Antimicrobial activity of flavonoids glycosides and pyrrolizidine alkaloids from propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. postica

Stingless bees, or simply meliponines, are a large group of bees (about 550 described species), comprising the tribe Meliponini. They belong in the family Apidae, and are closely related to Apis mellifera. Scaptotrigona affinis postica Latreille, 1807 from northeast of Brazil is popularly known as “tubi” in Maranhão State. Flavones di-C-glycosides, and the pyrrolizidine alkaloid 3-methoxy-7-(2-methylbutyryl)-9-echimidinyl retronecine (7) were reported previously in propolis from S. postica and detected only in samples collected in October, November and December. The presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides were reported in honey and pollen. In the present study, the preparative liquid chromatography in reversed-phase column from ethanolic extract of propolis allowed the separation of fractions 40AEP and 40 MEP, which were analyzed by LC-MS. Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids, among them, lithosenine (14), lithosenine arabinoside (19), 7-angeloyl-9-(2,3- dihydroxybutyryl) retronecine (1), 7-(2- methylbutyryl) retronecine (3), 9-sarracinoyl retronecine (13) and viridinatine (8), besides the flavonoids schaftoside (15), aromadendrin-7-O-methyl ether (12), 7- methoxy-5,6,3’,4’,5’,6’-hexahydroxy-flavone-3-O-glucuronide (11), mangiferin (10) and mangiferin-O-methyl ether (17) were detected in these fractions. Fraction 40MEP showed antibacterial effect against gram positive and gram negative bacterial pathogens with MIC ranging from 62.5 μg/mL to 200 μg/mL, while fractions 40AEP and 40MEP showed antimicrobial activity against gram negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli D31- streptomycin resistant. The cells were treated with 40MEP and 40AEP at a concentration of 200 μg/mL and were not observed statistical difference between treated and untreated cells.

A highly complex stingless bee propolis: composition and influence of the period of collection

BACKGROUND Stingless bees or meliponines (family Apidae, subfamily Meliponinae, tribe Meliponini) are eusocial bees from tropical and subtropical regions. Propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. Postica (Latreille, 1807) is used in the state of Maranhão (Northeast Brazil) in ointments to treat tumors and wounds. Samples of propolis of Scaptotrigona aff. Postica (Apidae, Meliponini) were collected monthly from an apiary located in Barra do Corda (state of Maranhão, northeast Brazil). Extracts of the twelve samples were obtained with 80% ethanol. Constituents of the samples were characterized by HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis, amounting to 100 substances. RESULTS Representatives of several classes of secondary metabolites were characterized, including benzoic and cinnamic acids, flavonoids (chalcones, flavone-C-glycosides, flavonol aglycones and glycosides), alkyl and alkenyl resorcinols, xanthones, diterpenes, cycloartane-type triterpenoids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs). Considerable qualitative differences in chemical composition among samples were observed, depending on the year period of collection. Principal Coordinate Analysis recognized three distinct year periods (Jan-Mar, April-Sep, Oct-Dec) according to the corresponding chemical profiles. CONCLUSION Comparing with previous studies, the present work indicates that considerable differences in chemical composition occur also from year to year. Contrary to most propolis types reported so far, which derives exclusively or mostly from a single botanical source, the propolis from Barra do Corda seemingly depends on several resin sources. It is suggested that chalcones and flavonols stem from Mimosa tenuiflora (Mimosoideae); resorcinols, xanthones and cycloartane-type triterpenoids, from fruits of Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae); pyrrolizidine alkaloids, possibly from some Crotalaria species (Faboideae); HCAAs probably originate from pollen contaminating the propolis samples. The propolis of S. aff. Postica poses challenges and possibilities of study for apicultural researchers, chemists and pharmacologists.

Historical analysis of leishmaniasis cases in the transamazonian region: from 2009 to 2019 / Análise histórica dos casos de leishmaniose na região transamazônica: de 2009 a 2019 / Análisis histórico de casos de leishmaniasis en la región transamazónica: de 2009 a 2019

Objective: To determine the total number of notified cases, new cases and recurrence of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL), to investigate the association between HIV coinfection and the presence of cutaneous lesion, as well to assess the concordance of two different laboratorial procedures: parasitological and histopathological in this region. Methods:This is a cross-sectional study. The research used data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, hence forth designated as SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) that contained 6,183 cases of leishmaniasis in 9 municipalities. Results:As results, 5795 were of new cases and 351 recurrence cases. Among the cases 1,146 patients were tested for HIV, 16 presented coinfection from these 15 developed cutaneous lesion. In the overall studied population 5,690 subjects manifested cutaneous lesion. There was no agreement of the results regarding the quality of the parasitological and histopathological exams, demonstrating that they are poorly replicable (p <0.005). Conclusion:The ATL is endemic in the transamazonian region posing as a major public health problem. All patients with leishmaniasis must be tested for HIV and health professionals must register on the notification form. The tests to diagnose leishmaniasis need to be more specific and sensitive.

