Avaliação da atividade biológica de óleos essenciais sobre candida não albicans de origem clínica

Candidíase é um problema de importância crescente, devido o aumento do número de indivíduos imunocomprometidos e o surgimento de cepas resistentes aos antifúngicos convencionais. É de fundamental importância a busca por novos agentes antifúngicos mais eficazes, menos tóxicos, sendo os óleos essenciais (OEs) excelentes alternativas para esse propósito. Esse estudo investigou a atividade biológica do OE de Mentha spicata L. sobre Candida guilliermondii de origem anal e vaginal. Para tanto foram determinadas a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM), Concentração Fungicida Mínima (CFM), cinética do crescimento das leveduras (Time-Kill), alterações micromorfológicas (técnica do microcultivo em câmara úmida) e investigação do mecanismo de ação antifúngico, utilizando o bioensaio do sorbitol. O OE de M. spicata foi obtido pelo processo de extração por destilação a vapor. Na análise fitoquímica desse óleo foi observada a presença de carvona com 84,32%, seguida pelo limoneno (13,70%) e traços de iso-dihidrocarvona (0,82%). Os resultados da análise da CIM variou entre 32 e 128 μg/mL. A CFM variou entre 64 e 1024 μg/mL. Na avaliação da ação de OE e da nistatina 100UI/mL, o antifúngico padrão apresentou o efeito fungicida a partir de 4 horas e para OE de M. spicata foi observado efeito fungistático na CIM, CIMX2 e CIMX4 frente às cepas avaliadas. O OE de M. spicata apresentou forte atividade antifúngica contra as cepas de C. guilliermondii, promovendo alterações micromorfológicas visíveis por microscopia óptica, nas concentrações testadas (CIM, CIMx2), resultado semelhante ao que se observou com a nistatina (100UI/mL). Na investigação do mecanismo de ação antifúngico foi constatado que houve alteração da CIM na presença de sorbitol, com elevação dos valores quatro vezes maior que a concentração inicial, o que indica que os componentes desse OE apresentam ação direta sobre a parede celular das leveduras. Conclui-se que o OE de Mentha spicata é um potencial agente terapêutico no tratamento de candidíase

Sexagem histológica e desempenho de Oreochromis niloticus testando diâmetros de ração de acordo com o aparato bucal

Estudou-se o tamanho da boca de larvas de tilápia-do-nilo e testou-se o efeito de diferentes granulometrias da ração sobre o ganho de peso, comprimento e sobrevivência das larvas aos 30 e 60 dias de arraçoamento. Avaliou-se também o método de sexagem por meio de microscopia de luz aos 35 dias de idade. A medida da boca das larvas apresentou valores médios de 918,2±152,9μm aos cinco dias de idade. de acordo com esse dado, testaram-se três granulometrias: 0,25, 0,35 e 0,50mm. Aos 30 e aos 60 dias de arraçoamento, 10% das larvas foram medidas, pesadas e contadas para cálculo da taxa de sobrevivência. O tamanho dos grânulos testados não afetou o desempenho das larvas de tilápia nilótica com alimentação iniciada aos cinco dias pós-eclosão. Quanto à sexagem histológica aos 35 dias de idade, as gônadas apresentaram-se, em sua maioria, indiferenciadas. Recomenda-se que essa análise deva ser realizada de acordo com o tamanho dos animais e não com a idade.

Avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória de uma heterofucana da alga Dictyota menstrualis

Fucana é um termo que define uma família de hetero e homopolissacarídeos que contem L-fucose em sua estrutura. Neste trabalho uma hererofucan F 2,0v da alga Dictyota menstrualis foi avaliada como agente antinociceptivo e antiinflamatório. A fucana F 2,0v inibiu a migração de leucócitos em até 100% (20.0 mg/kg) para a cavidade peritoneal após estimulo químico, porém, não alterou a expressão das interleucinas IL-1β, IL-6 e de TNF-α. Com relação a sensação dolorosa a F 2,0v (20.0 mg/kg) possui atividade antinociceptiva periférica com potência semelhante à dipirona. Por outro lado não apresentou efeito no teste da placa quente. Análises de microscopia confocal e citometria de fluxo mostram que a F 2,0v se liga a superfície dos leucócitos. O conjunto de resultados apresentados pela fucana F 2,0v sugerem que o mecanismo de ação está relacionado com sua capacidade de inibir a migração de leucócitos para o local da injúria tecidual. Em resumo os dados mostram que F 2,0v apresenta grande potencial como composto antinociceptivo e antiinflamatório. Estudos futuros serão realizados para caracterizar melhor o mecanismo de ação da F 2,0v

