Christiane Adrielly Alves Ferraz

Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant and photoprotective activities of extracts from flowers of Bromelia laciniosa (Bromeliaceae)

ABSTRACT In this study, the phytochemical profile of extracts from the flowers of Bromelia laciniosa was characterized. The total phenolic and flavonoids contents were determined and the antioxidant and photoprotective activities were evaluated using in vitro assays. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated that the extracts were found to be positive for the presence of anthracene derivatives, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids and tannins, lignans, mono and diterpenes. The ethanol extract (Bl-EtOH) presented the most significant total phenolic content (53.75 ± 1.25 mg GAE/g). The dichloromethane extract (Bl-CH2Cl2) showed the highest flavonoid content (46.06 ± 1.18 mg CE/g). The methanol extract (Bl-MeOH) was the most effective extract in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil) assay (EC50 141.90 ± 3.01 μg/mL). Bl-EtOH and Bl-MeOH showed higher sun protection factor at a concentration of 100 mg/L (3.38 ± 0.04 and 3.78 ± 0.11, respectively). Therefore, the extracts proved to be interesting for the development of new studies aiming their incorporation into photoprotective cosmetic formulations.

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.

Antinociceptive Effect of the Essential Oil from Croton conduplicatus Kunth (Euphorbiaceae)

Medicinal plants have been widely used in the treatment of chronic pain. In this study, we describe the antinociceptive effect of the essential oil from Croton conduplicatus (the EO 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), a medicinal plant native to Brazil. Antinociceptive activity was investigated by measuring the nociception induced by acetic acid, formalin, hot plate and carrageenan. A docking study was performed with the major constituents of the EO (E-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and camphor). The EO reduced nociceptive behavior at all doses tested in the acetic acid-induced nociception test (p < 0.05). The same was observed in both phases (neurogenic and inflammatory) of the formalin test. When the hot-plate test was conducted, the EO (50 mg/kg) extended the latency time after 60 min of treatment. The EO also reduced leukocyte migration at all doses, suggesting that its antinociceptive effect involves both central and peripheral mechanisms. Pretreatment with glibenclamide and atropine reversed the antinociceptive effect of the EO on the formalin test, suggesting the involvement of KATP channels and muscarinic receptors. The docking study revealed a satisfactory interaction profile between the major components of the EO and the different muscarinic receptor subtypes (M2, M3, and M4). These results corroborate the medicinal use of C. conduplicatus in folk medicine.

Sensitization of tumor cells to chemotherapy by natural products: A systematic review of preclinical data and molecular mechanisms

PURPOSE Tumor cells are spontaneously or adaptively resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs, eventually leading to the selection of multiresistant cells responsible for tumor growth and metastasis. Chemosensitization of tumor cells to conventional drugs using non-toxic natural products is a recent and innovative strategy aiming to increase the cytotoxic efficiency of anticancer drugs, limit their toxic side effects and delay the appearance of acquired chemoresistance. This systematic review summarizes data obtained from preclinical studies reporting the use of natural products to sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents. It also details the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in chemosensitization. DESIGN Search terms were combined and used to retrieve English language reports in PubMed, Science Direct and Scopus databases, published until October 2017. All articles were carefully analyzed and data extraction was conducted through standardized forms. Methodological quality assessment of in vivo studies was also performed. RESULTS From a total of 669 articles surveyed, 104 met the inclusion criteria established. The main studied compounds as chemosensitizers were phenolic derivatives (26.9%) and flavonoids (17.3%). Most reports were authored by researchers from China (33.7%) and USA (26.9%). A large number of articles were published from 2011 to 2015 (50.0%), suggesting that the use of natural products as chemosensitizers is a recent issue. In vivo studies were conducted mainly using xenograft models, which were considered of moderate methodological quality. CONCLUSION Several natural products, belonging to diverse chemical families, are potent chemosentisizers in tumor cells enhancing the cytotoxicity of conventional drugs. These molecules usually have a pleiotropic effect on different molecular targets, acting on several cellular and molecular processes with low selectivity. All studied molecules were obtained from terrestrial plants and major developments should arise from future studies, considering the chemodiversity of molecules purified from other terrestrial taxa and marine organisms.

USE OF FLAVONOIDS IN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY SECTOR: A TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING STUDY

Natural products have been highlighted in the national research, also being increasingly used in the industrial sector as a source of new products. Among the main classes of secondary metabolites studied, the flavonoids are known for their chemical diversity and biological properties. The aim of