Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of Baccharis vulneraria Baker essential oil against strains of microorganisms that cause cutaneous infections.

Baccharis vulneraria Baker is used popularly for the treatment of skin infections. So, this study aimed investigate the antimicrobial activity and chemical characterization of the essential oil (EO) against microorganisms that cause cutaneous infections. The EO was analyzed by GC-MS. The antimicrobial test was performed using the serial microdilution method, and the antimicrobial activity was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton rubrum, Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum within the 32-0.0625 mg/mL concentration range. Were identified 31 EO compounds. Its major compounds are bicyclogermacrene, trans-cadin-1,4-diene, ß-caryophyllene, and germacrene A. EO showed antifungal action against T. rubrum and T. interdigitale (2 and 4 mg/mL MIC, respectively). The growth of C. albicans, at 4 mg/mL, decreased by 50% compared to control. The oil had no significant potential for other microorganisms at the selected concentrations.

Neuroprotective potential of Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand extract in an in vitro human neuroblastoma model.

Neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial debilitating disorders of the nervous system affecting approximately 30 million individuals worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have also been implicated in causing neurodegeneration. As life expectancy is increasing, neurodegenerative disorders are becoming a major social issue. None of the drugs currently available for treatment are capable of healing the patient. This means that new molecules should be explored. Plants have been used for treatment of countless medical conditions and extensive research is being carried out on species of the Myrtaceae family, widely used in traditional medicine. To date, Myrciaria plinioides D. Legrand has not been studied for its therapeutic use. To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of aqueous and ethanol extracts of this plant, we investigated the protective effects in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). High-performance liquid chromatography fingerprinting of extracts revealed the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Extracts showed antioxidant activity in the ORAC, DPPH, FRAP and GAE methods. Ethanol extract presented a strong inhibitory activity toward p38 and JNK3 MAPKs and AChE activity and also toward TNF-α release in human whole blood. None of the extracts significantly affected cell viability; the ethanol extract, however, reversed 6-OHDA-induced toxicity. Particularly the ethanol extract suggests neuroprotective effects by preventing membrane depolarization and by significantly decreasing H2O2 production and caspase-3 activity. The present results indicate that the ethanol extract protects SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage and apoptosis, as shown by the antioxidative activity of the extract as well as by the inhibition of important proteins such as caspase-3, p38 and JNK3 and the cytokine TNF-α.