Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil from Piper amalago L.

The essential oil obtained from the leaves of Piper amalago L. by hydrodistillation was analyzed by CG-MS. The yield essential oil from fresh plant material was 0.1%. The main compounds found were β-copaen-4-α-ol (26 %), 7-epi-α-eudesmol (21.84 %), epi-α-cadinol (12.70 %), and n-hexyl-benzoate (12.29 %). The essential oil demonstrated antifungal activity against nine Candida strains, as shown using the agar-diffusion method.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Conservation and divergence within the clathrin interactome of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>

Trypanosomatids are parasitic protozoa with a significant burden on human health. African and American trypanosomes are causative agents of Nagana and Chagas disease respectively, and speciated about 300 million years ago. These parasites have highly distinct life cycles, pathologies, transmission strategies and surface proteomes, being dominated by the variant surface glycoprotein (African) or mucins (American) respectively. In African trypanosomes clathrin-mediated trafficking is responsible for endocytosis and post-Golgi transport, with several mechanistic aspects distinct from higher organisms. Using clathrin light chain (TcCLC) and EpsinR (TcEpsinR) as affinity handles, we identified candidate clathrin-associated proteins (CAPs) in Trypanosoma cruzi; the cohort includes orthologs of many proteins known to mediate vesicle trafficking, but significantly not the AP-2 adaptor complex. Several trypanosome-specific proteins common with African trypanosomes, were also identified. Fluorescence microscopy revealed localisations for TcEpsinR, TcCLC and TcCHC at the posterior region of trypomastigote cells, coincident with the flagellar pocket and Golgi apparatus. These data provide the first systematic analysis of clathrin-mediated trafficking in T. cruzi, allowing comparison between protein cohorts and other trypanosomes and also suggest that clathrin trafficking in at least some life stages of T. cruzi may be AP-2-independent

Antibacterial activity of a biphenyl and xanthones from Kielmeyera coriacea

The in vitro antibacterial activities of the biphenyl aucuparin and xanthones, obtained from the dichloromethane extract of the leaves of Kielmeyera coriacea (Guttiferae) were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, time-kill studies were performed to determine if aucuparin had bactericidal activity. It is not known whether the aucuparin found in K. coriaceae is due to de novo synthesis in response to diverse forms of stress, is already present in the plant, or is a combination of both. Aucuparin and 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone showed antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis with MIC values of 3.12 mug/ml and 12.5 mug/ml, respectively, and aucuparin against Staphylococcus aureus with a MIC value of 12.5 mug/ml. In contrast to the relatively low MICs for Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria tested were not inhibited by aucuparin at concentrations greater than or equal to100 mug/ml. The kinetics of bactericidal activity were evaluated against S. aureus at six concentrations of aucuparin (0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x the MIC). The rate of bacterial killing was dependent on the concentration of aucuparin, with more than 10(5) organisms/ml being eradicated within 8 h at the highest concentration studied, Bacterial culture was monitored for up to 24 h, and no regrowth was observed

Antimicrobial activity of Brazilian copaiba oils obtained from different species of the Copaifera genus

The antimicrobial activity of copaiba oils was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and dermatophytes. Oils obtained from Copaifera martii, Copaifera officinalis, and Copaifera reticulata (collected in the state of Acre) were active against Gram-positive species (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, and Enterococcus faecalis) with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 31.3-62.5 µg/ml. The oils showed bactericidal activity, decreasing the viability of these Gram-positive bacteria within 3 h. Moderate activity was observed against dermatophyte fungi (Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis). The oils showed no activity against Gram-negative bacteria and yeast. Scannning electron microscopy of S. aureus treated with resin oil from C. martii revealed lysis of the bacteria, causing cellular agglomerates. Transmission electron microscopy revealed disruption and damage to the cell wall, resulting in the release of cytoplasmic compounds, alterations in morphology, and a decrease in cell volume, indicating that copaiba oil may affect the cell wall

Sulfated glycosaminoglycan-based block copolymer: preparation of biocompatible chondroitin sulfate-b-poly(lactic acid) micelles

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Antidiarrheal activity of <i>Guazuma ulmifolia</i> Lam. (Sterculiaceae)

The high incidence of diarrhea in the population demands a search for new therapeutic options and easy access, mainly from plant-based sources. Leaves and bark of Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (Sterculiaceae) are popularly employed against diarrhea. However, no information was found in the literature about this supposed property of the drug. In this study we evaluated in vivo antidiarrheal activity of stem bark extracts from G. ulmifolia in mice, and in vitro antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella sp., Shigella flexneri, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by using the microdilution method. The n-BuOH semipurified fraction (GU#3) significantly reduced intestinal motility. The extracts did not show antimicrobial activity. G. ulmifolia Lam. had non-specific antidiarrheal, and antimotility activity in the experimental models studied, and could be used as an alternative treatment for non-infectious diarrhea.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Anatomical study of leaves and stem of Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae), a contribution to the farmacognostic study of vegetal drug

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (Clusiaceae), conhecida como guanandi é popularmente utilizada para o tratamento de reumatismo, varicoses, hemorróidas e úlceras crônicas. Neste estudo, foram determinadas as características botânicas e físico-quimica para o C. brasiliense, com o objetivo de auxiliar a sua identificação taxonômica e o controle de qualidade de produtos preparados com esta planta. Para a caracterização da morfologia, anatomia e histoquímica foram confeccionadas lâminas semipermanentes do caule e das folhas do C. brasiliense. Testes histoquímicos realizados mostraram a presença de compostos fenólicos principalmente localizados nos canais secretores do caule, pecíolo e limbo. Os dados obtidos determinaram os parâmetros para avaliação de qualidade e pureza.Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (Clusiaceae), a folk medicine plant known as "guanandi", is popularly used in the treatment of rheumatism, varicosity, hemorrhoids and chronic ulcerations. This study determines botanical and physico-chemical characters of C. brasiliense, with the objective of providing tools for its taxonomical identification and the quality control of derivatives products. For morphological, anatomical and histochemical characterizations semi-permanent slides has been made from C. brasiliense stem and leaves. Histochemical tests demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds mainly localized on the secretory canals of stem, petiole and leaf blade. These data shown to be useful to the identification and quality parameters and purity.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Anatomical study of leaves and stem of Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae), a contribution to the farmacognostic study of vegetal drug

Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (Clusiaceae), conhecida como guanandi é popularmente utilizada para o tratamento de reumatismo, varicoses, hemorróidas e úlceras crônicas. Neste estudo, foram determinadas as características botânicas e físico-quimica para o C. brasiliense, com o objetivo de auxiliar a sua identificação taxonômica e o controle de qualidade de produtos preparados com esta planta. Para a caracterização da morfologia, anatomia e histoquímica foram confeccionadas lâminas semipermanentes do caule e das folhas do C. brasiliense. Testes histoquímicos realizados mostraram a presença de compostos fenólicos principalmente localizados nos canais secretores do caule, pecíolo e limbo. Os dados obtidos determinaram os parâmetros para avaliação de qualidade e pureza.Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (Clusiaceae), a folk medicine plant known as "guanandi", is popularly used in the treatment of rheumatism, varicosity, hemorrhoids and chronic ulcerations. This study determines botanical and physico-chemical characters of C. brasiliense, with the objective of providing tools for its taxonomical identification and the quality control of derivatives products. For morphological, anatomical and histochemical characterizations semi-permanent slides has been made from C. brasiliense stem and leaves. Histochemical tests demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds mainly localized on the secretory canals of stem, petiole and leaf blade. These data shown to be useful to the identification and quality parameters and purity.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire