Marçal de Queiroz Paulo

Antimicrobial activity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Annona salzmanii D.C.

Bark of Annona salzmanii D.C. (Annonaceae), used in Brazilian folk medicine, was found to contain four benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, namely reticuline, anonaine, laurelliptine and isoboldine. Only anonaine possesses some antibacterial property while all four alkaloids show some antifungal activity.

Natural Products: Antinociceptive Effect in Mice of a Hydroalcoholic Extract of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br. and its Organic Fractions

An infusion of the aerial parts of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br. (Compositae‐Asteraceae) is used in Caribbean folk medicine to treat several kinds of pain. In this investigation we studied the acute oral toxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the plant and the antinociceptive effect of the extract and of its hexane‐ and chloroform‐partitioned fractions, given orally, in nociception and inflammatory models in mice.

Chemical and pharmacological investigation of Solanum species of Brazil: a search for solasodine and other potentially useful therapeutic agents

A systematic search for solasodine, an important starting material for the partial synthesis of steroidal hormones as well as other potentially bioactive constituents of various Solanum species of Brazil has been undertaken. Thus, the fruits of S. paludosum, S. asperum, S. sessiliflorum and Solanum sp. were found to contain significant amounts of solasodine. The root bark of S. paludosum which showed curare like activity yielded tomatidenol and another yet unidentified alkaloid responsible for the biological activity. The fruits of S. asperum yielded a new spirosolane alkaloid, solaparnaine. The stem bark of S. pseudo-quina showed convulsive and excitatory activity from which (25S)-isosolafloridine was identified as the active principle. In addition, the latter alkaloid was also found to show antimicrobial activity.

A Method to Separate Lignoids fromVirolaLeaves

The genus Virola (Myristicaceae) comprises approximately 35 species which are distributed in neotropical countries (Rodrigues, 1980). Their geographical and taxonomic distribution has been used in studies of chemical ecology (Paulino Filho, 1985), especially of the Amazon forest. The bark resin, derived from various Virola species, provides hallucinogenic snuff and an arrow poison, and the species has thus attracted phytochemical examination (Holmstedt et al., 1980). The genus is well known to be an abundant source of lignans and neolignans, and its important physiological actions have been reported (MacRae and Towers, 1985). A particularly striking finding is the observed high levels of lignoids found in human urine (enterolignans), following dietary intake of vegetable fibre and grain (Bannwart et al., 1989), which have been suggested to have cancer-protective effects (Adlercreutz et al., 1991). Investigations of lignoids in plants were mainly carried out with trunk wood (Fernandes, J. B. et al., 1980), bark, fruit (Lemus and Castro, 1989), fruit pericarp, aril, seed coat and kernel (Kato et al., 1990), while little is known of the distribution of these compounds in the leaves (Martinez et al., 1985). The apparent lack of phytochemical data may be due in part to the nature of the crude extracts of Virola leaves, which generally yield a sticky residue composed of chlorophylls and other colouring matters which are difficult to resolve by chromatographic methods. The general procedure for the removal of colouring matter from plant leaves includes the treatment of green extracts with freshly activated charcoal or by passing through a charcoal column (Nair et al., 1990), as well as by lead acetate adsorption. There are, however, disadvantages to these procedures: metabolite losses can occur through occlusion in the precipitate and a residuum of lead acetate remains in solution and can cause problems in subsequent stages. As part of our continuous research work on the Virola, we have examined the lignoid constituents of the leaves of V. surinamensis (Rol.) Warb. (Barata et al., 1978; Queiroz Paulo, 1982; Santos and Barata, 1990) of V. oleifera (Schott) A. C. Smith (Fernandes, A. M. A. P. et al., 1993, 1994) and of V. pavonis (A. DC.) A. C. Smith (Ferri and Barata, 1991, 1992). The crude extracts of the leaves were systematically submitted to chlorophyll elimination yielding purified fractions free of colouring matter and rich in lignoid mixtures. This resulted in the isolation of seventeen lignoids, including nine new compounds. The present work describes the use of this simplified methodology for an efficient separation of the lignans and neolignans from apolar and polar crude extracts of the leaves of V. oleifera and V. pavonis.

Lignans from Rollinia species (annonaceae)

The isolation and identification of two lignans, eudesmin and epi-iangambin from Rollinia exalbida and R. pickelli respectively, is described. This is the first report of lignans in the Annonaceae.

