Cleuza C. da Silva

Constituintes químicos de Luehea divaricata Mart. (Tiliaceae)

Chemical studies of the leaves of L. divaricata afforded 3b-p-hydroxybenzoyl-tormentic acid, a triterpene with an ursene-type skeleton, a mixture whose main compound was an oleanene derivative, the maslinic acid, a C-glycoside flavone, vitexin and glucopyranosylsitosterol. A flavonoid, characterized as (-)-epicatechin, which belongs to the flavan-3-ol class, was isolated from the stems bark. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The antibacterial, antifungal and antiproliferative activities of the crude methanolic extracts of leaves and bark were evaluated and the antibacterial properties of the fractions of the barks were also investigated.

Antitumor activity of (−)-α-bisabolol-based thiosemicarbazones against human tumor cell lines

A series of thiosemicarbazones deriving from the natural sesquiterpene (-)-alpha-bisabolol were synthesized and tested against a panel of eight human tumor cell lines to evaluate their anti-tumor potential. Some of the compounds exhibited inhibitory effects on the growth of a wide range of cancer cell lines, but myeloid leukemia cells (K-562) were especially sensitive to all tested thiosemicarbazones (GI(50) 0.01-4.22 microM). Among the analogues, the ketone derivative 3l was the most active, exhibiting potent antitumoral activity (GI(50) 0.01 microM) and high selectivity for K-562 cells (deltaTGI 505). It also demonstrated high cytotoxicity, with an LC(50) of 1.55 microM for the K-562 cells, but it showed only moderate selectivity (deltaLC(50) 38.5 microM). Through structure-activity relationship studies, we identified some structural requirement for the antitumoral activity exhibited by these promising compounds.

Cell death and ultrastructural alterations in Leishmania amazonensis caused by new compound 4-Nitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone derived from S -limonene

BackgroundThe treatment of leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimonials is problematic because of their toxicity. Investigations of potentially active molecules are important to discover less toxic drugs that are viable economic alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Thiosemicarbazones are a group of molecules that are known for their wide versatility and biological activity. In the present study, we examined the antileishmania activity, mechanism of action, and biochemical alterations produced by a novel molecule, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (BZTS), derived from S-limonene against Leishmania amazonensis.ResultsBZTS inhibited the growth of the promastigote and axenic amastigote forms, with an IC50 of 3.8 and 8.0 μM, respectively. Intracellular amastigotes were inhibited by the compound with an IC50 of 7.7 μM. BZTS also had a CC50 of 88.8 μM for the macrophage strain J774A1. BZTS altered the shape, size, and ultrastructure of the parasites, including damage to mitochondria, reflected by extensive swelling and disorganization of the inner mitochondrial membrane, intense cytoplasmic vacuolization, and the presence of concentric membrane structures inside the organelle. Cytoplasmic lipid bodies, vesicles inside vacuoles in the flagellar pocket, and enlargement were also observed. BZTS did not induce alterations in the plasma membrane or increase annexin-V fluorescence intensity, indicating no phosphatidylserine exposure. However, it induced the production of mitochondrial superoxide anion radicals.ConclusionsThe present results indicate that BZTS induced dramatic effects on the ultrastructure of L. amazonensis, which might be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage, leading to parasite death.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Hyptis ovalifolia Benth. (Lamiaceae)

The leaves of Hyptis ovalifolia Benth. (Lamiaceae) were subjected to hydrodistillation and the resulting volatiles were investigated by GC/MS. The main constituent representing 60% of the essential oil was isolated by column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic methods as (R)-6-[(Z)-1-heptenyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (1). This compound showed strong in vitro activity against four dermatophyte fungi Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Tricophyton mentagrophytes, and Tricophyton rubrum (a total of 60 strains) with a minimal inhibitory concentration observed in the range of 125-7.8 mg µL-1.

Effects of a thiosemicarbazide camphene derivative on Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Thiosemicarbazides are compounds known for their biological activity, particularly their antimicrobial properties, which include activity against fungi. The difficulty of treating fungal diseases induced us to assess the antifungal properties of some novel thiosemicarbazide compounds. We selected the natural products limonene and camphene as sources for the preparation of these new thiosemicarbazide derivatives. The compound N(4)-[2,2-dimethyl-3-methylnorbornane]-thiosemicarbazide (TIO C) showed an antifungal effect on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, with values of MIC = 55 μmol L-1 and MFC = 110 μmol L-1. Scanning-electron microscopy showed a decrease in mycelium development and morphological alterations of T. mentagrophytes cultured on nail fragments and treated with TIO C. In an attempt to discover its mode of action, we noted that ergosterol is apparently not a target of TIO C activity. An effect of TIO C on T. mentagrophytes cell walls and dividing cross-walls was shown by observed impairment of the fluorescence of tissues stained with calcofluor white, a specific marker for fungal chitin, suggesting that the compound can affect and damage the cell-wall structure or may interfere with its formation, during cell division, growth, and morphogenesis. This approach to the synthesis of new derivatives might provide interesting compounds with greater biological activity in pharmacological research.

Benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone Derived from Limonene Complexed with Copper Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis

Background Leishmaniasis is a major health problem that affects more than 12 million people. Treatment presents several problems, including high toxicity and many adverse effects, leading to the discontinuation of treatment and emergence of resistant strains. Methodology/Principal Findings We evaluated the in vitro antileishmanial activity of benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone derived from limonene complexed with copper, termed BenzCo, against Leishmania amazonensis. BenzCo inhibited the growth of the promastigote and axenic amastigote forms, with IC50 concentrations of 3.8 and 9.5 µM, respectively, with 72 h of incubation. Intracellular amastigotes were inhibited by the compound, with an IC50 of 10.7 µM. BenzCo altered the shape, size, and ultrastructure of the parasites. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was observed in protozoa treated with BenzCo but caused no alterations in the plasma membrane. Additionally, BenzCo induced lipoperoxidation and the production of mitochondrial superoxide anion radicals in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. Conclusion/Significance Our studies indicated that the antileishmania activity of BenzCo might be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage, leading to parasite death.

Antitrypanosomal Activity of Novel Benzaldehyde- Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives from Kaurenoic Acid †

A series of new thiosemicarbazones derived from natural diterpene kaurenoic acid were synthesized and tested against the epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi to evaluate their antitrypanosomal potential. Seven of the synthesized thiosemicarbazones were more active than kaurenoic acid with IC50 values between 2-24.0 μM. The o-nitro-benzaldehyde-thiosemicarbazone derivative was the most active compound with IC50 of 2.0 μM. The results show that the structural modifications accomplished enhanced the antitrypanosomal activity of these compounds. Besides, the thiocyanate, thiosemicarbazide and the p- methyl, p-methoxy, p-dimethylamine, m-nitro and o-chlorobenzaldehyde-thiosemicarbazone derivatives displayed lower toxicity for LLMCK2 cells than kaurenoic acid, exhibing an IC50 of 59.5 μM.

Flavonoides e atividade antioxidante em Palicourea rigida Kunth, Rubiaceae

The antioxidant activity, evaluated by DPPH (1,1-difenil-2-picrilidrazila) method, and the determination of the total phenolic compounds of the crude methanolic extract and fractions of the Palicourea rigida Kunth, Rubiaceae, leaves were quantified in this work. Despite weak activity exhibited by crude extract (500 ppm), the fraction ethyl acetate showed moderate activity (192 ppm), and the largest value for the phenolic compounds among all the assayed fractions. Then, the ethyl acetate fraction was submitted to the chromatography procedures which led to the isolation of the flavonoid quercetin 3-O-D-glicoside, quercetin 3-O-sophoroside and isorhamnetin 3-glicoside, which had the structures elucidated by spectroscopy analysis, including RMN (1D and 2D) and comparison with literature data.

Triterpenic acids from Eugenia moraviana

A novel triterpene, characterized as 6a-hydroxybetulinic acid, was isolated from the leaves and stems of Eugenia moraviana (Myrtaceae), known in Brazil as Cambui, together with three known compounds, platanic acid, betulinic acid and b-sitosterol. Unequivocal 1H and 13C assignments of 6a-hydroxybetulinic acid (3b,6a-dihydroxy-20(29)-lupen-28-oic acid) and platanic acid were undertaken by spectral analysis including NOE and 2 D NMR experiments.

Anti-leishmanial activity of alkaloidal extracts obtained from different organs of Aspidosperma ramiflorum.

The present study was designated to evaluate semi-quantitative antileishmanial activity of alkaloidal extracts that were obtained from 1g of different parts of Aspidosperma ramiflorum (leaves, roots, seeds, and stem barks). Alkaloidal extracts of barks and leaves presented a good activity against the extracellular form (promastigotes) of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. It is known that compounds responsible for the antileishmanial activity in the alkaloidal extracts from A. ramiflorum are the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids ramiflorine A and ramiflorine B, therefore extracts obtained from different plant parts were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in order to evidence the presence of these bioactive alkaloids. Based on these findings, alkaloidal extract from leaves was fractionated on preparative thin-layer chromatography in a bioassay-guided fractionation affording individual purified ramiflorines A and B. Both ramiflorines A and B showed significant activity against Leishmania (L.) amazonensis (LD(50) values of 18.5±6.5μg/ml and 12.63±5.52μg/ml, respectively). Our results are showing that alkaloidal extract from leaves is a promising alternative to the use of stem barks from A. ramiflorum.