Chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of extracts from Dilodendron bipinnatum (sapindaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of ethanolic extracts from leaves, branches and stems of D. bipinnatum afforded the steroids β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, sitostenone and sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glycopyranoside, along with two cycloartane triterpenes: cycloeucalenol and 24-methylenecycloartenol. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6623), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 9341) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). The extracts of the leaves and branches showed moderate activity against Candida albicans. The extract of the branches was active against Micrococcus luteus. This is the first report on the phytochemical study of D. bipinnatum.CNPqCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)FAPES

Atividade antimicrobiana de compostos isolados e derivados semissintéticos de Miconia ferruginata

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of isolated compounds and semisynthetic derivatives from Miconia ferruginata (Melastomataceae) against five microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6623), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). The isomeric mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids was active against S. aureus (MIC = 250 μg mL-1) and against E. coli, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa (MIC = 500 μg mL-1). The flavone 5,6,7-trihydroxy-4’-methoxyflavone and the methyl esters, semisynthetic derivatives of a mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids, showed no activity against the tested microorganisms. These results suggest that the carboxyl group present in the triterpenes may contribute to antimicrobial activity.Este estudo descreve a avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana de compostos isolados e derivados semissintéticos de Miconia ferruginata (Melastomataceae) contra cinco microorganismos: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6623), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231). A mistura isomérica dos ácidos ursólico e oleanólico foi ativa contra S. aureus (CIM = 250 μg mL-1) e contra E. coli, B. subtilis e P. aeruginosa (CIM = 500 μg mL-1). A flavona 5,6,7-trihidroxi-4’-metóxiflavona e os ésteres metílicos, derivados semissintéticos da mistura dos ácidos ursólico e oleanólico, não apresentaram atividade contra os microrganismos testados. Estes resultados sugerem que o grupo carboxila presente nos triterpenos podem contribuir para a atividade antimicrobiana

Activities of extracts and compounds from Spiranthera odoratissima St. Hil. (Rutaceae) in leaf-cutting ants and their symbiotic fungus

The study of the Spiranthera odoratissima St. Hil (Rutaceae) branches extracts led to the isolation of the furoquinoline (dictamine, gamma-fagarine and skimmianine) and 2-arylquinoli-4-one (1-methyl-2-phenylquinolin-4-one) alkaloids and limonoids (limonexic acid and limonin). The compounds 1-methyl-2-phenylquinolin-4-one and limonexic acid were isolated for the first time from the Spiranthera. These furoquinoline and 2-arylquinoli-4-one alkaloids and limonoids showed insecticidal and/or fungicidal activity in the nest of the Atta sexdens rubropilosa

In vitro metabolism effect on genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of Agaricus blazei organics and aqueous extracts by the comet assay

There is high interest in the natural products properties due to their use in popular medicine. Agaricus blazei Murrill ss. Heinem. (Ab) is native to Brazil and has been widely disseminated because its medicinal properties. In the present study, the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of Ab extracts were investigated using the comet assay. The cells utilized were the non drug-metabolizing line CHO-k1 (Chinese hamster ovary) and the drug-metabolizing line HTC (rat hepatoma). Cells were treated for 3 h in the absence of fetal bovain serum (FBS) with methanolic, hexanic and n-butanolic extracts at 50 μg/ml and 0.75% aqueous extract to test for genotoxicity. Antigenotoxic effects of extracts were determined in cells exposed to the DNA damage inducing agent ethyl methanesulfonate under simultaneous or simultaneous with 1 h pre-incubation conditions. The extracts did not show genotoxicity in HTC, while they were genotoxic in CHO-k1. No antigenotoxic effect was observed with any extract under any condition. These results demonstrate that the metabolism in presence or in absence has a direct influence on the genotoxicity of these extracts. © 2006 The Japan Mendel Society

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Agaricus blazei methanolic extract fractions assessed using gene and chromosomal mutation assays

