Avaliação da atividade antioxidante e citoprotetora dos extratos de Eugenia uniflora Lineau e Psidium sobraleanum Proença & landrum contra metais pesados / Evaluación de la actividad citoprotectora y antioxidante de los extractos de Eugenia uniflora Lineau e Psidium sobraleanum Proença & Landrum contra metales pesados / Evaluation of the Cytoprotective and Antioxidant Activity of the Extracts of Eugenia Uniflora Lineau e Psidium Sobraleanum Proença & Landrum Against Heavy Metals

Objetivo: Estudos recentes apontam a utilização de plantas na forma de sucos ou chás como fontes de agentes antioxidantes naturais que apresentam baixo risco podendo ser utilizado no auxílio do tratamento de várias doenças. Materiais e métodos: Neste contexto, avaliaram-se os potenciais antioxidantes, in vitro, dos extratos de Eugenia uniflora e Psidium sobraleanum, além de quantificar fenóis e flavonoides presentes nos extratos. Resultados: De acordo com os resultados obtidos, observou-se uma melhor atividade antioxidante para o extrato de Eugenia uniflora, para o teste de TBARS com fosfolipídio de ovo, os extratos reduziram os níveis basais no processo de peroxidação lipídica, e quando induzidos por Fe2+ o extrato de Psidium sobraleanum mostrouse mais eficiente. Conclusões: Portanto, através destes ensaios pode-se verificar que os extratos das folhas das espécies, Eugenia uniflora e Psidium sobraleanum, apresentam uma atividade antioxidante, diretamente relacionada com substâncias fenólicas produzidas a partir do seu metabolismo secundário.

Objetivo: Estudios recientes reportan la utilización de plantas en forma de zumos o té como fuente de agentes antioxidantes naturales que presentan bajo riesgo, pudiendo ser utilizados como complemento del tratamiento de diversas enfermedades. Materiales y métodos: En este contexto, se evaluarán in vitro, los potenciales antioxidantes, de los extractos de Eugenia uniflora y Psidium sobraleanum, además de cuantificar fenoles y flavonoides presentes en los extractos. Resultados: De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos, se observó una mejor actividad antioxidante con el extracto de Eugenia uniflora, en el test de TBARS con fofolípidos de huevo, los extractos redujeron los niveles basales en el proceso de peroxidación lipídica; y cuando fue inducida con Fe+2, el extracto de Psidium sobraleanum se mostró más eficiente. Conclusiones: Por lo tanto, a través de estos ensayos se pudo comprobar que los extractos de las hojas de las especies Eugenia uniflora y Psidium sobraleanum presentan actividad antioxidante, directamente relacionada con sustancias fenólicas producidas a partir de sus metabolitos secundarios.

Objective: Evaluation of antioxidant activity has been an important issue considering its importance in human health. Recent studies show that the use of plants in the form of juices or teas as sources of natural antioxidants with low risk can be used as an aid to the treatment of various diseases. Material and Methods: Evaluation of the antioxidant potential in vitro, extracts of Eugenia uniflora and Psidium sobraleanum, as well as the quantification of phenols and flavonoids present in the extracts. Results: Findings showed a better antioxidant activity for the extract of Eugenia uniflora. In the TBARS test with egg phospholipids, extracts presented a reduction in the basal levels in the lipid peroxidation process; and when the Fe2 + extract was inducted, Psidium sobraleanum proved to be more efficient.. Conclusions: These tests proved that the extracts of leaves of the species Eugenia uniflora and Psidium sobraleanum present antioxidant activity which is directly related to phenolic substances produced in its secondary metabolism.

