CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF TAGETES MINUTA FRONT OF THE CRYPTOCOCCUS SPP. ISOLATES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

Objective: This study evaluated the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of inflorescences of Tagetes minuta (EOTM) belonging to the Asteraceae family against Cryptococcus spp. This microorganism is the encapsulated yeast-like and is recognized as an opportunistic fungal pathogen of great clinical importance.Methods: The inflorescences of T. minuta were collected in Itaara/RS, Brazil, in April 2013, and identification of the components was performed by GC-MS. The species of fungi are environmental isolates of Cryptococcus spp. identified by direct examination with India ink, urease test, culture and agar Niger medium canavanine glycine bromothymol blue, and all fungi isolates were confirmed by the use of automated panel MicroScan® Rapid Yeast ID (SIEMENS®). ATCC strains of C. gattii, C. neoformans and C. grubii belonging to the Microbiology Laboratory of the Centro Universitário Franciscano of Santa Maria/RS, Brazil were also used. The antifungal activity of the EOTM was evaluated by microdilution.Results: Most strains of Cryptococcus spp. were sensitive to EOTM even at low concentrations, except when the microorganism in question was Cryptococcus grubii which the essential oil showed a weak antifungal action.Conclusion: The EOTM appears as promising in prospecting for new drugs for the treatment of cryptococcosis.Keywords: Cryptococcosis, Natural products, Antifungal, Marigol

Crescimento e produção do meloeiro cultivado sob diferentes níveis de salinidade e nitrogênio

RESUMO Com o objetivo de analisar o crescimento e a produção do melão Orange Flesh cultivado sob diferentes níveis de salinidade e nitrogênio, foi realizado um experimento na Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (5o03’37” S e 37o23’50” W Gr), Mossoró-RN. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram cinco níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação e três níveis de nitrogênio. O crescimento do meloeiro foi analisado aos 23, 31, 41, 50, e 64 dias após o transplantio (DAT), através da área foliar (AF), massa seca das folhas (MSF), do caule (MSC) e dos frutos (MSFR), número de folhas (NF) e massa seca total (MST). A produção do meloeiro foi analisada pelo peso médio dos frutos comercial (PMC), dos frutos total (PMT), produção comercial (PRC) e produção total (PRT). Não houve efeito significativo para o MSC, MSFR e NF. Aos 31, 41, 50 e 64 DAT houve diferença significativa da salinidade para as variáveis AF, MSF e MST. Houve efeito significativo para o PMC, PMT, PRT e PRC. O PRT e PRC teve decréscimos de 4,241 e 3,927 Mg ha-1 por acréscimo unitária da condutividade na água de irrigação, respectivamente. O crescimento e a produção do melão Orange Flesh não foram afetados pelos níveis de nitrogênio

Essential oils of Cunila galioides and Origanum majorana as anesthetics for Rhamdia quelen: efficacy and effects on ventilation and ionoregulation

ABSTRACT This study evaluated anesthetic efficacy and possible effects of the essential oils (EOs) of Cunila galioides (EOC) and Origanum majorana (EOO) on ventilatory rate (VR) and ionoregulation in Rhamdia quelen. In the anesthesia assessments, 50, 100, 200 and 300 μL L-1 EOC and 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 μL L-1 EOO were tested, and time for induction to sedation and anesthesia stages, as well as recovery, were taken. A second trial employed lower concentrations of both EOs, 10, 25, 50 and 100 μL L-1, in order to verify VR and Na+, K+ and Cl- whole body net fluxes. Sedation was achieved with both oils at 100 µL L-1, and anesthesia at ≥ 200 µL L-1. There was no significant difference between control and EO-treated groups regarding VR, but all fish subjected to 100 µL L-1 EOC died within 2 h of exposure. Overall, ionic loss declined in the presence of the EOs. The EOC at 200 - 300 μL L-1 and EOO at 400 - 500 μL L-1 present the potential to promote fast anesthesia in R. quelen