New sulphated flavonoids from Wissadula periplocifolia (L.) C. Presl (Malvaceae)

Wissadula periplocifolia (L.) C. Presl (Malvaceae) is commonly used in Brazil to treat bee stings and as an antiseptic. The antioxidant properties of its extracts have been previously demonstrated, thus justifying a phytochemical investigation for its bioactive phenolic constituents. This has yielded five new sulphated flavonoids: 8-O-sulphate isoscutellarein (yannin) (1a); 4'-O-methyl-7-O-sulphate isoscutellarein (beltraonin) (1b); 7-O-sulphate acacetin (wissadulin) (2a); 4'-O-methyl-8-O-sulphate isoscutellarein (caicoine) (2b) and 3'-O-methyl-8-O-sulphate hypolaetin (pedroin) (3b) along with the known flavonoids 7,4'-di-O-methyl-8-O-sulphate isoscutellarein (4), acacetin, apigenin, isoscutellarein, 4´-O-methyl isoscutellarein, 7,4'-di-O-methylisoscutellarein, astragalin and tiliroside. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography and identified by NMR (¹H, (13)C, HMQC, HMBC and COSY) and LC-HRMS. A cell based assay was carried out to evaluate the preliminary cytotoxic properties of the flavonoids against UVW glioma and PC-3M prostate cancer cells as well as non-tumour cell lines. The obtained results showed that acacetin, tiliroside, a mixture of acacetin + apigenin and the sulphated flavonoids 2a + 2b exhibited inhibitory activity against at least one of the cell lines tested. Among the tested flavonoids acacetin and tiliroside showed lower IC50 values, presenting promising antitumor effects

Phytoconstituents from Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) Fryxell (Malvaceae) and antimicrobial activity of pheophytin a

Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) Fryxell, a member of the Malvaceae family, is called malva preta in Brazil. As this species is commonly used to treat bronchitis, cough, and asthma, better knowledge of its chemical compounds is important. The phytochemical study of its hexane extract, using chromatographic techniques, led to isolation of six compounds: the triterpene isoarborinol, a mixture of sitosterol and stigmasterol, sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, pheophytin a, and 132-hydroxy-(132-S)-pheophytin a. Structural identification of these compounds was carried out using spectroscopic methods such as IR and 1D and 2D NMR (HOMOCOSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY). Compounds isolated from S. micranthum were screened for their in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity against twenty fungal and bacterial standard strains. Pheophytin a exhibited antimicrobial action against all microorganisms tested.Sidastrum micranthum (A. St.-Hil.) Fryxell, pertencente à família Malvaceae, é conhecida no Brasil como "malva preta". A espécie é popularmente usada contra bronquite, tosse e asma, mostrando a relevância de conhecer melhor sua composição química. O estudo fitoquímico do extrato hexânico da espécie, utilizando técnicas cromatográficas, conduziu ao isolamento de seis compostos: o triterpeno isoarborinol, mistura de sitosterol e estigmasterol, sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glicopiranosídeo, feofitina a e de 132-hidroxi-(132-S)-feofitina a. A identificação estrutural destes compostos foi realizada com base em métodos espectroscópicos, tais como IV, RMN 1D e 2D (HOMOCOSY, HMQC, HMBC e NOESY). As substâncias isoladas de Sidastrum micranthum foram avaliadas quanto às suas atividades antimicrobianas in vitro, contra vinte cepas fúngicas e bacterianas. A feofitina a mostrou ação antimicrobiana contra todos os microrganismos testados

Promover a qualidade das relações em intervenção precoce com o método Video Hometraining/Video Interaction Guidance (VHT/VIG)

