Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Lamiaceae)

ABSTRACT Abnormal multiplication of oral bacteria causes dental caries and dental plaque. These diseases continue to be major public health concerns worldwide, mainly in developing countries. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Vitex agnus-castus leaves (VAC‒EO) collected in the North of Brazil against a representative panel of cariogenic bacteria were investigated. The antimicrobial activity of VAC-EO was evaluated in terms of its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values by using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. The chemical constituents of VAC-EO were identified by gas chromatography (GC‒FID) and gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS). VAC‒EO displayed some activity against all the investigated oral pathogens; MIC values ranged from 15.6 to 200 μg/mL. VAC-EO had promising activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC= 15.6 μg/mL), Lactobacillus casei (MIC= 15.6 μg/mL), and Streptococcus mitis (MIC= 31.2 μg/mL). The compounds 1,8-cineole (23.8%), (E)-β-farnesene (14.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (12.5%), sabinene (11.4%), and α-terpinyl acetate (7.7%) were the major chemical constituents of VAC‒EO. VAC-EO displays antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria. The efficacy of VAC-EO against S. mutans is noteworthy and should be further investigated.

Eventos toxicológicos relacionados a medicamentos registrados no CEATOX de São José do Rio Preto, no ano de 2008 / Drug-related toxic events in the CEATOX of São José do Rio Preto, in 2008

A presença comum de uma extensa variedade de medicamentos no Brasil favorece o surgimento de problemasrelacionados a estes produtos, que representam um desafio à saúde pública tanto em países em desenvolvimento como em países desenvolvidos. Os medicamentos ocupam a primeira posição, também em nosso país, no quadro dos agentes tóxicos que mais causam intoxicações em seres humanos, e as maiores vítimas, crianças menores de cinco anos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar as intoxicaçõesmedicamentosas agudas notificadas pelo CEATOX de São José do Rio Preto, no ano de 2008. Foram analisadas 502 fichas, que compreendem a totalidade das intoxicações medicamentosas agudas registradas no período de 1º de janeiro a 31 de dezembro de 2008. A grande maioria dos casos foi proveniente de indivíduos moradores da área urbana, menores de 4 anos de idade. No sexo feminino, a maior freqüência apareceu na faixa etária de 30–39, sendo a maior parte por tentativa de suicídio. Uma associação significativa foi observada entre tentativa de suicídio e sexo feminino, assim como acidente individual e sexo masculino, sendo a via oral a via de maior exposição, e os benzodiazepínicos as drogas mais comumente utilizadas.

The common presence of a wide variety of drugs in Brazil gives rise to problems related to these products, which represent a public health challenge both in developing countries as in developed countries. The drugs occupy the first position, also in our country, under the more toxic agents that cause intoxication in humans, and the main victims, children under five years. The objective of this study was to characterize acute drug intoxication reported by CEATOX Sao Jose do Rio Preto, in the year 2008. We analyzed 502 chips, which comprise the totality of acute drug intoxication recorded in the period from January 1 to December 31, 2008. The great majority of cases was from individuals living in urban area, under 4 years of age. In females, mostoften appeared between the ages of 30-39, with most of attempted suicide. A significant association was observed between attempted suicide and female sex, as well as individual accident and male sex, and the oral route of greater exposure, and the benzodiazepine drugs most commonly used.