Antiparasitic Activity and Essential Oil Chemical Analysis of the Piper Tuberculatum Jacq Fruit.

With the increase of neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, there was a need for the search for new therapeutic alternatives that reduce the harm caused by medicine available for treatment. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the antiparasitic activity of the essential oil from the fruits of Piper tuberculatum Jacq, against lines of Leishmania braziliensis (MHOM/CO/88/UA301), Leishmania infantum (MHOM/ES/92/BCN83) and Trypanosoma cruzi (LC-B5 clone). Before running protocols, an analysis of the chemical composition of essential oil was conducted, which presented monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. As major constituents, ß-pinene and α-pinene were identified. Regarding to antiparasitic activity, the essential oil had an EC50 values of 133.97 µg/mL and 143.59 µg/mL against variations promastigotes of L. infantum and L. braziliensis, respectively. As for trypanocidal activity, the oil showed EC50 value of 140.31 µg/mL against epimastigote form of T. cruzi. Moreover, it showed moderate cytotoxicity in fibroblasts with LC50 value of 204.71 µg/mL. The observed effect may be related to the presence of terpenes contained in the essential oil, since it has its antiparasitic activity proven in the literature.

Antiulcerogenic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Annona muricata Linnaeus in mice.

Annona muricata Linnaeus, popularly known as "graviola" and also called soursop, is a species typical of countries with a tropical climate, and it is used in folk medicine as an anticancer, analgesic and antispasmodic agent. The aim of the present study was to validate the gastroprotective activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of A. muricata (HEAM) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of action for this effect. Gastric lesions were induced in mice by absolute ethanol, acidified ethanol or indomethacin. Before, the animals were pretreated with saline, omeprazole or HEAM orally at doses of 50-400 mg/kg. To determine the mechanism of action of the extract, we investigated, using specific inhibitors, the involvement of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGEs), ATP-dependent K+ channels and α2-noradrenergic receptors. HEAM showed significant antiulcer activity against lesions induced by absolute ethanol, acidified ethanol or indomethacin, which was mediated by endogenous gastric prostaglandins.

HPLC profile and antiedematogenic activity of Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) in mice models of skin inflammation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-edematogenic activity of X. americana L. (HEXA) hydroethanolic extract in ear edema models (acute and chronic) induced by croton oil and by different phlogistic agents (arachidonic acid, capsaicin, phenol and histamine), identifying the possible anti-edematogenic mechanism. HEXA demonstrated a significant anti-edematogenic effect at concentrations of 100-500 µg/ear in ear edema induced by croton oil with higher inhibition of edema of 39.37. However, the concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/ear were taken as a standard, demonstrating the effect in the chronic model induced by croton oil with inhibition of 61.62% and 48.74%. In the AA-induced ear edema model, HEXA showed inhibition of: 24.45% and 32.31%; capsaicin inhibition of 72.72% and 47.57%; phenol inhibition of 34% and 20.1%; and histamine inhibition of 31.8% and 21.62%. Then, the results were showed that HEXA demonstrated an anti-edematogenic effect in acute and chronic inflammation models, demonstrating a probable mechanism of action by the inhibition or modulation of key mediators of the inflammatory process. The chemical profile and presence of flavonoids guaranteeing a profile of activity similar to natural drugs that act or modulate the production of mediators of inflammations.

Atividade moduladora sobre antibióticos pelo extrato aquoso das folhas de Bauhinia ungulata L / Actividad modulador acerca de antibióticos por el extracto acuoso de las hojas de Bauhinia ungulata l / Modulatory activity about antibiotics by aqueous extract of the leaves of Bauhinia ungulata l

