Species of the genus Cordia have shown biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antifungal activities. The species Cordia glabrata (MART) A.DC. Has no information concerning its phytochemical profile and possible biological activities. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate this profile in ethanolic extracts of young, adult and senescent leaves, as well as their antioxidant, photoprotective, antimicrobial, and virucidal potentials. Phytochemical analysis was performed by TLC (thin-layer chromatography) and showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and terpenes. The evaluation by UPLC-MS/MS (Ultra performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer) evidenced the presence of caffeic (3.89 mgL-1), p-cumaric (6.13 mgL-1), and ferulic (0.58 mgL-1) acids, whilst, in GC/MS (Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) analysis there was a greater amount of palmitic (51.17%), stearic (20.34%), linoleic (9.62%), and miristic (8.16%) fatty acids. The DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS+ (2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radicals were used to verify the potential antioxidant activity, observing a better activity for the leaf extract in the adult phenological stage: 54.63 ± 1.06 µgmL-1 (DPPH) and 44.21 ± 1.69 mM (ABTS). The potential photoprotective activity of the extracts was determined by spectrophotometry and the in vitro values of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) in young and adult leaves (5.47 and 5.41, respectively) showed values close to the minimum SPF of 6.0 required by ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). It was not observed an antimicrobial activity for Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2000 μgmL-1, however the anti-herpetic assay against the Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) showed a potent virucidal activity at the tested concentrations with CV50 value <0.195 μgmL-1 and a Selectivity Index (SI = CC50 / CV50) greater than 448. The results obtained in this study suggest that extracts of leaves of C. glabrata in their adult phenological stage have potential antioxidant, photoprotective and virucidal activity, considering in vitro test results.

Os recursos naturais sempre foram bem aproveitados pelo ser humano desde os primórdios da humanidade. Nos dias de hoje, no entanto, diante da agricultura de larga escala, da globalização e da carência de informação, a humanidade tem deixado de usufruir de Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANCs), o que significa um mal aproveitamento desses recursos naturais. Em relação a essa problemática, foi proposta, por meio de ações de um projeto de extensão, a discussão sobre o conhecimento e consumo destes alimentos com famílias participantes de um Centro de Referências de Assistência Social (CRAS). Para isso, foram realizadas oficinas em formato de rodas de conversa objetivando a divulgação das PANC e o aumento de seu consumo. A discussão sobre o aproveitamento dos benefícios se deu principalmente por meio da tradição popular e de receitas culinárias, o que permitiu trabalhar a Educação em Saúde no território. O número de participantes por encontro variou de 10 a 12 pessoas. As ações do projeto de extensão nas comunidades tiveram como base o respeito e a valorização dos aspectos sociais, culturais, nutricionais e econômicos e permitiram a ressignificação das PANC, o que pode representar uma mudança de hábitos alimentares. Essas ações também contribuem para o conhecimento e preservação da biodiversidade nacional e reforçam a importância das trocas de saberes na construção de conhecimento entre profissionais da saúde, acadêmicos e comunidade.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) occur worldwide. Infections caused by these viruses have great public health importance due to the growing resistance to the first-choice drug, acyclovir, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Alkaloids derived from species of Annonaceae have been reported as antiviral agents against HSV and others viruses. Within this context, we evaluated the antiviral activity of the total alkaloid fraction (TAF) extracted from the branches of Fusaea longifolia (Aubl.) Saff. (Annonaceae), a species native to the Amazon region, against the HSV-1 and HSV-2 viruses. The antiviral activity was evaluated through the plate reduction assay and the mode of action was investigated by a set of other assays. The TAF was active against the HSV-2 strain 333 and against the HSV-1 strains KOS and 29R (acyclovir resistant), with selectivity index values (SI = 50% cytotoxic concentration/50% effective concentration) of 5, 4 and 3, respectively. In the preliminary study of the anti-HSV-2 mode of action, TAF showed viral inhibitory effects if added up to 12 h post-infection, had virucidal activity and did not present viral inhibition in pre-treatment. Our results showed that the TAF exhibited anti-HSV activity. Regarding HSV-2, TAF acted after the viral infection and had virucidal activity. A mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of nine alkaloids in the TAF that had previously been reported for Annonaceae, including liriodenine, lysicamine and isoboldine, which have been described as potential anti-HSV-1 agents.

Extracts of species from the Cordia genus have been reported with potential biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic. The aim of this study was to develop microemulsions containing ethanolic extracts of C. glabrata leaves and to evaluate their stability and biological activities. The five developed microemulsions presented physicochemical stability and presented Newtonian behavior when submitted to rheological analysis. The diameter values of the globules ranged between 225.74 and 273.33 nm and the zeta potential of the formulations remained between -22.40 and -25.08. All phenolic acids of the extract, quantified by HPLC, showed consistency after being microemulsified. The EC50 values for the antioxidant activity by the DPPH scavenging method ranged between 38.13 and 45.54 µgmL-1, and between 34.46 and 39.60 mM for the ABTS+ scavenging method. The virucidal activity presented a CV50 <0.195 µgmL-1 and a selectivity index greater than 20. The photoprotection results ranged between 2.14 to 2.84. The study revealed stable microemulsions and potentiation of the antioxidant effect in the microemulsified extracts.

Óleos essenciais são extratos aromáticos altamente concentrados e voláteis obtidos através de plantas. O presente trabalho buscou otimizar informações sobre o potencial econômico e terapêutico de tais produtos no Brasil. Através da revisão da literatura e atualização dos dados comerciais existentes, foi possível identificar estudos científicos relevantes que foram selecionados em buscas nas bases de dados eletrônicas National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciElo), Google Scholar, The Cochrane Library, de acordo com o grau de adequação ao tema proposto. Sendo o país um dos grandes produtores desse tipo de insumo, suas exportações e importações são responsáveis por movimentar milhões de dólares. Percebendo sua importância, tanto para a saúde quanto para a economia brasileira, destacam-se as espécies mais estudadas no país a fim de se obter tais extratos: Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.; Eucalyptus citriodora Hook; Eucalyptus urograndis; Eucalyptus microcoris; Mentha arvensis L.; Mentha piperita L.; Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière; Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor; Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf; Myrocarpus frondosus Allemão; Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck; Citrus bergamia Risso; Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a produção de óleos essenciais no país é viável e de grande potencial econômico e terapêutico.