Avaliação da Atividade Antibacteriana do Gengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) e do Maracujá Amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims) / Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and Yellow Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims)

Nas últimas décadas, inúmeros estudos têm sido realizados para conferir às plantas seu real valor na terapia. São muitos os fatores que vem colaborando com o desenvolvimento desta prática de saúde, principalmente econômicos e sociais. A aplicação do conhecimento tradicional, ou popular, acerca do uso curativo de vegetais no desenvolvimento de fitoterápicos mostra-se como uma estratégia bastante consequente e consistente. Neste contexto, torna-se imprescindível a avaliação das atividades biológicas destas plantas, com destaque para àquelas amplamente utilizadas pela população. Assim, o presente estudo avaliou a atividade antibacteriana de tinturas e pós de folhas de Passiflora edulis Sims (maracujá amarelo) e raízes de Zingiber officinale Roscoe (gengibre), além de infusos e decoctos, respectivamente, obtidos comercialmente, a fim de se avaliar o que é normalmente consumido pela população. Para tanto, as metodologias utilizadas foram as técnicas de difusão em ágar e microdiluição frente aos micro-organismos Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 19659), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella sp (ATCC 19196) e Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). Os resultados demonstraram que o gengibre possui efeito antibacteriano principalmente sob as bactérias Gram- positivas, enquanto o maracujá amarelo não demonstrou atividade em nenhum dos testes e concentrações testadas. Deste modo, os resultados obtidos no presente estudo contribuem para o screening da atividade antibacteriana, na busca por novos medicamentos.(AU)

In recent decades, numerous studies have been directed to give the plant its real value in therapy. There are many factors that have been collaborating with the development of this health practice, particularly economic and social rights. The application of traditional knowledge, or popular, about the curative use of plants in the development of herbal medicine shows up as a very consequent and consistent strategy. In this context, it is essential to the evaluation of the biological activities of these plants, especially those widely used by the population. So, the present study evaluated the antibacterial activity of tinctures and powders of leaves of Passiflora edulis Sims (yellow passion fruit) and roots of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger), as well as infusions and decoctions, respectively, obtained commercially, in order to evaluate which is normally consumed by the population. Therefore, the methodologies used were the agar diffusion and microdilution techniques against the micro-organisms Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 19659), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella sp (ATCC 19196) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The results showed that ginger has antibacterial effect, mainly on Gram-positive bacteria, while the passion fruit did not show activity in any tests and concentrations. Thereby, the results obtained in this study contribute to the screening of antibacterial activity in the search for new antimicrobial agents.(AU)

Diversity and potential application of endophytic bacteria in ginger.

Here, 248 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated to assess the distribution and population diversity of endophytic bacteria in ginger plants. A total of 10.4 x 10(4) to 20.2 x 10(4) CFU/g fresh weight endophytic bacteria of different growth stages were isolated. Maximum bacterium numbers were obtained at the seedling stage. A total of 107 functional strains were screened, including 17 antibacterial strains and 90 indole acetic acid-producing strains. Based on 16S rDNA sequence restriction fragment length polymorphism and 16S rDNA sequences, these 107 strains were mapped and grouped into 16 genera. Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the dominant genera; however, the bacteria belonged to a tremendous range of genera, with the highest species richness being observed at the seedling stage. Sixteen strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against Pythium myriotylum Drechsler, while 7 strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against Phyllosticta zingiberi Hori. Bacillus was the dominant antibacterial strain. Pseudomonas fluorescens, B. megaterium, and Enterobacter ludwigii produced remarkably high levels of IAA. Only a few endophytic bacterial strains were inhibited in fresh ginger juice. Most of these strains were present during seedling stage, including Roseateles depolymerans, Chryseobacterium taiwanense, E. ludwigii, Agrobacterium larrymoorei, P. fluorescens, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. This study indicates that the community of endophytic bacteria in ginger changes with the synthesis of antibacterial substances.

6-Shogaol reduced chronic inflammatory response in the knees of rats treated with complete Freund's adjuvant.

BACKGROUND: 6-Shogaol is one of the major compounds in the ginger rhizome that may contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties. Confirmation of this contribution was sought in this study in Sprague- Dawley rats (200-250 g) treated with a single injection (0.5 ml of 1 mg/ml) of a commercial preparation of complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) to induce monoarthritis in the right knee over a period of 28 days. During this development of arthritis, each rat received a daily oral dose of either peanut oil (0.2 ml-control) or 6-shogaol (6.2 mg/Kg in 0.2 ml peanut oil). RESULTS: Within 2 days of CFA injection, the control group produced maximum edematous swelling of the knee that was sustained up to the end of the investigation period. But, in the 6-shogaol treated group, significantly lower magnitudes of unsustained swelling of the knees (from 5.1 +/- 0.2 mm to 1.0 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.002, n = 6) were produced during the investigation period. Unsustained swelling of the knees (from 3.2 +/- 0.6 mm to 0.8 +/- 1.1 mm, p < 0.00008, n = 6) was also produced after 3 days of treatment with indomethacin (2 mg/Kg/day) as a standard anti-inflammatory drug, but during the first 2 days of drug treatment swelling of the knees was significantly larger (11.6 +/- 2.0 mm, p < 0.0002, n = 6) than either the controls or the 6-shogaol treated group of rats. This exaggerated effect in the early stage of indomethacin treatment was inhibited by montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist. Also, 6-shogaol and indomethacin were most effective in reducing swelling of the knees on day 28 when the controls still had maximum swelling. The effect of 6-shogaol compared to the controls was associated with significantly lower concentration of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the blood and infiltration of leukocytes, including lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages, into the synovial cavity of the knee. There was also preservation of the morphological integrity of the cartilage lining the femur compared to damage to this tissue in the peanut oil treated control group of rats. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is concluded that 6-shogaol reduced the inflammatory response and protected the femoral cartilage from damage produced in a CFA monoarthritic model of the knee joint of rats.