Camila de Souza Araújo

Development and Evaluation of Photoprotective O/W Emulsions Containing Hydroalcoholic Extract of Neoglaziovia variegata (Bromeliaceae)

Neoglaziovia variegata is a Bromeliaceae plant species widely found in Brazil with several pharmacological properties, including photoprotective activity. Although herbal-based active ingredients have been applied in cosmetic products, especially for skin treatment, its application in sunscreen formulations remains unexplored. The aim of this work is to evaluate the photoprotective effect of cosmetic formulations containing hydroalcoholic extract of N. variegata (Nv-HA). Initially, the phenolic and flavonoid total content of Nv-HA were determined. The photoprotective activity of Nv-HA was subsequently assessed using a spectrophotometric method. Nv-HA was incorporated in O/W emulsions in the presence or absence of synthetic filters and their photoprotective efficacy was evaluated by spectrophotometric SPF determination. Finally, the stability study of the formulations was performed through the freezing/defrosting method. Nv-HA showed significant phenolic and flavonoids content (61.66 ± 5.14 mg GAE/g and 90.27 ± 5.03 mg CE/g, resp.). Nv-HA showed SPF values of 5.43 ± 0.07 and 11.73 ± 0.04 for the concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0% (v/v), respectively. It was verified that Nv-HA potentiated the photoprotective effect of formulations containing only synthetic filters. Furthermore, the formulations have remained stable at the end of the preliminary stability study. According to the results, it was concluded that Nv-HA can be used as a chemical filter in cosmetic formulations.

Phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Cnidoscolus Pohl species: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Cnidoscolus is a genus belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, distributed in South American countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, which includes several species widely used in folk medicine. However, the genus is not sufficiently exploited from a chemical and pharmacological point of view. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE This paper aims to present a systematic review of known pharmacological and chemical aspects from Cnidoscolus, an important genus for South America research groups on medicinal plants. In this article, we highlight the importance of Cnidoscolus species in the search for new bioactive molecules. STUDY DESIGN A systematic review was conducted in order to collect chemical and pharmacological information on species of this genus in the last 25 years. METHODS Literature search was performed through specialized databases (PUBMED, LILACS, SCIELO, Science Direct and Web of Science) using different combinations of the following keywords: Cnidoscolus, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity. For the selection of the manuscripts, two independent investigators (RGOJ and CAAF) first selected the articles according to the title, then to the abstract and finally through an analysis of the full-text publication. All selected manuscripts were analyzed for year of publication, country where the research was performed, reported plant species, isolated chemical compounds and evaluated biological activities. RESULTS Most of the studies involving Cnidoscolus were conducted by research groups located in Brazil, Nigeria and Mexico. Regarding the annual evolution of the publications, a larger number of articles published in 2014 were observed. Flavonoids, triterpenes and diterpenes represent the main classes of secondary metabolites that have been isolated from Cnidoscolus. In terms of the pharmacological investigations, C. aconitifolius, C. chayamansa and C. quercifolius are considered the most studied species, with different pharmacological activities. CONCLUSION All findings indicate that Cnidoscolus is an important genus of the Euphorbiaceae family. However, considering its chemical and pharmacological importance, the studies developed with Cnidoscolus species are still limited, representing an opportunity to investigate new bioactive molecules.

The Genus Hymenaea (Fabaceae): A Chemical and Pharmacological Review

Abstract Hymenaea (Fabaceae) is a genus greatly spread out from Central to South America. Plants of this genus are known as “jatoba,” “jetai,” “jatai-uva,” and “jetaiba,” and are commonly used in traditional medicine. The tree trunks exude a resin, used in folk medicine for the treatment of several disorders. The aim of this study was to review the main publications on the genus Hymenaea, focusing on the pharmacological and chemical approaches. The biological activity and chemical research of the Hymenaea species were run through the main data banks available. The specific names of the genus and the species were used as keywords. There are some important ethnopharmaceutical studies on the Hymenaea species, reporting its use either as a decoction or as a syrup for coughing, anemia, bronchitis, inflammation, antioxidant, sinusitis, abdominal spasms, prostate, asthma, common cold, and lung problems, and the resin in a patch for healing wounds. In some ethnopharmacological articles, the genus was one of the most cited by the population. The parts of the plants cited are the barks, resin, stem, and epicarp. This genus was tested for several activities, and many results were positive. A main chemical characteristic of Hymenaea species is the essential content of diterpenoids in the bark extracts and resin. Flavonoids, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, coumarins, sesquiterpenes, steroids, misc lactones, chromones, and diterpenes were found in its composition. Important studies were developed with Hymenaea plants, and the research showed in this review justifies its traditional use for the treatment of several health problems. Among important medicinal plants, Hymenaea is a genus with a great chemical and pharmacological potential. New research data would improve the knowledge and the application of this genus, contributing to its safe use and the development of new medicinal alternatives.