Leishmanicidal and healing effects of 3ß,6ß,16ß-trihydroxy lup-20 (29)-ene isolated from Combretum leprosum on Leishmania braziliensis infection in vitro and in vivo.

Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis depends on drugs that potentially cause serious side effects and resistance. Thus, topical therapies are attractive alternatives to the drugs currently used. 3ß, 6ß, 16ß-trihydroxylup-20 (29)-ene is a lupane triterpene isolated from Combretum leprosum Mart. leaves (CLF-1), with reports of in vitro antileishmanial effect against L. amazonensis and to promote lesion healing in animal model. Herein, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial and healing effects of CLF-1 against L. braziliensis. CLF-1 treatment showed low toxicity in macrophages and significantly reduced parasite load in vitro. CLF-1 induced higher IL-12 and TNF-α production and more discrete IL-4 and IL-10 production. For in vivo evaluation, a CLF-1 cream formulation was prepared to treat hamsters infected with L. braziliensis. CLF-1 treatment was able to reduce parasite load of the infected skin and lymph node more efficiently than the conventional treatment. Histopathological analysis indicated a strong inflammatory response accompanied by an important healing response. Data from this study indicate that topical CLF-1 treatment was effective and non-toxic in L. braziliensis infected hamsters suggesting its potential for further development as a future therapeutic intervention.

Antibacterial and antifungal action of CTAB-containing silica nanoparticles against human pathogens.

New antibiotic agents are urgently needed worldwide to combat the increasing tolerance and resistance of pathogenic fungi and bacteria to current antimicrobials. Here, we looked at the antibacterial and antifungal effects of minor quantities of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), ca. 93.8 mg g-1, on silica nanoparticles (MPSi-CTAB). Our results show that MPSi-CTAB exhibits antimicrobial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (S. aureus ATCC 700698) with MIC and MBC of 0.625 mg mL-1 and 1.25 mg mL-1, respectively. Additionally, for Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984, MPSi-CTAB reduces MIC and MBC by 99.99% of viable cells on the biofilm. Furthermore, when combined with ampicillin or tetracycline, MPSi-CTAB exhibits reduced MIC values by 32- and 16-folds, respectively. MPSi-CTAB also exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against reference strains of Candida, with MIC values ranging from 0.0625 to 0.5 mg mL-1. This nanomaterial has low cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts, where over 80% of cells remained viable at 0.31 mg mL-1 of MPSi-CTAB. Finally, we developed a gel formulation of MPSi-CTAB, which inhibited in vitro the growth of Staphylococcus and Candida strains. Overall, these results support the efficacy of MPSi-CTAB with potential application in the treatment and/or prevention of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus and/or Candida species.

Chemical Composition Determination and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from Croton blanchetianus (Euphorbiaceae) against Clinically Relevant Bacteria.

In this study, the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Croton blanchetianus Baill leaves was identified, and antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli strains were determined. Moreover, the effects of EO in combination with ampicillin and tetracycline were investigated. Thirty-four components, mainly mono-and sesquiterpenes that represented 94.05 % of the chemical composition, were identified in the EO. The EO showed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against all strains tested. Furthermore, the EO showed a synergistic effect with ampicillin and tetracycline. EO significantly inhibited biofilm formation and reduced the number of viable cells in biofilms. The EO may be a promising natural product for preventing bacterial biofilm infections.

Antimicrobial activity of the lupane triterpene 3ß,6ß,16ß-trihydroxylup-20(29)-ene isolated from Combretum leprosum Mart.

Introduction. Combretum leprosum (Combretaceae) is commonly found in the Northeast Region of Brazil and is known for several bioactivities, including antimicrobial ones. Because of increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance, natural products from several plants have been studied as putative adjuvants to antibiotic activity, including products from C. leprosum. Aims. This study was carried out to investigate the structural properties, bactericidal activity and antibiotic modifying action of the lupane triterpene 3ß,6ß,16ß-trihydroxylup-20(29)-ene (CLF1) isolated from C. leprosum Mart. leaves.Methods. The CLF1 was evaluated by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method and the antibacterial activity of this compound was assayed alone and in association with antibiotics by microdilution assay.Results. Spectroscopic studies confirmed the molecular structure of the CLF1 and permitted assignment of the main infrared bands of this natural product. Microbiological assays showed that this lupane triterpene possesses antibacterial action with clinical relevance against Staphylococcus aureus. The CLF1 triterpene increased antimicrobial activity against the multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli 06 strain when associated with the antibiotics gentamicin and amikacin. Synergistic effects were observed against the S. aureus 10 strain in the presence of the CLF1 triterpene with the antibiotic gentamicin.Conclusion. In conclusion, the CLF1 compound may be useful in the development of antibacterial drugs against the aforementioned bacteria.