Trichodina colisae (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae): new parasite records for two freshwater fish species farmed in Brazil

Tricodinídeos são protozoários ciliados móveis com ampla distribuição mundial; são considerados um dos agentes parasitários que mais acometem peixes cultivados. No Brasil, a maioria dos tricodinídeos que parasitam importantes espécies de peixes cultivados são desconhecidos, o que requer mais estudos taxonômicos com esse grupo de parasitos. Este estudo caracteriza morfologicamente Trichodina colisae Asmat & Sultana, 2005 de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e do híbrido patinga (P. mesopotamicus × P. brachypomus) cultivados, respectivamente, no Centro-Oeste e Sudeste do Brasil. Foram feitas montagens a fresco do raspado de muco da pele, nadadeiras e brânquias, fixados com metanol e, posteriormente, impregnados com nitrato de prata e coradas com Giemsa para avaliação em microscopia óptica. O presente estudo relata não só a segunda ocorrência de T. colisae no mundo, mas também a primeira ocorrência na América do Sul.

Checklist das Cryptophyceae do estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Usando como base de informações a monografia sobre o grupo publicada pelo projeto Flora Ficológica do Estado de São Paulo (Programa BIOTA), o acervo depositado no Herbário Científico do Estado de São Paulo Maria Eneyda P. Kauffmann Fidalgo (SP), a Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil e artigos científicos, dissertações e teses (com descrições e ilustrações) temos: nove gêneros e 39 espécies de criptoficeas, sendo 16 espécies exclusivas para o Estado de São Paulo, todas registradas em ambientes de água doce. A carência de especialistas no Estado de São Paulo e no Brasil, além de problemas de estratégia amostral, necessidade de uso da microscopia eletrônica e ausência de estudos de biologia molecular, são fatores que devem ter subestimado o conhecimento taxonômico de Cryptophyceae no Estado.

Análise do vetor de impedância bioelétrico na avaliação da suplementação de zinco em crianças prepuberais e sadias

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Valores de referência para cobre e zinco no plasma e no eritrócito em adultos universitários na cidade de Natal-RN

This study aimed builds reference values for copper and zinc, of healthy adults in Natal-RN, and to identify the influence of the gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and diet, on those values. They were assessed 123 healthy students of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), both genders, with age between 19 and 41 years. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of UFRN. BMI was determined and the food consume was accomplished through a 24h recordatory. Dietary was evaluated as the energy, macronutrients, copper and zinc, according to the recommendations of National Academy of Sciences (2001; 2002). Analyses of the copper and zinc concentrations in the plasma and erythrocytes were accomplished by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The casuistic came quite homogeneous as for the distribution for gender and age, being the largest number of individuals between the 19 and 24 years old. Most of the volunteers presented anthropometric nutritional state inside of the normality patterns. Chronic diseases family antecedents and sedentarysm were observed. Diet was characterized with low consumption of zinc, appropriate of copper and of lipids. Average concentrations of plasma copper (p=0,002), erythrocyte copper (μg/dL, p=0,036; μg/gHb, p=0,038), and plasma zinc (p=0,022) were different among the genders, what was demonstrated by the largest values of copper in the female gender and larger of zinc in the masculine. Plasma copper values still suffered interference of the variables: energy, carbohydrate and copper consumption, all classified in agreement with the median, besides the protein classified according to the percentage contribution for the dietary total energy. The study allowed to establish reference values for erythrocyte zinc (1.261,6-1.344,0 μg/dL e 51,0-54,3 μg/gHb) and to suggest "indicative" of reference values for plasma (108,4 130,2 μg/dL) and erythrocyte (female = 85,0 91,4 μg/dL; masculine = 80,2 86,5 μg/dL) copper and plasma zinc (female = 98,8 105,8 μg/dL; masculine = 104,6 111,6 μg/dL)

Morphological Notes on the Worker and Queen Larvae of the Thief Ant Solenopsis helena (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from Brazil

Young and mature larvae of queen and workers of the thief ant, Solenopsis helena, are herein described for the first time. Specimens were treated and described by usual methods of light and scanning electron microscopy. Many of the observed characteristics confirmed traits of the thief ant larva, reinforcing the assumption that they are a distinct group from fire ants. The larva of S. helena can be recognized from other close species by details of the mouthparts, but seem extensively similar to Solenopsis molesta. These findings are useful for taxonomic studies and phylogenetic inferences.

