Cover Picture: Interference of Seasonal Variation on the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Essential Oils from the Leaves of Iryanthera polyneura in the Amazon Rain Forest (C&B 10/2019)

• Published in: Chemistry & biodiversity Vol. 16; no. 10
• Main Authors: Martins, Erika R., Díaz, Ingrit E. C., Paciencia, Mateus L. B., Fana, Sergio A., Morais, Damila, Eberlin, Marcos N., Silva, Jefferson S., Silveira, Elielson R., Barros, Matheus P., Suffredini, Ivana B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-10-2019
• Subjects: Amazon rain forest; antibacterial activity; canonical correspondence analysis; Myristicaceae; seasonality
• ISSN: 1612-1872; 1612-1880
• DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201900533

Cover Picture. Iryanthera polyneura Ducke (cumala‐colorada) is native to Brazil, although not endemic, and occurs in terra firme within the Amazon rain forest. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of the essential oils of the species were evaluated, as well as the relationship between the biological activities of the oils and seasonal variation. Significant antibacterial activity against the Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans was observed. The oils were more toxic to prostate than to breast cancer cells. The EOs obtained from leaves collected in the rainy season were more active against microorganisms and were more cytotoxic to the breast cancer cells than those collected in the dry season. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the EOs from the leaves of I. polyneura are dependent on seasonal influences that produce changes in the terpene composition of EOs, as reported by Martins et al. in their full paper at 10.1002/cbdv.201900374.