Search

Species of the genus Cordia have shown biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antifungal activities. The species Cordia glabrata (MART) A.DC. Has no information concerning its phytochemical profile and possible biological activities. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate this profile in ethanolic extracts of young, adult and senescent leaves, as well as their antioxidant, photoprotective, antimicrobial, and virucidal potentials. Phytochemical analysis was performed by TLC (thin-layer chromatography) and showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and terpenes. The evaluation by UPLC-MS/MS (Ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer) evidenced the presence of caffeic (3.89 mgL-1), p-cumaric (6.13 mgL-1), and ferulic (0.58 mgL-1) acids, whilst, in GC/MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) analysis there was a greater amount of palmitic (51.17%), stearic (20.34%), linoleic (9.62%), and miristic (8.16%) fatty acids. The DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS+ (2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radicals were used to verify the potential antioxidant activity, observing a better activity for the leaf extract in the adult phenological stage: 54.63 ± 1.06 µgmL-1 (DPPH) and 44.21 ± 1.69 mM (ABTS). The potential photoprotective activity of the extracts was determined by spectrophotometry and the in vitro values of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) in young and adult leaves (5.47 and 5.41, respectively) showed values close to the minimum SPF of 6.0 required by ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). It was not observed an antimicrobial activity for Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2000 μgmL-1, however the anti-herpetic assay against the Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) showed a potent virucidal activity at the tested concentrations with CV50 value

Bacabeira (Oenocarpus bacaba MART.), a palm tree native from Amazon, has flavonoids found in its fruit peel with antioxidant activity, interesting to incorporate and stabilize in formulations in order to create drug vehicles with advantages. Thus, the aim of this work was to incorporate bacaba peel extract in microemulsions to assess its stability. All formulations contained pre-established quantities of distilled water, capric/caprylic triglycerides, Span 80® and Tween 80®, with 5 % of extract at 0.1 g mL-1 added. From the 72 tested formulations, eight produced microemulsions and were subjected to centrifugation, physicochemical characterization and stability studies, with four sustaining their physical stability. All samples showed Newtonian profile and linear viscosity. The droplets size did not exceed 325 nm of hydrodynamic diameter. Test for antioxidant activity showed satisfactory. Therefore, it was possible to develop microemulsions from peel bacaba with stability that is suitable for their use as drug vehicles.

The genus Duguetia , of the Annonaceae family, includes around 100 species that have been used in folk medicine to treat several diseases. Its phytochemical compounds have been researched for their antifungal, antioxidant, antigenotoxic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to conduct a preliminary study on the biological effects of Duguetia sp extracts by evaluating their in vitro cytotoxic effect on different cell types. To prepare the methanolic extract (ME), the leaves were macerated with 80% methanol. Part of the ME was dissolved in 10% phosphoric acid, and the acidic aqueous solution was partitioned with dichloromethane. The organic phase was evaporated to obtain an acetogenin-rich extract (ACE). The extracts were diluted in RPMI culture medium, supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum, and added to Erhlich tumor cells or mice spleen cells at different concentrations: the ACE extract at 1.35 mg mL -1 , 0.67 mg mL -1 or 0,34 mg mL -1 , and the ME extract at 1.40 mg mL -1 , 0.70 mg mL -1 or 0,35 mg mL -1 . After 24 h, cytotoxicity analysis was performed using the Trypan Blue exclusion method. The results demonstrated that the extracts are cytotoxic at all concentrations to Ehrlich tumor cells and mice spleen cells. According to the results, we concluded that the extracts of Duguetia sp had a cytotoxic effect on the studied cells in vitro. This was the first study to report the biological effect of this plant genus in this type of cells; however, further study is needed to determine the current species used and the compounds present in the extracts.

