Production Of Phytomedicines Research Articles

A Review on Herbal Drug Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine

The review's goal is to talk about both nanomedicine and herbal medicine nanotechnology. Since ancient times, herbal remedies have been widely utilised and acknowledged by medical professionals and patients for their potent positive benefits and reduced risk of side effects when compared to conventional treatment. Here, we provide an overview of nanomedicine, discuss the use of nanoparticles in herbal medicine, discuss the obstacles facing nanotechnology, and discuss several formulations of herbal nanomedicine. In order to improve patient compliance and reduce the need for repeated dosages, the evaluation concentrated on a novel strategy that tackles the drawbacks of the conventional drug delivery method. It also highlights current advancements in nanomedicine that have been impacted by nanotechnology, such as nanoparticulate systems. Additionally, this assessment notes that the drug's efficacy and bioavailability have improved. By creating novel medicine formulations with herbal ingredients, it will be achievable. NDDS is an effective medication that minimises negative effects and improves bioavailability, in addition to lowering dose frequency. Nanotechnology is a revolutionary medicine delivery system. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that nano-sized constituents for herbal medications may be used in the future to improve pharmacological activity while lowering dosage requirements and adverse effects. Research indicates that NDDS may have a significant role in the fight against a variety of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, and asthma. Reviewing new drug delivery methods and Herbal remedies are the goal of these. Products made from herbs and used for medical purposes are referred to as phytomedicinal products. It includes one or more active ingredients derived from herbs. The researcher in the recent creation of herbal drug nanomedicine receives help and guidance from this review.

Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Capparis grandis Linn

Capparis grandis Linn. is a species of the family Capparidaceae. It is commonly known as ‘Pachunda’. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of an aqueous extract of Capparis grandis Linn. Medicinal plants have an alternative rich source of phytochemicals and antibacterial agents. The phytochemical result showed the presence of carbohydrate, steroid, alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, and glycosides. The antibacterial activity was studied by the agar well diffusion method using an aqueous extract of Capparis grandis Linn. leaves. This extract was tested against five bacterial strains Pseudomonas, Bacillus pasteurii, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutant, and three fungal strains Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Dreschlera turcica. This result shows that the leaves of this plant have a potentially broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and phytochemical constituents and these help in the production and development of phytomedicines for antibacterial or antimicrobial properties.

Preservation, enrichment and use of the collection fund of energy and aromatic plants of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine as a scientific object that is a national treasure

Intr0ducti0n. Because plants are an important factor in the existence of the biosphere and life on Earth, plant resources are an invaluable asset that requires comprehensive study, conservation and rational use in the context of global climate change. Matcrials and mcth0ds. The subject of research was the collection of spice, essential, medicinal, energy, oilseeds, sugar plants. The object of the study was the process of introduction, selection, conservation and enrichment of genetic resources of energy and aromatic plants. Methods of introduction, acclimatization, adaptation, selection, biotech- nology are used. Physiological, biochemical, allelopathic, and ecological methods were also used. Rcsults and discus- si0n. For many years of introduction and selection work in the department of cultural flora of NBG collected valuable gene pool of useful plants (about 2000 taxa) part of which, namely “Collection Fund of Energy and Aromatic Plants of the National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine ” (over 1500 samples) is included in the List of scientific objects that make up the National Heritage.The structure and features of the scientific object (systematic, morphological-biological, botanical-geographical, ecological) are comprehensively studied and the social and economic significance of the respective groups of useful plants is assessed. About 100 varieties have been created by various selection and genetic methods, which are recommended for growing in all agro-climatic zones of Ukraine. For the first time, about 50 new highly productive economically valuable crops from the collection fund have been introduced into the State Reg- ister of Plant Varieties of Ukraine. Based on the use of the collection fund, about 50 promising phytotechnologies for the production of biofuels, food products and phytomedicines have been developed. For the first time in Ukraine more than 40 Methods of examination of varieties of new energy and aromatic crops for difference, homogeneity and stability have been developed. C0nclusi0ns. As a result of many years of introductory and selection-genetic work in the department of cultural flora of the NBG, the “Collection Fund of Energy and Aromatic Plants” was created — as a scientific object that is a National Heritage. Important scientific and practical results on the preservation, enrichment and use of the collection have been obtained.