Citotocixidade e atividade antiparasitária de Lygodium venustum SW / Cytotoxic and antiparasitic activity of Lygodium venustum SW

. Doenças parasitárias infecciosas como leishmaniose e doença de Chagas tem se difundido nas últimas décadas a locais onde antes não se observava sua ocorrência. São consideradas negligenciadas por assolarem países pobres e serem marginalizadas farmacologicamente. O tratamento não apresenta muitas opções de fármacos e estes demonstram relevante toxicidade contribuindo para o aparecimento de diversos efeitos colaterais. A pesquisa com produtos naturais tem se mostrado uma interessante alternativa para a procura por novos fármacos. Lygodium venustum é uma samambaia cosmopolita de hábito lianescente encontrada na encosta na Chapada do Araripe, considerada por algumas populações americanas como planta medicinal para o tratamento de dermatoses, infecções, micoses e tricomoníases. Neste estudo foi avaliada sua atividade anti-parasitária contra Leishmania brasiliensis e Trypanosoma cruzi, bem como sua citotoxicidade através de ensaios n vitro. Foram testadas a fração hexânica e o extrato etanólico obtido das folhas de Lygodium venustum em diferentes concentrações. Para os testes in vitro de T. cruzi, foi utilizado o clone CL-B5 e para Leishmania brasiliensis foram utilizadas formas promastigotas. O ensaio de citotoxicidade foi realizado com linhagens de fbroblastos. L. venustum não apresentou atividade antiparasitária clinicamente relevante na forma de extrato etanólico bruto nem como fração hexânica contra Leishmania. A fração hexânica apresentou uma atividade intermediária contra T. cruzi, porém a concentração de efeito moderado possui citotoxicidade máxima tornando-se inviável para aplicação clínica. Entretanto, a citoxicicidade apresentada poderá ser útil em pesquisas sobre atividade antineoplásica em células tumorais.

Infectious and parasitic diseases like leishmaniasis and Chagas disease have spreading recent decades to places not observed before. They are considered neglected by desolating poor countries and marginalized pharmacologically. There are not many options for the treatment and these drugs have shown signifcant toxicity contributing to the appearance of several side effects. Research on natural products has been shown to be an interesting alternative to the search for new drugs. Lygodium venustum is a cosmopolitan fern with latescence habit found on the Chapada do Araripe, considered by some American popula-tions as a medicinal plant for the treatment of skin diseases, infections, fungal infections and trichomoniasis. This study evaluated its antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania brasiliensis, as well as its cytotoxicity through trials in vitro. We tested the ethanolic extract and hexane fraction obtained from the leaves of L. venustum at different concentrations. For in vitro tests of T. cruzi, we used the clone CL-B5 and for L. brasiliensis we used promastigotes. The cytotoxicity assay was performed with strains of fbroblasts. L.venustum showed no antiparasitic activity clinically relevant in the form of crude ethanolic extractor as the hexane fraction against Leishmania. The hexane fraction showed an intermediate activity against T.cruzi, but the concentration of moderate effect has maximum cytotoxicity becoming unfeasible for clinical application. However, the cytotoxicity presented may be useful in research on antineoplastic activity in tumor cells.

Development and validation of a HPLC method for the quantification of three flavonoids in a crude extract of Dimorphandra gardneriana

A method for separation and quantification of three flavonoids by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed and validated. Flavonoids present in a crude methanolic extract of the inner bark of Dimorphandra gardneriana Tul., Fabaceae, were analyzed. Rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin were used as calibration standards. The analysis was performed using a Thermo Scientific Hypersil C18 column (250 x 4.0 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size), as stationary phase, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and detection at a wavelength of 356 nm. The proposed method was validated by resolution RE No. 899/2003 of the National Health Surveillance Agency. In this study, an excellent linearity was obtained with r higher than 0.99. Besides, the chromatographic peaks showed good resolution. With other validation data, including precision, specificity, accuracy and robustness, this method demonstrated good reliability and sensitivity, and can be conveniently used for the quantification of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin in crude methanolic extract of D. gardneriana pods. Furthermore, there are the advantages of easy sample preparation and short time between each injection.

Modulation of the norfloxacin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by Cordia verbenaceae DC.

