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.

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.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antiprotozoal activity of Eugenia gracillima Kiaersk. leaves essential oil.

This work evaluated the volatile composition, antioxidant and antiprotozoal activities of the essential oil obtained from leaves of Eugenia gracillima Kiaersk. (EGEO) grown in Brazilian Northeast area (Araripe, Brazil). The volatile compounds of EGEO were analyzed by GC and GC-MS and its chemical composition is mainly composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (91.22%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (7.45%) and monoterpene (1.01%). The most abundant volatile constituents of the EGEO were germacrene D (16.10%), γ-muurolene (15.60%), bicyclogermacrene (8.53%), germacrene B (7.43%), and Δ-elemene (6.06%). The oil showed weak to moderate antioxidant activity. EGEO was highly selective to Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum promastigotes with selective indexes of 73.66 and 71.41, respectively. EGEO did not inhibit Trypanosoma cruzi. These data suggest that the E. gracillima essential oil is a relevant source of lead compounds for development of anti-Leishmania drugs.

Atividade moduladora de extratos etanólico das folhas de Clusia nemorosa G. Mey. (Clusiaceae) sobre drogas antimicrobianas / Actividad moduladora de extractos de las hojas de Clusia nemorosa G. Mey (clusiaceae) sobre drogas antimicrobianas / Modulatory activity of ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Clusia nemorosa G. Mey (Clusiaceae) on antimicrobial drugs

Introduction: the fast development of drug resistance and the slowdown of the development of new active drugs, drew attention to the treatment with the drug combination. Objective: to analyze the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract of Cluisa nemorosa (Clusiaceae) against multiresistant strains and standards as well as the modulating action with aminoglycoside amikacin, gentamicin and neomycin. Methods: the plant material (leaves) was collected in Araripe, crushed and put into ethanol 96 % as solvent. Distillation of the solvent was then performed in a rotary evaporator to produce the gross ethanol extrato. A microdilution assay was conducted to verify antibacterial activity and the possible interactions of aminoglycosides associated with the study samples. A sub-inhibitory concentration of 128 µg/mL (Minimum Inhibitory concentration/8) was used. Results: the activity of the extract against the strains isolated patterns had an Minimum Inhibitory concentration > 1024 mg/mL, the action of antibiotics was modulated synergistically by the extract against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusions: the synergism of the ethanol extract was verified by microdilution method. Therefore, it is suggested that the extract of Clusia nemorosa be used as a source of natural products for antimicrobial therapy and to combat bacterial multidrug resistance(AU)

Introducción: el rápido desarrollo de resistencia de las drogas y la relentización en el desarrollo de nuevas drogas activas llaman la atención al tratamiento de combinación de drogas. Objetivos: analizar la actividad antimicrobiana del extracto etanólico de Clusia nemorosa (Clusiaceae) frente a cepas multirresistentes y normas, así como la acción modulante con aminoglucósido amikacina, gentamicina y la neomicina. Métodos: el material vegetal (hojas), colectado en el Araripe, fue triturado y sumergido en etanol 96 percent como solvente. De inmediato, fue sometido a destilación del solvente en un evaporador rotativo para la producción de lo extrato etanólico bruto. Se llevó a cabo un ensayo de microdilución para verificar la actividad antibacteriana y las posibles interacciones de aminoglucósidos asociados con las muestras estudiadas, se utilizó una concentración sub-inhibitoria de 128 µg/mL (Concentración mínima inhibitoria/8). Resultados: la actividad del extracto frente a las cepas aisladas patrones tenía una Concentración mínima inhibitoria> 1024mg/mL; la acción de los antibióticos fue modulada por el extracto de forma sinérgica contra multirresistente Gram-positivo Staphylococcus aureus y bacterias Gram-negativas Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa. El sinergismo del extracto de etanol se verificó mediante el método de microdilución. Conclusiones: el extracto de las hojas de C. nemorosa actuaron como un agente modulador. Se sugiere que el extracto de C. nemorosa puede ser utilizado como una fuente de productos naturales en la terapia antimicrobiana y en el combate de la resistencia a múltiples fármacos bacterianos(AU)

Introdução: o rápido desenvolvimento de resistência às drogas e a desaceleração no desenvolvimento de novas drogas ativas, chamaram a atenção para o tratamento com combinação de drogas. Objetivos: analisar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato etanólico de Clusia nemorosa (Clusiaceae) frente a cepas padrões e multirresistentes bem como a ação moduladora com aminoglicosídeos amicacina, neomicina e gentamicina. Métodos: o material vegetal (folhas), coletado na Chapada do Araripe, foi triturado e submerso em solvente etanol 96 por cento e submetido à destilação do solvente no aparelho evaporador rotativo para a produção do extrato etanólico bruto. Um ensaio de microdiluição foi realizado para verificar a atividade antibacteriana e as possíveis interações dos aminoglicosídeos associados às amostras estudadas, utilizando uma concentração sub-inibitória de 128 µg/mL (concentração inibitória mínima/8). Resultados: a ação do extrato isolado frente às cepas padrões teve uma concentração inibitória mínima > 1024 µg/mL, a ação dos antibióticos foi modulada sinergicamente pelo extrato contra as bactérias multirresistentes Gram-positiva Staphylococcus aureus e Gram-negativas Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusões: o extrato das folhas de C. nemorosa atuou como um agente modulador da atividade antimicrobiana. É sugerido que o extrato de Clusia nemorosa pode ser utilizado como uma fonte de produtos naturais na terapêutica antimicrobiana e no combate a multirresistência bacteriana(AU)