The phytochemical investigation of Rollinia leptopetala led to the isolation of a new compound named α-terpinyl caffeate, and five known compounds, being three sesquiterpenes, spathulenol, β-caryophyllene and 4β,10α-aromadendrane-diol, and two alkaloids, (-)-3-hydroxynornuciferine and (+)-norisocorydine. These alkaloids are being described for the first time in this genus. The structures of the compounds were determined by analysis of IR, MS and NMR data, as well as by comparison with literature data. The crude extract of R. leptopetala leaves demonstrated a weak cytotoxicity on sarcoma 180 cells with an IC50 of 512.3 µg/mL. However, the in vivo results showed that the extract exhibited a significant dose-dependent tumor growth reduction.

An atisane diterpene was isolated from Xylopia langsdorfiana St. Hilaire & Tulasne, Annonaceae, leaves, ent-atisane-7α,16α-diol (xylodiol). Preliminary study showed that xylodiol was cytotoxic and induced differentiation on human leukemia cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms of xylodiol-mediated cytotoxicity have not been fully defined. Thus, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of xylodiol in human leukemia HL60 cell line. Xylodiol induced apoptosis and necrosis. HL60 cells treated with xylodiol showed biochemical changes characteristic of apoptosis, including caspases-8, -9 and -3 activation and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (∆ Ψm). However, there was a condensation rather than swelling of mitochondria. Moreover, the formation of condensed mitochondria and the loss of ∆ Ψm occurred downstream of caspase activation. Cyclosporine A did not protect HL60 cells from the cytotoxic effects of xylodiol, suggesting that the loss of ∆ Ψm is a late event in xylodiol-induced apoptosis. Oxidative stress was involved in xylodiol-induced apoptosis. Thus, we conclude that activated caspases cleave cellular proteins resulting in mitochondrial damage leading to mitochondrial condensation, loss of ∆ Ψm and ROS release from the mitochondria. ROS can further induce and maintain a collapse of ∆ Ψm leading to cellular damage through oxidation of lipids and proteins resulting in apoptotic cell death.

A fibromialgia é uma síndrome dolorosa crônica que afeta até 5% da população mundial. Pode associar-se com distúrbios do sono, do humor e fadiga, e cursar com incapacidade funcional. Sua patogênese envolve distúrbio de modulação central da dor, comprometimento do sistema inibitório descendente e hiperatividade da substância P. Em função da vasta sintomatologia apresentada pelos pacientes e da natureza multifatorial da sua patogênese, seu tratamento ideal requer uma abordagem multidisciplinar incluindo a associação de terapia farmacológica e não farmacológica. A terapia farmacológica atualmente preconizada nessa síndrome inclui, entre outros compostos, antidepressivos, moduladores dos canais de cálcio, relaxantes musculares e analgésicos. O tratamento não farmacológico é realizado, na maioria dos casos, por meio de educação do paciente, atividade física aeróbica supervisionada e terapia cognitivo-comportamental. No entanto, muitos pacientes não apresentam respostas satisfatórias ou apresentam efeitos colaterais associados ao uso dos fármacos a longo prazo, além de referirem dificuldades em permanecer em uma terapia baseada em exercícios e medicina física. Há, portanto, um crescente interesse por parte dos médicos e pacientes por uma terapia alternativa e complementar na fibromialgia. Nesta revisão, os autores discorrem sobre as diversas modalidades terapêuticas empregadas nessa doença, enfatizando as evidências da terapia não farmacológica e do uso de medicina alternativa e complementar nesses pacientes.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic painful syndrome that affects up to 5% of the world population. It is associated with sleep and mood disorders, fatigue, and functional disability. Its pathogenesis involves a disorder of the central modulation of pain, impairment of the descending inhibitory system, and hyperactivity of substance P. Because of the extensive symptomatology of patients with fibromyalgia and its multifactorial pathogenesis, its ideal treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach including the association of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. The pharmacological therapy currently recommended for the syndrome includes antidepressants, calcium-channel modulators, muscle relaxants, and analgesics. In most cases, the non-pharmacological treatment consists of patient education, supervised aerobic physical activity, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, many patients do not respond satisfactorily, or have side effects associated with the long-term use of drugs, in addition to reporting difficulties in adhering to a therapy based on exercises and physical medicine. Thus, physicians and patients are increasingly interested in an alternative and complementary therapy for fibromyalgia. This review approaches the different therapeutic modalities used in fibromyalgia, emphasizing the evidence of non-pharmacological therapy and use of alternative and complementary medicine for these patients.

In an ongoing project to evaluate natural compounds isolated from by-products or wastes from vegetables and fruits (edible plants) as modulators of antibiotic resistance, ethanol extract from mango peel was investigated using Staphylococcus aureus strains possessing efflux mechanisms of resistance to norfloxacin, erythromycin and tetracycline. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the antibiotics were determined by the micro dilution assay in the absence and in the presence of sub-inhibitory mango peel extract concentration. Although the extract did not display relevant antibacterial activity (MIC>2048 µg/mL), it modulated the activity of antibiotics, i.e. in combination with antibiotics (at 512 µg/mL), a four-fold reduction in the MIC values for tetracycline and erythromycin was observed. The results presented here indicates that mango peel could serve as a source of potential adjuvant of antibiotics which add value to this mango by-product.

Há muito tempo as propriedades sedativas do maracujazeiro já são conhecidas, especialmente quando utilizadas as infusões ou tinturas das folhas. Recentemente foi descrita uma nova propriedade relacionada ao fruto: a atividade hipoglicemiante da farinha produzida a partir de sua casca, porção rica em pectina, uma fração de fibra solúvel que, quando hidratada, regula respostas metabólicas na redução de absorção de nutrientes, como glicídios e lipídios, devido à formação de uma camada gelatinosa na mucosa intestinal, mecanismo que pode explicar sua ação hipoglicemiante. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a toxicologia clínica do uso da farinha de casca de maracujá em voluntários saudáveis. Para isso foi realizado um ensaio toxicológico clínico, em 36 voluntários de ambos os sexos, que utilizaram 10 g do produto três vezes ao dia, durante oito semanas. Os indivíduos foram incluídos no estudo após uma avaliação clínica, com a realização de exames físicos e laboratoriais. O uso do produto foi bem tolerado pelos voluntários, não sendo relatadas reações adversas que pudessem comprometer sua utilização como alimento com propriedade de saúde. Os exames efetuados não evidenciaram sinais de toxicidade nos diversos órgãos e sistemas avaliados, indicando que a farinha de casca de maracujá poderá ser utilizada em futuros estudos farmacológicos clínicos.

For a long time the sedative properties of passion tree have already been known, particularly when using the infusion or tincture of the leaves. Recently, however, a property related to a new product was described: a hypoglycaemic activity of the flour produced from its bark, which is rich in pectin, a fraction of soluble fiber that lowers the absorption of carbohydrates in our body, which explains its hypoglycaemic mechanism of action. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical toxicology of the use of the meal in healthy volunteers. For this purpose a phase 1 clinical toxicological test was performed in 36 volunteers of both sexes, which used 10g of the product three times a day for eight weeks. Individuals were included in the study after a clinical evaluation, with the completion of physical examinations and laboratory. The use of the product was well tolerated by volunteers and adverse reactions that could jeopardize their use as food with ownership of health were not reported. The examinations performed revealed no signs of toxicity in various organs and systems evaluated, indicating that the product may be used in future clinical pharmacological studies.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar um estudo etnobotânico sobre a indicação de plantas medicinais para tratamentos de patologias bucais, bem como investigar sobre o uso de plantas medicinais entre usuários de serviços odontológicos na cidade de João Pessoa, Brasil. O levantamento consistiu em duas etapas de investigação: raizeiros (n = 20) e usuários (n = 200). Foi aplicado um formulário aos raizeiros a fim de saber quais plantas medicinais são mais comercializadas para problemas bucais. Posteriormente, foi aplicado um formulário dirigido aos usuários de serviço público (n = 100) e particular (n = 100) com o objetivo obter informações sobre a utilização de fitoterápicos. As plantas de uso odontológico mais vendidas pelos raizeiros foram: babatenon (Pithecelobium avaremotemo Mart.), aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi), cajueiro roxo (Anacardium occidentale L.) e quixaba (Bumelia sartorum Mart.). Dentre os usuários, 80% afirmam utilizar plantas medicinais, sendo as mais citadas: a romã (Punica granatum L.), cajueiro roxo, juá (Zizyphus joazeiro Mart.), e hortelã de folha graúda (Plectrantus amboinicus Lour). Os dados sugerem que boa parte da população local, principalmente serviço público, faz uso de plantas medicinais, sendo necessária a realização de mais estudos que possam comprovar cientificamente a ação das mesmas.

