Review
Infectious Diseases
Rafaela Guimaraes, Catarina Milho, Angela Liberal, Jani Silva, Carmelia Fonseca, Ana Barbosa, Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira, Maria Jose Alves, Lillian Barros
Summary: The historical use of natural products for promoting health has been increasingly highlighted, with plant extracts being explored as potential sources for new pharmaceutical formulations. The resistance of Candida fungi to conventional antimicrobials has led to the search for new molecules in plant extracts as alternative agents for infection prevention and treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Petr Jaros, Maria Vrublevskaya, Kristyna Lokocova, Jana Michailidu, Irena Kolouchova, Katerina Demnerova
Summary: The use of antibiotics and antifungals to control infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms is currently ineffective due to emerging resistance. Boswellia serrata extract containing boswellic acids has shown promising antifungal activity against Candida species.
Article
Microbiology
Giovanna Ginestra, Teresa Gervasi, Francesca Mancuso, Federica Bucolo, Laura De Luca, Rosaria Gitto, Davide Barreca, Giuseppina Mandalari
Summary: In this study, a series of arylsulfonamide compounds were screened and the structure-activity relationship was established based on a hit compound. The antifungal activity against various Candida species was tested, and cytotoxicity was evaluated. These findings could contribute to the development of novel topical therapeutics for fungal infections.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Amna Nisar Khan, Najla Nader Ali Aldowairy, Hajer Saed Saad Alorfi, Mohammad Aslam, Wafa AbuBaker Bawazir, Abdul Hameed, Muhammad Tahir Soomro
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a crucial public health challenge that requires the development of new antimicrobial agents. This study reports the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using extracts from the Cascabela thevetia plant, which demonstrated high antibacterial and antifungal activities, as well as antioxidant and catalytic properties.
Article
Microbiology
Larissa Lira Brito, Katia Regina Assuncao Borges, Gabriel Xavier Silva, Marcos Antonio Custodio Neto da Silva, Rita de Nazare Silva Alves, Amanda Mara Teles, Maria do Carmo Lacerda Barbosa, Walbert Edson Muniz Filho, Geusa Felipa de Barros Bezerra, Maria do Desterro Soares Brandao Nascimento
Summary: The aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro antifungal activity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. extract against biofilm strains of Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis formed on abiotic surfaces. The results showed that E. oleracea Mart. extract inhibited biofilm formation at all concentrations tested, indicating its antifungal activity.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Clarice Elvira Saggin Sabadin, Soraia Lima Lopes, Olga Fischmamm Gompertz, Gilglecia Novaes Pereira Santana, Analy Salles de Azevedo Melo, Lilian Rigo, Daniel Archimedes Da Matta, Dulce Aparecida Barbosa
Summary: This study investigated oral colonization of Candida species and their susceptibility to antifungals in liver transplant patients. Results showed stable yeast species colonization in some patients over 6 months, but substitution in others. The study highlights the importance of monitoring antifungal resistant strains.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ewelyn Cintya Felipe dos Santos, Wliana Alves Viturino da Silva, Janaina Carla Barbosa Machado, Magda Rhayanny Assuncao Ferreira, Luiz Alberto Lira Soares
Summary: This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics of the aerial parts of Acanthospermum hispidum and evaluated their antioxidant and antifungal activities. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of polyphenols in the crude extract and fractions of A. hispidum. Fractionation with hexane and ethyl acetate effectively enriched the fractions in phenolic compounds. The extract and fractions showed significant antioxidant activity and antifungal activity against various Candida strains.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Abirami Sasi, Edwin B. Raj, T. Soundarya, Kannan Marikani, Sugapriya Dhanasekaran, Noura Al-Dayan, Arif Ahmed Mohammed
Summary: Traditional medicinal plants used in India demonstrated strong antifungal effects against fungal pathogens associated with dermal infections, with garlic, acalypha indica, and lawsonia inermis extracts showing the most promising antifungal activity. This research provides evidence for the potential use of natural plant extracts as alternative antifungal therapeutics for skin infections.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Dereje Nigussie, Gail Davey, Takele Beyene Tufa, Malcolm Brewster, Belete Adefris Legesse, Abebaw Fekadu, Eyasu Makonnen
Summary: Materials derived from several Ethiopian medicinal plants have been shown to have promising activity against a variety of bacteria and fungi. Those derived from Azadiractha indica A. Juss. and Lawsonia inerms L. are the most extensively studied against a wide range of gram-negative and positive bacteria, and fungal species.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bahodir Mamarasulov, Kakhramon Davranov, Alimardon Umruzaqov, Sezai Ercisli, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Mohammad Javed Ansari, Eleonora Krivosudska, Rahul Datta, Dilfuza Jabborova
Summary: Ajuga turkestanica is an endemic plant species in Uzbekistan and is widely used in traditional medicine. In a scientific study, antimicrobial endophytic bacteria were isolated from both the underground and aboveground parts of the plant. Crude extracts obtained from these bacteria showed inhibitory effects against pathogenic bacteria and plant phytopathogenic fungi.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rita Ribeiro, Liliana Fernandes, Raquel Costa, Carlos Cavaleiro, Ligia Salgueiro, Mariana Henriques, Maria Elisa Rodrigues
Summary: This study aimed to compare the effects of several essential oils (EOs) from Thymus spp. on Candida auris biofilm. Results showed different antifungal activities among the EOs, and the differences in their chemical compositions could explain these variations. Thymus vulgaris and Thymus zygis oils demonstrated the greatest antifungal effects and could be promising alternatives for the treatment of C. auris infections.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rabina Kumpakha, Donna M. Gordon
Summary: The study demonstrates that occidiofungin effectively targets hyphae elongation in Candida species by inhibiting the morphological changes associated with yeast-to-hyphae switching. This suggests that occidiofungin could be a promising candidate for the treatment of Candida associated infections, as it may also inhibit the heterogeneous population of cells present in a clinical setting.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dawrin Pech-Puch, Diana Grilo, Susana Eunice Calva-Perez, Andreia Pedras, Harold Villegas-Hernandez, Sergio Guillen-Hernandez, Raul Diaz-Gamboa, Mateo Forero Tunjano, Jaime Rodriguez, Oscar A. Lenis-Rojas, Carlos Jimenez, Catarina Pimentel
Summary: This study screened 65 extracts from marine organisms of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, for antifungal activity and identified nine crude extracts with potent antifungal activity, including four from sponge species. The chemical composition analysis of one of the most active fractions revealed the presence of mirabilin B and penaresidin B. These findings highlight the marine organisms of the Yucatan Peninsula as important sources of natural products with promising fungicidal activity, which could greatly advance the treatment of invasive fungal infections, particularly in immunosuppressed patients.
Article
Microbiology
A. Espinel-Ingroff, M. Sasso, J. Turnidge, M. Arendrup, F. Botterel, N. Bourgeois, B. Bouteille, E. Canton, S. Cassaing, E. Dannaoui, M. Dehais, L. Delhaes, D. Dupont, A. Fekkar, J. Fuller, G. Garcia-Effron, J. Garcia, G. M. Gonzalez, N. P. Govender, H. Guegan, J. Guinea, S. Houze, C. Lass-Florl, T. Pelaez, A. Forastiero, M. Lackner, R. Magobo
Summary: Susceptibility testing for antifungal drugs is crucial in the clinical setting, relying on categorical endpoints and epidemiological cutoff values for different species. Collaborative efforts have led to the development of Etest sensitivity values for various Candida and Aspergillus species, aiding in clinical laboratory testing.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lara M. Campos, Ari S. O. Lemos, Irley O. M. Diniz, Lucas A. Carvalho, Thiago P. Silva, Paula R. B. Dib, Eugenio D. Hottz, Luciana M. Chedier, Rossana C. N. Melo, Rodrigo L. Fabri
Summary: This study evaluated the antifungal activity of the ethanolic extract of A. muricata leaves against multidrug-resistant Candida albicans and found that it significantly inhibited the growth and cell density of the fungus by affecting the fungal plasma membrane and cell wall integrity, leading to reduced cell viability.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leandra de Almeida Ribeiro Oliveira, Arthur Christian Garcia da Silva, Douglas Vieira Thomaz, Fabiana Brandao, Edemilson Cardoso da Conceicao, Marize Campos Valadares, Maria Tereza Freitas Bara, Damaris Silveira
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of P. emarginatus oleoresin and isolated diterpenes in in vitro models. The results showed that oleoresin, V2, and V3 inhibited phospholipase A2 activity, and both V1 and V2 inhibited the expression of COX-2. Meanwhile, oleoresin could also inhibit the production of interleukin 6. In conclusion, the results support the ethnomedicinal use of P. emarginatus oleoresin as an anti-inflammatory herbal medicine, and suggest its potential therapeutic use for COVID-19.
ADVANCED PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Cristian A. Gasca-Silva, Joao Victor Dutra Gomes, Kicia Karinne Pereira Gomes-Copeland, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo, Christopher W. Fagg, Damaris Silveira
Summary: Crinum latifolium is an herbaceous ornamental plant with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, attributed to its secondary metabolites. Its extracts have potential medicinal applications for treating various human disorders, making it a focus of further research in pharmacognosy, natural products, and related sciences.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Joao Victor Dutra Gomes, Cristina Luz Tosta, Alvaro da Cunha Neto, Christopher William Fagg, Cristian Aldemar Gasca Silva, Kicia Karinne Pereira Gomes-Copeland, Perola Oliveira Magalhaes, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo, Claudia Masrouah Jamal, Damaris Silveira
Summary: Two different alkaloid-guided extraction approaches were used to obtain extracts and fractions of leaves and bulbs from Crinum americanum L. Various bioactive compounds were identified in the extracts, with some showing AChE inhibition activity and cytotoxic effects on SH-SY5Y cells. This study highlights the presence of secondary metabolites in the plant material after organic extraction, providing insights into the chemical composition of C. americanum.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marcela Freitas, Paula Souza, Mauricio Homem-de-Mello, Yris M. Fonseca-Bazzo, Damaris Silveira, Edivaldo X. Ferreira Filho, Adalberto Pessoa Junior, Dipak Sarker, David Timson, Joao Inacio, Perola O. Magalhaes
Summary: This study identified the L-asparaginase gene sequence from a filamentous fungus and successfully biosynthesized higher yields of this enzyme in yeast. This has significant implications for finding new sources of L-asparaginase with low glutaminase activity.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andre Luis Dias Araujo Mazzari, Mariella Guimaraes Lacerda, Flora Aparecida Milton, Joao Augusto Mulin Montechiari Machado, Simone Batista Pires Sinoti, Anne-Soulene Toullec, Patricia Marquez Rodrigues, Francisco de Assis Rocha Neves, Luiz Alberto Simeoni, Damaris Silveira, Jose Maria Prieto
Summary: Many medicinal plants have been shortlisted for future clinical use, but there is a lack of data on their action on key drug metabolism targets. This study evaluates the ability of these plants to modulate gene expression and activity of drug metabolism enzymes in vitro, and finds that some plants can significantly affect drug metabolism mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Susana R. S. Ferreira, Jefferson M. S. Lopes, Leonardo G. Paterno, Perola O. Magalhaes, Marcilio Cunha-Filho, Guilherme M. Gelfuso, Tais Gratieri
Summary: An in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the dose response in growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus treated with colloidal CuO nanoparticles. The study found that there were two distinct dose-response phases separated by a critical concentration of 26.5 μg/ml, and the aggregation of CuO nanoparticles played a role in this biphasic behavior.
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camilo Di Giulio, Juan Manuel Gonzalez Guzman, Joao Victor Dutra Gomes, Young Hae Choi, Perola O. Magalhaes, Yris M. Fonseca-Bazzo, Damaris Silveira, Omar Estrada
Summary: A new furofuran lignan, esquamosan, was isolated from the leaves of Annona squamosa L. and its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods. Esquamosan showed concentration-dependent inhibition of contraction in rat aortic rings and inhibited vasocontraction of depolarized aorta with high-concentration potassium. The vasorelaxant effect of esquamosan was mainly attributed to the inhibition of calcium influx and increased release of NO. Additionally, esquamosan exhibited antioxidant capacity similar to ascorbic acid.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Damaris Silveira, Fabio Boylan
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Samuel Leite Cardoso, Paula Monteiro Souza, Kelly Rodrigues, Isabella de Souza Mota, Edivaldo Ferreira Filho, Leia Cecilia de Lima Favaro, Felipe Saldanha-Araujo, Mauricio Homem-de-Mello, Adalberto Pessoa, Damaris Silveira, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo, Perola Oliveira Magalhaes
Summary: The search for new drug-producing microorganisms is highly promising in the world of science today. This study successfully cloned and purified L-asparaginase from Fusarium proliferatum in Pichia pastoris, and analyzed its enzymatic activity and predicted its monomeric structure based on the analysis of amino acid residue positions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gislane dos Santos Ribeiro, Diegue Henrique Nascimento Martins, Joao Victor Dutra Gomes, Noel William Davies, Christopher William Fagg, Luiz Alberto Simeoni, Mauricio Homem-de-Mello, Perola Oliveira Magalhaes, Damaris Silveira, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects of four Cerrado plant species against acetaminophen toxicity in HepG2 cells. The results showed that the extracts could provide cell protection and did not increase the toxic effect of acetaminophen. This protection may be attributed to antioxidant compounds present in the extracts.
