RESUMO

Aquatic worms are considered a suitable group to evaluate the effects of contaminants on the environment, although one of the main challenges is to use the species of local occurrence. Recently, Pristina longiseta was suggested to be used in acute bioassays. In this context, this study aimed to establish a chronic exposure for ecotoxicological bioassays using the cosmopolitan species of occurrence in Brazilian freshwater P. longiseta. Firstly, we tested three exposure times (4, 7, and 10 days) under the presence or absence of aeration for reproduction outputs. After determining the best configuration (7 days without aeration), we assessed the effects of the chronic exposures using the standardized reference substance potassium chloride (KCl), the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX), the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and the sugarcane vinasse. Our results showed suitability for applying the chronic exposure using P. longiseta and indicated the sensitivity of the offspring to KCl (EC50-7d = 0.51 g/L). Sulfamethoxazole and TBBPA caused a significant decrease in the offspring of P. longiseta (EC50-7d = 59.9 µg/L and < 62.5 µg/L, respectively). Sugarcane vinasse showed high toxicity for the species, and 4.26% of vinasse was calculated as EC50-7d. Therefore, the described protocol was successfully applied as an ecotoxicological bioassay to evaluate the effects of environmental contaminants on the reproduction rate of the freshwater worm P. longiseta.

Assuntos

Oligoquetos , Bifenil Polibromatos , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Animais , Bifenil Polibromatos/análise , Bioensaio , Reprodução , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidade

RESUMO

The present work involves a systematic review of the chemical composition and biological effects of essential oils from the Annonaceae species collected in Brazil from 2011 to 2021. Annonaceae is one of the most important botanical families in Brazil, as some species have economic value in the market as local and international fruit. In addition, the species have useful applications in several areas-for instance, as raw materials for use in cosmetics and perfumery and as medicinal plants. In folk medicine, species such as Annona glabra L. and Xylopia sericea A. St.-Hil. are used to treat diseases such as rheumatism and malaria. The species of Annonaceae are an important source of essential oils and are rich in compounds belonging to the classes of mono and sesquiterpenes; of these compounds, α-pinene, ß-pinene, limonene, (E)-caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene, caryophyllene oxide, germacrene D, spathulenol, and ß-elemene are the most abundant. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antileishmania, antioxidant, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, larvicidal, trypanocidal, and antimalarial activities of essential oils from the Annonaceae species in Brazil have been described in previous research, with the most studies on this topic being related to their antiproliferative or cytotoxic activities. In some studies, it was observed that the biological activity reported for these essential oils was superior to that of drugs available on the market, as is the case of the essential oil of the species Guatteria punctata (Aubl.) R. A. Howard., which showed a trypanocidal effect that was 34 times stronger than that of the reference drug benznidazol.

Assuntos

Annonaceae/química , Óleos Voláteis/química , Compostos Fitoquímicos/química , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Brasil , Humanos , Óleos Voláteis/uso terapêutico , Folhas de Planta/química , Sesquiterpenos Policíclicos/química , Sesquiterpenos/química , Sesquiterpenos de Germacrano/química

RESUMO

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and its spread worldwide has become one of the biggest health problem due to the lack of knowledge about an effective chemotherapy. Based on the current reality of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this study aimed to make a review literature about potential anti-coronavirus natural compounds guided by an in silico study. In the first step, essential oils from native species found in the Brazilian herbal medicine market and Brazilian species that have already shown antiviral potential were used as source for the literature search and compounds selection. Among these compounds, 184 showed high antiviral potential against rhinovirus or picornavirus by quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis. (E)-α-atlantone; 14-hydroxy-α-muurolene; allo-aromadendrene epoxide; amorpha-4,9-dien-2-ol; aristochene; azulenol; germacrene A; guaia-6,9-diene; hedycaryol; humulene epoxide II; α-amorphene; α-cadinene; α-calacorene and α-muurolene showed by a molecular docking study the best result for four target proteins that are essential for SARS-CoV-2 lifecycle. In addition, other parameters obtained for the selected compounds indicated low toxicity and showed good probability to achieve cell permeability and be used as a drug. These results guided the second literature search which included other species in addition to native Brazilian plants. The majority presence of any of these compounds was reported for essential oils from 45 species. In view of the few studies relating essential oils and antiviral activity, this review is important for future assays against the new coronavirus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11101-021-09754-4.

