Three isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, collected from the University Hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil, were analyzed to determine their resistance to multiple antibiotics. The results of this study showed that the resistance of the clinically isolated bacteria is associated with the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESLBs) and loss of outer membrane proteins.

Three Croton species, C. zenhtneri, C. nepetaefolius and C. argyrophylloides, were collected at two different times, 6:00 and 13:00 h, their essential oils were extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry. The percentage yield of oil constituents changes along the day. The oils were submitted to the antioxidant test thiobarbituric acid reactive species, using BHT and a-tocoferol as the reference compounds. All oils exhibited good antioxidant activities. In general, C. zenhtneri and C. argyrophylloides essential oils showed higher antioxidant activity than C. nepetaefolius.

Este trabalho apresenta um levantamento das plantas medicinais utilizadas pelos índios Tapebas do Ceará, na tentativa de resgatar a cultura descaracterizada ao longo dos anos. Os parâmetros considerados foram a freqüência de uso das plantas e suas indicações populares para determinadas doenças, baseando-se em entrevistas realizadas nas comunidades localizadas no município de Caucaia, situado a 16 Km de Fortaleza, capital do Ceará, em que foram mencionadas 63 plantas. Amostras das plantas foram coletadas e depositadas no Herbário Prisco Bezerra da Universidade Estadual do Ceará, onde foram identificadas. As plantas mais citadas foram agrupadas de acordo com seus dados químico, farmacológico e/ou toxicológico encontrados na literatura científica. A pesquisa mostra que a comunidade indígena dos Tapebas faz uso de muitas espécies vegetais sem dados químico e farmacológico registrados, bem como de outras que já foram alvo de pesquisa científica, mas que necessitam ainda de estudos complementares para garantir segurança para um uso geral e preparação de fitoterápicos.

This work presents a survey of the medicinal plants used by Tapebas Indians from the state of Ceará - Brazil, trying to rescue their culture which is vanishing through the years. Several interviews were performed at the indian's community located at municipality of Caucaia, 16 Km away from Fortaleza, Capital city of the state of Ceará. A total of 63 plants were cited. The interviews were based on the frequency that the plants are used and their respective uses. Samples of the plants were collected and classified by botanists of the Prisco Bezerra Herbarium of the Universidade Federal do Ceará. A literature survey was carried out with all known plants to obtain chemical, pharmacological and toxicological informations. The results show that the Tapebas use plants with no reported chemical and pharmacological informations and other plants which were already studied but need yet more studies to assure complete safety for a general use and production of phytoterapics.