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The chemical composition of the Cynophalla flexuosa hydroethanolic extract (CFHEE) was identified and its antioxidant, antifungal and antipleomorphic activities against C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains were evaluated. Phytochemical prospecting evidenced polyphenolic and triterpenoid compounds while UPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of Isopropyl/n-propyl-GLS; Methylpropyl-GLS/butyl-GLS; Methylbutyl-GLS; Quercetin O-di-hexoside; Quercetin-pentosyl-hexoside; Rutin; Quercetin O-glucoside; Kaempferol O-rhamnosyl-hexoside; Kaempferol O-pentosyl-hexoside and Lariciresinol hexoside. The CFHEE inhibited the effect of the DPPH● free radical, both when evaluated individually and in combination with the antifungal fluconazole. When associated with 256 μg/mL fluconazole, the extract, at concentrations from 128 μg/mL, reduced the effect of the DPPH● free radical with values ranging from 37.7% to 95.8%. The extract’s antifungal effect was considered clinically irrelevant and its combination with the antifungal triggered an antagonistic effect against the two strains, thus indicating the popular use of bravo beans in the form of teas or infusions should not be combined with the intake of the drug Fluconazole as this may lead to a reduction of its clinical effect. The extract, however, inhibited morphological changes (pleomorphism) in Candida species, preventing the development of hyphae. The CFHEE possesses an antioxidant effect and a potential pharmacological activity for the inhibition of one of the Candida spp. virulence factors.

Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth (Euphorbiaceae), whose occurrence has already been registered in the most varied Brazilian biomes, is commonly found in the Chapada do Araripe, Ceará. The species is traditionally used to treat fungal, parasitic, and degenerative diseases. This study investigated the chemical composition and pharmacological potential (antioxidant, antifungal, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic) of an aqueous extract obtained from the roots of C. heliotropiifolius. Following a qualitative phytochemical screening, the chemical constituents were identified by ultra-efficiency liquid chromatography coupled witha quadrupole/time-of-flight system (UPLC-QTOF). The antioxidant potential was verified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The direct and combined antifungal activity of the extract against opportunistic Candida strains was investigated using the microdilution method. The minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined by subculture, while the modulation of the morphological transition (fungal virulence) was evaluated by light microscopy. The in vitro antiparasitic activity was analyzed using epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi and promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum, while cytotoxicity was determined in cultures of mouse fibroblasts. The phytochemical analysis identified the presence of acids, terpenes, flavonoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Among these constituents, the presence of polar and non-polar phenolic compounds with known antioxidant action was highlighted. While the extract showed clinically ineffective antifungal effects, it could enhance the effectiveness of fluconazole, in addition to inhibiting the morphological transition associated with increased virulence in Candida strains. Although the extract showed low cytotoxicity against fibroblasts, it also had weak antiparasitic effects. In conclusion, Croton heliotropiifolius is a source of natural products with antifungal and antioxidant potential.