RESUMO

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by the protozoan genus Leishmania. The treatment is restricted to a handful number of drugs that exhibit toxic effects, limited efficacy, and drug resistance. Additionally, developing an effective topical treatment is still an enormous unmet medical challenge. Natural oils, e.g. the oleoresin from P. emarginatus fruits (SO), contain various bioactive molecules, especially terpenoid compounds such as diterpenes and sesquiterpenes. However, its use in topical formulations can be impaired due to the natural barrier of the skin for low water solubility compounds. Nanoemulsions (NE) are drug delivery systems able to increase penetration of lipophilic compounds throughout the skin, improving their topical effect. In this context, we propose the use of SO-containing NE (SO-NE) for CL treatment. The SO-NE was produced by a low energy method and presented suitable physicochemical characteristic: average diameter and polydispersity index lower than 180 nm and 0.2, respectively. Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were given topical doses of SO or SO-NE. The topical use of a combination of SO-NE and intraperitoneal meglumine antimoniate reduced lesion size by 41 % and tissue regeneration was proven by histopathological analyses. In addition, a reduction in the parasitic load and decreased in the level of IFN-γ in the lesion may be associated, as well as a lower level of the cytokine IL-10 may be associated with a less intense inflammatory process. The present study suggests that SO-NE in combination meglumine antimoniate represents a promising alternative for the topical treatment of CL caused by L. (L.) amazonensis.

Assuntos

Fabaceae , Leishmania mexicana/efeitos dos fármacos , Leishmaniose Cutânea/tratamento farmacológico , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Pele/efeitos dos fármacos , Tripanossomicidas/farmacologia , Administração Tópica , Animais , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Composição de Medicamentos , Quimioterapia Combinada , Emulsões , Fabaceae/química , Feminino , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Leishmania mexicana/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Leishmaniose Cutânea/parasitologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/patologia , Antimoniato de Meglumina/farmacologia , Mesocricetus , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Nanopartículas , Carga Parasitária , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Pele/parasitologia , Pele/patologia , Tripanossomicidas/isolamento & purificação

RESUMO

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects people all over the world. The number of cases of leishmaniasis is increasing and the drugs used for its treatment are toxic and not always effective. The recognition of the global nature of this disease and its direct or indirect effects on health economics and actions focuses attention on the development of new therapeutic options. In Brazil, this parasitic disease is endemic in many regions. The plants used by the population against leishmaniasis can be good starting points in the search of new lead compounds for antileishmanial drugs. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to investigate the antileishmanial activity of extracts from leaves and stems of seven Brazilian plant species used by the population to treat leishmaniasis, and symptoms that might be related to Leishmania infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two extracts from seven plants belonging to five different botanical families were prepared by different methods and evaluated for their effect on the viability of promastigote forms of Leishmania infantum (MHOM/BR/1967/BH46) using the resazurin-based colorimetric assay. The extracts were considered active when they inhibited the growth of promastigotes in a percentage greater than or equal to 50% at 100 and 200 µg/mL. The active samples were further investigated to determine IC50, CC50 and SI values against promastigote forms of L. infantum. The active and non-cytotoxic extracts (SI> 10) were evaluated against amastigote forms of L. infantum. In addition, the active extracts against the amastigote forms were analyzed by TLC and HPLC, while the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum was also evaluated by GC/MS. RESULTS: Among the twenty two extracts evaluated, two were considered active against L. infantum. The EtOH extract of leaves from Dyospiros hispida (IC50 55.48 ±â€¯2.77 µg/mL and IC50 80.63 ±â€¯13.17 µg/mL, respectively) and the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum (IC50 9.70 ±â€¯2.82 µg/mL and IC50 15.88 ±â€¯1.53 µg/mL, respectively) inhibited significantly the growth of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum. Some extracts, although active in the initial screening, were considered toxic since the SI was lower than 10. In TLC and HPLC analysis the leaf extract of Dyospiros hispida showed the presence of anthraquinones, terpenes and saponins, and in the EtOAc extract of stems from Aspidosperma tomentosum alkaloids and flavonoids were detected. In addition, in the latter extract the indole alkaloids uleine and dasycarpidone could be identified by GC/MS. CONCLUSIONS: The ethnopharmacological data of Aspidosperma tomentosum and Dyospiros hispida in part support the results found in the biological models used. Extracts of Aspidosperma tomentosum and Dyospiros hispida presented promising results against L. infantum.

Assuntos

Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Leishmania infantum/efeitos dos fármacos , Magnoliopsida , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Animais , Antiprotozoários/química , Brasil , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Leishmania infantum/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Magnoliopsida/química , Camundongos , Compostos Fitoquímicos/análise , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/química

RESUMO

Japanagromyza Sasakawa, 1958 (Diptera, Agromyzidae) is poorly known from Brazil, with only three species recorded. This contribution increases the knowledge of the genus in Brazil, where two new species are described and illustrations of male and female adults and terminalia are presented. The material was collected in states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia and is deposited in the collections of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.(AU)

Assuntos

Animais , Dípteros/classificação , Dípteros/anatomia & histologia , Pesos e Medidas Corporais , Brasil

RESUMO

Japanagromyza Sasakawa, 1958 (Diptera, Agromyzidae) is poorly known from Brazil, with only three species recorded. This contribution increases the knowledge of the genus in Brazil, where two new species are described and illustrations of male and female adults and terminalia are presented. The material was collected in states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia and is deposited in the collections of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

Assuntos

Animais , Dípteros/anatomia & histologia , Dípteros/classificação , Pesos e Medidas Corporais , Brasil

RESUMO

ABSTRACT Japanagromyza Sasakawa, 1958 (Diptera, Agromyzidae) is poorly known from Brazil, with only three species recorded. This contribution increases the knowledge of the genus in Brazil, where two new species are described and illustrations of male and female adults and terminalia are presented. The material was collected in states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondônia and is deposited in the collections of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

RESUMO

Phytobia Lioy, 1864 flies occur in all continents. There are four recorded species of these flies in Brazil, but recent expeditions at unexplored areas in the country have revealed that the genus is far more diverse than previously known. Based on material collected in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondônia (as part of the SISBIOTA Diptera Project), we describe fourteen new species of Phytobia. Additionally, we redescribe P. kallima (Frost), previously recorded only from Panama, and provide a key to the 32 resulting Neotropical species. All descriptions include details and illustrations of the male and female terminalia. The speciemens are deposited in the collections of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil) and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Assuntos

Animais , Dípteros/anatomia & histologia , Dípteros/classificação , Floresta Úmida , Brasil , Demografia/classificação

RESUMO

Phytobia Lioy, 1864 flies occur in all continents. There are four recorded species of these flies in Brazil, but recent expeditions at unexplored areas in the country have revealed that the genus is far more diverse than previously known. Based on material collected in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rondônia (as part of the SISBIOTA Diptera Project), we describe fourteen new species of Phytobia. Additionally, we redescribe P. kallima (Frost), previously recorded only from Panama, and provide a key to the 32 resulting Neotropical species. All descriptions include details and illustrations of the male and female terminalia. The speciemens are deposited in the collections of Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil) and Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).(AU)

Assuntos

Animais , Dípteros/anatomia & histologia , Dípteros/classificação , Floresta Úmida , Brasil , Demografia/classificação

RESUMO

The Tabernaemontana genus belongs to the family Apocynaceae comprising about 100 species spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world including Brazil, which contains around 40 species spread all over its territory. Because of the territorial space and climate diversity, these species already identified in Brazil are the largest collection of Tabernaemontana, which are representative (about 30%) of worldwide distribution. The monoterpene indole alkaloids present as major secondary components in all parts of the plants of the genus Tabernaemontana, have attracted the attention of the scientific community for new alkaloids derivatives and bioactivities. This review covers relevant references about Tabernaemontana species found in Brazil, its geographical distribution, occurrence of monoterpene alkaloids and phytochemical activities. Additional information about the South American species activities are also reported in this review.

Assuntos

Alcaloides Indólicos/farmacologia , Monoterpenos/farmacologia , Compostos Fitoquímicos/farmacologia , Tabernaemontana/química , Brasil , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Tabernaemontana/classificação

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Schinus terebinthifolius is widely used in traditional medicine by Brazilian quilombola and indigenous communities for treatment of several diseases. Extracts from different tissues are being used to produce creams to treat cervicitis and cervicovaginitis. However, most studies are limited to the assessment of the essential oils and extracts obtained from the leaves. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate antioxidant and antibacterial activities, to assess the phytochemical profile and to quantify total phenolic compounds of various extracts prepared from S. terebinthifolius grown in the coast of Bahia, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts were obtained by hot continuous extraction (soxhlet) and by maceration. Quantification of phenolic compounds was performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant properties were assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening was performed as described by in the literature and antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) was determined by the microdilution broth assay. RESULTS: Extraction method greatly affected the metabolite profile of the extracts. Antioxidant activity varied between 21.92% and 85.76%, while total phenols ranged between 5.44 and 309.03 mg EAG/g of extract. Leaf extract obtained with soxhlet showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 15.62 µg/mL, while stem extract obtained by maceration was able to inhibit the growth of E. faecalis at 62.5 µg/mL. Stem bark extracts showed a MIC of 500 µg/mL for both extraction methods, while no inhibition was observed for fruit extracts. CONCLUSION: In general, total phenolic content, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were higher in samples obtained by soxhlet. Our results provide important clues in order to identify alternative sources of bioactive compounds that can be used to develop new drugs.

