ABSTRACT Diarrhea is an infectious disease caused by bacterial, virus, or protozoan, and dengue is caused by virus, included among the neglected diseases in several underdeveloped and developing countries, with an urgent demand for new drugs. Considering the antidiarrheal potential of species of Maytenus genus, a phytochemical investigation followed by antibacterial activity test with extracts of branches and heartwood and bark of roots from Maytenus gonoclada were conducted. Moreover, due the frequency of isolation of lupeol from Maytenus genus the antiviral activity against Dengue virus and cytotoxicity of lupeol and its complex with β-cyclodextrins were also tested. The results indicated the bioactivity of ethyl acetate extract from branches and ethanol extract from heartwood of roots of M. gonoclada against diarrheagenic bacteria. The lupeol showed potent activity against Dengue virus and low cytotoxicity in LLC-MK2 cells, but its complex with β-cyclodextrin was inactive. Considering the importance of novel and selective antiviral drug candidates the results seem to be promising.

Extratos etanólicos de dezoito espécies vegetais pertencentes à família Bignoniaceae, das quais sete são descritas como de uso medicinal, foram avaliados, pelo ensaio colorimétrico do MTT, para atividades citotóxica, em células Vero, e antiviral, frente aos vírus herpes simplex-tipo 1, vaccinia e encefalomiocardite murina. A maior parte dos extratos não apresentou citotoxicidade até a concentração de 500 μg/mL. Dos 28 extratos testados quatorze (50%) apresentaram atividade antiviral com valores de CE50 na faixa de 4,6+03 a 377,2+17,7 μg/mL. Somente duas espécies, Arrabidaea samydoides e Callichlamys latifolia, foram ativas frente aos três vírus. Os extratos foram caracterizados pelos seus perfís cromatográficos em CCD e CLAE-FR. Análises por CLAE-FR mostraram que a mangiferina é o constituinte majoritário em A. samydoides mas a substância isolada foi menos ativa do que o extrato bruto. Esta é a primeira vez que se relata a atividade antiviral de extratos das dezoito espécies avaliadas.

Ethanol extracts of eighteen Bignoniaceae species have been evaluated by the MTT assay for cytotoxicity in Vero cells and for antiviral activity against Human herpes virus type 1, Vaccinia virus and murine Encephalomyocarditis virus. Among such species, seven are reported to be of traditional medicinal use No cytotoxicity was observed for most of the extracts up to the concentration of 500 μg/mL. Fourteen (50%) of the 28 extracts assayed have disclosed antiviral activity with EC50 values in the range of 4.6+0.3 to 377.2+17.7 μg/mL. Only two species, Arrabidaea samydoides and Callichlamys latifolia, have shown activity against all the three viruses. The extracts were chemically characterized by their TLC and HPLC-DAD profiles. Mangiferin is the major constituent of A. samydoides but the isolated compound has been less active than the crude extract. This is the first report on the antiviral evaluation of the eighteen Bignoniaceae species assayed.

As infecções herpéticas são complicações comuns em pacientes com AIDS. As manifestações clínicas podem ser incomuns e o tratamento antiviral é imperativo. Um método diagnóstico rápido pode previnir abordagens e tratamentos incorretos. A reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) é um método rápido, sensível e específico para a amplificação de DNA e para o diagnóstico de doenças infecciosas, especialmente as de etiologia viral. Esta abordagem tem vantagens quando comparada com os métodos convencionais de diagnóstico virológico. Recentemente nós relatamos um novo protocolo de PCR para o diagnóstico rápido de infecções herpéticas com supressão da etapa de extração de DNA. Neste trabalho nós apresentamos um caso de paroníquea herpética com diagnóstico através de PCR específico para Herpes Simplex tipo 1 usando o referido protocolo.

Herpetic infections are common complications in AIDS patients. The clinical features could be uncommon and antiviral chemotherapy is imperative. A rapid diagnosis could prevent incorrect approaches and treatment. The polymerase chain reaction is a rapid, specific and sensible method for DNA amplification and diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially viral diseases. This approach has some advantages compared with conventional diagnostic procedures. Recently we have reported a new PCR protocol to rapid diagnosis of herpetic infections with suppression of the DNA extraction step. In this paper we present a case of herpetic whitlow with rapid diagnosis by HSV-1 specific polymerase chain reaction using the referred protocol.