Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian Peppertree) extract used as antifungal to control Candida spp. in planktonic cultures and biofilms / Extrato de Schinus terebinthifolius (pimenta rosa) utilizado como antifúngico para controlar Candida spp. em culturas planctônicas e biofilmes

Objective: The use of medicinal plants may be an alternative method for the control of Candida spp. Responsible for human infections. This study evaluated the antifungal effect of Schinus terebinthifolius extract (Brazilian Peppertree) on C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, and C. krusei planktonic cultures and bio films. Material and Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungal concentration (MFC) of the plant extract were determined by the broth microdilution method. Biofilms formed in microplate wells were exposed to the extract for 5 min (50, 100 and 200 mg/mL) or 24 h (25, 50 and 100 mg/mL). After determination of colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's Test (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Different MIC (mg/mL) were found, such as 0.39 (C. dubliniensis), 1.56 (C. albicans), and 3.13 (C. glabrata and C. krusei). Besides, MFC (mg/mL) of 0.78 (C. dubliniensis) and 3.13 (C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei) were also observed. Regarding the biofilms, significant reductions (log10) were found after 5 min and 24 h exposure to the plant extract, compared to the control group. However, C. dubliniensis was significantly affected only in 24 h treatment. Conclusion: S. terebinthifolius extract presented a significant antifungal effect on C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, and C. Krusei both in planktonic cultures and biofilms (AU)

Objetivo: O uso de plantas medicinais pode ser um método alternativo para o controle de Candida spp. responsáveis por infecções humanas. Este estudo avaliou o efeito antifúngico do extrato de Schinus terebinthifolius (pimenta rosa) sobre culturas planctônicas e biofilmes de C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata e C. krusei. Material e Métodos: Concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) e concentração fungicida mínima (CFM) do extrato vegetal foram determinadas pelo método de micro diluição em caldo. Biofilmes formados em poços de microplacas foram expostos ao extrato por 5 min (50, 100 e 200 mg/mL) ou 24 h (25, 50 e 100 mg/mL). Após determinação de unidades formadoras de colônias por mililitro (UFC/mL), os dados foram analisados por one-way ANOVA e Teste de Tukey (P ≤ 0,05). Resultados: Foram encontradas diferentes CIM (mg/mL), como 0,39 (C. dubliniensis),1,56 (C. albicans) e 3,13 (C. glabrata e C. krusei). Além disso, CFM (mg/mL) de 0,78 (C. dubliniensis) e 3,13 (C. albicans, C. glabrata e C. krusei) também foram observadas. Em relação aos biofilmes, foram encontradas reduções significativas (log10) após 5 min e 24 h de exposição ao extrato vegetal, em comparação ao grupo controle. No entanto, C. dubliniensis foi significativamente afetada apenas no tratamento de 24 h. Conclusão: O extrato de S. terebinthifolius apresentou efeito antifúngico significativo sobre C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata e C. Krusei, tanto em culturas planctônicas quanto em biofilmes. (AU)

Thymus vulgaris L. extract has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in the absence of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the biological effects of the T. vulgaris L. extract., such as antimicrobial activity on planktonic cultures and mono- and polymicrobial biofilms, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory activity and genotoxicity. METHODS: Monomicrobial biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and polymicrobial biofilms composed by C. albicans with each bacterium were formed for 48h and exposed for 5min to the plant extract. Murine macrophages (RAW 264.7), human gingival fibroblasts (FMM-1), human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) and cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) were also exposed to the plant extract for 5min and the cell viability were analyzed by MTT, neutral red (NR) and crystal violet (CV) assays. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) produced by RAW 264.7 was quantified by ELISA, after 24h exposure to the plant extract, both in the absence and presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli. Genotoxicity of the plant extract was evaluated by micronucleus formation (MN) in 1000 cells. The results were analyzed by T-Test or ANOVA and Tukey's Test (P≤0.05). RESULTS: All biofilms showed significant reductions in CFU/mL (colony-forming units per milliliter). Cell viability was above 50% for all cell lines. Anti-inflammatory effect on the synthesis of IL-1ß and TNF-α was observed. The MN was similar or lower than the control group in all cells. CONCLUSIONS: T. vulgaris L. extract was effective against all biofilms, promoted high cell viability, anti-inflammatory effect and presented no genotoxicity.

Anticoagulant effects of phytotherapeutic drugs and their importance in surgical dental procedures / Efeitos anticoagulantes de drogas fitoterapicas e sua importância em procedimentos odontológicos cirúrgicos

ABSTRACT Phytotherapeutic drugs are plant-derived products with medicinal properties. They are used for treating or preventing several diseases. However, patients who use these substances and even health professionals are unaware of their negative effects. One of the most common negative effects of phytotherapeutic drugs reported in the literature is the inhibition of natural coagulation factors in the human body. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a brief review of the literature concerning the anticoagulant effects of phytotherapeutic drugs and their importance in surgical dental procedures. Preventive measures, clarification and monitoring of patients taking phytotherapeutic drugs are recommended before performing surgical dental procedures, in order to prevent against complications such as hemorrhage.

RESUMO Fitoterápicos são produtos derivados de plantas com propriedades medicinais. Eles são utilizados para o tratamento ou a prevenção de diversas doenças. No entanto, os pacientes que fazem uso destas substâncias, na sua grande maioria, desconhecem seus efeitos negativos. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma breve revisão de literatura sobre os efeitos anticoagulantes de fitoterápicos e sua importância diante da realização de procedimentos odontológicos cirúrgicos. Medidas de prevenção, esclarecimento e acompanhamento de pacientes que se utilizam destes medicamentos são recomendados antes da realização destes procedimentos a fim de prevenir complicações como processos hemorrágicos.

Antifungal effect of plant extracts on Candida albicans biofilm on acrylic resin / Efeito antifúngico de extratos vegetais sobre biofilme de Candida albicans em resina acrílica

Objetivo: Avaliar potencial antifúngico dos extratos de Equisetum arvense L. (cavalinha), Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (alcaçuz), Punica granatum L. (romã) e Stryphnodendron barbati-mam Mart. (barbatimão) sobre biofilme de Candida albicans em resina acrílica. Material e métodos: Cepa-padrão de C. albicans foi cultivada em ágar Sabouraud-dextrose por 24 h a 37°C. Após padronização do inóculo (106 células/mL) em espectrofotômetro, foram mantidos em caldo Brain Heart Infusion suplementado comsacarose (5%) um disco de resina acrílica estéril com 100 μL do inóculo padronizado, por 5 dias a 37 °C. As amostras dos grupos tratados (n = 10) foram expostas separadamente à concentração de 50 mg/mL de cada extrato por 5 min e ao antifúngico nistatina (48.83 UI/mL). Para o grupo não tratado (controle, n = 10) foi utilizada solução fisiológica estéril (NaCl 0,9%). Os biofilmes foram desagregados dos discos de resina acrílica por homogeneizador ultrassônico por 30 s. Após diluições decimais, foram feitas semeaduras em placas de Sabouraud-dextrose e incubação por 48 h a 37 ºC. Posteriormente, foram contadas as UFC/mL e os valores foram convertidos em log10 e realizada análise estatística (ANOVA e Tukey Test; p ≤ 0,05). Resultados: Todos os extratos naturais e a nistatina proporcionaram reduções significativas (p < 0,01) do biofilme de C. albicans em comparação ao grupo controle (NaCl 0,9%), no entanto, não houve diferença estatística entre os extratos (p = 0,1567). Conclusões: Houve formação de biofilme de C. albicans em resina acrílica e todos os extratos vegetais foram efetivos para esta levedura, atuando semelhantemente à nistatina.

Objective: Evaluating the antifungal potential of Equisetum arvense L. (horsetail), Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice), Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) and Stryphnodendron barbatimam Mart. (barbatimão) extracts, after Candida albicans biofilm formation on acrylic resin. Material and methods: C. albicans standard strain was cultured on Sabourauddextrose agar for 24 h at 37 °C. After standardized in a spectrophotometer, 100 μL of the inoculums (106 cells/mL) and a sterile acrylic resin disc were maintained in Brain Heart Infusion broth supplemented with sucrose (5%), for 5 days at 37ºC. The samples of the treated groups (n = 10) were separately exposed to a concentration of 50 mg/mL of each extract for 5 minutes or to nystatin (48.83 IU/mL). For the untreated group (control, n = 10), it was used sterile saline (0.9% NaCl). Biofilms were disaggregated from the acrylic resin discs by an ultrasonic homogenizer for 30 s. After decimal dilutions, sowings in Sabouraud-dextrose plates were made with incubation for 48 h at 37°C. Later, CFU/mL was verified and the values were converted to log10 and they had their statistical analysis done (ANOVA and Tukey Test, p ≤ 0.05). Results: It was found that all plant extracts and nystatin resulted in significant reduction of C. albicans biofilm (p < 0.01) compared to the control group (0.9% NaCl). However, all of them showed similar reductions to each other (p = 0.1567). Conclusion: There was biofilm formation of C. albicans on acrylic resin and all plant extracts were effective against this yeast, acting similarly to nystatin.