Antifungal activity of the extract of Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, Zingiberaceae, against yeasts of the genus Candida isolated from the oral cavity of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is the most common fungal infection among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and is treated empirically with topical or systemic antifungals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible antifungal action of the hydroalcoholic extract of Curcuma zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, Zingiberaceae, on yeasts in this population. Samples were collected from HIV-positive patients who attended the Laboratory for Teaching and Research in Clinical Analysis at the Universidade Estadual de Maringá for routine exams. The isolated yeasts were identified at the genus and species levels through classical methodology. Next, tests of microdilution in broth were carried out to determine the profile of susceptibility of these yeasts towards the hydroalcoholic extract of C. zedoaria, following methodology standardised by the CLSI (2002). A total of 53 yeasts were identified, 49 of them C. albicans, two C. tropicalis and two C. glabrata. These yeasts were inhibited by low concentrations of the extract of C. zedoaria (between 1.95 and 15.63 μg/mL). In addition, 7.82 μg/mL inhibited 90 percent of the yeasts. Our results indicate a potent antifungal action for C. zedoaria and suggest more detailed studies with a view towards the practical application of this phytomedicine in topical pharmaceutical forms for the treatment of oral candidosis or candidiasis.

Antifungal activity of the extracts and saponins from Sapindus saponaria L

Extracts from the dried pericarp of Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae) fruits were investigated for their antifungal activity against clinical isolates of yeasts Candida albicans and C. non-albicans from vaginal secretions of women with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Four clinical isolates of C. albicans, a single clinical isolated of each of the species C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and the strain of C. albicans ATCC 90028 were used. The hydroalcoholic extract was bioactivity-directed against a clinical isolate of C. parapsilosis, and showed strong activity. The n-BuOH extract and one fraction showed strong activity against all isolates tested. Further column-chromatography on silica gel separation of this fraction afforded two pure triterpene acetylated saponins: 3-O-(4-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-(1->3)-alpha-Lrhamnopyranosyl-(1->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin (1) and 3-O-(3,4-di-acetyl-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-(1->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1->2)-alpha-L-arabynopyranosyl-hederagenin (2). The structures of the compounds were based on spectral data (¹H and 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and MS), and on with literature. The saponins isolated showed strong activity against C. parapsilosis.

Extratos do pericarpo de frutos de Sapindus saponaria L. (Sapindaceae) foram testados para a atividade antifúngica sobre isolados clínicos de leveduras de Candida albicans e C. não-albicans obtidos de secreção vaginal de mulheres com Candidíase Vulvovaginal. Foram avaliados quatro isolados clínicos de C. albicans, um de cada uma das espécies C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis e uma cepa referência de C. albicans ATCC 90028. O extrato hidroalcoólico foi biomonitorado contra um isolado clínico de C. parapsilosis, apresentando forte atividade. O extrato butanólico e uma fração apresentaram forte atividade contra todos os isolados testados. Posterior análise desta fração via cromatografia em sílica gel (CHCl3:CH3OH, 1:1, v/v) resultou no isolamento de duas saponinas triterpênicas puras mono e diacetiladas, 3-O-(4-O-acetil-O-beta-D-xilopiranosil)-(1 -> 3)-alfa-L-ramnopiranosil-(1 -> 2)-alfa-L-arabinopiranosil-hederagenina (1) e 3-O-(3,4-di-O-acetil-beta-D-xilopiranosil)-(1 -> 3)-alfa-L-ramnopiranosil-(1 -> 2)-alfa-L-rabinopiranosil-hederagenina (2) respectivamente. A elucidação estrutural das substâncias foi baseada em dados espectrais (RMN de ¹H e de 13C, HSQC, HMBC, ESI/MS) e comparados com dados da literatura. As saponinas triterpênicas isoladas (1) e (2) apresentaram forte atividade contra C. parapsilosis.

Obtenção de extratos de própolis sob diferentes condições e avaliação de sua atividade antifúngica / Antifungal activity evaluation of different propolis extracts

A própolis é uma resina coletada das árvores pelas abelhas Apis mellifera L., que contém inúmeras substâncias, dentre elas os flavonóides. Devido a grande variedade de sua composição química, apresenta várias ações farmacológicas, destacando-se as ações antiinflamatória, cicatrizante, antitumoral e antimicrobiana, principalmente a antifúngica. Esta ação foi testada frente a leveduras isoladas de onicomicoses, que são infecções de difícil e longo tratamento que causam efeitos indesejáveis ao paciente. A própolis surge como uma eficiente opção de tratamento, pois é de baixa toxicidade e pode ser de uso tópico. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a otimização do processo extrativo da própolis através de parâmetros físico-químicos e demonstração da atividade antifúngica.

