Search

Introduction: This study evaluated the chemical characterization, larvicidal activity and molluscicidal activity in front of the snail transmitting schistosomes (Biomphalaria glabrata) of the essential oils of Alpinia zerumbet and Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. The essential oils (EOs) were extracted by hydrodistillation, with chemical characterization through Gas Chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The physical-chemical parameters were determined according to the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. The toxicity test followed the bioassay with Artemia salina Leach, the EOs approved in this assay followed to evaluate their biological properties. Methodology: for molluscicidal activity, the methodology recommended by the WHO was performed, and the LC50 of the EOs was performed for their action in the face of the snail obtained by the Reed&Muench method. Both EOs showed low toxicity, and thus were evaluated for the biological properties larvicidal and molluscicidal. Alpinia zerumbet EO showed molluscicidal activity with LC50 of 40.63 mg·L-1 and Cymbopogon citratus EO 33.94 mg·L-1. Results: Both EOs showed larvicidal and molluscicidal potentials against the organisms tested, showing satisfactory results for their action. The results indicate that the evaluated EOs are composed of substances that promote and encourage their application due to their potential for molluscicidal and larvicidal biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant and toxicity activity of essential oils (EOs) of Hymenaea courbaril L. var. courbaril bark and Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels leaves. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ABTS and DPPH assay were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. For the toxicity assay, lethality was evaluated against Artemia salina Leach. For the antimicrobial assay, the method of Disc Diffusion and Dilution in Broth was applied to obtain the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal. The major constituent of the EO of H. courbaril was ß-ocimene (23.33%) and the EO of S. cumini was isocaryophyllene (18.01%). Both OE showed relevant antioxidant activity and low toxicity against Artemia salina. The EOs showed bactericidal activity against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., B. cereus and P. mirabilis. The results obtained are encouraged by the potential use of the OE's studied in the control and fight of pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several studies show that Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi fruits are a promising source of bioactive compounds, few studies have investigated the anticancer activity of its essential oil (EO). The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the antiproliferative activity of S. terebinthifolius fruit EO against eight human tumor cell lines. A central composite rotatable design with 11 experiments was developed to investigate the optimal conditions of hydrodistillation by Clevenger apparatus. EO obtained at optimized conditions (yield greater than 6.7%) showed potent activity for all cell lines investigated; the most promising results were observed against leukemia, kidney, multidrug-resistant ovarian, and prostate tumor cell lines. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the following major compounds in the EO: δ-3-carene (33.78-36.73%), α-phellandrene (15.67-17.30%), limonene (15.03-16.32%), α-pinene (7.03-9.20%), and germacrene D (4.98-6.99%). Future work involving fractionation of the EO might shed some light on the compounds responsible for each antiproliferative activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bixa orellana L. is widely used as a dye, and other properties are still little studied, especially in relation to leaves. This article evaluates how drying B. orellana L. influences the properties of essential oils (EOs) extracted from their leaves. The collected plant material was submitted to convective air-drying oven at temperatures of 35, 45 and 55 °C. Chemical profiles were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Mathematical models were applied to represent the drying process and statistical analysis performed using Statistica 10 software. The EO's were obtained through the hydrodistillation technique with verification of physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity by the Disc Diffusion Method. For the toxicity test, the bioassay was applied to Artemia salina. Through the results obtained it was possible to determine that the mathematical model of Verma was the one that best fitted the experimental data. Significant differences in the properties of EO's were observed. The temperature of 45 °C allowed obtaining the best EO yield, still presenting the most efficient antimicrobial activity. This study states through the activities analyzed that the drying temperature influences the physicochemical and biological properties of the EO's, thus requiring studies such as this one that evaluate the best mathematical model to predict drying as well as the specific temperatures that influence the properties of the product obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]