Octanol–water partition coefficients and aqueous solubility data of monoterpenoids: experimental, modeling, and environmental distribution

Terpenes and terpenoids encompass one of the most extensive and valuable classes of secondary metabolites. Their ten-carbon-containing oxygenated representatives, monoterpenoids, are the main components of plant essential oils, being widely exploited in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industrial areas. Due to its widespread use, it is crucial to investigate their environmental distribution. Thus, new water solubility data were obtained for six monoterpenoids ((1R)-(+)-camphor, (S)-(+)-carvone, eucalyptol, (1R)- (−)-fenchone, L-(−)-menthol, and (−)-menthone) at 298.2 and 313.2 K. Furthermore, octanol−water partition coefficients of 12 monoterpenoids (the six mentioned above plus carvacrol, (±)-β-citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, and thymol) were measured at 298.2 K. The COSMO-RS thermodynamic model and other more empirical approaches were evaluated for the description of the solubilities and partition coefficients, showing reliable predictions. Lastly, the distribution of the monoterpenoids in the different environmental compartments was assessed through an intuitive two-dimensional chemical space diagram based on the physicochemical equilibrium information reported.This work was developed within the scope of the project CIMO-Mountain Research Center, UIDB/00690/2020, and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)/MCTES. S.M.V.-B. thanks FCT and the European Social Fund (ESF) for his Ph.D. grant (SFRH/BD/138149/2018). M.C.d.C. would also like to thank CNPq (306666/ 2020-0) and FAPESP (2014/21252-0).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Screening of the antibacterial activity of phenolic extracts from Portuguese north-eastern plants

Thermal injury, trauma, chronic ulcerations, pressure or venous stasis result in lost of skin integrity allowing the deposition and colonisation of the injury tissue by a wide range of bacteria. Skin and soft tissues infection are typically colonized by staphylococci or streptococci, but virtually any microorganism may induce tissue inflammation and immune response. The severity of the infection may range from self-limit superficial infections to life-threatening diseases. However, the most common treatment for skin and soft tissue infections is antibiotics. However the indiscriminate use of this kind of drugs affects the normal skin flora and may result in multi-resistant strains. In order to overcome this issue it is critical to identify new antimicrobial agents. Nowadays, the synthetic antimicrobial agents have been replaced by natural ones, since these are more friendlly to the user and are more available. Plants are, virtually, inexhaustible sources of biologically-active compounds, responsible for defence mechanisms against microorganisms, insects and herbivores. Therefore, bioactive compounds from plants have been widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Such molecules include polyphenolics, alkaloids and polysaccharides, and they, all, have pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Several ethonobotanical surveys conducted in the north-eastern region of Portugal by Ana M. Carvalho sellected some wild plants used on folk pharmacopeia and tradicional cusine as potential antimicrobials. In the present work, a screening of the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, usually associated with skin infections, was performed using nine phenolic extracts of wild plants and eight coumpounds from selected extracts. The phenolic extracts were characterized by HPLC–DAD-ESI/MS. The antibacterial activity of the extracts and the compounds was assed by the disk difussion assay described on National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), M27-A2 document (NCCLS, 2002), with some modifications and the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) was obtained by the method described by Wiegand et al, 2008a. The results obtained from the disk diffusion assay allowed the selection of the phenolic extracts with higher activity against the three bacteria strains. The phenolic extracts from the Cistus ladanifer, Castanea sativa, Filipendula ulmaria and Rosa micrantha showed halo formation for all bacteria. Hence, the MIC of these four phenolic extracts was evaluated, the values ranged between 0.313 mg.mL-1of extract (Cistus ladanifer/K. pneumoniae) and 2.5 mg.mL-1 (Filipendula ulmaria/S. epidermidis, K. pneumoniae; Rosa micrantha/ S. epidermidis, K. pneumoniae). Antimicrobial activity of the most important compounds present on the selected extracts was measured by the disk diffusion method. Gallic acid was the compound with the highest activity for all bacteria. Thus, it was used in combination with other compounds in order to predict synergism/antagonism among them. The results showed that the activity of gallic acid was reduced or even annulled by the other compounds used. Moreover, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, kaempferol, rutin, quercetin and chrysin exhibited halo formation at least for one of the bacteria used, thus their MIC was assessed. Gallic acid was the one with the lowest MIC value (9.75, 39 and 19 µg.mL-1 for S.aureus, S. epidermidis and K. pneumoniae, respectively), while ellagic acid had the highest values (>5 mg.mL-1 for all bacteria strains). Overall, the phenolic extract of C. ladanifer, C. sativa, F. ulmaria and R. micrantha inhibit the growth of the most common bacteria found on skin infections and gallic acid was the phenolic compound present in the extracts with higher activity