Antimicrobial resistance and the consequent inefficiency of antibiotics are the main problems faced by medicine. In view of this, numerous researches have been aimed at looking for new agents with antibacterial activity, among them natural products. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves and roots of Spondias tuberosa by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), as well as to verify the antibacterial action of the extracts alone and in combination with commercial antibiotics to evaluate its potential in action of change of antibiotics. The extracts showed polar and nonpolar phenolic substances with antioxidant action. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves and roots was 1,024 μg/mL compared to the Staphylococcus aureus 25923 strain, whereas with the other strains, the products showed an MIC ≥ 2,048 µg/mL. The effect of combining extracts with amikacin, ampicillin and norfloxacin against the multidrug-resistant bacteria Escherichia coli 06, Staphylococcus aureus 10 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24 resulted in synergistic effects with aminoglycoside alone, achieving up to 75 % reduction in the MIC of the antibiotic. In view of the results obtained, it can be concluded that the extracts of S. tuberosa presented polar and nonpolar phenolic substances, in the antibacterial activity it can positively modify the effect of the aminoglycoside antibiotic against multi-resistant bacteria, but future studies are necessary to discover the mechanism of action of such an effect. La resistencia a los antimicrobianos y la consiguiente ineficacia de los antibióticos son los principales problemas a los que se enfrenta la medicina. Ante esto, numerosas investigaciones se han dirigido a buscar nuevos agentes con actividad antibacteriana, entre ellos productos naturales. Así, este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la actividad antioxidante de extractos acuosos e hidroalcohólicos de las hojas y raíces de Spondias tuberosa mediante Cromatografía de Capa Fina (CCF), así como verificar la acción antibacteriana de los extractos solos y en combinación con antibióticos comerciales para evaluar su potencial en la acción del cambio de antibióticos. Los extractos mostraron sustancias fenólicas polares y apolares con acción antioxidante. La Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) de los extractos hidroalcohólicos de hojas y raíces fue de 1.024 μg / mL en comparación con la cepa Staphylococcus aureus 25923, mientras que con las otras cepas, los productos mostraron una CMI ≥ 2.048 µg / mL. El efecto de combinar extractos con amikacina, ampicilina y norfloxacina contra la bacteria multirresistente Escherichia coli 06, Staphylococcus aureus 10 y Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24 resultó en efectos sinérgicos con el aminoglucósido solo, logrando reducción de hasta un 75 % en la CMI del antibiótico. A la vista de los resultados obtenido, se puede concluir que los extractos de S. tuberosa presentó sustancias fenólicas polares y apolares, en el actividad antibacteriana puede modificar positivamente el efecto del antibiótico aminoglucósido contra bacterias multirresistentes, pero el futuro son necesarios estudios para descubrir el mecanismo de acción de tal efecto. A resistência antimicrobiana e a consequente ineficiência de antibióticos são os principais problemas enfrentados pela medicina. Diante disto, inúmeras pesquisas têm sido destinadas a procurar novos agentes com atividade antibacteriana, dentre eles os produtos naturais. Dessa forma, esse estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a atividade antioxidante dos extratos aquosos e hidroalcoólicos das folhas e raízes de S. tuberosa Arruda (umbu) por Cromatografia em Camada Delgada (CCD), bem como verificar a ação antibacteriana dos extratos isoladamente e em combinação com antibióticos comerciais para avaliar seu potencial na ação de modificação de antibióticos. Os extratos apresentaram substâncias fenólicas polares e apolares com ação antioxidante. A Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) dos extratos hidroalcoólicos das folhas e raízes foi 1024 μg/mL frente a cepa Staphylococcus aureus 25923, já com as demais cepas os produtos demonstraram uma CIM ≥ 2.048 µg/mL. O efeito da combinação dos extratos com amicacina, ampicilina e norfloxacina frente às bactérias multirresistentes Escherichia coli 06, Staphylococcus aureus 10 e Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24 resultou em efeitos sinérgicos apenas com o aminoglicosídeo, alcançando até 75 % de redução da CIM do antibiótico. Diante dos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que os extratos de S. tuberosa apresentaram substâncias fenólicas polares e apolares, na atividade antibacteriana pode modificar positivamente o efeito do antibiótico aminoglicosídeo contra bactérias multirresistentes, mas estudos futuros é preciso para descobrir o mecanismo de ação de tal efeito.

The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the chemical compositions and effects of the S. tuberosa leaf and root hydroalcoholic extracts (HELST and HERST) against different strains of Candida. Chemical analysis was performed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Quadrupole/Time of Flight System (UPLC-MS-ESI-QTOF). The Inhibitory Concentration of 50% of the growth (IC50) as well as the intrinsic and combined action of the extracts with the antifungal fluconazole (FCZ) were determined by the microdilution method while the minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) and the effect on fungal morphological transitions were analyzed by subculture and in humid chambers, respectively. From the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the phenols and flavonoids were the most abundant. The intrinsic IC50 values for HELST ranged from 5716.3 to 7805.8 &micro, g/mL and from 6175.4 to 51070.9 &micro, g/mL for the HERST, whereas the combination of the extracts with fluconazole presented IC50 values from 2.65 to 278.41 &micro, g/mL. The MFC of the extracts, individually, for all the tested strains was &ge, 16384 &micro, g/mL. When fluconazole was combined with each extract, the MFC against CA URM 5974 was reduced (HELST: 2048 and HERST: 4096 &micro, g/mL). Synergism was observed against standard C. albicans (CA) and C. tropicalis (CT) strains and with the root extract against the CT isolate. The leaf extract inhibited the morphological transition of all strains while the root extract inhibited only CT strains.