External Morphology of the Immatures of Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The immatures of Polybia paulista Ihering were described using light and scanning electron microscopy and the results are compared with previous descriptions within the same or related wasps. This study is based on 2 whole nests collected in the municipality of Rio Claro, São Paulo, in Brazil. We have detected the existence of 5 larval instars. The main morphological alterations over development occur in the relative size of structures, yet certain structures appear with subsequent instars and become more evident later in development: increasing density in the number of body spines and papillae; the appearance of body setae in fifth-instar larvae; opening of spiracles upon second-instar larvae; 2 body shapes in fifth-instar larvae; the appearance of a lateral tooth on the mandibles of fourth instar; presence of spines on the maxillae of fifth-instar larvae; altered shape of galea and palps upon third-instar larvae from a cluster of sensilla to a conical elevation; and the appearance of spines on postmentum upon fourth-instar larvae. This way, the present study presents a detailed description of the immatures of P. paulista, and we hope the presented information can be useful to morphological, taxonomic, and phylogenetic studies.

Biochemical and histological characterization of tomato mutants

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

Estudo de pré-formulação para dose fixa combinada dos tuberculostáticos rifampicina, isoniazida, pirazinamida e etambutol (4 em 1)

According to the global framework regarding new cases of tuberculosis, Brazil appears at the 18th place. Thus, the Ministry of Health has defined this disease as a priority in the governmental policies. As a consequence, studies concerning treatment and prevention have increased. Fixed-dose combination formulations (FDC) are recognized as beneficial and are recommended by WHO, but they present instability and loss on rifampicin bioavailability. The main purpose of this work was to carry out a pre-formulation study with the schedule 1 tuberculosis treatment drugs: rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol and pharmaceutical excipients (lactose, cellulose, magnesium stearate and talc), in order to develop an FDC product (150 mg of rifampicin + 75 mg of isoniazid + 400 mg of pyrazinamide + 250 mg of ethambutol). The studies consisted of the determination of particle size and distribution (Ferret s diameter) and shape through optical microscopy, as well as rheological and technological properties (bulk and tapped densities, Hausner Factor, Carr s Index, repose angle and flux rate) and interactions among drugs and drug excipient through thermal analysis (DSC, DTA, TG and your derivate). The results showed that, except isoniazid, the other drugs presented poor rheological properties, determined by the physical characteristics of the particles: small size and rod like particles shape for rifampicin; rectangular shape for pyrazinamide and ethambutol, beyond its low density. The 4 drug mixture also not presented flowability, particularly that one containing drug quantity indicated for the formulation of FDC products. In this mixture, isoniazid, that has the best flowability, was added in a lower concentration. The addition of microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate and talc to the drug mixtures improved flowability properties. In DSC analysis probable interactions among drugs were found, supporting the hypothesis of ethambutol and pyrazinamide catalysis of the rifampicin-isoniazid reaction resulting in 3- formylrifamycin isonicotinyl hydrazone (HYD) as a degradation product. In the mixtures containing lactose Supertab® DSC curves evidenced incompatibility among drugs and excipient. In the DSC curves of mixtures containing cellulose MC101®, magnesium stearate and talc, no alterations were observed comparing to the drug profiles. The TG/DTG of the binary and ternary mixtures curves showed different thermogravimetrics profiles relating that observed to the drug isolated, with the thermal decomposition early supporting the evidences of incompatibilities showed in the DSC and DTA curves

Micropartículas de poli (ácido lático-co-ácido glicólico) obtidas por spray drying para a liberação prolongada de metotrexato

Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug used in the chemotherapy of some kind of cancers, autoimmune diseases and non inflammatory resistant to corticosteroids uveits. However, the rapid plasmatic elimination limits its therapeutic success, which leads to administration of high doses to maintain the therapeutic levels in the target tissues, occurring potential side effects. The aim of this study was to obtain spray dried biodegradable poly-lactic acid co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles containing MTX. Thus, suitable amounts of MTX and PLGA were dissolved in appropriate solvent system to obtain solutions at different ratios drug/polymer (10, 20, 30 and 50% m/m). The physicochemical characterizing included the quantitative analysis of the drug using a validate UV-VIS spectrophotometry method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrophotometry (IR), thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction analysis. The in vitro release studies were carried out in a thermostatized phosphate buffer pH 7.4 (0.05 M KH2PO4) medium at 37°C ± 0.2 °C. The in vitro release date was subjected to different kinetics release models. The MTX-loaded PLGA microparticles showed a spherical shape with smooth surface and high level of entrapped drug. The encapsulation efficiency was greater then 80%. IR spectroscopy showed that there was no chemical bond between the compounds, suggesting just the possible occurrence of hydrogen bound interactions. The thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction analysis shown that MTX is homogeneously dispersed inside polymeric matrix, with a prevalent amorphous state or in a stable molecular dispersion. The in vitro release studies confirmed the sustained release for distinct MTX-loaded PLGA microparticles. The involved drug release mechanism was non Fickian diffusion, which was confirmed by Kornmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. The experimental results demonstrated that the MTX-loaded PLGA microparticles were successfully obtained by spray drying and its potential as prolonged drug release system.

Preparação e carcterização de complexos multicomponentes contendo ciclodextrinas e benznidazol

The benznidazole (BNZ) is the only alternative for Chagas disease treatment in Brazil. This drug has low solubility, which restricts its dissolution rate. Thus, the present work aimed to study the BNZ interactions in binary systems with beta cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), in order to increase the apparent aqueous solubility of drug. The influence of seven hydrophilic polymers, triethanolamine (TEA) and 1-methyl-2- pyrrolidone (NMP) in benznidazole apparent aqueous solubility, as well as the formation of inclusion complexes was also investigated. The interactions in solution were predicted and investigated using phase solubility diagram methodology, nuclear magnetic resonance of protons (RMN) and molecular modeling. Complexes were obtained in solid phase by spray drying and physicochemical characterization included the UV-Vis spectrophotometric spectroscopy in the infrared region, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and dissolution drug test from the different systems. The increment on apparent aqueous solubility of drug was achieved with a linear type (AL) in presence of both cyclodextrins at different pH values. The hydrophilic polymers and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone contributes to the formation of inclusion complexes, while the triethanolamine decreased the complex stability constant (Kc). The log-linear model applied for solubility diagrams revealed that both triethanolamine and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone showed an action cosolvent (both solvents) and complexing (1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone). The best results were obtained with complexes involving 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and hydroxypropylbeta- cyclodextrin, with an increased of benznidazole solubility in 27.9 and 9.4 times, respectively. The complexes effectiveness was proven by dissolution tests, in which the ternary complexes and physical mixtures involving 1-methyl- 2-pyrrolidone and both cyclodextrins investigated showed better results, showing the potential use as novel pharmaceutical ingredient, that leads to increased benznidazole bioavailability

Preparação e caracterização de sistemas emulsionados contendo benznidazol

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Avaliação da argila atapulgita para potencial uso como excipiente farmacêutico em formas sólidas

Clays are natural materials that have great potential for use as excipients for solid dosage forms. Palygorskite is a type of clay that has hydrophilic properties as well as a large surface area, which could contribute to the dissolution of drugs. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the use of palygorskite clay, from Piaui (Northeast region of Brazil), as a pharmaceutical excipient for solid dosage forms, using rifampicin and isoniazid as the model drugs. The former is a poorly soluble drug often associated with isoniazid for tuberculosis treatment. Palygorskite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), particle size, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area (BET). The rheological and technological properties of palygorskite were determined and compared to those of talc, magnesium stearate and Aersosil 200. Mixtures between drugs and palygorskite were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) combined with thermal analysis (DTA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), where the results were compared with those of the individual compounds. In addition, dissolution studies of solid dispersions and capsules containing the drugs, mixed with either palygorskite or a mixture of talc and magnesium stearate, were performed. The results showed that palygorskite has small particles with a high surface area. Its rheological characteristics were better than those of others commonly used glidants and lubricants. There was no interaction between palygorskite and the drugs (rifampicin and isoniazid). Among the dispersions studied, the mixture with palygorskite (5%) showed the highest drug dissolution when compared to other excipients. The dissolution of the rifampicin capsules containing palygosrkite was faster in higher concentrations. However, these differences were statistically different only in the first minutes of the dissolution experiment. The dissolution profile of isoniazid was also statistically different on the initial part of the experiment. The formulations prepared with isoniazid and palygorskite showed higher drug dissolution, but it was in descending order of concentration. According to these results, the palygorskite clay used in this study has great potential for application as an excipient for solid dosage forms