Introdução: cepas de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa são caracterizadas como importantes causadores de infeções bacterianas e destacam-se como um preocupante problema de saúde pública. A atividade antibacteriana de várias plantas tem sido estudada com a finalidade de diminuir a resistência microbiana existente com relação aos fármacos já industrializados. O gênero Bauhinia compreende cerca de 300 espécies que são conhecidas no Brasil como pata-de-vaca. A espécie Bauhinia ungulata Lin é bastante utilizada no controle glicêmico, mas, também, apresenta outras atividades, dentre elas é relatado uma ação antibacteriana. Objetivo: verificar o potencial modulador da espécie B. ungulata em associação a outros medicamentos já testados contra cepas de S. aureus, E. coli e P. aeruginosa. Métodos: as folhas da B. ungulata Lin foram coletadas no distrito de Arajara, Chapada do Araripe, estado do Ceará, Brasil. Foi utilizado o extrato aquoso das folhas de Bauhinia ungulata em associação aos antibióticos Amicacina, Gentamicina, Imipenem e Ciprofloxacino, esperando que o extrato agisse com antagonismo ou sinergismo frente ao efeito dos antibióticos. Resultados: o extrato das folhas de B. ungulata Lin apresentou relevante atividade sinérgica sobre os antibióticos utilizados (amicacina, gentamicina, imipenem e ciprofloxacino). Conclusão: portanto, o extrato em associação com os fármacos potencializou o efeito destes, revelando uma atividade antibacteriana significante(AU)

Introducción: las cepas de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa son causa importante de infecciones bacterianas y se destacan como un problema de salud pública. La actividad antibacteriana de varias plantas se ha estudiado con el fin de reducir la resistencia microbiana existente con respecto a los medicamentos ya industrializados. El género Bauhinia comprende alrededor de 300 especies que se les conoce en Brasil como pata-de-vaca. La especie Bauhinia ungulata Lin es ampliamente utilizada en control de la glucemia, pero también ofrece otras actividades, entre ellas es divulgado una acción antibacteriana. Objetivo: verificar el potencial modulador de las especies B. ungulata en asociación con otros fármacos probados contra cepas de S. aureus, E. coli y P. aeruginosa. Métodos: las hojas de B. ungulata Lin fueron recolectados en el distrito de Arajara, Chapada do Araripe, estado de Ceará, Brasil. Se utilizó el extracto acuoso de hojas de B. ungulata en asociación con antibióticos amikacina, gentamicina imipinem y ciprofloxacina, con la esperanza de que el extracto actúa con antagonismo o sinergismo, delantero de los efectos de los antibióticos. Resultados: el extracto de las hojas de B. ungulata Lin presenta relevante actividad sinérgica de los antibióticos utilizados (amikacina, gentamicina, ciprofloxacina y imipinem). Conclusión: el extracto en asociación con las drogas aumentó el efecto de estos, revelando una significativa actividad antibacteriana(AU)

Introduction: strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa are characterized as important causes of bacterial infections and stand out as a worrying public health problem. The antibacterial activity of several plants has been studied for the purpose of reducing the existing microbial resistance with respect to drugs already industrialized. The genus Bauhinia it comprises about 300 species they are known in Brazil as pata-de-vaca. The specie Bauhinia ungulata Lin is widely used in glycemic control, but also features other activities, among them is reported an antibacterial action. Objective: to verify the potential modulator of the species B. ungulata in association with other drugs tested against strains of S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Methods: The leaves of B. ungulata Lin were collected in the District of Arajara, Chapada do Araripe, Ceará state, Brazil. We used the water extract of leaves of B. ungulata in association with antibiotics amikacin, gentamicin, imipinem and ciprofloxacin, hoping that the extract acted with antagonism or synergism, front of the effects of antibiotics. Results: the extract of the leaves of B. ungulata Lin presented relevant synergistic activity about the antibiotics used (amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and imipinem). Conclusion: therefore, the extract in association with the drugs increased the effect of these, revealing a significant antibacterial activity(AU)

Attenuation of visceral nociception by α-bisabolol in mice: investigation of mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: We previously described the visceral antinociceptive property of α-bisabolol (BISA) in mouse models of visceral nociception induced by cyclophosphamide and mustard oil (MO). This study examined the effect of BISA in mouse models of visceral nociception induced by acetic acid, capsaicin, formalin, and the contribution of the nitric oxide system, α2, KATP, 5-HT3 and TRPV1 receptors to the effect of BISA on MO-evoked nociceptive behaviors. Mice were pretreated orally with BISA (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) or vehicle, and the pain-related behavioral responses to intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid or intracolonic injection of MO were analyzed. RESULTS: BISA significantly suppressed the nociceptive behaviors in a dose-unrelated manner. The antinociceptive effect of BISA (50 mg/kg) was show to be glibenclamide resistant, but it was not blocked by pretreatment with the other antagonists tested. In the open-field test that detects sedative or motor abnormality, mice received 50 mg/kg BISA did not show any per se influence in ambulation frequency. CONCLUSIONS: However, their precise antinociceptive mechanisms of action have not been determined.