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1.
ACS Omega ; 6(10): 6893-6901, 2021 Mar 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33748603

RESUMO

Cocos nucifera L. is a palm tree (Arecaceae) with a high economic value. The coconut husk fibers are nonedible, thick, and abrasion-resistant and correspond up to 85% of biomass discarded as solid waste residue. Therefore, the husk fibers are an underexploited byproduct with a high content of extractives of unreported nature. Two varieties of C. nucifera L. husk extracts were investigated to uncover bioactive metabolites and their possible application as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel AISI 1020 under neutral pH conditions. The chemical analysis indicated 3% (w/w) of proanthocyanidins in the husk fibers with a high B-type procyanidin content. The husk fibers' crude extract showed promising results as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel AISI 1020 under neutral pH conditions. Although it formed a film on the metal surface in all tested concentrations (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 g L-1), the highest protective efficiency was shown at a concentration of 1.2 g L-1, determined by electrochemical techniques and mass loss. This was the first comprehensive report on coconut husk fibers' chemical composition, which was similar between the two varieties with potential for industrial application.

2.
J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem ; 35(1): 629-638, 2020 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32037904

RESUMO

Phialophora verrucosa causes several fungal human diseases, mainly chromoblastomycosis, which is extremely difficult to treat. Several studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus peptidase inhibitors (HIV-PIs) are attractive candidates for antifungal therapies. This work focused on studying the action of HIV-PIs on peptidase activity secreted by P. verrucosa and their effects on fungal proliferation and macrophage interaction. We detected a peptidase activity from P. verrucosa able to cleave albumin, sensitive to pepstatin A and HIV-PIs, especially lopinavir, ritonavir and amprenavir, showing for the first time that this fungus secretes aspartic-type peptidase. Furthermore, lopinavir, ritonavir and nelfinavir reduced the fungal growth, causing remarkable ultrastructural alterations. Lopinavir and ritonavir also affected the conidia-macrophage adhesion and macrophage killing. Interestingly, P. verrucosa had its growth inhibited by ritonavir combined with either itraconazole or ketoconazole. Collectively, our results support the antifungal action of HIV-PIs and their relevance as a possible alternative therapy for fungal infections.


Assuntos
Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Ácido Aspártico Proteases/antagonistas & inibidores , Inibidores da Protease de HIV/farmacologia , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Phialophora/efeitos dos fármacos , Antifúngicos/síntese química , Antifúngicos/química , Ácido Aspártico Proteases/metabolismo , Carbamatos/síntese química , Carbamatos/química , Carbamatos/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Furanos , Inibidores da Protease de HIV/síntese química , Inibidores da Protease de HIV/química , Humanos , Lopinavir/síntese química , Lopinavir/química , Lopinavir/farmacologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estrutura Molecular , Phialophora/enzimologia , Phialophora/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Ritonavir/síntese química , Ritonavir/química , Ritonavir/farmacologia , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Sulfonamidas/síntese química , Sulfonamidas/química , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia
3.
Pharm Biol ; 55(1): 1380-1388, 2017 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28317465

RESUMO

CONTEXT: Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) has been used in folk medicine to treat headaches, kidney disorders, and intestinal worms. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the anti-cryptococcal activity of ethanol crude extract and hexane fraction obtained from O. basilicum var. Maria Bonita leaves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MIC values for Cryptococcus sp. were obtained according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute in a range of 0.3-2500 µg/mL. The checkerboard assay evaluated the association of the substances tested (in a range of 0.099-2500 µg/mL) with amphotericin B and O. basilicum essential oil for 48 h. The ethanol extract, hexane fraction and associations in a range of 0.3-2500 µg/mL were tested for pigmentation inhibition after 7 days of treatment. The inhibition of ergosterol synthesis and reduction of capsule size were evaluated after the treatment with ethanol extract (312 µg/mL), hexane fraction (78 µg/mL) and the combinations of essential oil + ethanol extract (78 µg/mL + 19.5 µg/mL, respectively) and essential oil + hexane fraction (39.36 µg/mL + 10 µg/mL, respectively) for 24 and 48 h, respectively. RESULTS: The hexane fraction presented better results than the ethanol extract, with a low MIC (156 µg/mL against C. neoformans T444 and 312 µg/mL against C. neoformans H99 serotype A and C. gattii WM779 serotype C). The combination of the ethanol extract and hexane fraction with amphotericin B and essential oil enhanced their antifungal activity, reducing the concentration of each substance needed to kill 100% of the inoculum. The substances tested were able to reduce the pigmentation, capsule size and ergosterol synthesis, which suggest they have important mechanisms of action. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide further support for the use of ethanol extracts of O. basilicum as a potential source of antifungal agents.


