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The number of chromosomes and the meiotic characterization are important to studies involving genetic variability, germplasm and biodiversity. However, native forest species have not been sufficiently analyzed from a cytotaxonomic point of view. Therefore, the number of chromosomes, the meiotic behavior and the pollen viability of the Diatenopteryx sorbifolia Radlk were determined from five different accessions located in the southern region of Brazil. The species was considered diploid, 2n = 30 (x = 15), with regular meiotic behavior in phase I and absent in phase II, suggesting the presence of a genetic abnormality. Pollen grains infertility was between 57 and 67%. which may be associated to the formation of a low number of seeds in Diatenopteryx sorbifolia, probably due to the irregular behavior of the microsporogenesis.

Adenanthera pavonina is a native tree of Africa and Asia, introduced in Brazil for reforestation and wood industry. Several pharmacological activities have described scientifically, including antiviral activity. This study evaluated the antiviral effect of sulfated polysaccharide of Adenanthera pavonina (SPAp) against acyclovir (ACV)—resistant (AR-29) and sensitive (KOS) herpes simplex virus strains. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was determined by MTT method and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was evaluated by plaque reduction assay. The in vivo SPAp antiviral activity was performed in Balb/c mice infected by skin scarification and treated with topical 0.5% (w/w) SPAp formulations. SPAp showed a CC50 of 47.81 μg/mL and the IC50 were 0.49 μg/mL (SI = 97.5) and 0.54 μg/mL (SI = 88.5) for the strains KOS and AR-29, respectively. Our results demonstrated that mice treated with SPAp presented a delay in the development and progression of skin lesions compared with the control group.

The herpes simplex virus, also known as HSV, is an important human pathogen. Acyclovir (ACV) is the first-line antiviral for the treatment of HSV infections; nevertheless HSV resistance to ACV has been increasingly reported and, therefore, search for alternative drugs have been encouraged. Herein, the effect of Cucumis melo sulfated pectin (SPCm) was evaluated in the HSV-1 infection. Pectin cytotoxicity and its antiherpetic action were determined by assays of MTT and plaque reduction, respectively. The SPCm concentration that reduced the cell viability by 50% (CC50) was 1440 μg/mL, while the concentration that reduced PFU in 50% (IC50) was 6 μg/mL against ACV-sensitive (KOS) strain and 12 μg/mL for ACV-resistant (AR-29) strain. The pectin showed high selectivity index (SI) for both viral strains. Therefore, we suggest that SPCm has been effective for HSV-1, strenghten by viral protein and DNA syntheses inhibition. In conclusion, we have found that SPCm is a promising alternative compound to control HSV infection.

Adenanthera pavonina is a native tree of Africa and Asia, introduced in Brazil for reforestation and wood industry. Several pharmacological activities have described scientifically, including antiviral activity. This study evaluated the antiviral effect of sulfated polysaccharide of Adenanthera pavonina (SPAp) against acyclovir (ACV)—resistant (AR-29) and sensitive (KOS) herpes simplex virus strains. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC(50)) was determined by MTT method and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) was evaluated by plaque reduction assay. The in vivo SPAp antiviral activity was performed in Balb/c mice infected by skin scarification and treated with topical 0.5% (w/w) SPAp formulations. SPAp showed a CC(50) of 47.81 μg/mL and the IC(50) were 0.49 μg/mL (SI = 97.5) and 0.54 μg/mL (SI = 88.5) for the strains KOS and AR-29, respectively. Our results demonstrated that mice treated with SPAp presented a delay in the development and progression of skin lesions compared with the control group.