The objective of this research was to carry out an ethnobotanical study about the indication of medicinal plants for oral conditions, as well as to investigate the use of medicinal plants among users of dental services in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. The work consisted of two stages of investigation: traditional healers ("raizeiros") (n = 20) and users (n = 200). A structured form was applied to the healers in order to know which medicinal plant they marketed most for oral pathologies. Later, a form was applied to the users of public services (n = 100) and private services (n = 100) to obtain information about the use phytotherapy. The most frequent plants used for oral problems that were sold by the healers were: "babatenon" (Pithecelobium avaremotemo Mart.), "aroeira" (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi), cashew tree known as "cajueiro roxo" (Anacardium occidentale L.) and "quixaba" (Bumelia sartorum Mart.). Among the users, 80% reported the use of medicinal plants. The most cited were pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), cashew tree, "juá" (Zizyphus joazeiro Mart.), and mint leaf known as "hortelã da folha graúda" (Plectrantus amboinicus Lour). The data suggest that a good deal of the local population, mainly public service users do use medicinal plants. It is necessary, though more studies to prove the effective action of the plants under scientific basis.

Otite externa aguda é a infecção do conduto auditivo externo, geralmente causada por flora polimicrobiana. OBJETIVO: Isolar, identificar e determinar a susceptibilidade antimicrobiana dos organismos causadores da otite externa (OE). MÉTODO: 27 swabs foram obtidos de 27 orelhas de pacientes portadores de OE para cultura e 22 microrganismos foram isolados para avaliação de susceptibilidade. A susceptibilidade in vitro foi obtida através do método de ágar difusão em disco e os resultados, interpretados de acordo com critérios clínico-laboratoriais padrão. RESULTADOS: 10 culturas positivas para S. aureus, 8 culturas para P.aeruginosa, 5 para P.aeruginosa e S.aureus e 4 para fungos (Candida albicans e C. krusei). Gentamicina e as quinolonas foram ativas contra todas as cepas testadas, havendo resistência significativa contra amoxicilina/clavulanato. As espécies de Candida testadas foram sensíveis à Anfotericina B, nistatina, fluconazol e clotrimazol e resistentes à miconazol. CONCLUSÃO: A otite externa aguda é uma infecção polimicrobiana, e o conhecimento apropriado da etiologia e susceptibilidade dos microrganismos irá contribuir para o uso racional de antibióticos e o sucesso do tratamento.

Acute external otitis is a polymicrobial infectious disease. AIM: The purpose of this study was to isolate, identify and determine the Antimicrobial susceptibility of organisms causing otitis externa (OE). METHODS: twenty-seven swabs were taken from the ears of 27 patients with OE for culture and 22 microorganisms were isolate to evaluate sensitivity. In vitro susceptibility tests were performed by agar diffusion disk and results were interpreted according to Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULTS: 10 Ear cultures were positive for S. aureus , 8 for P. aeruginosa, 5 for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus and 4 for fungal organisms (Candida albicans e C. Krusei). Gentamicin and quinolones were active against all bacteria tested and significant resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate was observed. The tested species of Candida had been sensitive to amphothericin B, nystatin, fluconazole and clotrimazole and resistant to miconazole. CONCLUSION: Acute external otitis is a polymicrobial infection and proper knowledge regarding microorganism etiology and susceptibility will contribute to rational antibiotic usage and treatment success.

