Análise etnofarmacológica de plantas medicinais em uma comunidade quilombola: ênfase em doenças crônicas* / Ethnopharmacological analysis of medicinal plants in a quilombola community: emphasis on chronic diseases* / Análisis etnofarmacológico de las plantas medicinales en una comunidad quilombola: énfasis en las enfermedades crónicas*

RESUMO: Objetivo: entender o conhecimento etnofarmacológico sobre plantas medicinais utilizadas para o tratamento de doenças crônicas em uma comunidade quilombola da Amazônia Brasileira. Método: estudo transversal, descritivo, com um questionário semiestruturado, realizado em uma comunidade quilombola no município de Macapá, Amapá (Brasil), no período de março a junho de 2022. A análise foi realizada por meio da estatística descritiva. Resultados: na comunidade quilombola as mulheres são as maiores detentoras de conhecimento sobre plantas medicinais, e que geralmente esses conhecimentos são adquiridos por pais/avós. Dentre as diversas plantas citadas, o boldo foi o que mais foi referido (13,78%) indicado para o tratamento de doenças hepáticas, seguido do mastruz (6,89%) indicado para questões inflamatórias. Conclusão: os resultados do estudo possibilitaram entender o conhecimento etnofarmacológico da fitoterapia no tratamento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, e como ela pode atuar de forma alternativa e positiva nas manifestações clínicas ou complicações ocasionadas por essas doenças.

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the ethnopharmacological knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat chronic diseases in a quilombola community in the Brazilian Amazon. Method: A crosssectional, descriptive study using a semi-structured questionnaire in a quilombola community in Macapá, Amapá (Brazil), from March to June 2022. The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics. Results: In the quilombola community, women are the main holders of knowledge about medicinal plants, usually acquired from their parents/grandparents. Among the various plants mentioned, boldo was the most frequently mentioned (13.78%) for treating liver diseases, followed by mastruz (6.89%) for inflammatory issues. Conclusion: The study's results made it possible to understand the ethnopharmacological knowledge of phytotherapy in treating chronic non-communicable diseases and how it can act in an alternative and positive way in the clinical manifestations or complications caused by these diseases.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Comprender el conocimiento etnofarmacológico de las plantas medicinales utilizadas para tratar enfermedades crónicas en una comunidad quilombola de la Amazonia brasileña. Método: estudio transversal, descriptivo, con cuestionario semiestructurado, realizado en una comunidad quilombola del municipio de Macapá, Amapá (Brasil), entre marzo y junio de 2022. El análisis se realizó mediante estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: En la comunidad quilombola, las mujeres son las principales poseedoras de conocimientos sobre plantas medicinales, y estos conocimientos suelen adquirirlos de sus padres/abuelos. De las diversas plantas mencionadas, el boldo fue la más mencionada (13,78%) para tratar enfermedades hepáticas, seguida del mastruz (6,89%) para cuestiones inflamatorias. Conclusión: Los resultados del estudio permitieron comprender los conocimientos etnofarmacológicos de la fitoterapia en el tratamiento de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, y cómo puede actuar de forma alternativa y positiva en las manifestaciones clínicas o complicaciones causadas por estas enfermedades.

Isolation of an atypical Leptospira strain assigned to the Sejroe serogroup from a water buffalo in Brazil.

The isolation of leptospires from buffaloes worldwide is still limited to a few strains. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the first Leptospira isolate from buffalo urine, assigned to the Sejroe serogroup, which does not belong to the Wolffi subgroup, traditionally isolated in Brazil. A total of 244 urine samples of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) raised in the Brazilian Amazon were subjected to bacteriological culturing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of leptospires. The obtained isolate was characterized by serogrouping using polyclonal antibodies, partial DNA sequencing, Hardjo-Bovis-specific PCR, multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA/VNTR) and experimental infection in hamsters. PCR was performed on the urine samples; 11/244 were positive (4.5 %) for Leptospira, and only one isolate was recovered (0.4 %). Regarding characterization, the isolate was assigned to the Sejroe serogroup with high titers (12,800) for the Saxkoebing and Sejroe serovar antisera. The isolate was negative for Hardjo-Bovis-specific PCR, and the species Leptospira borgpetersenii was identified by DNA sequencing. The MLVA results showed that the VNTR profile of the isolate was 1-2-5, compatible with that of serovars Sejroe/Istrica. In the experimental infection in hamsters, the animals did not develop clinical signs, and no macroscopic lesions were observed on the organs at necropsy; however, the strain was detected in the kidneys, uterus, and testicles of the animals. The isolate described herein highlights infection by Sejroe strains that may be overlooked in buffaloes and that may be different from those normally isolated and used in serological studies.

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as Potential Mechanical Vectors of Pathogenic Bacteria in a Public Hospital in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil.

Studies related to ants found in hospital environments have aroused interest in their role as mechanical vectors of pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of the current research was to determine the species composition and bacterial contamination of ant species found in a public hospital in the eastern Amazonian region. Ants were captured using bait containing honey and sterilized sardines in 15 locations within the Macapá Emergency Hospital, Amapá. Ants were identified morphologically using specific keys. Bacteria were first inoculed in a Brain Heart Infusion broth and then plated on 5% Agar with blood or MacConkey media. Bacterial species were identified through biochemical procedures. In total, 9,687 ants were collected, with 69.8% from the dry season and 30.2% from the rainy season. Nine species of ants were identified belonging to three subfamilies: the Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus 1758) being the most common, comprising 39.2% of the total specimens. Only one ant species was found in each bait, facilitating microbiological analyses. In total, 92 bacteria isolates were identified comprising 12 species. Pseudomonas aeruginosa Schroeter 1872 (Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonadaceae) was pathogenic bacteria, most frequently isolated, comprising 10.9% of the positive samples. The most contaminated ant in the study was M. pharaonis with 38.3%. It was the dominant ant species in this hospital environment. Its wide prevalence, forage day and night of this vector in hospital facilitated bacterial contamination. The presence of bacteria on ants may be associated with the dissemination of pathogens which cause hospital infections, making pest control a necessity in these institutions.

Plants of Brazilian restingas with tripanocide activity against Trypanosoma cruzi strains.

Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi affecting millions of people, and widespread throughout Latin America. This disease exhibits a problematic chemotherapy. Benznidazole, which is the drug currently used as standard treatment, lamentably evokes several adverse reactions. Among other options, natural products have been tested to discover a novel therapeutic drug for this disease. A lot of plants from the Brazilian flora did not contain studies about their biological effects. Restinga de Jurubatiba from Brazil is a sandbank ecosystem poorly studied in relation to plant biological activity. Thus, three plant species from Restinga de Jurubatiba were tested against in vitro antiprotozoal activity. Among six extracts obtained from leaves and stem parts and 2 essential oils derived from leave parts, only 3 extracts inhibited epimastigote proliferation. Substances present in the extracts with activity were isolated (quercetin, myricetin, and ursolic acid), and evaluated in relation to antiprotozoal activity against epimastigote Y and Dm28 Trypanosoma cruzi strains. All isolated substances were effective to reduce protozoal proliferation. Essentially, quercetin and myricetin did not cause mammalian cell toxicity. In summary, myricetin and quercetin molecule can be used as a scaffold to develop new effective drugs against Chagas's disease.