Assuntos
Anfotericina B/farmacologia , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Cryptococcus neoformans/efeitos dos fármacos , Etanol/química , Hexanos/química , Ocimum basilicum/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Óleos de Plantas/farmacologia , Solventes/química , Animais , Antifúngicos/isolamento & purificação , Cryptococcus neoformans/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Cryptococcus neoformans/metabolismo , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Ergosterol/biossíntese , Camundongos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Viabilidade Microbiana/efeitos dos fármacos , Ocimum , Fitoterapia , Pigmentação/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Folhas de Planta/química , Óleos de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Plantas Medicinais , Células RAW 264.7 , Fatores de Tempo
4.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27274752

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of the EO and its major components of Ocimum basilicum var. Maria Bonita, a genetically improved cultivar, against the fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Geraniol presented better results than the EO, with a low MIC (76 µg/mL against C. neoformans and 152 µg/mL against both Candida strains). The combination of EO, linalool, or geraniol with fluconazole enhanced their antifungal activity, especially against the resistant strain (MIC reduced to 156, 197, and 38 µg/mL, resp.). The ergosterol assay showed that subinhibitory concentrations of the substances were able to reduce the amount of sterol extracted. The substances tested were able to reduce the capsule size which suggests they have an important mechanism of action. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated cell wall destruction of C. neoformans after treatment with subinhibitory concentrations. In C. albicans ultrastructure alterations such as irregularities in the membrane, presence of vesicles, and cell wall thickening were observed. The biofilm formation was inhibited in both C. albicans strains at MIC and twice MIC. These results provide further support for the use of O. basilicum EO and its major components as a potential source of antifungal agents.

5.
Biomed Res Int ; 2014: 985171, 2014.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24818162

RESUMO

Currently available leishmaniasis treatments are limited due to severe side effects. Arrabidaea chica is a medicinal plant used in Brazil against several diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of 5 fractions obtained from the crude hexanic extract of A. chica against Leishmania amazonensis and L. infantum, as well as on the interaction of these parasites with host cells. Promastigotes were treated with several concentrations of the fractions obtained from A. chica for determination of their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, the effect of the most active fraction (B2) on parasite's ultrastructure was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the inhibitory activity of B2 fraction on Leishmania peptidases, parasites lysates were treated with the inhibitory and subinhibitory concentrations of the B2 fraction. The minimum inhibitory concentration of B2 fraction was 37.2 and 18.6 µg/mL for L. amazonensis and L. infantum, respectively. Important ultrastructural alterations as mitochondrial swelling with loss of matrix content and the presence of vesicles inside this organelle were observed in treated parasites. Moreover, B2 fraction was able to completely inhibit the peptidase activity of promastigotes at pH 5.5. The results presented here further support the use of A. chica as an interesting source of antileishmanial agents.


