Cereus jamacaru D.C. (mandacaru) is a cactus used as food and in the traditional medicine. In the present study, hydroalcoholic extract of C. jamacaru was evaluated for its chemical composition, antioxidant activity, cytotoxic and anti-cytotoxic effects in human lymphocytes and sarcoma 180 cells in vitro by MTT assay and antitumoral, mutagenic and cytotoxic effects on mice sarcoma-induced in vivo. Phytochemical characterization showed positive reactions for coumarin, flavanol and tyramine and total flavonoid content of 0.51 µg/mL. C. jamacaru showed antioxidant activity following DPPH (EC₅₀ = 427.74 µg/mL), ABTS (EC₅₀ = 270.57 µg/mL) and Fe²⁺ chelating ions assays (EC₅₀ = 41.18 µg/mL). C. jamacaru induced significant decrease of sarcoma 180 viability at 24 h and 48 h of treatment, did not induce cytotoxicity in human lymphocytes and inhibits the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in vitro. Following in vivo assays, C. jamacaru promoted tumor reduction (86.07% of tumor inhibition), without inducing mutagenic or cytotoxic damage on mice blood cells. We propose that phenolic and alkaloid compounds in the extract are related to antioxidant activity, increasing its ability in metal chelating activity and promoting anti-cytotoxic activity against cisplatin, as well as these compounds may act on the cell cycle of the tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, leading to anticancer effects and tumor reduction.

The neuroprotection induced byHypericum brasilienseChoisy extract (HBE) and its main active polyphenol compound quercetin, againstCrotalus durissus terrificus(Cdt) venom and crotoxin and crotamine, was enquired at both central and peripheral mammal nervous system. Cdt venom (10 μg/mL) or crotoxin (1 μg/mL) incubated at mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation (PND) induced an irreversible and complete neuromuscular blockade, respectively. Crotamine (1 μg/mL) only induced an increase of muscle strength at PND preparations. At mouse brain slices, Cdt venom (1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) decreased cell viability. HBE (100 μg/mL) inhibited significantly the facilitatory action of crotamine (1 μg/mL) and was partially active against the neuromuscular blockade of crotoxin (1 μg/mL) (data not shown). Quercetin (10 μg/mL) mimicked the neuromuscular protection of HBE (100 μg/mL), by inhibiting almost completely the neurotoxic effect induced by crotoxin (1 μg/mL) and crotamine (1 μg/mL). HBE (100 μg/mL) and quercetin (10 μg/mL) also increased cell viability in mice brain slices. Quercetin (10 μg/mL) was more effective than HBE (100 μg/mL) in counteracting the cell lysis induced by Cdt venom (1 and 10 μg/mL, resp.). These results and a further phytochemical and toxicological investigations could open new perspectives towards therapeutic use ofHypericum brasiliensestandardized extract and quercetin, especially to counteract the neurotoxic effect induced by snake neurotoxic venoms.

Schinus terebinthifolia, a species of the Anacardiaceae family, is known for its medicinal properties and high yield of essential oil with significant biological activities, particularly antibacterial. Nanoemulsions enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of these compounds. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of different concentrations of nanoemulsion of essential oil extracted from S. terebinthifolia fruits. Tests were conducted on sensitive strains (Escherichia coli 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus mirabilis) and multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates. Formulations were characterized for their physicochemical properties, and antibacterial activity was determined using the microdilution method to assess minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The nanoemulsion exhibited superior antibacterial activity compared to pure essential oil. The best results were observed against sensitive strains of E. coli (MIC and MBC of 0.005 mg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC of 0.39 mg/mL and MBC of 0.78 mg/mL). Among multidrug-resistant isolates, the nanoemulsion was most effective against MCR-2 producing E. coli (MIC of 0.19 mg/mL). The nanoemulsion outperformed the pure essential oil, likely due to increased particle number and longer contact time with microbial cell surfaces. Nanoemulsions of S. terebinthifolia essential oil significantly enhance antibacterial activity and have potential applications in medicinal and cosmetic products. This study supports the development of nanoformulations to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of essential oils.

The aim of the study was to evaluate in vitro antioxidant and antifungal activities of the ethanolic extract and its fractions from Ocimum gratissimum leaves. The ethanolic extract was obtained by maceration in ethanol and subsequent fractionation with solvents of increasing polarity (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined for the ethanol extract and dichloromethane fraction. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) free radical scavenging methods, and by FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power). The in vitro antifungal effect was determined by the agar diffusion method on Aspergillus sp. and Rhizopus sp. fungi associated with corn and bean seeds during storage. The best samples with antifungal effect were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ethanolic extract had strong antioxidant capacity for all tested methods (DPPH 371.10±2.98 μg ml^-1, ABTS 182.43±1.10 μg ml^-1, FRAP 262.39±3.61 TEAC). Regarding the antifungal activity, the ethanolic extract and dichloromethane fraction resulted in total suppression (100%) of fungal growth and MIC ranged from 0.625 to 1.25 mg ml^-1. In the GC/MS analysis, 22 substances were detected in all samples evaluated, with predominance of eugenol. These results indicated high biological potential of this plant as a biofungicide El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar in vitro las actividades antioxidantes y antifúngicas del extracto etanólico y sus fracciones a partir de las hojas de Ocimum gratissimum. El extracto etanólico se obtuvo por maceración en etanol y posterior fraccionamiento con disolventes de polaridad creciente (hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etilo y butanol). La Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) se determinó para el extracto de etanol y la fracción de diclorometano. La capacidad antioxidante se evaluó mediante los métodos de eliminación de radicales libres DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazil-hidrato) y ABTS (ácido 2,2’-azino-bis(3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-sulfónico)) por PARF (Poder Antioxidante Reductor Férrico). El efecto antifúngico in vitro se determinó mediante el método de difusión de agar sobre hongos Aspergillus sp. y Rhizopus sp. asociados con semillas de frijol y maiz durante el almacenamiento. Las mejores muestras con efecto antifúngico se determinaron por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG/EM). El extracto etanólico presentó fuerte capacidad antioxidante para todos los métodos probados (DPPH 371.10±2.98 μg ml^-1, ABTS 182.43±1.10 μg ml^-1, PARF 262.39±3.61 TEAC). En cuanto a la actividad antifúngica, el extracto etanólico y la fracción de diclorometano mostraron supresión total (100%) del crecimiento fúngico y la CMI varió de 0.625 a 1.25 mg ml^-1. En el análisis CG/EM se detectaron 22 sustancias en todas las muestras evaluadas, con predominio de eugenol. Estos resultados indicaron un alto potencial biológico de esta planta como biofungicida.

Pereskia aculeata, Miller is a Cactaceae originally from the American continent, and despite its notable nutritional value, this species is little consumed as food. The aim was a comparison between two techniques: saline extraction and alkaline extraction for produce a protein concentrate through inexpensive and easily reproduced techniques. For the saline extractions, two salts, sodium chloride and sodium carbonate, were used with 0.1 M, 0.5 M, and 1 M concentration rates. The alkaline extraction was done isolated at pH 10 and combined with ultrasound in 1:10 and 1:20 plant/solvent dissolutions. The treatments have been through isoelectric precipitation with different pH rates and then were centrifuged. The proteins resulted from precipitation were quantified through the Bradford method. Moreover, the purity level of the recovered protein products was established, and the characterization of the proteins molecular weight was done with polyacrylamide gel at 12%. The results revealed that the alkaline extraction with ultrasound in 1:20 dissolution was the best treatment. The positive effects of the highest dissolution combined with the alkaline extraction with ultrasound were evident with 27.42% (w/w) average percentage of extracted protein. The electrophoresis gel revealed two key bands of 68 kDa and 168 kDa. It is concluded that this plant's leaves have the potential to become a low-cost and industrially feasible protein product.