Supplementation with Moringa oleifera Lam leaf and seed flour during the pregnancy and lactation period of Wistar rats: Maternal evaluation of initial and adult neurobehavioral development of the rat progeny.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) is a tree species of Indian origin popularly known as the "tree of life". In various cultures, it is used by pregnant women to increase milk production, yet studies on its effects during pregnancy and lactation are lacking. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the nutraceutical aspects of flours produced from the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera, and to evaluate the effect of supplementation of pregnant Wistar rats during the gestation and lactation period, with the aim of studying the weight gain and neonatal parameters of the pregnant rats, as well as effects on the neurobehavioral development and memory in their offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The flour supplementation was conducted at a concentration of 100 mg per kg of animal body weight. For the memory tests, the Open Field Habituation test was performed and repeated after seven days. The Object Recognition test was conducted with the animal exposed to the open field in short and long familiarization sessions. The data obtained were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests for non-parametric data and one-way and two-way ANOVA for parametric data. RESULTS: Flour produced from both the leaf and seed of M. oleifera was found to contain significant amounts of nutrients (protein, fibre, carbohydrates, etc.), making them suitable for supplementation. The exposure of pregnant rats to M. oleifera leaf and seed flours did not affect weight gain, did not have harmful effects on the birth of offspring, and did not result in abortions or mutations in the offspring. Regarding the supplemented group's offspring, early maturation of the senses in the offspring compared to the control group was observed in all tests were conducted; indicating that supplementation positively impacted cognitive development. Further, the offspring of the supplemented rats presented reduced locomotion and greater exploration of new objects compared to the control group offspring, indicating positive effects on learning. CONCLUSION: This study describes for the first time the beneficial effects on pregnant Wistar rats and their offspring of maternal supplementation with flour products from the leaves and seeds of M. oleifera.

Synthesis and antifungal evaluation against Candida spp. of the (E)-3-(furan-2-yl)acrylic acid.

Infections of fungal origin are mainly caused by Candida spp. Some species, such as C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis, stand out as promoters of diseases in humans. This study evaluated the synthesis and antifungal effects of (E)-3-(furan-2-yl)acrylic acid. The synthesis of the compound showed a yield of 88%, considered high. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the synthetic compound, amphotericin B, and fluconazole isolated against four Candida species ranged from 64 to 512 µg/mL, 1 to 2 µg/mL, and 32 to 256 µg/mL, respectively. The synergistic effect of the test compound was observed when associated with amphotericin B against C. albicans and C. tropicalis, with no antagonism between the substances against any of the strains tested. The potential drug promoted morphological changes in C. albicans, decreasing the amount of resistance and virulence, and reproduction structures, such as the formation of pseudohyphae, blastoconidia, and chlamydospores. Furthermore, it was also possible to identify the fungistatic profile of the test substance by studying the growth kinetics of C. albicans. Finally, it was observed that the test compound stimulated ergosterol biosynthesis by the yeast, probably by activating microbial resistance responses.

Mix of almond baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) and goat whey modulated intestinal microbiota, improved memory and induced anxiolytic like behavior in aged rats.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of the consumption of a mix of baru almond and goat whey on memory performance and anxiety parameters related to the intestinal health of rats treated during aging. The animals were divided into three groups and treated by gavage for 10 weeks (n = 10/each group): Control (CT) - distilled water; Baru almond (BA) - 2000 mg of baru/kg of body weight; and Baru + Whey (BW) - 2000 mg of baru + 2000 mg of goat milk whey/kg of body weight. Anxiety behavior, memory, brain fatty acid profile and fecal microbiota were measured. BA and BW realized less grooming, spent more time in the central area of the open field and the open arms, and realized more head dipping in the elevated plus maze. A higher rate of exploration of the new object in the short and long-term memory was observed in BA and BW. There was an increase in the deposition of MUFAs and PUFAs and oleic acid in the brain of BA and BW. Regarding spatial memory, BA and BW performed better, with an emphasis on BW. There was a beneficial modulation of the fecal microbiota with a reduction of the pathogenic genus Clostridia_UFC-014 in BA and BW and an increase in the abundance of metabolic pathways of interest in the brain-gut axis. Thus, consumption of the mix is efficient in beneficially altering the intestinal microbiota, improving memory and anxiolytic-like behavior in rats during aging.

Propyl (E)-3-(furan-2-yl) Acrylate: a synthetic antifungal potential with a regulatory effect on the biosynthesis of ergosterol in Candida Albicans

Abstract The genus Candida represents the main cause of infections of fungal origin. Some species stand out as disease promoters in humans, such as C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. This study evaluated the antifungal effects of propyl (E)-3-(furan-2-yl) acrylate. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the synthetic compound, amphotericin B and fluconazole alone against four species of Candida ranged from 64 to 512 µg/mL, 1 to 2 µg/mL, and 32 to 256 µg/mL, respectively. The synergistic effect of the test substance was observed when associated with fluconazole against C. glabrata, there was no antagonism between the substances against any of the tested strains. The potential drug promoted morphological changes in C. albicans, decreasing the amount of resistance, virulence, and reproduction structures, such as the formation of pseudohyphae, blastoconidia, and chlamydospores, ensuring the antifungal potential of this substance. It was also possible to identify the fungicidal profile of the test substance through the study of the growth kinetics of C. albicans. Finally, it was observed that the test compound inhibited the ergosterol biosynthesis by yeast

Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and in silico studies of the (E)-3-(aryl)-5-styryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

In recent years, investigations in the field of oxadiazoles have been intensified due to their numerous therapeutic uses. Oxadiazoles are a class of compounds that exhibit several biological applications, citing antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anthelmintic, anti-tumor, among others. Encouraged by the biological potential of oxadiazoles, were carried out synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and in silica studies of five (E)-3-(aryl)-5-styryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles. In this way, (Z)-aryl-N'-hydroxybenzimidamides and ethyl (E)-cinnamate were synthesized, which were subjected to an O-acylamidoxime reaction after by dehydration using microwave irradiation to form the oxadiazole nucleus. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, while in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated against S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and against the fungus C. utilis using the microplate microdilution method. Thus, (Z)-aryl-N'-hydroxybenzimidamides, ethyl (E)-cinnamate, and (E)-3-(aryl)-5-styryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized with yields ranging from moderate to good. The (E)-3-(aryl)-5-styryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles exhibited a reduced spectrum of action, which were active against the bacterium P. aeruginosa and for the fungus C. utilis.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of new O-alkylamidoximes

The continuous prospection for molecules that may be useful in the development of new therapeutic agents is a highly relevant issue, mainly because the launch of new drugs on the market does not accompany the emergence of new resistant microorganisms. In this context, this work describes the synthesis of new O-alkylamidoximes and the evaluation of its antifungal activity. The new O-alkylamidoximes were prepared using easy synthetic protocols and tested against three Candida species using the broth microdilution method. The synthesized compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields in high purity and without any observable decomposition. All tested compounds shown moderate antifungal activity against at least one strain of Candida. Despite the moderate activity of the new compounds, this was the first report involving the antifungal activity of O-alkylamidoximes. In view of the low chemotherapy arsenal and the development of fungal strains resistant to traditional antifungal agents, the present study opens new possibilities for the preparation of a new class of more active antifungal agents.