The genus Cordia: botanists, ethno, chemical and pharmacological aspects

ABSTRACTSpecies of the genus Cordia, Boraginaceae, are widely studied with regard to the various ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological aspects. They are found principally in tropical and subtropical regions of the American, Asian and African continents, where they occur in various countries. In the genus Cordia, there are many species cultivated for ornamental plants, wood and medicinal applications, where they are extensively utilized by traditional communities. In the last decades, scientific studies of Cordia species have intensified, demonstrating the great interest in phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies. In this review, we describe the principal botanical aspects, ethnopharmacological information and evaluation of the bioactive and pharmacological properties of Cordia, its phytochemical constituents and the most common classes of secondary metabolites identified. The information reported in this work contributes scientifically to recognizing the importance of the genus Cordia as a target in the search for new biotechnological investments.

Avaliação in Vitro da atividade antimicrobiana do carvacrol através dos métodos de contato direto e gasoso / Evaluation In vitro of antimicrobial activity of carvacrol by the direct and gaseous contact methods

Nas últimas décadas, a resistência bacteriana frente aos antimicrobianos se constituiu em um sério problema para a saúde pública, impondo barreiras ao controle de diversas espécies de microrganismos. O carvacrol é um composto fenólico geralmenete encontrado como componente majoritário do óleo essencial de algumas plantas como Origanum vulgare (orégano), Lippia graveolens (Lípia) e Lipia sidoides (alecrim-pimenta). Estudos demonstram a atividade antibacteriana do orégano, possivelmente devido ao carvacrol. Para avaliar a ação antimicrobiana desse composto, foram utilizadas linhagens padrão bacterianas (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 e Pseudomonasa aeruginosa ATCC15442) e fúngicas (Candida albicans ICB12, C. krusei ATCC6258 e C. tropicalis ATCC13803). Os métodos de microdiluição em caldo e de contato gasoso foram utilizados para determinar a concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e a dose inibitória mínima (DIM) respectivamente, bem como a atividade moduladora da ação antibiótica através de ambos os métodos. O carvacrol, combinado em concentrações subinibitórias com as drogas antimicrobianas apresentou resultados relevantes frente às cepas de Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans, por tanto este estudo permitiu comprovar a atividade moduladora do carvacrol.

In the last decades, the bacterial resistance to antimicrobials becomes a serious problem of public health, creating several difficulties to control several microrganisms with nosocomial interest. The carvacrol, the main phenol compound of many plants as Origanum vulgare, Lippia graveolens and Lipia sidoides. Studies demonstrated and intensive antibacterial activity of O. vulgare, probably due the carvacrol. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of this compound, were assayed microbial strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Pseudomonas eruginosa ATCC15442, Candida albicans ICB12, C. krusei ATCC6258 and C. tropicalis ATCC 13803. Using the microdilution and the gaseous contact method, were determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum inhibitory dose (DIM), respectively as well as the modulatory activity with both methods. The carvacrol, used in subinhibitory concentrations associated with antimicrobial drugs demonstrated an interesting modulatory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans strains, indicating the antimicrobial and modulatory activity of this compound.

Avaliação In vitro da atividade antimicrobiana e moduladora dos extratos etanólico e hexânico de bulbo de Costus arabicus / In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity and modulating the ethanol and hexane extracts of Costus arabicus bulb

Neste estudo, extratos etanólicos e hexânicos de bulbo de Costus arabicus foram utilizados com o objetivo de avaliar a atividade antibacteriana, antifúngica e moduladora da resistencia de antibacterianos e antifúnicos contra cepas bactecterianas de Escherichia Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e cepas fúngicas de Candida Albicans. Candida Krusei, Candida Tropicalis. A atividade antibacteriana e modulatória foi determinada por microdiluição. A inibição do crescimento das bactérias e fungos testados com extrato foi ≥1024. A atividade de alguns antibióticos e antifúngicos foi reforçada sinergicamente quando estes extratos foram associados em concentrações subinibitórias com antimicrobianos. Portanto, sugerimos que os extratos etanólicos e hexânicos de bulbo de Costus arabicus podem ser utilizados como fonte de produtos naturais com o objetivo de modificar a resistência desses microorganismos aos antimicrobianos.

In this study, ethanol and hexane extracts of the bulbs from Costus Arabicus were assayed to antibacterial, antifungal and modulatory activity against antibacterial and antifungal drugs using bacterial and fungal strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, C. krusei and C. tropicalis. The antimicrobial and modulatory activity was evaluated by microdilution method. The activity of some antimicrobial drugs was synergistically enhanced when sub-inhibitory concentrations of these extracts were associated with antimicrobial drugs. Therefore, we suggest that ethanol and hexane extracts of bulbs from Costus Arabicus can be used as a source of natural products in order to modify the resistance of these microorganisms to antimicrobials, demonstrating an interesting strategy to combat drug-resistant infectious agents.