In vitro and in vivo antileishmania activity of sesquiterpene lactone-rich dichloromethane fraction obtained from Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.

The discovery of new treatments for neglected diseases, including leishmaniasis, is a substantial challenge for scientific research. Plant extracts have shown potential in the selective treatment of tropical diseases. The present study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antileishmania effects of a sesquiterpene lactone-rich dichloromethane fraction (DF) obtained from the aerial parts of Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip. In vitro studies of the DF indicated an IC50 of 2.40±0.76 µg mL(-1) against the promastigote form and 1.76±0.25 µg mL(-1) against the axenic amastigote form of Leishmania amazonensis. In vivo intramuscular treatment with DF decreased the growth and size of footpad lesions in mice. The DF also significantly decreased the parasite population compared with animals that were treated with the reference drug. Plasma malondialdehyde levels were increased slightly by the DF, attributable to its parthenolide-rich composition that causes cellular apoptosis, compared with the control group, demonstrating treatment efficacy without toxicity or genotoxicity. Because the isolation and purification of plant compounds are costly and time-consuming and generate low yields, extract fractions, such as the DF studied herein, represent a promising alternative for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

A pH/enzyme-responsive polymer film consisting of Eudragit FS 30 D and arabinoxylane as a potential material formulation for colon-specific drug delivery system.

Polymer film based on pH-dependent Eudragit FS 30 D acrylic polymer in association with arabinoxylane, a polysaccharide issued from gum psyllium, was produced by way of solvent casting. Physical-chemical characterization of the polymer film samples was performed by means of thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, water-equilibrium swelling index (I(s)) and weight loss of the films in KCl buffer solution of pH 1.2, in KH(2)PO(4) buffer solution of pH 5.0, or in KH(2)PO(4) buffer solution of pH 5.0 consisting of 4% enzyme Pectinex 3X-L (w/v) were also carried out for the film characterization. No chemical interactions between the Eudragit FS 30 D and the arabinoxylane polymer chains were evidenced, thus suggesting that the film-forming polymer structure was obtained from a physical mixture of both polymers. The arabinoxylane-loader films showed a more pronounced weight loss after their immersion in buffer solution containing enzyme Pectinex 3X-L. The introduction of the arabinoxylane makes the film more susceptible to undergo an enzymatic degradation. This meant that the enzyme-dependent propriety issued from the arabinoxylane has been imprinted into the film formulation. This type of polymer film is an interesting system for applications in colon-specific drug delivery system.

Antifúngicos de uso tópico no tratamento de micoses cutâneas ecaspa / Topical antifungals in the treatment of cutaneous mycosis and dandruff

As micoses superficiais estão entre os principais motivos de consultas dermatológicas e a caspa é uma queixa comum à grande parte dos indivíduos em algum momento da vida. Tais problemas são causados e/ou agravados por fungos. Com o objetivo de verificar qual a demanda e quais os principais antifúngicos utilizados em produtos dermatológicos, foram avaliadas, neste estudo, todas as formulações de uso externo produzidas em uma farmácia de manipulação na cidade de Londrina, Estado do Paraná, no primeiro semestre de 2006. Dentre os diferentes produtos, os antifúngicos foram os mais solicitados, compreendendo 17,19% da produção, sendo os ativos mais utilizados: cetoconazol, piritionato de zinco, violeta de genciana e miconazol. Foi observado aumento significativo na demanda, nos meses de fevereiro e março, em especial dos que contém cetoconazol e miconazol, sugerindo no verão, provavelmente, pelo calor e a maior frequência das pessoas nas piscinas e praias, a ocorrência de micoses é favorecida e por isso os cuidados higiênicos devem ser redobrados. O aumento na incidência de infecções fúngicas verificado nas últimas décadas deve servir de incentivo na busca de novos agentes antifúngicos eficazes, com menores efeitos adversos e de baixo custo, que auxiliem no tratamento de tais alterações cutâneas.

Superficial mycoses are among the main reasons for dermatological consultations, and dandruff is a common complaint of the majority of individuals at a given moment in life; such problems are caused and aggravated by fungi. With the objective of verifying what the demand is and which main antifungal drugs are used in dermatological products, all external use formulations produced at a prescription pharmacy in Londrina, Paraná State, during the first semester of 2006, were evaluated in this study. Among the different products, antifungals were the most requested, representing 17.19% of production.The most used active principles were: ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, miconazole and gentian violet. During the months of February and March, a significant increase in demand was observed, especially on those products containing ketoconazole and miconazole. This suggests that in the summer, probably due to the heat and to the great frequency of people in swimming pools and beaches, the occurrence of mycoses is favored and, therefore, hygienic care should be redoubled. The increase in the incidence of fungal infections verified in the last decades should be a stimulus to search for new effective antifungal agent with fewer adverse effects and with low cost to help in the treatment of such cutaneous alterations.