Abstract: About thirty Andira species have been described in America and Africa but most of them are found in Amazonian Rain Forest [1]. In French Guiana and Brazil A. surinamensis, A. coriaceae and A. inermis timbers (all named Saint-Martin Rouge in French) are commercialized for residential construction because of their excellent resistance to decay in ground contact [2]. In this study A. surinamensis heartwood was extracted with solvent of increasing polarities and extracts were evaluated against wood rotting fungi and human pathogens. Ethyl acetate extract proved strongly antifungal, showing that durable heartwood is a promising source of active metabolites for wood treatment and human health applications. Bioguided chemical fractionation allowed us to isolate five isoflavonoids including biochanin A [3].

Abstract: In effort to explain wood durability of Moraceae plants family, a phytochemical study was undertaken on Bagassa guianensis. The phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract obtained from the heartwood led to the isolation of 18 secondary metabolites, including 6 moracins [the new 6-O-methyl-moracin M (3), 6-O-methyl -moracin N (4) and moracin Z (5); the known moracin M (1), moracin N (2) and moracin P (6)], 8 phenolic derivatives [the new (-)-epialboctalol (12), arachidin 4 (10) and the known alboctalol (11), trans-resveratrol (7), arachidin 2 (9), trans-oxyresveratrol (8) and artogomezianol (13)], the 3 known flavonoids steppogenin (14), katuranin (15), dihydromorin (16), the β-sitosterol (17) and the resorcinol (18). Comparison with literature data indicates that stilbenoids are presumably responsible for the natural resistance of the wood against fungi degradation. In addition, chemical composition points out that B. guianensis is closely related to Morus sp. in the phylogeny and should be placed within the Moreae s. s. tribe in the Moraceae family, accordingly to the latest Weiblen genoma-based classifications [1,2].

Abstract: The present work is part of the Agrocos EUFP7 project and aimed at identifying new promising plant species exhibiting agrochemical properties or cosmetic interest. French Guiana being one of the megadiverse area of the globe considering plant biodiversity, 300 plant parts from 64 families were collected for the project. Among the 600 extracts evaluated as antifungals against phytopathogens, insecticides against plant pests and herbicides, 10% revealed an interesting activity. 7 of these extracts, mostly from the Leguminosae family, are currently under investigation for isolation and evaluation of pure compounds. Concerning cosmetic activity, 8 extracts from 5 different families were selected for further study. These results may lead to the development of novel products headed to agrochemical and cosmetic industry.

Abstract: If plants are known for centuries as a valuable source of molecules, complexity remains and can open up numerous perspectives. Plants have indeed evolved a wide range of secondary metabolites as defense, competition or attraction compounds [1]. More particularly, the exceptional biodiversity encountered in the tropics, along with the presence of various pathogens and a strong herbivory especially linked to a rich entomofauna, leads to a promising chemodiversity, due to the constant and dynamic interactions between plants and their environment. Taking into account the role and “raison d'être”[2] of natural products, and the fact that all these molecules work together as complex mixtures can therefore lead to a new point of view, by shifting from the “magic bullet” classical approach to a “herbal shotgun” strategy[3]. We will illustrate the fact that, inspired by their ecological functions, and taking into account synergistic interactions, some therapeutic applications can be found for these versatile mixtures of compounds. In particular we examined whether the antidermatophytic activity of essential oils (EOs) obtained from particularly fragrant plant species from French Guiana could be used as an indicator for the discovery of active natural products against Leishmania amazonensis. A significant correlation was observed between antidermatophytic and antileishmanial activity, confirming the “alternative use” strategy in the case of EOs, and allowed us to highlight P. hispidum Sw. (Piperaceae) EO as a promising antileishmanial product [4]. We also illustrated the importance of synergistic effects through the example of the antifungal EO of Otacanthus azureus (Linden) Ronse (Plantaginaceae) [5] and the biomimetic design of optimized synergistic mixtures thanks to a full factorial experiment approach.

Abstract: In this beginning of the 21st century, a child dies from malaria every minute in Sub-Saharan Africa and tuberculosis kills every 20 seconds [1]. Also, the hidden burden of chronic viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C is sobering, affecting at least 1 in 20 people globally. In fact, many authors believe that humanity is on the verge of a post-antibiotic era [2]. We believe that something different has to be brought into the scientific debate around anti-infective agents. Our opinion is that natural synergistic mixtures, which have been protecting plants for ages, can inspire the discovery of synergistic pharmaceutical preparations. As a first model approach, a set of 66 essential oils has been analysed by GC-MS and tested (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration, MIC) against pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis. A comparative holistic analysis of the dataset allowed us to identify 6 candidate anticandidal agents: Z-ligustilide, eugenol, eugenyl acetate, citral (mixture of geranial and neral), thymol, and β-citronellol. These compounds were combined following a full factorial experimental design approach in order to optimize the anticandidal selectivity index (SI = IC50 (MRC5 cells)/MIC) of the reconstituted mixtures. It was found that Z-ligustilide and eugenol are the two main factors that most contribute to the increase of the SI, while significantly positive interaction effect was recorded for these two compounds (Fig. 1). A positive interaction effect was also detected between citral and both Z-ligustilide and eugenol. These 3 plant defence compounds can therefore be used to construct anticandidal mixtures.