarce regions withholding irrigation during either the second or the third month of regrowth in rose-scented geranium could save water that could be used by other sectors of society. In greenhouse pot experiments, rose-scented geranium was grown under different irrigation frequencies, in two growth media. Irrigation was withheld on 50% of the plants (in each plot) for the week prior to harvesting. Herbage and essential oil yields were better in the sandy clay soil than in silica sand. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) apparently increased with a decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage and total essential oil yields positively responded to frequent irrigation. A one-week stress period prior to harvesting significantly increased essential oil content and total essential oil yield. Hence, the highest essential oil yield was obtained from a combination of high irrigation frequency and a one-week irrigation-withholding period. In the irrigation frequency treatments, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Leaf physiological data were recorded during the terminal one-week water stress in the glasshouse pot trial. Upon rewatering, stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Rt) were significantly lower in the less often irrigated than in the more often irrigated treatments, while leaf water potential (yw) and relative water content (RWC) were the same for all plants, indicating that water stress had an after-effect on Gs and Rt. At the end of the stress period, Gs, Rt, yw and RWC were lower in the plants from the more often irrigated than from the less often irrigated treatments. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, one type of non-glandular and two types (different in shape and size) of glandular trichomes were observed. In water stressed-conditions, stomata and trichome densities increased, while the total number of stomata and trichomes per leaf appeared to remain more or less the same. Water stress conditions resulted in stomatal closure. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

The work described in this thesis focuses on the effects that adsorption processes on catalytic surfaces pose in controlling key steps that can affect and control reaction pathways. To that, the development of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry methods and the comparison with traditional catalytic was performed with a series of C5 and C6 unsaturated hydrocarbons on two different alumina supports, γ- and θ-Al2O3. The developed techniques were applied in the study of liquid phase selective hydrogenation of citral on 5% Pt/SiO2. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, volumetric adsorption isotherms, dynamic isotherms via a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM), temperature programmed desorption (TPD) as well as 13C T1 NMR and 1H 2D T1-T2 relaxometry methods were employed. Energies of adsorption as a function of coverage were obtained via adsorption isotherms and the particular surface adsorbate interactions were described with IR spectroscopy. For example, 1-pentyne showed the strongest interaction with the alumina (94 kJ mol-1) while 1-pentene presented a weaker interaction (46 kJ mol-1) on θ-Al2O3. Desorption energies obtained from TPD ranged 85 – 130 kJ mol-1, irrespective of the adsorbate. Reactivity of the aluminas was captured with TPD, TEOM and NMR relaxometry. Interaction of adsorbates with hydrocarbon occurred predominantly on weak adsorption sites. 13C NMR T1 relaxometry provided in addition atom-specific adsorbate-adsorbent interaction strengths, showing the molecular geometry of adsorption, and applied in co adsorption measurements. The selective hydrogenation of citral as a model α,β-unsaturated aldehyde and the effect of different solvents on the activity and product distribution was studied at 298 and 373 K. A series of polar protic, polar aprotic and non polar solvents was investigated. Results showed higher initial reaction rates in non polar solvents but higher selectivities towards desired products on polar protic solvents. Solvent used also affected by product formation. The strong variations in reaction rates and selectivities reported were related with adsorbate catalyst interactions, as well as solvent reactant interactions. For example, adsorption isotherms showed that ethanol notably reduced the adsorption capacity of citral as compared with hexane, related with the rate differences observed. ATR-IR measurements indicated solvent citral interactions were solely present in polar protic solvents in line with higher yields of geraniol and nerol. Finally, 13C T1 NMR and 1H 2D T1-T2 correlation experiments determined that the geometry of adsorption of citral, influenced by solvent, affected product selectivity, and that product adsorption affected selectivity and deactivation.