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Syagrus coronata, a native palm tree in the Caatinga domain, produces fixed oil (ScFO) used therapeutically and dietary by Northeast Brazilian communities. This study evaluated its anti-inflammatory potential of CFA-induced arthritis and its effect on behavioral parameters. In the acute model, ScFO at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg showed edematogenic effects similar to indomethacin at 4 mg/kg (p > 0.05). In the arthritis model, 100 mg/kg ScFO treatment was comparable to indomethacin (4 mg/kg) (p > 0.05). TNF-α and IL-1ß levels were significantly reduced in ScFO-treated groups at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, and the indomethacin group (4 mg/kg) versus the positive control (p > 0.05). Radiographs showed severe soft-tissue swelling and bone deformities in the control group, while the 100 mg/kg ScFO group had few alterations, similar to the indomethacin group. Histopathological analysis revealed intense lymphocytic infiltration in the control group, mild diffuse lymphocytic infiltration in the indomethacin group, and mild lymphoplasmacytic infiltration with focal polymorphonuclear infiltrates in the 100 mg/kg ScFO group. Behavioral analysis showed improved exploratory stimuli in ScFO and indomethacin-treated mice compared to the positive control (p > 0.05). ScFO demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in both acute and chronic arthritis models, reducing edema and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and improved exploratory behavior due to its analgesic properties.

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Punica granatum, popularly known as pomegranate, is a fruit tree with wide worldwide distribution, containing numerous phytochemicals of great medicinal value. The aim of the present study was to determine the phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of a protein fraction (PF) derived from P. granatum sarcotesta which is rich in lectin. In addition, the acute oral toxicity, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of this protein fraction (PF) from P. granatum sarcotesta was measured. The phytochemical profile of PF was determined using HPLC. The in vitro antioxidant effect was assessed using the methods of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging. Acute oral toxicity was determined in female Swiss mice administered a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. This PF was examined for genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, utilizing mouse peripheral blood cells. Phytochemical characterization detected a high content of ellagic acid and antioxidant capacity similar to that of ascorbic acid (positive control). PF was not toxic (LD50 >2000 mg/kg) and did not exert a genotoxic effect in mice. PF protected the DNA of peripheral blood cells against damage induced by cyclophosphamide. In conclusion, this PF fraction exhibited significant antioxidant activity without initiating toxic or genotoxic responses in mice.

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Wounds encompass physical, chemical, biological, induced damages to the skin or mucous membranes. In wound treatment, combating infections is a critical challenge due to their potential to impede recovery and inflict systemic harm on patients. Previously, the essential oil extracted from Psidium glaziovianum (PgEO) demonstrated antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory attributes, along with negligible oral toxicity. Hence, our study aimed to assess the effects of topically applying a gel formulation containing PgEO to excisional wounds in mice. Additionally, an in vitro antimicrobial assessment was conducted. The formulated gel underwent characterization and toxicological evaluation on erythrocytes, as well as a dermal irritation test. Its antimicrobial activity was tested against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi. Subsequently, an assessment of its efficacy in excisional wound healing was conducted in mice. The findings of this investigation highlight the gel's efficacy against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi. Moreover, this study underscores that the PgEO-gel treatment enhances skin wound healing, potentially due to its capacity to trigger antioxidant enzymes and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the gel exhibited minimal toxicity to erythrocytes and skin irritation. These findings hold promise for prospective preclinical and clinical trials across diverse wound types. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the potential therapeutic applications of the gel formulation containing essential oil from P. glaziovianum in the context of wound healing.

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Myrciaria floribunda is a plant that is distributed across different Brazilian biomes such as the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest, and it possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the essential oil from M. floribunda leaves (MfEO) were examined in this study using mouse models. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to describe the oil, and the results revealed that δ-cadinene, bicyclogermacrene, α-cadinol, and epi-α-muurolol predominated in the chemical profile. The oil stimulated a decrease in nociception in the chemical and thermal models used to evaluate acute antinociceptive activity. Findings from the use of pain pathway blockers to study the presumed underlying mechanism indicated opioid pathway activity. The anti-edematogenic effect, decreased cell migration, and generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines provided evidence of the anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oil from M. floribunda. According to this research, the essential oil from M. floribunda can effectively alleviate acute pain and inflammation.

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Phytochemical analysis of Croton blanchetianus leaves was performed by. After that, a high performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the determination of rutin in herbal drug and products of C. blanchetianus. The separation was achieved on a C18 column, and the mobile phase was composed of ultrapure water and methanol (acidified with trifluoroacetic acid) with a gradient of 0.8 ml/min. The method was validated following international guidelines. The chemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids. Among them rutin was used as the standard for validation. In the HPLC the presence of rutin was observed at 24.7 min. The method was robust, with no significant variations, and linear in the range evaluated with R2 > 0.99. Regarding the matrix effect, it was possible to prove the absence of interference of the constituents in the herbal drug. The precision was determined with a relative standard deviation of <1.34%. The recovery results were achieved between 89.29 and 101.21%. Furthermore, with partial validation, the method was proved to be suitable for the liquid extract, dry extract and effervescent granules. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the method is effective for the quality control analysis of C. blanchetianus leaves and products.

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This study assessed the effects of a mixed formulation containing Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum 139, L. fermentum 263, and L. fermentum 296 on cardiometabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) fecal contents, and oxidative stress in colon, liver, heart, and kidney tissues of female rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Female Wistar rats were allocated into control diet (CTL, n = 6), HFD (n = 6), and HFD receiving L. fermentum formulation (HFD-LF, n = 6). L. fermentum formulation (1 × 109 CFU/mL of each strain) was administered two twice a day for 4 weeks. Administration of L. fermentum increased acetate and succinate fecal contents and reduced hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in rats fed a HFD (p < 0.05). Administration of L. fermentum decreased low-grade inflammation and improved antioxidant capacity along the gut, liver, heart, and kidney tissues in female rats fed a HFD (p < 0.05). Administration of L. fermentum prevented dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in colon, liver, heart, and kidney in female rats fed a HFD.

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Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several bioactivities, including antimicrobial properties. Portulaca elatior is a species found at Brazilian Caatinga and data on the biochemical composition of this plant are scarce. The present work describes the purification of P. elatior leaf lectin (PeLL) as well as the assessment of its antimicrobial activity and toxicity. PeLL, isolated by chromatography on a chitin column, had native liquid charge and subunit composition evaluated by electrophoresis. Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of PeLL was determined in the presence of carbohydrates or divalent cations, as well as after heating and incubation at different pH values. Changes in the lectin conformation were monitored by evaluating intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and using the extrinsic probe bis-ANS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Pectobacterium strains and Candida species. The minimal inhibitory (MIC), bactericidal (MBC), and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations were determined. Finally, PeLL was evaluated for in vitro hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes and in vivo acute toxicity in mice (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. per os). PeLL (pI 5.4; 20 kDa) had its HA was inhibited by mannose, galactose, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+. PeLL HA was resistant to heating at 100 °C, although conformational changes were detected. PeLL was more active in the acidic pH range, in which no conformational changes were observed. The lectin presented MIC and MBC of 0.185 and 0.74 µg/mL for all Pectobacterium strains, respectively; MIC of 1.48 µg/mL for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei; MIC and MFC of 0.74 and 2.96 µg/mL for C. parapsilosis. No hemolytic activity or signs of acute toxicity were observed in the mice. In conclusion, a new, low-toxic, and thermostable lectin was isolated from P. elatior leaves, being the first plant compound to show antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium.

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Eugenia pohliana DC.(Myrtaceae) is used in folk medicine by communities in Brazil. However, there are no reports on its biological activity. This is the first study to identify the components of E. pohliana essential oil (EpEO) and evaluate their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in an in vivo model at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The essential oil (EO) was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by writhing tests, tail movement, and formalin (neurogenic and inflammatory pain); naloxone was used to determine the nociception mechanism. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by oedema and peritonitis tests. We found that (E)-ß-caryophyllene (BCP) (15.56%), δ-cadinene (11.24%) and α-cadinol (10.89%) were the major components. In the writhing test, there was a decrease in writing by 42.95-70.70%, in the tail movement, an increase in latency time by 69.12-86.63%, and in the formalin test, there was a reduction in pain neurogenic by 29.54-61.74%, and inflammatory pain by 37.42-64.87%. The antinociceptive effect of EpEO occurs through the activation of opioid receptors. In addition, a reduction in inflammation by 74.93‒81.41% was observed in the paw edema test and inhibition of the influx of leukocytes by 51.86‒70.38% and neutrophils by 37.74‒54.72% in the peritonitis test. It was concluded that EpEO has antinociceptive effect by the opioid pathway, as shown by the inhibitory effect of naloxone, and anti-inflammatory actions, and that its use does not cause hemolytic damage or behavioral change.

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The purpose of this study was to analyses the influence of seasonal variation on the chemical composition and antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the leaves of Eugenia pohliana. Chemical characterization of the samples - by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - found 35 and 38 components for summer and winter, respectively, of the EO from E. pohliana leaves, totaling 47 different compounds. Analysis of antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and TAC) revealed that the summer EO showed greater free radical scavenging capacity than the winter. Similarly, the summer EO exhibited superior antimicrobial potential (MIC=128-512 µg/mL and MMC=128-1024 µg/mL, compared to the winter EO (128-2048 µg/mL and 256-2048 µg/mL, respectively). Results showed that both oils had a low potential to cause hemolysis. This study provides new scientific evidence on the influence of seasonality on the pharmacological properties of E. pohliana leaves and its potential for the development of herbal medicines.

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ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eugenia uniflora (Myrtaceae) is a species native to Brazil and has a traditional use in the treatment of inflammation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, and the involvement of opioid receptors in the antinociceptive activity of extract and fractions from Eugenia uniflora leaves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TLC and HPLC were used to characterize the spray-dried extract (SDE) and fractions. In the in vivo assays, Swiss (Mus musculus) mice were used. Carrageenan-induced hind-paw edema and carrageenan-induced peritonitis models were used to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg). Acetic acid-induced writhing, tail-flick, and formalin tests were used to determine the antinociceptive effect of the extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg). The aqueous (AqF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions (6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg) were then combined with naloxone to evaluate the involvement of opioid receptors in the antinociceptive activity. RESULTS: In this work, the TLC and HPLC analysis evidenced the enrichment of EAF, which higher concentration of gallic acid (5.29 ± 0.0004 %w/w), and ellagic acid (1.28 ± 0.0002 %w/w) and mainly myricitrin (8.64 ± 0.0002 %w/w). The extract decreased the number of total leukocytes and neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity (p < 0.05), at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and showed significant inhibition in the increase of paw edema volume (p < 0.05). The treatment per oral route (doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the nociceptive response in acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing (p < 0.05). The effect of the extract on the tail-flick test showed a significant increase in latency time of animals treated at doses of 200 and 100 mg/kg (p < 0.05). The extract and ethyl acetate fraction reduced the nociceptive effect in both phases of formalin at all tested doses. The naloxone reversed the antinociceptive effect of EAF, suggesting that opioid receptors are involved in mediating the antinociceptive activity of EAF of E. uniflora in the formalin test. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of water: ethanol: propylene glycol spray-dried extract from E. uniflora leaves using in vivo pharmacological models in mice. Our findings suggest that spray-dried extract and ethyl acetate fraction exhibit peripheral and central antinociceptive activity with the involvement of opioid receptors that may be related to the presence of flavonoids, mainly myricitrin.

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