Abstract Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the leading cause of canine pyoderma. Honeybee products are common to treat this and other types of infections. High average annual population loss of bees has been observed. This study evaluated antibacterial and antibiofilm profile of Green Propolis and Baccharis dracunculifolia against S. pseudintermedius and the chemical similarities among both. Ethanolic extracts were produced and chemically characterized. The isolates were subjected to treatment with the extracts in both planktonic and sessile forms. Green propolis minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.156 mg / mL, and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 0.312mg / mL. Baccharis dracunculifolia extract MIC and MBC was 0.312mg / mL and 2.5 mg / mL, respectivelly. Both extracts reduced SD55 formation of biofilm at minimum inhibitory concentration and at 1/8 minimum inhibitory concentration. The results observed in relation to ED99, were similar for both extracts. Besides that, similar chemical indicators between both extracts, including the presence of Artepellin C, suggest that the Baccharis dracunculifolia extract could be an alternative to the Green Propolis extract in the treatment of staph infections.

Copaifera species (Fabaceae) comprises approximately 70 species of large trees, from which 16 can be found in Brazil. The oleoresins obtained from their trunk are widely used in Brazilian folk medicine, which display important antitumoral potential. Chemically, these oleoresins are mainly composed of a mixture of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes. In this paper we are describing the isolation and identification of 12 already known terpenes from oleoresins obtained from three different Copaifera species (C. multijuga, C. pubiflora and C. trapezifolia) and 2 novel diterpenes (ent-16-hidroxy-3,13 clerodadien-15,18-dioic acid and ent-labda-5,13-dien-15-oic acid) from C. trapezifolia. Both new compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic (1H and 13C NMR, correlation 1H-1H (COSY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC)) and by high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESIMS) analyses. The cytotoxic potential of these oleoresins, their main non-volatile compounds and their volatile compound fractions were evaluated against a panel of tumoral (MCF-7, ACP01, A549, HeLa) and normal cell lines (MCF-10A, GM07492-A) through XTT (tetrazolium salt) and SRB (sulforhodamine B) assays. The novel diterpene ent-labda-5,13-dien-15-oic acid displayed relevant cytotoxic effect against most of the cancer cell lines with mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 3.57 ± 1.12 to 22.56 ± 1.03 µg mL-1, and a high selectivity level in both assays.

Oleoresins from Copaifera species are extensively used in folk medicine in Brazil, which are employed mainly in the production of cosmetic formulations in Brazil, North America and Europe. Considering the lack of validated analytical methods for the analyses of diterpenes in Copaifera oleoresins, it was developed a validated and reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (RP-HPLC-PDA) method for the analysis of six diterpenes, including: (-)-polyalthic acid; (13E)-ent-labda-7,13-dien-15-oic acid; ent-8(17)-labden-15,18-dioic acid; (-)-copalic acid; (-)-3β-acetoxycopalic acid and (-)-3β-hydroxycopalic acid. These compounds were isolated from C. duckei, C. reticulata and C. multijuga oleoresins by chromatographic means. The analytical curves were linear with regression coefficients (r2) between 0.9903 and 0.9999. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) values were 0.35 to 3.09 µg mL-1 and 1.05 to 9.36 µg mL-1, respectively. The method also displayed good precision and accuracy. The developed analytical method is reliable and a useful tool for the analysis of Copaifera oleoresin and its products.

The labdane diterpenes copalic acid, 3β-acetoxy-copalic acid, 3β-hydroxy-copalic acid and ent-agathic acid were isolated from Copaifera langsdorffii oleoresin. These four compounds were submitted to structural modifications by reduction with hydrogen/palladium, esterification with diazomethane, esterification with methanol/sulfuric acid and conversion into sodium salt, furnishing 15 compounds. All compounds were assayed in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37Rv, ATCC 27294). The four compounds displayed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 125 µg mL-1, and were not considered active. A methylated derivative of compound 3β-hydroxy-copalic acid, and a sodium salt of copalic acid displayed MIC values of 25 µg mL-1 (71.7 µM) and 6.25 µg mL-1 (19.2 µM), respectively. The sodium salt of copalic acid stood out by displaying similar activity in comparison with streptomycin (MIC 6.25 µg mL-1) and a better activity compared to µM value of pyrazinamide (MIC 3.12 µg mL-1; 25.34 µM). Therefore, the methylated derivative of compound 3β-hydroxy-copalic acid and the sodium salt of copalic acid should be considered for further studies.

