In vitro Antifungal Activity of Baccharis trimera Less (DC) Essential Oil against Dermatophytes

Purpose: To identify the main components of the essential oil (EO) of Baccharis trimera Less and investigate their in vitro antifungal activity against seven fungal strains that cause onychomycosis.Methods: The chemical composition of EO was determined using gas chromatography, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), and antifungal activity were compared with those of terbinafine and ketoconazole. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate morphological changes in the strains of interest.Results: Twenty compounds, with β-pinene being the major constituent (23.4 %), were identified in EO. EO exhibited fungicide potential, with MFC values in the range of 0.06 to 125 μg mL−1, which were lower than those of the reference drugs against Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507 URM1666 and Microsporum canis ATCC 32903. MIC range for the compounds was from 0.03 to 125 μg mL−1 for five strains of the fungi evaluated. For Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 11481 and Epidermophyton floccosum CCFIOC 3757, MIC was ≥ 1000 μg mL−1. Flattening, distortions, and shrinkage were observed in the SEM images of structures of the five fungal species that were subjected to the action of the EO.Conclusion: The results indicate that EO has antifungal activity against filamentous fungi and may be developed as an alternative for the treatment of onychomycosis.Keywords: Baccharis trimera, Fungi, Onychomycosis, Dermatophytes, Antifunga

Chemical Composition and Antifungal Properties of Essential Oil of Origanum vulgare Linnaeus (Lamiaceae) against Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the essential oil of Origanum vulgare Linnaeus (Lamiaceae) on the growth of Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis.Methods: The chemical composition of the essential oil was investigated by gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined by broth micro-dilution method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also performed to reveal morphological alterations in Sporothrix spp. cells.Results: The major components of the essential oil were γ-terpinene (30.5%), carvacrol (15.7 %) and 4-terpineol (13.0 %). γ-Terpinene showed potential antifungal activity with MIC ranging from 62.5 to 500.0 μg mL-1 for S. schenckii, and 125.0 to 250.0 μg mL-1 for S. brasiliensis. SEM micrographs revealed morphological alterations in hyphae and reduction of the adhered conidia numbers.Conclusion: Origanum vulgare Linnaeus essential oil possesses potential antifungal activity, and can, therefore, can be developed as an alternative agent for the treatment of sporotrichosis.Keywords: Antifungal Activity, Essential Oil, Gas Chromatography, Origanum vulgare, Sporotrichosi

In vitro drug release and ex vivo percutaneous absorption of resveratrol cream using HPLC with zirconized silica stationary phase

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Since the designs of optimal formulations for resveratrol permeation via the skin are lacking, the aim of this study was to establish the profile of resveratrol permeability into and across human skin. For that, a laboratory-made chromatographic column was used (Zr-PMODS), with its performance being compared to a traditional C18 column. In vitro drug release was conducted with polysulfone membranes, and the flux (J(s)) was 30.49 mu g cm(-2) h(-1)), with a lag time (L-T) of 0.04h, following a pseudo-first-order kinetics. For ex vivo percutaneous absorption using excised female human skin, the kinetic profile was the same, but J(s) was 0.87 mu g cm(-2) h(-1) and L-T was 0.97 h. From the initials 49.30 mu g applied to the skin, 9.50 mu g were quantified in the receptor medium, 20.48 mu g was retained at the stratum corneum (do not account as permeated) and 21.41 mu g was retained at the viable epidermis + dermis (account as permeated), totalizing 30.90 mu g of resveratrol permeated after 24 h of application (62.6%). From these results, one can conclude that a person using the 1-g emulsion dose released by the pump containing 20 mg of resveratrol will have, theoretically, 12.53 mg of it liberated into his bloodstream, gradually and continuously for 24h. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.9472331Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Programa Ciencia sem Fronteiras [245781/2012-9]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CAPES [Edital 04/CII-2008]Programa Ciencia sem Fronteiras [245781/2012-9