In vitro activity of Amazon plant extracts against Enterococcus faecalis

Health from Brazilian Amazon food wastes: Bioactive compounds, antioxidants, antimicrobials, and potentials against cancer and oral diseases

Brazilian Amazon contains over 30,000 plant species and foods rich in bioactive compounds such as terpenes, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and flavonoids, of potential health benefits (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, anticancer, gastroprotection, prebiotic effects, among others). The existence of residues from non-edible parts of plants (leaves, roots, stems, branches, barks) or fruit wastes (peel, bagasse, seeds) in the agri-food industry and its supply chain is an important challenge in food loss and waste management. In this critical review several Amazon species, focusing on extracts/essential oils from nonedible parts or wastes, were analyzed in terms of phytochemicals, biological activity, and underlying mechanisms. We hope this review emphasizes the importance of Amazon's sustainability initiatives on population health due to the potential shown against cancer, infectious diseases, and prevention of oral diseases. It is urgent to think about the conversion of amazon food wastes and co-products into high-added-value raw materials to develop novel drugs, food packaging systems, or nutraceutical foods.

The ethnobotanical relevance of the tribe Symphonieae (Clusiaceae) around the world

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The tribe Symphonieae (Clusiaceae) encompasses 48 species accommodated in seven genera (Lorostemon, Montrouziera, Moronobea, Pentadesma, Platonia, Symphonia and Thysanostemon). Parts of these plants, mainly the exudates and the seeds oil are useful for different purposes, especially for treating dermatological conditions. In addition to the role in the folk medicine, some species are of great economic and cultural importance for native people from different continents.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this review is to critically summarize the current knowledge on systematics, ethnobotanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of species from the tribe Symphonieae, as well as to provide support for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the Clusiaceae family.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The available information was gathered from many different databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Pubmed, ChemSpider, SciFinder, ACS Publications, Wiley Online Library, Useful Tropical Plants Database, Google Scholar). Additional data from books, theses and dissertations were also included in this review.

RESULTS

Chemical studies of Symphonieae have demonstrated that the genera are a source of benzophenones, xanthones and biflavonoids. Components as sesquiterpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, free fatty acids, among others, have also been reported. Extracts and compounds isolated from a variety of species have been exhibiting antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiprotozoal activities, corroborating part of their medicinal uses. In addition, certain species produce edible fruits and a kind of "butter" with economic importance. All species produce exudate, which often has great relevance in the daily lives of local people.

CONCLUSION

Several species of Symphonieae have potential therapeutic applications and some of them have been investigated to scientifically validate their popular uses. In addition, a number of species have proved to be a rich source of promising pharmacologically active compounds. Finally, the value of fruits, exudate and butter, for instance, should serve as a stimulus for the sustainable development of products that aim to take advantage of these natural resources.

Benzylated Dihydroflavones and Isoquinoline-Derived Alkaloids from the Bark of Diclinanona calycina (Annonaceae) and Their Cytotoxicities

