Roberto Messias Bezerra

Antimicrobial activity of amazonian medicinal plants

ObjectivesThe aqueous extracts of currently utilized Amazonian medicinal plants were assayed in vitro searching for antimicrobial activity against human and animal pathogenic microorganisms.MethodsMedium resuspended lyophilized aqueous extracts of different organs of Amazonian medicinal plants were assayed by in vitro screening for antimicrobial activity. ATCC and standardized microorganisms obtained from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Brazil were individually and homogeneously grown in agar plate, and holes previously perforated in the gel were filled with diluted plant aqueous extracts. Inhibition halos were evaluated and controlled by the use of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin.ResultsThe Amazonian medicinal plants, Hymenelobium petraeum showed inhibitory activity over Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans, while Vatairea guianensis and Symphonia globulifera presented inhibitory activity exclusively for Staphylococcus aureus. Also, Ptychopetalum olacoides and Pentaclethra macroloba inhibited the growth of Klebsiella ozaenae and Acinetobacter baumannii.ConclusionThe aqueous botanic extracts that showed activity against microroganisms of ATTC and Osvaldo Cruz strains had at least 40% of antimicrobial activity when compared to halo inhibition produced by the commercial antibiotic ciprofloxacin utilized as a control. Of all plants extracts assayed, the Hymenelobium petraeum had the best performance, sometimes exhibiting higher activity than ciprofloxacin. It is not well-defined by the physicians the exact indication of the majority of medicinal plants in the Amazon area in Brazil. Natives utilize the plants according to their symptoms, based on the traditional knowledge transmitted orally from generation to generation, among Amerindians, Afrodescendents and ethnic mixed populations. A significant number of Amazonian medicinal plants are totally unknown related to their medicinal properties including mechanism of action and therapeutic effects, as very few information is reported in the scientific literature. A tiny amount of data is presented, as the preliminary antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plants here accessed, under the urgent necessity of new antibiotics in the market and in face of the increased resistance of infectious microorganisms to antimicrobials.

Contaminação por metais pesados em peixes e água da bacia do rio Cassiporé, Estado do Amapá, Brasil

Heavy metals participate in chemical reactions of fish metabolism, which makes these elements a major focus on contamination studies. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Hg in muscle tissue of fish of Cassipore River Basin (State of Amapa) and environment, aiming at assessing the risk of contamination. The concentrations of Cd in Plagioscion squamosissimus (1.061 µg g-1) and Pb in Poptella compressa (4.280 µg g-1) had values that exceed the boundaries established by Brazilian law. The Cr concentration in P. compressa (0.937 ± 0.5 µg g-1), Pimelodella cristata (0.463 ± 0.03 µg g-1) and Cyphocharax gouldingi (0.364 ± 0.12 µg g-1) and Hg in P. squamosissimus (0.670 µg g-1), Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (0.630 µg g-1), Hoplias malabaricus (0.570 µg g-1 e Serrasalmus rhombeus (0.548 µg g-1) were above the legal limit. The water column showed high concentrations of heavy metals in all analyzed points, showing a contamination of this river basin. Therefore, the high concentrations of heavy metals in the environment and muscle tissue of fish indicate a high degree of contamination in the Cassipore river basin and risk to human health.

Aerobic and Facultative Microorganisms Isolated From Corroded Metallic Structures in a Hydroeletric Power Unit in the Amazon Region of Brazil

Aerobic and facultative bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Corynebacteriaceae and Streptococcaceae families have been isolated from corroded metallic structures of a hydroelectric power unit in the Amazon region of Brazil. In addition to anamorphic dematiaceous and moniliaceous fungi, members of the archeobacteria kingdom were also detected in the same samples. Scanning electron micrographs of metal bars cultivated with consortia of the isolated microorganisms depicted suggestive images of biofilm formation and corroded metallic structures questioning the possible role of these microorganisms in the corrosion activity. We also found Amazonian medicinal plants exhibiting inhibitory activity against some of the isolated microorganisms. Our new findings need additional studies to confirm the participation of some isolated microorganisms in the process of metallic degradation despite our main question if are there particular microorganisms involved in the corrosion process? or if physicochemical conditions would favor the development of a particular microbiota and consequently the corrosion process would result from its metabolism? Therefore we hypothesize that any microorganism could be potentially involved in the genesis of corrosion process. This is the first report in the literature dealing with microbiologically induced corrosion in the Amazon region which is especially characterized by its high humidity and elevated temperature all year round.

