Folk medicine, phytochemistry and pharmacological application of Piper marginatum

ABSTRACT Piper marginatum Jacq., Piperaceae, is a widely distributed Neotropical species abundant in the Caribbean, exhibiting a characteristic winged petiole and a heart-shaped leaf, its two vegetative landmarks for rapid identification. The species has been employed by traditional indigenous cultures for its reputed medicinal properties. The plant is most frequently employed by local healers in Central America, the Antilles and South America, for alleviating gastrointestinal ailments, administered as a decoction or infusion for its tonic, diuretic and carminative effects. These beneficial properties may be attributed to the presence of various phytochemicals within P. marginatum, with most of the studies focusing on the essential oil of the plant. Monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids and phenylpropanoids of a varied chemical structure have been identified in the essential oil, while phenylalkanoids, aristolactams, amides and flavonoids have been purified by chromatographic techniques from the extracts. The biological and pharmacological examination of P. marginatum showed that the plant may be a valuable source of mosquitocidal, antifungal, antitumoral and hemostatic agents. Future bioguided research may yield biologically relevant molecules useful in medicine or agriculture.

The use of Brazilian vegetable oils in nanoemulsions: an update on preparation and biological applications

ABSTRACT Vegetable oils present important pharmacological properties, which gained ground in the pharmaceutical field. Its encapsulation in nanoemulsions is considered a promising strategy to facilitate the applicability of these natural compounds and to potentiate the actions. These formulations offer several advantages for topical and systemic delivery of cosmetic and pharmaceutical agents including controlled droplet size, protection of the vegetable oil to photo, thermal and volatilization instability and ability to dissolve and stabilize lipophilic drugs. For these reasons, the aim of this review is to report on some characteristics, preparation methods, applications and especially analyze recent research available in the literature concerning the use of vegetable oils with therapeutic characteristics as lipid core in nanoemulsions, specially from Brazilian flora, such as babassu (Orbignya oleifera), aroeira (Schinus molle L.), andiroba (Carapa guaianiensis), casca-de-anta (Drimys brasiliensis Miers), sucupira (Pterodon emarginatus Vogel) and carqueja doce (Stenachaenium megapotamicum) oils.

A glimpse on biological activities of tellurium compounds

Tellurium is a rare element which has been regarded as a toxic, non-essential trace element and its biological role is not clearly established to date. Besides of that, the biological effects of elemental tellurium and some of its inorganic and organic derivatives have been studied, leading to a set of interesting and promising applications. As an example, it can be highlighted the uses of alkali-metal tellurites and tellurates in microbiology, the antioxidant effects of organotellurides and diorganoditellurides and the immunomodulatory effects of the non-toxic inorganic tellurane, named AS-101, and the plethora of its uses. Inasmuch, the nascent applications of organic telluranes (organotelluranes) as protease inhibitors and its applications in disease models are the most recent contribution to the scenario of the biological effects and applications of tellurium and its compounds discussed in this manuscript.

O telúrio é um elemento não-essencial raro que vem sendo considerado tóxico, e o seu papel biológico é ainda pouco esclarecido. Apesar disso, os efeitos biológicos do telúrio elementar e de alguns derivados inorgânicos e orgânicos que têm sido estudados revelam um conjunto de aplicações diversificadas interessantes e promissoras. Como exemplo, pode-se destacar os usos de teluritos e teluratos de metais alcalinos em microbiologia, o efeito antioxidante de teluretos e diteluretos orgânicos, os efeitos imunomodulatórios e a diversidade de usos correlacionados a este efeito de uma telurana inorgânica denominada AS-101. Ademais, as aplicações de teluranas orgânicas (organoteluranas) como inibidoras de proteases e as aplicações em modelos de doenças compõem a mais recente contribuição ao cenário dos efeitos e aplicações biológicas do telúrio e seus compostos discutidas neste manuscrito.