The [Ru(Spym)(bipy)(P–P)]PF6, [Spym = pyrimidine-2-thiolate anion; P–P = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene] complexes were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical and elemental analysis, and by X-ray crystallography. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the complex concentration causing 50% tumor cell growth inhibition (IC50) against breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231, were determined. All three compounds gave promising values in both tests. It is interesting to mention that all three complexes display MICs against Mycobacteriumtuberculosis showing higher activity than cycloserine, a second line drug used in the treatment of the illness. The complexes interact weakly with the DNA.

Complexos de CoIII derivados da 2-acetilpiridina N(4)-R tiossemicarbazona (Hatc-R, R = alquil ou aril) foram caracterizados por análise elementar, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho, UV-Visível e ¹H RMN, voltametria cíclica (VC), medidas de condutividade e difração de raios X em monocristal. Os resultados obtidos são consistentes com a oxidação do centro de CoII para CoIII após a coordenação N,N,S-tridentada e monoaniônica dos ligantes tiossemicarbazonas, resultando em complexos octaédricos iônicos do tipo [Co(atc-R)2]Cl. Os estudos de eletroquímica mostram dois processos reversíveis, referentes aos pares redox CoIII/CoII e CoII/CoI, que são afetados pelo efeito indutivo dos grupos substituintes na posição N4 dos ligantes. Dois complexos de CoIII se mostraram satisfatoriamente ativos, com valores de concentração inibitória mínima abaixo de 10 µmol L- 1 e um deles apresentou muito baixa citotoxicidade contra células VERO e J774A.1 (IC50), conferindo-lhe altos índices de seletividade (SI > 10).

CoIII complexes derived from 2-acetylpyridine N(4)-R thiosemicarbazone (Hatc-R, R = alkyl, aryl) have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry (CV), conductimetry measurements and single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The results obtained are consistent with the oxidation of the CoII center to CoIII upon coordination of the monoanionic N,N,S-tridentate thiosemicarbazone ligands, resulting in octahedral ionic complexes of the type [Co(atc-R)2]Cl. Electrochemistry studies show two reversible processes referring to the redox couples CoIII/CoII and CoII/CoI which can be modified by the inductive effects of the substituents groups at the N4 position of the ligands. Two CoIII complexes showed satisfactory activity with minimal inhibitory concentration value under 10 µmol L- 1 and one presented quite low cytotoxicity against VERO and J774A.1 cells (IC50), resulting in high selectivity index (SI > 10).

Paepalanthus spp., Eriocaulaceae, are native plants from Brazil known as "sempre-vivas" (everlasting flowers). In this work, we evaluated the potential anti-mycobacterial activity of two methoxylated flavonoids (flavonoid 7-methylquercetagetin and 7-methylquercetagetin-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside) isolated and identified from P. latipes and the naphthopyranone fractions from P. bromeliodes ethanolic extracts. The MIC value of 500 µg/mL was verified for all compounds tested against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. For M. avium, the MIC value ranged from 1000-2000 µg/mL excepting to naphthopyranone fractions with MIC of 500 µg/mL. This is the first report of activity determination of Paepalanthus spp. flavonoids activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium.

Our purpose was to determine the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity of the metabolites produced by the endophitic fungus Phomopsis stipata (Lib.) B. Sutton, (Diaporthaceae), cultivated in different media. The antimycobacterial activity was assessed through the Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA) and the cytotoxicity test performed on macrophage cell line. The extracts derived from fungi grown on Corn Medium and Potato Dextrose Broth presented the smallest values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and low cytotoxicity, which implies a high selectivity index. This is the first report on the chemical composition and antitubercular activity of metabolites of P. stipata, as well as the influence of culture medium on these properties.

Três complexos de PdII com tiossemicarbazonas N(4)-substituídas foram preparados: [Pd(aptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 1, [Pd(apmtsc)(PPh3)](NO3), 2, e [Pd(apptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 3, sendo PPh3 = trifenilfosfina; Haptsc = 2-acetilpyridina-tiossemicarbazona; Hapmtsc = 2-acetilpiridina-N(4)-metil-tiossemicarbazona e Happtsc = 2-acetilpiridina-N(4)-fenil-tiossemicarbazona. Os complexos foram caracterizados por análise elementar, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H e 31P{¹H} NMR e tiveram suas estruturas cristalinas determinadas por difratometria de raios X em monocristal. Os ligantes tiossemicarbazonatos monoaniônicos atuam de modo tridentado, ligando-se ao metal pelos átomos de nitrogênio piridínico, nitrogênio azometínico e enxofre. A atividade citotóxica frente à linhagem de células tumorais MDA-MB231 (tumor de mama) e a atividade anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 dos compostos foram investigadas. Os complexos de PdII mostraram-se altamente ativos contra as células tumorais, com valores de IC50 em torno de 5 µmol L-1, enquanto o agente antitumoral em uso clínico cisplatina mostrou-se inativo. Os compostos apresentaram atividade anti-M. tuberculosis significante, com valores de CIM comparáveis ou melhores que aqueles referentes a alguns fármacos usados clinicamente contra tuberculose.

Three PdII complexes were prepared from N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones: [Pd(aptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 1, [Pd(apmtsc)(PPh3)](NO3), 2, and [Pd(apptsc)(PPh3)](NO3)•H2O, 3, where PPh3 = triphenylphosphine; Haptsc = 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazone; Hapmtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-thiosemicarbazone and Happtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-phenyl-thiosemicarbazone. All complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H and 31P{¹H} NMR spectroscopies, and had their crystalline structures determined by X-ray diffractometry from single crystals. The monoanionic thiosemicarbazonate ligands act in a tridentate mode, binding to the metal through the pyridine nitrogen, the azomethine nitrogen and the sulfur atoms. The cytotoxic activity against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB231 and the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv ATCC 27294 activity were evaluated for the compounds. All PdII complexes were highly active against the studied cell line, presenting similar values of IC50, around 5 µmol L-1, while the clinically applied antitumor agent cisplatin was inactive. The compounds show remarkable anti-M. tuberculosis activities, presenting MIC values comparable or better than some commercial anti-M tuberculosis drugs.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma seleção de algumas plantas de uma determinada região Brasileira com atividade contra Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Extratos clorofórmicos e metanólicos de 37 espécies de plantas distribuídas em 17 famílias do "Cerrado" Brasileiro foram avaliadas contra M. tuberculosis H37Rv e a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) foi determinada pelo uso do Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA). Extratos brutos de dezesseis plantas apresentaram valor de CIM < 125 µg/mL e três de 31,2 µg/mL. Estes resultados sugerem que o "Cerrado" Brasileiro deve possuir um recurso de plantas com constituintes ativos anti-M. tuberculosis que podem ser extraídos por solventes polares e apolares.

The aim of this work was to carry out a screening of some plants of this Brazilian region with activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Chloroform and methanol extracts of 37 plant species distributed among 17 families from Brazilian "Cerrado" which were tested against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by the use of Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA). Crude extracts from sixteen plants showed MIC value of < 125 µg/mL and three 31.2 µg/mL. These results suggest that the Brazilian "Cerrado" may be a source of plants that have activity anti-M. tuberculosis constituents that can be extracted by polars and apolars solvents.