RESUMO

The family Apocynaceae includes many medicinal species, such as Aspidosperma olivaceum Müll. Arg. and A. polyneuron Müll. Arg. The first, popularly known as "peroba-branca", is a source of indole alkaloids that are recognized for their antitumor activity. The second, known as "peroba-rosa", is used by some people for treating malaria. To contribute to the knowledge about Brazilian medicinal plants and potential vegetal drugs, a morpho-anatomical analysis of the leaves and stems of these tree species was carried out. The botanical material was fixed, sectioned and stained using standard techniques. Histochemical tests were performed and the material was also analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Aspidosperma olivaceum and A. polyneuron are morphologically similar, both presenting alternate, simple, elliptic-lanceolate leaves. The leaves are hypostomatic with anomocytic stomata and have non-glandular trichomes. In the stem, there are peripheral phellogen, lignified fibers and some stone cells in the cortex and pith, as well as numerous gelatinous fibers near the phloem. Prismatic calcium oxalate crystals and laticifers are present in the leaves and stems. Unlike A. olivaceum, A. polyneuron also has cyclocytic stomata, predominantly unicellular non-glandular trichomes and a biconvex midrib with a sharper curve on the adaxial side. In addition, A. olivaceum differs because it has some idioblasts with phenolic content.

RESUMO

Based on chaetotaxy of the dorsal shield, the taxonomic status of many speciesof Ornithonyssus has been considered invalid, resulting in the synonymy of all Brazilian Ornithonyssus from small terrestrial wild mammals into one of the following four species:Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913), Ornithonyssus matogrosso (Fonseca, 1954), Ornithonyssuspereirai (Fonseca, 1935) or Ornithonyssus wernecki (Fonseca, 1935). Despite therevision of this genus in 1980, including all known species worldwide, the knowledge of Ornithonyssus in Brazil has not progressed for more than 40 years. Considering the potential importance of these haematophagous mites in transmitting rickettsial diseaseagents to animals and humans, we have revised Ornithonyssus species collected from small mammals in Brazil by means of morphological and molecular studies. Types and other material deposited in the Acari Collection of the Instituto Butantan (IBSP) were examinedin addition to recently collected specimens. Morphological and genetic analysis of the 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene revealed that small terrestrial mammals in Brazil are parasitizedby six species of Ornithonyssus mites: Ornithonyssus brasiliensis (Fonseca, 1939), O. matogrosso, O. monteiroi (Fonseca, 1941), O. pereirai, O. vitzthumi (Fonseca, 1941), and O. wernecki. An illustrated key to females of the valid Brazilian species of Ornithonyssus is included, based on optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Assuntos

Animais , /análise , /ultraestrutura , Ácaros/ultraestrutura , Análise Citogenética

RESUMO

Holocalyx balansae Micheli belongs to the Fabaceae family and is called pau-alecrim in Portuguese. In folk medicine, it is indicated to treat heart, hepatic and digestive upsets, as well as being considered anti-septic and diaphoretic. This work aimed to study the morpho-anatomy of the leaf and stem of this native medicinal species, in order to increase knowledge of the Brazilian flora and to contribute to pharmacognostic quality control. Samples of mature leaves and young stems were fixed and either sectioned free-hand or embedded in glycol-methacrylate and sectioned by microtome, then stained. Microchemical tests and scanning electron microscopy were also performed. The leaves are alternate, compound and paripinnate, and the leaflets have a lanceolate shape. Anomocytic and anisocytic stomata are found exclusively on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and the midrib, in cross-section, is flat on both sides, showing one collateral vascular bundle, encircled by a sclerenchymatic and crystalliferous sheath. The rachis and petiole present a collateral vascular bundle with a centric arrangement. The stem presents phellogen localized superficially. In the vascular cylinder, there is a sclerenchymatic sheath and continuous phloem and xylem cylinders, both traversed by narrow rays. Prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are present in the leaf and stem.