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Viana Dos Santos MB, Braga de Oliveira A, Veras Mourão RH. Brazilian plants with antimalarial activity: A review of the period from 2011 to 2022. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117595. [PMID: 38122914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Malaria continues to be a serious global public health problem in subtropical and tropical countries of the world. The main drugs used in the treatment of human malaria, quinine and artemisinin, are isolates of medicinal plants, making the use of plants a widespread practice in countries where malaria is endemic. Over the years, due to the increased resistance of the parasite to chloroquine and artemisinin in certain regions, new strategies for combating malaria have been employed, including research with medicinal plants. AIM This review focuses on the scientific production regarding medicinal plants from Brazil whose antimalarial activity was evaluated during the period from 2011 to 2022. 2. METHODOLOGY For this review, four electronic databases were selected for research: Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scielo and Periódicos CAPES. Searches were made for full texts published in the form of scientific articles written in Portuguese or English and in a digital format. In addition, prospects for new treatments as well as future research that encourages the search for natural products and antimalarial derivatives are also presented. RESULTS A total of 61 publications were encountered, which cited 36 botanical families and 92 species using different Plasmodium strains in in vitro and in vivo assays. The botanical families with the most expressive number of species found were Rubiaceae, Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae (14, 14, 9 and 6 species, respectively), and the most frequently cited species were of the genera Psychotria L. (8) and Aspidosperma Mart. (12), which belong to the families Rubiaceae and Apocynaceae. Altogether, 75 compounds were identified or isolated from 28 different species, 31 of which are alkaloids. In addition, the extracts of the analyzed species, including the isolated compounds, showed a significant reduction of parasitemia in P. falciparum and P. berghei, especially in the clones W2 CQ-R (in vitro) and ANKA (in vivo), respectively. The Brazilian regions with the highest number of species analyzed were those of the north, especially the states of Pará and Amazonas, and the southeast, especially the state of Minas Gerais. CONCLUSION Although many plant species with antimalarial potential have been identified in Brazil, studies of new antimalarial molecules are slow and have not evolved to the production of a phytotherapeutic medicine. Given this, investigations of plants of traditional use and biotechnological approaches are necessary for the discovery of natural antimalarial products that contribute to the treatment of the disease in the country and in other endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Beatriz Viana Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biologia Experimental - LabBBEx, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Rua Vera Paz, s/n, Salé, 68035-110, Santarém, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Doutorado em Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia - BIONORTE/Polo Pará. Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil.
| | - Alaíde Braga de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biologia Experimental - LabBBEx, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Rua Vera Paz, s/n, Salé, 68035-110, Santarém, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Doutorado em Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia - BIONORTE/Polo Pará. Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas - PPGCF, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Rosa Helena Veras Mourão
- Laboratório de Bioprospecção e Biologia Experimental - LabBBEx, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Rua Vera Paz, s/n, Salé, 68035-110, Santarém, PA, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Doutorado em Rede de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia - BIONORTE/Polo Pará. Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Guamá, 66075-110, Belém, PA, Brazil
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Laurindo LF, Barbalho SM, Araújo AC, Guiguer EL, Mondal A, Bachtel G, Bishayee A. Açaí ( Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in Health and Disease: A Critical Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:989. [PMID: 36839349 PMCID: PMC9965320 DOI: 10.3390/nu15040989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a species belonging to the Arecaceae family, has been cultivated for thousands of years in tropical Central and South America as a multipurpose dietary plant. The recent introduction of açaí fruit and its nutritional and healing qualities to regions outside its origin has rapidly expanded global demand for açaí berry. The health-promoting and disease-preventing properties of this plant are attributed to numerous bioactive phenolic compounds present in the leaf, pulp, fruit, skin, and seeds. The purpose of this review is to present an up-to-date, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of the health benefits of açaí and its phytochemicals with a special focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that açaí possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and exerts cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, renoprotective, antilipidemic, antidiabetic, and antineoplastic activities. Moreover, clinical trials have suggested that açaí can protect against metabolic stress induced by oxidation, inflammation, vascular abnormalities, and physical exertion. Due to its medicinal properties and the absence of undesirable effects, açaí shows a promising future in health promotion and disease prevention, in addition to a vast economic potential in the food and cosmetic industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Fornari Laurindo
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Marília, Marília 17519-030, SP, Brazil
| | - Sandra Maria Barbalho
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Food and Technology of Marília, Marília 17500-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano Cressoni Araújo
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
| | - Elen Landgraf Guiguer
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marília, Marília 17525-902, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Food and Technology of Marília, Marília 17500-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Arijit Mondal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, M.R. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Balisha 743 234, India
| | - Gabrielle Bachtel
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
| | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
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Chaniad P, Phuwajaroanpong A, Plirat W, Techarang T, Chukaew A, Punsawad C. In vivo assessment of the antimalarial activity and acute oral toxicity of an ethanolic seed extract of Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:72. [PMID: 35296314 PMCID: PMC8928678 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03546-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to the persistent problem of malaria resistance, medicinal herbal plants can be used as a source of potential novel antimalarial agents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity and toxicity of an ethanolic seed extract of Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz (S. pinnata). METHODS Qualitative phytochemical screening of the extract was performed using standard procedures, and the constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The in vivo antimalarial activity was assessed against the Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain in mice based on 4-day suppressive, curative and prophylactic tests. In addition, the acute toxicity of the extract was evaluated after oral administration of a single dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight. RESULTS Phytochemical screening tests on the ethanolic S. pinnata seed extract revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins, and coumarins. GC-MS analysis of the extract led to the identification of twenty-nine phytochemical compounds, including oleic acid amide, β-sitosterol, linoleic acid, oleic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid and gallic acid. The results of the 4-day suppressive test revealed that mice treated with 250, 500, 600 and 800 mg/kg doses of the ethanolic S. pinnata seed extract showed significant parasitemia suppression in a dose-dependent manner, with 22.94, 49.01, 60.67 and 66.82% suppression, respectively, compared to that of the negative control group. All the doses of the ethanolic seed extract significantly suppressed parasitemia (P < 0.05) during the curative activity test and prolonged the mean survival time compared to those of the negative control group. However, the ethanolic seed extract displayed lower curative and prophylactic activities than the standard drug artesunate. In addition, the ethanolic seed extract showed no signs of toxicity in mice at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight. CONCLUSION The S. pinnata seed extract contains various phytochemical compounds with important medicinal properties. The extract showed a significant suppression of parasitemia in a dose-dependent manner, prolonged the mean survival time and exhibited significant curative and prophylactic activities. The overall results of this study demonstrated that the S. pinnata seed extract possessed promising in vivo antimalarial activity against P. berghei ANKA, with no toxicity. The findings from the present study provide scientific evidence supporting the use of S. pinnata seeds in the development of new drugs for malaria treatment. Additional studies are needed to isolate and identify the active compounds as well as to understand the mechanism of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapaporn Chaniad
- Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
| | - Arisara Phuwajaroanpong
- Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
| | - Walaiporn Plirat
- Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
| | - Tachpon Techarang
- Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
| | - Arnon Chukaew
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suratthani Rajabhat University, Surat Thani, 84100 Thailand
| | - Chuchard Punsawad
- Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160 Thailand
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Tay Fernandez CG, Nestor BJ, Danilevicz MF, Gill M, Petereit J, Bayer PE, Finnegan PM, Batley J, Edwards D. Pangenomes as a Resource to Accelerate Breeding of Under-Utilised Crop Species. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2671. [PMID: 35269811 PMCID: PMC8910360 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pangenomes are a rich resource to examine the genomic variation observed within a species or genera, supporting population genetics studies, with applications for the improvement of crop traits. Major crop species such as maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), Brassica (Brassica spp.), and soybean (Glycine max) have had pangenomes constructed and released, and this has led to the discovery of valuable genes associated with disease resistance and yield components. However, pangenome data are not available for many less prominent crop species that are currently under-utilised. Despite many under-utilised species being important food sources in regional populations, the scarcity of genomic data for these species hinders their improvement. Here, we assess several under-utilised crops and review the pangenome approaches that could be used to build resources for their improvement. Many of these under-utilised crops are cultivated in arid or semi-arid environments, suggesting that novel genes related to drought tolerance may be identified and used for introgression into related major crop species. In addition, we discuss how previously collected data could be used to enrich pangenome functional analysis in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) based on studies in major crops. Considering the technological advances in genome sequencing, pangenome references for under-utilised species are becoming more obtainable, offering the opportunity to identify novel genes related to agro-morphological traits in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia; (C.G.T.F.); (B.J.N.); (M.F.D.); (M.G.); (J.P.); (P.E.B.); (P.M.F.); (J.B.)
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Oliveira KRHM, Torres MLM, Kauffmann N, de Azevedo Ataíde BJ, de Souza Franco Mendes N, dos Anjos LM, dos Santos Borges R, Bahia CP, Leão LKR, da Conceição Fonseca Passos A, Herculano AM, de Jesus Oliveira Batista E. Euterpe oleracea fruit (Açai)-enriched diet suppresses the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) infection. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:11. [PMID: 35016657 PMCID: PMC8751313 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe complications attributed to protozoal infection by Plasmodium falciparum, gaining prominence in children mortality rates in endemic areas. This condition has a complex pathogenesis associated with behavioral, cognitive and motor sequels in humans and current antimalarial therapies have shown little effect in those aspects. Natural products with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have become a valuable alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of distinct conditions. In this context, this study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Euterpe oleracea (açai) enriched diet during the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by the inoculation of Swiss albino mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain. Methods After Plasmodium infection, animals were maintained on a feeding with Euterpe oleracea enriched ration and parameters such as survival curve, parasitemia and body weight were routinely monitored. The present study has also evaluated the effect of açai-enriched diet on the blood-brain barrier leakage, histological alterations and neurocognitive impairments in mice developing cerebral malaria. Results Our results demonstrate that between 7th–19th day post infection the survival rate of the group treated with açai enriched ration was higher when compared with Plasmodium-infected mice in which 100% of mice died until the 11th days post-infection, demonstrating that açai diet has a protective effect on the survival of infected treated animals. The same was observed in the brain vascular extravasation, where Evans blue dye assays showed significantly less dye extravasation in the brains of Plasmodium-infected mice treated with açai enriched ration, demonstrating more preserved blood-brain barrier integrity. Açai-enriched diet also attenuate the histopathological alterations elicited by Plasmodium berghei infection. We also showed a decrease of the neurological impairments arising from the exposure of cerebral parenchyma in the group treated with açai diet, ameliorating motor and neuropsychiatric changes, analyzed through the SHIRPA protocol. Conclusion With these results, we conclude that the treatment with açai enriched ration decreased the mortality of infected animals, as well as protected the blood-brain barrier and the neurocognitive deficits in Plasmodium-infected animals.
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Ceravolo IP, Aguiar AC, Adebayo JO, Krettli AU. Studies on Activities and Chemical Characterization of Medicinal Plants in Search for New Antimalarials: A Ten Year Review on Ethnopharmacology. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:734263. [PMID: 34630109 PMCID: PMC8493299 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.734263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is an endemic disease that affected 229 million people and caused 409 thousand deaths, in 2019. Disease control is based on early diagnosis and specific treatment with antimalarial drugs since no effective vaccines are commercially available to prevent the disease. Drug chemotherapy has a strong historical link to the use of traditional plant infusions and other natural products in various cultures. The research based on such knowledge has yielded two drugs in medicine: the alkaloid quinine from Cinchona species, native in the Amazon highland rain forest in South America, and artemisinin from Artemisia annua, a species from the millenary Chinese medicine. The artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), proven to be highly effective against malaria parasites, and considered as “the last bullet to fight drug-resistant malaria parasites,” have limited use now due to the emergence of multidrug resistance. In addition, the limited number of therapeutic options makes urgent the development of new antimalarial drugs. This review focuses on the antimalarial activities of 90 plant species obtained from a search using Pubmed database with keywords “antimalarials,” “plants” and “natural products.” We selected only papers published in the last 10 years (2011–2020), with a further analysis of those which were tested experimentally in malaria infected mice. Most plant species studied were from the African continent, followed by Asia and South America; their antimalarial activities were evaluated against asexual blood parasites, and only one species was evaluated for transmission blocking activity. Only a few compounds isolated from these plants were active and had their mechanisms of action delineated, thereby limiting the contribution of these medicinal plants as sources of novel antimalarial pharmacophores, which are highly necessary for the development of effective drugs. Nevertheless, the search for bioactive compounds remains as a promising strategy for the development of new antimalarials and the validation of traditional treatments against malaria. One species native in South America, Ampelozyzyphus amazonicus, and is largely used against human malaria in Brazil has a prophylactic effect, interfering with the viability of sporozoites in in vitro and in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela P Ceravolo
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anna C Aguiar
- Departamento de Biociência, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Joseph O Adebayo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Antoniana U Krettli
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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do Carmo MAV, Fidelis M, Sanchez CA, Castro AP, Camps I, Colombo FA, Marques MJ, Myoda T, Granato D, Azevedo L. Camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) seeds as a novel source of bioactive compounds with promising antimalarial and antischistosomicidal properties. Food Res Int 2020; 136:109334. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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de Almeida Magalhães TSS, de Oliveira Macedo PC, Converti A, Neves de Lima ÁA. The Use of Euterpe oleracea Mart. As a New Perspective for Disease Treatment and Prevention. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060813. [PMID: 32466439 PMCID: PMC7356995 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Euterpe oleracea Mart. (EO), popularly known as açaí, belongs to the Arecaceae family and grows abundantly in Brazil. The fruit of this palm tree is widely used because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this review, a search for literature and patent technological prospecting has been performed on the use of EO to treat and prevent diseases as well as to prepare pharmaceutical formulations. EO leaves, fruits, and oil stand out for their large number of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, anticancer, anti-atherogenic, and healing activities, protection against metabolic syndromes such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, and protection of organs such as lung, kidney, liver, heart, and nervous system. While the phytochemical composition is intrinsically linked to identified biological activities, discoveries of the past decade concerning the use of this species have shown pharmacological alternatives mainly in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer and metabolic syndromes. Although studies and inventions on the use of EO though are believed to have been important in light of the pharmacological activities found, few clinical and toxicity tests have been performed. Nevertheless, with the increase of interest in EO, this species is believed to be only at the beginning of the breakthroughs in the development of promising products for the pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalita Sévia Soares de Almeida Magalhães
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratório Escola de Farmácia Industrial, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN 59012-570, Brazil; (T.S.S.d.A.M.); (P.C.d.O.M.)
| | - Pollyana Cristina de Oliveira Macedo
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratório Escola de Farmácia Industrial, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN 59012-570, Brazil; (T.S.S.d.A.M.); (P.C.d.O.M.)
| | - Attilio Converti
- Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pole of Chemical Engineering, Genoa University, I-16145 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Ádley Antonini Neves de Lima
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratório Escola de Farmácia Industrial, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN 59012-570, Brazil; (T.S.S.d.A.M.); (P.C.d.O.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-(84)-99928-8864
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