Francisco Geraldo Barbosa

Extratos de Moringa oleifera e Vernonia sp. sobre Candida albicans e Microsporum canis isolados de cães e gatos e análise da toxicidade em Artemia sp.

The increase in the incidence of fungal infections and the frequent report of resistance and therapeutic failure has promoted the performance of phytochemical screening for compounds with antifungal properties. Based on this, the present study investigated the antifungal potential of extracts of Baccharis ligustrina, B. schultzii, Croton jacobinensis, Licania rigida, Moringa oleifera, Vernonia sp. and V. brasiliana and of essential oils of Lippia alba (Chemotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4) and Ocimum gratissimum. Initially, a qualitative evaluation of the antifungal activity of each vegetal sample against strains of Candida albicans and Microsporum canis, through the agar diffusion method, was performed. Extracts of M. oleifera (MLF-C) and Vernonia sp. (TVS-H) presented activity against C. albicans and M. canis with inhibition halos =10mm. Then, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for MLF-C and TVS-H against 12 strains of C. albicans and M. canis were determined through the methodology established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and acute toxicity tests against Artemia sp. were performed for both extracts. MICs (80%) for MLF-C and TVS-H varied from 0.156 to 2.5mg mL-1 against C. albicans and from 0.039 to 1.25mg mL-1 and 0.039 to 0.625mg mL-1 against M. canis, respectively. MICs (100%) for MLF-C and TVS-H varied from 0.625 to 2.5mg mL-1 for C. albicans and from 0.039 to 2.5mg mL-1 and 0.078 to 1.25mg mL-1 against M. canis, respectively. Lethal doses (DL50) of MLF-C and TVS-H were 201.09 and 204.17mg mL-1, respectively, being, therefore, demonstrated the low toxicity of these extracts. M. oleifera and Vernonia sp. extracts presented in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans and M. canis, creating perspectives for the development of studies on the characterizations of their bioactive components.

Biotransformation of the Diterpene Ent-18,19-dihydroxytrachylobane by Rhizopus stolonifer

The diterpene ent-18,19-dihydroxytrachylobane was biotransformed for the first time by Rhizopus stolonifer, and yielded the new ent-11β,18,19-trihydroxytrachylobane derivative besides the new ent-kaur-11-ene diterpenes ent-16α,18,19-trihydroxykaur-11-ene and ent-18,19-dihydroxy-16α-methoxykaur-11-ene. Their structures were determined by spectrometric methods.

Volatile Organic Compounds from Filamentous Fungi: a Chemotaxonomic Tool of the Botryosphaeriaceae Family

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ten endophytic fungal species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family were extracted by headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-four VOCs were identified. Most of the compounds are sesquiterpenes (14 non-oxygenated and 10 oxygenated), and two linear ketones and eight alcohols were also identified. Multivariate data analysis (PCA and HCA) allowed the differentiation of all investigated species, and proved to be efficient for the differentiation of Neofusicocum parvum and N. ribis, which are considered very similar species. α-Bisabolol, α-selinene, α-cedrene epoxide and guaiol acetate were suggested as biomarkers.

Seasonal variation, larvicidal and nematicidal activities of the lef essential oil of Ruta graveolens L.

This study investigated the seasonal variation (October 2009 to September 2010) in the chemical composition of the leaf essential oil of Ruta graveolens L. and evaluated its activity against third-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and juvenile nematodes (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Nine compounds were identified in the oil samples obtained during a year. The major components were 2-undecanone (37.0±2.0% to 58.2±5.1%) and 2-nonanone (17.6±1.3% to 53.1±3.9%). The essential oil showed lc50 and lc90 values of 39.55 and 64.17 ppm for A. aegypti respectively, and 267.20 and 482.03 ppm for M. incognita, respectively.

NEW SEMISYNTHETIC DERIVATIVES OF A BENZYLISOTHIOCYANATE ISOLATED FROM Moringa oleifera AND EVALUATION OF THEIR CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY

Diana Kelly C. de Almeida,a Marcos R. da Silva,a Maria Conceição F. de Oliveira,a Jair Mafezoli,a Marcos C. de Mattos,a Andréa F. Moura,b Manoel O. Moraes Filhob and Francisco G. Barbosa*,a Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60455-970 Fortaleza – CE, Brasil Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-270 Fortaleza – CE, Brasil

Thiocarbamates from Moringa oleifera Seeds Bioactive against Virulent and Multidrug-Resistant Vibrio Species

Prospect of antibacterial agents may provide an alternative therapy for diseases caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of Moringa oleifera seed extracts against 100 vibrios isolated from the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Ethanol extracts at low (MOS-E) and hot (MOS-ES) temperature are shown to be bioactive against 92% and 90% of the strains, respectively. The most efficient Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) levels of MOS-E and MOS-ES against a high percentage of strains were 32 µg mL−1. Bioguided screening of bioactive compounds showed that the ethyl acetate fraction from both extracts was the only one that showed antibacterial activity. Vibriocidal substances, niazirine and niazimicine, were isolated from the aforementioned fraction through chromatographic fractionation.

