@article {200, title = {Anatomical Description and in vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial Potential of Aristolochia esperanzae Kuntze (Aristolochiaceae) Extract on Oral Micro-organisms}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {January 2021}, pages = {424-429}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {424}, abstract = {

Background: Aristolochia esperanzae Kuntze (Aristolochiaceae) is a plant present in the Brazilian flora, with few studies in the dental area, but used in integrative therapies to treat some health problems. Objectives: The initial purpose was to make an anatomical description of A. esperanzae and then test its antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on specific oral micro-organisms-Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: For the pharmacognostic study, the samples were fixed in formaldehyde, acetic acid and 70\% ethyl alcohol and stored in 70\% ethanol. For the in vitro study, to obtain the essential oil (OE) and hydrolate, the plant material was mechanically macerated and subjected to hydrodistillation in Clevenger and then frozen until the time of testing. The EO was diluted in dimethylsulfoxide and the tests performed were agar diffusion (disc-diffusion) with isolated bacteria and MIC. A 0.12\% chlorhexidine digluconate solution was used as a positive control and 0.9\% sodium chloride as a negative. Results: The anatomical study showed the presence of hook-shaped trichomes and stomatal complexes. Regarding the microbiological results, they were negative for the extracts used. Conclusion: The anatomical findings may guide future studies related to the pharmacognostic properties of A. esperanzae and both OE and hydrolate did not have an antibacterial effect against S. mutans, P. gingivalis and E. faecalis.

}, keywords = {Antimicrobial activity, Dentistry, Essential oil, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Phytotherapy}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_52_20}, author = {Carlos Roberto Botelho-Filho and Gabriela Keiko Izumi and Juliana Campos Vieira and Fernanda Mara de Paiva Bertoli and Ant{\^o}nio Pedro Ricomini Filho and Leila Teresinha Maranho and Flares Baratto-Filho and Marilisa Carneiro Le{\~a}o Gabardo} } @article {70, title = {Evaluation of the Chemical Composition and Oral Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil from the Leaves of Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) Landrum}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {February 2020}, pages = {65-70}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {65}, abstract = {

Background: Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus is a native species from Brazil, whose leaves are used in the traditional culture as medicinal plants, being reported with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze and characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) extracted from the leaves of P. pseudocaryophyllus, as well as to evaluate its potential for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria inhabiting the human oral cavity. Materials and Methods: The extraction was performed by steam distillation and the chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial potential of the EO against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis was evaluated by agar well diffusion method. Different dilutions of the EO (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312, 0.156, 0.078, and 0.039\%, v/v) were tested against the micro-organisms in disk diffusion tests to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentration. Results: The extraction yielded 0.65\% of EO in relation to fresh leaves of P. pseudocaryophyllus. GC-MS analysis identified eugenol, eucalyptol, and limonene as the major compounds of its. The material showed antimicrobial activity, especially against E. faecalis, with moderate activity against S. aureus, both at concentrations from 1.25\% to 10\%. Conclusion: The results suggested that this EO presents potential of activity against the oral micro-organisms here evaluated.

}, keywords = {Antimicrobial activity, Essential oil, eugenol, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Phytotherapy}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_83_19}, author = {Leila Teresinha Maranho and Elaine Cristina Rosas and Tha{\'\i}s Andrade Costa and Jo{\~a}o Luiz Coelho Ribas and Flares Baratto-Filho and Marilisa Carneiro Le{\~a}o Gabardo} } @article {132, title = {Leaf Extract of Eugenia uniflora L. Prevents Episodic Memory Impairment Induced by Streptozotocin in Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {August 2019}, pages = {329-332}, type = {Short Communication}, chapter = {329}, abstract = {

Background: Eugenia uniflora is a plant found in several countries of South America and is traditionally used in folk medicine as an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive agent. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the ethanolic extract of E. uniflora leaves on memory impairment induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Materials and Methods: The ethanolic extract of E. uniflora leaves was used to treat Wistar rats which received intracerebroventricular (ICV)-STZ. Animals were allocated to the control group (n = 10), i.e., ICV vehicle solution + ethanol 10\%; STZ group (n = 10), i.e., ICV-STZ + ethanol 10\%; STZ + E. uniflora (300 mg/kg) group (n = 10), i.e., ICV-STZ +300 mg/kg of leaf extract of E. uniflora; and STZ + E. uniflora (1000 mg/kg) group (n = 10), i.e., ICV-STZ +1000 mg/kg of leaf extract of E. uniflora. The animals were submitted to the treatments 24 h after receiving ICV-STZ. The treatments were performed on alternate days over a 30-day period. After this period, the animals were tested in the elevated plus maze to assess learning and memory. Results: The STZ group presented a higher transfer latency (P \< 0.001) which impaired memory regarding the aversive characteristics of the apparatus. The performance in the sessions regarding this parameter of the groups treated with the leaf extract of E. uniflora was similar to the control group (P \> 0.05) for both the doses. Conclusion: The leaf extract of E. uniflora showed a neuroprotective effect on memory impairment induced by STZ in rats.

}, keywords = {Elevated plus maze, Episodic memory, Eugenia uniflora, Neuroprotection, Streptozotocin.}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_37_19}, author = {Ilton Santos da Silva and Joana Rosar Corbellini and Gabrielle Pfutzenreuter and Leila Teresinha Maranho and M{\'a}rcia Regina Pincerati} }