Antioxidant effects of the essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum on bovine epididymal spermatozoa.

Focusing on its application in reproductive biotechnology, we evaluated the effects of the essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum (EOSA) on bovine epididymal sperm quality variables, including morphology, membrane functional integrity, membrane structural integrity, mitochondrial activity, metabolic activity, motility and oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Bovine spermatozoa from eight males were incubated into the following groups: EOSA0 (without EOSA), EOSA10 (10 µg/ml of EOSA), EOSA15 (15 µg/ml of EOSA) and EOSA20 (20 µg/ml of EOSA); the incubation time with and without the EOSA was 1 or 6 hr. None of the sperm quality variables presented difference among the EOSA concentrations. However, the incubation time had a significant effect on the membrane functional integrity, membrane structural integrity, mitochondrial activity, progressive motility and some kinetic parameters. The effect of interaction among EOSA and incubation time was significant only on ROS levels. Spermatozoa incubated in the presence of 15 µg/ml of the EOSA for 1 hr had significantly reduced ROS levels compared with all other groups in the same time. In conclusion, the EOSA at a concentration of 15 µg/ml has antioxidant effects and protects bovine epididymal spermatozoa; hence, the EOSA may potentially be used in the field of reproductive biotechnology.

Syzygium aromaticum essential oil supplementation during in vitro bovine oocyte maturation improves parthenogenetic embryonic development.

The use of natural antioxidants in culture media can be an alternative to minimize the negative effects of oxidative stress produced by culture conditions. Essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum (EOSA) has therapeutic properties, including antioxidant activity in different cell types, and could be an interesting antioxidant agent during in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the antioxidant effect of the EOSA on bovine IVM, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and subsequent preimplantation embryonic development. Then, viable oocytes were matured in vitro under five sets of conditions: EOSA0 (without antioxidants), EOSA10 (10 µg/mL of EOSA), EOSA15 (15 µg/mL of EOSA), EOSA20 (20 µg/mL of EOSA), and CYS (100 µM of cysteamine). These oocytes were used in three experiments. In the first experiment, oocytes were evaluated for IVM according to the expansion and viability of cumulus cells, the presence of the first polar body, and metaphase II. In the second experiment, denuded oocytes were evaluated for an antioxidant effect by labeling them with H2DCFDA (ROS levels) and MitoTracker Red (ΔΨm). In the third experiment, denuded matured oocytes were artificially activated and embryos were cultured for eight days. In the first experiment, no difference was observed in the IVM rates (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, EOSA15, EOSA20, and CYS improved the viability of cumulus cells after IVM, with EOSA20 viability higher than that of EOSA0 (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, although no difference has been observed for ROS levels (P > 0.05), oocytes derived from the EOSA15, EOSA20, and CYS groups showed significantly lower ΔΨm compared to the EOSA0 group. In the third experiment, although no difference in cleavage rates was observed, EOSA20 improved the blastocyst/total oocyte and blastocyst/cleavage oocyte rates when compared to EOSA0 (P < 0.05). Moreover, the rates of the EOSA20 group were similar to that of the CYS group (P > 0.05). Additionally, embryos derived from EOSA15 and EOSA20 showed a higher number of cells when compared to those derived from EOSA0 (P < 0.05). Therefore, EOSA, at 20 µg/mL, increased the viability of cumulus cells, promoted a reduction of in ΔΨm, and improved embryonic development in bovine oocytes. In conclusion, EOSA, added to the IVM medium, could be an interesting alternative for the reduction of damage caused by the oxidative stress in bovine oocytes.

Topical anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antioxidant effects of the essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham. leaves.

Lippia sidoides in Northeastern Brazil is widely used in the social medicine program named "Live Pharmacies" run by the municipal governments of country towns, to help poor people with phytotherapy, performed with local plants that are inexpensive but very effective. This plant is mainly used as a general antiseptic due to its strong action against many microorganisms. In order to evaluate the action spectrum of this plant, pharmacological studies were performed on acute toxicity, topical inflammation and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice, using the leaf essential oil (EO) of Lippia sidoides. The topical application of EO at doses of 1 and 10mg/ear, respectively, significantly reduced (P<0.05) in 45.93 and 35.26% the acute ear edema induced by 12-otetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). The gastroprotective effect was demonstrated by oral pretreatment with EO at doses of 10, 50 and 100mg/kg, which, respectively, significantly inhibited (P<0.05) by 58.33, 45.83 and 41.66% the damage produced by ethanol, but altered neither the weight nor the protein gastric mucus induced by ethanol administration. This study confirmed the great potential of this plant for medicinal proposals.

Seasonal effect in essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of Plectranthus amboinicus leaves / Efeito sazonal na composição e atividade antioxidante do óleo essencial de malvarisco (Plectranthus amboinicus)

In view of the increasing search for natural products with biological activities, such as essential oils are of high quality because of their therapeutic and economic importance and represent the second class of natural compounds with the largest number of active constituents and production through Plants minimizes the environment and sanitary impacts . The objective of the present work is to assess the seasonal effect on the composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil in leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng using hydro and steam distillation techniques. With regarding to the extraction methodology of essential oils from the P. amboinicus, the hydrodistillation technique is the most efficient in obtaining the volatile product with the best features for the determination of antioxidant activity. The analyses of the essential oil indicated a similarity in their composition, being observed the Carvacrol as major compound in almost all analysis, except in January 2015 using steam distillation extraction. Regarding antioxidant activity and seasonality, it was verified that in October 2014 obtained the best value of inhibitory concentration, with IC50 = 124.97 ppm. However, it was possible to obtain the essential oil from the P. amboinicus leaves through hydro and steam distillation methodologies, but also noted the seasonality influence on it's the context of antioxidant capacity.

Tendo em vista a crescente busca de produtos naturais com atividades biológicas, os óleos essenciais apresentam alta qualidade devido à sua importância terapêutica e econômica e representam a segunda classe de compostos naturais com o maior número de constituintes ativos com produção através das plantas, o que minimiza os impactos ao meio ambiente. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito sazonal na composição e na atividade antioxidante do óleo essencial presente nas folhas da Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng utilizando as técnicas de hidrodestilação e arraste a vapor d'água. No que se refere à metodologia de extração dos óleos essenciais do malvarisco, constatou-se que a técnica de hidrodestilação é a mais eficiente na obtenção do produto volátil com as melhores características para a determinação da atividade antioxidante. Quanto à sazonalidade, verificou-se que no mês de Outubro/2014 obteve-se o melhor valor da concentração inibitória com CI50=124,97 ppm. Este trabalho mostra que é a obtenção do óleo essencial das folhas do malvarisco, utilizando as metodologias de hidrodestilação e arraste a vapor de água, como também, constatar a influência da sazonalidade na determinação da capacidade antioxidante do mesmo.

Chemical composition, toxicity and larvicidal and antifungal activities of Persea americana (avocado) seed extracts.

The present study had the aim of testing the hexane and methanol extracts of avocado seeds, in order to determine their toxicity towards Artemia salina, evaluate their larvicidal activity towards Aedes aegypti and investigate their in vitro antifungal potential against strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis through the microdilution technique. In toxicity tests on Artemia salina, the hexane and methanol extracts from avocado seeds showed LC50 values of 2.37 and 24.13 mg mL-1 respectively. Against Aedes aegypti larvae, the LC50 results obtained were 16.7 mg mL-1 for hexane extract and 8.87 mg mL-1 for methanol extract from avocado seeds. The extracts tested were also active against all the yeast strains tested in vitro, with differing results such that the minimum inhibitory concentration of the hexane extract ranged from 0.625 to 1.25mg L-(1), from 0.312 to 0.625 mg mL-1 and from 0.031 to 0.625 mg mL-1, for the strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration for the methanol extract ranged from 0.125 to 0.625 mg mL-1, from 0.08 to 0.156 mg mL-1 and from 0.312 to 0.625 mg mL-1, for the strains of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively.

Chemical composition, toxicity and larvicidal and antifungal activities of Persea americana (avocado) seed extracts / Composição química, toxicidade, atividade larvicida e antifúngica de extratos de semente de Persea americana (abacate)

The present study had the aim of testing the hexane and methanol extracts of avocado seeds, in order to determine their toxicity towards Artemia salina, evaluate their larvicidal activity towards Aedes aegypti and investigate their in vitro antifungal potential against strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis through the microdilution technique. In toxicity tests on Artemia salina, the hexane and methanol extracts from avocado seeds showed LC50 values of 2.37 and 24.13mg mL-1 respectively. Against Aedes aegypti larvae, the LC50 results obtained were 16.7mg mL-1 for hexane extract and 8.87mg mL-1 for methanol extract from avocado seeds. The extracts tested were also active against all the yeast strains tested in vitro, with differing results such that the minimum inhibitory concentration of the hexane extract ranged from 0.625 to 1.25mg L-¹, from 0.312 to 0.625mg mL-1 and from 0.031 to 0.625mg mL-1, for the strains of Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration for the methanol extract ranged from 0.125 to 0.625mg mL-1, from 0.08 to 0.156mg mL-1 and from 0.312 to 0.625mg mL-1, for the strains of Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans and Malassezia pachydermatis, respectively.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo testar os extratos hexânico e metanólico das sementes do abacate, a fim de determinar sua toxicidade em Artemia salina, avaliar a atividade larvicida frente ao Aedes aegypti, bem como verificar o potencial antifúngico in vitro contra cepas de Candida spp, Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, através da técnica de microdiluição. Os extratos hexânico e metanólico das sementes de abacate apresentaram no teste de toxicidade frente à Artemia salina, valores de LC50 2,37 e 24,13mg L-1, respectivamente; contra as larvas do Aedes aegypti os resultados obtidos foram LC50 16,7mg L-1 para o extrato hexânico e 8,87mg L-1 para o extrato metanólico das sementes do abacate. Os extratos testados também foram ativos contra todas as cepas de leveduras, testadas in vitro, apresentando diferentes resultados, onde o MIC do extrato hexânico variou de 0,625 a 1,25mg mL-1, de 0,312 a 0,625mg mL-1 e de 0,031 a 0,625mg mL-1 para as cepas de Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, respectivamente. O intervalo de MIC para o extrato metanólico foi de 0,125 a 0,625mg mL-1, 0,08 a 0,156mg mL-1 e de 0,312 a 0,625mg mL-1, para as exemplares de Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans e Malassezia pachydermatis, respectivamente.