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The search for new drugs can be accelerated by in silico methods, i.e., fully computational methods known for their speed and low cost, allowing the analysis of a large amount of data, e.g., thousands of possible antimicrobials, in a few weeks. Molecular docking and first-principles calculations are great allies in this quest. They enable the assessment of protein-ligand interactions and can predict interactions between NPs and macromolecules to provide more information about the interactions and dynamics of NPs in biological systems. In this context, this work aims to use in silico methods to detect the formation of biogenic metallic nanoparticles from functional microalgal biomolecules of the genus Chlorella, which have chelation of metal ions as a fundamental property, and to verify the possible antibacterial biofilm efficacy using computational tools such as molecular docking. In a first analysis, it was found that the iron salt FeSO4 was the most suitable to bind the microalgal enzyme and produce its phytochelatin protein. Following this result, an analysis of the electronic structure of the phytochelatin complex with the iron salt was carried out, proving its structural modification at the nanometric level, after which an analysis of its therapeutic effect on antibiofilm activity was performed. S. aureus, a bacterium known for its multiresistant to antibiotics, these results demonstrate, through alternative in silico methods, the physiological role of phytochelatin from microalgae in the detoxification and bioremediation of metallic contaminants.

Pregnancy is a crucial time for the development of fetal health, so the mother’s diet must be healthy and balanced. Omega-3 is one of the most important nutrients during this time, as it has beneficial effects for both the mother and the fetus. The aim of this article is to evaluate the in silico biological effects of omega-3 and its derivatives during pregnancy and postpartum, using online software and molecular docking tools. These have been shown to be beneficial to the fetus, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Tricresol formalin is composed of 90% formaldehyde and 10% cresols, highly volatile, has action at a distance, has been used in endodontics since the 20th century, and it remains widely used in Brazil in dental treatments, in necrotic teeth and with periapical lesions. However, there is still controversy regarding the biological compatibility under the conditions of clinical use of this drug, as the studies carried out on this substance and its components are not consistent with its clinical use. Formaldehyde is reported as a potential cytotoxic substance, because when in direct contact with cells it is responsible for a cytogenotoxic response, so an alternative to increase stability and ensure the safe administration of this compound in direct contact with cells would be nanoencapsulation. The use of nanomaterials provides numerous advantages, as the main interests are increased solubility and drug release control. Study objective: This study aimed to produce and characterize nanocapsules containing tricresol formalin as active, evaluating and comparing the in vitro cytotoxic effect of free and nanostructured forms.Materials and methods: a nanoparticle was produced, optimization of the preparation method and characterization of nanocapsules containing tricresol formalin. Were performed antimicrobiological tests, tests for cell viability through the tetrazolium method assay (MTT), free radical production, double strand DNA damage, and nitric oxide production. Results: The formulation used did not show toxic behavior against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and showed a significant reduction in the toxicity of tricresol formalin in human fibroblast cells. The nanostructures showed values ​​similar to the free form for antimicrobial activity. The nanoparticles showed mean particle size of 192.3 ± 2.5 nm, PDI of 0.101 ± 0.013, zeta potencial of -17.7 ± 2.8 mV, and pH of 5.48 ± 0.3. Conclusion: Thus, it is evident that nanocapsules containing tricresol formalin can become a safer alternative for use within endodontics.

Randia ferox is a Brazilian native species used in folk medicine. Scientific information regarding the toxicology and phytochemistry of this plant remains unclear. We aimed to produce a R. ferox extract, identify its chemical matrix, and evaluate its safety profile. The extract chemical composition was accessed through UHPLC-MS/MS. Mononuclear cells, erythrocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages, and kidney cells were subjected to extract concentration-response curve testing. The cellular viability, proliferation, dsDNA release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), hemolysis, and DNA damage were determined. Ten molecules were found in the extract matrix. Most of the tested concentrations can be considered safe. Cellular viability, proliferation, dsDNA release, and NO remained at similar levels to the control. The extract increased ROS in macrophages. None of the tested concentrations induced DNA damage or hemolysis. The data suggest R. ferox extract contains several bioactive molecules and has a safety profile in vitro.

