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The present study aimed at the evaluation of Passiflora coccinea (Aubl.) antioxidant and photo protective in vitro activities, looking forward to their application as antiaging or sunscreen agents in cosmetic formulations. Methanolic and glycolic leaf extracts were prepared by three methods: ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE, 30 min.), maceration at room temperature (72 h) and maceration at 30 ºC (72 h). The antioxidant activities of the extracts were measured by DPPH and ORAC-FL assays and they were incorporated into a cosmetic emulsion to have their sun protection factor (SPF) measured spectrophotometricaly. The antioxidant activity of the emulsions were measured by DPPH and ORAC as well. C-glycosyl-flavones were identified in the extracts by ESI-MS/MS, in comparision with standards. The UAE methanolic extract and the maceration at 30 ºC glycolic extract were submmited to HPLC-DAD analysis and isovitexin was quantifyed in both by a validated method. The methanolic extract antioxidant activity was independent of the extraction method, higher than reported for other species of Passiflora and detectable when incorporated into the emulsion formulation. Maceration at 30oC was the most suitable method for glycolic extraction and its antioxidant activity was lower than the value presented by the methanolic extracts. None of the extracts exhibited a SPF value. Isovitexin in the UAE methanolic extract was 12.67 times higher than the most active glycolic extract, aside of their similar chromatographic profiles. Although a SPF value was not detected, the results indicate that P. coccinea can be a potential new source of antioxidants for topical antiaging formulations.

El presente trabajo informa sobre las plantas alimenticias utilizadas por 19 especies de mariposas diurnas (Lepidoptera) que ocurren en el Centro de Investigaciones Allpahuayo-Mishana y la Comunidad Campesina de San Rafael, Loreto, Perú. Se reportan 23 especies y 1 híbrido de angiospermas empleadas por las mariposas investigadas. Veintiún plantas eran hospedadoras de las larvas y 5 nectaríferas de los adultos; Passiflora coccinea Aubl. y Passiflora edulis Sims eran a la vez hospederas y nectaríferas. Las familias de plantas más utilizadas por las mariposas en estado larval fueron Solanaceae, Passifloraceae, Fabaceae y Aristolochiaceae.

In this study we describe the ant assemblage visiting both foliar and bracteal extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Passiflora coccinea, investigate the protective role provided by ants against both herbivores and nectar-thief butterflies, and analyze possible fitness benefits for the plant (i.e., fruit and seed production) resulting from the presence of ants. Experiments and observations were performed in two Amazonian terra firme forest sites. Twenty-two ant species were recorded visiting the EFNs of P. coccinea. Camponotus aff. blandus was the most frequent and subordinate among the EFN-visiting ant species, accounting for 20%% of the ant attacks on simulated herbivores (termites) and 50%% on butterflies. Both the number of ant individuals and the number of species were positively correlated with the combined number of buds and flowers of P. coccinea. Moreover, ant protection behaviour against termites was stronger on flowers than on leaves. Finally, seed set almost doubled among fruits originating from ant-visited flowers as compared to flowers from which ants were artificially excluded. Our results suggest a protective role of ants for flowers of P. coccinea against both herbivores and nectar thieves, improving plant reproductive success.

In this study we describe the ant assemblage visiting both foliar and bracteal extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Passiflora coccinea, investigate the protective role provided by ants against both herbivores and nectar-thief butterflies, and analyze possible fitness benefits for the plant (i.e., fruit and seed production) resulting from the presence of ants. Experiments and observations were performed in two Amazonian terra firme forest sites. Twenty-two ant species were recorded visiting the EFNs of P. coccinea. Camponotus aff. blandus was the most frequent and subordinate among the EFN-visiting ant species, accounting for 20% of the ant attacks on simulated herbivores (termites) and 50% on butterflies. Both the number of ant individuals and the number of species were positively correlated with the combined number of buds and flowers of P. coccinea. Moreover, ant protection behaviour against termites was stronger on flowers than on leaves. Finally, seed set almost doubled among fruits originating from ant-visited flowers as compared to flowers from which ants were artificially excluded. Our results suggest a protective role of ants for flowers of P. coccinea against both herbivores and nectar thieves, improving plant reproductive success.

In this study we present evidence for a short-term reduction of ant activity on extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Passiflora coccinea (Aubl., Passifloraceae) after episodes of rainfall. We monitored ant attack of simulated herbivores (termites) before and after watering treatments on reproductive branches of P. coccinea and the adjacent vegetation, in the lowland moist forest of French Guiana. Besides a delayed ant response, watering resulted in reduced rates of encounter, attack, and removal of termites. Other kinds of disturbances, such as herbivore presence, artificial and natural damage, or even shaking have been shown to induce increased ant activity on ant-plants. In contrast, rain events may be considered a type of disturbance that reduces ant activity. Consequently, the anti-herbivore activity of ants visiting EFNs may be constrained by rainfall. Keywords: Amazon forest, ant-plant interaction, extrafloral nectaries, French Guiana, Passiflora coccinea, rainfall, temporal variability.

In contrast to many myrmecophytes, which shelter ants in hollowed structures called domatia, plants bearing extrafloral nectaries do not have specific relationships with certain ant species. However, we hypothesized that different plants might be associated with different assemblages of ants. We studied three pioneer plant species from French Guiana: Passiflora glandulosa, Passiflora coccinea (Passifloraceae) and Mimosa myriadena (Mimosaceae) that occur together in the same habitat. The guild of ants associated with each of these plants was different from the overall ant community in the study area. Ant assemblages varied among plant species and, for a given plant species, from day to night. Certain ant species frequent in the study area were rare or even absent on these plants, even species known to be very aggressive at the interspecific level, such as Wasmannia auropunctata. While territoriality between ant species probably plays some role in determining distributions across plants, differential plant attractiveness to the workers also seems to be an important factor. Our large sample size, plus the fact that these plants develop in patches in which stems are frequently in contact, suggested that a certain selectivity occurs for plant choice by ant workers.