Antibacterial potential of northeastern Portugal wild plant extracts and respective phenolic compounds

The present work aims to assess the antibacterial potential of phenolic extracts, recovered from plants obtained on the North East of Portugal, and of their phenolic compounds (ellagic, caffeic, and gallic acids, quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin), against bacteria commonly found on skin infections. The disk diffusion and the susceptibility assays were used to identify the most active extracts and phenolic compounds. The effect of selected phenolic compounds on animal cells was assessed by determination of cellular metabolic activity. Gallic acid had a higher activity, against gram-positive (S. epidermidis and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumoniae) at lower concentrations, than the other compounds. The caffeic acid, also, showed good antibacterial activity against the 3 bacteria used. The gallic acid was effective against the 3 bacteria without causing harm to the animal cells. Gallic and caffeic acid showed a promising applicability as antibacterial agents for the treatment of infected wounds.The authors thank the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) for financial support by the E. Pinho grant (SFRH/BD/62665/2009) and L. Barros grant (SFRH/BPD/4609/2000), and by the projects PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013, PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011, and PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013. Also, the authors acknowledge the financial support from FEDER through Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade-COMPETE and to COMPETE/QREN/EU (CIMO strategic project 19 PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011), and through the Project "BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality", Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors also acknowledge the project "Consolidating Research Expertise and Resources on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at CEB/IBB", Ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462

Cyclodextrin/cellulose hydrogel with gallic acid to prevent wound infection

Cyclodextrin-based hydrogels have been described as suitable for the controlled-release of bioactive molecules to be used as wound dressing. These materials have major advantages, since they gather the hydrogel properties (high degree of swelling and easy manipulation) and the encapsulation ability of cyclodextrins. β-cyclodextrin (β) or hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβ) was cross-linked (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose under mild conditions. The hydrogels were chemically characterized by swelling degree, FTIR, DSC and contact angle. The gallic acid loading and release was also analysed, as well the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of the polymeric networks. The hydrogels obtained were firm and transparent, with good swelling ability. The gel-HPβ had a surface more hydrophilic when compared with the gel-β. Nevertheless, both hydrogels were capable to incorporate gallic acid and sustain the release for 48 h. The antibacterial activity of gallic acid was maintained after its adsorption within the polymeric matrix, as well as, gallic acid effect on fibroblast proliferation. Therefore, gel-β and gel-HPβ conjugated with gallic acid were shown to be a viable option for antibacterial wound dressing.The authors thank the FCT Strategic Projects PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013, PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011, the Project "BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality'', Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional doNorte (ON.2-ONovoNorte), QREN, FEDER, and E. Pinho grant (SFRH/BD/62665/2009)