Microbial infections caused by sessile microorganisms are known to be a more challenging issue than infections caused by the same microorganisms in the planktonic state. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and biofilm-forming agent. This species presents intense cellular communication mediated by signaling molecules. This process is known as quorum sensing (QS) and induces the transcription of specific genes that favors cell density growth and three-dimensional bacterial grouping. In this context, the discovery of compounds capable of inhibiting the action of the QS signaling molecules seems to be a promising strategy against biofilms. This work aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm action and the in vitro safety profile of a sulfamethoxazole-Ag complex. The results obtained indicate potential anti-biofilm activity through QS inhibition. In silico tests showed that the compound acts on the las and pqs systems, which are the main regulators of biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Additionally, the molecule proved to be safe for human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Tucumã (Astrocaryum vulgare)is a fruit native to the Amazon region. Extracts from the peel and pulp are thought of as promising treatments for bacterial infections. The primary constituents of Tucumã oil and butter possess unsaturated carbon chains that are susceptible to oxidation by light or heat. The oils have high volatility and low aqueous solubility that limits their use without a vehicle. Nanotechnology refers to techniques to solve these problems. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), for example, protect fixed oils degradation by heat or light, as well as from oxidation and evaporation, ensuring greater stability and function, thereby prolonging the useful life of the final product. Study objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemolytic, cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of an NLC containing Tucumã butter and oil soasto improve the solubility and photosensitivity of the compounds, generating better pharmacological efficacy. Materials and methods: The NLC was assessed for stability for 60 days. The cytotoxicity of nanoparticles in peripheral blood mononucleated cells was determined in culture using assays for cell viability, DNA damage, oxidative metabolism and damage to human erythrocytes. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the broth microdilution technique and antibiofilm activity according to standardized protocols. Results: The Tucumã NLC remained stable throughout the evaluated period, with pH between 5.22–5.35, monodisperse distribution (PDI

A contaminacao por poluentes aquaticos e considerada um dos maiores problemas ambientais, principalmente em areas onde ha influencia das atividades humanas. Alem disso, os efeitos desta contaminacao induzem perigos a saude publica, pois estes podem permanecer durante um longo tempo na natureza, resultando em exposicao ambiental via cadeia alimentar bastante alta para consumidores de niveis troficos elevados, incluindo os seres humanos. Deste modo, ha uma necessidade de desenvolvimento de sistemas eficientes de desintoxicacao de poluentes. Paralelamente, o emprego de microalgas vem sendo estudado como forma de tratamento de aguas residuais de inumeros processos industriais, para a detoxificacao biologica e remocao de metais pesados e como bioindicadores na deteccao de substâncias toxicas. Neste contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisao de literatura referente a aplicacao de microalgas no tratamento e descontaminacao de ambientes aquaticos e discutir os principais resultados encontrados. A pesquisa foi realizada na base de dados PubMed, onde os descritores utilizados foram “microalgae bioremediation contaminants”. A partir dos artigos pesquisados, foi constatado que microalgas possuem a capacidade de remover diferentes poluentes aquaticos, demonstrando resultados promissores para a utilizacao destas no tratamento e descontaminacao de ambientes aquaticos contendo compostos citotoxicos, principalmente a especie Chlorella vulgaris.

The objective of this work was to produce and characterise nanoemulsions containing tucumã extract and to evaluate the performance of the nanostructure and the free compound regarding antitumor activity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative metabolism in NB4/APL cells. The nanoemulsions showed adequate physicochemical characteristics (average size approx. 200 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.3, negative zeta potential and acid pH) maintained stable up to 90 days of storage in refrigeration condition. The nanoformulations did not present protein corona formation. Blank nanoemulsion treatments showed moderate toxicity. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion loaded with extract showed better antileukemic results than the free extract. However, nanoemulsions can be promising carriers of natural compounds, emphasising their biological properties and constituting alternatives in treating diseases.

Introduction: Neuropsychiatric diseases are responsible for one of the highest burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. These illnesses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depres...

Ruellia angustiflora (Acanthaceae) is known as flower-of-fire, and its leaves are traditionally employed to promote wound healing. This study was aimed at extracting and characterizing the chemical constituents of the extracts of R. angustiflora obtained by ultrasound-assisted and supercritical fluid extractions, and subsequently investigate their antioxidant potential and cyto-genotoxicity. The extract obtained by ultrasound (UAE-EtOH) was characterized by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS), and the extract obtained via supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2) by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The antioxidant potential was verified by the antiradical activity against the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and the cyto-genotoxicity evaluation to test cell viability and DNA damage was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures. The SFE-CO2 extract presented some fatty acids, triterpenes, tetraterpenes, tocopherols and phytosterols. The UAE-EtOH extract contained phenolic acids and flavonoids, and showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Neither extract was genotoxic or cytotoxic at the tested concentrations.

Hesperozygis ringens is a plant of the Lamiaceae family which is restricted to the Southern region of Brazil. It is popularly used as an insecticide, but knowledge on it is very scarce. This study aimed to determine the chemical markers of H. ringens extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted (UAE-EtOH) and supercritical fluid (SFE-CO2) extractions. UAE-EtOH and SFE-CO2 extracts were characterised by UPLC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. Both products had their antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluated. Twelve compounds were found in the UAE-EtOH extract, including phenolic acids and flavonoids; the SFE-CO2 extract contained terpenes and phytosterols. The UAE-EtOH extract showed a greater antioxidant activity. Neither extract presented cytotoxicity or genotoxicity against human mononuclear blood cells.

O câncer e um dos tipos de doenca mais incidentes no mundo, com numeros crescentes a cada ano. Dentre os mais comuns estao o câncer de prostata, pulmao, mama, colon e reto com maior ocorrencia no Brasil. Os tratamentos estabelecidos muitas vezes causam efeitos adversos indesejaveis aos pacientes, alem disso, alguns agentes quimioterapicos possuem baixa seletividade celular podendo afetar celulas saudaveis. Pensando nisso, a busca por novas alternativas terapeuticas se faz de grande valia, dentre essas os produtos naturais, tem sido de grande interesse para minimizar os danos causados pelas terapias convencionais. Os beneficios da curcumina, polifenol proveniente da Curcuma longa, tem sido bastante discutidos em estudos relacionados ao tratamento de diversos tipos de cânceres. Porem, devido sua baixa solubilidade e fotosensibilidade, a biodisponibilidade da curcumina e limitada. O objetivo dessa revisao e descrever estudos recentes em que e utilizado nanoparticulas de PLGA carregados com curcumina como alternativa para verificar seus efeitos no tratamento do câncer de mama, utilizando modelo de estudo in vitro. A base de dados utilizada foi Web of Science, com trabalhos publicados ao longo dos anos, resultando em um total de 28 artigos, dos quais 12 se encaixaram nos criterios propostos. Diante dos resultados encontrados na literatura, e possivel concluir que o uso de nanoparticulas polimericas utilizando PLGA tem demonstrado resultados eficientes nos ensaios in vitro com diversas linhagens celulares de câncer de mama gerando grande interesse para pesquisas futuras utilizando outros modelos experimentais.

Microalgae are eukaryotic and unicellular microorganisms of simple structure, colonial that need for their growth and reproduction, light, water, carbon dioxide and inorganic nutrients. Demonstrate commercial interest due to a biomass rich in bioactive substances, such as pigments, lipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins. Among these substances, Chlorella microalgae oil contains lipids with a wide range of interesting properties. In this context, the present review aims to demonstrate the potential and applications of microalgae, mainly of the Chlorella species, as well as the methods and conditions of cultivation, the chemical composition, and its relationship with nanotechnology. The data for this review were obtained from a search in the main databases such as Scielo, Scopus and Science Direct, without restriction to the period of publication, using following descriptors: microalgae, Chlorella, biomass, oil, application, nanotechnology and their combinations. These microorganisms, as they are easy to cultivate and rapidly proliferate, are gaining ground in the area of new technologies involving species of the Chlorella type, which has several applications, including in the nutraceutical and cosmetics area, guaranteeing products with quality, efficacy and biodegradable assets.

With the growing need to develop effective and sustainable therapeutic alternatives, research has been focusing on the association of products of natural origin with nanotechnology, which besides enhancing the action, acts to protect the constituents from degradation. A fruit highlighted in research today is Astrocaryum vulgare (Tucuma), as well as natural fixed oils extracted from seeds, such as grape seed oil and microalgae biomass. The present study aimed to evaluate the parameters of pharmacological safety and in vitro hemocompatibility of lipid nanocarriers (CLN) from the association of tucuma butter with two oils (grape seed and microalgae). Hemocompatibility rates were assessed by analyzing hemolytic activity, in addition to clotting time and clot retraction, whereas pharmacological safety analyzed parameters such as cell viability, DNA damage, dichloride and nitric oxide production. The nanocarriers produced through the association of butter with oils showed a satisfactory pharmacological safety and hemocompatibility profile.

The Amazon region has a wide variety of native palm trees that have fruits and oilseeds. Among these palm trees, Para tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare) stands out, which provides the tucuma fruit from which its oil is extracted, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, healing and antibacterial properties, among others. However, oils, like that of tucuma, are sensitive to thermal degradation, as well as oxidative reactions, which can reduce their pharmacological effectiveness. In this way, nanotechnology can be a tool to preserve the pharmacological properties of essential oils and increase their therapeutic effectiveness. Therefore, this study aims to develop a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) containing tucuma butter and oil, to analyze its in vitro properties of anti-inflammatory and healing activity. For that, tests of anti-inflammatory activity and healing activity were performed by the Scratch test in vitro. The results of the tests demonstrated that the majority of the NLC concentrations showed anti and pro-inflammatory and healing activity.

Over the past two decades, great attention has been paid to managing environmental pollution caused by hazardous materials, such as: metals (lead, cadmium), pesticide residues, leakage of rights, among others. Many methods have been developed for the removal of such substances as precipitation, evaporation, ion exchange. However, these methods have several disadvantages such as: high cost of implantation, need for a large quantity of chemical products and interference of the process due to the presence of oils. It is known that there is a need to awaken more and more human and collective consciousness for the development and application of new technologies in favor of the environment. This review highlights the alternative biological agent abundantly present in nature, that is, microalgae as a possible sink for the removal of these toxic substances from the environment. Microalgae biomass has also been used to remove heavy metals, and in wastewater treatment facilities, they can be used to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals needed to clean and purify water, reaffirming its bio-absorption capacity toxic.

Este trabalho apresenta a sintese e caracterizacao do biovidro (BV) bioativo do sistema SiO2-P2O5-CaO-MgO com diferentes proporcoes de magnesio (1 e 4% molar), visando utilizar este material em implantes de estruturas osseas envolvendo regeneracao biologica. Amostras de biovidro sem e com magnesio foram obtidas pelo processo sol-gel e posteriormente foram tratadas termicamente a 600 °C pelo tempo de 120 minutos. Os BV foram caracterizados quanto as caracteristicas estruturais e biologicas por ensaios de Difracao de Raio-X, Espectroscopia no Infervermelho com Transformada de Fourier e Ensaio de Citotoxicidade. Os resultados demonstraram que o biovidro sintetizado apresentou estrutura amorfa para todas as composicoes estudadas nos ensaios citotoxicos todas as amostras apresentaram resultados satisfatorios, sendo que o BV contendo 4% Mg demonstrou um aumento de 15% na viabilidade celular, indicando que a incorporacao de Mg pode melhorar a biocompatibilidade dos biovidros.

Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic and prevalent helminth that causes many deaths in sheep herds. Anthelmintics are usually employed to overcome this issue; however, they do not guarantee immediate and lasting efficacy because of the occurrence of drug-resistant parasites. Among substances that are used in scientific studies for parasitic control, essential oils are known to have different pharmacological properties. However, they demonstrate instability owing to several factors, and therefore, nanoemulsification is considered an alternative to control the instability and degradability of these compounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of nanoemulsions containing essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus against the blood of healthy sheep and to verify their activity against the parasite H. contortus in sheep. The results presented adequate nanotechnological characteristics (diameter 72 nm, PDI 0.2, zeta -11 mV, and acidic pH) and adequate morphology. Further, the corona effect and cytotoxic profiles of the free oil and nanoemulsion against blood cells from healthy sheep were evaluated. The tests results did not present a toxicity profile. For evaluating efficacy, we observed an important anthelmintic action of the nanoemulsion containing oil in comparison to the free oil; the results demonstrate a potential role of the nanoemulsion in the inhibition of egg hatchability and the development of larvae L1 to L3 (infective stage). Based on these results, we developed an important and potential anthelmintic alternative for the control of the parasite H. contortus.

The cubiu (Solanum sessiliflorum) is a tropical fruit native to the Amazon region and widely used in medicine and cosmetics, despite the lack of research regarding the actual safety and effectiveness of its use for these purposes. This study aimed to evaluated the phytochemical characterization, pharmacological properties (skin wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties), and toxicity of cubiu extract. The cubiu antimicrobial capacity was determined against strains of Aeromonas caviae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Additionally, cubiu toxicity (hemolysis, coagulation, cell viability, and genotoxicity tests), antioxidant activity (reactive oxygen species total levels), scratch assay (in vitro skin wound healing), and anti-inflammatory activity against phytohemagglutinin and in the scratch assay (Interleukin 1, interleukin 6, interleukin 10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma levels), were evaluated. Human fibroblast cells were used to evaluate skin wound healing, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for the other assessments. Our findings showed that the cubiu extract is rich in phenolic compounds, the major compound being 5-caffeoylquinic acid. In addition, was effective against the three bacterial strains tested and inhibited and destroyed the biofilm formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The cubiu extract also was no toxicity, maintained the hemocompatibility parameters in the biological range, improved cell viability, decreased reactive oxygen species total levels and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, and accelerated the wound healing process. In conclusion, this is the first research to prove that cubiu is an important compound for use in the skin diseases, promoting skin wound healing, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities.

Microbial infections caused by sessile microorganisms are known to be a more challenging issue than infections caused by the same microorganisms in the planktonic state.

The protein A13-2 was obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from the Papaloapan watershed region (Oaxaca, Mexico). The cytotoxic activity of parasporal inclusions was studied against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and normal cell (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells). The MTT, the formation of reactive species, nitric oxide, free cell DNA, and the type of death cellular were assessed. The protein A13-2 shows the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (13% cell viability at 6 µg/mL), the extracellular DNA increases, and it shows no stress for reactive species or nitric oxide. Besides, the A13-2 parasporin shows no toxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and it does not generate changes in nitric oxide levels or free cell DNA. Due to that, the cytotoxic effect of A13-2 was specific for MCF-7, and it does not affect normal cells. According to microscopy and flow cytometry, A13-2 parasporin leads to the death of MCF-7 cells by late apoptosis together with necrosis and without allowing the triggering of the survival mechanisms. When analyzed together, our results show for the first time that the A13-2 protein isolated from Mexican strains of B. thuringiensis preferentially kills MCF- 7 (cancer cells) over HEK 293 and PBMC cell lines (normal cells), thus representing a promising alternative for the treatment of cancer breast.

In this work was to develop an inedited nanocapsule with tucumã oil (Astrocaryum vulgare). The oil presents of phytosterols (squalene and β-sitosterol), all-trans-beta-carotene, acids oleic and palmitic. Antioxidant activity showed a good performance in DPPH and ABTS assays. The nanocapsules were prepared and demonstrated in their characterization particle size (206 ± 0.69 nm). The cytogenotoxicity evaluation was performed using the MTT, dichlorofluorescein, nitric oxide and dsDNA PicoGreen® assays. Antitumor efficacy assays in MCF-7 cells demonstrated that free oil and tucumã nanocapsules had IC50 of 130 and 50 μg/mL, respectively. Thus, previous studies of toxicity are relevant, as they generate future subsidies, aiming at the potential application of nanostructures and in addition, the promising effect of NCs of tucumã oil on the antiproliferative effect in breast adenocarcinoma cells was evidenced.

The chemotherapeutic all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) used in the treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia has adverse effects on its oral administration, with which we incorporated a system of drugs, the nanocapsules, in order to have a possible improvement in solubility, photosensitivity, lower toxicity, generating pharmacological efficacy. The objective was to evaluate and compare the hemolytic and coagulation activity of the free drug (AL), nanoencapsulated (NA) and the white nanocapsules (NB) by analyzing the results of hemolysis, Prothrombin Time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT). We developed a prospective study of treatments at different concentrations of 0.25; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 2.5 μg/mL. For the first test, all concentrations showed hemolytic activity, but when compared to NA with ATRA it is observed that these carriers induced lower hemolytic toxicity. In the PT test the nanoparticles at the two lowest concentrations remained in the physiological range (12 - 15 seconds). For the APTT test the three lowest concentrations remained within the control (25 - 35 seconds). Thus, we believe there is a promising benefit of using these nanoparticles developed and no doubt further studies will be performed to confirm the responses obtained here.

