Enzymatic Activity, Sensitivity to Antifungal Drugs and Baccharis dracunculifolia Essential Oil by Candida Strains Isolated from the Oral Cavities of Breastfeeding Infants and in Their Mothers' Mouths and Nipples

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Antiulcer activity and subacute toxicity of trans-dehydrocrotonin from Croton cajucara

The antiulcerogenic activity of trans-dehydrocrotonin (DHC), a nor-clerodane diterpene isolated from Croton cajucara Benth. ( Euphorbiaceae), and its subacute ( 35 days) toxicity were studied in mice and rats, respectively. For the antiulcerogenic tests, models of gastric ulcers induced in mice by ethanol/HCl or stress were used. In both models, an oral dose of DHC ( 100 mg/kg) significantly reduced (P< 0.01) the formation of gastric lesions. DHC was also tested for its ability to scavenge free radicals, but no such action was observed in rat liver mitochondria. To assess the subacute toxicity, rats were treated orally with DHC (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. A significant increase in liver weight was observed in male and female rats at highest doses, whereas a significant reduction in plasma alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol levels and an increase in gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were observed only at the highest dose ( 100 mg/kg) in female rats. DHC caused histopathological alterations in the liver that included a turbid tumefaction, microvacuolar degeneration and nuclear alterations. Despite the beneficial antiulcerogenic activity of DHC, our results suggest that the long-term use of this compound may induce liver damage.

Neo-clerodane diterpenoid, a new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitor from Baccharis trimera (Asteraceae): anti-proteolytic and anti-hemorrhagic properties

Many plants are used in traditional medicine as active agents against various effects induced by snakebite. Few attempts have been made however to identify the nature of plain natural products with anti-ophidian properties. Baccharis trimera (Less) DC (Asteraceae), known in Brazil as carqueja. has been popularly used to treat liver diseases. rheumatism. diabetes, as well as digestive, hepatic and renal disorders. The active component was identified as 7alpha-hydroxy-3,13-clerodadiene-16,15:18,19-diolide, C20H28O5, (clerodane diterpenoid, Bt-CD). We report now the anti-proteolytic and anti-hemorrhagic propenies against snake venoms of a Bt-CD inhibitor from B. trimera. Bt-CD exhibited full inhibition of hemorrhage and proteolytic activity caused by Bothrops snake venoms. The inhibitor was able to neutralize the hemorrhagic, fibrinogenolytic and caseinolytic activities of class P-I and III metalloproteases isolated from B. neuwiedi and B. jararacussu venoms. No inhibition of the coagulant activity was observed. Bt-CD also partially inhibited the edema induced by other crude venoms, metallopronteases, basic and acidic phospholipases A(2). To further elucidate the inhibitory specificity of Bt-CD against metalloproteases isolated from snake venoms, a deeper understanding of its Structure and function is necessary. Furthermore, the potential use of these inhibitors to complement anti-venom as an alternative treatment of snakebite envenomations needs to be evaluated in future Studies. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Investigation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of trans-dehydrocrotonin, a 19-nor-clerodane diterpene from Croton cajucara .1.

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of trans-dehydrocrotonin, isolated from the bark of Croton cajucara (Euphorbiaceae), were investigated using several animal models. The trans-dehydrocrotonin produced a significant inhibition of carrageenin-induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats. It also inhibited the writhings in mice induced by acetic acid, but did not show a significant effect in the hot-plate test in mice. The LD(50) of t-DCTN was 555.0 mg/kg (p.o.) for mice.

Ant exclusion and reproduction of Croton sarcopetalus (Euphorbiaceae)

A total of 20 insect species were observed on the extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of Croton sarcopetalus. The most frequent ant species were Zacryptocerus sp., Crematogaster brevispinosa, C. scelerata, and Linepithema humile. Ants continuously patrolled the plants taking extrafloral nectar. Experimental data showed that there were no significant differences in either the degree of herbivory or in the reproductive output between control stems (with ants) and treated ones (without ants). We found no significant evidence of protection by ants mediated by EFNs in C. sarcopetalus. It is possible that the plant has other mechanisms than ant protection to prevent herbivore damage (e.g., hairs, latex, chemical defense). As this species occupies the southernmost distribution for the genus, the presence of EFNs in this species may be the remnant of a mutualistic interaction with the ants in tropical regions, where the abundance and diversity of ants and herbivores are comparatively higher. To draw accurate patterns in the genus Croton, further investigations in other species from tropical regions of South America are needed.

Baccharis dracunculifolia, the main source of green propolis, exhibits potent antioxidant activity and prevents oxidative mitochondrial damage

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) is the main botanical source used by honeybees to produce Brazilian green propolis whose hepatoprotective properties have been already described. In this work we investigated the protective effects of the glycolic extract of B. dracunculifolia (GEBd) against oxidative stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM). The GEBd was prepared by fractionated percolation using propylene glycol as solvent. The total phenols and flavonoids, which are substances with recognized antioxidant action, were quantified in GEBd and the phytochemical analysis was carried out by HPLC. GEBd exhibited significant scavenger activity towards DPPH radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner, and also a Fe 2+ chelating activity. GEBd decreased the basal H 2O 2 generation and the Fe 2+- or t-BuOOH-induced ROS production in isolated mitochondria. Lipid oxidation of mitochondrial membranes, protein thiol groups and GSH oxidation were also prevented by GEBd. This shows that B. dracunculifolia exhibit potent antioxidant activity protecting liver mitochondria against oxidative damage and such action probably contribute to the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of green propolis. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants: A review of the gastroprotective and ulcer-healing activities

Gastric ulcer is an excoriated area of the gastric mucosa. It is among the predominant gastrointestinal chronic diseases. The essential oils represent an important part of the traditional pharmacopoeia in many countries and have been successfully used for gastroprotection and ulcer healing. Thus, this review presents the experimental activity of essential oils traditionally used in the gastric ulcer prevention and treatment, considering their families, part of the plant studied, bioassays, and their mechanisms of gastroprotection and ulcer healing, with the aim of stimulating novel studies in the search for a new phytomedicine to treat gastric diseases. © 2012 The Authors Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology © 2012 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

Effect of Chlorogenic Acid (5-Caffeoylquinic Acid) Isolated from Baccharis oxyodonta on the Structure and Pharmacological Activities of Secretory Phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus

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Genotoxic activity and toxicity of Baccharis trimera Less. regarding the bioaccumulation of heavy metals

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Colleters on the inflorescence axis of croton glandulosus (euphorbiaceae): structural and functional characterization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antifungals and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from the stem bark of Croton heliotropiifolius

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Anti-leishmanial effects of purified compounds from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae)

Species of Baccharis exhibit antibiotic, antiseptic, wound-healing, and anti-protozoal properties, and have been used in the traditional medicine of South America for the treatment of several diseases. In the present work, the fractionation of EtOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella indicated that the isolated compounds caffeic acid and pectolinaringenin showed inhibitory activity against Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (V.) braziliensis promastigotes, respectively. Moreover, amastigote forms of both species were highly sensible to the fraction composed by oleanolic + ursolic acids and pectolinaringenin. Caffeic acid also inhibited amastigote forms of L. (L.) amazonensis, but this effect was weak in L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes. The treatment of infected macrophages with these compounds did not alter the levels of nitrates, indicating a direct effect of the compounds on amastigote stages. The results presented herein suggest that the active components from B. uncinella can be important to the design of new drugs against American tegumentar leishmaniases.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of derivatives from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella

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