ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a locally applied 8.5 percent nanostructured doxycycline (DOX) gel in preventing alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontal disease (EPD) in rats by using the tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: EPD was induced in 24 Wistar rats. Animals were treated with the doxycycline gel topically, immediately after EPD induction, and 3 times a day during 11 days. Four groups (n=6) were formed as follows: Naïve group (animals not subjected to EPD nor treated); non-treated (NT) group (animals subjected to EPD, but not treated); vehicle gel (VG) group (animals subjected to EPD and treated with topical gel vehicle); and DOX group (test group): animals subjected to EPD and treated with the 8.5 percent DOX gel. In order to investigate topographical changes in histological sections, a novel simple method was used for sample preparation, by etching sections from paraffin-embedded specimens with xylol. RESULTS: Comparing the AFM images, several grooves were observed on the surface of the alveolar bone and other periodontal structures in the NT and VG groups, with significantly greater depths when compared to the DOX group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal structures were brought into high relief confirming to be a simple and cost-effective method for AFM imaging with ultrastructural resolution. The doxycycline gel was able to afford periodontal surface preservation, with flatter grooves.