Synthesis and analgesic-like effect of (6R, 4S)-p-mentha-1,8-dien-6-yl-methylene-ptoluenesulfonamide

The synthesis of a monoterpene-based para-toluenesulfonamide is reported starting from naturally occurring (R)-(−)-carvone (1), by 1,2-addition of HCN followed by reduction with lithium aluminum hydride to afford the amino alcohols 3a and 3b. Tosylation of this mixture with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride furnished sulfonamide 4 in 55 % overall yield. Compound 4 was evaluated in behavior animal models to investigate its effects on the central nervous system. It showed low toxicity and sedative action in mice, indicating it to be psychoactive. It also caused a decrease in the spontaneous motor activity of mice. This depressant effect was confirmed in the acetic acid-induced writhing test, which demonstrated a significant antinociceptive response more potent than 1. The present results provide evidence that sulfonamide 4 has analgesic-like psychopharmacological activity

Pharmacological effects of the monoterpene alpha,beta-epoxy-carvone in mice

The monoterpene alpha,beta-epoxy-carvone (EC) in doses of 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg injected by i.p. route in mice caused a significant decrease in the motor activity of animals when compared with the control group, up to 120 minutes after the administration. The doses of 300 or 400 mg/kg had induced a significant increase of in the sleeping time of animals not having modified, however, the latency. The EC in the dose of 400 mg/kg reduced the remaining time of the animals on the rotating rod (Rotarod test). These results suggest a possible central effect

The role of flagellum and flagellum-based motility on <i>Salmonella </i>Enteritidis and <i>Escherichia coli</i> biofilm formation

Flagellum-mediated motility has been suggested to contribute to virulence by allowing bacteria to colonize and spread to new surfaces. In Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli species, mutants affected by their flagellar motility have shown a reduced ability to form biofilms. While it is known that some species might act as co-aggregation factors for bacterial adhesion, studies of food-related biofilms have been limited to single-species biofilms and short biofilm formation periods. To assess the contribution of flagella and flagellum-based motility to adhesion and biofilm formation, two Salmonella and E. coli mutants with different flagellar phenotypes were produced: the fliC mutants, which do not produce flagella, and the motAB mutants, which are non-motile. The ability of wild-type and mutant strains to form biofilms was compared, and their relative fitness was determined in two-species biofilms with other foodborne pathogens. Our results showed a defective and significant behavior of E. coli in initial surface colonization (p &lt; 0.05 ), which delayed single-species biofilm formation. Salmonella mutants were not affected by the ability to form biofilm ( p &gt; 0.05). Regarding the effect of motility/flagellum absence on bacterial fitness, none of the mutant strains seems to have their relative fitness affected in the presence of a competing species. Although the absence of motility may eventually delay initial colonization, this study suggests that motility is not essential for biofilm formation and does not have a strong impact on bacteria's fitness when a competing species is present. </p

Intoxicações por plantas diagnosticadas em ruminantes e equinos e estimativa das perdas econômicas na Paraíba Plant poisonings diagnosed in ruminants and horses and estimation of the economical losses in Paraíba

Foi realizado um levantamento dos surtos de intoxicações por plantas em ruminantes e equinos diagnosticados no Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária (LPV), do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, Paraíba, no período de 2000-2007. Em bovinos 7,4% dos diagnósticos realizados pelo LPV foram intoxicações por plantas. Foram diagnosticadas intoxicações por Centhraterum brachylepis (um surto), Brachiaria spp. (um surto), Crotalaria retusa (dois surtos), Ipomoea batatas (um surto), Marsdenia sp. (um surto), gramíneas contendo nitratos e nitritos (um surto por Echinochloa polystachya e dois surtos por Pennisetum purpureum), Palicourea aeneofusca (um surto), Prosopis juliflora (três surtos), Nerium oleander (um surto) e Mimosa tenuiflora (sete surtos). Na espécie ovina 13% dos diagnósticos foram intoxicações por plantas. Os surtos foram causados por Ipomoea asarifolia (quatro surtos), Brachiaria spp. (três surtos), Crotalaria retusa (dois surtos), Tephrosia cinerea (dois surtos), Panicum dichotomiflorum (um surto), Mascagnia rigida (um surto) e malformações associadas à ingestão de Mimosa tenuiflora (20 surtos). Nos caprinos, 6,4% dos diagnósticos corresponderam à intoxicação por plantas. Sete surtos foram causados por Mimosa tenuiflora, um por Ipomoea asarifolia, um por Ipomoea carnea, um por Ipomoea riedelli, três por Prosopis juliflora, um por Arrabidaea corallina, dois por Aspidosperma pyrifolium, dois por Turbina cordata e um por Opuntia ficus-indica. Na espécie equina 14% das doenças diagnosticadas foram devidas a intoxicações por plantas, sendo 12 surtos por Crotalaria retusa e um por Turbina cordata. As perdas na Paraíba por plantas tóxicas são estimadas em 3.895 bovinos, 8.374 ovinos, 6.390 caprinos e 366 equinos, que representam uma perda econômica anual, por morte de animais, de R$2.733.097,00. São relatados alguns aspectos epidemiológicos, sinais clínicos e patologia de surtos de intoxicação por Crotalaria retusa em bovinos, Brachiaria spp. em ovinos, Prosopis juliflora em bovinos e caprinos, Nerium oleander em bovinos, Opuntia ficus-indica em caprinos e Turbina cordata em equinos e caprinos.<br>ABSTRACT This paper reports plant poisonings in ruminants and horses, diagnosed between 2000 and 2007, in the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory at the Federal University of Campina Grande, in the city of Patos, state of Paraíba. In cattle, 7.4$ 1,380,000. Epidemiologic, clinical and pathologic aspects of poisonings by Crotalaria retusa in cattle, Brachiaria spp. in sheep, Prosopis juliflora in cattle and goats, Nerium oleander in cattle, Opuntia ficus-indica in goats, and Turbina cordata in horses and goats are reported