Ressonância: desenvolvimento, utilização e avaliação de um software educacional

that shows how electrons are shared between two or more atoms and allows a prediction of the chemical reactivity and relative stability of reagents, intermediates, and products. An educational software that enables interactive exploration of the concepts related to resonance and thereby facilitates its understanding was developed. The software was field-tested, and an evaluation questionnaire concerning the software as an educational tool was answered by the students and professors involved in the test. The results led to the conclusion that the developed computer application can be characterized as an auxiliary tool that assists teachers in their lectures and students in their learning process.

Polarímetro virtual: desenvolvimento, utilização e avaliação de um software educacional

Optical activity is the ability of chiral substances to rotate the plane of plane-polarized light and is measured using an instrument called a polarimeter. An educational software application to explore, both interactively and visually, the concepts related to polarimetry to facilitate their understanding was developed. The software was field-tested and a questionnaire evaluating the graphics interface, usability and the software as an educational tool, was answered by students. The results characterized the computer application developed as an auxiliary tool for assisting teachers in lectures and students in the learning process.

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and toxicological evaluation of semi-synthetic molecules obtained from a benzyl-isothiocyanate isolated from Moringa oleifera Lam. in a temporomandibular joint inflammatory hypernociception model in rats

Inflammation is a key component of many clinical conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and Moringa oleifera Lam. has been used to treat inflammatory diseases. Here, we evaluated the toxicological effects on mice of a naturally-occurring isothiocyanate from M. oleifera and its seven analogue molecules. Further, the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects on a rat model of TMJ inflammatory hypernociception were assessed. The systemic toxicological profile was determined in mice over a 14-day period: MC-1 1 μg/kg; MC-D1 1 μg/kg, MC-D3 100 μg/kg, MC-D6 1 μg/kg, MC-D7 1 μg/kg, MC-D8 1 μg/kg, MC-D9 10 μg/kg, and MC-H 1 μg/kg. The safest molecules were assayed for anti-nociceptive efficacy in the formalin (1.5%, 50 μL) and serotonin (255 mg) induced TMJ inflammatory hypernociception tests. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated through the vascular permeability assay using Evans blue. Further, the rota-rod test evaluated any motor impairment. Among the tested molecules, MC-D7, MC-D9, and MC-H were not toxic at the survival rate test, biochemical, and hystological analysis. They reduced the formalin-induced TMJ inflammatory hypernociception, but only MC-H decreased the serotonin-induced TMJ inflammation, suggesting an adrenergic receptor-dependent effect. They diminished the plasmatic extravasation, showing anti-inflammatory activity. At the rota-rod test, no difference was observed in comparison with control groups, reinforcing the hypothesis of anti-nociceptive effetc without motor impairment in animals. The analogues MC-D7, MC-D9, and MC-H were safe at the tested doses and efficient in reducing the formalin-induced TMJ hypernociception in rats. Our next steps include determining their mechanisms of anti-nociceptive action.

Validação de métodos por CG-EM para análise de carvacrol e trans-?-cariofileno em amostras comerciais contendo óleos essenciais

Carvacrol e trans - ? -cariofileno sao amplamente encontrados em diversas especies de plantas medicinais, sendo a estes compostos atribuidos varias propriedades farmacologicas. Com isso, este trabalho apresenta a validacao de um metodo analitico para a analise destes compostos nas especies Lippia sidoides e Rosmarinus officinalis, bem como em uma amostra de oleo de copaiba disponibilizada no comercio popular de Fortaleza. As amostras dos oleos essenciais foram analisadas em um cromatografo gasoso com detector de massas (CG-EM). Os parâmetros de validacao, tais como linearidade, limite de deteccao e quantificacao apresentaram valores satisfatorios, com boa reprodutibilidade e recuperacao para as analises realizadas em dias diferentes. Dos compostos estudados, a especie Lippia sidoides apresentou um percentual de 32,01 de carvacrol e 1,78 de trans - ? -cariofileno. Para a especie R. officinales constatou-se um percentual de 0,28 e 0,34, respectivamente para carvacrol e trans - ? -cariofileno. Para o oleo da copaiba nao se identificou o carvacrol, o trans - ? -cariofileno apresentou percentual de 74,5. Com os resultados obtidos, o metodo pode ser considerado como uma ferramenta analitica util para o controle de qualidade de carvacrol, trans - ? -cariofileno e seus derivados em amostras de oleos essenciais