Mangiferin is found in many plant species as the mango tree (Mangifera indica) with ethnopharmacological applications and scientific evidence. The emergence of resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains to Acyclovir (ACV) has encouraged the search for new drugs. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo activity of mangiferin obtained from M. indica against ACV-resistant HSV-1 (AR-29) and sensitive (KOS) strains. The in vitro activity was performed under varying treatment protocols. The substance showed a CC50 > 500 μg/mL and IC50 of 2.9 μg/mL and 3.5 μg/mL, respectively, for the AR-29 and KOS strains. The in vivo activity was performed in Balb/c mice treated with 0.7% topical mangiferin formulation. This formulation inhibited most effectively the AR-29 strain, attenuated the lesions, postponed their appearance or enhanced healing, in comparison to control group. We demonstrated the potentiality of mangiferin from M. indica to control HSV replication with emphasis to ACV-resistant infection.

O vírus herpes simplex (HSV) possui grande importância médica e social com elevada soroprevalência na população mundial, causando infecções, normalmente benignas, além de permanecer latente no hospedeiro. No entanto, a patogenia e a severidade dos casos dependem de alguns fatores como, idade e condições do sistema imune. Cepas resistentes ao medicamento de referência, o aciclovir (ACV), vem sendo amplamente relatada, demonstrando a importância pela busca de alternativas antivirais. O gênero Cucumis destaca-se por apresentar diversas atividades medico-biológicas. Desta forma, o presente trabalho avaliou a ação de pectinas ácida (PACm) e sulfatada (PSCm), da espécie C. melo var. acidullus na infecção in vitro e in vivo pelo HSV. A citotoxicidade dos compostos foi avaliada pelo método de MTT, em células Vero, a atividade antiviral in vitro por ensaio de redução de plaque (ERP) e in vivo em camundongos BALB/c. As concentrações citotóxicas 50% (CC50) da PACm e PSCm foram, respectivamente, >2000 μg/mL e 1440 μg/mL. As concentrações inibitórias 50% (CI50) para as cepas de HSV-1, KOS e AR, respectivamente, sensível e resistente ao ACV, foram de 90 μg/mL e 86.5 μg/mL para PACm. Para o PSCm, as CI50 foram de 6 μg/mL e 12 μg/mL, respetivamente, para as cepas KOS e AR. O melhor índice de seletividade (IS) foi demonstrado para PSCm (240) e para PACm superior a 20. A PSCm demonstrou inibição em diferentes estágios de replicação da cepa KOS, especialmente nas etapas iniciais, com repercussão na inibição das sínteses proteica e de DNA viral. In vivo, a PSCm retardou a evolução das lesões das cepas AR e KOS, porém, com maior intensidade na primeira, quando comparada aos grupos infectado e sem tratamento. O nosso trabalho demonstrou que a PSCm é um potencial candidato no desenvolvimento de drogas para o controle da infecção pelo HSV. The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an important medical and social problem with a high seroprevalence in the population worldwide. The agent usually causes benign infections in human, however, the pathogenesis and severity of the disease depend on the profile of the patients, such as, the age and immune system conditions. The resistant strain to the reference medicine, acyclovir (ACV), are reported, demonstrating the importance for the search of alternative antiviral. In this context, the plant genus Cucumis is shown to present several medicinal and biological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the Cucumis melo pectin in the in vitro and in vivo HSV-1 infection, for KOS and AR strains, respectively, sensitive and resistant to ACV. The pectin cytotoxicity was determined by the MTT assay in Vero cell cultures, the antiviral activity was carried out by plaque reduction assayed (PRA) and the in vivo study performed in BALB/c mouse. The cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) for the acid (APCm) and sulfated (SPCm) forms of the pectin were, respectively, >2000 μg/mL and 1440 μg/mL. The inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for KOS and AR strains were, respectively, 90 μg/mL and 86.5 μg/mL for APCm, and, 6 μg/mL and 12 μg/mL for SPCm. The highest selectivity index (IS) was found for SPCm (240). The in vivo analysis also demonstrated that SPCm delayed the lesions evolution for both strains, in comparison to control group. We demonstrated that SPCm inhibited HSV-1 infection in different steps of replication, especially in the initial stages. These results were strengthened by the inhibition of viral DNA and protein syntheses and the protective effect in mice. Therefore, C. melo pectin presents a potential quality as a candidate for the development of drug for the control of HSV-1 infection.