Assuntos
Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Leishmania/efeitos dos fármacos , Leishmania/enzimologia , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/patologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Inibidores de Proteases/farmacologia , Animais , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Leishmania/citologia , Leishmania/ultraestrutura , Estágios do Ciclo de Vida/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/parasitologia , Camundongos , Mitocôndrias/ultraestrutura , Óxido Nítrico/biossíntese , Testes de Sensibilidade Parasitária
6.
Planta Med ; 80(7): 550-6, 2014 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24841967

RESUMO

The leaves and bark of Croton cajucara, a shrub from the Amazon region, have been used in folk medicine to treat diabetes, malaria, and gastrointestinal and liver disorders. The essential oil from the leaves, rich in linalool, presented antileishmanial and antimicrobial activities. A chemotype of this species was found with an essential oil rich in 7-hydroxycalamenene. During our studies of the C. cajucara essential oil, we isolated 7-hydroxycalamenene at > 98 % purity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of 7-hydroxycalamenene against Absidia cylindrospora, Cunninghamella elegans, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor circinelloides f. circinelloides, Mucor mucedo, Mucor plumbeus, Mucor ramosissimus, Rhizopus microsporus, Rhizopus oryzae, and Syncephalastrum racemosum ranged from 19.53 to 2500 µg/mL. The reference drug used, amphotericin B, presented a minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 0.085 µg/mL to 43.87 µg/mL. 7-Hydroxycalamenene also altered spore differentiation and total lipid content. Ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy showed significant alterations in the cellular structure of R. oryzae.


Assuntos
Croton/química , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Óleos de Plantas/farmacologia , Rhizopus/efeitos dos fármacos , Sesquiterpenos/farmacologia , Zigomicose/tratamento farmacológico , Monoterpenos Acíclicos , Anfotericina B/farmacologia , Medicina Tradicional , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Monoterpenos/química , Monoterpenos/isolamento & purificação , Monoterpenos/farmacologia , Micélio/efeitos dos fármacos , Óleos Voláteis/química , Óleos Voláteis/isolamento & purificação , Casca de Planta/química , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Folhas de Planta/química , Óleos de Plantas/química , Óleos de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Rhizopus/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Rhizopus/ultraestrutura , Sesquiterpenos/química , Sesquiterpenos/isolamento & purificação
7.
BMC Complement Altern Med ; 13: 249, 2013 Oct 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24088644

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis is the most serious form of leishmaniasis and can be lethal if left untreated. Currently available treatments for these parasitic diseases are frequently associated to severe side effects. The leaves of Croton cajucara are used as an infusion in popular medicine to combat several diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that the linalool-rich essential oil from C. cajucara (white sacaca) is extremely efficient against the tegumentary specie Leishmania amazonensis. In this study, we investigated the effects of the 7-hydroxycalamenene-rich essential oil from the leaves of C. cajucara (red sacaca) against Leishmania chagasi, as well as on the interaction of these parasites with host cells. METHODS: Promastigotes were treated with different concentrations of the essential oil for determination of its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, the effects of the essential oil on parasite ultrastructure were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate its efficacy against infected cells, mouse peritoneal macrophages infected with L. chagasi promastigotes were treated with the inhibitory and sub-inhibitory concentrations of the essential oil. RESULTS: The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the essential oil and its purified component 7-hydroxycalamenene against L. chagasi were 250 and 15.6 µg/mL, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed important nuclear and kinetoplastic alterations in L. chagasi promastigotes. Pre-treatment of macrophages and parasites with the essential oil reduced parasite/macrophage interaction by 52.8%, while it increased the production of nitric oxide by L. chagasi-infected macrophages by 80%. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the 7-hydroxycalamenene-rich essential oil from C. cajucara is a promising source of leishmanicidal compounds.


Assuntos
Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Croton/química , Leishmania/efeitos dos fármacos , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Sesquiterpenos/farmacologia , Animais , Antiprotozoários/química , Células Cultivadas , Feminino , Estágios do Ciclo de Vida/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos Peritoneais/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos Peritoneais/metabolismo , Camundongos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Óleos Voláteis/química , Peptídeo Hidrolases/análise , Peptídeo Hidrolases/metabolismo , Extratos Vegetais/química , Sesquiterpenos/química
8.
Nat Prod Commun ; 8(1): 69-74, 2013 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23472463

