No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) is used to treat wounds and inflammation. In this study, we evaluated whether the saline extract from its stem would have genotoxic or anti-genotoxic effects. In the genotoxicity evaluation, mice received the extract (500, 1,000, or 2,000 mg/kg) orally while negative and positive controls were treated with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) per os and cyclophosphamide (CPA, 80 mg/kg i.p.), respectively. In the antigenotoxicity assay, using other animals, treatments were carried out by administering the extract (500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg) or saline solution (negative control) per os and then CPA (80 mg/kg i.p.) 1 h later. Genotoxic effects were evaluated by micronucleus test and comet assay using peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. Oral administration of only the extract at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg did not result in genotoxicity. A slight increase in the incidence of micronucleus was observed at the highest dose (2,000 mg/kg). Administration of the extract before CPA reduced the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) number by 49.07-71.43%, and DNA fragmentation in peripheral blood (85.04-94.44%) and bone marrow (87.43-92.70%) cells also decreased. In conclusion, when administered orally at the tested doses, the extract is genotoxically safe, being cautious in doses above 1,000 mg/kg, and has a protective effect against CPA-induced DNA damage.

No abstract

Cryptococcus is a genus of dimorphic basidiomycete fungi found in the form of yeasts and filaments. Cryptococcosis has as main etiological agents the species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. This disease is considered a public health problem and has becoming more alarming because of the limitations of antimicrobials available to its treatment, in addition to an increase in reports of fungal resistance. In this sense, the present review sought to survey information on the resistance mechanisms of Cryptococcus spp. against the main drugs used in cryptococcosis therapy as well as on the antimicrobial activities of plants against these fungi. Studies have reported that several mechanisms may be involved in fungal resistance to drugs including drug inactivation by enzymes, expression of efflux pumps and others drug transporters, as well as changes in the drug target and/or implementation of alternative metabolic pathways. As an alternative to conventional antimicrobials, substances and molecules extracted from plants have demonstrated potential for controlling these pathogens. These phytochemicals can trigger the inhibition and/or death of Cryptococcus through morphological changes on fungi cells, inhibition of ergosterol synthesis, cell leakage, capsular decrease, interference in cell division, reduction of activity of several enzymes such as laccase and urease, inhibition of biofilm formation, among others. In this sense, plants are an important source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity that can be studied in the search for new drugs that are increasingly effective, specific and less toxic in the control of cryptococcosis.

No abstract

No abstract