Functional food investigations have demonstrated the presence of substances that could be beneficial to human health when consumed. However, the toxic effects of some substances contained in foods have been determined. Reported medicinal and nutritive properties have led to the extensive commercialization of the basidiomycete fungi Agaricus blazei Murrill (sensu Heinemann), also known as Agaricus brasiliensis Wasser et al., Agaricus subrufescens Peck or the Brazilian medical mushroom (BMM). Different methanolic extract fractions (ME) of this mushroom were submitted to the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) clastogenic assay and the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus (HGPRT) assay for gene mutation, both using Chinese hamster ovary cells clone K1 (CHO-K1). The results suggest that all the fractions tested possess cytotoxic and mutagenic potential but no clastogenic effects. Further information is needed on the biochemical components of the A. blazei methanol fractions to identify any substances with cytotoxic and/or mutagenicity potential. These findings indicate that A. blazei methanolic extract should not be used due to their genotoxicity and care should be taken in the use of A. blazei by the general population until further biochemical characterization of this fungi is completed.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Where Is Europe? The contribution of the portuguese TV to the coverage of the 2019 elections to the European Parliament

A pesar del impacto y la importancia legislativa de la gobernanza de la UE en nuestras vidas, un importante cuerpo de investigación ha argumentado que hasta ahora no ha habido una agenda de noticias europea comprometida y centrada en fomentar la participación ciudadana en los asuntos de la UE para construir un sentido de europeidad o una esfera pública discursiva europeizada. El objetivo principal de nuestro estudio fue evaluar el papel de la televisión portuguesa a la hora de informar al público y contextualizar los problemas planteados por las elecciones al PE y el proceso subyacente de la construcción europea. En Portugal, la televisión sigue siendo un medio privilegiado para que los ciudadanos accedan a la información. Dado que los noticieros televisivos en horario de máxima audiencia logran alcanzar los índices de audiencia más altos, nuestro objetivo era analizar los noticieros de RTP1, SIC y TVI entre el 13 y 26 de mayo, período de la campaña electoral. Un análisis crítico del discurso (combinando métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos) se realizó para evaluar el interés periodístico de Europa. ¿Dónde está Europa? - y la interconexión entre los sistemas de representación, construcción de identidad y ciudadanía participativa.Projeto de investigação desenvolvido com o apoio do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, no âmbito do Concurso IDI&CA - ref. IPL/2019/NVE-CEPE_ESCSinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antimicrobial activity of the myrsinoic acid A from Myrsine coriacea and the semi-synthetic derivatives

ABSTRACTThe antimicrobial activity of the myrsinoic acid A isolated from Myrsine coriacea (Sw.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult., Primulaceae, and a two semi-synthetics derivatives was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis. The microdilution method was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration during evaluation of the antimicrobial activity. The myrsinoic acid A showed no activity against the selected microorganisms but the hydrogenated and acetylated derivatives were active against B. subtilis, E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa

An application-oriented methodology for consideration of material degradation effects due to cutting on iron losses and magnetizability

In this study, we have investigated the stability of the antigenotoxic properties of dried of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Singer mushroom powder stored at room and at -20C. Mice were pretreated by gavage for 15 consecutive days with 0.6 mL/day of an aqueous extract of dried L. edodes powder prepared at 60C. on day 15, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU); 3 h later, peripheral blood was withdrawn from the animals and used to evaluate DNA damage using the comet assay. The mice were sacrificed 24 h after the ENU treatment and the bone marrow used to measure the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. The results indicated that storage at both room temperature and at -20C significantly reduced the antigenotoxic effects of the mushroom powder. In addition, whereas freshly dried mushroom powder was nongenotoxic, storage of the powder at -20C resulted in genotoxic activity (P < 0.05). Taken together, our data indicate that constituents of L. edodes powder are altered during storage, resulting in both genotoxicity and a reduction in antigenotoxicity.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq