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Sesquiterpernes are natural compounds widely distributed in plants rich in essential oils; among these compounds, α-humulene and its isomers stand out for their multiple pharmacological properties and for their uses in the cosmetics, perfumery and food industries. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review (SR) in order to identify the pharmacological and toxicological activities of α-humulene and its isomers. This SR was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The bibliographic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. The inclusion criteria used were: original articles from preclinical and clinical studies that investigated the pharmacological activities and toxicological effects of α-humulene and its isomers, which were written in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The initial search resulted in 5165 articles, of which 46 were selected for final analysis. After grouping into categories by activity presented, 41% of the investigated articles reported that α-humulene and its isomers had antitumor activity, followed by anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities (20% for both), other pharmacological activities (15%) and potential toxic (2%). This SR is the first developed grouping studies on the pharmacological and toxicological activities of this group of compounds. In this perspective, it is concluded that α-humulene, as well as its isomers, have different pharmacological activities, listing them as an important precursor for new therapies. However, there is still a need for further toxicological investigation on these compounds, in order to ensure safety for their use.

Candida infections represent a threat to human health. Candida albicans is the main causative agent of invasive candidiasis, especially in immunosuppressed patients. The emergence of resistant strains has required the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this context, the use of liposomes as drug carrier systems is a promising alternative in drug development. Thus, considering the evidence demonstrating that sesquiterpene farnesol is a bioactive compound with antifungal properties, this study evaluated the activity farnesol-containing liposomes against different Candida strains. The IC50 of farnesol and its liposomal formulation was assessed in vitro using cultures of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei. The Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was established by subculture in solid medium. The occurrence of fungal dimorphism was analyzed using optical microscopy. The effects on antifungal resistance to fluconazole were assessed by evaluating the impact of combined therapy on the growth of Candida strains. The characterization of liposomes was carried out considering their vesicular size, polydispersion index, and zeta medium potential, in addition to electron microscopy analysis. Farnesol exerted an antifungal activity that might be associated with the inhibition of fungal dimorphism, especially in Candida albicans. The incorporation of farnesol into liposomes significantly increased its antifungal activity against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei. In addition, liposomal farnesol potentiated the action of fluconazole against C. albicans and C. tropicalis. On the other hand, the association of unconjugated farnesol with fluconazole resulted in antagonistic effects. In conclusion, farnesol-containing liposomes have the potential to be used in antifungal drug development. However, further research is required to investigate how the antifungal properties of farnesol are affected by the interaction with liposomes, contributing to the modulation of antifungal resistance to conventional drugs.

Fungal pathologies caused by the genus Candida have increased in recent years due to the involvement of immunosuppressed people and the advance of resistance mechanisms acquired by these microorganisms. Liposomes are nanovesicles with lipid bilayers in which they store compounds. α-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene with proven biological activities, and in this work it was tested alone in liposomes and in association with Fluconazole in vitro to evaluate the antifungal potential, Fluconazole optimization, and virulence inhibitory effect in vitro. Antifungal assays were performed against standard strains of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei by microdilution to identify the IC50 values and to obtain the cell viability. The Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was performed by subculturing on the solid medium, and at their subinhibitory concentration (Matrix Concentration (MC): 16,384 µg/mL) (MC/16), the compounds, both isolated and liposomal, were associated with fluconazole in order to verify the inhibitory effect of this junction. Tests to ascertain changes in morphology were performed in microculture chambers according to MC concentrations. Liposomes were characterized from the vesicle size, polydispersity index, average Zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. The IC50 value of the liposomal bisabolol associated with fluconazole (FCZ) was 2.5 µg/mL against all strains tested, revealing a potentiating effect. Liposomal bisabolol was able to potentiate the effect of fluconazole against the CA and CT strains by reducing its concentration and completely inhibiting fungal growth. α-Bisabolol in liposomal form inhibited the morphological transition in all strains tested at a concentration of MC/8. The liposomes were homogeneous, with vesicles with diameters of 203.8 nm for the liposomal bisabolol and a surface charge potential of −34.2 mV, conferring stability to the nanosystem. Through scanning microscopy, the spherical shapes of the vesicles were observed.