Hospital Infection is a major health problem and affects around 1.5 million people annually around the world. The Amazon region has a wide diversity of native palm trees that have fruits and oilseeds. Astrocaryum vulgare, commonly known as Tucumã in Brazil, belongs to the family Arecaceae. This palm has orange, fleshy, single-egg-shaped fruits that are used for therapeutic purposes in diseases of the eyes and skin due to the high content of carotenoids, oil is used in cooking, health treatment and massage. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the Tucumã oil against 18 microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity of Tucumã was measured through the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), as well as the determination of the Minimum Microbicidal Concentration (CMM) aiming to contribute to the discovery of new antimicrobials against pathogenic microorganisms’ human health and may contribute to the treatment of nosocomial infections. The results showed that the oil of Tucumã presented antimicrobial activity against five important bacteria, four Gram - positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus agalactiae) and one Gram - negative (Acinetobacter baumannii).

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a cancer pharmacologically treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), although well tolerated by most patients, some develop toxicity to ATRA, Differentiation Syndrome. The Amazon Biome has several fruits and oil plants rich in micronutrients, particularly carotenoids as the fruit tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum). This study analyzed the antitumor and cytoprotective activity of tucumã with and without concomitant exposure of ATRA in high concentration mimicking the toxicity of differentiation syndrome, as the potential cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic in an APL cell line. The cultured NB4 cells were exposed to ethanolic extracts of tucumã and to synergism with extracts and ATRA. Determination of proliferation, cell viability, caspases 1, 3, 8 and cell differentiation by nested RT-qPCR. The ATRA control had a strong inhibitory effect and toxicity as expected. The extracts also reduced cell proliferation by triggering apoptosis in concentration-dependent and reversing chromosome translocation, especially the lowest tested concentration of tucumã pulp extract. In the synergism, extracts act to maintain the levels of viability and apoptosis equal to the ATRA control but in contrast to drug that causes death and destruction of the genetic material, tucumã demonstrated a reduction of the gene expression indicating a possible protection against the toxicity of high concentrations of ATRA. These results suggest that fruits rich in retinoid molecules may have a cytotoxic effect against APL cells and reduced concentrations of carotenoids may act as cytoprotectors in APL cells treated with high concentrations of ATRA promoting cellular/molecular differentiation.

Mancozeb is a fungicide widely used in agriculture, mostly against the pathogen Glomerella cingulata responsible for the rot of ripe grape, but presents high toxicity. Strategies are sought to reduce the toxicity of this fungicide and alternative treatments are welcome. An alternative could be the use of clove oil, which has Eugenol as its major compound, and has antifungal potential against G. cingulata, however, Eugenol is susceptible to degradation processes which may compromise its efficacy. The nanoencapsulation of Mancozeb and Eugenol is a possible strategy to overcome the limitations of toxicity, solubility and instability of these compounds. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop nanoemulsions containing Mancozeb (0.1 mg/mL) and Eugenol (33 mg/mL), isolated or associated, and evaluate the safety of these formulations through cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and ecotoxicity tests. Nanoemulsions were developed by the spontaneous emulsification method, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated in healthy human cells through MTT, Dichlorofluorescein diacetate and Picogreen tests, and ecotoxicity assessment was carried out using the chronic toxicity test in springtails. After preparation, the physicochemical characterization of the nanoemulsions were performed which presented mean particle size between 200 and 300 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.3, negative zeta potential and acid pH. The nanoencapsulation was able to avoid the reduction of the cell viability caused by Mancozeb, while Eugenol was shown to be safe for cell use in both free and nanostructured forms, however the association of the two active compounds showed toxicity in the higher doses of Mancozeb. In the ecotoxicity tests, both free Mancozeb and Eugenol forms presented high toxic potential for soil, whereas the nanoencapsulation of these compounds did not cause a reduction in number of springtails. Therefore, from the tests performed, it was possible to observe that nanoencapsulation of Mancozeb and Eugenol is a safe alternative for the application of these compounds mainly in agriculture.

Neurological disorders have been demonstrated to be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. This impairment may lead to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, specifically promoted by NLRP3 expression. Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has been studied in this field, since it presents important biological activities. We investigated acai extract’s anti-neuroinflammatory capacity, through NLRP3 inflammasome modulation. Microglia (EOC 13.31) were exposed to LPS and nigericin, as agents of inflammatory induction, and treated with acai extract. Additionally, we used lithium (Li) as an anti-inflammatory control. Three different experiment models were conducted: (1) isolated NLRP3 priming and activation signals; (2) combined NLRP3 priming and activation signals followed by acai extract as a therapeutic agent; and (3) combined NLRP3 priming and activation signals with acai extract as a preventive agent. Cells exposed to 0.1 µg/mL of LPS presented high proliferation and increased levels of NO, and ROS, while 0.1 µg/mL of acai extract was capable to reduce cellular proliferation and recover levels of NO and ROS. Primed and activated cells presented increased levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1β, while acai, Li, and orientin treatments reversed this impairment. We found that acai, Li, and orientin were effective prophylactic treatments. Preventative treatment with Li and orientin was unable to avoid overexpression of IL-1β compared to the positive control. However, orientin downregulated NLRP3 and caspase-1. Lastly, primed and activated cells impaired ATP production, which was prevented by pre-treatment with acai, Li, and orientin. In conclusion, we suggest that acai could be a potential agent to treat or prevent neuropsychiatric diseases related to neuroinflammation.

Curcumin is an active polyphenol substance found in the highest concentrations in the roots of Curcuma longa. Its health benefits have led to recent increases in the consumption of curcumin. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and is a potent neuroprotective against diseases of the brain. Nevertheless, its low bioavailability and its relative difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier limit curcumin’s use for these purposes. Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles may be an effective treatment for several diseases although there is a paucity of studies reporting its safety in the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, this study aimed to identify non-neurotoxic concentrations of free curcumin and two nanoformulations of curcumin. Cell lines BV-2 and SH-SY5Y, both originating from the CNS, were evaluated after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment with free curcumin and nanocapsules We measured viability, proliferation and dsDNA levels. We measured levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide as proxies for oxidative stress in culture supernatants. We found that free curcumin was toxic at 10 and 20 µM, principally at 72 h. Nanoformulations were more neurotoxic than the free form. Safe concentrations of free curcumin are between 1-5 µM, and these concentrations were lower for nanoformulations. We determined the ideal concentrations of free curcumin and nanocapsules serving as a basis for studies of injuries that affect the CNS.

Achyrocline flaccida aqueous extract was obtained by macerating wildflowers. The phytochemical profile present in the A. flaccida aqueous extract was elucidated by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Toxicity was evaluated in vitro by comet assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. The antioxidant activity was also evaluated, and antimycobacterial activity was assessed by the broth microdilution method. The compounds present in the aqueous extract mainly belonged to the flavonoid class (89%). The concentrations that showed protective effects in C. elegans against oxidative stress and antimycobacterial activity had no toxic effects. The antimycobacterial activity test demonstrated that the concentration of 1,560 µg mL−1 inhibited the growth and eradication of the mycobacterial tested strains. Based on our findings, the A. flaccida aqueous extract presents a viable potential in developing new phytotherapeutic drugs against mycobacteria of clinical relevance.

The aim of this study was to incorporate tucuma oil (Astrocaryum vulgare) into PolyCaprolactone (PCL) electrospun fibers and evaluate its physicochemical properties and cell viability. FTIR and DRX confirmed that tucuma oil (TO) does not affect the chemical properties of PCL and that the oil was loaded into the PCL microstructure, while TGA analysis showed that the oil increased the thermal stability of the polymeric fibers. SEM showed that the addition of the oil modified fibers structure by reducing the average fiber size from 5.5 μm to 1.7 μm for TO loaded samples. Cell viability assay demonstrated an increment on cell proliferation from 80% of pure PCL to 100% for samples containing TO. Therefore, it can be concluded that tucuma oil can be incorporated into PCL to form fibers by electrospinning, without meaningful changes in its physicochemical properties and increasing its biocompatibility.

The objective of this work was to produce and characterise nanoemulsions containing tucumã extract and to evaluate the performance of the nanostructure and the free compound regarding antitumor activity, cytotoxicity, and oxidative metabolism in NB4/APL cells. The nanoemulsions showed adequate physicochemical characteristics (average size approx. 200 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.3, negative zeta potential and acid pH) maintained stable up to 90 days of storage in refrigeration condition. The nanoformulations did not present protein corona formation. Blank nanoemulsion treatments showed moderate toxicity. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion loaded with extract showed better antileukemic results than the free extract. However, nanoemulsions can be promising carriers of natural compounds, emphasising their biological properties and constituting alternatives in treating diseases.