Atividade Antimicrobiana da Uncaria Tomentosa (Willd) D. C. / Antimicrobial activity of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC

A Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) D. C. (unha de gato) é uma planta amplamente utilizada na medicina popular, originária da Amazônia. Possui atividades biológicas, como anti-inflamatória, antimutagênica e antioxidante. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato de U. tomentosa, seco e hidroalcoólico, obtido comercialmente, utilizando-se 12 cepas de microrganismos (6 Gram-positvas e 6 Gram-negativas). Os testes antimicrobianos foram realizados em ágar BHI pela técnica de difusão em ágar. Também foram determinadas a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) e Concentração Microbicida Mínima (CMM). Os testes demonstraram que os extratos inibiram o crescimento de bactérias Gram-positivas e Gram-negativas, sendo o extrato hidroalcoólico mais eficiente que o extrato seco. Conclui-se que o extrato de U. tomentosa possui atividade antimicrobiana podendo ser utilizado como uma alternativa terapêutica de baixo custo...

The plant Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC. (cat's claw), found in the Amazon region and widely used in popular medicine, has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to test the antimicrobial activity of two commercially prepared extracts of U. tomentosa, one dried extract of bark and the other hydroalcoholic leaf extract, against 12 strains of bacteria (6 Gram-positive and 6 Gram-negative). The antimicrobial tests were conducted by diffusion in BHI agar. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Microbicidal Concentration (MMC) were also determined. The tests showed that both extracts inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, but the hydroalcoholic extract was more effective and also inhibited Gram-negative bacteria. It is concluded that the U. tomentosa extract has an antimicrobial activity and can be used as a low-cost alternative treatment...

Study of dissolution profiles and desintegration of capsules containing the dried hydroethanolic extract of Calophyllum brasiliense

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess, Calophyllaceae, is of great interest in folk medicine and is used in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes. Granules containing the hydroethanolic extract from the stem bark of C. brasiliense were obtained. The polyphenol content was standardized, and the average weight, disintegration, and the dissolution profiles of the capsules were determined after encapsulation. The capsules had an average weight of 574.5±8.0 mg. In vitro tests showed that the most efficient disintegration profile was in hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 1.2), with a capsule disintegration time within 9 min. The dissolution analysis showed a better uniformity of capsule content release when the test was performed in a hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 1.2), with a maximal release rate at 15 min (giving a polyphenol content of 4.38%, which corresponds to a concentration of 0.0080 mg/mL). In distilled water, the maximal release was reached at 20 min (giving a polyphenol content of 5.41%, which is equivalent to 0.0105 mg/mL). In phosphate buffer, the maximal release of capsule contents was reached at the end of the dissolution assay (30 min), with the lowest amount of released polyphenols (3.61%, which corresponds to a concentration of 0.0070 mg/mL). The encapsulated form of the hydroethanolic extract of C. brasiliense was shown to have the necessary traits of a desirable delivery agent, and the dissolution test was an effective analysis of this material's polyphenol release profile for the specific dosage form.

Study on decompression extraction of Sansheng Hehuan Decoction / 中草药

Objective: To explore the advantages of decompression extraction applied in the preparation of Sansheng Hehuang Decoction (SHD). Methods: The process parameters of decompression extraction of SHD were optimized using synephrine and magnolol as indexes, the active components content, extract yield, extract powder characteristics, and volatile components by decompression extraction and atmospheric extraction were compared, and the microcosmic structures of synephrine and magnolol were observed. Results: The optimum extraction parameters were as follows: vacuum degree of 0.08 MPa (60°C), extracting twice for 30 min each time, and solid-liquid ratio of 1:10. Compared with the extraction at normal pressure by water, the content of synephrine increased by 13%, the extracting rate of magnolol increased by 10% while the extracting rate of timosaponin BII was almost the same, and the yield of the dried extract decreased by about 33%. The kinds of volatile components by decompression extraction were almost the same as those by atmospheric extraction, but the yield was lower than that by atmospheric extraction. Besides, the powder characteristics including flowability and hygroscopicity of the extract prepared by decompression extraction were similar to those by water extraction and alcohol precipitation at normal pressure. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the decompression extraction did not break the cell wall, and the cells presented arrangement disorder and shrinkage, while the cell integrity was better than that extracted at normal pressure. Conclusion: In regard to energy consumption, extraction effectness, and convenience to the subsequent preparation, the decompression extraction method is superior to the traditional atmospheric extraction method, and it could be applied in the extraction process for Chinese materia medica preparations.

Development of granules from phyllanthus niruri spray-dried extract / Desenvolvimento dos grânulos de extrato phyllanthus niruri seco por aspersão

The aim of this study was to develop granules from Phyllanthus niruri spray-dried extract using dry and wet granulation and to assess techniques to enable the production of granules with improved technological characteristics and yields. Granules were characterized by granulometry, reological parameters, compression and hygroscopic behavior. Independent of the granulation technique, technologically developed granules presented particle diameter, bulk and tapped densities and compressibility indexes suitable for a solid dosage form. The compression behavior showed plastic and fragmentary deformation for granules produced by the dry granulation technique and predominantly plastic deformation for wet granulation. Concerning the humidity sorption, the study showed that granules absorb less humidity than the spray-dried extract. However, granules with Eudragit® E 100 were the least hygroscopic.

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver grânulos de extrato Phyllantus niruri seco por aspersão e por granulação úmida e avaliar técnicas que possibilitem a produção de grânulos com características tecnológicas e rendimentos aperfeiçoados. Os grânulos foram caracterizados por granulometria, parâmetros reológicos, compressão e comportamento higroscópico. Independentemente da técnica de granulação, os grânulos tecnologicamente desenvolvidos apresentaram diâmetro de partículas, densidades aparente e compactada e índices de compressibilidade adequados para a formulação sólida. O comportamento de compressão mostrou deformação plástica e elástica para os grânulos produzidos por técnicas de granulação seca e, predominantemente, deformação plástica para a granulação úmida. Com relação à absorção da umidade, o estudo mostrou que os grânulos absorvem menos umidade do que o extrato seco por aspersão. Entretanto, os grânulos com Eudragit E 100 foram os menos higroscópicos.

Development of enteric coated tablets from spray dried extract of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L) / Desenvolvimento de comprimidos de revestimento entérico de extrato de produto seco por aspersão de matricária (Tanacetum parthenium L)

Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) is an herb that is commercialized worldwide as a therapeutic treatment for migraine. Its pharmacological effect is mainly due to the presence of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide as well as of flavonoids. So far, there are no studies on standardization of pre-formulations or phytomedicines containing this herb. The present study aimed at developing a pre-formulation using a standardized spray-dried extract of feverfew and further designing and standardizing enteric coated tablets. In this work, the spray-dried extract of feverfew was evaluated for its parthenolide, santin and total flavonoid content, parthenolide solubility, particle size, tapped density, hygroscopicity, angle of repose and moisture content. Tablets containing the spray-dried extract were tested for their average weight, friability, hardness, and disintegration time. The total flavonoid and parthenolide contents in the spray-dried extract were 1.31 percent and 0.76 percent w/w, respectively. The spray-dried extract presented consistent pharmacotechnical properties and allowed its tableting by direct compression. Tablet properties were in accordance with the proposed specifications. The procedures described herein can be used to prepare and evaluate pre-formulations of feverfew with adequate properties for the development of a high-quality phytomedicine.

Tanacetum parthenium (tanaceto) é uma planta medicinal comercializada no mundo todo para tratamento de enxaqueca. Seu efeito farmacológico é creditado principalmente à lactona sesquiterpênica partenolídeo e flavonóides. Até o momento não existem estudos sobre a padronização de pré-formulações ou o desenvolvimento de fitoterápicos com tanaceto. Logo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi obter comprimidos de revestimento entérico a partir de extrato seco e padronizado de tanaceto. Neste trabalho, o extrato seco do tanaceto obtido pelo método de spray drying foi avaliado quanto ao teor de partenolídeo, presença da santina, teor de flavonóides totais, solubilidade do partenolídeo, tamanho de partícula, ângulo de repouso, densidade, análise higroscópica e teor de umidade. A partir do extrato seco obtiveram-se comprimidos que foram revestidos em leito de jorro. Os comprimidos revestidos foram avaliados com relação ao peso médio, friabilidade, dureza e desintegração. O teor de flavonóides totais e de partenolídeo no extrato seco foram 1,31 por cento e 0,76 por cento (p/p), respectivamente. O extrato seco apresentou características farmacotécnicas satisfatórias permitindo a obtenção de comprimidos pelo método de compressão direta. As propriedades dos comprimidos revestidos estão de acordo com as especificações da literatura. Os procedimentos utilizados nesse trabalho podem ser utilizados para obter extrato seco e fitoterápicos de T. parthenium com alto padrão de qualidade.

Desarrollo de una tecnología para la obtención de extracto acuoso de hojas de Morinda citrifolia L (noni) / Development of a technology for obtaining an aqueous extract from Morinda citrifolia L. leaves

Morinda citrifolia L (noni) es una planta que ha cobrado gran interés en los últimos años por causa de múltiples propiedades medicinales atribuidas a sus frutos, raíz, corteza, semillas y, en particular, sus hojas que poseen actividad antiinflamatoria, astringente, antiséptica e hipoglucemiante. Las plantas medicinales y sus extractos bioactivos son incorporados cada vez más en la industria farmacéutica en la sustitución de las preparaciones artesanales, y así aumentar la calidad de los medicamentos de origen herbario...

Morinda citrifolia L (noni) is a plant that has aroused great interest in the last few years because of the many medicinal properties of its fruits, roots, bark, seeds and particularly its leaves that have antiinflammatory, astringent, antiseptic and hypoglucemic effects. Medicinal plants and their bioactive extracts are increasingly incorporated into the drug industry to replace traditionally-made preparations and to increase the quality of herbal medicines...

Avaliação da redução da carga microbiana de droga vegetal através do processamento tecnológico: decocção e secagem por aspersão / Evaluation of microbial contamination reduction on plants through technological process of decoction and spray dry

As plantas medicinais podem representar importantes alternativas terapêuticas. No entanto, para elaboração de um fitoterápico a contaminação microbiana constitui um problema a ser vencido. O processamento tecnológico da matéria-prima envolve etapas, geralmente, desfavoráveis à sobrevivência de microrganismos, sendo sua eliminação dependente da carga microbiana inicial e das condições de trabalho utilizadas. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a contaminação microbiana presente nas partes aéreas de Phyllanthus niruri e produtos derivados, solução extrativa (SE) e produto seco por aspersão (PSA), a fim de avaliar a redução da contaminação após a decocção e a secagem por aspersão. A determinação dos microrganismos viáveis nos produtos foi realizada através do método de contagem em placas, e a quantificação de coliformes totais pela técnica do número mais provável. Os resultados demonstraram que carga microbiana dos produtos analisados encontrava-se abaixo do limite máximo permitido. Em relação à droga vegetal, a solução extrativa apresentou carga microbiana consideravelmente menor, sugerindo que a decocção tenha sido responsável pela redução de 98,3 por cento da contaminação inicial. Por outro lado, a carga microbiana do PSA foi semelhante a da SE, indicando que os microrganismos não são afetados pela operação de secagem por aspersão.

Medicinal plants can be important therapeutic alternative, however microbiological contamination of plants represent a problem to be solved before the production. The technologic process of raw material has many stages, generally, adverse to microbial growth, but its complete elimination depends on the initial and work condition utilized. The aim of this work was to verify the microbial contamination of Phyllanthus niruri aerial parts and derivatives products, such as extractive solution (SE) and spray dried extract (PSA) with the purpose of evaluating the decrease of the contamination after the decoction and the spray dry. The microbiological analysis of the products was performed by total plate count and MPN coliform. The results showed that the contamination of the products was below the limit maxim. The contamination in the SE was significantly lower than in the plant and this fact suggest that the decoction was responsible for a reduction of 98,3 percent of the initial contamination. On the other hand, the PSA contamination was similar the SE thus suggesting that the spray dry did not affect the microorganisms present in the initial product.

Contribution to the standardization of dried extract of Asiatic Pennywort Herb - Tumeric

Studied subjects: dried extract of Asiatic Pennywort Herb - Tumeric, 1kg dried extracts is equivalent 42.5kg fresh materia medica (25kg Centella asiatica and 17.5kg Curcuma longa); The compared compositions contained: content of curcumin 95%, content of asiaticosid 90%. The study provided quality specifications as follows: appearance, loss on drying, the solubility in water and in alcohol, the water-insoluble teside, heavy metals limit, pH, ash, fungus, mould, and microbial limit; phosphorus pesticide residues, qualitative and quantitative determination of triterpene ester glycosides and curcuminoids