Antioxidant capacity and biological activity of essential oil and methanol extract of Conobea scoparioides (Cham. & Schltdl.) Benth

Os óleos essenciais da planta sub-aquática Conobea scoparioides (fresca e previamente seca) apresentaram rendimentos de 3,4 e 3,3%, respectivamente. Os principais constituintes identificados foram o éter metílico do timol (39,6 e 47,7%), timol (40,0 e 26,4%), α-felandreno (12,1 e 14,3%) e p-cimeno (1,5 e 1,7%), totalizando mais de 90% nos referidos óleos. A concentração de seqüestro do radical DPPH (CE50) dos óleos e extrato foi de 46,7 ± 3,6 µg mL^-1 para a planta fresca (CsO-f), de 56,1 ± 2,4 µg mL^-1 para a planta seca (CsO-d), e de 23,0 ± 2,2 µg mL^-1 para o extrato metanólico (CsE-d). O valor do extrato é comparável ao BHT (19,8 ± 0,5 µg mL^-1), usado como padrão antioxidante. O valor médio dos óleos é duas vezes menor, mas igualmente importante como agente antioxidante. O teor de Fenólicos Totais (TP, 124,6 ± 8,7 mg GAE per g) e o Trolox Equivalente (TEAC, 144,1 ± 4,9 mg TE per g) do extrato metanólico confirmaram a significativa atividade antioxidante de C. scoparioides. Da mesma forma, nos bioensaios com larva de camarão (Artemia salina) o valor médio da concentração letal dos óleos (CL₅₀, 7,7 ± 0,3 µg mL^-1) foi dez vezes maior que no extrato metanólico (CL₅₀, 77,6 ± 7,1 µg mL^-1) mostrando importante atividade biológica.

Copaiba oil effect under different pathways in mice subjected to sepsis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of copaiba oil administered by different routes on survival of mices subjected to cecal ligation and puncture. METHODS: Thirty two mice were distributed into four study groups (N=8): Sham group: normal standard animals; Control group: submitted a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP); Gavage group: submitted a CLP, and treat with copaiba oil by gavage; and Subcutaneous group: submitted a CLP, and treat with copaiba oil by subcutaneous injection. After the death of the histological analysis were performed. The Kaplan-Meier curves of surviving time were realized. RESULTS: All animals that received copaiba, regardless of the route used, survived longer when compared to the control group (p<0.0001), whereas the survival time ranged from 20 hours for the control group up to 32 hours for the animals of gavage group and 52 for subcutaneous group. The animals that received gavage copaiba lived about and about 20 hours unless the subcutaneous group (p=0.0042). There was no statistical difference when compared the intensity of inflammatory response (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic subcutaneous administration of copaiba in mice subjected to severe sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture, resulted in a survival time higher than non-use or use of this oil by gavage.