Effect of Psidium cattleianum leaf extract on Streptococcus mutans viability, protein expression and acid production

Plants naturally produce secondary metabolites that can be used as antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Psidium cattleianum leaf extract on Streptococcus mutans. The extract (100%) was obtained by decoction of 100 g of leaves in 600 ml of deionized water. To assess killing, S. mutans biofilms were treated with water (negative control) or various extract dilutions [ 100, 50, 25% (v/v) in water] for 5 or 60 min. To evaluate the effect on protein expression, biofilms were exposed to water or 1.6% (v/v) extract for 120 min, proteins were extracted and submitted to 2-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. The effect of 1.6% (v/v) extract on acid production was determined by pH measurements and compared to a water control. Viability was similar after 5 min of treatment with the 100% extract or 60 min with the 50% extract (about 0.03% survival). There were no differences in viability between the biofilms exposed to the 25 or 50% extract after 60 min of treatment (about 0.02% survival). Treatment with the 1.6% extract significantly changed protein expression. The abundance of 24 spots was decreased compared to water (p < 0.05). The extract significantly inhibited acid production (p < 0.05). It is concluded that P. cattleianum leaf extract kills S. mutans grown in biofilms when applied at high concentrations. At low concentrations it inhibits S. mutans acid production and reduces the expression of proteins involved in general metabolism, glycolysis and lactic acid production. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Effect of Psidium cattleianum leaf extract on enamel demineralisation and dental biofilm composition in situ

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in soybean roots extract measured by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography

The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique was applied to measure phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activity in soybean (Glycine max L. Merril cv. BR16) roots. t-Cinnamate, the catalytic product of the PAL reaction was quantified at 275 nm by isocratic elution with methanol:water through an ODS(M) column. Comparative experiments were carried out with 1.0 mM ferulic acid, an inducer of PAL activity. The results suggest that liquid chromatography is a rapid and sensitive method to analyze PAL activity in non-purified extract.

Effects of the hydromethanolic extract of Austroplenckia populnea (Celastraceae) on reproductive parameters of male rats

Austroplenckia populnea (Reiss.) Lundell. was selected for this study because it has been shown that some plants from the Celastraceae family have antifertility effects. Twelve adult male rats were treated with hydromethanolic extract made from the leaves, 500 mg/kg/day, orally, for 70 days. Distilled water was administered to the control animals (n = 10). At the end of the experiment, and before killing the rats, their sexual behavior was evaluated. The number of intromissions, latencies to first mount and ejaculation, and first intromission after ejaculation were significantly reduced in the treated group, but the total number of ejaculations did not differ from the control group. The weight and histology of the reproductive organs, sperm production, spermatogenesis, prostate fructose content, cauda epidydimides duct diameter, and sperm morphology were not affected. Sperm concentration in cauda epidydimides was significantly decreased. The results showed that A. populnea has effects on male rat reproduction, affecting the sexual behavior and epididymal sperm concentration. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Neutralization of snake venom phospholipase A(2) toxins by aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris (Flacourtiaceae) in mouse neuromuscular preparation

Aqueous extract of Casearia sylvestris (Flacourtiaceae) has been shown to inhibit enzymatic and biological properties of some Bothrops and Crotalus venoms and their purified phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) toxins. In this work we evaluated the influence of C sylvestris aqueous extract upon neuromuscular blocking and muscle damaging activities of some PLA(2)S (crotoxin from C. durissus terrificus, bothropstoxin-I from B.jararacussu, piratoxin-I from B. pirajai and myotoxin-II from B. moojeni) in mouse phrenic-diaphragm preparations. Crotoxin (0.5 mu M) and all other PLA2 toxins (1.0 mu M) induced irreversible and time-dependent blockade of twitches. Except for crotoxin, all PLA2 toxins induced significant muscle damage indices, assessed by microscopic analysis. Preincubation of bothropstoxin-I, piratoxin-I or myotoxin-II with C. sylvestris extract (1:5 (w/w), 30 min, 37 degrees C significantly prevented the neuromuscular blockade of preparations exposed to the mixtures for 90 min; the extent of protection ranged from 93% to 97%. The vegetal extract also neutralized the muscle damage (protection of 80-95%). Higher concentration of the C. sylvestris extract (1: 10, w/w) was necessary to neutralize by 90% the neuromuscular blockade induced by crotoxin. These findings expanded the spectrum of C. sylvestris antivenom activities, evidencing that it may be a good source of potentially useful PLA2 inhibitors. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne: A Brazilian medicinal plant with gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer and antidiarrheal effects in experimental rodent models

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualea parviflora Mart.: An integrative study to validate the gastroprotective, antidiarrheal, antihemorragic and mutagenic action

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

Antioxidative action of methanolic extract and buthanolic fraction of Vochysia tucanorum Mart. in the gastroprotection

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

Expression of differential genes involved in the maintenance of water balance in human skin by Piptadenia colubrina extract

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

Gastric anti-ulcer activity of leaf fractions obtained of polar extract from Wilbrandia ebracteata in mice

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

Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss.: Gastric and duodenal anti-ulcer, antimicrobial and antidiarrheal effects in experimental rodent models

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

Byrsonima fagifolia: An integrative study to validate the gastroprotective, healing, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial and mutagenic action

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

Ventilatory responses to skin extract in catfish

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