The Lauraceae family consists of approximately 70 genera and 2,500 species, with tropical and subtropical distribution. In Brazil, it comprises 400 species distributed in 25 genera. Among these, we highlight the genus Ocotea, with about 350 species. The present work had as objective to carry out the phytochemical study of Ocotea gardneri (MEISN) MEZ. For this, the botanical material was subjected to extraction, partition and chromatographic methods for isolation of the chemical constituents. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and comparisons with literature models. Chromatographic fractionation of the dichloromethane phase of Ocotea gardneri resulted in the isolation of triterpene 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexene (squalene), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde and the glycosylated steroid sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. From the ethyl acetate phase was isolated the flavone 3, 5, 7, 3',4'-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin) and two flavonols (-) 2- (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) -4H-chromene-3,5,7-triol (epicatechin) and (+) 2- (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) -4H-chromene-3,5,7-triol (catechin). All compounds are being reported for the first time in the species. Ocotea gardneri has been shown to be a promising species due to the variety of isolated chemical compounds.

Background: Yangambin, a lignan isolated from Ocotea duckei leaves, has been reported to have antitumor, anxiolytic, hypotensive, and leishmanicidal activity, but there is little information on toxicity. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute toxicity of yangambin in mice, and cytotoxicity and genotoxicity through the Allium cepa assay. Materials and Methods: The yanganbin at a dose of 2000 mg/kg was orally administered once to mice to investigate acute toxicity, and meristem of the roots of Allium cepa was used to determine inhibition of root growth (root length) and mitotic index. Results: Yangambin did not cause hemolysis in sheep erythrocytes at concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL, and did not show genotoxic changes in root meristem cells of Allium cepa at the same concentrations. In the acute toxicity study in Swiss mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, there were no apparent clinical signs or any behavioral changes and no deaths. Conclusion: Therefore, yangambin appears to a promising active compound for future pharmacological studies.

Scorpion stings are a serious public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries. This is a descriptive and retrospective study of the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of scorpion sting cases registered in the Health System in the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba state, from 2007 to 2012. Data was collected from the Injury Notification Information System data banks of the Ministry of Health. A total of 2,283 records, provided by the Third Health Sector of Campina Grande, were analyzed. Data revealed that the majority of the victims are female aged between 20 and 29 years, and the highest incidence of stings was in the urban area. Victims were mostly stung on the feet and hand. Serotherapy was not administered in most cases. The majority of the victims received medical assistance within 1 to 3 hours after the sting. The most prevalent clinical manifestations were pain, edema and paresthesias. Most cases were classified as mild, though seven deaths were reported. The high incidence rate suggests that this town may be an endemic area of scorpion stings, supporting the need to develop strategies to control and prevent scorpion stings. Os acidentes escorpiônicos constituem um grave problema de saúde pública em países tropicais e subtropicais. Este estudo retrospectivo analisou as notificações dos acidentes escorpiônicos registrados no Sistema de Saúde do município de Campina Grande, no estado da Paraíba, de 2007 a 2012. As informações foram coletadas do banco de dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação do Ministério da Saúde. Foram analisadas 2283 fichas de notificação. Os dados revelaram que a maioria dos acidentados é do sexo feminino, com idade entre 20 e 29 anos. Os acidentes foram mais frequentes em área urbana, sendo os pés e as mãos os locais anatômicos do corpo mais atingidos pelas picadas. A soroterapia não foi administrada na maioria dos acidentados e as vítimas prevalentemente recorreram aos sistemas de saúde dentro do período de 1 a 3 horas após o acidente. As manifestações clínicas mais frequentes foram dor, edema e parestesias. A maioria dos acidentes foi classificada como leve, porém foram registrados 7 casos de óbito. A elevada taxa de incidência de acidentes escorpiônicos sugere que esse município pode ser uma área endêmica de escorpiões, justificando a necessidade da elaboração de estratégias de controle e prevenção de acidentes por estes animais.

Introduction This study investigated the epidemiological and clinical profile of snakebite cases reported from 2007 to 2012 in the municipalities of the Curimataú region, State of Paraíba, in northeastern Brazil. Methods Data were collected from the Health Department of the State of Paraíba using the Injury Notification Information System data banks of the Health Ministry. Results A total of 304 snakebite cases were studied. The cases occurred most frequently from April to June. The genera Bothrops, Crotalus, and Micrurus were responsible for 74.6%, 6.2%, and 1.3% of cases, respectively. Snakebite cases predominated in males living in rural areas and between 10 and 19 years old. The highest incidence of bites occurred on the feet. The majority of the victims received medical assistance within 1 to 3h after being bitten. With regard to severity, 48% of the cases were classified as mild, 26% as moderate, and 2.6% as severe. Successful cures predominated, and no deaths were reported. The average antivenom ampoule dose used for the treatment in some snakebite cases was lower than that recommended by the Health Ministry. Conclusions Although our results show that Paraíba has a good level of medical care, there are serious deficiencies in recording snakebite information. These data indicate the need to improve the recording process for snakebite cases. Further training for health professionals seems to be necessary to optimize their skills in treating snakebite victims.