Estrogenic and mutagenic activities of crotalaria pallida measured by recombinant yeast assay and ames test

Background: Crotalaria pallida Ailton is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, popularly known as rattle or rattlesnake and used in traditional medicine to treat swelling of the joints and as a vermifuge. Previous pharmacological studies have also reported anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce, and there are no reports related to its possible estrogenic and mutagenic effects. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the estrogenic potential of C. pallida leaves by means of the Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA), seeking an alternative for estrogen replacement therapy during menopause; and to reflect on the safe use of natural products to assess the mutagenic activity of the crude extract from C. pallida leaves, the dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol by means of the Ames test.Methods: The recombinant yeast assay with the strain BY4741 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed with the ethanolic extract, dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol isolated from the leaves of C. pallida. Mutagenic activity was evaluated by the Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test), using the Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA100, TA98, TA97 and TA102, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolization, by the preincubation method.Results: All samples showed estrogenic activity, mainly stigmasterol. The ethanolic extract from C. pallida leaves showed mutagenic activity in the TA98 strain (-S9), whereas dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol were found devoid of activity.Conclusion: Considering the excellent estrogenic activity performed by stigmasterol in the RYA associated with the absence of mutagenic activity when evaluated by the Ames test, stigmasterol becomes a strong candidate to be used in hormone replacement therapy during menopause. © 2013 Boldrin et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Comparison of the effect of rose bengal- and eosin Y-mediated photodynamic inactivation on planktonic cells and biofilms of Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast that can cause oral candidosis through the formation of a biofilm, an important virulence factor that compromises the action of antifungal agents. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of rose bengal (RB)- and eosin Y (EY)-mediated photodynamic inactivation (PDI) using a green light-emitting diode (LED; 532 ± 10 nm) on planktonic cells and biofilms of C. albicans (ATCC 18804). Planktonic cultures were treated with photosensitizers at concentrations ranging from 0.78 to 400 μM, and biofilms were treated with 200 μM of photosensitizers. The number of colony-forming unit per milliliter (CFU/mL) was compared by analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P ≤ 0.05). After treatment, one biofilm specimen of the control and PDI groups were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The photosensitizers (6.25, 25, 50, 200, and 400 μM of EY, and 6.25 μM of RB or higher) significantly reduced the number of CFU/mL in the PDI groups when compared to the control group. With respect to biofilm formation, RB- and EY-mediated PDI promoted reductions of 0.22 log10 and 0.45 log10, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the two photosensitizers reduced fungal structures. In conclusion, EY- and RB-mediated PDI using LED irradiation significantly reduced C. albicans planktonic cells and biofilms. © 2013 Springer-Verlag London.

Susceptibility profile of a Brazilian yeast stock collection of Candida species isolated from subjects with Candida-associated denture stomatitis with or without diabetes

Objective: This study investigated the susceptibility of 198 clinical isolates of Candida species against caspofungin, amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole. Study Design: Suspensions of the microorganisms were spread on Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) agar plates. Etest strips were placed on the plates, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was read after incubation (48 h at 37°C). Data were analyzed by a factorial analysis of variance and a 2 × 2 post hoc test (α = .05). Results: C glabrata showed the highest MIC values (P < .001) against caspofungin, itraconazole, and fluconazole. For amphotericin B, the MIC values of C tropicalis and C glabrata (P = .0521) were higher than those of C albicans (P < .001). Itraconazole was the least effective antifungal; 93.3% of the C glabrata isolates, 3.3% of the C albicans, and 1.3% of the C tropicalis were resistant. All microorganisms were susceptible to caspofungin and amphotericin B. Conclusions: Caspofungin and amphotericin B should be recommended as an effective alternative for the management of oral Candida infections when treatment with topical or other systemic drugs has definitely failed. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Photodynamic inactivation of clinical isolates of Candida using Photodithazine

This study evaluated the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) mediated by Photodithazine® (PDZ) against 15 clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Each isolate, in planktonic and biofilm form, was exposed to PDI by assessing a range of PDZ concentrations and light emitting diode fluences. Cell survival of the planktonic suspensions was determined by colony forming units (CFU ml-1). The antifungal effects of PDI against biofilms were evaluated by CFU ml-1 and metabolic assay. Data were analyzed by non-parametric tests (α = 0.05). Regardless of the species, PDI promoted a significant viability reduction of planktonic yeasts. The highest reduction in cell viability of the biofilms was equivalent to 0.9 log10 (CFU ml-1) for C. albicans, while 1.4 and 1.5 log10 reductions were obtained for C. tropicalis and C. glabrata, respectively. PDI reduced the metabolic activity of biofilms by 62.1, 76.0, and 76.9% for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata, respectively. PDZ-mediated PDI promoted significant reduction in the viability of Candida isolates. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Sustainable production of biologically active molecules of marine based origin

The marine environment offers both economic and scientific potential which are relatively untapped from a biotechnological point of view. These environments whilst harsh are ironically fragile and dependent on a harmonious life form balance. Exploitation of natural resources by exhaustive wild harvesting has obvious negative environmental consequences. From a European industry perspective marine organisms are a largely underutilised resource. This is not due to lack of interest but due to a lack of choice the industry faces for cost competitive, sustainable and environmentally conscientious product alternatives. Knowledge of the biotechnological potential of marine organisms together with the development of sustainable systems for their cultivation, processing and utilisation are essential. In 2010, the European Commission recognised this need and funded a collaborative RTD/SME project under the Framework 7-Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) Theme 2 Programme 'Sustainable culture of marine microorganisms, algae and/or invertebrates for high value added products'. The scope of that project entitled 'Sustainable Production of Biologically Active Molecules of Marine Based Origin' (BAMMBO) is outlined. Although the Union is a global leader in many technologies, it faces increasing competition from traditional rivals and emerging economies alike and must therefore improve its innovation performance. For this reason innovation is placed at the heart of a European Horizon 2020 Strategy wherein the challenge is to connect economic performance to eco performance. This article provides a synopsis of the research activities of the BAMMBO project as they fit within the wider scope of sustainable environmentally conscientious marine resource exploitation for high-value biomolecules. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Alteration in cellular viability, pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide production in nephrotoxicity generation by Amphotericin B: Involvement of PKA pathway signaling

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Susceptibilidade antifúngica, produção de biofilme e caracterização do gene ALS3 em isolados de Candida albicans e não-albicans do hospital das clínicas, UNESP, Botucatu

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

Prevalência e susceptibilidade aos antifúngicos de isolados de leveduras do gênero candida da cavidade bucal de pacientes com hanseníase

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Síntese e estudos estrutura/função de um peptídeo extraído da rã Hypsiboas albopunctatus e análogos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do potencial tripanocida dos óleos essenciais de Melampodium divaricatum e Hedychium coronarium e dos extratos de Polygonum ferrugineum em cepas de Trypanosoma brucei

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Efeito da IL-15 sobre a atividade fungicida de neutrófilos humanos contra Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito de citocinas sobre a atividade fungicida e fungistática de neutrófilos humanos contra o Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

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

Avaliação por métodos fenotípicos e proteômicos de galatos de alquila com atividade anti-complexo Paracoccidioides

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo fitoquímico, avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana, antioxidante e citotóxica de extrativos de Equisetum hyemale L. (Equisetaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de métodos analíticos para estudos de estabilidade para fluconazol cápsulas

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