Chemical composition of the volatile oil of Croton glandulosus Linnaeus and its allelopathic activity.

Several essential oils have allelochemicals with phytotoxic effects. Croton species are producers of secondary metabolites with biological potential. In the present study, chemical composition of the essential oil extracted from aerial parts of Croton glandulosus Linnaeus was evaluated by gas chromatography and the phytotoxicity of the oil on Lactuca sativa seeds was evaluated for the first time. The yield of the essential oil was 0.12% (v/w). Chromatographic analysis allowed the identification of 97.49% of the total compounds present in the oil. Sesquiterpenes were found to be the predominant constituents of the volatile oil, with ß-caryophyllene (53.24%) being the major compound. Treatment with 0.1%-1% (v/v) of the essential oil inhibited the development of the hypocotyl and radicle of L. sativa to a greater extent compared to the inhibition of seed germination, demonstrating the phytotoxic effect of the oil.

The wound healing effect of aqueous extract from Piper amalago L. in diabetic patient.

Diabetes patients present a complex healing process due to several factors directly linked to their pathology. The use of medicinal plants that aid in tissue repair can bring great benefits to such individuals. This case report describes how the topical application of the aqueous extract produced from the leaves of Piper amalago L. was used to aid the healing of a lacerated wound in the left thumb of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aqueous extract of the leaves of Piper amalago L. was prepared in boiling water. During the boiling process the dried leaves were submerged in the boiling water and left for five min. The injured thumb was submerged in the solution and the leaves were placed on the injury. The action of the aqueous extract obtained from the leaves of P. amalago was shown to be promising in the healing of a wound in a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The topical application of the aqueous extract produced from the leaves of P. amalago assisted in the healing of a lacerated wound in the left thumb of a patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus over a period of 15 days.

Avaliação da atividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana do extrato etanólico bruto e frações orgânicas obtidas a partir da casca do caule da espécie Guettarda uruguensis Cham, & Scthdl, (Rubiaceae) / Assessment of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the crude ethanolic extract and organic fractions obtained from the stem bark of the specie Guettarda uruguensis Cham. & Scthdl. (Rubiaceae)

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial antioxidante e antimicrobiano do extrato bruto e frações obtidas das cascas do caule da espécie Guettarda uruguensis, Os ensaios antioxidantes indicaram alto potencial antioxidante, No ensaio de redução de fosfomolibdênio, a fração acetato de etila apresentou atividade antioxidante de 41,67% em relação ao padrão de ácido ascórbico e superou em 35,21% a atividade do padrão rutina, No ensaio de redução do DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), a fração acetato de etila apresentou um IC50 de 10,91 µg mL-1, valor próximo ao do ácido ascórbico (IC50 = 4,78 µg mL-1) e da rutina (IC50 = 6,62 µg mL-1), Pelo ensaio de TBA (acido tiobabitúrico) o extrato bruto (IA = 71,48%) e a fração hexano (IA = 47,85%) apresentaram índices superiores ao controle de BHT (butil hidroxi tolueno) (IA = 42,66), Através do ensaio de microdiluição em placas, foi observado que o extrato bruto e frações apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana, O estudo fitoquímico qualitativo revelou a presença de alcaloides, cumarinas, esteroides e/ou triterpenos, heterosídeos saponínicos, taninos e aminogrupos...

This main purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of the crude extract and fractions obtained from the stem bark of the plant species. The antioxidant assays indicated high antioxidant capacity. In the reduction assay of the phosphomolybdenum, the ethyl acetate fraction showed antioxidant activity of 41.67% compared to standard ascorbic acid and exceeded in 35.21% the activity of the standard rutin. In the reduction assay of the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), the ethyl acetate fraction showed an IC50 of 10.91 µg mL-1, equivalent to the ascorbic acid (IC50 = 4.78 µg mL-1) and rutin (IC50 = 6.62 µg mL-1). By the TBA (thiobarbituric acid) assay the crude extract (IA = 71.48%) and hexane fraction (IA = 47.85%) had an index higher than the control of BHT (butyl hydroxy toluene) (IA = 42.675). Through of assay of microdilution on plates was verified that the crude extract and fractions showed antimicrobial activity. The qualitative phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, steroids and/or triterpenoids, saponin glycosides, tannins and amino groups...

Production and characterization of alginate-starch-chitosan microparticles containing stigmasterol through the external ionic gelation technique

Stigmasterol - a plant sterol with several pharmacological activities - is susceptible to oxidation when exposed to air, a process enhanced by heat and humidity. In this context, microencapsulation is a way of preventing oxidation, allowing stigmasterol to be incorporated into various pharmaceutical forms while increasing its absorption. Microparticles were obtained using a blend of polymers of sodium alginate, starch and chitosan as the coating material through a one-stage process using the external gelation technique. Resultant microparticles were spherical, averaging 1.4 mm in size. Encapsulation efficiency was 90.42% and method yield 94.87%. The amount of stigmasterol in the oil recovered from microparticles was 9.97 mg/g. This technique proved feasible for the microencapsulation of stigmasterol.

O estigmasterol, um fitoesterol com diversas atividades farmacológicas, é suscetível à oxidação quando exposto ao ar, calor e umidade. Neste contexto, a microencapsulação é uma forma de proteção contra oxidação, permitindo a incorporação do estigmasterol em diversas formas farmacêuticas e aumentar sua absorção. As micropartículas foram obtidas por gelificação iônica externa, em uma etapa, utilizando como revestimento polímeros naturais de alginato de sódio, amido de milho e quitosana. As micropartículas apresentaram formato esférico com tamanho aproximado de 1,4 mm. O rendimento foi de 94,87% e a eficiência média de encapsulação de 90,42%. A quantidade de estigmasterol no óleo recuperado das micropartículas foi de 9,97 mg/g. O método mostrou-se viável para a microencapsulação do estigmasterol.