Extracts of species from the Cordia genus have been reported with potential biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic. The aim of this study was to develop microemulsions containing ethanolic extracts of C. glabrata leaves and to evaluate their stability and biological activities. The five developed microemulsions presented physicochemical stability and presented Newtonian behavior when submitted to rheological analysis. The diameter values of the globules ranged between 225.74 and 273.33 nm and the zeta potential of the formulations remained between -22.40 and -25.08. All phenolic acids of the extract, quantified by HPLC, showed consistency after being microemulsified. The EC50 values for the antioxidant activity by the DPPH scavenging method ranged between 38.13 and 45.54 µgmL-1, and between 34.46 and 39.60 mM for the ABTS+ scavenging method. The virucidal activity presented a CV50

Oenocarpus bacaba Mart. is a palm tree native from Amazon with highlighted antioxidant activities. Its fruit (bacaba) processing dismisses the peel, which has nutrients that can collaborate for its antioxidant activity and preventing diseases. Thus, this study assessed the centesimal and mineral composition, physicochemical characterization (acidity, total soluble solids, pH, and color), total phenolics (Folin-Ciocalteu method), anthocyanins and antioxidant activity by DPPH (2,2 difenil-1-picril hidrazil) method in bacaba peels. For the centesimal composition, it was found 4.87, 1.42, 29.13, 1.08 and 63.32 g 100 g-1 for water content, ashes, lipids, proteins, and total carbohydrates, respectively. For the mineral composition, it was found 582.97, 79.00, 51.79, 0.625, 37.02, 2.37 and 77.12 mg 100g-1 contents for potassium, sodium, magnesium, copper, calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, respectively. The physicochemical characterization showed pH 5.66, titratable acidity 0.306% of citric acid, total soluble solids 9,75, and coordinates L* a* e b* of 19.03, 8.07 and 9.25, respectively. Phenolic contents were 42.07 mg EAG g-1. The antioxidant potential IC50 was 1.07 mg mL-1 and anthocyanins 37.31 mg 100 g-1. Results show that bacaba peels are an alternate source of nutrients suggesting their use in food as well cosmetic industries, especially for their antioxidant activity and mineral composition. Oenocarpus bacaba MART. (bacaba) é uma palmeira nativa da Amazônia que se destaca por suas propriedades antioxidantes. O processamento de seu fruto gera a casca como produto de descarte, que possui nutrientes que podem colaborar na ação antioxidante e na prevenção de doenças. Assim, o presente trabalho avaliou a composição centesimal e mineral, caracterização físico-química (acidez, sólidos solúveis totais, pH e cor), fenóis totais (método de Folin-Ciocalteu), antocianinas e potencial antioxidante pelo método do DPPH (2,2 difenil-1-picril hidrazil) em cascas de bacaba. Para a composição centesimal verificou-se teores (%) de 4.87, 1.42, 29.13, 1.08 e 63.32 para o teor de água, cinzas, lipídeos, proteínas e carboidratos totais, respectivamente. Para a composição mineral foi encontrado teores (mg100g-1) de 582.97, 79.00, 51.79, 0.625, 37.02, 2.37 e 77.12 para potássio, sódio, magnésio, cobre, cálcio, manganês e fósforo, respectivamente. A caracterização físico-química apresentou valores de pH de 5.66, acidez titulável de 0.306% de ácido cítrico, sólido solúveis totais de 9.75 e cor nas coordenadas L* a* e b* com valores de 19.03, 8.07 e 9.25 . Para o teor de fenóis foi encontrado 42.07 mg EAG.g-1. O EC50 para a potencial antioxidante foi de 1.07 mg.mL-1 e o teor de antocianinas foi de 37.31 mg.100g-1. Os resultados mostram que as cascas de bacaba são uma fonte alternativa de nutrientes sugerindo seu aproveitamento na indústria alimentícia e cosmética, principalmente pela sua potencial atividade antioxidante e composição em minerais.

Diuretics are the most used class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension because of their therapeutic efficiency and low cost. This makes a wide variety of medicines commercially available and, linked to this factor, many companies have their batches of medicines suspended due to deviations of quality and modifications made in the formulas after their registration. Chlorthalidone, is a thiazide diuretic drug indicated for treatment of hypertension of patients with mild or moderate hypertension, and with normal cardiac and renal function. This work aimed to assess and compare the quality of medicines containing chlorthalidone commercialized in Sinop-MT. The quality control was performed as established in the fifth edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (identification, purity and dosage assays, tests referring to the pharmaceutical form of the tablets and their dissolution profile). Among five products containing 25 mg of chlortalidone, one was a reference drug product, two were generic and two were similar drugs. It was found that all products were approved, meeting all the requirements required in the quality tests, and that studies concerning the dissolution profile in batches of drug production are important to predict adequate absorption of the active principle.

