ABSTRACT
The Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute is the biggest in Latin America and it is among the largest collections at worldwide reference level, with around 40,000 sets of specimens and approximately one million individual specimens. It contains helminths parasites of vertebrate and invertebrate animals that form part of the fauna of Brazil and other countries. The samples comprise holotypes, paratypes and representative specimens of Platyhelminthes, Acanthocephala, Nematoda and other non-helminth phyla, such as Annelida and Arthropoda. Some of the samples preserved in liquid media were found to have dried out. This made it impossible to analyze these samples morphologically for taxonomic purposes. The aim of this study was to test techniques used for rehydration of the tegument of specimens that had been found to have dried out and present protocols for such techniques. A total of 528 specimens that either no longer were immersed in preservatives or had already dried out were analyzed: 96 digenetic trematodes, 45 cestodes, 22 acanthocephalans, 357 nematodes, four hirudineans and four pentastomid crustaceans. The technique of rehydration using only distilled water on the specimens proved to be efficient for recovering tegument malleability, for all samples analyzed in this present study.
Subject(s)
Acanthocephala , Helminths , Nematoda , Platyhelminths , Trematoda , AnimalsABSTRACT
Arrabidaea chica Verlot (crajiru) is a plant used in folk medicine as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and to treat fungal and viral diseases such as measles chickenpox and herpes. Arrabidaea chica has several morphotypes recognized but little is known about its chemical variability. In the present study the anthocyanidin profile of A. chica morphotypes collected in two seasons (summer and winter) have been examined and their activity against Leishmania infection compared. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD-UV) and by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-MS/MS) were used for anthocyanidin separation and identification. Antileishmanial activity was measured against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. Multivariate analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson's correlation were performed to classify morphotypes accordingly to their anthocyanidin profile. The presence of 6,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-5-methoxyflavylium (3'-hydroxy-carajurone) (1), carajurone (2), 6,7,3'-trihydroxy-5,4'-dimethoxy-flavylium (3'-hydroxy-carajurin) (3) and carajurin (4), and three unidentified anthocyanidins were detected. Two different groups were recognized: group I containing 3'-hydroxy-carajurone; and group II with high content of carajurin. Among anthocyanidins identified in the extracts, only carajurin showed significant statistical correlation (p = 0.030) with activity against L. amazonensis. Carajurin could thus be considered as a pharmacological marker for the antileishmanial potential of the species.
Subject(s)
Anthocyanins/chemistry , Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology , Bignoniaceae/chemistry , Leishmania mexicana/drug effects , Anthocyanins/isolation & purification , Anthocyanins/pharmacology , Antiprotozoal Agents/chemistry , Antiprotozoal Agents/isolation & purification , Bignoniaceae/metabolism , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Principal Component Analysis , Proanthocyanidins/chemistry , Proanthocyanidins/isolation & purification , Proanthocyanidins/pharmacology , Seasons , Spectrophotometry , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
As aplicações da biodiversidade brasileira em saúde são abrangentes, mas ainda não têm sido bem exploradas oficialmente, considerando o pequeno número de espécies vegetais listadas em compêndios oficiais para uso medicinal. Das espécies conhecidas como assa-peixe, empregadas comumente pela população há muitos anos para diversos fins, sobretudo nas afecções respiratórias, Vernonia polyanthes (Spreng.) Less. é a única regulamentada para utilização no Brasil, indicada como expectorante no Formulário de Fitoterápicos da Farmacopeia Brasileira. Seu cultivo é também praticado em Arranjos Produtivos Locais (APLs) de plantas medicinais, os quais possuem importante papel na conservação e sustentabilidade dos recursos naturais e na economia das famílias que dependem dessa parceria. Esta difusão de uso é característica de diversas espécies que compõem a Relação Nacional de Plantas Medicinais de Interesse ao SUS, mas ainda sem monografias que respaldem os critérios de qualidade para seu uso seguro, conforme o preconizado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde para plantas medicinais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar uma visão geral do conhecimento científico desta espécie, com foco em sua utilização na fitoterapia, identificação química e atividades farmacológicas, na expectativa de subsidiar a elaboração de monografias de Vernonia polyanthes, agregando valor e qualidade nas atividades dos APLs a longo prazo.(AU)
The applications of the Brazilian biodiversity in health are comprehensive, but still officially underused, since the number of medicinal plants listed in official compendia is minimal. Of several species popularly known as assa-peixe, which have been in common use by the population for many years with diverse pharmacological actions, particularly that related to respiratory affections, Vernonia polyanthes (Spreng.) Less. is the only one listed for use by Herbal Formulary of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, indicated as expectorant. It is also cultivated by Local Productive Arrangements (LPA) of medicinal plants, which have an important role in the conservation and sustainability of natural resources, as well as for the economic status of families that depend on this partnership. Several species widely used in folk medicine that compose the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to Unified Health System have no monograph that support the quality criteria for the safe use of medicinal plants, following the recommendations of World Health Organization. The present study aims at providing an overview of the scientific knowledge about this species, focusing on its use in herbal medicine, phytochemical identification, and pharmacological activities. This overview can help the elaboration of monographs of Vernonia polyanthes, adding value and quality in the LPA activities at long term.(AU)