Diclinanona calycina R. E. Fries popularly known as "envira", is a species of the Annonaceae family endemic to Brazil. In our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from Annonaceae Amazon plants, the bark of D. calycina was investigated by classical chromatography techniques that yielded thirteen compounds (alkaloids and flavonoids) described for the first time in D. calycina as well as in the genus Diclinanona. The structure of these isolated compounds were established by extensive analysis using 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy in combination with MS. The isolated alkaloids were identified as belonging to the subclasses: simple isoquinoline, thalifoline (1); aporphine, anonaine (2); oxoaporphine, liriodenine (3); benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines, (S)-(+)-reticuline (4); dehydro-oxonorreticuline (3,4-dihydro-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-isoquinolinyl)(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-methanone) (5); (+)-1S,2R-reticuline N_β-oxide (6); and (+)-1S,2S-reticuline N_α-oxide (7); tetrahydroprotoberberine, coreximine (8); and pavine, bisnorargemonine (9). While the flavonoids belong to the benzylated dihydroflavones, isochamanetin (10), dichamanetin (11), and a mixture of uvarinol (12) and isouvarinol (13). Compound 5 is described for the first time in the literature as a natural product. The cytotoxic activity of the main isolated compounds was evaluated against cancer and non-cancerous cell lines. Among the tested compounds, the most promising results were found for the benzylated dihydroflavones dichamanetin (10), and the mixture of uvarinol (12) and isouvarinol (13), which presented moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cancer cell lines (<20.0 µg·mL^-1) and low cytotoxicity against the non-cancerous cell line MRC-5 (>25.0 µg·mL^-1). Dichamanetin (11) showed cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and HCT116 with IC₅₀ values of 15.78 µg·mL^-1 (33.70 µmol·L^-1) and 18.99 µg·mL^-1 (40.56 µmol·L^-1), respectively while the mixture of uvarinol (12) and isouvarinol (13) demonstrated cytotoxic activity against HL-60, with an IC₅₀ value of 9.74 µg·mL^-1, and HCT116, with an IC₅₀ value of 17.31 µg·mL^-1. These cytotoxic activities can be attributed to the presence of one or more hydroxybenzyl groups present in these molecules as well as the position in which these groups are linked. The cytotoxic activities of reticuline, anonaine and liriodenine have been previously established, with liriodenine being the most potent compound.

Feature-Based Molecular Network-Guided Dereplication of Natural Bioactive Products from Leaves of Stryphnodendron pulcherrimum (Willd.) Hochr

Stryphnodendron pulcherrimum is a species known to have a high content of tannins. Accordingly, its preparations are used in southern Pará, Brazil, for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, but so far, its chemical profile composition remains essentially unknown. We herein describe the compounds present in a hydro-acetonic extract from S. pulcherrimum leaves as revealed by dereplication via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. The data were combined with spectral organization, spectral matching through the Global Natural Products Social platform, in silico annotation and taxonomical ponderation. Several types of phenolic compounds were identified such as gallic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavone-like compounds. From these, 5 have been recently reported by our group, whereas 44 are reported here for the first time in this tree species, and 41 (out of 49) for this genus. The results highlight the possible role of Stryphnodendron pulcherrimum as a renewable source for natural bioactive products with potential pharmaceutical applications.

Connaraceae: An updated overview of research and the pharmacological potential of 39 species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

An interdisciplinary scientific investigation of biologically active agents is fundamental to search for natural substances with therapeutic action. This review collected the most relevant information on traditional knowledge related to the use of plants of the Connaraceae family. This work is the first to compile all the published ethnobotanical, chemical, pharmacological, and toxicological information about this important plant family.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our objective was to provide the scientific community with an up-to-date overview of the pharmacological potential of Connaraceae species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We searched NCBI Pubmed Central, Google Scholar, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ScienceDirect, SciFinder, and Scopus databases to review the research on ethnobotanical, chemical, pharmacognostical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies with Connaraceaes. Books that address the theme were also included.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The literature review indicated that 39 species of Connaraceaes have pharmacological potentiality. Ethnobotany reports listed 36 of the 39 species discussed. Pharmacognostical studies have been conducted with 23 species and isolates, and chemical compounds have been identified for only 15 species. At least one study has been published concerning the pharmacological activities for 20 of the 39 species analyzed. For Agelaea pentagyna, Cnestis ferruginea, Connars suberosus, and Rourea minor, pharmacological activity experiments were performed using isolated compounds, which have the highest current pharmacological potential. Studies employing a toxicological approach cover only 10 of the 39 Connaraceaes species. Thus, scientific community should conduct much more research for a broader understanding of this plant family.

Susceptibility of virulent and resistant Escherichia coli strains to non-polar and polar compounds identified in Microplumeria anomala

Background and Aim

Escherichia coli is one of the main pathogens responsible for veterinary and human infections, and it is associated with significant economic losses in the livestock, as it causes severe diseases to humans, particularly in children. For that reason, there is a need for introducing new drugs to treat E. coli diseases. The Brazilian species richness is a source of potential new antibacterial natural products. The study aimed at the biological and chemical investigation of the organic extract obtained from the stem of Microplumeria anomala (Apocynaceae), EB127, as it was identified as a potential source of new antibacterial compounds to be used in Veterinary.

