Browsing by Author "Medeiros, Maria Augusta"
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- Pharmacological characterization of Solanum cernuum Vell.: 31-norcycloartanones with analgesic and anti-inflammatory propertiesPublication . Lopes, Luciane C.; Carvalho, João E.; Kakimore, Marise; Vendramini-Costa, Débora B.; Medeiros, Maria Augusta; Spindola, Humberto M.; Ávila-Román, J.; Lourenço, A. M.; Motilva, VirginiaCycloeucalenone (1) and 24-oxo-31-norcycloartanone (2) obtained from Solanum cernuum Vell. were assayed to explore their pharmacologic roles. Previous studies showed that (2) has selective activity against lung tumor cell line (NCIH460) which expresses high levels of COX-2, suggesting its role in inflammatory process, and also a link between chronic inflammation and cancer-associated process. Dichloromethane crude extract (DCE) significantly reduced writhing and stretching induced by 0.8 % acetic acid at a dose of 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg, po; oral administration of different doses of (1) and (2) also displayed significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in the writhing acetic acid test (p < 0.0001). Selected oral doses of both compounds (100 and 50 mg/kg) were assayed in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Compound (2) showed significant activity during the early phase (1.5–6 h) and also in the late phase (48 h) (p < 0.01). The anti-nociceptive activity observed for the compounds (1) and (2) and DCE was found to be related to the inhibition of different mediators involved in inflammation and nociceptive process. Both compounds decreas COX-2 protein expression, although only compound (2) reached a significant response (p < 0.05 vs control). However, in vitro Sirtuin 1 activity and TNF-a production in THP-1 macrophages were not affected.
- Profile of antimicrobial potential of fifteen Hypericum species from PortugalPublication . Nogueira, Teresa; Medeiros, Maria Augusta; Curto, Maria João Marcelo; Garcia-Pérez, B. E.; Luna-Herrera, J.; Costa, Maria do CéuThe aim of the present study was the search for the industrial exploitation potential of 15 Hypericum species crops from Portugal. Although Hypericum perforatum is well known worldwide, scarce studies have been published of Hypericum spp. identified in Portugal. Extracts from 15 Hypericum species were screened for its antimicrobial activities against 2 Gram- and 2 Gram+ bacteria, 4 non-tuberculous Mycobacterium species, a reference strain H37Rv and 4 drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as 4 drug-resistant clinical isolates. In terms of Gram – standards, H. humifusum and H. elodes were the most active against Agrobacterium tumefasciens, with MIC of 2.5 µg/mL. H. elodes and H. hircinum subsp. majus extracts were the most active against MDR-TB strains and isolates, with MIC of 25–100 µg/mL and both exhibited significant effect against MDR-TB clinical isolates. With the exception of H. androsaemum and H. linarifolium all Hypericum species were active against Staphylococcus aureus, the H. perfoliatum and H. elodes at the level of 6 and 12 µg/mL, respectively, and none showed activity on E. coli. Reference compounds isolated from H. perforatum were also tested and might contribute to the activities observed. The profile of the 15 Hypericum spp. as effective antimicrobial therapy against multidrug resistant pathogens is now available, providing scientific validation on a few available ethnopharmacological data resources. This study may be a starting point for the research on the role of various Hypericum species in integrative medicine for infection control of S. aureus and MDR-MTB. Hypericum species may also constitute a source of new leads towards the discovery of either new candidates and biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical interest, for the treatment of multidrug resistant diseases.