Surface crystallization of ionic liquid crystals

The evidence for surface crystallization in ionic liquids is scarce. The existing reports seem to be contradictory as for its driving forces, since in the two compounds investigated in the literature, the contribution of coloumbic and van der Waals forces is very different. In this work 1-dodecyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate was studied and its surface crystallization characterized by surface tension, ellipsometry and optical microscopy. The results obtained seem to reconcile previous observations, and it was further shown, using the same techniques, that this phenomenon is prevalent in other ionic liquids. MD simulation results illustrate the different possibilities of organization, providing reasonable models to rationalize the experimental observations.This work was developed with the scope of the project CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, UID/CTM/50011/2019, Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM, UID/EQU/50020/2019, and of Instituto de Telecomunicaço˜es/IT (UID/EEA/50008/2013) – funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). M. A. R. M. acknowledges financial support from NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000006 – funded by NORTE2020 through PT2020 and ERDF, and P. J. C. acknowledges the FCT for the contract IF/00758/2015. A. R. Bastos from UA is acknowledged for help in the ellipsometry measurements. M. C. C. aknowledges FAPESP (2012/05027-1) and CNPq (310272/2017) for financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ehrlich tumor induces TRPV1-dependent evoked and non-evoked pain-like behavior in mice

We standardized a model by injecting Ehrlich tumor cells into the paw to evaluate cancer pain mechanisms and pharmacological treatments. Opioid treatment, but not cyclooxygenase inhibitor or tricyclic antidepressant treatments reduces Ehrlich tumor pain. To best use this model for drug screening it is essential to understand its pathophysiological mechanisms. Herein, we investigated the contribution of the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) in the Ehrlich tumor-induced pain model. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons from the Ehrlich tumor mice presented higher activity (calcium levels using fluo-4 fluorescent probe) and an increased response to capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) than the saline-injected animals

Glycans as Key Checkpoints of T Cell Activity and Function

The immune system is highly controlled and fine-tuned by glycosylation, through the addition of a diversity of carbohydrates structures (glycans) to virtually all immune cell receptors. Despite a relative backlog in understanding the importance of glycans in the immune system, due to its inherent complexity, remarkable findings have been highlighting the essential contributions of glycosylation in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses with important implications in the pathogenesis of major diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer. Glycans are implicated in fundamental cellular and molecular processes that regulate both stimulatory and inhibitory immune pathways. Besides being actively involved in pathogen recognition through interaction with glycan-binding proteins (such as C-type lectins), glycans have been also shown to regulate key pathophysiological steps within T cell biology such as T cell development and thymocyte selection; T cell activity and signaling as well as T cell differentiation and proliferation. These effects of glycans in T cells functions highlight their importance as determinants of either self-tolerance or T cell hyper-responsiveness which ultimately might be implicated in the creation of tolerogenic pathways in cancer or loss of immunological tolerance in autoimmunity. This review discusses how specific glycans (with a focus on N-linked glycans) act as regulators of T cell biology and their implications in disease

Cyclodextrin modulation of gallic acid in vitro antibacterial activity

The substitution of large spectrum antibiotics for natural bioactive molecules (especially polyphenolics) for the treatment of wound infections has come into prominence in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the use of such molecules depends on their stability during environmental stress and on their ability to reach the action site without losing biological properties. The application of cyclodextrins as a vehicle for polyphenolics protection has been documented and appears to enhance the properties of bioactive molecules. Therefore, the encapsulation of gallic acid, an antibacterial agent with low stability, by -cyclodextrin, (2-hydroxy) propyl--cyclodextrin and methyl--cyclodextrin, was investigated. Encapsulation by -cyclodextrin was confirmed for pH 3 and 5, with similar stability parameters. The (2-hydroxy) propyl--cyclodextrin and methyl--cyclodextrin interactions with gallic acid were only confirmed at pH 3. Among the three cyclodextrins, better gallic acid encapsulation were observed for (2-hydroxy) propyl--cyclodextrin, followed by -cyclodextrin and methyl--cyclodextrin. The effect of cyclodextrin encapsulation on the gallic acid antibacterial activity was also analysed. The antibacterial activity of the inclusion complexes was investigated here for the first time. According to the results, encapsulation of gallic acid by (2-hydroxy) propyl--cyclodextrin seems to be a viable option for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, since this inclusion complex has good stability and antibacterial activity.The authors are grateful for the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and the Project "BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality", Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the "Programa Operacional Regional do Norte" (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors also acknowledge the project "Consolidating Research Expertise and Resources on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at CEB/IBB", Ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462. This work is, also, funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors-COMPETE and National Funds through FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology under the project PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011. Additionally, the authors would like to thank the FCT for the grant for E. Pinho (SFRH/BD/62665/2009)

Closing Water Cycles in the Built Environment through Nature-Based Solutions: The Contribution of Vertical Greening Systems and Green Roofs

Water in the city is typically exploited in a linear process, in which most of it is polluted, treated, and discharged; during this process, valuable nutrients are lost in the treatment process instead of being cycled back and used in urban agriculture or green space. The purpose of this paper is to advance a new paradigm to close water cycles in cities via the implementation of naturebased solutions units (NBS_u), with a particular focus on building greening elements, such as green roofs (GRs) and vertical greening systems (VGS). The hypothesis is that such “circular systems” can provide substantial ecosystem services and minimize environmental degradation. Our method is twofold: we first examine these systems from a life-cycle point of view, assessing not only the inputs of conventional and alternative materials, but the ongoing input of water that is required for irrigation. Secondly, the evapotranspiration performance of VGS in Copenhagen, Berlin, Lisbon, Rome, Istanbul, and Tel Aviv, cities with different climatic, architectural, and sociocultural contexts have been simulated using a verticalized ET0 approach, assessing rainwater runoff and greywater as irrigation resources. The water cycling performance of VGS in the mentioned cities would be sufficient at recycling 44% (Lisbon) to 100% (Berlin, Istanbul) of all accruing rainwater roof–runoff, if water shortages in dry months are bridged by greywater. Then, 27–53% of the greywater accruing in a building could be managed on its greened surface. In conclusion, we address the gaps in the current knowledge and policies identified in the different stages of analyses, such as the lack of comprehensive life cycle assessment studies that quantify the complete “water footprint” of building greening systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alterações comportamentais em crianças portadoras de enfermidades crônicas e suas repercussões na família: Hospital da Criança – Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, BA

It is a pilot study, involving 15 children that were commited at the Hospital da Criança: Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, Bahia. The objective of this study is the investigation of family’s perception about the pediatric patient with chronic illness. The responsible for the patient answered a questionnaire that approached subjects regarding the partner demographic profile, family  knowledge degree about the disease, behavior alterations in child and its family, besides the impression of prognostic and  the medical services that were offered to the researched population. The results evidenced that some kind of behavior alteration were presented by all evaluated population, being more frequent symptoms of: sadness; anxiety; isolation and sleepness. The parents referred that after the appearance of the disease, the more common manifestations were: increase of the familiar union, feeling of fear, anxiety and concern with physical sequels. Regarding the model of hospital care, it was revealed that they were satisfied with the quality and efficiency of the medical service. However, they consider insufficient the psychological support to the child and the family throughout the confrontation of the chronic disease. The next phase of this study should make possible a more consistent and inclusive analysis concerning the proposed theme.Trata-se de um estudo piloto que envolve 15 crianças internadas no Hospital da Criança: Obras Sociais de Irmã Dulce, Salvador, Bahia, realizado com o objetivo de investigar a percepção da família perante o paciente pediátrico, portador de enfermidade crônica. Para tanto, o responsável pelo paciente respondeu a um questionário que abordou questões referentes a perfil sociodemográfico, grau de conhecimento da família em relação à doença, percepção quanto a alterações comportamentais ocorridas na criança e na família, além da impressão quanto ao prognóstico e serviços médicos prestados à população pesquisada. Os resultados desta pesquisa evidenciaram que toda a população avaliada apresentou algum tipo de alteração comportamental, sendo mais freqüentes os sintomas: tristeza, ansiedade, isolamento e sonolência. Os pais referiram como manifestações mais comuns, após o surgimento da doença: maior união familiar, sentimento de medo, ansiedade e preocupação com seqüelas físicas. No que diz respeito ao padrão de assistência hospitalar, revelaram-se satisfeitos com a qualidade e eficiência do serviço médico prestado. Entretanto, consideram insuficiente o suporte psicológico à criança e à família no enfrentamento da doença crônica. A próxima fase deste estudo deverá possibilitar uma análise mais consistente e abrangente acerca do tema proposto