Comparing the efficacy of nutmeg essential oil and a chemical pesticide against Musca domestica and Chrysomya albiceps for selecting a new insecticide agent against synantropic vectors.

The insecticidal activity of Myristica fragrans (Houtt) essential seed oil, (Nutmeg) was evaluated against Musca domestica (Linnaeus) and Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann); both important infectious pathogenic disease vectors. The oil was extracted by distillation, and 21 components were identified during chemical analysis; principally ß-pinene (26%), α-pinene (10.5%), Sabinene (9.1%) and γ-terpinen (8.5%). Insecticidal properties were identified through larvicide and adulticide tests. Using the immersion method, the oil at 5% was found to be very effective (90 ± 1%) against M. domestica larvae. The results for adulticide activity varied by fly species, dosage, time, and method of exposure. Topical application (on the insect thorax) was more toxic to C. albiceps, where the lethal concentration at 50% (LC50) was 2.02 ± 0.56, and 8.57 ± 2.41 for the common flies. When the insects were exposed to oil impregnated paper, the results were similar for M. domestica and C. albiceps adults with respective LC50 values of 2.74 ± 0.24, and 3.65 ± 0.48. Thus, the results demonstrated that M. fragrans oil presents insecticidal activity and can be used for control of Musca domestica and Chrysomya albiceps.

Achyrocline satureioides essential oil loaded in nanocapsules ameliorate the antioxidant/oxidant status in heart of rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

Oxidative stress has been considered as a pathological mechanism that contributes to initiation and progression of cardiac injury during the Trypanosoma evansi infection. In this sense, the natural compounds with antioxidant and free radical scavenger abilities, such the Achyrocline satureioides essential oil loaded in nanocapsules (AS-NC), may be considered important approach to minimize the cardiac damage. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether AS-NC treatment is able to prevents or reduce the cardiac oxidative damage in infected rats with T. evansi. Heart samples from rats infected by T. evansi showed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric reactive-acid substances (TBARS) and glutathione reduced (GSH) levels, while catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities decreased compared with uninfected and untreated animals. Also, the seric biomarkers of cardiac function increased in the infected animals compared with uninfected animals. AS-NC treatment reduced ROS and TBARS levels, ameliorate cardiac CAT and SOD activities of infected rats, and reduced seric biomarkers of cardiac function. AS-NC treatment protected the heart from oxidative stress caused by T. evansi, which might be due to its antioxidant properties. AS-NC might be considered a promising therapeutic agent against oxidative stress, when associated with nanotechnology.

Nerolidol-loaded nanospheres prevent hepatic oxidative stress of mice infected by Trypanosoma evansi.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nerolidol free (N-F) and nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres (N-NS) on the hepatic antioxidant/oxidant status of mice experimentally infected by Trypanosoma evansi. In the liver it was measured: reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric reactive acid substances (TBARS) and non-protein thiols (NPSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and performed histopathological examination. In addition, seric levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Liver samples from mice infected by T. evansi showed increased (P < 0·05) ROS, TBARS, AST and ALT levels and SOD activity, and decreased NPSH levels and CAT activity (P < 0·05) compared with uninfected animals. N-NS treatment prevented (P < 0·05) ROS and TBARS increase, and increased NPSH levels, and ameliorate CAT and SOD activities on liver of infected mice. Moreover, N-NS treatment reduced (P < 0·05) AST and ALT levels, and prevented histopathological changes caused by the parasite. N-NS protected the liver from the oxidative stress caused by T. evansi, which might be due to its antioxidant properties. Nerolidol might be considered a promising therapeutic agent against oxidative stress, and nanotechnology is an encouraging approach to be explored.

A nanotechnology based new approach for Trypanosoma evansi chemotherapy: In vitro and vivo trypanocidal effect of (-)-α-bisabolol.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo susceptibility of Trypanosoma evansi to α-Bisabolol and solid lipid nanoparticles containing α-Bisabolol (SLN-B). In vitro, a trypanocidal effect of α-Bisabolol and SLN-B was observed when used at 0.5, 1 and 2% concentrations, i.e., the concentrations of 1 and 2% showed a faster trypanocidal effect when compared to chemotherapy (diminazene aceturate - D.A.). T. evansi infected mice were treated with α-Bisabolol and SLN-B at a dose of 1.0 mL kg-1 during seven days via oral gavage. In vivo, treatment with SLN-B, D.A. and D.A. associated with SLN-B were able to increase (p < 0.05) the pre-patent period and longevity when compared to positive control (infected and untreated animals), but showed no curative efficacy. T. evansi infected mice treated with D.A. associate with SLN-B, where a curative efficacy of 50% was found, a much better result when D. A and SLN-B were used alone (16.66%). In summary, the association with D. A + SLN-B can be used as an alternative to improve the therapeutic effectiveness of D.A., and for treatment of infected animals with T. evansi. Also, the nanotechnology associated with natural products arises an important alternative for the improve the trypanocidal action.

Nerolidol nanospheres increases its trypanocidal efficacy against Trypanosoma evansi: New approach against diminazene aceturate resistance and toxicity.

The aims of this study were to develop nerolidol-loaded nanospheres, and to evaluate their efficacy in vitro and in vivo against Trypanosoma evansi, as well as to determine their physicochemical properties, morphology, and any possible side effect in vitro against peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). The nanospheres showed an adequate particle size (149.5 nm), narrow particle distribution (0.117), negative zeta potential (-12.8 mV), and pH of 6.84, such as observed by transmission electron microscopy. In vitro, a trypanocidal effect of nerolidol and nanospheres containing nerolidol was observed at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%, i.e., both treatments showed a faster trypanocidal effect compared to chemotherapy (diminazene aceturate - D.A.). T. evansi infected mice were used to evaluate the effects of nerolidol-loaded nanospheres regarding pre-patent period, longevity, and therapeutic efficacy. Oral administration of nerolidol-loaded nanospheres at 1.0 mL/kg/day during 10 days increased mice survival (66.66%) compared to 0% and 33.33% of mice survival when treated with nerolidol in its free form and D.A., respectively. Cytotoxic study indicated that both treatments showed no side effects in vitro against PBMC, an important marker used in toxicological surveys. Therefore, nanoencapsulation increased the therapeutic efficacy of nerolidol against T. evansi, and can be used as an alternative treatment for T. evansi infection.

In vitro Safety and Efficacy of Lavender Essential Oil (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) as an Insecticide Against Houseflies (Diptera: Muscidae) and Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Essential oils are considered an alternative for replacement of conventional insecticides that have provoked an increasing number of resistant species and damages to health. The objective of this work was to investigate the insecticidal activity of Lavandula dentata L. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) oil against the species Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and Chrysomya albiceps Wiedemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Extraction of the essential oil from the aerial parts of the plant was carried out using hydro-distillation. Its principal compounds (1,8-cineol, camphor, and linalool oxide) were identified. Insecticidal activity was determined by evaluating adulticidal effect using topical application methods and exposure to impregnated paper; larvicidal effect was determined using immersion method. The essential oil presented toxicity in M. domestica and C. albiceps adults; the lethal concentration values (LC50) in the superficial application method were respectively 3.13 ± 0.64 and 1.39 ± 0.19% live weight (l/v). Toxicity was also found in the oil impregnated paper exposure test; the LC50 results for M. domestica and C. albiceps were respectively 4.15 ± 0.64 and 5.14 ± 0.81%. Larvicidal effect was observed on third stage M. domestica larvae when exposed to an oil concentration of 2.5% (m/v). In addition, the oil was evaluated for cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity in human cells, and the in vitro safety of this oil in human cells was verified. Thus, L. dentata oil presented insecticidal activity in M. domestica and C. albiceps and can be used as an alternative for control of these dipterans.

Antihyperglycemic, antioxidant activities of tucumã oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, and identification of fatty acid profile by gas chromatograph: New natural source to treat hyperglycemia.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the oral administration of tucumã oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) on glucose and insulin levels, oxidative status, and pancreatic genotoxic parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The animals were divided into four groups (n = 6 each): control/water; control/tucumã oil; diabetic/water; diabetic/tucumã oil treated for 14 days with 5.0 mL kg-1 via oral gavage. Gas chromatograph characterization demonstrated that oleic/elaidic fatty acid is the most abundant component present in this oil, followed by palmitic and stearic fatty acids. Our results demonstrated an increase (p < 0.05) in water and food intake, blood glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels, damage index, and frequency of damage; conversely body weight, insulin levels, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and cell viability were decreased in the diabetic/water group compared to the control/water group. The treatment with tucumã oil prevented these alterations in the diabetic/tucumã oil group compared to the diabetic/water group, and restored these parameters near to the control/water group. In summary, our findings demonstrated that treatment with tucumã oil causes a hypoglycemic effect improving insulin levels and antioxidant/oxidant status, and has a protector effect against pancreatic damage induced by oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

Nerolidol-loaded nanospheres prevent behavioral impairment via ameliorating Na+, K+-ATPase and AChE activities as well as reducing oxidative stress in the brain of Trypanosoma evansi-infected mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nerolidol-loaded nanospheres (N-NS) on the treatment of memory impairment caused by Trypanosoma evansi in mice, as well as oxidative stress, and Na+, K+-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in brain tissue. Animals were submitted to behavioral tasks (inhibitory avoidance task and open-field test) 4 days postinfection (PI). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na+, K+-ATPase and AChE activities were measured on the fifth-day PI. T. evansi-infected mice showed memory deficit, increased ROS and TBARS levels and SOD and AChE activities, and decreased CAT and Na+, K+-ATPase activities compared to uninfected mice. N-NS prevented memory impairment and oxidative stress parameters (except SOD activity), while free nerolidol (N-F) restored only CAT activity. Also, N-NS treatment was able to prevent alterations in Na+, K+-ATPase and AChE activities caused by T. evansi infection. A significantly negative correlation was observed between memory and ROS production (p < 0.001; r = -0.941), as well as between memory and AChE activity (p < 0.05; r = -0.774). On the contrary, a significantly positive correlation between memory and Na+, K+-ATPase activity was observed (p < 0.01; r = 0.844). In conclusion, N-NS was able to reverse memory impairment and to prevent increased ROS and TBARS levels due to amelioration of Na+, K+-ATPase and AChE activities and to activation of the antioxidant enzymes, respectively. These results suggest that N-NS treatment may be a useful strategy to treat memory dysfunction and oxidative stress caused by T. evansi infection.