Materials and Methods

The antibacterial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion and microdilution assays; chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and mass spectrometry were used in the isolation and identification of compounds.

Results

EB127 showed activity against E. coli ATCC25922, and against three E. coli strains that were isolated from frigarte's cloaca, named 31/1A, 35A, and 51A. Lupeol, 3-acetyl-11-oxo-β-amyrin, 3-acetyl-11-oxo-α-amyrin, sitosterol, stigmasterol, 3β,7α-dihydroxy-cholest-5-ene, 3β-hydroxy-cholest-5-en-7-one, and 3β-hydroxy-cholest-5,22-dien-7-one were identified in fraction Hex/CHCl₃, while loganin, loganic acid, methylanomaline, and anomaline were all identified in EB127 and protocatechuic acid hexoside, ferulic acid, secoxyloganin, feruloylquinic acid, vanillic acid hexoside, protocatechuic acid-4-O-β-hexoside, and rosmarinic acid were tentatively identified in fraction 10%ACN/H₂O. E. coli 51A (virulent/non-resistant) showed sensitivity to the antibacterial action of fraction Hex/CHCl₃ which contains alkaloids, triterpenes, and steroids, while E. coli 35A (resistant/non-virulent) were more susceptible to 10%ACN/H₂O, which contains iridoids as loganin and loganic acid, and glycosylated and non-glycosylated caffeic acids.

Conclusion

Fraction 10%ACN/H₂O is of interest in pursuing new drugs to treat resistant E. coli, in veterinary. All compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time and have shown potential as new antibacterial natural products from Amazon plants to be used in veterinary and human diseases.

Microbial Profile of the Ventriculum of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola, 1806) Fed with Veterinary Drugs, Dietary Supplements and Non-Protein Amino Acids

The effects of veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids on the European honey bee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola, 1806) ventriculum microbial profile were investigated. Total viable aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas spp., aerobic bacterial endospores and Enterococcus spp. were determined using a culture-based method. Two veterinary drugs (Varromed® and Api-Bioxal®), two commercial dietary supplements (ApiHerb® and ApiGo®) and two non-protein amino acids (GABA and beta-alanine) were administered for one week to honey bee foragers reared in laboratory cages. After one week, E. coli and Staphylococcus spp. were significantly affected by the veterinary drugs (p < 0.001). Furthermore, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids induced significant changes in Staphylococcus spp., E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this investigation showed that the administration of the veterinary drugs, dietary supplements and non-protein amino acids tested, affected the ventriculum microbiological profile of Apis mellifera ligustica.GABA; beta-alanine; oxalic acid; diet effect; microbiota.

Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities of Wild Scolymus maculatus L

Background: The wild population of spotted golden thistle, Scolymus maculatus, which belongs to the Compositae family, is believed to be one of the multi-curative wild plants mentioned in Flora Palaestina. This study aims to disclose the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity of wild S. maculatus collected from the farms of Kabul, a village in northwest Galilee, for the first time. Methods: The phytochemical components of crude S. maculatus extracts from methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane solvents were separated and identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) mode. The free radical scavenging of the plant extracts was measured by DPPH assay. The microdilution test was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of different S. maculatus extracts and to evaluate their antimicrobial activities. Results: Thirty-two phytochemicals were found in S. maculatus extracts including stigmasterol, γ-sitosterol, lupeol, lupeol acetate, and β-amyrin. Phytochemicals, such as 2-linoleoylglycerol, γ-sitosterol, β-amyrin, lupeol, (3α)-12-oleanen-3-yl acetate, and lupenyl acetate, were found to dominate the methanol extract. Most of these compounds were also observed in ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts, but at different levels, in addition to some other minor compounds. The various extracts were investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The ethanolic and the methanolic extracts were shown to exhibit the highest free radical scavenging by DPPH assay with a half-maximally effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 0.37 and 0.65 mg/mL respectively, while the other three extracts (aqueous, ethyl acetate and n-hexane) were less active and their EC₅₀ (effective concentration at which DPPH radical was scavenged by 50%) were above 1.0 mg/mL. Moreover, MICs were determined to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Candida albicans microorganisms. Ethyl acetate and the ethanolic extracts are active against the three types of microorganisms at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 mg/mL, while aqueous and the n-hexane extracts are inactive against Salmonella typhimurium. Conclusions: The results show that S. maculatus extracts are a rich source of compounds that can play an important role in human health, and in a broader context, in the treatment of various diseases, such antimicrobial and antioxidant-related ailments.

Mice Behavioral Phenotype Changes after Administration of Anani (Symphonia globulifera, Clusiaceae), an Alternative Latin American and African Medicine

Background:

Anani, (Symphonia globulifera, Clusiaceae), known as chewstick, is a traditional plant occurring in Africa and in Central and South Americas that is used against parasites and microorganisms. Although its use is popular in some of these countries, there is a lack of information related to its influence over behavioral phenotype (BP).

Objective:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of the administration of the extract obtained from the aerial organs of Anani (EB1257) to male Balb-c mice over BP.

Materials and Methods:

Open cage observation, open field, and elevated-plus maze apparatuses were used. Evaluations were done 15, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after intraperitoneal administration of Anani extract.

Results:

Impairment of general behavior activity, response to touch, tail squeeze, defecation, locomotion and rearing frequency were observed although no signs of hemorrhage or macroscopical alterations of internal organs. Anani is harmful, but not toxic if used in the appropriate doses, yet to be determined to male mice. Impairment of locomotion and defecation was observed, indicating some degree of influence over locomotion, but no alterations in anxiety levels were assessed. Three compounds were previously found in the plant-lupeol (1), β-amyrin (2) and 3-β-hydroxyglutin-5-ene (3), and one is being described for the first time to occur in the species: oleanolic acid (4).

Conclusions:

The present work contributes in the support of the rational use of Anani, an important Latin American and African alternative medicine, presenting findings that are being reported for the first time.

SUMMARY

Symphonia globulifera impairs locomotion and defecatin in behavior analyses

No alterations in anxiety was observed

Oleanolic acid occurs in the species.

Abbreviations used: BP: Behavioral phenotype; OF: Open field, EPM: Elevated-plus maze, MMA/ICMBio/SISBIO: Ministério do Meio Ambiente/Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/Sistema de Autorização e Informação em Biodiversidade, IBAMA/MMA/CGen: Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis/Ministério do Meio Ambiente/Conselho de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético, AM: Amazonas State, UNIP: Universidade Paulista, mg: milligram, kg: kilogram, I.P: Intraperitoneal, CEUA/ICS/UNIP: Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais/Instituto de Ciências da Saúde/Universidade Paulista, LD: Lethal dose, NLD: Nonlethal dose, GBA: General behavior activity, FCHCL₃: Fraction chloroform, FBuOH: Fraction buthanol, FH₂O: Fraction water, FrHEX: Fraction hexane, FrDCM: Fraction dichloromethane, FrMeOH: Fraction methanol, ¹³C NMR: Carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Epidihydropinidine, the main piperidine alkaloid compound of Norway spruce (Picea abies) shows promising antibacterial and anti-Candida activity

This study reports for the first time promising antibacterial and antifungal effects of epidihydropinidine, the major piperidine alkaloid in the needles and bark of Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.) Karsten. Epidihydropinidine was growth inhibitory against all bacterial and fungal strains used in our investigation, showing the lowest MIC value of 5.37μg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida glabrata and C. albicans. Epidihydropinidine was nearly three times more active than tetracycline against P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis. Promising antibacterial effects were also recorded against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus (MIC 10.75μg/mL) as well as against Salmonella enterica (MIC and MBC 43μg/mL). Our preliminary results suggest that epidihydropinidine as well related alkaloids of Norway spruce could be powerful candidates for new antibiotics and for preventing food spoilage.