Isolamento e caracterização de metabólitos secundários das folhas de Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) e avaliação da atividade antifúngica in vitro frente a linhagens de Cryptococcus spp.

The incidence of fungal infections has shown substantial growth in the last decades due to the increase in the immunocompromised population. The species Cryptococcus spp. are responsible for significant systemic infections and have a global estimate of millions of new cases per year. Current therapeutic options are limited and treatments take time and may present a restricted spectrum of action and high toxicity to the patient, which makes the searches for new therapeutic agents an important step in improving the treatments. Previous studies of this research group have shown promising antifungal activity for the polar fractions of the leaves of Xylosma prockia, against Cryptococcus spp. strains. Thus, the present study aimed to characterize the substances present in the ethyl acetate fraction, to identify those responsible for the observed antifungal activity. From this fraction 15 substances were identified: caffeoyl glycoside derivatives (group I), coumaroyl glycoside derivatives (group II) and caffeoyl glycoside derivatives (group III). Four coumaroyl-glycosides were isolated and characterized by spectroscopic methods, three of them was new compounds and one was new for Xylosma genus. The research demonstrates the antifungal potential of ethyl acetate fraction and its subfractions, contributing to the search for new alternatives for the treatment of fungal infections.A incidência de infecções fúngicas tem apresentado crescimento substancial nas últimas décadas devido, principalmente, ao aumento da população imunocomprometida. Espécies de Cryptococcus spp. são responsáveis por importantes infecções sistêmicas e apresentam estimativa global de milhões de novos casos por ano. As atuais opções terapêuticas para o tratamento da criptococose são limitadas, os tratamentos demorados e com elevada toxicidade, o que torna a procura por novos agentes terapêuticos necessária. Em estudos anteriores deste grupo de pesquisa foi observada promissora atividade antifúngica para as frações polares das folhas de Xylosma prockia, frente a linhagens de Cryptococcus spp. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar as substâncias presentes na fração acetato de etila, afim de identificar as responsáveis pela atividade antifúngica observada. A partir dessa fração foram caracterizadas 15 substâncias: derivados cafeoil-quínicos (grupo I), derivados cumaroil-glicosídeos (grupo II) e derivados cafeoil-glicosídeos (grupo III). Quatro derivados cumaroil-glicosídeos foram isolados e caracterizados através de métodos espectroscópicos, sendo três deles inéditos na literatura e um inédito para o gênero Xylosma. O trabalho demostra o potencial antifúngico da FAE e de suas subfrações, contribuindo na busca por novas alternativas para o tratamento de infecções fúngicas.FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerai

Evaluation of in vitro Antifungal Activity of Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) Leaves Against Cryptococcus spp.

Cryptococcus species are responsible for important systemic mycosis and are estimated to cause millions of new cases annually. The available therapy is limited due to the high toxicity and the increasing rates of yeast resistance to antifungal drugs. Popularly known as “sucará,” Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) is a native plant from Brazil with little information on its pharmacological potential. In this work, we evaluated in vitro anticryptococcal effects of the leaf ethanolic extract of X. prockia and its fractions against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. We also evaluated phenotypic alterations caused by ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (chosen according to its biological results). The liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of EAF demonstrated the presence of phenolic metabolites that belong to three structurally related groups as majority compounds: caffeoylquinic acid, coumaroyl-glucoside, and caffeoyl-glucoside/deoxyhexosyl-caffeoyl glucoside derivatives. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against C. gattii and C. neoformans ranged from 8 to 64 mg/L and from 0.5 to 8 mg/L, for ethanolic extract and EAF, respectively. The EAF triggered an oxidative burst and promoted lipid peroxidation. EAF also induced a reduction of ergosterol content in the pathogen cell membrane. These effects were not associated with alterations in the cell surface charge or in the thermodynamic fingerprint of the molecular interaction between EAF and the yeasts evaluated. Cytotoxic experiments with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated that EAF was more selective for yeasts than was PBMCs. The results may provide evidence that X. prockia leaf extract might indeed be a potential source of antifungal agents.Fil: Folly, Mariany L. C.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Gabriella F.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Salvador, Maiara R.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Sathler, Ana A.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: da Silva, Guilherme F.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Santos, Joice Castelo Branco. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Santos, Julliana R. A. dos. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Nunes Neto, Wallace Ribeiro. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Rodrigues, João Francisco Silva. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Fernandes, Elizabeth Soares. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: da Silva, Luís Cláudio Nascimento. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: de Freitas, Gustavo José Cota. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Denadai, Ângelo M.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; BrasilFil: Rodrigues, Ivanildes V.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Mendonça, Leonardo M.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Monteiro, Andrea Souza. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Santos, Daniel Assis. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Cabrera, Gabriela Myriam. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Siless, Gastón Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Lang, Karen L.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; Brasi

Proximate composition and characterization of the vitamins and minerals of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from the Middle Doce River region – Minas Gerais, Brazil

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition and the vitamin, carotenoid, and mineral profile in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) collected from the Middle Doce River region (Médio Rio Doce) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. To accomplish this, the physicochemical parameters, such as titratable acidity, pH, and soluble solids were determined, in addition to the evaluation of the plants’ proximate composition (moisture, ash, proteins, dietary fibers, and lipids). The vitamin E, carotenoids and vitamin C were determined by HPLC and the minerals were analysed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The T. officinale samples presented a low content of macronutrients, a total energy value of 27.88 kcal.100 g−1 FW, a high fiber content (3.7 g.100 g−1 FW), low levels of total vitamin E (43.67 μg.100 g−1 FW), total carotenoids of 11.95 g.100 g−1 FW, and did not present vitamin C in detectable levels. The mineral analysis revealed a high concentration of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium, and small amounts or traces of aluminium, cadmium, nickel, and chromium. In conclusion, T. officinale was shown to be an important source of nutrients, especially fiber, iron and manganese

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial

Background: Appropriate dietary recommendations represent a key part of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a nutritional program on quality of diet, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with established CVD. Methods: In this open-label, multicenter trial conducted in 35 sites in Brazil, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients aged 45 years or older to receive either the BALANCE Program (experimental group) or conventional nutrition advice (control group). The BALANCE Program included a unique nutritional education strategy to implement recommendations from guidelines, adapted to the use of affordable and regional foods. Adherence to diet was evaluated by the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, myocardial revascularization, amputation, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Secondary end points included biochemical and anthropometric data, and blood pressure levels. Results: From March 5, 2013, to Abril 7, 2015, a total of 2534 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the BALANCE Program group (n = 1,266) or the control group (n = 1,268) and were followed up for a median of 3.5 years. In total, 235 (9.3%) participants had been lost to follow-up. After 3 years of follow-up, mean modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (scale 0-70) was only slightly higher in the BALANCE group versus the control group (26.2 ± 8.4 vs 24.7 ± 8.6, P <.01), mainly due to a 0.5-serving/d greater intake of fruits and of vegetables in the BALANCE group. Primary end point events occurred in 236 participants (18.8%) in the BALANCE group and in 207 participants (16.4%) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI 0.95-1.38; P =.15). Secondary end points did not differ between groups after follow-up. Conclusions: The BALANCE Program only slightly improved adherence to a healthy diet in patients with established CVD and had no significant effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events or death. © 2019 The Author