Genetic diversity among genotypes of Uncaria guianensis (Aubl.) J.F. Gmel. maintained in an in vitro germplasm bank.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-03016-y.

Comparison of Time-kill Assay to Evaluate the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Garlic (Allium sativum) and Guava (Psidium guajava) Extracts on Periodontal Pathogens.

Background:The role of Gram-negative anaerobic periodontal pathogens in periodontal diseases has led to the loss of tooth-supporting structures. These diseases can be prevented by the inhibition of bacterial biofilm on the tooth surfaces. Many treatment modalities have been tried to prevent periodontal diseases. With the rise in resistance to synthetic antimicrobials, there is a requirement to develop natural antimicrobials for the control of periodontitis.Aim:The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of garlic (Allium sativum) and guava (Psidium guajava) extracts on Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using time-kill assay.Materials and Methods:Aqueous garlic extract (AGaE), ethanolic garlic extract (EGaE), aqueous guava extract (AGuE), and ethanolic guava extract (EGuE) were prepared. Time-kill assays were performed on P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of guava and garlic were compared to assess the maximum bactericidal potency.Results:The comparison of time-kill assay of AGaE and AGuE on P. gingivalis showed a statistically significant difference at 2 h (t = 5.29, P < 0.01), 4 h (t = −4.867, P < 0.01), and 6 h (t = −3.647, P < 0.001). The comparison of time-kill assay of EGaE and EGuE on A. actinomycetemcomitans showed a statistically significant difference at 2 h (t = 4.54, P < 0.01) and highly significant difference at 4 h (t = 6.57, P < 0.001).Conclusions:The, judicious use of these phytomedicinal products could be cost-effective and also the adverse effects caused due to the long-term usage of synthetic antimicrobials can be avoided.

Metabolomic analysis reveals the valuable bioactive compounds of Ardisia elliptica

AbstractIntroductionArdisia elliptica Thunb. (Primulaceae) is a medicinal herb that is traditionally used for the treatment of fever, diarrhoea, measles and herpes. However, there is limited information regarding the correlation of its phytoconstituents with the bioactivity. Optimisation of solvent extraction is vital for maximising retention of bioactive molecules.ObjectiveThis study investigated the metabolite variations in A. elliptica leaves and the correlation with antioxidant activities.MethodologyTotal phenolic content (TPC), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals scavenging assays were performed on A. elliptica leaves extracted with four different ethanol ratios (0%, 50%, 70% and absolute ethanol). The correlation of metabolites with antioxidant activities was evaluated using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)‐based metabolomics approach.ResultsThe results showed that the 50% and 70% ethanolic extracts retained the highest TPC, and the 70% ethanolic extract was the most active, exhibiting half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 10.18 ± 0.83 and 43.05 ± 1.69 μg/mL, respectively, in both radical scavenging assays. A total of 46 metabolites were tentatively identified, including flavonoids, benzoquinones, triterpenes and phenolic derivatives. The 50% and 70% ethanolic extracts showed similarities in metabolites content and were well discriminated from water and absolute ethanol extracts in a principal component analysis (PCA) model. Moreover, 31 metabolites were found to contribute significantly to the differentiation and antioxidant activity.ConclusionThis study provides information on bioactive compounds in A. elliptica leaves, which is promising as a functional ingredient for food production or for the development of phytomedicinal products.

Pharmacovigilance of Natural Herbal Medicines Research for Efficacy, Safety and Quality Assurance of Phytomedicine Products

Improved traditional medicine/phytomedicine formulations have gained a global acceptability and popularity as therapeutic agents for many diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Herbal products are generally considered as safe, environmentally friendly and increasingly consumed by the community without prescription. There is a lack of systematic data on traditional medicine-associated adverse effects due to complex issues such as products with multiple ingredients, poor standardization, lack of clinical trials, variation in manufacturing processes, contamination, adulteration and misidentification of herbs. The aim of pharmacovigilance is to detect, assess, understand, and prevent the adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems, related to herbal, traditional and complementary medicines. Pharmacovigilance for herbal medicines is in its infancy, and monitoring the safety of natural products presents unique challenges, and as such, preparations are available from a wide range of sources where limited qualified healthcare professionals are available. The ethico-legal issues and regulatory approval mechanism of herbal medicine vary from country to country. This paper also elucidates the level of challenges associated with herbal pharmacovigilance geared towards improving safety monitoring for herbal medicines in the future.

Concise review of the genus Dictyota J.V. Lamouroux

The genus Dictyota (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) comprises parenchymatous algae occurring predominantly in tropical to warm-temperate waters and has gathered attention due to its diverse secondary metabolites with antibiofouling and pharmaceutical potential, its oil content, and its potential as animal feed. This has resulted in an increase in economic potential during the last decade. In this review, we summarise the recent knowledge on the genus and concentrate on the applications and the economic potential of Dictyota. In addition, the review summarises the taxonomy, anatomy, cytology, genetic data, life history, chemical composition, nutritional value and ecological and economic importance of Dictyota species. Currently, around 100 species are recognised together with the morphologically similar and closely related genera Dilophus, Canistrocarpus and Rugulopteryx (tribus Dictyoteae). The thallus is characterised by one or more lens-shaped apical cells that divide into cortical and medullary cell layers. Species typically grow in rocky intertidal pools and subtidal areas. Dictyota is consumed locally in the Caribbean, Malayan-Indonesian and Hawaiian regions. Extracts of Dictyota which contain active compounds, such as diterpenes and phlorotannins, have been attributed antimicrobial, health and wellness promoting effects which render them promising candidates for the design of functional foods, phytomedicinal products, and cosmetics. The high fraction of lipids and fatty acids has propelled emerging applications in the biofuel industry and as a feedstock species.

Phytochemical analysis and biological activities of in vitro cultured Nidularium procerum, a bromeliad vulnerable to extinction

This study reports the first phytochemical and biological characterization in treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma cells (H295R) of extracts from Nidularium procerum, an endemic bromeliad of Atlantic Forest vulnerable to extinction. Extracts of dry leaves obtained from in vitro-grown plants were recovered by different extraction methods, viz., hexanoic, ethanolic, and hot and cold aqueous. Chromatography–based metabolite profiling and chemical reaction methods revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, lipids, vitamins, among other antioxidant and antitumor biomolecules. Eicosanoic and tricosanoic acids, α-Tocopherol (vitamin E) and scutellarein were, for the first time, described in the Nidularium group. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts contained the highest phenolic content (107.3 mg of GAE.100 g−1) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, respectively. The immunomodulatory and antitumoral activities of aqueous extracts were assessed using specific tests of murine macrophages modulation (RAW 264.7) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against adrenocortical carcinoma cell line, respectively. The aqueous extract improved cell adhesion and phagocytic activities and phagolysossomal formation of murine macrophages. This constitutes new data on the Bromeliaceae family, which should be better exploited to the production of new phytomedicines for pharmacological uses.

Antioxidant, Gastroprotective, Cytotoxic Activities and UHPLC PDA-Q Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Identification of Metabolites in Baccharis grisebachii Decoction.

The decoction of the local plant Baccharis grisebachii is used as a digestive, gastroprotective, external cicatrizing agent and antiseptic in Argentine. A lyophilized decoction (BLD) from the aerial parts of this plant was evaluated regarding its anti-ulcer, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities and the bioactivities were supported by UHPLC-MS metabolome fingerprinting which revealed the presence of several small bioactive compounds. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by DPPH, TEAC, FRAP and lipoperoxidation inhibition in erythrocytes methods, and the antibacterial activity was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The BLD showed a moderate free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH (EC50 = 106 µg/mL) and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes assays (67%, at 250 µg/mL). However, the BLD had the highest gastroprotective effect at a dose of 750 mg/kg with a ninety-three percent inhibition of damage through a mechanism that involve NO and prostaglandins using the ethanol-induced gastric damage in a standard rat model. On the other hand, BLD does not induce cytotoxic changes on human tumor and no-tumor cell lines at the concentrations assayed. Regarding the metabolomic analysis, thirty-one compounds were detected and 30 identified based on UHPLC-OT-MS including twelve flavonoids, eleven cinnamic acid derivatives, one coumarin, one stilbene and two other different phenolic compounds. The results support that the medicinal decoction of Baccharis grisebachii is a valuable natural product with gastroprotective effects and with potential to improve human health that opens a pathway for the development of important phytomedicine products.