Objetivo: Determinar o número total de casos notificados, casos novos e recorrência da Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA), investigar a associação entre a coinfecção pelo HIV e a presença de lesão cutânea, bem como avaliar a concordância de dois procedimentos laboratoriais distintos: parasitológico e histopatológico nessa região. Métodos: Este é um estudo transversal. A pesquisa utilizou dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, doravante denominado SINAN, que continha 6.183 casos de leishmaniose em 9 municípios. Resultados: Como resultados, 5795 eram de casos novos e 351 casos de recorrência. Dos casos 1.146 pacientes testados para HIV, 16 apresentaram coinfecção, destes 15 desenvolveram lesão cutânea. Na população geral estudada 5.690 indivíduos manifestaram lesão cutânea. Não houve concordância dos resultados quanto à qualidade dos exames parasitológicos e histopatológicos, demonstrando que são pouco replicáveis ​​(p <0,005). Conclusão: A ATL é endêmica na região transamazônica e constitui um importante problema de saúde pública. Todos os pacientes com leishmaniose devem ser testados para HIV e os profissionais de saúde devem se cadastrar na ficha de notificação. Os testes para diagnosticar a leishmaniose precisam ser mais específicos e sensíveis.

Cardanols detected in non-polar propolis extracts from Scaptotrigona aff. postica (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) / Cardanols detectados nos extratos apolares da própolis de Scaptotrigona aff. postica (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini)

The propolis produced by stingless bees of the tribe Meliponini is a viscous product that contains the resin collected from buds, leaves and plant exudates, mixed with salivary secretions, wax and soil. The species Scaptotrigona aff. postica (Latreille, 1807), (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponinae) popularly known as “tubi” in Maranhão State, Brazil, does not mix soil to produce its propolis. The propolis from S. postica harvested in Barra do Corda, Maranhão State, is popularly used in the treatment of wounds and respiratory illnesses. The hydroalcoholic extract of this propolis, rich in flavone-6,8-di-C-glycosides (vicenin-2 and schaftoside), pyrrolizidine alkaloids derived from retronecine, catechin and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives exhibited antiviral activity against the herpes simplex and rubella viruses. The aim of this study was to increase knowledge about the chemical composition of the S. postica propolis by analyzing non-polar extracts obtained using hexane and chloroform as the solvents, by GC-EI-MS. A total of 15 constituents were identified comparing their respective mass spectral data with those available in the NIST data bases and those reported in the literature. The main constituents detected were the phenolic lipids, known as cardanols, 3-(4,7-heptadecadienyl) phenol (5), 3-(10-heptadecenyl) phenol (7), 3-heptadecylphenol (9) and 3-pentadecyl phenol or hydrocardanol (13), which predominated in the hexane extract, while the predominant constituents in the chloroform extract were 3-pentadecyl phenol or hydrocardanol (13) and 3-(8-pentadecenyl) phenol (12). The antioxidant, antitumoral, antifeedant, cytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antileishmanial and larvicidal activities of the cardanols have been demonstrated in many studies.

Síndrome cromossômicas detectadas em rotina laboratorial através dos exames de cariótipo e de cromatina sexual X de Barr / Chromossomics syndromes detected in the laboratory routines with cariotype and sexual X of Barr cromatine exams

Os autores realizaram, na rotina do Laboratório Oswaldo cRuz (S.P.), exames de cariótipo e de cromatina sexual X de Barr em 120 pacientes. Destes, 26 (21,66%) dos pacientes apresentaram síndromes derivadas de anomalias cromossômicas numéricas e estruturais

Síndromes cromossômicas detectadas em rotina laboratorial através dos exames de cariótipo e de cromatina sexual X de Barr

Os autores realizaram, na rotina do Laboratório Oswaldo Cruz (S.P.), exames de cariótipo e de cromatina sexual X de Barr em 120 pacientes. Destes, 26 (21,66%) dos pacientes apresentaram síndromes derivadas de anomalias cromossômicas numéricas e estruturais