Avaliação Clínica e Microbiológica do Tratamento da Estomatite Protética com Tintura de Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Aroeira)

Resumen pt: Objeti vo: Avaliar a efi cacia clinica da ti ntura da aroeira no tratamento da estomati te proteti ca. Metodo: Foram selecionados 18 pacientes usuarios d...

Avaliação in vivo de Dentifrício Contendo Extrato da Eugenia uniflora L. (Pitanga) sobre Indicadores de Saúde Bucal

Objective: To assess in vivo the effect of using a dentifricevcontaining hydroalcoholic extract of the ripe fruit of Eugenia uniflora L. on the oral health i...

Influence of the frying recipients in the quality of soy and refined nhandiroba vegetable oils

The main objective of this work was to quantify the migration of iron and aluminium ions and to evaluate the influence of recipients made of iron, stainless steel, aluminium and glass on the oxidative stability during frying with soy (Glycine max) and refined nhandiroba oils (Fevillea trilobata). Soy oil during the frying process in the four distinct recipients presented increased Free Fatty Acids index (FFA) and Peroxide index (PI) values and decreased Iodine index (II) values. Refined nhandiroba oil presented decreased FFA rates in all the recipients investigated. The analysis of results showed that soy oil presented relevant oxidative alterations when compared to the heating time of 72 h and the types of frying recipients used, and in iron and stainless steel recipients, these differences were higher when compared to glass and aluminium recipients. The analysis of the nhandiroba oil presented moderate oxidative modifications in all the frying recipients investigated.

Eugenia uniflora Dentifrice for Treating Gingivitis in Children: Antibacterial Assay and Randomized Clinical Trial

School-age children are frequently at high risk for the onset of biofilm-dependent conditions, including dental caries and periodontal diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a dentifrice containing Eugenia uniflora Linn. (Surinam cherry) extract versus a triclosan-based comparator in treating gingivitis in children aged 10-12 years. The in vitro antibacterial potential of the dentifrice was tested against oral pathogens (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis and Lactobacillus casei). Then a phase-II clinical trial was conducted with 50 subjects aged 10-12 years, with clinical signs of gingivitis. The subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=25) and control group (n=25), in which participants used the experimental dentifrice and a triclosan-based fluoridated dentifrice (Colgate Total 12(r)), respectively. Clinical examinations assessed the presence of gingivitis (primary outcome) and biofilm accumulation (secondary outcome) using the Gingival-Bleeding Index (GBI) and Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), respectively, at baseline and after seven days of tooth brushing 3x/day. The data were analyzed using paired and unpaired t-test (GBI) and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney (OHI-S), with p≤0.05. The experimental dentifrice showed efficient antibacterial activity in vitro. In the clinical trial, a significant reduction in gingival bleeding was observed in both experimental and control groups (p<0.0001), with no statistical difference between them (p=0.178), although a small size effect was observed. Biofilm accumulation was only reduced in the control group (p=0.0039). In conclusion, E. uniflora dentifrice showed anti-gingivitis properties in children aged 10-12 years. Thus, it may be a potentially efficient and safe product to be used alternatively in preventive dental practice.

Use of non-conventional coverage in ischemic wound treatment in patients with sickle cell anemia: case study

This study aims to report the case of a patient with sickle cell anemia, that had right calcaneal ulcer , treated topically with coverage based on collagen and aloe vera. Clinical case study, developed in a public hospital in Joao Pessoa-PB, which is part of an experimental research project for the development of new technologies for wound treatment. History was taken and physical examination was performed, and the information was recorded in the evaluation form of the client. Bandages were applied, evaluations and daily logs of the lesion were made and photographs were taken to assist in monitoring the response of the lesion to the applied coverage. During the appointments, guidelines were given on systematic medical follow-up, on the diet, on the abstention from alcohol, to rest and to prevent new injuries on the wound. The client reported gradual reduction of pain, attendance to hematologist appointments, caution to prevent trauma on the injury, abandonment of alcoholism and diet was followed within their economic possibilities, The treatment lasted approximately five weeks, showing rapid healing process, without discomfort or complications arising from the use of coverage. The coverage showed good tolerability and therapeutic efficacy in the given case.