ABSTRACT
Introduction: the recent enhancement of interest in green consumerism has given rise to a renewed scientiï¬c awareness towards essential oils. Essential oil from Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (B. trimera) (Asteraceae) is cited as one of the ten most consumed oils by the cosmetic and other industries in Brazil. Objective: to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the leaves of B. trimera against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 7468 and Corynebacterium xerosis IAL105, which are the main bacteria responsible for bad perspiration odor. Methods: the gas chromatography (GC) analysis was performed and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by means of the turbidimetric method, using a microdilution assay. Results: ywenty constituents were identified, being that ß-pinene (23.4 percent) was the major compound found. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the essential oil ranged from 500 µg/mL to 1,000 µg/mL. A detrimental effect of the essential oil was observed on the morphology of cell membranes of the bacteria studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Conclusions: the results demonstrate the essential oil of B. trimera has potential in the application of antimicrobial agents in personal care products(AU)
Introducción: el reciente aumento del interés por el consumo verde ha dado lugar a una renovada conciencia científica hacia a los aceites esenciales. El aceite esencial de Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (B. trimera) (Asteraceae) es considerado uno de los diez aceites más consumidos por la industria cosmética del Brasil. Objetivos: valorar la actividad antimicrobiana del aceite esencial de hojas de B. trimera frente al Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 7468 y Corynebacterium xerosis IAL105, que son las principales bacterias responsables del mal olor que es consecuencia de la transpiración. Métodos: se realizó la cromatografía de gases (GG) y la actividad antimicrobiana fué valorada por el método turbidimétrico, usando el ensayo de microdilución. Resultados: se identificarón veinte constituyentes, siendo el ß-pineno (23,4 por ciento) el principal compuesto encontrado. Los valores de la concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) del aceite esencial variaron de 500 µg/mL a 1,000 µg/mL. Se observó un efecto perjudicial del aceite esencial en la morfología de las membranas celulares de las bacterias estudiadas por microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). Conclusión: los resultados demuestran que el aceite esencial de B. trimera tiene potencial en la aplicación de los agentes antimicrobianos en productos de higiene personal(AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Plants, Medicinal , Oils, Volatile/therapeutic use , Chromatography, Gas/methods , Baccharis , Products with Antimicrobial Action , Microscopy, Electrochemical, Scanning/methods , BrazilABSTRACT
<b>Objective:</b> The overproduction of reactive oxygen species leads to oxidative stress, which is related to lifestyle-related disease and cancer. Although antioxidants are considered as one of the countermeasures to oxidative stress, it is necessary to develop the assessment methodology for the antioxidant capacity which is closer to the inner body conditions. In this study, we examined antioxidant actions of plant extracts by using newly-developed neutrophil activity measurement system.<br> <b>Method:</b> Lemon verbena, Green tea, Camellia japonica and Antiallerge<sup>®</sup> were used as plant extracts, and were diluted to medium in wide-range concentrations. Each solution was added on modified Mebiol Gel<sup>®</sup> (hydrogel), and the mixture of blood and luminol were set onto the hydrogel in each tube. The amount of reactive oxygen species were measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, whereas the cell count in the hydrogel was quantified as migratory activity of neutrophils.<br> <b>Result:</b> Lemon verbena and Green tea significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas Camellia japonica and Antiallerge<sup>®</sup> did not. The migratory activity of neutrophils was not affected by those plant extracts. Also, damaged cells were not detected.<br> <b>Conclusion:</b> It was suggested that Lemon verbena and Green tea scavenged reactive oxygen species without causing cell death of neutrophils. This new method for measuring neutrophil activities can be applied not only for assessing the status of inflammation and oxidative stress but also as the screening system for predicting the effectiveness of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances.<br>