Background & objectives: Several chemical compounds isolated from natural sources have antibacterial activity and some enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics reversing the natural resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics. In this study, the hexane and methanol extract of Cordia verbenaceae were assessed for antibacterial activity alone and combinated with norfloxacin against the Staphylococcus aureus strain SA1199B. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of extracts was assayed using microdilution assay and the modulatory activity was evaluated using plate diffusion assay. Results: The MIC observed varied between 256 to >1024 μg/ml. However, the antibiotic activity of norfloxacin was enhanced in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of hexane extract of C. verbenaceae (HECV). Interpretations & conclusions: Our results indicate that Cordia verbenaceae DC. can be a source of plant derived products with antibiotic modifying activity.

Chemical constituents and evaluation of cytotoxic and antifungal activity of Lantana camara essential oils

The essential oil (EO) of aerial parts of Lantana camara L., Verbenaceae, from Simões, Piaui, Northeast of Brazil, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. In total, 68 compounds were identified. The most representative compounds of the oil were mono and sesquiterpenes. The main compounds found in the oil of the leaves in different months were β-caryophyllene (10.5%, in June of 2009), sabinene (7.98%, in September of 2008), limonene (7.68%, in September of 2008), spathulenol (11.64%, in September of 2008). The oil from stems of L. camara was characterized by a largest amount of sesquiterpenoids, with spatulenol (15.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (17.1% in June of 2009), as main components. β-Gurjunene (32.7%, in September of 2008) was the most prominent compound in the stems oils, which was absent or at very low relative abundance in leaves. L. camara essential oils from leaves were cytotoxic to V79 mammalian cells and also to Artemia salina, showing 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values from 0.23 µg/mL. The in vitro data obtained in this study suggested that EO may also be effective treating yeast infection in patients infected with fluconazole and terbinafine resistant isolates, but its toxicity must be monitored carefully.

Genus Lantana: chemical aspects and biological activities

Species of the genus Lantana, belonging to the family Verbenaceae, is among the various species studied scientifically. These species are mainly native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Currently, they are present in various countries, where they are often grown as ornamental plants. For decades, species of Lantana have been of great interest for phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies, which have been recently intensified. The components isolated from different species of Lantana cited in the literature constitute the focus of this review. Information ethnopharmacology of Lantana, as well as the activities of their different phytochemicals are discussed. In this review, it was observed that the genus Lantana has been widely studied in relation to its phytochemical components and terpenoids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids are the more common secondary metabolites in Lantana. All these aspects, considered in this review, allow an evaluation of the ethnopharmacological potential of Lantana for the utilization of the large biomass of these plants.

Avaliação da atividade anti-Trypanosoma e anti-Leishmania de Mentha arvensis e Turnera ulmifolia / Evaluation of the anti-Trypanosoma and anti-Leishmania activity of Mentha arvensis and Turnera ulmifolia

Tripanosomiasis or “Chagas disease”, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affect 10 million people in Latin America. Today, the chemotherapy is the only specific treatment against this disease, being the most used drugs the nifurtimox and benznidazole. Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, mainly founded in regions with forests, as the Amazonia. Recent reports about the Leishmaniasis indicate a deficit of therapeutical drugs available against this disease and reinforce the necessity of the discovering of new drugs. An interesting approach against these diseases is the use of natural products, as the extracts of plants as Mentha arvensis and Turnera ulmifolia. For the in vitro assays against T. cruzi and Leishmania, was used the clone CL-B5 and promastigote forms, respectively. The cytotoxic assay was performed using fibroblasts. Our results indicated that M. arvensis was active against all strains assayed, inhibiting 65 e 47 percent of the assayed strains (IC50 = 192.3 and 531.9 ug/mL respectively), representing an interesting and alternative source of natural products with anti-kinetoplastida activity.

