RESUMO
Medicinal plants constitute an arsenal of products with different potentials to be explored. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to assess the antimicrobial potential of the ethanolic extract from Brosimum gaudichaudii leaves and fractions against clinically important bacteria. The crude extracts and fractions from the leaves and stem bark were used against Escherichia coli, Klesbsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The crude extracts and the fractions were obtained by means of maceration in ethanol and chemically characterized. In the results of the phytochemical screening, the presence of a variety of secondary metabolites was verified, such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and coumarins. The extracts and their fractions showed inhibitory activity for all three bacteria tested. The inhibition halo varied from 8±0.00 to 14±0.00 mm fir K. pneumoniae, from 8±0.00 to 10±0.00 mm for P. aeruginosa and from 8±0.00 to 9±0.00 mm for S. aureus. Among the fractions tested, the ethyl acetate fraction from both the stem and the leaves presented the best inhibition potential. This indicates that the Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul vegetable extracts present antimicrobial potential. Such being the case, it is suggested to isolate the metabolites present in this fraction to delimit the main compounds responsible for the antimicrobial action.
As plantas medicinais constituem um arsenal de produtos com diferentes potenciais a serem explorados. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial antimicrobiano do extrato etanólico das folhas e frações de Brosimum gaudichaudii contra bactérias de importância clínica. Os extratos brutos e as frações das folhas e da casca do caule foram usados contra cepas de Escherichia coli, Klesbsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Staphylococcus aureus. Os extratos brutos e as frações foram obtidos por meio de maceração em etanol e caracterizados quimicamente. Nos resultados da triagem fitoquímica, foi verificada a presença de uma variedade de metabólitos secundários, como flavonoides, esteroides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos e cumarinas. Os extratos e suas frações apresentaram atividade inibitória para todas as três bactérias testadas. O halo de inibição variou de 8±0,00 a 14±0,00 mm para K. pneumoniae, de 8±0,00 a 10±0,00 mm para P. aeruginosa e de 8±0,00 a 9±0,00 mm para S. aureus. Entre as frações testadas, a fração de acetato de etila do caule e das folhas apresentou o melhor potencial de inibição. Isso indica que os extratos vegetais de Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul apresentam potencial antimicrobiano. Sendo assim, sugere-se o isolamento dos metabólitos presentes nessa fração para delimitar os principais compostos responsáveis pela ação antimicrobiana.
Las plantas medicinales constituyen un arsenal de productos con diferentes potenciales por explorar. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el potencial antimicrobiano del extracto etanólico de hojas de Brosimum gaudichaudii y fracciones contra bacterias clínicamente importantes. Los extractos crudos y las fracciones de las hojas y la corteza del tallo se utilizaron contra cepas de Escherichia coli, Klesbsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Staphylococcus aureus. Los extractos crudos y las fracciones se obtuvieron por maceración en etanol y se caracterizaron químicamente. Los resultados del cribado fitoquímico verificaron la presencia de diversos metabolitos secundarios, como flavonoides, esteroides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos y cumarinas. Los extractos y sus fracciones presentaron actividad inhibitoria para las tres bacterias ensayadas. El halo de inhibición varió de 8±0,00 a 14±0,00 mm para K. pneumoniae, de 8±0,00 a 10±0,00 mm para P. aeruginosa y de 8±0,00 a 9±0,00 mm para S. aureus. Entre las fracciones probadas, la fracción de acetato de etilo del tallo y las hojas mostró el mejor potencial de inhibición. Esto indica que los extractos vegetales de Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul tienen potencial antimicrobiano. Así, se sugiere el aislamiento de los metabolitos presentes en esta fracción para determinar los principales compuestos responsables de la acción antimicrobiana.
RESUMO
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins capable of contaminating food, and can cause toxic effects, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and immune system depression. The presence of fungi which produce this metabolite in ingredients that compose the animal feed increased the risk of the emergence of aflatoxicosis. The objective of this study was to report an aflatoxicosis outbreak in rheas (Rhea americana) from a farm in Teresina, PI, Brazil, fed with commercial feed. After the deaths of four animals, epidemiological data were collected and complementary examinations were performed, including necropsy, histopathology, parasitology, blood culture, in addition to the analysis of the presence of toxins in the birds' feed. The diagnosis was based on the acute clinical signs, necropsy findings, which included carcass jaundice, an oedematous, yellowish, friable liver of increased size, and histopathological findings of moderate to severe congestion in all organs. The parasitological and microbiological tests performed were negative, not indicating systemic infectious causes. The analysis of the presence of mycotoxins revealed the existence of Aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 in the commercial feed supplied, constituting a total of 66.89 µg/kg. This amount of aflatoxin exceeds the maximum level allowed by the Brazilian legislation. To our knowledge this is the first report of aflatoxicosis in rheas, and emphasizes the importance of the diagnosis, control, and prevention of mycotoxins in the quality of food provided to animals kept ex situ.