Leptodactylus macrosternumandL. vastus(family: Leptodactylidae) are commonly encountered in the “Caatinga” biome in northern Brazil. The body fat ofL. vastusis used as a zootherapeutic for treating a number of human maladies. The aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of the body fats ofL. macrosternumandL. vastusand to evaluate their antimicrobial activities as well as the ecological implications of their use in traditional folk medicine. Oils were extracted from body fat located in the ventral region ofL. macrosternum(OLM) andL. vastus(OLV) using hexane as a solvent. The fatty acids were identified by GC-MS. The antimicrobial activities of the oils, either alone or in combination with antibiotics and antifungal drugs, were tested on standard strains of microorganisms as well as on multiresistant strains ofEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus. OLM contained 40% saturated and 60% unsaturated fatty acids, while OLV contained 58.33% saturated and 41.67% unsaturated fatty acids. Our results indicated that both OLM and OLV demonstrated relevant antimicrobial activities (with MIC 256 μg/mL for both) againstPseudomonas aeruginosaandCandida krusei. However, no antimicrobial effects were observed when these oils were combined with antibiotics or antifungal drugs.

Raillietiella gigliolii is a Neotropical pentastomid parasite found in Amphisbaena alba. Collections were made in northeastern Brazil in a remnant area of Atlantic Forest (07 masculine 10' S and 35 masculine 05' W) in the municipality of Cruz do Espírito Santo, Paraíba State, and in a Humid Forest area (07 masculine 16' S and 39 masculine 26' W) on the slopes of the Chapada do Araripe Mountains, municipality of Crato, Ceará state, Brazil. Nine specimens of A. alba and 12 of A. vermicularis were collected to gather basic ecological data (prevalence and mean intensity of infection) concerning these parasites. Raillietiella gigliolii was found infecting the lungs of both species. The prevalence for A. alba was 55.5% (5/9), with a mean intensity of infection of 5.0 +/- 2.53 and amplitudes of 1-13. A. vermicularis demonstrated prevalence of 50%, with a mean intensity of infection of 5.3 +/- 2.1 and amplitudes of 1-14. This represents the first record of R. gigliolii as a parasite of A. vermicularis. Our results suggest that R. gigliolii is a generalist parasite species and that an overlapping diet is the determinant factor in the sharing of its final hosts.

Psidium guajava is a Myrtaceae plant whose medicinal properties are recognized in several locations. The use of teas and tinctures prepared from their leaves has been used to combat infections caused by fungi of the genus Candida. In this study, aqueous extracts of leaves and hydroethanolic were tested to verify the antifungal potential and its chemical composition has been investigated. The microbiological assays were performed by broth microdilution to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and from these the minimum fungicidal concentration was performed (MFC) by subculturing on solid media. A cell viability curve was obtained for demonstration of inhibition of fungal growth of strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Tests to check morphological changes by the action of the extracts were performed in microcultive cameras depleted environment at concentrations of MIC/2, MIC and MIC×2. Extracts analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated flavonoids and phenolic acids. The extracts showed fungistatic effect and no fungicide with MIC >8192μg/mL, MFC above 8192μg/mL. The IC50 was calculated ranging from 1803.02 to 5623.41μg/mL. It has been found that the extracts affect the morphological transition capability, preventing the formation of pseudohyphae and hyphae. Teas and tinctures, therefore, have the potential antifungal, by direct contact, causing inhibition of fungal multiplication and its virulence factor, the cell dimorphism, preventing tissue invasion. Further studies are needed to elucidate the biochemical pathways and genes assets involved in these processes.