FATTY ACID ETHYL ESTERS FROM MICROALGAE OF Scenedesmus ecornis BY ENZYMATIC AND ACID CATALYSIS

Gabryelle F. de Almeidaa, Pedro H. F. de Araújob, Alexandro C. Florentinob, Roberto M. Bezerrab, José C. T. Carvalhoa, Silvia M. M. Faustinoa and Irlon M. Ferreirab,* Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Colegiado de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rod. JK, km 02, 68903-758 Macapá – AP, Brasil Grupo de Biocatálise e Biotransformação em Química Orgânica, Colegiado de Química, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rod. JK, km 02, 68902-280 Macapá – AP, Brasil

Determination of Trace-metals in Sediments and Plants on Canal of Jandi· andIgarape of Fortaleza in Macap·-AP-Brazil

Aims: Determine the concentration of trace -metals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Pb and Zn)in sediments and plantCenchrus echinatusL. species on Canal of Jandi· and Igarape of Fortaleza in the municipal ity of Macapa, Amapa, Brazil . Study Design:The sediment samples were collected (0.3kg) at 05 points on Canal of Jandi· and Igarape of Fortaleza , totaling 10 sampling points, where each point contained OriginalResea rch Article

Antiretroviral activity of Amazonian plants

BackgroundThe Amazon region displays a rich and diverse biotaencompassing more than 50,000 botanical species [1]. Afew medicinal plants commonly utilized by local peoplehas been studied concerning its pharmacological proper-ties. New antiretroviral drugs are on demand, mainly indeveloping countries and particularly in Brazil, whichexhibit an exuberant biota, it is mandatory to rationallyexplore its immense and diverse floristic potential formedicinal purposes [2].Materials and methodsPlants representatives of the Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae,Fabaceae, Caesa lpiniaceae, Ochnaceae , Clusiaceae, Are-caceae, Chrysobalanaceae and Olacaceae families werecollected in distinct geographic locations in the Amapastate, in the northern region of Brazil. Aqueous extractsof bark, leaves and fruits were prepared from the abovebotanical species. An established lymphoblastic cell line,H9, cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with fetalbovine serum and antibiotics was utilized to replicatethe Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, strains SIVagm155-4 and SIVmac186. Previously to SIV infection, H9 cellswere cultured in a 48 plate at 5.95X105 density per wellin 500 uL and treated in high, median and low concen-tration of each aqueous plant extract and citotoxicitywas evaluated by the WST assay. After determining theinocuous aqueous extract concentration, cells were trea-ted with the plant extract and after 48 hours, cells werewashed and infected with 599.64 pg/mL (SIVp27) ofSIV. After 96 and 144 hours post infection, samples ofcell supernatant were collected of each well and assayedfor viral replication by measuring SIVp27 utilizing theSIVp27 Antigen Capture Assay (Advanced BioscienceLaboratory, Inc.) [3].ResultsOf all plants aqueous extracts tested, 8 reduced SIVreplication but just two, representatives of Fabaceae andChrysobalanaceae families, did reduce virus replicationbut did not reduce cell density. Also, besides the antire-troviral activity found, proliferative and citotoxic activitywas detected among the plants herein studied.ConclusionsOngoing studies aim at the identification of plantextract fractions exhibiting antiretroviral, proliferativeand cytotoxic activities in order to plan future researchwork to develop new drugs.