Exploring the bioactive potential of Pisolithus (Basidiomycota): comprehensive insights into antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties for innovative applications

Addressing pressing health concerns, modern medical research seeks to identify new antimicrobials to combat drug resistance, novel molecules for cancer treatment, and antioxidants for inflammation-related diseases. Pisolithus (Basidiomycota) is a ubiquitous and widely distributed fungal genus in forest ecosystems, known for establishing ectomycorrhizal associations with a range of host plants, enhancing their growth, and conferring protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Beyond ecological applications, Pisolithus yields bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. This comprehensive review explores the transversal biological activity of Pisolithus fungi, aiming to provide a thorough overview of their antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant potential. The focus is on elucidating bioactive compounds within Pisolithus to trigger further research for innovative applications. Compounds from Pisolithus displayed antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The efficacy of Pisolithus-derived compounds matched established medications, emphasizing their therapeutic potential. In anticancer research, the triterpene pisosterol stood out with documented cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, showcasing promise for novel anticancer therapies. Pisolithus was also recognized as a potential source of antioxidants, with basidiocarps exhibiting high antioxidant activity. In vivo validation and comprehensive studies on a broader range of compounds, together with mechanistic insights into the mode of action of Pisolithus-derived compounds, are compelling areas for future research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antibody response to different COVID-19 vaccine regimes: a review

COVID-19 pandemic initiated a race for the development of vaccines. Different technologies have been used to produce them, including inactivated whole-virus, nucleic acid, and adenovirus vector platforms. COVID-19 vaccination was initiated with two doses called “primary vaccination” which can be homologous (the same vaccine used in the first and second dose) or heterologous (different vaccines used in the first and second dose). Waning of vaccine-induced antibodies over time combined with the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) suggested the importance and necessity of a “booster shot” of the vaccine. The additional dose can be done with the same vaccine used in the primary vaccination (homologous booster) or vaccines can be mix-and-match (heterologous booster). Immune escape of VOCs raises the question of which is the best combination of COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, this review summarizes the main findings of humoral response to different SARS-CoV-2 vaccination regimens

EDUCAÇÃO EMPREENDEDORA NAS INSTITUIÇÕES DE ENSINO SUPERIOR DO MUNICÍPIO DE QUIXADÁ – CE

O empreendedorismo se mostra, a cada dia, como reforço para a melhoria do desenvolvimento econômico e social nas organizações. Nesse contexto, as IES têm como papel divulgar o conhecimento e disseminar a cultura empreendedora, a fim de garantir o melhor desenvolvimento daqueles que se interessam por essa prática. A pesquisa buscou analisar como a prática do ensino do empreendedorismo está sendo disseminada em Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) no município de Quixadá-CE, por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva e exploratória delineada por dois momentos: o primeiro, a leitura das ementas das disciplinas que tinham como objetivo o incentivo ao empreendedorismo; no segundo momento, a entrevista com coordenadores e professores que estavam ligados a cursos que objetivavam o incentivo ao empreendedorismo. Os resultados apontam que existe a necessidade de professores e instituições buscarem melhorias em suas práticas, para que haja uma melhor integração entre o ensino de empreendedorismo e o mercado de trabalho

Monocrotaline: Histological Damage and Oxidant Activity in Brain Areas of Mice

This work was designed to study MCT effect in histopathological analysis of hippocampus (HC) and parahippocampal cortex (PHC) and in oxidative stress (OS) parameters in brain areas such as hippocampus (HC), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and striatum (ST). Swiss mice (25–30 g) were administered a single i.p. dose of MCT (5, 50, or 100 mg/kg) or 4% Tween 80 in saline (control group). After 30 minutes, the animals were sacrificed by decapitation and the brain areas (HC, PHC, PFC, or ST) were removed for histopathological analysis or dissected and homogenized for measurement of OS parameters (lipid peroxidation, nitrite, and catalase) by spectrophotometry. Histological evaluation of brain structures of rats treated with MCT (50 and 100 mg/kg) revealed lesions in the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex compared to control. Lipid peroxidation was evident in all brain areas after administration of MCT. Nitrite/nitrate content decreased in all doses administered in HC, PFC, and ST. Catalase activity was increased in the MCT group only in HC. In conclusion, monocrotaline caused cell lesions in the hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex regions and produced oxidative stress in the HC, PFC, and ST in mice. These findings may contribute to the neurological effects associated with this compound

Evaluation of antihyperglycaemic activity of Calotropis procera leaves extract on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton, Apocynaceae, popularly known as “algodão-de-seda”, is a wild African bush, rich in bioactive substances that determine the medicinal potential of this species. Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects about 10% of the population. This study aimed to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of C. procera of occurrence in coast of Pernambuco, Brazil. The hydroalcholic extract of the leaves of C. procera (300 and 600 mg/kg/day), vehicle, insulin (6U, s.c.) or metformin (500 mg/ kg/day) were administered orally to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n = 7/group) for four weeks. Changes in body weight, food and water intake, biochemical markers, fasting glucose levels and oral glucose tolerance test were evaluated. The results showed that the C. procera dried extract (300 and 600 mg/kg) reduced significantly the level of blood glucose throughout the evaluation period and improved metabolic status of the animals and ameliorate the oral tolerance glucose test. The phytochemical screening revealed and quantified the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in a percentage of 29.1 and 2.9%, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the extract of the leaves of C. procera has antihyperglycemic activity. Keywords: Antihyperglycaemic, Calotropis procera, Diabetes, Streptozotocin, Metabolis