Propolis is a resin collected by the bees Apis mellifera L., which contains several substances including the flavonoids. Due to a diversified chemical composition propolis presents some pharmacological actions, being distinguished the anti-inflammatory, healing, antitumoral and antimicrobial properties and, in particular, its antifungal action. This action has been tested against yeasts obtained from onychomycosis, which are infections of difficult and long treatment and they can manifest intolerable effects on the patient. The propolis appears as an efficient therapy option, as it has low toxicity and should be of dermal use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the optimization of the propolis extractive process through physiochemical parameters and antifungal activity demonstration.

Contribuição da citologia de papanicolaou para o diagnóstico de leveduras em secreção vaginal / Contribution of the cytology of papanicolaou for the diagnosis of yeasts in vaginal secretion

Introdução: candidíase vulvovaginal (CVV) é uma infecção causada pelo crescimento anormal de fungos do tipo leveduras na mucosa do trato genital. Ultimamente, tem crescido o interesse na utilização da citologia de Papanicolaou (Pap) no diagnóstico de infecções associadas a patógenos de transmissão sexual, mas o método tem sido pouco avaliado para CVV. Objetivos: avaliar a acurácia diagnóstica da citologia de Papanicolaou para o diagnóstico de fungos vaginais, bem como comparar os resultados da citologia com os da bacterioscopia de secreção vaginal (Gram) e cultura. Métodos: foram coletadas secreções cérvico-vaginais para Gram, Papanicolaou e cultura de leveduras, e as colônias crescidas na cultura foram contadas. As mulheres não foram triadas para sintomatologia de CVV e foram descartadas aquelas com outra infecção agente ou imunodeficiências. Foram realizados cálculos estatísticos de sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivo positivo e negativo, e freqüência de falso-positivos e negativos, em três situações: na detecção de fungos independente da quantidade de colônias; nos casos com crescimento de 1-9 colônias; e naqueles com crescimento de ? 100. Resultados: a cultura foi positiva em 35 pacientes (21,70%). Sem considerar o número de colônias, a sensibilidade do Gram e da citologia foram muito parecidas (67,65% e 62,85%), nos casos com crescimento de 1-9 colônias, de 37,50% e 50,00%, e nos casos com crescimento ? 100 colônias, de86,61% e 78,26%. Conclusão: a citologia mostrou-se um método morfológico com eficiência muito semelhante e para pequenos números de colônias melhor do que o Gram para detectar leveduras vaginais, tornando-a perfeitamente aplicável na rotina laboratorial para este diagnóstico.

Introduction: vulvovaginal Candidiasis vulvovaginal (VVC) it is an infection caused by the abnormal growth of fungus of the type yeasts in themucous membrane of the genital treatment. Lately, it has been increasing the interest in the use of the cytology of Papanicolaou (Pap) in the diagnosis of associated infections the pathogens of sexual transmission, but the method has been little appraised for VVC. Objectives: to evaluate the accuracy diagnostic of the cytology of Papanicolaou for the diagnosis of vaginal fungus, as well as to compare the results of the cytology with the one of the bacterioscopy of vaginal secretion (Gram) and culture. Methods: cervico-vaginal secretions were collected for Gram, Papanicolaou and culture of yeasts, and the grown colonies in the culture were counted. The women didn?t go selected to simptomatology of VVC and they were discarded those with other infection agent or immunodeficiency. Statistical calculations of sensibility were accomplished, specificity, values positive and negative predictive, and frequency of false positive and negative, in three situations: in the independent detection of fungus of the amount of colonies; in thecases with growth of 1-9 colonies; and in those with growth of ? 100. Results: the culture of it was positive in 35 patients (21,70%). Without considering the number of colonies, the sensibility of Gram and of the cytology they were very similar (67,65% and 62,85%), in the cases with growth of 1-9 colonies, of 37,50% and 50,00%, and in the cases with growth ? 100 colonies, of 86,61% and 78,26%. Conclusion: the cytology was shown a morphologic method with very similar efficiency and for small numbers of colonies better than Gram to detect vaginal yeasts, turning her perfectly applicable in the routine laboratorial for this diagnosis.