Effects of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor essential oil on the growth and morphogenesis of Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Trichophyton mentagrophytes is a fungus causative agent of dermatophytosis, affecting humans worldwide. This has driven the search for products for the treatment of these infections. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of the Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil against T. mentagrophytes. The antifungal tests consisted of antifungal screening, determination of MIC and MFC, analysis of the essential oil's effects on mycelial growth, germination of fungal spores, fungal viability, morphogenesis, cell wall (test with sorbitol) and cell membrane (cell leakage test) of T. mentagrophytes. Upon screening, the oil inhibited all strains, with zones of growth inhibition of 24-28 mm in diameter. The MIC was 312 μg/mL and CFM was 2500 μg/mL for almost all the strains tested. There were morphological changes in the conidia group, form and pigmentation of hyphae. The antifungal action of the product does not involve the cell wall and its action may involve the fungal plasma membrane. It is concluded that C. winterianus essential oil constitutes a potential antifungal product, especially for the treatment of dermatophytosis.Trichophyton mentagrophytes é um fungo causador de dermatofitoses, afetando humanos em todo o mundo. Isto direciona a busca de produtos para o tratamento destas infecções. Assim, este estudo teve por objetivo investigar a atividade antifúngica do óleo essencial de Cymbopogon winterianus contra T. mentagrophytes. Os ensaios antifúngicos foram constituídos do screening antifúngico, da determinação CIM e CFM, da análise dos efeitos do óleo essencial no crescimento micelial, na germinação dos esporos, na viabilidade fúngica, na morfogênese, na parede celular (ensaio com sorbitol) e na membrana celular (ensaio de lise celular) de T. mentagrophytes. No screening, o óleo inibiu todas as cepas, com zonas de inibição de crescimento de 24-28 mm de diâmetro. A CIM foi de 312 μg/mL e a CFM foi de 2500 μg/mL para quase todas as cepas testadas. O óleo essencial inibiu o desenvolvimento micelial, a germinação dos esporos e a viabilidade fúngica. Houve alterações morfológicas no agrupamento dos conídios, na forma e pigmentação das hifas. A ação antifúngica do produto não envolve a parede celular e parece estar envolvida com a membrana celular fúngica. Pode-se concluir que o óleo essencial de C. winterianus se apresenta como um potencial produto antifúngico, especialmente para o tratamento das dermatofitoses

Growth inhibition and morphological alterations of Trichophyton rubrum induced by essential oil from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor

Trichophyton rubrum is one of the most common fungi causer of dermatophytosis, mycosis that affect humans and animals around the world. Researches aiming new products with antifungal activity become necessary to overcome difficulties on treatment of these infections. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of essential oil from Cymbopogon winterianus against the dermatophyte T. rubrum. The antifungal screening was performed by solid medium diffusion method with 16 T. rubrum strains, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) were determined using the microdilution method. The effects on mycelial dry weight and morphology were also observed. Screening showed essential oil in natura inhibited all the tested strains, with inhibition zones between 24-28 mm diameter. MIC50 and MIC90 values of the essential oil were 312 µg/mL for nearly all the essayed strains (93.75 %) while the MFC50 and MFC90 values were about eight times higher than MIC for all tested strains. All tested essential oil concentrations managed to inhibit strongly the mycelium development. Main morphological changes on the fungal strains observed under light microscopy, which were provided by the essential oil include loss of conidiation, alterations concerning form and pigmentation of hyphae. In the oil presence, colonies showed folds, cream color and slightly darker than the control, pigment production was absent on the reverse and with evident folds. It is concluded that C. winterianus essential oil showed activity against T. rubrum. Therefore, it could be known as potential antifungal compound especially for protection against dermatophytosis

Composição Corporal de Fetos Ovinos aos 130 dias de Gestação, em Ovelhas com Gestação Simples ou Gemelar, Submetidas a Manejo Nutricional Restrito ou Não

Pregnant sheep have peculiar characteristics about the nutritional requirements. Nutritional requirements increases quickly in the third month of pregnancy and lambs that has born from ewes subjected to nutritional restriction in this period show lower birthweight. The high mobilization of nutrients to the pregnant uterus can be verified by the body composition of fetuses. The objective of this study was to describe the body composition of sheep fetuses to 130 days of pregnancy, from single or twin pregnancy, sheep subject to nutritional restriction or not. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Animal Metabolism at the School of Veterinary of UFMG. Fourteen animals were used, housed in metabolic cages. The animals received diet calculated according to the recommendations of the NRC (1985), and those submitted to nutritional restriction received 15% less energy and protein in the diet. The animals were slaughtered and composition fetal determined by laboratory analysis. The fetal composition average was: 80% of their weight was water, 14% protein and 19% mineral and protein added. The fetuses were in free bone and muscle development, which increased the requirements of protein and minerals. It was concluded that the nutritional management and the number of fetuses influence the composition of fetusesOvelhas gestantes apresentam características peculiares quanto às exigências nutricionais. A necessidade de nutrientes aumenta muito no terço final da gestação e cordeiros nascidos de ovelhas submetidas à restrição nutricional neste período apresentam menor peso ao nascer. A grande mobilização de nutrientes para o útero grávido pode ser verificada pela composição corporal dos fetos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a composição corporal de fetos ovinos aos 130 dias de gestação, oriundos de gestação simples ou gemelar, de ovelhas submetidas ou não a restrição alimentar. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Metabolismo Animal da Escola de Veterinária da UFMG. Foram utilizados 14 animas 3 (1r), 3 (1nr), 4 (2r) e 4 (2nr), alojados em gaiolas metabólicas. Os animais recebiam dieta calculada segundo as recomendações do NRC (1985), sendo que aqueles submetidos à restrição nutricional recebiam 15% menos proteína e energia na dieta. Os animais foram abatidos e a composição fetal determinada por analises laboratoriais. A composição fetal média era: 80% de seu peso era água, 14% proteína e 19% minerais e proteína somados. Os fetos estavam em franco desenvolvimento ósseo e muscular, que elevou as necessidades de proteína e minerais. Concluiu-se que o manejo nutricional e o numero de fetos influencia na composição dos mesmos. Palavras-chave: energia, exigência, fetos, minerais, ovelhas, proteína

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