Efficacy of Origanum essential oils for inhibition of potentially pathogenic fungi / Eficácia de Origanum óleos essenciais para a inibição de fungos potencialmente patogênicos

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of O. vulgare L. and O. majorana L. essential oil in inhibiting the growth and survival of potentially pathogenic fungal strains and also sought to evaluate the possible mechanisms involved in the establishment of the antifungal property of the tested essential oils through assays of osmotic stability and morphogenesis. Test strains included in this study were Candida albicans ATCC 7645, C. tropicalis LM-14, C. krusei LM-09, Cryptococcus neoformans FGF-5, Aspergillus flavus LM-02, A. fumigatus IPP-21, T. rubrum ATCC 28184, T. mentagrophytes LM-64, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 184, M. canis LM-36 and Cladosporium herbarium ATCC 26362. O. vulgare essential oil presented a MIC value of 80 µL/mL, while for O. majorana this was 160 µL/mL. C. krusei LM-09 was the only strain resistant to all assayed concentrations of both essential oils. O. vulgare and O. majorana essential oil at their MIC values provided a cidal effect against C. albicans ATCC 7645 after 4 h of exposure. O. vulgare essential oil at 80 µL/mL exhibited 100 percent inhibition of the radial mycelia growth of T. rubrum ATCC 28184 and M. canis LM-36 for 14 days. Assayed fungus strain protected by sorbitol (osmo-protectant agent) grew in media containing higher concentrations of O. vulgare and O. majorana essential oil in comparison to media without sorbitol, suggesting some specificity of these essential oils for targeting cell wall in the fungi cell. Main morphological changes observed under light microscopy provided by the essential oil of O. vulgare in A. flavus LM-02 were decreased conidiation, leakage of cytoplasm, loss of pigmentation and disrupted cell structure indicating fungal wall degeneration. These results suggest that essential oils from Origanum could be regarded as a potential antifungal compound for controlling the growth of pathogen fungi and the occurrence of mycoses.

O objetivo deste estudo foi observar a eficácia do óleo essencial de O. vulgare L. e O. majorana L. na inibição do crescimento e sobrevivência de cepas de fungos potencialmente patogênicas, bem como avaliar os possíveis mecanismos envolvidos no estabelecimento da propriedade antifúngica dos óleos essenciais testados através do ensaio de estabilidade osmótica e morfogênese. As cepas fúngicas utilizadas neste estudo foram Candida albicans ATCC 7645, C. tropicalis LM-14, C. krusei LM-09, Cryptococcus neoformans FGF-5, Aspergillus flavus LM-02, A. fumigatus IPP-21, T. rubrum ATCC 28184, T. mentagrophytes LM-64, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 184, M. canis LM-36 e Cladosporium herbarium ATCC 26362. O óleo essencial de O. vulgare apresentou valor de CIM de 80 µL/mL, enquanto o óleo essencial de O. majorana apresentou valor de CIM de 160 µL/mL. C. krusei LM-09 apresentou-se como a única cepa resistente a todas as concentrações ensaiadas de ambos os óleos essenciais. Os óleos essenciais testados quando ensaiadas em seu valor de CIM causaram um efeito fungicida contra C. albicans ATCC 7645 após 4 h de exposição. O óleo essencial de O. vulgare na concentração de 80 µL/mL exibiu uma total inibição do crescimento micelial radial de T. rubrum ATCC 28184 e M. canis LM-36 ao longo de 14 dias. As cepas fúngicas ensaiadas quando tratadas com sorbitol (agente osmo-protetor) foram capazes de crescer em meio adicionado de mais altas concentrações dos óleos essenciais quando comparados ao meio não adicionado de sorbitol, sugerindo especificidade destes produtos a parede celular como alvo na célula fúngica. As principais alterações causadas pelo óleo essencial de O. vulgare sobre a morfologia de A. flavus LM-02 foram diminuída conidiação, perda de citoplasma, perda de pigmentação e ruptura da estrutura celular indicando degeneração da parede celular fúngica. Estes resultados sugerem que óleos essenciais de espécies de Origanum poderiam ser considerados como potenciais antifúngicos para ...

Análise de Bulas de Medicamentos comoVeiculo Informativo e Promocional / Analysis of Medicine Package Inserts as Informative and Promotional Objects

Avaliar a adequação da forma e conteúdo da seçãode “informações ao paciente” das bulas de medicamentosantimicrobianos, freqüentemente prescritos no ambulatóriode medicina interna de um hospital universitário. Material eMétodos: Foram selecionadas 45 bulas no Serviço deFarmácia Hospitalar e através do Centro de Informaçõessobre Medicamentos (CIM) do Hospital Universitário LauroWanderley - UFPB. Por meio de um formulário, foi verificadaa presença de frases de formato padronizado e outrasinformações exigidas pela RDC nº 140, que regulamenta oconteúdo das bulas de medicamentos. Resultados: Emapenas uma das bulas analisadas foi verificada a presençade todas as frases e demais informações exigidas pelalegislação. Condutas em superdosagem e interaçõesmedicamentosas foram os itens encontrados como maisirregularidades dentre as bulas analisadas. Conclusões:Ausência de informações importantes para o usuário, sobreo medicamento nas bulas, reduz o seu valor enquanto materialeducativo para o paciente, deixando de trazer informaçõesbásicas para sua utilização...

To evaluate the adequacy of “information to thepatient” section in terms of form and content of the medicalpackage insert from antimicrobials frequently prescribed inthe clinic of internal medicine of a university hospital. Materialand Methods: 45 package inserts had been selected in theService of Hospital Pharmacy through the Information Centeron Medicines (CIM) of the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley- UFPB. By means of a form, it was verified the presence ofstandard phrases and other information required on the RDCnº 140, that regulates the content of the medicine packageinserts in Brazil. Results: In only one of the analyzed packageinserts were verified all the standard quotes as well as allthe information demanded on law. Drugs behaviors in superdosage and interactions had been itens found as moreirregular amongst the analyzed package inserts. Conclusions:Absence of important information for the user on the medicinein the package inserts reduces its value as an educativematerial for the patient, apart of bringing basic informationfor its use...

Mechanisms involved in the vasodilator effect induced by diosgenin in rat superior mesenteric artery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effect induced by diosgenin in superior mesenteric rings. In rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (10 microM), diosgenin caused concentration-dependent relaxations [EC(50) = (3.3 +/- 1.2) x 10(- 4)M, E(max) = 94.2 +/- 2.6 %]. Vascular relaxation induced by diosgenin was significantly inhibited after removal of the endothelium (E(max) = 46 +/- 8.8%, p < 0.001) or after pre-treatment of the rings with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (l-NAME) 100 or 300 microM (E(max) = 35.3 +/- 4%; 28.1 +/- 3.3%, respectively, p < 0.001), atropine 1 microM (E(max) = 24.6 +/- 3.4%, p < 0.001), hydroxocobalamin 30 microM (E(max) = 54.0 +/- 9.6%, p < 0.001), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) 10 microM (E(max) = 46.0 +/- 8.0%, p < 0.001) or indomethacin 1 microM (E(max) = 22.6 +/- 11.8%, p < 0.001). Vasorelaxation evoked by diosgenin was significantly inhibited after pre-treatment of preparations with both selective and non-selective inhibitors of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels, iberiotoxin 100 nM or tetraethylammonium (TEA) 1mM, respectively (E(max) = 62.5 +/- 9.1%; 65.7 +/- 1.1%, p < 0.001). Conversely, in endothelium-denuded vessels, none of BK(Ca) channel blockers modified the relaxant effect induced by diosgenin. In mesenteric endothelial cells loaded with FURA-2 diosgenin was able to increase intracellular calcium concentrations, which were significantly decreased by atropine 1 microM. In addition, in isolated mesenteric rings, diosgenin induced marked increase in nitric oxide (NO) levels, which was completely abolished after functional endothelium removal. The results obtained here demonstrated that diosgenin-induced relaxation appears to involve endothelial muscarinic receptor activation with increase in intracellular calcium concentrations and consequent release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs), mainly NO and cyclooxygenase derivatives, which activate BK(Ca) channels. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to clearly elucidate residual endothelium-independent relaxation induced by diosgenin.