The role of pollutants in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their prospective impact on phytomedicinal treatment strategies.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes and it is characterized by high blood sugar and abnormal sera lipid levels. Although the specific reasons for the development of these abnormalities are still not well understood, traditionally, genetic and lifestyle behavior have been reported as the leading causes of this disease. In the last three decades, the number of diabetic patients has drastically increased worldwide, with current statistics suggesting the number is to double in the next two decades. To combat this incurable ailment, orthodox medicines, to which economically disadvantaged patients have minimal access to, have been used. Thus, a considerable amalgamation of medicinal plants has recently been proven to possess therapeutic capabilities to manage T2DM, and this has prompted studies primarily focusing on the healing aspect of these plants, and ultimately, their commercialization. Hence, this review aims to highlight the potential threat of pollutants, i.e., polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and heavy metals, to medicinal plants, and their prospective impact on the phytomedicinal therapy strategies for T2DM. It is further suggested that auxiliary research be undertaken to better comprehend the factors that influence the uptake of these compounds by these plants. This should include a comprehensive risk assessment of phytomedicinal products destined for the treatment of T2DM. Regulations that control the use of PFC-precursors in certain developing countries are also long overdue.

&lt;i&gt;Garcinia lucida&lt;/i&gt; Vesque (Clusiaceae): from traditional uses to pharmacopeic monograph for an emerging local plant-based drug development

Objectives: This paper seeks to assess information on the identity, traditional uses, safety and efficacy of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Essok in Boulou and Ewondo local language), in order to highlight it potential as species to be registered in medicinal plant list and formularies needed for the development of monographs leading to local production of phytomedicines. Methodology and Results: Ethnobotanical survey was carried in the Bipindi-Akom II region (South Cameroon) with the help of interviews based on standardised questionnaires addressed to key-informants. Bark and seeds were the major parts used, highly appreciated due to its properties in preventing consumers from poison, diarrhoea and headaches. The most important therapeutic indications were additive to palm wine, antidote to poisoning, gastritis and snake bite. Other uses in treating included gynaecological pains and infections, sexual diseases and cancers. The bark was also believed by local people to act on the stability of chemical antibiotic drugs in pharmacy, while leaves were used as insect repellent against mosquitoes and cockroaches. Conclusions and application of findings: As an additive in palm wine processing, poisoning antidote, aphrodisiac and medicines, bark and seeds are widely used in the Bipindi-Lolodorf-Akom II area, in the Centre and South regions of Cameroon, in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, in Central Africa and West Africa. This similarity of use across many regions is considered as important biological activity marker tools guiding plant parts or species selection in drug discovery and development using ethnopharmacological approach. Through the ethnobotanical and biological tests, assessed, accurate information is provided to substantiate safety and efficacy of G. lucida and to satisfy the requirements of official compendia such as pharmacopoeia. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of bark and seeds as additive to palm wine, as well as the interaction between bark and chemical antibiotic drugs. Keywords: Garcinia lucida , traditional uses, medicinal plant list, monograph, pharmacopoeia, phytomedicine production

Growing the Health: An History about Women and Phytomedicines on a MST's Settlement in São Paulo

The path towards the innovation in the “medicines of biodiversity” is composed by different experiences, actors and social contexts that work together daily so as to create a more democratic health system based on new models of social and ecological development. To this end, the work conducted by RedesFito promotes the creation of a system of Local Productive Arrangements (APL) for the production and distribution of phytomedicines, aimed at the preservation and development both of biodiversity and of the local economic and social fabric. This paper reconstructs some of the milestones that marked the history of the Itapeva APL, in the South of the state of Sao Paulo, where a group of women of the Movimento dos trabalhadores rurais Sem Terra (MST) has been carrying ahead an important work of education, production and distribution of phytomedicines for over twenty years. The text reconstructs the most significant moments that have contributed towards the creation of a system of local knowledge and practices about natural remedies and at the same time, it reflects on the weight that the work with phytomedicines has had in the end, in this context, towards a political and social empowerment of women within the community.