Obtaining bioactive compounds depends on the extraction method, with maceration being the most well-known. This method is commonly used with ethanol as an extractor solvent and requires a long period to complete the process. Alternative methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, have been applied to optimize these processes. In this context, to evaluate the effect of extraction time, the ultrasound-assisted and the maceration extraction methods were performed on white bracts and flowers from Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (Nyctaginaceae). The antioxidant activities and fatty acid content of the different extracts were determined. The amount of phenolic compounds obtained for the maceration technique was greater, however, in the evaluation of the potential antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals scavenging, no significant difference was verified when compared to the extraction by ultrasound for 30 minutes. In the determination of fatty acids by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer it was found that the highest contents were of palmitic, linoleic, and stearic acids for both extraction methods. The 30 minutes of extraction by ultrasound proved to be the time necessary to quickly and efficiently extract the bioactive compounds from B. spectabilis. Thus, the use of ultrasound-assisted extraction, when compared to the maceration method, is an alternative for obtaining plant extracts in a short time, reducing the instability that some compounds.

The drug-resistance of malaria parasites is the main problem in the disease control. The huge Brazilian biodiversity promotes the search for new compounds, where the animal kingdom is proving to be a promising source of bioactive compounds. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic activity of the compounds obtained from the toad venoms of Brazilian Amazon. Toad venoms were collected from the secretion of Rhinella marina and Rhaebo guttatus in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The powder was extracted at room temperature, yielding 2 extracts (RG and RM) and a substance ('1') identified as a bufadienolide, named telocinobufagin. Growth inhibition, intraerythrocytic development, and parasite morphology were evaluated in culture by microscopic observations of Giemsa-stained thin blood films. Cytotoxicity was determined against HepG2 and BGM cells by MTT and neutral red assays. The 2 extracts and the pure substance ('1') tested were active against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain, demonstrating lower IC50 values. In cytotoxic tests, the 2 extracts and substance '1' showed pronounced lethal effects on chloroquine-resistant P. faciparum strain and low cytotoxic effect, highlighting toad parotoid gland secretions as a promising source of novel lead antiplasmodial compounds.

The 30th meeting of the Brazilian Society for Virology (SBV) was held, for the first time in its 30 years of existence, in Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso State, Central Western Brazil, a tropical region between the three richest biomes in the world: Amazon Florest, Cerrado and Pantanal. In recent years, the field of virology has been built in the State. The aim of this report is to support participants and virologists to receive the most up-to-date information about the meeting, which occurred from 16 to 19 October 2019. National and international speakers gave SBV the opportunity to learn about their experience on their virology fields, sharing recent scientific findings, compiling conferences, round table presentations and work presentations in oral and poster sessions. The meeting held over 300 attendants, who were also involved on oral and poster presentations, showing a great variety of recent unpublished studies on environmental, basic, animal, human, plant and invertebrate virology. In addition, SBV offered the Helio Gelli Pereira award for the best research studies in each field presented during the meeting. The 30th meeting of SBV was very productive and has also encouraged scientific partnership and collaboration among virologists worldwide.

The total phenol concentration present in Vochysia divergens Pohl. (Vochysiaceae) leaves in the Pantanal was analyzed. Work was carried out between September/2012 and June/2013 which is made up by the dry season (September/2012), the beginning of the rising water (December/2012), the high water (March/2013) followed by the receding water period (June/2013). For the purpose of the research fifteen trees were selected, five from each sample area. The phenolic content in the leaves was obtained from the samples which were dried, steeped with ethanol: water and centrifuged. The extract was used to determine the concentration of total phenols using the Folin-Ciocalteu spectrometric method. There was no difference among the sampling areas; however the values were different in relation to seasonal periods. The lowest concentration was recorded in the dry season (young leaves) increasing gradually at the beginning of the rising water, with higher levels at the end of high water and receding water season. The highest concentration of phenols occurred during the receding water period (end of the life cycle of V. divergens leaves), followed by high and rising water periods. The increase in phenol concentration is associated with the Pantanal flood cycle, and related to the phenology of the V. divergens leaves.

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a Brazil nut oil microemulsion system and determine the effect of this microemulsion on the superoxide release in human phagocytes. The microemulsion was formulated using distilled water, Brazil nut as the oily phase, Sorbitan monooleate, Polysorbate 80, and butan-1-ol. Hydrophile-lipophile balance of Brazil nut oil was determined, pseudoternary diagrams were prepared, and microemulsion diagram regions were preselected. Preliminary and accelerated stability tests, rheological characterization and dynamic light scattering were performed. The immunomodulatory effect of the microemulsion on the interactions with leukocytes was determined by superoxide release. The developed formulations were classified as oil-in-water, showed a Newtonian profile, with linear viscosity and droplet sizes of 46.9; 66.5 and 34.3 nm. When we assessed the interaction of the microemulsion of Brazil nut oil with phagocytes, we observed an increase in superoxide release. Our findings indicate that the developed formulation improved the immunomodulatory activity of the Brazil nut oil, proving to be a natural product option for future applications, in particular for infectious diseases.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit which has important pharmacological activities and has been attracting attention due to its important antioxidant activity, a significant feature in relation to cosmetics. Formulations containing different concentrations of an ethanolic extract of pomegranate (0.1, 1.0 and 5.0%) (w/w) as an antioxidant agent showed that this is an interesting alternative for the use of natural products with biological activity. The stability and rheology of semissolid systems containing an extract of this plant were evaluated. Preliminary stability studies showed greater physico-chemical stability of the formulation, and thus it was used in an accelerated stability study, as well the quantification of total phenolic compounds and the determination of antioxidant activity. It was observed that different concentrations of the extract did not significantly influence the stability. Moreover, the formulation was found to have better stability when stored at room temperature than under heated or cooled conditions. Formulations containing 0.1 and 5.0% of extract showed more stable rheological behavior, due to the absence of a solid/liquid transition in the rheogram. Tests confirmed the high phenolic content and antioxidant activity, demonstrating the potential of this plant for use in cosmetology as an antioxidant.

The Amazon region is responsible for much of Brazil’s native fruit biodiversity. In this context, stands out the cupuacu ( Theobroma grandiflorum ( Wild. Ex Spreng.) K. Schum.), a fruit tree whose fruit has a seed with high fat content and nutritional value, besides antioxidant and moisturizing activities. The present research aimed to use the cupuacu butter in the development of shampoo and emulsion formulations, evaluating their stability and the antioxidant activity of the emulsion. The butter was extracted from cupuacu pulping byproducts by the ultrasound assisted extraction method, and was used to formulate four shampoos (I, II, III and IV) and emulsions containing 3% and 5% of cupuacu butter. All formulations had their organoleptic characteristics (color, odor and appearance) and physicochemical parameters (pH determination, viscosity, conductivity and centrifugation) analyzed, as well as the evaluation of shampoo density, foam persistence and refractive index and spreadability and potencial antioxidant activity of the emulsion. The stability of the formulations was evaluated by monitoring the organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics by the preliminary and accelerated stability tests. Shampoo formulations I and II showed lower than expected viscosity during the preliminary stability test and were discarded. After accelerated stability, formulation IV had a change in its appearance while formulation III was satisfactory in the other parameters, only presenting a decrease in the viscosity values, allowing the addition of a new thickening agent. Emulsions showed values within the standards in all evaluations and were stable during stability tests. The spreadability of the butter-containing emulsions was higher than the control emulsion, implying that the addition of the butter provides ease of application. Emulsions showed low antioxidant activity as they are produced with processing byproducts, but allowing the addition of smaller amounts of synthetic antioxidants to the formulation. Thus, the use of cupuacu butter obtained from pulping byproducts has been shown to be applicable in the development of different formulations of commercial interest such as shampoos and emulsions.

Herein, we report the antimalarial activity of nine 4-methoxychalcone derivatives 1a–i and an initial analysis of their ADMET properties. All compounds showed potent activity against the P. falciparum chloroquine-resistant clone W2, with IC50 values ranging from 1.96 µM to 10.99 µM, with moderate or low cytotoxicity against the HeLa cell line. The compound 1a (IC50 = 2.06 µM) had the best selectivity index (9.0). All the sulfonamide 4-metychalcone derivatives synthesized had cLogP values between 2 and 5 (mean value 3.79) and molecular weights (MWs) below 500. The substitution of the pyrrolidine group in 1i by a morpholine group in 1a reduced the cLogP value from 3.05 in compound 1i to 2.34 in compound 1a. Indeed, compound 1a had the highest LipE value. The binding free energy of compound 1a showed it to be the most optimal chalcone derivative for plasmepsin-2 (−7.3 Kcal/mol). The physicochemical properties and LipE analysis of the dataset allowed us to establish that compound 1a is the highest quality compound of the series and a potential oral lead candidate.