RESUMO

The defensive secretion of the frontal gland from termite soldiers is a mixture of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, the latter being the most representative. Analyses of the dichloromethane extract from soldiers of the Brazilian termite, Nasutitermes macrocephalus (Silvestri, 1903) (Isoptera, Nasutitermitinae), described for the first time, allowed to identify the presence of two monoterpenes (alpha-pinene and limonene) and two sesquiterpenes (beta-trans-caryophyllene and gamma-selinene) [corrected] by GC-EIMS, and the isolation of one rippertane and six trinervitane diterpenes by RP-HPLC. The chemical structures of the purified compounds were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, EIMS, HRESIMS, and specific optical rotation) and the complete unequivocal assignment of the 3a-hydroxy-trinervita-1(15),8(19)-dien-2-one (6) was included in this paper, to complement the lack of information in the literature. Antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines activities were evaluated. In particular, the compounds 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxytrinervita-l(15),8(19)-diene (2) and 3alpha-hydroxy-15-rippertene (7) exhibited the better activities against the clinically isolated Gram-positive bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus BMB 9393, both with a MIC value of 31.2 microg mL(-1). This is the first description of a rippertane diterpene (7) as an antibacterial agent.


Assuntos
Anti-Infecciosos/isolamento & purificação , Isópteros/química , Terpenos/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Anti-Infecciosos/química , Monoterpenos Bicíclicos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Cicloexenos/isolamento & purificação , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Humanos , Limoneno , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente à Meticilina , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Monoterpenos/isolamento & purificação , Sesquiterpenos Policíclicos , Sesquiterpenos/isolamento & purificação , Terpenos/química
9.
J Ethnopharmacol ; 135(2): 406-13, 2011 May 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21420477

RESUMO

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The species Lippia gracilis Schauer, known in Brazil as "Alecrim-da-chapada", is popularly used in folk medicine to treat cough, bronchitis, nasal congestion, and headache. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lippia gracilis essential oil (EO; 10, 30, and 100mg/kg, p.o.) and the reference drugs morphine (5mg/kg, p.o.) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; 200mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated using models for analgesia (acetic acid-induced contortion, formalin-induced licking, and hot plate) or inflammation (formalin-induced licking response and subcutaneous air pouch model). To elucidate the antinociceptive mechanism of action, animals were pre-treated with naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist; 1mg/kg, i.p.), atropine (cholinergic antagonist; 1mg/kg, i.p.) or l-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 3mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to oral administration of EO. RESULTS: EO significantly inhibited the number of writhings in acetic acid-induced contortions and the time that the animal spent licking the formalin-injected paw (second phase). All doses of EO increased the baseline and the area under the curve in the hot plate model. The administration of naloxone did not reverse the antinociceptive effect of EO in the acetic acid-induced contortion and formalin-induced licking models. L-NAME and atropine significantly reversed the effect of EO in the models of contortion, formalin, and hot plate. EO also inhibited the inflammatory process induced by subcutaneous carrageenan injection, reducing cell migration, exudate volume, extravased protein, and inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) produced in the pouch. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the essential oil from Lippia gracilis produces an antinociceptive effect that could be potentially mediated by cholinergic receptors and the nitric oxide pathway. Our data also suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity caused by EO exposure occurs through inhibition of nitric oxide and PGE2 production.


Assuntos
Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Lippia/química , Óleos Voláteis/uso terapêutico , Animais , Feminino , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C
10.
J Ethnopharmacol ; 134(3): 725-32, 2011 Apr 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21277967

