ABSTRACT
O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento das plantas medicinais nativas no bioma Caatinga na comunidade do Sítio Nazaré, no município de Milagres, Ceará. Foram utilizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com 100 informantes entre 25 a 85 anos registrando informações de 62 espécies medicinais sobre o uso, parte utilizada, indicação terapêutica, e formas de preparo dos remédios caseiros, além de coleta do material botânico e produção de exsicatas. As famílias com maior representatividade na pesquisa foram Fabaceae (16 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (7 spp.), Cucurbitaceae e Malvaceae (3 spp.), e as demais com duas ou uma espécie cada. Nas preparações dos remédios caseiros verificou-se que todas as partes da planta são utilizadas, predominando as raízes (33,77%) e as cascas (29,87%). Observaram-se várias formas de preparo, sendo o chá a mais indicada (49,21%), seguida do lambedor (40,69%). Os dados encontrados revelaram que o conhecimento popular sobre as plantas medicinais é de extrema importância para o controle das afecções e contribui para a realização de estudos etnofarmacológicos.
The present study aimed to survey the native medicinal plants in the biome Caatinga in the community of Sítio Nazaré from Milagres, in Ceará, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews with 100 persons, from 25 to 85 years old, were recorded. Sixty-two species were pointed for medical information on use, used plant part, therapeutic indication and methods of preparation of home remedies. We also prepared the collection of botanical material and production of exsiccates. The most representative families reported in this study were: Fabaceae (15 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (7 spp.), Cucurbitaceae and Malvaceae (3 spp.). On the preparation of remedies, we found that all parts of the plants were used, predominantly the roots (33.77%) and the barks (29.87%). The most common way of preparation observed was tea (49.21%), followed by syrup (40.69%). These collected data revealed that popular knowledge on medicinal Caatinga plants were important for disease control in the local population and it has contributed to other ethnopharmacology studies.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Plants, Medicinal/metabolism , Residence Characteristics/classification , Data Collection/instrumentation , Ecosystem , Ethnopharmacology/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Cymbopogon citratus is a medicinal plant popularly used in Brazil for the treatment of various diseases, and the research interest in this plant is justifiable because of its potential medicinal value in stomachache and gastric ulcer. This study was aimed to test the validity of this practice by using experimental models of gastric ulcer and to clarify the mechanisms of gastroprotection by C. citratus leaves essential oil (EOCC). EOCC was evaluated for the ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (absolute ethanol and aspirin) in rodents. The results of this study revealed that EOCC posses a dose-independent anti-ulcer effect against the different experimental models. EOCC pretreatment depicted a higher preventive index in ethanol-(88%) and aspirin-induced (76%) acute ulceration. On pretreatment of mice with indomethacin, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor slightly suppressed the gastroprotective effect of EOCC (48.5%). Furthermore, EOCC gastroprotection was not attenuated in mice pretreated with L-NAME (85.2%), glibenclamide (100%), or yohimbine (79.7%), the respective inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, K(+) (ATP) channel activation, and α(2) receptors. These results confirmed the traditional use of C. citratus for the treatment of gastric ulcer. Thus, we provide the first evidence that EOCC reduces gastric damage induced by ethanol, at least in part, by mechanisms that involve endogenous prostaglandins.
ABSTRACT
This is the first on the modulation of norfloxacin antibiotic activity by the volatile compounds of an essential oil. We report the chemical composition and antibiotic modifying activity of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of Croton zehntneri Pax et Hoffm (variety estragole), using the minimal inhibitory dose method and gaseous contact. The leaves of Croton zehntneri Pax et Hoffm (Euphorbiaceae) were subjected to hydrodistillation, and the essential oil extracted was examined with respect to the chemical composition, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and to inhibitory activity of efflux pump by gaseous contact. The main component of the essential oil of C. zehntneri was estragole (76,8%). The gaseous components of the oil enhanced the inhibition zone of norfloxacin in 39,5%. This result shows that this oil influences the antibiotic activity of norfloxacin, possibly affecting the bacterial NorA efflux system, and may be used as an adjuvant in the antibiotic therapy of multidrug resistant pathogens.
ABSTRACT
The use of medicinal plants with therapeutics properties represents a secular tradition in different cultures, mainly in underdeveloped countries. Lantana camara Linn and Lantana montevidensis Briq (Verbenaceae) found in tropical and subtropical areas around the world are popularly known as "camará" or "chumbinho." In popular medicines, both plants are used as antipyretic and carminative and in the treatment of respiratory system infections. In this study, the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extracts of L. camara and L. montevidensis leaves and roots against gram-positive and gram-negative strains standard and multi-resistant bacteria isolated from clinical material are presented. In order to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the microdilution method was used. The extracts demonstrated antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria, but the L. montevidensis fresh leaves extract present the best result against P. aeruginosa (MIC 8 µg/mL) and against multi-resistant E. coli (Ec 27) (MIC 16 µg/mL). These results drive new researches with both species in order to isolate the constituents responsible for the activity.
