Atividade antifúngica de extratos depositados no banco de extratos de plantas do Bioma Cerrado e de substâncis isoladas de Matayba Guianensis

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 2013.As infecções fúngicas são responsáveis por grandes agravos à saúde humana e acometem principalmente pessoas imunocomprometidas. Mundialmente, tem-se observado o aumento na incidência das infecções fúngicas e de cepas resistentes aos agentes antifúngicos utilizados na terapia. Diante desse panorama, faz-se necessária a busca por novos recursos terapêuticos. Uma importante fonte de novas susbtâncias são os metabólitos secundários vegetais. Desse modo, este trabalho avaliou a atividade antifúngica de 183 extratos vegetais pertencentes ao Banco de Extratos do Bioma Cerrado do Laboratório de Farmacognosia da Universidade de Brasília. A concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) em leveduras e fungos filamentosos foi determinada utilizando as técnicas de microdiluição descritas nos protocolos do Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Todas as espécies estudadas apresentaram em pelo menos um dos seus extratos forte atividade antifúngica (CIM ≤ 125 µg/mL). O extrato etanólico da casca da raiz de Matayba guianensis foi selecionado para o estudo fitoquímico considerando a atividade antifúngica, a quantidade disponível no Banco e os resultados das revisões bibliográficas. Foram isoladas as substâncias inéditas, denominadas matayosídeo E (1) e matayosídeo F (2), e as substâncias conhecidas cupaniosídeo (3) e estigmasterol (4). A atividade das substâncias 1, 2 e 3 foi avaliada em Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 e em células mononucleadas de sangue periférico humano. Os matayosídeos E e F apresentaram atividade antifúngica e ausência de citotoxicidade. Os resultados encontrados reforçam a importância dos estudos com plantas do bioma Cerrado. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe fungal infections are responsible for major human health problems and affect mainly immunocompromised persons. Worldwide, it has been observed an increased incidence of infections and fungal strains resistant to antifungal agents used in therapy. Against this background, it is necessary to research new therapeutic resources. An important source of new compounds are plant secondary metabolites. Thus, this study evaluated the antifungal activity of 183 plant extracts belonging to the Bank of extracts from the Cerrado biome of the Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, University of Brasília. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in yeast and filamentous fungi was determined using the microdilution techniques described in the protocols of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). All species showed at least one of its extracts strong antifungal activity (MIC ≤ 125 mg/mL). The ethanol extract of the root bark of Matayba guianensis was selected for phytochemical study considering the antifungal activity, the amount available in the Bank and the results of literature reviews. The new compounds have been isolated and named matayoside (1) and matayoside F (2), and the compounds already known, cupanioside (3) and stigmasterol (4). The activity of compounds 1, 2 and 3 was evaluated in Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 and mononuclear cells of human peripheral blood. The matayoside E and F showed antifungal activity and no cytotoxicity. The results reinforce the importance of studies with plants of the Cerrado biome

Development and validation of a microbial counting method for mebendazole oral suspension

Mebendazole is an important medicine used to treat helminth infections. These infections affect more than two billion people worldwide. The LAFEPE® (Recife-PE, Brazil) produces the drug mebendazole oral suspension that contains the preservatives methylparaben and propylparaben in its formulation. Drugs that have antimicrobial properties due to preservatives must undergo neutralization of these compounds to allow microbial count testing according to recommendations by the official compendia. In order to obtain a validated method for microbial counting and to ensure its safety and reliability within the pharmaceutical industry, validation of preservative neutralization and of the method for microbial counting was performed according to the USP 30 and PDA Technical Report No. 33. The method used ATCC Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms, yeasts, most and culture media Tryptic Soy Agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. The neutralizers were polysorbate 80 and lecithin. Recovery levels of over 70% of the microorganisms used in the test indicated the neutralization of antimicrobial activity and proved the absence of toxicity of neutralizers. The microbial counting method validated proved accurate, precise, robust and linear and can be safely used in routine operations.O mebendazol é um importante medicamento utilizado no tratamento de infecções por helmintos. Essas infecções afetam mais de dois bilhões de pessoas em todo o mundo. O LAFEPE (Recife-PE, Brasil) produz o medicamento mebendazol suspensão oral, que possui em sua formulação os conservantes metilparabeno e propilparabeno. Em medicamentos que possuem propriedades antimicrobianas em decorrência dos conservantes faz-se necessária a neutralização da ação desses compostos para a realização do teste de contagem microbiana segundo preconizado pelos compêndios oficiais. A fim de obter um método de contagem microbiana validado e que garanta sua segurança e reprodutibilidade dentro da indústria farmacêutica foi realizada a validação da neutralização dos antimicrobianos e validação do método de contagem microbiana de acordo com a USP 30 e PDA-Technical Report N° 33. O método desenvolvido utilizou microrganismos ATCC Gram positivos, Gram negativos, leveduras e fungos e meios de cultura Tryptic Soy Agar e Sabouraud-dextrose Agar. Os neutralizantes foram polissorbato 80 e lecitina de soja . Níveis de recuperação superiores a 70% dos microrganismos utilizados no ensaio indicaram neutralização da atividade antimicrobiana e comprovou a ausência de toxicidade dos neutralizantes. O método de contagem microbiana validado revelou-se exato, preciso, robusto e linear podendo ser utilizado com segurança na rotina operacional

