RESUMO Allophylus edulis e Cupania vernalis (Sapindaceae) são árvores nativas do Brasil utilizadas como medicinais para o tratamento de doenças do sistema respiratório, digestivo, circulatório e doenças da pele. Com ampla distribuição no território brasileiro, estas espécies são indicadas para plantios mistos destinados à recuperação de ecossistemas degradados. Neste estudo foram investigados o conteúdo de fenólicos totais (TPC), o conteúdo de flavonoides totais (TFC) e a atividade antioxidante de extratos e frações obtidas das folhas de A. edulis e C. vernalis. Foi utilizada metodologia espectrofotométrica para determinar o TPC e o TFC. A atividade antioxidante foi analisada através do método do radical livre 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazila (DPPH). Os extratos foram obtidos por dois métodos: maceração (método 1) e Soxhlet (método 2). Solventes de polaridade crescente (hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etila e n-butanol) foram utilizados para a obtenção das frações. Os resultados mostraram que a fração acetato de etila da espécie A. edulis, obtida por maceração, apresenta o maior TPC (442,0 ± 18,2 mg GAE g-1) e TFC (58,1 ± 0,4 mg RUE g-1) e a maior atividade antioxidante (EC50 = 43,6 ± 2,6 µg mL-1). Em relação à espécie C. vernalis, os melhores resultados foram obtidos com a fração n-butanol (TPC = 126,1 ± 5,8 mg GAE g-1, TFC = 37,7 ± 0,6 mg RUE g-1). Nesta planta, o maior potencial antioxidante foi encontrado no extrato bruto hidroalcoólico (EC50 = 816,1 ± 50,9 µg mL-1) e na fração n-butanol (1.156,4 ± 3,8 µg mL-1). Os resultados deste estudo mostram que as frações obtidas por maceração e partição líquido-líquido com solventes mais polares (acetato de etila e n-butanol) são as mais ricas em TPC e TFC, apresentando também a maior atividade antioxidante. Comparando as duas plantas, A. edulis mostrou os melhores resultados, com um elevado TPC, TFC e potencial antioxidante, sugerindo sua utilização no tratamento de doenças relacionadas ao estresse oxidativo.

ABSTRACT Allophylus edulis and Cupania vernalis (Sapindaceae) are Brazilian native trees used as medicinal plants for the treatment of respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and skin diseases. Ubiquitously distributed in the Brazilian territory, these species are indicated for mixed plantations aimed at the recovery of degraded ecosystems. In this study, the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), and the antioxidant activity of extracts and fractions obtained from A. edulis and C. vernalis leaves were assessed. The TPC and TFC was determined spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through radical scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The extracts were obtained by two methods: maceration (method 1) and Soxhlet (method 2). Solvents of increasing polarity (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) were used to obtained the fractions. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction from A. edulis, obtained from the maceration method, had the highest TPC (442.0 ± 18.2 mg GAE g-1) and TFC (58.1 ± 0.4 mg RUE g-1), and antioxidant activity (EC50 = 43.6 ± 2.6 µg mL-1). By C. vernalis, superior results were obtained with the n-butanol fraction (TPC = 126.1 ± 5.8 mg GAE g-1, TFC = 37.7 ± 0.6 mg RUE g-1). The highest antioxidant potential was found in the crude hydroalcoholic extract (EC50 = 816.1 ± 50.9 µg mL-1) and butanol fraction (1,156.4 ± 3.8 µg mL-1). The results of this study show that the fractions obtained by maceration and liquid-liquid partition with more polar solvents (ethyl acetate and n-butanol) are the richest in TPC and TFC, and presented the greater antioxidant activity. Comparing the two plants, A. edulis showed the best results, with a high content of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant potential, and therefore may be used to treat diseases related to oxidative stress.

Resumo O potencial de uma planta com propriedades medicinais e alimentícias, Anredera cordifolia, é abordado nesta revisão. Esta planta é conhecida no Brasil por “bertalha” ou “folha gorda”, sendo utilizada popularmente para o tratamento de feridas, fungos e infecções. Suas propriedades farmacológicas têm sido amplamente investigadas e confirmadas, com destaque para a ação antibacteriana, melhorando a cicatrização de feridas infeccionadas por Staphylococcus aureus, e ação antifúngica contra Candida albicans. É uma hortaliça não convencional, sendo suas folhas e bulbos aéreos consumidos na alimentação sob diversas formas. Também faz parte da flora invasora de vários países, e classificada popularmente como “erva daninha”. Suas características de planta nativa brasileira, com reconhecido efeito medicinal e uso alimentício não convencional, conduzem as nossas investigações sobre ecologia e classificação botânica, ensaios farmacológicos e rastreio de constituintes químicos realizados com essa espécie.

Abstract The potential of a plant with medicinal and nutritional properties, Anredera cordifolia, is reviewed. Its common names include “Bertalha” and “folha gorda” and it is popularly used for wound healing and against fungal infections and other types of infection. Its pharmacological properties have been widely investigated and acknowledged, especially with regard to its antibacterial activity, which improves the healing of wounds infected by Staphylococcus aureus, and to its antifungal activity against Candida albicans. It is an unconventional food plant, with leaves and aerial tubers used as food prepared in varied ways. It is also considered an invasive plant in several countries and thus classified as a weed. Its characteristics of a Brazilian native plant, with proven medicinal properties and unconventional use as food, underlie our study on its ecology and botanical classification, as well as the pharmacological assays and screening of chemical constituents.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: We compared the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) isolated from clinical samples at a Brazilian tertiary care hospital in 2008 and 2013. METHODS: Collected data included patient’s name, age, sex, inpatient unit, laboratory record number, type of biological material, culture test result, and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated strains. RESULTS: Out of 19,112 culture tests analyzed, 926 (4.8%) were positive for NFGNB. Among these, 45.2% were metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing strains. CONCLUSION: Between 2008 and 2013, the number of MBL-producing NFGNB isolates increased by 21.5%, which was accompanied by a consequent reduction in susceptibility to antimicrobials.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Nosocomial infections are closely associated with antimicrobial drug resistance. One of the most important mechanisms of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics is the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of ESBL-producing strains and to assess the evolution of antimicrobial drug resistance between 2007 and 2013 at the Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Bacterial culture was performed from January to December 2013. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these cultures was determined using the disk diffusion method. Phenotypic screening for ESBL production was performed using the disk approximation method. RESULTS : We analyzed a total of 19,112 cultures, 11.5% of which were positive for Enterobacteriaceae. Of these, 30.3% of the isolates were positive for ESBL production, and the most prevalent species was Klebsiella sp. (37.5%). Over 95% of these isolates showed reduced susceptibility to all cephalosporins, aztreonam, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. The isolates also showed high sensitivity to the following antimicrobials: amikacin, meropenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam. Overall, the resistance rates among ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae decreased from 2007 to 2013. CONCLUSIONS : In our hospital, the increased sensitivity to certain antimicrobial agents seems to be directly related to the implementation of improvements in the methods to prevent and control nosocomial infections in addition to the natural development of other resistance mechanisms.

Dentro da família Euphorbiaceae, os gêneros Euphorbia e Sapium são conhecidos por incluírem basicamente espécies produtoras de látex. No presente estudo, o látex das plantas Euphorbia selloi(Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss., Euphorbia papillosaA.St.-Hil. e Sapium glandulosum (L.) Morong, espécies nativas do Brasil, foi analisado em relação à atividade proteolítica. Todas as amostras analisadas possuem proteínas com significativa atividade, sendo que o látex da espécie E. papillosa apresenta a maior atividade específica. Com o objetivo de analisar quais os tipos de proteases responsáveis pela atividade proteolítica, realizaram-se ensaios com diferentes inibidores. Nas três plantas testadas a atividade foi inibida significativamente pelo cloridrato de 4-(fluoreto de 2-aminoetilbenzenossulfonil) (AEBSF), um inibidor de serino-proteases. Utilizando técnicas de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE), as subunidades das proteínas foram separadas de acordo com sua massa molecular e, através da zimografia, a atividade proteolítica pode ser detectada visualmente.

In the family of Euphorbiaceae,the genera Euphorbia and Sapium are known to contain essentially latex-bearing species. In the present study, the latex of Euphorbia selloi(Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss., Euphorbia papillosa A.St.-Hil., and Sapium glandulosum (L.) Morong, plants native from Brazil, were examined concerning proteolytic activity. All studied species have proteins with significant proteolytic activity and E. papillosa has the greatest specific activity. Aiming to verify the type of protease present, an assay with different inhibitors was performed. In the three tested plants, the proteolytic activity was significantly inhibited by a serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF). Using techniques of electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE), the subunits of proteins were separated according to their molecular masses, and the protein activity was visually detected by zymography.