Uso do cariogram® na avaliação do risco de cárie em crianças em um municípiobrasileiro: estudo piloto / Caries risk assessment in children using Cariogram® in a Brazilian city: pilot study / El uso del Cariogram® en la evaluación del riesgo de caries niños de un municipio brasileño: estudio piloto

Analisar o risco de cárie dentária em crianças de 12 anos de idade por meio da utilização do Cariogram®. Métodos: Estudo descritivo realizado com 31 crianças de 12 anos de idade de uma escola pública de ensino fundamental em um município do Nordeste brasileiro, no ano de 2009. Coletaram-se dados referentes à experiência de cárie e doenças sistêmicas relacionadas; presença de açúcar na dieta e frequência de ingestão; quantidade de placa e contagem de estreptococos do grupo mutans; uso de produtos fluoretados, fluxo salivar e capacidade tampão. Todos estes dados foram inseridos no Cariogram® para que se pudesse obter um perfil de risco de cárie individual e a capacidade de evitar novas lesões. Resultados: Verificou-se que 78% (n=24) das crianças apresentaram riscos individuais de cárie nos níveis intermediário e alto; 45% (n=14) dos participantes apresentaram menos de 50% de chance de evitar novas lesões de cáries. Ainda, que 6,45% (n= 2) das crianças apresentavam possibilidade de evitar novas lesões de cárie menor que 75%, ou seja, configuravam em alto risco de desenvolvimento de cárie; e 12,90% (n= 4) apresentavam uma possibilidade maior que 75%, sendo caracterizado como baixo risco de evitar estas lesões. Houve associações positivas (p<0,05) entre presença de açúcar na dieta e fluxo salivar, em que indivíduos com dieta cariogênica apresentavam fluxo salivar diminuído. Conclusão: Verificou-se um padrão de risco de cárie nos níveis intermediário e alto, com susceptibilidade acima de 10% e possibilidade de evitar novas lesões de cárie inferior a 50%...

To analyze the risk of dental caries in 12-year-old children through the use of Cariogram®. Methods: Descriptive study conducted with 31 children, aged 12 years, in apublic elementary school in a city of the Brazilian Northeast, in 2009. Data was collected regarding caries experience and related systemic disease; presence of sugar in the diet and intake frequency; Streptococcus mutans biofilm growth and bacterial counts; use of fluoride products, salivary flow and buffering capacity. All this data was inserted into Cariogram®, in order to obtain a profile of individual caries risk and the ability to prevent new cariouslesions. Results: It was found that 78% (n=24) of the children had individual risk of dental caries in the intermediate and high levels; 45% (n=14) of the participants had less than a 50% chance of avoiding new cavities. Furthermore, 6.45% (n=2) of the children had less than 75% possibility of avoiding new carious lesions, i.e., they featured high risk of caries development, and 12.90% (n=4) had a possibility of more than 75%, being characterized as low risk of developing such injuries. There were positive associations (p<0.05) between the presence of sugar in the diet and salivary flow, in which subjects with cariogenic diet had decreased salivary flow. Conclusion: A caries risk pattern was found in the intermediate and high levels, with susceptibility above 10% and possibility of avoiding new caries lesions under 50%...

