Chemical composition and antimycobacterial, anti-Malassezia furfur and cytotoxic activities of essential oils from Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G. Don leaves and flowers.

Callistemon viminalis has been widely known due to its therapeutic properties. Tuberculosis is a deadly infectious disease caused predominantly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other respiratory diseases may also be caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria. Malassezia furfur causes dermal inflammation and tissue damage. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro inhibitory effects of essential oils (EOs) from C. viminalis leaves (EO-CL) and flowers (EO-CF) against M. tuberculosis, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium avium and M. furfur strains. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated by the brine shrimp assay. Resulting MIC values of all EOs under study were promising since they ranged from 50 to 100 µg/mL. Both EO-CL and EO-CF showed nontoxicity against Artemia salina by the brine shrimp assay (LC50 > 1000 µg/mL). GC-FID and GC-MS analyses showed that 1,8-cineole was the major component of both EOs. These results revealed the promising potential of EO-CL and EO-CF to develop new antibacterial and antifungal drugs.

Polyalthic Acid from Copaifera lucens Demonstrates Anticariogenic and Antiparasitic Properties for Safe Use.

This study aimed at evaluating the potential of Copaifera lucens, specifically its oleoresin (CLO), extract (CECL), and the compound ent-polyalthic acid (PA), in combating caries and toxoplasmosis, while also assessing its toxicity. The study involved multiple assessments, including determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against cariogenic bacteria. CLO and PA exhibited MIC and MBC values ranging from 25 to 50 µg/mL, whereas CECL showed values equal to or exceeding 400 µg/mL. PA also displayed antibiofilm activity with minimum inhibitory concentration of biofilm (MICB50) values spanning from 62.5 to 1000 µg/mL. Moreover, PA effectively hindered the intracellular proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii at 64 µg/mL, even after 24 h without treatment. Toxicological evaluations included in vitro tests on V79 cells, where concentrations ranged from 78.1 to 1250 µg/mL of PA reduced colony formation. Additionally, using the Caenorhabditis elegans model, the lethal concentration (LC50) of PA was determined as 1000 µg/mL after 48 h of incubation. Notably, no significant differences in micronucleus induction and the NDI were observed in cultures treated with 10, 20, or 40 µg/mL of CLO. These findings underscore the safety profile of CLO and PA, highlighting their potential as alternative treatments for caries and toxoplasmosis.

Volatile compounds of hexane extract from Pterodon pubescens Benth seeds and its significant in vitro potential against different bacterial strains.

Pterodon pubescens Benth is a Brazilian medicinal plant (sucupira, in Brazilian Portuguese). This paper aims to determine the volatile composition and antibacterial activities of hexane extract from P. pubescens seeds (HE-PP). Antibacterial activities were screened by the microdilution broth method in 96-well culture plates and MIC values were expressed as µg/mL. HE-PP was active against several oral bacteria whose MIC values ranged between 12.5 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL and against three mycobacterial strains (MIC = 125 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL). In addition, HE-PP was active against Xanthomonas citri strain (MIC = 100 µg/mL). Cytotoxic activity of the extract was evaluated in human tumour and non-tumour cell lines. HE-PP showed selective cytotoxicity to cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa cells - IC50 = 53.47 µg/mL). Its major constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID: E-caryophyllene, vouacapane, E-geranylgeraniol and dehydroabietol. Results reinforce the biological potential of HE-PP against a broad spectrum of pathogenic and phytopathogenic bacteria.

Healthcare-associated infections in high-risk neonates: Temporal trends in a national surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: Increased survival of preterm neonates who require hospitalization at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has led to an increase in infections. This study aims to describe the temporal trend, risk factors, and outcome of healthcare-associated infections in a NICU of a high complexity hospital, with emphasis on the differences of incidence between bacterial and fungal infections. METHODS: The study was carried out from January 2013 to December 2016, with daily follow-up of the newborns by the National Healthcare Safety Network. RESULTS: The study included 881 newborns, of whom 214 had a bacterial infection, 19 had fungi infection, and 12 bacterial and fungal infections associated. The hospital infection rate was 12/1000 patient-days. SNAPPE>24, days of hospitalization and PICC days were independent risk factors for the development of fungal and bacterial infection, respectively, with statistical significance for bacterial and fungal infections. The mortality rate was 2.6 times higher in those who had fungal infection than in those who had a bacterial infection. The occurrence of invasive infections was higher in the years 2015 and 2016 and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts were more frequent, impacting morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The use of invasive devices is a risk factor for the occurrence of HAI caused by bacteria and fungi. The frequency of deaths was higher in the group of neonates with fungal infection. These results point to the importance of constant epidemiological surveillance and measures of effective control of infections in NICU.