An innovative challenge test for solid cosmetics using freeze-dried microorganisms and electrical methods.

Freeze-dried bacteria and fungi were used as inoculum in 28 days' PET. An electrical method was used in replacement of the conventional plate count method. The use of freeze-dried microorganisms in association with the electrical method can minimize the workload and the variability involved in PET for cosmetic powders.

Microbiological quality of vegetable drugs commercialized in open-air markets for use in infusion preparations according to the part of the vegetable used.

The microbiological quality of different parts of vegetable drugs, commercialized in an open-air market, and intended for use as infusion preparations was compared. Total viable aerobic microorganisms, fungi, total and fecal coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae counts demonstrated lower sanitary quality in drugs composed of roots than those composed of leaves and caulis. E. coli was identified in some samples, but all of them were free from Salmonella sp.

The preservative efficacy testing method for powdered eye shadows.

Preservative efficacy testing is based on a sample inoculation using a microbial suspension with a determined amount of colony-forming units (CFU). After that, the number of survivors is investigated by periodic evaluations, and the results are compared with specifications. When liquid cosmetics are evaluated, it is easy to obtain homogeneity between the inoculum and the sample, but for a powder sample it cannot be guaranteed. In this context, freeze-dried microorganisms could be used to help the homogenization. In this research, the preservative efficacy is evaluated using a powdered eye shadow. The microorganisms used were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The challenge tests were performed in samples with (P) or without (NP) added preservative. The methods used to evaluate the results were the ones described in the official compendia and in the cosmetics guides of international associations, also using linear regression in calculating the D-value. The results showed that it is possible to use freeze-dried microorganisms instead of suspension to evaluate the preservative efficacy of cosmetic solids. The microorganism stability was verified by the determination of the microbial load and the minimum inhibitory concentration after freeze-drying and during the following six months.

Essential oils from Piper cernuum and Piper regnellii: antimicrobial activities and analysis by GC/MS and 13C-NMR.

The essential oils of Piper cernuum and Piper regnellii leaves were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the results were compared to that obtained by means of a program designed to analyse (13)C-NMR data of complex mixtures. Bicyclogermacrene (21.88 %)/beta-caryophyllene (20.69 %) and myrcene (52.60 %)/linalool (15.89 %) were the major constituents in essential oil from leaves of P. cernuum and P. regnellii, respectively. Both essential oils presented growth inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

Application of triphenyltetrazolium chloride in microbial limit test in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Multiple- tube method for yeasts detection.

The triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) was studied as a means to detect yeasts growth in liquid medium, aiming its application to microbial limit test using Multiple-tube method, for testing pharmaceuticals or cosmetics samples with opacity. The results from most probable number (MPN) using TTC and sub-culture techniques obtained from the tests of simulated samples, spiked with Candida albicans and Sacharomyces cerevisiae, showed to be equivalents.

Application of triphenyltetrazolium chloride in microbial limit test of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

An alternative method was developed for counting viable microbial contaminants in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics with insoluble materials and low bioburden. The method uses triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). The inhibitory effect of TTC on microbial growth observed by others was eliminated by adding it as an overlay, after incubation of sample in culture medium for 48 h. Six samples of pharmaceutical suspensions and 6 samples of cosmetics were evaluated by most-probable number (MPN) and pour-plate techniques with TTC in comparison with MPN with subculturing. The equivalence between MPN technique with TTC and subculturing was demonstrated for all samples and between pour-plate and subculturing for 10 samples. The differences were probably due to some error inherent in both techniques and not from application of TTC. Comparison of coefficients of variation showed that plate countings were more precise than the MPN method, as expected.

Antimalarial activity of oxidized starch and cellulose imine derivatives.

With the purpose of screening potential antimalarial agents, oxidized starch imine derivatives of sulfonamides or pyrimidine - derivatives of sulfisoxazole (ML8), sulfameter (ML11) and trimethoprim (ML13) - and oxidized cellulose imine derivatives of dapsone (ML14), sulfadiazine (ML17), sulfamethoxazole (ML18), sulfisoxazole (ML19), sulfamethoxypyridazine (ML20) and sulfameter (ML22) were submitted to in vivo biological assays with mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Only ML11 was 100% curative in test conditions; ML 17 showed the same effect as its prototype. The drug content in both prodrugs is lower in the applied dose than that used in the original drugs. It can be suggested that the latentiation enhanced the effectiveness of the prototypes.

Medicamentos nao estereis. I. Contaminacao microbiana em solucoes para uso oral. / Nonsterile drugs. 1. Microbial contamination in solutions for oral use

Foram analisados medicamentos para uso oral, sob a forma de solucao, produzidos e comercializados ou distribuidos no Brasil.A tecnica analitica baseou-se em metodos oficiais internacionais. Carga contaminante aerobia total superior a 10(2)/ml ocorreu em 18,7% das 150 amostras. Destas, 10% das amostras possuiam carga contaminante entre 10(2) e 10(3); 4,7% de 10(3) a 10(4) e 4% em niveis de 10(4) a 10(7)/ml. Nao foi detectada presenca de Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli e Salmonella sp

Medicamentos nao estereis. II. Caracteristicas intrinsecas e contaminacao microbiana em solucoes para uso oral. / Nonsterile, drugs. II. Intrinsic characteristics and microbial contamination in solutions for oral use

Foram efetuadas determinacoes do teor de alcool etilico, pH e presenca de metil e propilparabenos em 150 amostras brasileiras de solucao para uso oral. A presenca dos parabenos, na forma isolada ou associada, constatada em 75% das amostras, nao pode ser relacionada com amostras contendo baixas cargas cntaminantes. Em relacao ao teor etanolico, contagens superiores a 10(2)/ml foram verificadas em 18,5% das amostras com o teor menor que 5% (v/v). Em amostras com teor maior que este valor, a frequencia foi de 17,8%. A contagem nao ultrapassou a 30 microorganismos por mililitro naquelas contendo concentracao maior que 20% (v/v). Amostras com pH menor que 7 representaram 94,7%; as contaminacoes foram detectadas nos casos com valores desde 2,7 a 7,5