Objetivo: Analizar el riesgo de caries dentaria en niños de 12 años de edad con la utilización del Cariogram®. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo realizado con 31 niños de 12 años de edad en uma escuela pública de enseñanza fundamental de un municipio Del Nordeste brasileño en 2009. Se recogió datos sobre la experiência de caries y enfermedades sistémicas relacionadas; presencia de azúcar en la dieta y frecuencia de ingestión; cantidad de placa y recuento de estreptococus del grupo mutans; el uso de productos fluorados, flujo salival y capacidad de tapón. Todos los datos fueron inseridos en el Cariogram® para obtener un perfil de riesgo de caries individual y la capacidad de evitar nuevas lesiones. Resultados: Se verificó que el 78% (n=24) de los niños presentaron riesgos individuales de caries en los niveles intermediario y alto; el 45% (n=14) de los participantes presentaron menos del 50% de oportunidad de evitar nuevas lesiones de caries. Además, el 6,45% (n= 2) de los niños presentaron la posibilidad de evitar nuevas lesiones de caries abajo del 75%, es decir, presentaron riesgo elevado de desarrollo de caries; y el 12,90% (n= 4) presentaron una mayor posibilidad que el 75% caracterizando el bajo riesgo en evitar estas lesiones. Hubieron asociaciones positivas (p<0,05) de la presencia del azúcar en la dieta y el flujo salival en la cual los individuos con dieta cariogénica presentaron flujo salival disminuido. Conclusión: Se verificó un patrón de riesgo de caries en los niveles intermediario y alto con susceptibilidad mayor que el 10% y posibilidad de evitar nuevas lesiones de caries menor que el 50%...

Perfil Epidemiológico de 23 casos de neoplasias malignas da cavidade oral atendidos em uma instituição odontológica de nível secundário / Epidemiological profile of 23 cases of malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity treated in a secondary dentistry institution

Introdução: O Câncer Bucal representa atualmente um dosgraves problemas de saúde pública no Brasil. Conforme dados doInstituto Nacional do Câncer (INCA), para o ano de 2012, estimase14.170 novos casos. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil epidemiológicode 23 pacientes portadores de neoplasias malignas atendidos emuma instituição odontológica de atenção secundária no períodoentre maio de 2007 e setembro de 2009. Método: Prontuáriosde 23 pacientes com resultado histopatológico de lesão malignada cavidade oral foral revisados. Gênero, idade, sítio anatômicoe associação com tabagismo e etilismo foram avaliados.Resultados: O carcinoma espinocelular foi o mais prevalente,correspondendo a 87% dos casos. Houve maior prevalência nogênero masculino (60,9%) e na faixa etária entre 50 e 60 anos.Os sítios anatômicos mais acometidos foram língua (34,8%) eassoalho bucal (21,7%). Verificou-se uma associação entre aocorrência das lesões malignas e o hábito de tabagismo umavez que, do total de pacientes acometidos, 47,8% eram fumantese 43,5% eram ex-fumantes. O perfil epidemiológico encontradocondiz com os achados de estudos anteriormente realizados.Conclusões: A caracterização dos casos de câncer bucalpermite definir o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes acometidose possivelmente represente grande contribuição para oestabelecimento de políticas preventivas relacionadas à doença.

Effect of lectins from Diocleinae subtribe against oral Streptococci.

Surface colonization is an essential step in biofilm development. The ability of oral pathogens to adhere to tooth surfaces is directly linked with the presence of specific molecules at the bacterial surface that can interact with enamel acquired pellicle ligands. In light of this, the aim of this study was to verify inhibitory and antibiofilm action of lectins from the Diocleinaesubtribe against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus oralis. The inhibitory action against planctonic cells was assessed using lectins from Canavaliaensi formis (ConA), Canavalia brasiliensis (ConBr), Canavalia maritima (ConM), Canavalia gladiata (CGL) and Canavalia boliviana (ConBol). ConBol, ConBr and ConM showed inhibitory activity on S. mutans growth. All lectins, except ConA, stimulated significantly the growth of S. oralis. To evaluate the effect on biofilm formation, clarified saliva was added to 96-well, flat-bottomed polystyrene plates, followed by the addition of solutions containing 100 or 200 µg/mL of the selected lectins. ConBol, ConM and ConA inhibited the S. mutans biofilms. No effects were found on S. oralis biofilms. Structure/function analysis were carried out using bioinformatics tools. The aperture and deepness of the CRD (Carbohydrate Recognition Domain) permit us to distinguish the two groups of Canavalia lectins in accordance to their actions against S. mutans and S. oralis. The results found provide a basis for encouraging the use of plant lectins as biotechnological tools in ecological control and prevention of caries disease.