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Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Croton campestris A. St.-Hill., popularly known as “velame do campo”, is a species native from savannah area of Northeast Brazil, which is used by traditional communities in folk medicine for a variety of health problems, especially detoxification, inflammation and gastritis. The present study investigates the possible gastric antiulcer activity of Croton campestris root extract (CCRE) and mechanisms of action underlying this effect. Materials and methods: Gastric lesions were induced in mice by ethanol, acidified ethanol and indomethacin. CCRE was previously administered orally in doses ranging from 50 to 750mg/kg. Stomach lesions were measured. The involvement of Nitric Oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGEs), ATP-dependent K+ channel and adrenergic receptor was investigated through specific inhibitors. Results: CCRE produced significant antiulcer activity against absolute ethanol, acidified ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric lesions. The pretreatment with L-NAME (10mg/kg, p.o.), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis and indomethacin (10mg/kg, s.c.), an inhibitor of prostaglandin production, reversed the antiulcer action of CCRE. Conclusion: Taking together, these results suggest that the antiulcer activity of CCRE is dependent of NO and prostaglandin pathways possibly due to its ability to stimulate the synthesis of NO, and activation of endogenous prostaglandin production. Therefore, the use of CCRE in traditional Brazilian medicine against gastric disorders has a scientific basis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There is a growing interest of industry to replace synthetic chemicals by natural products with bioactive properties from plant origin. The aim of the present study was the phytochemical characterization and in vitro antioxidant of Lantana camara L. e Lantana montevidensis Briq. The bicyclogermacrene (19.42%), isocaryophyllene (16.70%), valencene (12.94%) and germacrene D (12.34%) were the main constituents of the oil from L. camara, while in the oil from L. montevidensis were β-caryophyllene (31.50%), germacrene D (27.50%) and bicyclogermacrene (13.93%). Phenolic compounds were identified; flavonoids (quercetin and rutin) and phenolic acids (gallic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids) were quantified by HPLC-DAD. Free radical scavenger properties of essential oils and ethanolic extracts were assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Essential oils and extracts promoted an inhibition of the radical DPPH. The extracts of the leaves exhibit lowest IC50 values, indicating the highest potential as free radical scavengers. Our research indicates that those plants good potential in scavenging free radicals and can be an important source of antioxidant phytochemical. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) is used in the folk medicine as topical antiseptic in skin and mucous membranes and its therapeutic effect is attributed to the thymol presence. The objective of this work was to verify the chemical composition and antibiotic modifying activity of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of L. sidoides and its major component thymol. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/MS. The synergistic activity was evaluated using gaseous contact method. The essential oil was obtained (yield of 1.06%) and the GC/MS analysis identified the main constituents: thymol (84.9%) and p-cymene (5.33%). The antibiotic modifying activity was verified using the minimal inhibitory dose method and gaseous contact. It verified the interference of essential oil and thymol against all tested aminoglycosides. There were no statistical differences between the activity of the essential oil and thymol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indicating this to be the responsible composition for such activity. However, the oil was shown more effective when compared to the thymol against Staphylococcus aureus. The essential oil of L. sidoides and its major component thymol influence the activity of aminoglycosides and may be used as adjuvant in antibiotic therapy against respiratory tract bacterial pathogens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered a public health problem. Nowadays, chemotherapy is the only available treatment for this disease, and the drugs currently used, nifurtimox and benzonidazole, present high toxicity levels. Alternatives for replacing these drugs are natural extracts from Eugenia jambolana, a plant used in traditional medicine because of its antimicrobial and biological activities. An ethanol extract from E. jambolana was prepared. To research in vitro anti-epimastigote activity, T. cruzi CL-B5 clone was used. Epimastigotes were inoculated at a concentration of 1×105/mL in 200 μL of tryptose-liver infusion. For the cytotoxicity assay J774 macrophages were used. To examine antifungal activity, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei were used. This is the first record of trypanocide activity for E. jambolana. The effective concentration capable of killing 50% of the parasites was 56.42 μg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration was ≤1,024 μg/mL. Metronidazole showed a potentiation of its antifungal effect when combined with the ethanol extract of E. jambolana. Thus our results indicate that E. jambolana could be a source of plant-derived natural products with anti-epimastigote and antifungal modifying activity with moderate toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. fruit pulp fixed oil (CCFO) has been widely employed by communities from Brazil Northeastern in the treatment of skin inflammation, respiratory affections, wound healing and muscle pain. In this study, we evaluated the topical effect of CCFO against different irritant agents in vivo, in order to verify its antiedematous effect as well to unravel its tentative mechanisms of action. Materials and methods: CCFO was obtained from Caryocar coriaceum fruits using ethyl acetate as solvent. Ear edema provoked by the application of Croton oil (single and multiple applications), arachidonic acid (AA), capsaicin, phenol and histamine to Swiss mice was used to evaluate the topical anti-inflammatory effect of CCFO. Histological analysis from mice ears sensitized with Croton oil and AA single application was also performed. Results: Crude CCFO (20μL/ear) demonstrated significant topical antiedematous effect against Croton oil single (inhibition of 32.0%; P <0.05) and multiple (41.4% after 9 days, P <0.001) applications, AA (inhibition of 49.7%; P <0.01) and phenol (inhibition of 38.8%; P <0.001). In contrast, CCFO did not antagonize the edema caused by topical treatment with capsaicin and histamine when compared to control group (P >0.05). Histological analysis also revealed that CCFO was able to reduce the edema and the influx of inflammatory cells in mice ears sensitized with Croton oil and AA. Conclusions: CCFO exhibited a similar profile of topical anti-inflammatory activity to that of drugs that classically modulate the production of arachidonic acid metabolites. The study also indicates the potential application of CCFO as an important herbal medicine to be used against skin inflammatory diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Candidiasis is the most frequent infection by opportunistic fungi, frequently caused by Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei. Mentha arvensis L. is a herbaceous plant that occurs throughout South America and is used as a tea and in the folk medicine. Turnera ulmifolia L. is already known to be of medicinal value. Ethanol extracts from M. arvensis and T. ulmifolia were assayed for antifungal activity against strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. No clinically relevant antifungal activity was demonstrated by the extracts; however, a potentiation effect was observed when the extracts were applied with metronidazole against C. tropicalis. M. arvensis and T. ulmifolia could represent a source of natural products with modifying antifungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]