Doença de Chagas, causada por Trypanosoma cruzi, afeta cerca de 10 milhões de pessoas nas Américas. Atualmente, a quimioterapia é o único tratamento específico disponível para esta doença, onde os medicamentos utilizados são nifurtimox e benzonidazol. Leishmaniose tegumentar Americana no Brasil é causada por uma variedade de espécies de Leishmania e uma grande diversidade destes parasitos pode ser encontrada na Região Amazônica. Revisões recentes na quimioterapia de leishmaniose enfatizam as deficiências dos agentes terapêuticos atualmente disponíveis e mostram a necessidade urgente de novos candidatos. Uma alternativa para substituir esses medicamentos são extratos naturais de Mentha arvensis e Turnera ulmifolia. Foram preparados extratos etanólicos das folhas de M. arvensis e T. ulmifolia. Para os testes in vitro de T. cruzi, foi utilizado o clone CL-B5 e para Leishmania brasiliensis foram utilizadas formas promastigotas. O ensaio de citotoxicidade foi realizado com linhagens de fibroblastos. Nossos resultados indicam que M. arvensis foi eficaz contra as cepas de parasitos testadas apresentando 65 e 47 por cento de inibição em uma concentração de 500 ug/mL (respectivamente, CE50 = 192.3 e 531.9 ug/mL), sendo considerada uma fonte alternativa de produtos naturais com atividade contra T. cruzi e L. brasiliensis.

Phythochemical screening and antimicrobial activity phythochemical of essential oil from Lippia gracillis

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the fresh and dried leaves of Lippia gracillis Schauer, Verbenaceae, was analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC⁄MS). The yield of essential oil extracted from the dried leaves was significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to the fresh leaves. Seventeen components were identified. The monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons with 96.26 percent (w/w) of the total oil obtained of fresh leaves and 86.99 percent (w/w) of the total oil obtained of dried leaves were the principal compound groups. Thymol was observed dominant (44.42 percent; 21.3 percent), followed by carvacrol (22.21 percent; 21.30 percent), p-cymene (6.23 percent; 8.58 percent), α-pinene (5.65 percent; 19.42 percent), β-caryophyllene (5.61 percent; 3.57 percent) and other minor constitutes, respectively. Microbiological results obtained by agar diffusion method, micro dilution method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that the essential oil has a relevant antimicrobial activity against E. coli (ATCC 10536), E. coli (Ec 27), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), S. aureus (ATCC 12692) and S. aureus (Sa 358), with their inhibition zones ranging from 9 to 13 mm and the MIC ranging from 64 to 512 μg/mL.

Phototoxic and modulatory effects of natural products from the skin of Rhinella jimi (Stevaux, 2002)

The skin of amphibians possesses a large diversity of biologically active compounds that are associated with the natural defenses of these animals against pathogens. Five different extracts and fractions were obtained from the skin of Rhinella jimi: methanol extract (ME), methanol fractions (MF), chloroform extract of methanol extract (CF), aqueous alkaloid fraction (AAF) and aqueous non-alkaloid fraction (ANAF). All fractions were evaluated with respect to their antibiotic modifying activity in standard bacterial strains and multiresistant clinical isolates. Antagonism was detected with kanamycin and gentamicin when combined with substances obtained from the skin of R. jimi. Phototoxic activity was observed in the methanol and chlorophorm fractions, as well as the aqueous non-alkaloid fraction. The antagonistic action was apparently associated with the protection afforded by the bacterial populations that inhabit the skin of this amphibian, preventing colonization by pathogenic fungi. The phototoxic activity demonstrated by natural products from the skin of R. jimi showed an interruption of the bacterial growth after UV exposure. This could indicate an antibacterial effect activated by the UV light, opening a path for carrying the attack by pathogenic fungi, causing the disease related with the amphibian decline.