Este estudo teve como finalidade avaliar os efeitos da utilização do método Video Hometraining/ Video Interaction Guidance (VHT/VIG) ao nível da qualidade das relações entre as crianças portuguesas em apoio no âmbito do Sistema Nacional de Intervenção Precoce na Infância (SNIPI) e as suas famílias, e entre estas e os profissionais de Intervenção Precoce (IP), num distrito da região centro de Portugal. O desenho da investigação baseou-se num pressuposto de intervenção em cascata, assumindo que uma intervenção direta visando a capacitação dos profissionais do SNIPI, teria efeitos ao nível da capacitação e empowerment das famílias por eles apoiadas, e do desenvolvimento das respetivas crianças em risco de atraso de desenvolvimento (estabelecido ou devido a fatores biológicos ou ambientais). Foram usados instrumentos estandardizados para avaliar o desempenho profissional (experiencial) e a vulnerabilidade ao stresse dos profissionais do SNIPI; a sintomatologia depressiva, os recursos familiares e as necessidades das famílias; e o crescimento e desenvolvimento das crianças. Dois outros distritos portugueses constituíram-se como grupos de controlo. Os dados foram recolhidos em três tempos (T0, T1 e T2), ao longo de dois anos, junto de uma amostra de conveniência (com base nas famílias/crianças e respetivos profissionais de apoio, em cada um dos distritos), envolvendo: no grupo de intervenção, um n inicial de 113 famílias e 43 profissionais, e final de 23 e 18, respetivamente; no grupo de controlo 1, um n inicial de 49 famílias e 38 profissionais, e final de 16 e 11, respetivamente; e no grupo de controlo 2, um n inicial de 166 famílias e 54 profissionais, e final de 34 e 17, respetivamente. Os resultados mostram diferenças estatisticamente significativas apenas em algumas das dimensões estudadas, sendo que a grande maioria das dimensões, sugere a necessidade de analisar uma variedade de circunstâncias presentes nas comunidades, nos serviços e nas vidas das famílias e crianças. O método VHT/VIG revelou-se um importante meio no processo de capacitação dos profissionais de IP a intervir nos contextos naturais de vida das crianças e famílias, em equipa transdisciplinar e desenvolvendo uma abordagem centrada na família, focada nas relações, baseada nas forças, ecológica e reflexiva.This study aimed to research the effect of using the Video Hometraining/Video Interaction Guidance (VHT/VIG) method on the quality of the relationships experienced by a group of Portuguese children and their families; they live in a district at the centre of the country and are being supported by the National System for Early Intervention in Childhood (SNIPI). The research design was based on an assumption of intervention in cascade, assuming that a direct intervention aiming to enable SNIPI professionals, would have indirect effects in enabling and empowering the families supported by them, and in emotional well-being and learning opportunities of the families’ children, at risk of developmental delay (established or due to biological or environmental factors). Standardized tools were used to assess professional (experiential) performance and vulnerability to stresse of the SNIPI professionals; depressive symptomatology, resources and needs of the families; growth and development of the children. Two other Portuguese districts were constituted as comparison groups. Data were collected at three moments (T0, T1 and T2), over a two years period, in a convenience sample (based on families/children and respective EI professionals, in each district), involving: in the intervention group, an initial n of 113 families and 43 professionals, ending with 23 and 18, respectively; in the comparison group # 1, an initial n of 49 families and 38 professionals, ending with 16 and 11, respectively; and in comparison group # 2, an initial n of 166 families and 54 professionals, ending with 34 and 17, respectively. The results show significant differences in some of the studied dimensions; other, suggest the need to examine a variety of circumstances present in communities, in services and in the families’ and children’s lives. The VHT/VIG has proved to be an important means in the process of enabling SNIPI professionals to intervene in natural contexts where the lives of children and families are taking place, in transdisciplinary team, and developing a relationships focused, based on strengths, family-centered, ecological and reflective approach.Cette étude visait à étudier l’effet de l’emploi de la méthode Vidéo Home Training/Vidéo Interaction Guidance (VHT/VIG) sur la qualité des relations d’un groupe d’enfants portugais à l’appui du Système National d’Intervention Précoce dans la Petite Enfance (SNIPI), avec leurs familles, vivant à la région central du pays. Le plan de recherche a été basée sur un postulat d’intervention en cascade, à savoir, une intervention directe visant à habiliter des professionnels du SNIPI, aurais un effet indirect sur la capacitation et autonomisation des familles, et sur le bien-être et les opportunités d’apprentissage de leurs enfants à risque de retard de développement (établi, biologique ou environnementale). Instruments standardisés ont été utilisés pour évaluer la performance (expérientiel) et la vulnérabilité au stresse des professionnels du SNIPI; la symptomatologie dépressive, les ressources et les nécessités des familles; la croissance et le développement des enfants. Deux autres districts portugais ont été constitués en groupes de comparaison. Les données ont été collectées à trois points dans le temps (T0, T1 et T2), sur une période de deux ans, avec un échantillon pratique (basé sur les familles/enfants et respectifs professionnels d’appui dans chaque district), comportant: le groupe d’intervention, une n de départ de 113 familles et 43 professionnels, terminant avec 23 et 18, respectivement; dans le groupe de comparaison 1, une n de départ de 49 familles et 38 professionnels, terminant avec 16 et 11, respectivement; et dans le groupe de comparaison 2, une n de départ de166 familles et 54 professionnels, terminant avec 34 et 17, respectivement. Les résultats montrent des différences significatives dans certaines dimensions étudiées; d’autre part, ils suggèrent la nécessité d’examiner une variété de circonstances présentes dans les communautés, dans les services et dans la vie des familles et des enfants. Le VHT/VIG s’est avéré être un moyen important dans le processus d’habilitation des professionnels du SNIPI, à qui est demandé d’intervenir dans des contextes naturels de la vie des enfants et des familles, en équipe transdisciplinaire, et en développent une approche focalisée dans les relations, basée sur les forces, centrée dans la famille, écologique et réfléchissante

