Abstract Fifteen non-woody species from Loja, Ecuador: Linum usitatissimun L., Sida rhombifolia L., Sida poeppigiana (K.Schum.) Fryxell., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Alcea rosea L., Lavatera arborea L., Cortaderia jubata Stapf, Andropogon gayanus Kunth., Guadua angustifolia Kunth., Saccharum sinense Roxb., Arundo donax L., Yucca guatemalensis Baker., Agave americana L., Agave americana var. marginata Trel, and Saccharum officinarum L., were analyzed to study the potential of extracted fibers for artisanal paper making. The selected species are abundant in the southern region of Ecuador and were collected manually with the Environment Ministry authorization. The mechanical extraction of fibers, separation, and characterization of their components, was carried out using the appropriate TAPPI tests. Then with the extracted fibers, an artisanal paper was made using the alkaline cooking method for the preparation of the pulp, with subsequent formation and drying of the paper. Quality control in the final paper was realized by determining the kappa number, grammage, pH, blast resistance, and moisture in the final paper. The yield of these species in terms of obtaining fiber varies from 4 % in Agave Americana L., to 42 % for Guadua angustifolia Kunth., and the following intervals in chemical analysis: total cellulose 16 % to 59 %, distributed as α-cellulose: 11.36 % to 49.56 %; β-cellulose: 0.8 % to 7.5 %; and γ-cellulose 0.24 % to 13.72 %. According to multicriteria analysis, species Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Saccharum officinarum L., Arundo donax L., Agave americana var. marginata Trel., and Saccharum sinense Roxb, represent the best alternatives for paper making.

Resumen Se analizaron quince especies no leñosas de Loja, Ecuador: Linum usitatissimun L., Sida rhombifolia L., Sida poeppigiana (K.Schum.) Fryxell., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Alcea rosea L., Lavatera arborea L., Cortaderia jubata Stapf., Andropogon gayanus Kunth., Guadua angustifolia Kunth., Saccharum sinense Roxb., Arundo donax L., Yucca guatemalensis Baker., Agave americana L., Agave americana var. marginata Trel in L.H.Bailey., y Saccharum officinarum L., con el objetivo de estudiar el potencial de las fibras extraídas para la manufactura de papel artesanal. Las especies seleccionadas son abundantes en la región sur del Ecuador y fueron recolectadas manualmente con autorización del Ministerio del Ambiente. La extracción mecánica de fibras, separación y caracterización de sus componentes, se realizó utilizando las normas TAPPI recomendadas. Luego con las fibras extraídas se elaboró papel artesanal usando el método alcalino de cocción para la preparación de la pulpa, con subsecuente formación y secado del papel elaborado. El control de calidad en el papel final se realizó mediante la determinación del número de Kappa, gramaje, pH, resistencia a la explosión y humedad del papel. El rendimiento de las especies en cuanto a obtención de fibra, varía de 4 % en Agave americana L., a 42 % en Guadua angustifolia Kunth. El análisis químico estuvo comprendido entre los siguientes intervalos: celulosa total entre 16 % y 59 %, distribuida como α-celulosa de 11.36 % a 49.56 %; β-celulosa de 0.8 % a 7.5 %; y γ-celulosa 0.24 % a 13.72 %. El análisis multicriterio indica que las especies de Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Saccharum officinarum L., Arundo donax L., Agave americana var. marginata Trol., y Saccharum sinense Roxb., representan las mejores alternativas para la fabricación de papel artesanal.

ABSTRACT This paper describes the chemical composition and the enantiomer content of the volatile oil hydrodistilled from Clinopodium brownei (Sw.) Kuntze, Lamiaceae. The plant was collected in the South of Ecuador. Thirty one components were identified by GC-MS, which accounted for the 96.15% of the volatile oil. The major components were pulegone (48.44%), menthone (34.55%) and β-acorenol (3.41%). Oxygenated monoterpenes (86.06%), followed by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (5.36%) constituted the most abundant fractions. The enantiomeric compositions of β-pinene, sabinene, 3-octanol, menthone, pulegone and menthyl acetate were determined by enantioselective GC-MS. (-)-Menthone showed the highest enantiomeric excess (ee = 83.4%). In in vitro tests, the volatile oil showed high selective inhibitory activity for butyrylcholinesterase with an IC50, 13.4 ± 1.8 µg/ml. In contrast, it was weakly active against acetylcholinesterase with an IC50 >250 µg/ml.

Abstract Lepechinia mutica (Benth.) Epling, Lamiaceae, and Vallea stipularis L.f., Elaeocarpaceae, are the object of the present study. These plants are endemic to the Andean region and have attracted our attention on the basis of interesting results obtained in a preliminary anticholinesterase screening. Actually, carnosol and tiliroside, isolated from L. mutica and V. stipularis, respectively, have shown a promising selective inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase. Specifically, the anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity of carnosol was 5.15 µM and that of tiliroside was 52.9 µM, compared to 8.568 ± 0.570 µM of the positive control Donepezil. Carnosol and tiliroside were purified chromatographically from the ethyl acetate extract of L. mutica and V. stipularis, respectively. Spectrophotometric methods were used for enzymatic studies.

ABSTRACT The species Croton elegans Kunth, belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae and known with the common name “mosquera”, is a native medicinal plant of Ecuador. Due to its medical applications, we are interested in secondary metabolite composition. After extraction with hexane and preparation of the alkaloid extract, preparative chromatographic fractionation in both normal and direct phase was performed. 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC and HMBC experiments, together with polarimetric measurements, were conducted in order to characterize the purified compunds. Two triterpene metabolites (friedelin and cycloeucalenol) and two morphinan alkaloids ((+)-pallidine and (+)-O-methylpallidine) were obtained in a pure form. This work represents the first report on the phytochemistry of C. elegans and probably the second publication on the natural (+)-pallidine alkaloid.