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Poincianella pluviosa has already been described as capable of healing skin wounds. In an attempt to prolong contact of the drug with the wound, it was proposed in this study to evaluate wound healing using a crude extract (CE) of P. pluviosa incorporated in carboxymethylcellulose polymer films. The chromatographic profile of the semipurified fraction of P. pluviosa was evaluated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), confirming the compounds gallic acid, geraniin, and ellagic acid. The films were evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, moisture absorption capacity, and FTIR spectroscopy. For in vivo experiments, wounds were made on the back of rats and treated daily for 4, 7, 10, or 14 days with film containing CE or control film. At the end of each period, skin permeation analysis and histological analysis were made using re-epithelialisation, cell proliferation, and collagen formation. Statistical significance was determined by GraphPad Prism using t test and Mann-Whitney test. Anti-staphylococcal activity was evaluated with standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant, and coagulase negative. It was demonstrated that the presence of CE in the films increased the capacity to absorb water and decreased resistance and permeability. The CE of the film permeated the skin, reaching the dermis and was able to influence re-epithelisation, cell proliferation, and collagen formation. Satisfactory results were observed against S. aureus strains, particularly coagulase negative. Films with CE of P. pluviosa can be an alternative in the wound healing, protecting against opportunistic infections and giving comfort to the patient., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Approximately 6-7 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Only two therapeutic compounds have been found to be useful against this disease: nifurtimox and benznidazole. These drugs have been effective in the acute phase of the disease but less effective in the chronic phase; they also have many side effects. Thus, the search for new compounds with trypanocidal action is necessary. Natural products can be the source of many important substances for the development of drugs to treat this infection. The present study evaluated the biological activity of an extract and fractions of Arrabidaea chica against T. cruzi and observed morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of parasites exposed to the isolated compound pheophorbide a., Methods: The crude hydroethanolic extract of A. chica was prepared. Fractions were obtained by partition and separated by liquid chromatography., Results: We observed a progressive increase in activity against epimastigote, trypomastigote, and amastigote forms of the parasite over the course of the fractionation process. Interestingly, we isolated a compound known as a photosensitizer that is used in photodynamic therapy. This method of treatment involving a photosensitizer, activation light and molecular oxygen is of great importance due to its selectivity. Pheophorbide a had activity against the protozoan in the presence of light and caused morphological and ultrastructural changes, demonstrating its potential in photodynamic therapy., Conclusions: Based on the ability of pheophorbide a to eliminate bloodstream forms of T. cruzi, we suggest its use in blood banks for hemoprophylaxis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)