Chemical profile and antimicrobial activity of Secondatia floribunda A. DC(Apocynaceae)

To establish the chemical profile, and to evaluate the antibacterial and modulatory activity of the ethanolic extracts of the stalk’s inner bark and heartwood of Secondatia floribunda.MethodsQuantification of total phenols and flavonoids was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride, respectively. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD (High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diodearray Detector) and the Infrared Spectroscopy was performed using the measure by Attenuated Total Reflectance with Fourier Transform (ATR-FTIR). Antibacterial assays for determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and modification of aminoglycosides were performed by microdilution.ResultsInfrared spectra showed similar characteristics, having among its main absorption bands hydroxyl group (OH). The antibacterial activity showed clinically significant results for the strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In modulation assay, synergic and antagonistic effect for both extracts was observed. Heartwood extract in combination with antibiotics showed a significant MIC reduction at 19.8% (P < 0.000 1)-79.3% (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThis study is the first report of chemical and biological information of Secondatia floribunda suggesting that it is clinically relevant source of a new antibacterial therapy, especially due to the presence of significant levels of phenolic compounds.

Antibacterial activity and inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus NorA efflux pump by ferulic acid and its esterified derivatives

Objective:To evaluate the inhibitory activity of ferulic acid and four of its esterified derivatives(methyl,ethyl,propyl,and butyl)against resistance mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus strains.Methods:Ferulic acid derivatives were obtained by esterification with methanol,ethanol,propanol,and butanol,and then characterized by hydrogen and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis.The minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of ferulic acid and its esterified derivatives,ethidium bromide,and norfloxacin were obtained using the microdilution test,while the efflux pump inhibition test was conducted by examining reduction in the MICs of norfloxacin and ethidium bromide.Molecular docking was also carried out using the Schrodinger Suite 2015 molecular modeling software.A three-dimensional model of NorA efflux pump was generated using I-TASSER.The best scoring model was used as a receptor for ligand-receptor docking.Results:The methyl and butyl ester derivatives did not demonstrate significant antimicrobial activity.However,a significant synergic effect was evidenced when norfloxacin was combined with the ethyl and propyl esterified derivatives.The docking study demonstrated favorable energy of interaction between ferulate derivatives and NorA,and amino acid residues TYR57,TYR58,and LEU255 were present commonly in stabilizing all complexes.The PCA analysis corroborated the docking hypothesis that the lipophilic character and hydrogen bond interactions were the most relevant characteristics involved with NorA inhibitors.The pharmacokinetic parameters of ferulic acid derivatives showed good ADMET properties,demonstrating that they can be easily absorbed and have no effect or inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme complex,revealing their potential as drug candidates.Conclusions:This study provides strong evidence that the molecular basis for this activity is potentially due to the NorA efflux pump.

Anti-inflammatory effects ofα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene on pterygium fibroblasts

AIM:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the sesquiterpenesα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene on pterygium fibroblasts.METHODS:Primary cultures of pterygium fibroblasts were established.Third passage pterygium fibroblasts were exposed toα-humulene andβ-caryophyllene separately and together.The cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay at 12,24,48,and 72h after exposure.The levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αand IL-10 in the conditioned culture medium were assessed by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)at 12,24 and 48h after exposure.Data were statistically analyzed using Friedman repeated measures analysis of variances on ranks.RESULTS:The 25μmol/Lβ-caryophyllene induced significant decrease in the IL-6 production by pterygium fibroblasts 48h after the exposure(P=0.041).The levels of IL-1β,IL-8,IL-10,and TNF-αwere very low and had no statistically significant variations af ter exposure toα-humulene,β-caryophyllene,or both compounds together.CONCLUSION:The exposure to 25μmol/L ofβ-caryophyllene significantly reduce the production of IL-6 by pterygium fibroblasts after 48h.This sesquiterpene may be a potential alternative adjuvant agent for the treatment of pterygium.