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SCIENCE

Phytochemistry

Fonseca F. N., et al. (2000) Phytochemistry 55 (6) 575-580

Phenylpropanoid derivatives and biflavones at different stages of differentiation and development of Araucaria angustifolia

Chemical investigations carried out with tissues at different developmental stages of Araucaria angustifolia established the presence of E and Z isomers of octadecyl p-coumarate and octadecyl ferulate in undifferentiated callus; in the seedling stems, the source of explants, three biflavones of the amentoflavone-type were isolated, whereas the diterpene, trans-communic acid, was obtained from the seedling roots. Adult stems accumulated the benzaldehydes, vanillin, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and coniferaldehyde; the lignans, pinoresinol, eudesmin and lariciresinol; and the isoflavones, cabreuvine and irisolidone.

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Fonseca F. N., et al. (2001) Journal of Microcolumn Separations 13 (6) 227-235

Critical Assessment of Electrolyte Systems for the Capillary Electrophoresis Analysis of Phenolic Compounds in Herbal Extracts

This work presents a comparative evaluation of electrolyte systems for the capillary electrophoresis analysis of the phenolic compounds apigenin and luteolin, and their corresponding 7-O-glucosides naringenin, rutin, quercetin, umbelliferone, herniarin, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids, in methanolic, glycolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts of Matricaria recutita L. (Asteraceae). The electrolytes included tetraborate buffer at different pHs and concentrations, containing varied amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate, β-cyclodextrin, and acetonitrile. The electrophoretic profile of the extracts changes considerably... READ MORE

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Fonseca F. N., et al. (2004) Phytochemical Analysis  15(1)65–70

Validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for the quantitative determination of free and total apigenin in extracts of Chamomilla recutita.

A capillary electrophoretic method for the quantification of free and total apigenin in methanolic, ethanolic and glycolic extracts of Chamomilla recutita L. Rauschert (Asteraceae) is described. The method was validated for measurement of apigenin in the range 5.00–300 µg/mL (r 2 = 0.993) and showed coefficients of intra-day (replicability) and inter-day (repeatability) variability of better than 2%. The limits of detection and quantification were 3.80 and 11.5 µg/mL, respectively, and the average recovery was 102.0 ± 0.8% at three concentration levels of apigenin. Free and total apigenin contents in the ... READ MORE

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Fonseca F. N., et al. (2007) Journal of Chromatography A 154(1-2)390-399

Capillary electrochromatography of selected phenolic compounds of Chamomilla recutita

This article explores the use of capillary electrochromatography for the analysis of chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L.) extracts. After a thorough study of analytical parameters such as mobile and stationary phase composition, applied voltage, and temperature, a methodology to determine 11 bioactive phenolic compounds (coumarins: herniarin, umbelliferone; phenylpropanoids: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid; flavones: apigenin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside; flavonols: quercetin, rutin and flavanone: naringenin) in chamomile extracts was proposed. The method was performed in a... READ MORE

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Tavares M.F.M., et al. (2003) Journal Brazilian Chemical Society 14(2)281-290

Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis to the Analysis of Compounds of Clinical, Forensic, Cosmetological, Environmental, Nutritional and Pharmaceutical Importance

Since its inception in the 80’s, capillary electrophoresis has matured into a well-established separation technique, actually encompassing a family of electrodriven techniques with distinct separation mechanisms and selectivity, performed in a single capillary column. In this work, the versatility of capillary electrophoresis in handling materials from a diversity of chemical classes and complex sample matrices is illustrated by representative applications in the clinical, forensic, cosmetological, environmental, nutritional and pharmaceutical areas, grouping together our own research interests and results.

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Chemical Biology

Kim K. B., Fonseca F. N. and Crews C. M. (2005) Methods in Enzymology 399:585-609

Development and Characterization of Proteasome Inhibitors

Although many proteasome inhibitors have been either synthesized or identified from natural sources, the development of more sophisticated, selective proteasome inhibitors is important for a detailed understanding of proteasome function. We have found that antitumor natural product epoxomicin and eponemycin, both of which are linear peptides containing a ,‐epoxyketone pharmacophore, target proteasome for their antitumor activity. Structural studies of the proteasome–epoxomicin complex revealed that the unique specificity of the natural product toward proteasome is due to the ,‐epoxyketone pharmacophore... READ MORE

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Schneekloth J. S., Fonseca F. N. et al. (2004) Journal of American Chemical Society 126:3748-3754

Chemical Genetic Control of Protein Levels: Selective in Vivo Targeted Degradation

Genetic loss of function analysis is a powerful method for the study of protein function. However, some cell biological questions are difficult to address using traditional genetic strategies often due to the lack of appropriate genetic model systems. Here, we present a general strategy for the design and syntheses of molecules capable of inducing the degradation of selected proteins in vivo via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Western blot and fluorometric analyses indicated the loss of two different targets: green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused with FK506 binding protein (FKBP12) and ... READ MORE

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Fonseca F. N. et al. (2014) International Immunopharmacology 19: 94–102

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench modulates human T cell cytokine response

he study objective was to evaluate the composition of a neutral and weakly acidic water-soluble extract from Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (EchNWA) previously shown to modify murine influenza infection, and to assess immunomodulatory effects on human T-cells. EchNWA extract from fresh aerial parts was extracted with water, ethanolic precipitation, and size-exclusion chromatography. The chemical profile of EchNWA was characterized by chromatography (size-exclusion, HPLC, GC–MS), and small molecule fingerprint analysis performed by HPLC–PDA. Jurkat T-cells at high and low cell density ... READ MORE

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Drug Development

Lewis E. R., Ho M. N. and FONSECA F. N. Patent WO2006063154A1

Composition for Proteasome Inhibition

Compositions comprising one or more practically insoluble proteasome inhibitors and a cyclodextrin, particularly a substituted cyclodextrin, substantially increase the solubility of these proteasome inhibitors and facilitate their administration. Such compositions optionally comprise a buffer. Methods of treatment using such compositions are also disclosed.

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FONSECA F. N. (2008) Product Dossier

Ilex paraguariensis as an option for weight management

Overweight and obese individuals are at risk for several diseases. Obesity, now a worldwide epidemic, is associated with a number of serious diseases collectively referred to as metabolic syndrome. According to the American Heart Association, this syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person, including atherogenic dyslipidemia, the combination of high blood levels of triglycerides and LDL...

READ MORE: Product Dossier; Powerpoint Presentation

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Ethnomedicine

FONSECA F. N. and Balick M. J. (2018) Economic Botany 72(1) 56-70

Plant-Knowledge Adaptation in an Urban Setting: Candomblé Ethnobotany in New York City

Candomblé is an African-Brazilian religion that resulted from the adaptation of West African (especially Yoruba) beliefs in Brazil during and after the slave trade. This study seeks to understand the current evolution of Candomblé ethnobotanical knowledge as it travels from Brazil to New York City (NYC), therefore going through a second adaptation process. We identified which Brazilian plant species are still in use, which are being incorporated and/or replaced, and what factors are contributing to the ethnobotanical adaptation that is taking place in NYC. To accomplish this, we compiled an inventory of ... READ MORE

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American Herbal Pharmacopoeia Monographs (2018)

Oshá Roots (Ligusticum porteri J. M. Coulter & Rose) and Related Species - Therapeutical Section

The osha (Ligusticum porteri) monograph is historic in that it is the first pharmacopoeia monograph ever developed for this botanical.

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