Potentiation of aminoglycoside antibiotic activity using the body fat from the snake Boa constrictor

Boa constrictor is widely used in traditional communities in many different folk remedies and products derived from it are sold in public markets throughout northeastern Brazil and as its body fat has many different therapeutic indications as a folk remedy. The present work evaluates the antibacterial activity of the body fat from the snake Boa constrictor when employed either alone or in combination with antibiotics and discusses the ecological implications of the use of this traditional remedy. Oil (OBC) was extracted from body fat located in the ventral region of B. constrictor using hexane as a solvent. The antibacterial activity of OBC was tested against standard as well as multi-resistant lines, either alone and in combination with antibiotics. OBC did not demonstrate any relevant antibacterial activity against standard or multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. OBC showed synergistic activity when combined with the aminoglycoside antibiotics. Our results indicate that the body fat of Boa constrictor does not possess bactericidal activity, from the clinical point of view, but when combined with an antibiotic, the fat demonstrated a significant synergistic activity.

Composição química e avaliação das atividades antibacteriana e de toxicidade dos óleos essenciais de Lantana camara L. e Lantana sp. / Chemical composition, evaluation of antibacterial activity and toxicity of the essential oils from Lantana camara L. and Lantana sp.

Os óleos essenciais de Lantana camara L. e Lantana sp., Verbenaceae, foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e seus componentes analisados por CG/EM. Tal procedimento analítico revelou a predominância dos sesquiterpenos, biciclogermacreno (19,42 por cento), isocariofileno (16,70 por cento), valenceno (12,94 por cento) e germacreno D (12,34 por cento) no óleo de L. camara, enquanto o biciclogermacreno (13,93 por cento), germancreno D (27,54 e β-cariofileno (31,50 por cento), por cento) destacaram-se como majoritários no óleo de Lantana sp. Os dois óleos foram submetidos a avaliação de atividades antibacteriana e de toxicidade usando as larvas de Artemia salina. Os resultados mostraram considerável atividade antibacteriana do óleo de L. camara, principalmente para Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315) e Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). O óleo de Lantana sp. mostrou-se mais significativo contra Sthaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 10390). As atividades de toxicidade CL50 revelaram resultados inferiores ao limite padrão de 1000 μg/mL.

The essential oils from Lantana camara L. and Lantana sp. Verbenaceae, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. This GC/MS analysis revealed the sesquiterpenoids bicyclogermacrene (19.42 percent), isocaryophyllene (16.70 percent), valencene (12.94 percent) and germacrene D (12.34 percent) as majoritaries in the essential oil of L. camara, and bicyclogermacrene (13.93 percent), germacrene D (27.54 and β-caryophyllene (31.50 percent) in the essential oil from Lantana sp. The two essential oils were evaluated to antibacterial activity and toxicity using Artemia salina. The results revealed considerable antibacterial activity for essential oil from L. camara, meanly for Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The essential oil of Lantana sp. showed major activity for Sthaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 10390). The evaluation of toxicity CL50 revealed results with minor values to limit pattern of 1000 μg/mL.

In vitro interference of Hyptis martiusii Benth. & chlorpromazine against an aminoglycoside - resistant Escherichia coli.

The antibacterial and synergistic activity of the ethanol extract from Hyptis martiusii Benth. was assayed by microdillution. The growth of two isolates of Escherichia coli tested was inhibited by the extract. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) values ranged from 512 and >1024 μg/ml for the E. coli 27 and 1024 and > 1024 μg/ml for the E. coli ATCC8539, respectively. A synergism between this extract and all aminoglycosides assayed was demonstrated. In the same form synergism between chlorpromazine and kanamycin, amikacin and tobramycin was observed, indicating the involvement of an effl ux system. Extracts from H. martiusii could be used as a source of plant derived natural products with modifying antibiotic activity and these products may interact and affect multidrug resistance systems (MDR) as efflux pumps.