Abstract Recent publications have highlighted the numerous biological activities attributed to the lignan (-)-cubebin (1), Piper cubeba L. f., Piperaceae, and ongoing studies have focused on its structural optimization, in order to obtain derivatives with greater pharmacological potential. The aim of this study was the obtainment of (1), its semisynthetic derivatives and evaluation of antibacterial activity. The extract of the seeds of P. cubeba was chromatographed, subjected to recrystallization and was analyzed by HPLC and spectrometric techniques. It was used for the synthesis of: (-)-O-methylcubebin (2), (-)-O-benzylcubebin (3), (-)-O-acetylcubebin (4), (-)-O-(N, N-dimethylamino-ethyl)-cubebin (5), (-)-hinokinin (6) and (-)-6.6'-dinitrohinokinin (7). The evaluation of the antibacterial activity has been done by broth microdilution technique for determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella nigrescens, Actinomyces naeslundii, Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. It was possible to make an analysis regarding the relationship between structure and antimicrobial activity of derivatives against microorganisms that cause endodontic infections. The most promising were minimum inhibitory concentration =50 µg/ml against P. gingivalis by (2) and (3), and minimum inhibitory concentration =100 µg/ml against B. fragilis by (6). Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that (1) and its derivatives do not display toxicity.

Abstract Schistosomiasis, a chronic disease that affects million people worldwide, is caused by trematode flukes of the genus Schistosoma. The lack of an anti-schistosomiasis vaccine and massive monotherapy with praziquantel reinforces the need for search and development of new therapeutic drugs. Recently, we demonstrated that the essential oil of Piper cubeba L., Piperaceae, and their derivative dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin, presents in vitro and in vivo activities against Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we identified changes in the protein expression after exposure to dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin. We applied two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to S. mansoni soluble protein extracts and observed at least 38 spots to be affected by dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin. We further identified 25 differentially expressed proteins by mass spectrometry. Enrichment for biological processes and predictive analyses of protein-protein interactions suggest that dibenzylbutyrolactolic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin targets proteins involved mainly in metabolic processes, especially carbohydrate metabolism. In summary, this study provides an interesting approach to understand the anti-parasitic activity of semi-synthetic (-)-6,6'-dinitrohinokinin a derivative compound from lignan and for the development of new therapy strategies.

The Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., Fabaceae, is a Brazilian native tree, known as copaiba, which oil is commonly used in folk medicine as muscle relaxant, wound healing, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory to respiratory and urinary tracts. Despite of the wide use of the oil of Copaifera species, scientific works related to the study of its leaves are rarely found. In fact, processes for flavonoid extraction from C. langsdorffii leaves have not been studied yet leaving a wide field to be investigated. In this work, the 2(5-2) fractional factorial design was selected in order to study how the factors of a dynamic maceration process influence the responses of total flavonoids, total phenols, quercetrin and afzelin contents, and antioxidant activity in extracts from C. langsdorffii leaves. The results demonstrated that the significant factors studied were the drug load in extractor, the ethanol/water ratio and the stirring speed whereas the temperature and the extraction time were not significant. In conclusion, this study allowed visualizing which factors were considered the most important in copaiba leaves dynamic maceration and their effect in extract antioxidant activity. Furthermore, this technological study gives directions to optimize future extraction experiments from C. langsdorffii.

To assess topical delivery studies of glycoalkaloids, an analytical method by HPLC-UV was developed and validated for the determination of solasonine (SN) and solamargine (SM) in different skin layers, as well as in a topical formulation. The method was linear within the ranges 0.86 to 990.00 µg/mL for SN and 1.74 to 1000.00 µg/mL for SM (r = 0.9996). Moreover, the recoveries for both glycoalkaloids were higher than 88.94 and 93.23% from skin samples and topical formulation, respectively. The method developed is reliable and suitable for topical delivery skin studies and for determining the content of SN and SM in topical formulations.

Este trabalho descreve a validação completa de metodologia analítica empregando cromatografia gasosa capilar com padronização interna para quantificação da cumarina (1,2-benzopirona) em produtos contendo guaco (Mikania glomerata Spreng - Asteraceae): xarope, planta e extrato padronizado, além do estudo de estabilidade do fitoterápico em questão. Utilizou-se uma coluna capilar HP-5 (30 m x 0,32 mm x 0,25 µm), hidrogênio a 1,8 mL/min e rampa de temperatura de 100 ºC a 250 ºC, a 15 ºC/min. A temperatura do injetor (split 1:20) foi de 250 ºC, enquanto a do detector foi de 270 ºC. Os tempos de retenção dos padrões foram: 2,86 minutos para o 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrametilbenzeno, 4,45 minutos para o piperonal (padrões internos) e 5,36 minutos para a cumarina. Após o procedimento de extração da planta in natura, a recuperação da cumarina foi de 101,6 %, enquanto que para o xarope esta foi de 100,8 %. Os limites de detecção e quantificação foram 0,5 µg/mL e 1,5 µg/mL, respectivamente. A precisão, determinada para todas as amostras, apresentou desvios padrões relativos menores que 2,5 %. Os teores de cumarina presentes nas folhas, extrato e xarope foram de 0,38 % m/m, 1,33 mg/mL e 0,143 mg/mL, respectivamente.

This work describes a full validation of a capillary gas chromatography analytical methodology using internal standardization for the quantification of coumarin (1,2-benzopyrone) in guaco (Mikania glomerata Spreng - Asteraceae) products: syrup, plant and its extract, including the stability study of the phytomedicine. For the analysis, it was used an HP-5 capillary column (30 m x 0.32 mm x 0.25 µm), hydrogen at a flow rate of 1.8 mL/min and the increasing temperature gradient was: 100 ºC to 250 ºC, 15 ºC/min. The temperature of injector (split 1:20) and detector were kept at 250 ºC and 270 ºC, respectively. The retention times of the standards for the above conditions were 2.86 minutes for 1, 2, 3, 4-tetramethylbenzene, 4.45 min for piperonal (internal standards), and 5.36 minutes for coumarin. After extraction procedure, the recovery of coumarin determined for plant raw material was 101.6 %, while for syrup it was 100.8 %. Detection and quantification limits were 0.5 µg/mL and 1.5 µg/mL, respectively. Precision was determined for all samples and the results were lower than 2.5 %. The total amount of coumarin in plant raw material, its extract and syrup were 0.38% w/w, 1.33 mg/mL and 0.143 mg/mL, respectively.

Própolis é um termo genérico utilizado para denominar o material resinoso e balsâmico coletado e processado pelas abelhas a partir de várias fontes vegetais. A composição da própolis é complexa e ocorrem variações em função de fatores como a flora da região, estações do ano e características genéticas das abelhas. Sendo assim, objetivou-se neste trabalho realizarem-se análises para o controle de qualidade físico-químico de amostras de própolis, provenientes de seis diferentes locais situados nas microrregiões de Franca (SP) e Passo (MG), bem como verificar a qualidade deste produto para o consumo humano e selecionar regiões produtoras de própolis verde. Os resultados obtidos para as diferentes análises variaram entre as seis diferentes áreas. As localidades de Capetinga-MG e o distrito de Chave da Taquara-SP produziram própolis verde durante todo o período de coleta. Além disso, as amostras de própolis provenientes destes locais mostraram-se satisfatórias para o consumo humano haja vista que os teores de flavonóides totais variaram entre 1 e 2 % p/p e os teores de ácidos fenólicos oscilaram entre 4 e 8 % p/p.

Propolis is a generic term used to denominate the resinous and balsamic material collected from several vegetable sources and processed by the bees. Its chemical composition is complex and depends on the plant species of the region, seasonality, and genetic characteristics of the bees. Therefore, the aim of this work was to establish the physical and chemical quality controls of propolis samples from six different Brazilian micro regions of Franca (SP) and Passos (MG), as well as to verify the propolis quality for human consumption, and to select green propolis producing areas. The obtained results for the different analyses varied among the six different sites. The sites of Capetinga (MG) and Chave da Taquara (SP) produced green propolis during the whole collection period. Besides, the analyses of propolis samples from these sites indicated that they are satisfactory for human consumption based on the total flavonoids content, which varied between 1 and 2 % (w/w) and on the phenolic acids content, which varied between 4 and 8 % (w/w).

Sete dicetopiperazinas, correspondentes aos ciclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe e (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, foram isoladas do caldo da cultura do fungo Aspergillus fumigatus. As estereoquímicas relativas e absolutas foram determinadas, respectivamente, com base nos experimentos de NOESY e através de modificação do método de Marfey em CLAE.

Seven diketopiperazines, corresponding to the cyclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe, and (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, were isolated from the Aspergillus fumigatus fermentation broth. The relative and absolute stereochemistries were determined on the basis of NOESY experiments and by using a modified version of Marfey's method using HPLC, respectively.