RESUMO

AIM OF THE STUDY: Hyptis pectinata Poit (Lamiaceae) is grown in the northeastern regions of Brazil and is popularly known as "sambacaitá" or "canudinho". It is extensively used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, bacterial infections, pain, and cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hyptis pectinata essential oil (EO, 10, 30, and 100mg/kg, p.o.) and the reference drugs morphine (5mg/kg, p.o.) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 200mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated using models for analgesia (acetic acid-induced contortions and hot plate) or inflammation (formalin-induced licking response and the subcutaneous air-pouch model). To elucidate the EO's mechanism of action, animals were pre-treated with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (1mg/kg, i.p.), the cholinergic antagonist atropine (1mg/kg, i.p.), or l-nitro arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 3mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min prior to the oral administration of the EO. RESULTS: The EO significantly inhibited the number of writhings and the time the animals spent licking their formalin-injected paws (second phase). The EO, at doses of 30 and 100mg/kg, increased baseline measurements and area under the curve measurements in the hot plate model, respectively. The administration of naloxone reversed the antinociceptive effect of the EO in the hot plate model. l-NAME significantly reversed the effects of the EO in the contortions and hot plate models. Atropine completely reversed the antinociceptive activity of the EO in all models. Additionally, the EO inhibited the inflammatory process induced by subcutaneous carrageenan injection by reducing cell migration, exudate volume, protein concentration, and inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, IL-6, and TNF-α) produced in the pouch. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the Hyptis pectinata essential oil exhibits antinociceptive effects, likely mediated by opioid and cholinergic receptors, and anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of nitric oxide and PGE2 production.


Assuntos
Analgésicos/farmacologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Hyptis/química , Óleos Voláteis/farmacologia , Animais , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Óxido Nítrico/biossíntese , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismo
11.
FEMS Microbiol Lett ; 317(1): 34-42, 2011 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21241359

RESUMO

Candida parapsilosis is considered to be an emerging fungal pathogen because it is associated with an increasing range of infections. In this work, we biochemically characterized ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity on the surface of living, intact C. parapsilosis cells. At a pH of 4.5, intact cells were able to hydrolyze 5'-AMP at a rate of 52.44 ± 7.01 nmol Pi h(-1) 10(-7) cells. 5'-AMP, 5'-IMP and 5'-UMP were hydrolyzed at similar rates, whereas 5'-GMP and 5'-CMP hydrolyzed at lower rates. Enzyme activity was increased by about 42% with addition of Mg(2+) or Ca(2+), and the optimum pH was in the acidic range. An inhibitor of phosphatase activities, sodium orthovanadate, showed no effect on AMP hydrolysis; however, as expected, ammonium molybdate, a classical nucleotidase inhibitor, inhibited the activity in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicated that the existence of an ecto-5'-nucleotidase could play a role in the control of extracellular nucleotide concentrations.


Assuntos
5'-Nucleotidase/metabolismo , Adenosina/metabolismo , Candida/enzimologia , Candida/metabolismo , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Monofosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Cálcio/metabolismo , Cátions Bivalentes/metabolismo , Monofosfato de Citidina/metabolismo , Ativadores de Enzimas/metabolismo , Guanosina Monofosfato/metabolismo , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Inosina Monofosfato/metabolismo , Cinética , Magnésio/metabolismo , Uridina Monofosfato/metabolismo
12.
FEMS Yeast Res ; 10(6): 735-46, 2010 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20584084

RESUMO

In this work, we describe the ability of intact cells of Candida parapsilosis to hydrolyze extracellular ATP. ATP hydrolysis was stimulated by MgCl(2) in a dose-dependent manner. The ecto-ATPase activity was increased in the presence of 5 mM MgCl(2), with values of V(max) and apparent K(m) for Mg-ATP(2-) increasing to 33.80 +/- 1.2 nmol Pi h(-1) 10(-8) cells and 0.6 +/- 0.06 mM, respectively. Inhibitors of phosphatases, mitochondrial Mg(2+)-ATPases and Na(+)-ATPases had no effect on the C. parapsilosis Mg(2+)-stimulated ATPase activity, but extracellular impermeant compounds, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'disulfonic acid and suramin, reduced enzyme activity in yeast living cells by 83.1% and 81.9%, respectively. ARL 67156 (6-N,N'-diethyl-d-beta-gamma-dibromomethylene ATP), a nucleotide analogue, also inhibited the ecto-ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. ATP was the best substrate for the yeast Mg(2+)-stimulated ecto-enzyme, but ADP, ITP, CTP, GTP and UTP were also hydrolyzed. A direct relationship between ecto-ATPase activity and adhesion to host cells was observed. In these assays, inhibition of enzyme activity resulted in decreased levels of yeast adhesion to epithelial cells. Based also on the differential expression of ecto-ATPase activities in the different isolates of C. parapsilosis, the possible role of this enzyme in fungal biology is discussed.