Composição química e avaliação da atividade antibacteriana e toxicidade do óleo essencial de Croton zehntneri (variedade estragol) / Chemical composition and evaluation of the antibacterial activity and toxicity of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (variety estragol)

Tendo em vista que bactérias resistentes a antimicrobianos representam um desafi o no tratamento de infecções, é notória a necessidade de encontrar novas substâncias com propriedades antimicrobianas para serem utilizadas no combate a esses microrganismos. Este trabalho relataa avaliação da atividade antibacteriana, toxicidade e identifi cação dos componentes químicos do óleo essencial de Croton zehntneri (variedade estragol), planta utilizada na medicina popular como calmante e estimulante do apetite. A atividade antimicrobiana e a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) foram determinadas pelo método de difusão em discos. A avaliação da toxicidade foi realizada frente à Artemia salina com resultado considerado ativo (CL50 < 100 μg/mL). O óleo essencial das folhas apresentou atividade antibacteriana frente a todas as bactérias testadas exceto contra Salmonella typhimurium, sendo o melhor resultado frente a Shigella fl exneri com CIM de 50 μg/mL. A análise da composição química foi obtida por cromatografi a gasosa acoplada aespectrometria de massa (CG/EM) e permitiu identifi car um total de 97,4% dos componentes, com presença majoritária de estragol (76,8%). A presença de tal constituinte nos impulsiona a realização de estudos com outras bactérias, já que o estragol foi anteriormente relatado como sendo responsável por atividades antibacterianas.

Observing that bacteria resistant to antimicrobials represent a challenge in the treatment of infections, it is notoriousthe need of fi nding new substances with antimicrobial features to be used in the fi ght against these microorganisms. This work relates the evaluation of the antibacterial activity, toxicity andidentifi cation of the chemical components of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (variety estragol), plant used in the popular medicine as tranquilizer and appetite stimulant. The antimicrobialactivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined by the method of diffusion in discs. The evaluation of the toxicity was held through brine shrimp test with results considered active (LC50 < 100 μg/mL). The essential oil of leaves presented antibacterial activity with all the bacteria tested except with Salmonlla typhimurium, being the best result with the Shigella fl exneri with MIC of 50 μg/mL. The analysis of the chemical composition was obtained by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and permitted to identify a total of 97.4 % of the components, with major presence of estragol (76.8%). The presence of the latter drives us to studies with other bacteria, as the estragol was previously reported as being responsible forantibacterial activities.

In vitro anti-staphylococcal activity of Hyptis martiusii Benth against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: MRSA strains / Atividade anti-estafilocócica in vitro de Hyptis martiusii Benth contra linhagens de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina: MRSA

This is the first report about the antibacterial activity of Hyptis martiusii Benth. In this study the ethanol extract of H. martiusii was tested for its antimicrobial activity against strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The growth of all bacterial strains tested was inhibited by the extract. The diameter of inhibition zones varied from 13 to 20 mm for the extract. The MIC and MBC values ranged from 128 to > 1024mg/mL and 256 to > 1024 mg/mL, respectively. It is therefore suggested that extracts from H. martiusii could be used as an anti-Staphylococcus agent. Compared with methicillin and gentamicin, the extract was more effective, being a promising antibacterial agent.

Este é o primeiro relato de atividade antibacteriana de Hyptis martiusii Benth. Neste estudo, o extrato etanólico de H. martiusii foi avaliado para atividade antimicrobiana contra linhagens de Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Staphylococcus aureus. O crescimento de todas as bactérias testadas foi inibido pelo extrato. O diâmetro das zonas de inibição variaram de 13 - 20 mm. Os valores da CIM e CBM variaram de 128 a > 1024 mg/mL e 256 a > 1024 mg/mL, respectivamente. Devido a isso, podemos indicar que o extrato etanólico de H. martiusii pode ser usado como um agente anti-Staphylococcus. Quando comparado com outros antibióticos como meticilina e gentamicina, o extrato foi mais efetivo, demonstrando ser um promissor agente antibacteriano.