Development and evaluation of topical formulations that contain hydroethanolic extract from Schinus terebinthifolia against HSV-1 infection

Abstract The therapeutic drugs to treat Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections have toxic side effects and there has been an emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, the search for new treatments for HSV infections is mounting. In the present study, semi-solid formulations containing a crude hydroethanolic extract (CHE) from Schinus terebinthifolia were developed. Skin irritation, cutaneous permeation, and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of the formulations were investigated. Treatment with the ointment formulations did not result in any signs of skin irritation while the emulsions increased the thickness of the epidermis in Swiss mice. The cutaneous permeation test indicated that the CHE incorporated in the formulations permeated through the skin layers and was present in the epidermis and dermis even 3 h after topical application. In vivo antiviral activity in BALB/c mice treated with the CHE ointments was better than those treated with the CHE emulsions and did not significantly differ from an acyclovir-treated group. Taken together, this suggests that the incorporation of CHE in the ointment may be a potential candidate for the alternative topical treatment of herpetic lesions.

Mutational spectra induced by flavonoid extracts from pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius, Raddi) stem bark.

Flavonoids are a diverse family of plant compounds that are involved in pigmentation, protection, and endogenous regulation. Flavonoids also have medicinal applications, suggesting that they may exert chemoprotective effects. However, some studies have shown, that some plant flavonoids have oxidative and toxic effects, including those produced by Schinus terebinthifolius. In Brazil, extracts of this plant are widely used for medical purposes. In this study, we analyzed the mutagenic potential of two flavonoid-enriched fractions from Brazilian pepper tree stem bark using Escherichia coli CC strains deficient and proficient in enzymes involved in the DNA repair of oxidative lesions. The highest mutagenic response was detected in the CC104mutMmutY strain but CC104mutY showed a higher mutation frequency than CC104mutM. The spectrum of mutations induced in plasmid DNA is composed of mutations typically caused by oxidative lesions. However, a new type of lesion must be occurred to explain the cytotoxicity, higher mutation rates in the CC104mutY strain, and the rare A:T → T:A and G:C → C:G transversions found in this work.

Efectos morfométricos, bioquímicos y cardiovasculares del aceite asencial y de terpenos hidrocarburos de schinus areira (anacardiaceae ) en un modelo experimental en animales / Morphometric, biochemical and cardiovascular effects of essential oil and terpene hydrocarbons schinus areira (anacardiaceae) in an experimental animal model

Introducción: Schinus areira L., comúnmente conocido como "Aguaribay", "Gualeguay" o "Molle", pertenece a la familia Anacardiaceae, en donde se incluyen árboles ornamentales, arbustos y lianas, frutos y nueces comercialmente valiosas como el cajú o el pistacho. Objetivo: Obtener el aceite esencial de Schinus areira y su fracción en terpenos hidrocarburos para determinar sus efectos sobre la actividad cardiovascular y su acción en parámetros histopatológicos, bioquímicos y hematológicos en animales de experimentación. Materiales y Métodos: a) Se aisló el aceite esencial (AE) del Schinus areira por arrastre de vapor de agua y posteriormente a través de cromatografía de capa delgada, su fracción en terpenos hidrocarburos (FH); b) se cuantificó mediante cromatografía de masa la composición química del AE y de la FH; c) se determinó el efecto de ambos compuestos en parámetros histopatológicos, bioquímicos, hematológicos y la actividad cardiovascular en conejos despiertos normotensos con un tratamiento agudo y crónico y d) se evaluó el efecto a dosis crecientes de noradrenalina, el corazón ex vivo de ratón, previamente tratado con el AE de S. areira.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Schinus areira L., commonly known as "Aguaribay", "Gualeguay" or "Molle", belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, where trees, shrubs and vines, fruits and nuts commercially valuable as cashews or pistachios are included. The research of active compounds present in plants for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases has increased significantly worldwide and because of these trends, many reports have evaluated the effects of various plants and their components in the cardiovascular system in order to provide a scientific basis for therapeutic applications target. The EO of Schinus areira and hydrocarbon fraction were obtained to determine their effects on cardiovascular activity and its action on histopathological, biochemical and hematological parameters in experimental animals. Materials and Methods: a) The essential oil (EO) of Schinus areira stripping water and subsequently through thin layer chromatography, the hydrocarbon fraction (HF) were isolated, b) were quantified by chromatography mass chemistry EO and HF, c) the effect of both oils on histopathological, biochemical, hematological and cardiovascular activity in conscious normotensive rabbits d) was determined the effects of increasing doses of noradrenaline were evaluated, the heart ex vivo mouse pretreated EO of S. areira.

Clinical patterns of phytodermatitis.

Exposure to plants is very common, through leisure or professional activity. In addition, plant products and botanic extracts are increasingly present in the environment. Cutaneous adverse reactions to plants and their derivatives occur fairly frequently, and establishing the correct diagnosis is not always easy. The astute clinician relies on a detailed history and a careful skin examination to substantiate his opinion. This article reviews the characteristic clinical patterns of phyto- and phytophotodermatitis and some less common presentations.