Assuntos
Adenosina/metabolismo , Antígenos CD/metabolismo , Apirase/metabolismo , Candida/enzimologia , Candida/patogenicidade , Fatores de Virulência/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Animais , Antígenos CD/química , Apirase/química , Adesão Celular , Coenzimas/metabolismo , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Inibidores Enzimáticos/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais , Humanos , Cinética , Cloreto de Magnésio/metabolismo , Especificidade por Substrato , Virulência
13.
Rev. bras. farmacogn ; 19(3): 697-701, jul.-set. 2009. ilus, tab
Artigo em Inglês | LILACS | ID: lil-537912

RESUMO

Leaf oil prepared by hydrodistillation of Alpinia zerumbet Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. was analyzed by GC/FID and GC/MS to determine the major compounds and it was also evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The oil presented a high content of oxygenated monoterpenes (52.5 percent), terpinen-4-ol, 1,8 cineole and γ-terpinene as the major constituents. The antimicrobial activity of leaf oil was tested by drop diffusion and bioauthography methods. Through drop test, all bacteria and fungi tested were inhibited by leaf oil. Preparative TLC (thin-layer chromatography) plates were developed using the mobile phase hexane: ethyl acetate (70:20, v/v) and fractions of the leaf oil were separated in three zones, scraped, extracted from silica and identified by GC/MS. The bioauthography method permitted to verify pronounced inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans by fractions F2 and F3, both rich in oxygenated monoterpenes. The fraction F2 comprised 1,8 cineole (9.6 percent), linalool (3.7 percent) and caryophyllene oxide (5.4 percent), while fraction F3 showed mainly terpinen-4-ol (43.6 percent) and an amount of 32.7 percent oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The obtained data may be used to suggest the constituents of A. zerumbet leaf oil involved in antimicrobial activity.


O óleo essencial de folhas de Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm., extraído por hidrodestilação, foi analisado por CG/DIC e CG/EM a fim de se determinar sua composição e atividade antimicrobiana. O óleo apresentou um elevado teor de monoterpenos oxigenados (52,5 por cento): terpinen-4-ol, 1,8-cineol e γ-terpineno como principais constituintes. A atividade antimicrobiana do óleo foi analisada pelos testes de difusão em agar e ensaios de bioautografia. Através do teste de difusão em agar, todas as bactérias e fungos testados foram inibidos pelo óleo essencial. Placas preparativas de CCD (cromatografia em camada fina) foram eluídas em hexano: acetato de etila (70:20, v/v), e o óleo foi separado em três frações que foram raspadas, extraídas da sílica e identificadas por CG/EM. A análise bioautográfica permitiu detectar pronunciada inibição de Cryptococcus neoformans pelas frações F2 e F3, ambas ricas em monoterpenos oxigenados. A fração F2 apresentou 1,8 cineol (9,6 por cento), linalol (3,7 por cento) e óxido de cariofileno (5,4 por cento), enquanto a fração F3 mostrou principalmente terpinen-4-ol (43,6 por cento) e cerca de 32,7 por cento de sesquiterpenos oxigenados. Os dados obtidos indicam os componentes do óleo de A. zerumbet envolvidos na atividade antimicrobiana.

14.
Rev. bras. farmacogn ; 16(1): 73-76, jan.-mar. 2006. tab
Artigo em Português | LILACS | ID: lil-570960

RESUMO

A espécie Calceolaria chelidonioides (Scrophulariaceae), até então inédita nas citações científicas, foi estudada sob o ponto de vista farmacológico buscando-se identificar possíveis atividades antimicrobiana e antioxidante em metodologia in vitro. As partes aéreas dessa espécie demonstraram atividade antioxidante em modelo usando o radical livre DPPH. As flores de C. chelidonioides mostraram grande potencial antibacteriano frente à bactéria Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina MRSA, um dos principais responsáveis em casos de infecção hospitalar.


