Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of essential oils extracted from Caatinga Myrtaceae species and chemical composition of Eugenia pohliana DC.

The current trichomoniasis treatment is restrict to 5-nitroimidazole drugs and the emergence of resistant isolates points the need for new therapeutical alternatives. In this study the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of essential oils obtained from Myrtaceae occurring in Caatinga, a plant family with potential antiparasitic activity, was showed. The essential oils varied in their capacity to kill ATCC and fresh clinical T. vaginalis isolates, which was associated with heterogeneity and different patterns of endosymbiosis. Essential oils caused moderate to strong cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, but essential oil of Eugenia pohliana (EOEp) exhibited promising selectivity index towards vaginal epithelial cells. A checkerboard assay revealed a synergistic effect when EOEp and metronidazole were associated, indicating different mechanisms of action. The GC/MS analysis demonstrated the volatile composition of EOEp, with δ-cadinene as majoritary component. This molecule seems to contribute to the trichomonacidal effect and shows potential for the prospection of new antiparasitic compounds.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivities of Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze.

Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is a species widely used traditionally in the treatment of ailments, such as stomach pain, hemorrhoids, cough, verminosis, ulcer, liver disease, fever, influenza, nasal congestion, and inflammation. This review aims to provide a survey of available information on seven international electronic databases (Google Scholar, Medline, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and PubMed) about botanical aspects, traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of M. suaveolens. Mesosphaerum suaveolens is a tropical America native species, but it can be found in several parts of the world as a ruderal plant. The species is the most studied species of the genus Lamiaceae due its phytochemical aspect, especially regarding the chemical composition of its essential oil. Besides the essential oils, M. suaveolens is a source of numerous secondary compounds such as triterpenes, diterpenes, and phenolic compounds, which are related to its biological activities, such as allelopathic, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, and larvicidal activities as described in the literature.

Leishmanicidal and trypanocidal potential of the essential oil of Psidium myrsinites DC.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of pathologies caused by infectious agents or parasites, including the protozoa Leishmania sp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, which cause leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively. The complications of the treatment regimen indicate the urgent need to search for new strategies and therapeutic agents. Among these is the essential oil of Psidium myrsinites DC. The essential oil of the leaves (PMEO) was evaluated in vitro, and cytotoxic activity was analysed against promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum and epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as mammalian cells. The results showed that the PMEO had relevant activity against L. braziliensis, low cytotoxicity and a high selectivity index SI = 6.6. These results suggest that PMEO has antiparasitic potential against L. braziliensis, making this species is a possible alternative therapeutic source, given its effectiveness in the in vitro tests performed, opening the possibility of new biological studies in vivo.