Phytochemical characterization of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. metabolites by UPLC-QTOF and antifungal activity evaluation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and modulatory potential of the Ziziphus joazeiro bark and leaf extracts, both in isolation and in association with fluconazole, against resistant species from the Candida genus. Antifungal assays were used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the extract in isolation and in combination with fluconazole using the broth microdilution method and spectrophotometric readings, followed by verification of the minimum fungicidal concentration by solid medium subculture. According to the cell viability curve, both extracts inhibited fungal growth in a concentration dependent manner, in addition to showing inhibitory concentrations similar to fluconazole. However, the extracts behaved in a fungistatic manner with minimum inhibitory concentration > 8.19 mg/mL and IC50 values ranging from 0.450 mg/mL to 9 mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration for both extracts decreased when in combination with fluconazole, with the AEL standing out against Candida albicans URM 4387, displaying an IC50 equal to that of fluconazole (0.002 mg/mL). Nevertheless, fluconazole antagonism was observed against the tested strains. Overall, the evaluation of both extracts against Candida spp. presented inhibitory concentration values greater than fluconazole. Moreover, despite these being chemically complex crude extracts, they did demonstrate antifungal effects and properties that concur with their ethno-biological aspect.

Characterization, antibacterial activity and antibiotic modifying action of the Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. pulp and almond fixed oil.

In this study the physicochemical characterization of the pulp and almond fixed oil was carried out; their antibacterial activity and aminoglycoside antibiotic modifying action against standard and multiresistant Gram-positive and -negative bacteria were investigated using the broth microdilution assay. Physical properties such as moisture, pH, acidity, peroxide index, relative density and refractive index indicate stability and chemical quality of the oils. In the GC/MS chemical composition analysis, a high unsaturated fatty acid content and the presence of oleic and palmitic acids were observed in the oils. In the antibacterial assay, more significant results were obtained for Escherichia coli, while other standard and multi-resistant strains presented MIC values ≥ 1024 µg/mL. Furthermore, the fixed oils in association with antibiotics were able to significantly improve antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a reduction in MICs.

Antioxidative effect and phytochemical profile of natural products from the fruits of "babaçu" (Orbignia speciose) and "buriti" (Mauritia flexuosa).

Orbignya speciosa and Mauritia flexuosa are two native palm tree species found in Brazil. Their fruits are rich in edible fixed oils, which are used for many purposes in industry, such as in the manufacture of soaps, surfactants and margarines. The aim of this work was to characterize the chemical profiles and antioxidant properties of the methanol extracts obtained from the fruits of O. speciosa and M. flexuosa. The chemical prospection was carried out using specific qualitative tests to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) in the extracts of both species. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were analyzed by the following methods: production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) from phospholipids, deoxyribose degradation, radical-scavenging activity-DPPH, iron chelation assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The methanolic extracts obtained from M. flexuosa and O. speciosa presented significant antioxidant activities, although M. flexuosa presented higher antioxidant activity than O. speciosa. In conclusion, M. flexuosa and O. speciosa are important sources of antioxidant substances that may be useful in the development of new products to prevent diseases associated with oxidative stress.

HPLC and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant properties of fruit from Malpighia glabra (Malpighiaceae) at different stages of maturation.

Malpighia glabra L. is indicated for the treatment of diseases due presenting several medicinal properties. The aim of the present study was quantify phenolic compounds and carotenoids, additionally, evaluate the antioxidant potential of different methanolic fractions (mature stage, intermediate stage and green maturity stage) of Malpighia glabra. Methanolic fractions of the three stages of maturation were characterized using HPLC-DAD. The antioxidant activity of fractions was evaluated using in vitro assay systems: iron-chelating activity (Fe2+), inhibition of the radical 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and inhibition of production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In quantifying compounds by HPLC-DAD showed that the compounds rutin and quercetin showed the highest peaks in the three samples tested. Regarding carotenoids, the ß-carotene stood in the analyze. The methanolic fraction of lyophilized pulp of green fruits showed better results for iron chelation and DPPH tests; TBARS by the methanolic fraction of the ripe fruits showed lower IC50 as the basal. When in the presence of iron as an inducer of peroxidation, the methanolic fraction of the pulp of green fruits showed the lowest IC50. Our research indicates that the o fruits of M. glabra good potential in scavenging free radicals and can be an important source of antioxidant phytochemical.

Genus Lantana: chemical aspects and biological activities

Species of the genus Lantana, belonging to the family Verbenaceae, is among the various species studied scientifically. These species are mainly native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Currently, they are present in various countries, where they are often grown as ornamental plants. For decades, species of Lantana have been of great interest for phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies, which have been recently intensified. The components isolated from different species of Lantana cited in the literature constitute the focus of this review. Information ethnopharmacology of Lantana, as well as the activities of their different phytochemicals are discussed. In this review, it was observed that the genus Lantana has been widely studied in relation to its phytochemical components and terpenoids, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids are the more common secondary metabolites in Lantana. All these aspects, considered in this review, allow an evaluation of the ethnopharmacological potential of Lantana for the utilization of the large biomass of these plants.

Lantana montevidensis Briq improves the aminoglycoside activity against multiresistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVE: In this work, we report the antibacterial and modulatory activity of Lantana montevidensis Briq. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activities of leaf (LELm) and root (RELm) extracts alone or in association with aminoglycosides were determined by a microdilution test. Multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli (Ec 27) and Staphylococcus aureus (Sa 358) were used. RESULTS: The results show the inhibitory activity of LELm against E. coli (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] 16 µg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC 128 µg/mL). The synergistic effect of the extracts and aminoglycosides was verified too. The maximum effects were obtained with RELm with gentamicin against E. coli with MIC reduction (312 to 2 µL). CONCLUSION: The data from this study are indicative of the activity antibacterial of extracts of L. montevidensis and its potential in modifying the resistance of aminoglycosides.

Chemical composition and resistance-modifying effect of the essential oil of Lantana camara Linn.

In this work, the chemical constituents, antibacterial and modulatory activities of the essential oil of Lantana camara Linn were studied. The essential oil was extracted from the leaves of L. camara by hydrodistillation method using Clevenger's apparatus and its chemical constituents were separated and identified by GC-MS, and the relative content of each constituent was determined by area normalization. Among the 25 identified components, bicyclogermacrene (19.42%), isocaryophyllene (16.70%), valecene (12.94%) and germacrene D (12.34%) were the main constituents. The oil was examined to antibacterial and modulatory activities against the multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by microdilution test. The results show an inhibitory activity to E. coli (MIC 512 mug/ml) and S. aureus (MIC 256 mug/ml). The synergism of the essential oil and aminoglycosides was verified too, with significant reduction of MICs (7 x, 1250-5 mug/ml) against E. coli. It is suggested that the essential oil of Lantana camara Linn could be used as a source of plant-derived natural products with resistance-modifying activity.

Composição química e avaliação das atividades antibacteriana e de toxicidade dos óleos essenciais de Lantana camara L. e Lantana sp. / Chemical composition, evaluation of antibacterial activity and toxicity of the essential oils from Lantana camara L. and Lantana sp.

Os óleos essenciais de Lantana camara L. e Lantana sp., Verbenaceae, foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e seus componentes analisados por CG/EM. Tal procedimento analítico revelou a predominância dos sesquiterpenos, biciclogermacreno (19,42 por cento), isocariofileno (16,70 por cento), valenceno (12,94 por cento) e germacreno D (12,34 por cento) no óleo de L. camara, enquanto o biciclogermacreno (13,93 por cento), germancreno D (27,54 e β-cariofileno (31,50 por cento), por cento) destacaram-se como majoritários no óleo de Lantana sp. Os dois óleos foram submetidos a avaliação de atividades antibacteriana e de toxicidade usando as larvas de Artemia salina. Os resultados mostraram considerável atividade antibacteriana do óleo de L. camara, principalmente para Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315) e Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). O óleo de Lantana sp. mostrou-se mais significativo contra Sthaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 10390). As atividades de toxicidade CL50 revelaram resultados inferiores ao limite padrão de 1000 μg/mL.

The essential oils from Lantana camara L. and Lantana sp. Verbenaceae, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. This GC/MS analysis revealed the sesquiterpenoids bicyclogermacrene (19.42 percent), isocaryophyllene (16.70 percent), valencene (12.94 percent) and germacrene D (12.34 percent) as majoritaries in the essential oil of L. camara, and bicyclogermacrene (13.93 percent), germacrene D (27.54 and β-caryophyllene (31.50 percent) in the essential oil from Lantana sp. The two essential oils were evaluated to antibacterial activity and toxicity using Artemia salina. The results revealed considerable antibacterial activity for essential oil from L. camara, meanly for Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 13315) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The essential oil of Lantana sp. showed major activity for Sthaphylococcus aureus (ATCC 10390). The evaluation of toxicity CL50 revealed results with minor values to limit pattern of 1000 μg/mL.