Efeitos terapêuticos de Anacardium occidentale: uma revisão da literatura

Anacardium occidentale is characterized as a medicinal plant, member of the Anacardiaceae family. Different parts of the plant have multiple pharmaceutical properties, which are related to their derivatives and high levels of secondary metabolites. Thus, the aim of the study is to identify evidence available in the literature about the herbal properties of A. occidentale in articles published in the last ten years. This is an integrative literature review using descriptors in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) used in the PubMed and SciELO databases. In such a way, the research resulted in 603 articles and, after employing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totaled 51 publications for the full analysis. 97 different properties of A. occidentale were found: anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; antimicrobial; antidiabetic; healing; analgesic; effects on the digestive tract; in the autonomic nervous, respiratory and blood system; hypotensive and cardio inhibitory effects; protective against male sexual dysfunction; antimutagenic, antimetastatic and clastogenic; odontological use; toxic and non-toxic effect and others. The antimicrobial effect was the main one to be reported, however, its applicability in phytotherapy is diverse, having a significant capacity to act in pharmacological treatments if there is adequate contribution to research and development of new drugs.Anacardium occidentale Linn is a medicinal plant, member of the family Anacardiaceae. Several parts of the plant have therapeutic properties, enabling its use as an herbal medicine. Thus, this review identified the available literature data on the herbal properties of A. occidentale, considering articles published in the last twelve years. This is an integrative literature review using descriptors of the Virtual Health Library (VHL), considering the PubMed and SciELO databases. The search resulted in 694 articles and, after employing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totaled 66 publications for full analysis. We found 98 different properties of A. occidentale: anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; antimicrobial; antidiabetic; healing; analgesic; effects on the digestive tract and on the autonomic nervous, respiratory, and blood systems; hypotensive and cardioinhibitory effects; protective against male sexual dysfunction; antimutagenic, antimetastatic, and clastogenic; odontological use; toxic and nontoxic effects; and others. The main effects were antioxidant and antimicrobial. However, the phytotherapeutic use of A. occidentale is wide, requiring further contributions to herbal medicine research and development for promoting and integrating traditional medicine