The species Calceolaria chelidonioides (Scrophulariaceae), not scientific described so for, was studied in pharmacological aspects aiming to identify some anti-microbial and antioxidant activity. The aerial parts showed antioxidant activity using in vitro DPPH model. The flowers from C. chelidonioides showed strong antibacterial potential against meticiline resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains the main responsible for hospital infection complications.

15.
Microsc Res Tech ; 68(6): 377-84, 2005 Dec 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16358282

RESUMO

Fonsecaea pedrosoi produces melanin, a pigment related to virulence in pathogenic fungi. To understand the involvement of melanin in the protection of fungi, the authors used tricyclazole to inhibit the melanin pathway in F. pedrosoi. Experiments of pigmentation suggested that F. pedrosoi uniquely produces dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin. Pigments produced on cultures modified or not with tricyclazole were extracted by an alkali-acid method and submitted to infrared and ion exchange chromatography analysis; also cytochemistry analysis for cationized ferritin of whole cells was carried out. This group of experiments showed that the tricyclazole treatment on F. pedrosoi produced a melanin-like pigment, but less negatively charged and with less affinity for iron ions than that without the tricyclazole treatment, and this in turn lead to a less negatively charge cell wall surface. Scanning electron microscopy of such pigments showed that the melanin from control cultures maintained their hyphae-like structures, which have been described as "melanin-ghosts," whereas the tricyclazole pigment showed an amorphous surface. Interaction of conidia from cultures of F. pedrosoi, modified by tricyclazole or not, with peritoneal activated macrophages suggested that tricyclazole causes higher association of fungus with macrophages, weakens the fungus capacity to destroy the macrophages, and diminishes the resistance to dry fracture procedures on samples prepared for high resolution scanning electron microscopy.


Assuntos
Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/microbiologia , Melaninas/antagonistas & inibidores , Fungos Mitospóricos/efeitos dos fármacos , Tiazóis/farmacologia , Animais , Macrófagos/ultraestrutura , Melaninas/biossíntese , Melaninas/fisiologia , Camundongos , Microscopia Eletrônica , Fungos Mitospóricos/metabolismo
16.
Res Microbiol ; 155(3): 136-43, 2004 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15059625

RESUMO

The available therapy for leishmaniasis, which affects 2 million people per annum, still causes serious side effects. The polyphenolic-rich extract from the husk fiber of Cocos nucifera Linn. (Palmae) presents antibacterial and antiviral activities, also inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation, as shown by our group in previous works. In the present study, the in vitro leishmanicidal effects of C. nucifera on Leishmania amazonensis were evaluated. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the polyphenolic-rich extract from C. nucifera to completely abrogate parasite growth was 10 microg/ml. Pretreatment of peritoneal mouse macrophages with 10 microg/ml of C. nucifera polyphenolic-rich extract reduced approximately 44% the association index between these macrophages and L. amazonensis promastigotes, with a concomitant increase of 182% in nitric oxide production by the infected macrophage in comparison to nontreated macrophages. These results provide new perspectives on drug development against leishmaniasis, since the extract of C. nucifera at 10 microg/ml is a strikingly potent leishmanicidal substance which inhibited the growth of both promastigote and amastigote developmental stages of L. amazonensis after 60 min, presenting no in vivo allergenic reactions or in vitro cytotoxic effects in mammalian systems.


Assuntos
Cocos/química , Leishmania/efeitos dos fármacos , Leishmaniose/tratamento farmacológico , Fitoterapia/métodos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Animais , Feminino , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Leishmania/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Macrófagos Peritoneais/metabolismo , Macrófagos Peritoneais/parasitologia , Camundongos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Óxido Nítrico/biossíntese , Fenóis/farmacologia , Polifenóis , Coelhos
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