In vitro metabolism studies of erythraline, the major spiroalkaloid from Erythrina verna

BackgroundErythrina verna, popularly known as “mulungu”, is a Brazilian medicinal plant used to treat anxiety. Erythrina alkaloids have been described in several species of Erythrina, which have biological and therapeutic properties well known that include anxiolytic and sedative effects.MethodsIn this work, in vitro metabolism of erythraline (1), the major spirocyclic alkaloid of Erythrina verna, was studied in the pig cecum model and by biomimetic phase I reactions. The biomimetic reactions were performed with Jacobsen catalyst to produce oxidative metabolites and one metabolite was isolated and evaluated against cancer cells, as HL-60 (promyelocytic leukemia), SF-295 (Glioblastoma) and OVCAR-8 (ovarian carcinoma).ResultsErythraline exhibited no metabolization by the pig microbiota and a main putative metabolite was formed in a biomimetic model using Jacobsen catalyst. This metabolite was isolated and identified as 8-oxo-erythraline (2). Finally, erythraline and the putative metabolite were tested in MTT model and both compounds showed no important cytotoxic activity against tumor cells.ConclusionsThe alkaloid erythraline was not metabolized by intestinal microbiota, but it was possible to identify its oxidative metabolite from biomimetic reactions. So these data are interesting and stimulate other studies involving this alkaloid, since it is present in phytomedicine products and there are not reported data about the metabolism of erythrina alkaloids.

Overview of the phytomedicine approaches against Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) successfully colonizes the human stomach of the majority of the human population. This infection always causes chronic gastritis, but may evolve to serious outcomes, such as peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. H. pylori first line therapy recommended by the Maastricht-4 Consensus Report comprises the use of two antibiotics and a proton-pomp inhibitor, but in some regions failure associated with this treatment is already undesirable high. Indeed, treatment failure is one of the major problems associated with H. pylori infection and is mainly associated with bacterial antibiotic resistance. In order to counteract this situation, some effort has been allocated during the last years in the investigation of therapeutic alternatives beyond antibiotics. These include vaccines, probiotics, photodynamic inactivation and phage therapy, which are briefly revisited in this review. A particular focus on phytomedicine, also described as herbal therapy and botanical therapy, which consists in the use of plant extracts for medicinal purposes, is specifically addressed, namely considering its history, category of performed studies, tested compounds, active principle and mode of action. The herbs already experienced are highly diverse and usually selected from products with a long history of employment against diseases associated with H. pylori infection from each country own folk medicine. The studies demonstrated that many phytomedicine products have an anti-H. pylori activity and gastroprotective action. Although the mechanism of action is far from being completely understood, current knowledge correlates the beneficial action of herbs with inhibition of essential H. pylori enzymes, modulation of the host immune system and with attenuation of inflammation.

Nanobiotechnology can boost crop production and quality: first evidence from increased plant biomass, fruit yield and phytomedicine content in bitter melon (Momordica charantia)

BackgroundRecent research on nanoparticles in a number of crops has evidenced for enhanced germination and seedling growth, physiological activities including photosynthetic activity and nitrogen metabolism, mRNA expression and protein level, and also positive changes in gene expression indicating their potential use in crop improvement. We used a medicinally rich vegetable crop, bitter melon, as a model to evaluate the effects of seed treatment with a carbon-based nanoparticle, fullerol [C60(OH)20], on yield of plant biomass and fruit characters, and phytomedicine contents in fruits.ResultsWe confirmed the uptake, translocation and accumulation of fullerol through bright field imaging and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. We observed varied effects of seed treatment at five concentrations, including non-consequential and positive, on plant biomass yield, fruit yield and its component characters, and content of five phytomedicines in fruits. Fullerol-treatment resulted in increases up to 54% in biomass yield and 24% in water content. Increases of up to 20% in fruit length, 59% in fruit number, and 70% in fruit weight led to an improvement up to 128% in fruit yield. Contents of two anticancer phytomedicines, cucurbitacin-B and lycopene, were enhanced up to 74% and 82%, respectively, and contents of two antidiabetic phytomedicines, charantin and insulin, were augmented up to 20% and 91%, respectively. Non-significant correlation inter se plant biomass, fruit yield, phytomedicine content and water content evidenced for separate genetic control and biosynthetic pathways for production of plant biomass, fruits, and phytomedicines in fruits, and also no impact of increased water uptake.ConclusionsWhile our results indicated possibility of improving crop yield and quality by using proper concentrations of fullerol, extreme caution needs to be exercised given emerging knowledge about accumulation and toxicity of nanoparticles in bodily tissues.

Qualidade e autenticidade de folhas de chapéu-de-couro (Echinodorus grandiflorus) oriundas de fornecedores de São Paulo

Echinodorus grandiflorus e Echinodorus macrophyllus, conhecidas como chapéu-de-couro, são empregadas de forma indistinta como anti-inflamatório. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar análises físico-químicas de três amostras (A, B e C) de folhas de chapéu-de-couro (E. grandiflorus) provenientes de fornecedores de São Paulo buscando avaliar a qualidade e autenticidade destas amostras considerando a Farmacopéia Brasileira, 5ª edição, como referência. Verificou-se que as amostras estavam de acordo com as especificações farmacopeicas em relação às características organolépticas, material estranho, umidade, cinzas totais, cinzas sulfatadas (exceto amostras A e B) e teores de derivados de ácido o-hidroxicinâmico (exceto amostra A). Na descrição macro e microscópica foram identificadas estruturas características de E. grandiflorus. Após análise dos perfis cromatográficos por cromatografia em camada delgada de sílica (CCDS) constatou-se a presença de ácido caféico, isoorientina e swertiajaponina, conforme a monografia da espécie. A amostra C foi a única droga vegetal aprovada segundo os critérios da Farmacopeia Brasileira, evidenciando-se a necessidade da realização do controle de qualidade de matérias-primas vegetais para garantir a obtenção de fitoterápicos seguros e eficazes.

Antibacterial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of Jacaranda puberula Cham. (Bignoniaceae) and Sorocea bonplandii Baill. (Moraceae)

The search for new substances with antimicrobial properties has become necessary due to the bacterial capacity of resistance. Medicinal plants have become an important alternative since many plants exhibit antimicrobial activity. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest contains a huge diversity of plant species, many of which have not been thoroughly investigated.Jacaranda puberula Cham. (Bignoniaceae) and Sorocea bonplandii Baill. (Moraceae) are used popularly to treat conditions associated with bacterial infection such as syphilis, as well as, infections of the skin, kidneys and bladder. In this study, the antibacterial activity of the hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves from J. puberula and S. bonplandii was investigated by the agar-well method. The results obtained show that the hydroalcoholic extracts of J. puberula and S. bonplandii presented a bacteriostatic action against Staphylococcus aureus. J. puberula also exhibited bactericidal activity towards S. aureus at a concentration of 100 mg/ml. Therefore, these species represent a potential tool for the production of new phytomedicines with antibacterial action against important agents with high resistance to drugs in current use. Key words: Ethnopharmacology, antibacterials, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Staphylococcus aureus, agar-well method.

Determination of umckalin in commercial tincture and phytopreparations containing Pelargonium sidoides by HPLC: Comparison of sample preparation procedures

Roots of Pelargonium sidoides D.C. are used for the production of phytomedicines. Current quality control of phytopreparations containing P. sidoides extracts has been made in terms of total phenolics content. In this work we describe the development and validation of an HPLC method for the analysis of P. sidoides tincture and commercial syrup phytopreparations using umckalin (7-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxycoumarin) as chemical marker. Two sample preparation procedures, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) were also developed and compared. The samples were analyzed by RP-HPLC and the two methods were then validated and compared. The repeatability of the two procedures showed coefficients of variation (CV) of 1.2% for SPE procedure, and 1.3% for LLE. Recovery for both methods was higher than 95.2%. The linearity showed correlation coefficients better than 0.999 for both methods. The detection and quantification limit were 0.0098 and 0.0298microgmL(-1), respectively. The validated procedure was then used for the analysis of tincture and five batches of two commercial phytopreparations containing P. sidoides tincture.

Rheological behavior, zeta potential, and accelerated stability tests of Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa) emulsions containing lyotropic liquid crystals

Background: It is well known that the Amazon region presents a huge biodiversity; therefore, countless natural resources are being employed in the production of phytocosmetics and phytomedicines. Objective: The purpose of this work was to obtain emulsions produced with Buriti oil and non-ionic surfactants. Methods: Two surfactant systems were employed (Steareth-2 associated to Ceteareth-5 and to Ceteareth-20) to produce the emulsions using phase diagram method. Emulsions were obtained by echo-planar imaging method at 75°C. Rheological behavior and zeta potential were evaluated, and accelerated stability tests were performed. Results: All emulsions analyzed presented pseudoplastic behavior. Zeta potential values were obtained between −14.2 and −53.3 mV. The formulations did not show changes in either physical stability, pH, or rheological behavior after accelerated stability tests. Significant differences were observed only after temperature cycling test. Conclusion: Based on these results, the emulsions obtained could be considered as promising delivery systems.