Tagetes patula L. shows a complex chemical composition, ranging from glycosylated flavonoids and thiophenes in extracts until terpenoids in the essential oil. In the present study, due to this rich flavonoidic constitution, its antioxidant potential was determined, having shown values of antiradical percentage superior to reference compounds, mainly the extracts prepared with flowers. Previous studies performed emphasized the acaricide potential of T. patula and thus, the present study aimed to verify the action of extractives obtained from aerial parts on growth of entomopathogenic fungi related to biological control of brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus and the action against pathogenic fungi closely associated with pets. None of the samples inhibited the growth of strains of Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae, enabling feasible future studies of synergism on acaricide activity of formulations containing fungi and extracts. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of flowers (FlEtOH70%) against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum was significant (193.3 μg/mL and 253.9 μg/mL, respectively), as well as ethanolic extract from aerial parts (APEtOH70%) against T. rubrum (312.5 μg/mL). In order to ensure the safety of a topical formulation containing the extractives of T. patula, the cytotoxic potential of these samples were tested in murine macrophages cells. At higher concentrations all extracts were quite lethal, with IC50 ranging from 210.96 μg/mL to 468.75 μg/mL for APEtOH70% and FlEtOH70%, respectively. These results suggest that the application of a product containing T. patula extractives in the control of ticks could be used, at principle, only on the environment.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, commonly known as the brown dog tick, is one of the most widely distributed species of tick. In dogs, it can cause anemia and provide the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms such as Babesia canis, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, Anaplasma platys, and Mycoplasma haemocanis. To man, it can transmit the intracellular parasites Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia conorii, the causative agents of the Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the Americas and Mediterranean and spotted fever in Europe and North Africa. Its control is performed by applying synthetic formulations composed of pyrethroids; however, continued use of these products results in environmental damage and acquisition of resistance. Alternatively, studies with botanical insecticides have been increasingly recurrent. Therefore, this study aimed to test the efficacy of essential oil of Tagetes patula, a ruderal species widely described in the literature for its insecticidal properties, in engorged females of R. sanguineus by the adults immersion test (AIT) and impregnated paper disk test (IPDT). The essential oil used, through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, revealed the presence of 55 compounds, being the 4-vinyl guaiacol and gamma terpinene the majority ones. The AIT compared to the IPDT was more efficient in inhibiting oviposition of tick; however, the eggs laid by the females submitted to saturated atmosphere with essential oil, from IPDT, not hatched, interrupted their development cycle. Besides being a pioneer work, the results presented here contributes to new researches, aiming the incorporation of essential oil in an acaricide for use in the environment.

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Equisetum hyemale species is considered a medicinal plant used in the form of infusions to combat infectious or inflammation diseases and also diuretic effects, presenting several compounds related to these actions. In previous studies different species of Equisetum showed several phenolic compounds. The objective of this study was, for the first time, based on phytochemistry analysis to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The 70% ethanolic and methanolic extracts of E. hyemale were characterized by spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector analyses, as well as its antioxidant potential based on the scavenger activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In addition was verified the antimicrobial activity by broth microdilution technique against bacteria and fungi. The extracts showed phytochemical similarity, which demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds, the scavenging activity for free radicals was about 30% and was observed better antifungal activity against dermatophyte fungi, with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 0.62 mg/mL to Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis. The extracts exhibits great potential to therapeutic applications or product development, since both possess antifungal activity and antioxidant action associated with little difference in their phytochemical composition.

Plinia cauliflora is a plant species with edible fruits but its chemical composition is not totally known yet although former studies showed its potential as antifungal agent. This work aimed the chemical analysis of the leaves, the activity against fungi species and evaluated cytotoxicity. Extract was obtained with 70% ethanol. An ethyl acetate fraction was obtained and glycosylated quercetin and myricetin were isolated. Samples were tested against Candida species, dermatophytes and entomopathogenic fungi. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against fibroblast cells. Extract showed good activity against C. albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration at 156 μg/mL), C. parapsilosis (78 μg/mL), C. krusei (19 μg/mL), Trichophyton rubrum (78 μg/mL) and Microsporum canis (156 μg/mL). Isolated compounds were more active against C. krusei and T. rubrum. The extract, which was the more active sample, demonstrated low cytotoxic effect and encourage more studies against rising non-albicans species and dermatophyte T. rubrum.

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A utilização de plantas acontece há milhares de anos em todo o mundo. A insuficiência renal é a falha ou incapacidade dos rins em eliminar substâncias, sendo o principal tratamento baseado na hemodiálise. As plantas medicinais apesar de seu baixo custo e reduzidos efeitos adversos, muitas vezes são utilizadas sem o conhecimento de um profissional, causando riscos aos usuários. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar e caracterizar o uso de plantas medicinais entre os pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica atendidos em um Centro Regional de Hemodiálise de uma cidade no interior de Minas Gerais. Os resultados demonstraram que 53,1% dos entrevistados utilizam plantas para tratamento de sinais e sintomas, sendo que 50,6% possuem uma baixa escolaridade tendo o ensino fundamental incompleto; notou-se que 67,4% cultivam a planta de consumo no próprio quintal, 81,4% desses entrevistados disseram que as plantas medicinais tem seu efeito positivo e elevado e 65,1% acreditam ser mais eficazes que remédios de farmácia. Como as plantas mais citadas destacaram-se hortelã, erva-cidreira, limão, alho, camomila e gengibre. O uso de plantas medicinais se associa a ambos os sexos, sendo que 50,6% são do sexo masculino. Os resultados mostraram que as plantas medicinais são utilizadas como alternativa terapêutica, entretanto, é necessário que os serviços de atenção ao paciente submetido à hemodiálise garantam profissionais qualificados e capazes de fornecer orientações sobre sua utilização de plantas, assim será possível embasar o desenvolvimento de ações que possam evitar riscos a saúde do paciente, ou interferência no tratamento, estimulando o uso seguro.

In previous studies, Zanthoxylum naranjillo hexane crude extract revealed marked analgesic and antimalarial activities. This paper reports an investigation of preclinical toxicity in acute phase ( 24 h and 15 days with repeated doses ) in which the action of different extract doses ( 15, 150 and 450 mg/kg ) was evaluated. Wistar rats weighing 300 ± 15 g were submitted to toxicological evaluation of clinical chemical, haematological and haemostatic blood parameters including evaluation of liver, pancreas, kidneys, bile ducts, heart, serum lipids, bonc marrow, haematological and haemostatic systems. The initial results showed an alteration of albumin and alkaline phosphatase at some of the doses tested, but without suggesting hepatic or biliary involvement. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.