A Jatropha gossypiifolia L. apesar de ser usada na medicina popular com finalidades diversas, é uma espécie classicamente catalogada como tóxica. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a pesquisa de alterações histopatológicas em vísceras de ratos sob tratamento agudo com o extrato etanólico (EE) da Jatropha gossypiifolia L. Ratos Wistar foram tratados por via oral (gavagem) com doses únicas do extrato de até 5 g/kg e observados por 14 dias. Após esse período, os animais foram sacrificados por tração cervical e as vísceras foram coletadas. O coração, o fígado e o rim foram seccionados por incisão sagital e os pulmões submetidos à perfusão via traquéia, com solução de formol a 10%. As secções teciduais foram processadas conforme os métodos habituais, coradas pela hematoxilina-eosina e tricômico e observadas ao microscópio óptico. Apenas nos animais tratados com a maior dose do extrato (5 g/kg) foram observadas alterações em fígado e pulmão evidenciadas por resposta inflamatória e estimulação do sistema imunitário. Estes resultados indicam uma toxicidade aguda oral relativamente baixa; entretanto, corroboram com os indícios de hepatotoxicidade já publicados, expondo ainda um potencial de toxicidade pulmonar do produto, o que ressalta a importância de estudos toxicológicos de longa duração com o EE da espécie Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

Jatropha gossypiifolia L. has been used in folk medicine in Brazil despite its classification as a toxic plant. The aim of this work was the assessment of histopathological a lterations in rats after acute treatment with the ethanol extract (EE) from Jatropha gossypiifolia L. Wistar rats were treated by gavage with single doses of EE until the limit dose of 5 g/kg (w.b.). 14 days after treatment the rats were sacrificed and the viscera were collected. The hard, liver and kidney were sectioned by sagittal incision and the lung submitted to perfusion with phormol (10%). The histological sections were processed by the usual methods in hematoxilin-eosin and trichrome staining and were observed through optical microscopy. Only in treated rats with 5 g/kg (w.b.) we observed some alterations in the liver and lung that means inflammatory response and immune activation. These results indicate a low oral acute toxicity, in relative terms, however, it was confirmed the hepatic toxicity already reported and showed the importance of long-term toxicological studies of the EE from Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

A hanseníase é uma doença crônica infecciosa ocasionada pelo Mycobacterium leprae. Foi considerada incurável por muitos anos. Atualmente a lepra é uma doença em desaparecimento, apesar de podermos encontrá-la principalmente nos países da zona tropical. O Brasil é o país que tem o segundo maior número de casos de lepra ao redor do mundo com quase 30.000 novos casos diagnosticados em 2005. Este trabalho teve como objetivo revisar a literatura dos vegetais e substâncias de origem natural com atividade antileprótica. Foram encontradas 11 plantas e 17 substâncias isoladas de plantas e microrganismos que foram classificados em grupos químicos adequados. Alguns aspectos de pesquisa recente com produtos naturais direcionados à produção de drogas contra a lepra também são discutidos. Foram consultadas 63 referências.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacillus. It was considered to be an incurable disease for ages. Nowadays leprosy is a vanishing disease although we can meet it principally in the tropical zone countries. Brazil has the second greatest number of leprosy cases around the world with almost 30,000 new cases diagnosed in 2005. The present work constitutes a literature review on plant extracts and chemically defined molecules of natural origin showing antileprotic activity. The review refers to 11 plants, their families, and geographical distribution, the utilized parts, the type of extract and the tested organism. It also includes 17 compounds isolated from higher plants and microorganisms, classified into appropriate chemical groups. Some aspects of recent antileprotic-activity-directed research on natural products are discussed. For this purpose 63 references were consulted.

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) has been investigated about its botanical, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects in our laboratory. Previous acute toxicology studies demonstrated that in dogs as well as in Wistar rats, 5 g/kg, p.o., and 2 g/kg, i.p. of the aqueous fraction of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis (AFL), induced a significant increase in the phosphatase alkaline and gama glutamil tranferase (GGT) levels, that were completely reversed in 15 days after interruption of AFL treatment. The aim of the present work was to investigate the subacute toxicology effects induced by AFL in dogs. We used the methods proposed by Portaria 116/96 of the Secretaria Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, which regulates studies of toxicity for phytomedicines in Brazil. Daily administration (p.o.) of AFL, 45 mg/kg/day (5 times the dose used by human beings), during 4 weeks, was devoid of any effect on haematological (haemogram and platelets) and on blood biochemical parametes. In conclusion, the present study, using dogs, demonstrated that AFL, in a popularly used dose, by human beings, was devoid of any toxicological effect.