Uso de resíduo do extrato aquoso de amendoim na elaboração de bolo sem glúten / Use of residue of peanut exchange in the preparation of gluten free cake

Objetivou-se com a pesquisa testar o uso do resíduo, proveniente da obtenção do extrato aquoso de amendoim, na preparação de bolo em substituição total da farinha de trigo. O resíduo do extrato aquoso de amendoim foi obtido após processamento nos laboratórios da UFCG, sendo realizada a caracterização química e em seguida a elaboração das formulações de bolo sem glúten utilizando resíduo de amendoim e fécula de mandioca nas proporções de 37,5:62,5 (F1); 50:50 (F2) e 62,5:37,5 (F3) e gordura vegetal em substituição à margarina. Os bolos foram caracterizados quanto a sua composição química, análise do perfil de textura e aceitação sensorial das formulações testadas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e, de acordo com a significância do teste F aplicou-se o teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, utilizando-se o programa computacional ASSISTAT 7.7. Os resultados das análises mostraram que o resíduo possui qualidade química superior ao da farinha de trigo, com maior conteúdo de proteínas e lipídios e que os bolos apresentaram diferença significativa no perfil de textura instrumental, apresentado F2 com as melhores médias. No perfil sensorial as três formulações obtiveram médias superiores a 6, sendo F1 o bolo que obteve as melhores médias ficando todas acima de 7

Uso de resíduo do extrato aquoso de amendoim na elaboração de bolo sem glúten / Use of residue of peanut exchange in the preparation of gluten free cake

Objetivou-se com a pesquisa testar o uso do resíduo, proveniente da obtenção do extrato aquoso de amendoim, na preparação de bolo em substituição total da farinha de trigo. O resíduo do extrato aquoso de amendoim foi obtido após processamento nos laboratórios da UFCG, sendo realizada a caracterização química e em seguida a elaboração das formulações de bolo sem glúten utilizando resíduo de amendoim e fécula de mandioca nas proporções de 37,5:62,5 (F1); 50:50 (F2) e 62,5:37,5 (F3) e gordura vegetal em substituição à margarina. Os bolos foram caracterizados quanto a sua composição química, análise do perfil de textura e aceitação sensorial das formulações testadas. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA) e, de acordo com a significância do teste F aplicou-se o teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, utilizando-se o programa computacional ASSISTAT 7.7. Os resultados das análises mostraram que o resíduo possui qualidade química superior ao da farinha de trigo, com maior conteúdo de proteínas e lipídios e que os bolos apresentaram diferença significativa no perfil de textura instrumental, apresentado F2 com as melhores médias. No perfil sensorial as três formulações obtiveram médias superiores a 6, sendo F1 o bolo que obteve as melhores médias ficando todas acima de 7

Naphth[1,2-<i>d</i>]imidazoles Bioactive from β-Lapachone: Fluorescent Probes and Cytotoxic Agents to Cancer Cells

Theranostics combines therapeutic and imaging diagnostic techniques that are extremely dependent on the action of imaging agent, transporter of therapeutic molecules, and specific target ligand, in which fluorescent probes can act as diagnostic agents. In particular, naphthoimidazoles are potential bioactive heterocycle compounds to be used in several biomedical applications. With this aim, a group of seven naphth[1,2-d]imidazole compounds were synthesized from β-lapachone. Their optical properties and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and their compounds were evaluated and confirmed promising values for molar absorptivity coefficients (on the order of 103 to 104), intense fluorescence emissions in the blue region, and large Stokes shifts (20–103 nm). Furthermore, the probes were also selective for analyzed cancer cells (leukemic cells (HL-60). The naphth[1,2-d]imidazoles showed IC50 between 8.71 and 29.92 μM against HL-60 cells. For HCT-116 cells, values for IC50 between 21.12 and 62.11 μM were observed. The selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and the fluorescence of the synthesized naphth[1,2-d]imidazoles are promising responses that make possible the application of these components in antitumor theranostic systems

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora