This review aims to provide a critical review of the biological performance of natural and synthetic substances complexed with cyclodextrins, highlighting: (i) inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins and their biological studies in vitro and in vivo; (ii) Evaluation and comparison of the bioactive efficacy of complexed and non-complexed substances; (iii) Chemical and biological performance tests of inclusion complexes, aimed at the development of new pharmaceutical products. Based on the evidence presented in the review, it is clear that cyclodextrins play a vital role in the development of inclusion complexes which promote improvements in the chemical and biological properties of the complexed active principles, as well as providing improved solubility and aqueous stability. Although the literature shows the importance of their ability to help produce innovative biotechnological substances, we still need more studies to develop and expand their therapeutic properties. It is, therefore, very important to gather together evidence of the effectiveness of inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins in order to facilitate a better understanding of research on this topic and encourage further studies.

The essential oil extracted from the leaves of Piper aduncum, an aromatic plant from the Amazon region, is rich in dillapiole and presents anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, nanoemulsions (NE) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), which are biocompatible nanostructured systems of a lipid nature, were prepared by high-pressure homogenization for the yet unexplored skin delivery of dillapiole. The addition of hydroxyethylcellulose produced hydrogel-thickened NE or NLC in view to improving the viscosity and skin adherence of the nanoformulations. Formulations were characterized with respect to dillapiole content, droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, morphology, rheological behavior, bioadhesion, skin permeation profile, and in vitro irritancy (HET-CAM). The formulations developed presented spherical, homogeneous nanometric particle size (around 130 nm), narrow polydispersity index (<0.3), and negative zeta potential (around −40 mV). Dillapiole content was slightly lower in NLC compared to NE since the production process involves heating. The hydrogels containing nanocarriers showed pseudoplastic behavior with bioadhesive characteristics. The developed formulations exhibited a controlled release profile, dillapiole delivery up to the dermis, the layer of interest for anti-inflammatory potential, and low irritant potential in the chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM). Both hydrogels-thickened NE and NLC seemed to be promising formulations for skin delivery of Piper aduncum essential oil.

The essential oil of Aniba canelilla (Kunth) Mez (EOAC), an Amazon plant composed of a rare nitro compound, has shown scientific evidence of antifungal activity but is still unexplored against dermatophytes. The antifungal susceptibility of EOAC and its main compound, 1-nitro-2-phenylethane (NP), was evaluated against dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis), evidencing antifungal activity with an inhibitory concentration lower than 256 μg/mL. The mechanism of action was also evaluated, and it is suggested that EOAC and NP have fungicidal action in the fungal membrane, since the antifungal activity occurs through a modification of the shape of the conidial structures of the fungus, showing the permeability of the intracellular content due to the visually observed plasmolysis and cytosolic extravasation through an osmotic process. These results suggest the essential oil and its main compound are promising plant-derived alternatives for treating ungual dermatophytosis.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that is mainly characterized by hyperglycemia. Chalcones and their derivatives have demonstrated promising pharmacological potential for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate antidiabetic activities and analyze 4-methoxychalcone (MPP) using GC-MS. The compound was characterized using mass spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and headspace with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). MPP was evaluated via the inhibition of the alpha-glucosidase enzyme, cell viability and antiglycation and hemolytic activities in vitro. The study of the interaction between the bovine serum albumin protein and MPP was investigated via molecular docking. Oral sucrose tolerance and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The HS-GC-MS method was able to accurately detect and characterize the compound, and the interaction between MPP and BSA revealed the remarkable affinity for the two main binding sites of BSA. This was confirmed by the in vitro antiglycation test, since MPP showed activity through both oxidative and non-oxidative stress. MPP significantly attenuated the increase in glycemia after glucose loading in STZ-induced diabetic mice. These results confirm that MPP has antihyperglycemic activity and may be an alternative for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

O objetivo deste estudo foi diagnosticar o perfil produtivo e econômico da cadeia produtiva do óleo de andiroba (OA) no Amazonas (AM), Brasil. Os dados deste estudo são de origem secundária, sendo obtidos junto ao Instituto de Desenvolvimento Agrícola e Florestal Sustentável do Estado do Amazonas (IDAM), considerando o período de 2010 a 2022 e a classificação por microrregiões definida pelo mesmo. A partir dos resultados encontrados, verificou-se que a produção de OA no AM encontra-se majoritariamente concentrada nas microrregiões do Juruá, Jutaí/Solimões/Juruá e Purus. Os preços do OA apresentaram-se maiores no período de entressafra, porém, com pouca diferença em termos reais para o preço praticado na safra, além de um aumento linear com o passar dos anos. Na análise econométrica, o número de produtores extrativistas e o preço pago ao produtor por kg de óleo produzido apresentaram influência significativa (p<0,05) sobre a produção de OA no Amazonas, impactando em aumento de 1,76 e 0,53; respectivamente, nesta produção para cada 1% de aumento na sua participação. Por fim, a produção de OA no AM apresentou-se majoritariamente oriunda de extração pelo método tradicional e comercialização em mercados locais, com a indústria nichada e em busca de expansão.