RESUMO: Considerando que o neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) causa efeitos deletérios na fertilidade, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da alimentação com sementes de neem sobre a qualidade seminal, parâmetros biométricos e morfometria testicular com codornas (Coturnix coturnix japonica Linnaeus, 1758) com 90 dias de idade, como modelo experimental. Após o período de adaptação de 30 dias às condições experimentais, as aves foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em cinco tratamentos de sementes de neem incorporadas na ração, com 10 repetições: T1 (0%), T2 (5%), T3 (10%), T4 (20%) e T5 (40%). Após 60 dias de receber rações experimentais, seu sêmen foi coletado para avaliar a qualidade espermática, as aves foram sacrificadas e os testículos foram submetidos à avaliação biométrica, histológica e histomorfométrica. Os dados foram avaliados por análise de variância e mais tarde pelo teste de Tukey com um nível de significância de 5%. Os valores médios do peso, comprimento e largura do testículo diminuíram significativamente em T4 e T5, devido à degeneração de células epiteliais germinativas. Nestes tratamentos, ocorreu um aumento significativo (P>0,05) nos valores médios da espessura da túnica albugínea e uma redução significativa nos valores do diâmetro do túbulo seminífero e a altura do epitélio germinal. Além disso, os valores médios do volume seminal, concentração de esperma, motilidade espermática, vigor e viabilidade espermática foram significativamente reduzidos. Assim, o uso de neem na alimentação de aves, bem como o uso para fins terapêuticos, são questionáveis, considerando seu impacto negativo na reprodução.

ABSTRACT: Considering that neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) causes deleterious effects on fertility, the objective was to evaluate the effect of feeding quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica Linnaeus, 1758) of 90 days old with neem seeds on seminal quality, biometric parameters, and testicular morphometrics, as an experimental model. After the 30 day adaptation period to the experimental conditions, birds were randomly distributed in five treatments of neem seeds incorporated into feed, with 10 replicates: T1 (0%), T2 (5%), T3 (10%), T4 (20%) and T5 (40%). After 60 days of receiving experimental rations, their semen was collected to evaluate the sperm quality, the birds were euthanized, and testes were submitted to biometric, histological, and histomorphometric evaluation. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance and later by Tukey test with a significance level of 5%. The mean values of testicle weight, length, and width significantly decreased in T4 and T5, due degeneration of germinal epithelial cells. In these treatments, it occurred a significant increase (P>0.05) in the average values of the tunica albuginea thickness and a significant reduction in the values of the seminiferous tubule diameter and the height of the germinal epithelium. In addition, the mean values of seminal volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, vigor, and sperm viability were significantly reduced. Thus, the use of neem in bird feeding, as well as the use for therapeutic purposes, is questionable, considering its negative impact on reproduction.

Vatairea macrocarpa (Benth.) Ducke, Fabaceae, is popularly known as 'angelim'. Its heartwood macerate is used to treat inflammation, gastric ulcer, diabetes and infections. The oral acute and subchronic toxicity of the methanol extract of V. macrocarpa heartwood (MEVm) was evaluated. In the Hippocratic screening, a single administration of MEVm was given orally to mice at doses ranging from 100 to 5000 mg/kg. In the subchronic study, MEVm was given orally as a daily administration for thirty days to Wistar rats at doses of 20, 100 and 500 mg/kg. In Hippocrtaic screening, doses of MEVm up to 5000 mg/kg did not cause any relevant behavioral changes or deaths thus making it impossible to establish the LD50. In subchronic assay, body weight gains and food intake were significantly reduced at the last week of treatment with 20 and 500 mg/kg dose. Serum triacylglycerides, total proteins and γ-glutamyltransferase activity were significantly reduced, while alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated. In hematological parameters, MEVm increased the percentage of segmented neutrophils cells at the highest dose. All alterations observed were minor in nature and were not accompanied by any relevant clinical signs or any histopathological changes. In conclusion, the results demonstrate relative safety profile of MEVm in the experimental animals.

Os extratos, frações e ácido elágico, isolados da entrecasca de Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae, foram testados in vitro para atividade antifúngica, frente a um painel de leveduras, hialo-hifomicetos e dermatófitos, utilizando o método de microdiluição. O extrato EtOH, frações e ácido elágico exibiram atividade contra Candida spp. e Saccharomyces cerevisiae com valores de CIM entre 250-1000 µg/mL, porιm não mostraram ação contra fungos filamentosos e dermatófitos (CIM>1000 µg/mL). Os extratos ativos foram avaliados nos ensaios de inibição do crescimento das hifas de Neurospora crassa, no teste do sorbitol, e pelo estudo do efeito do ergosterol na CIM do ácido elágico. Os extratos ativos, frações e ácido elágico mostraram zonas manchadas ao redor dos discos de papel e induziram malformações nas hifas. Além disso, a CIM do ácido elágico contra Saccharomyces cerevisiae passou de 62 para 250 µg/mL na presença do sorbitol 0,8 M, sugerindo que o ácido elágico provavelmente poderia exercer ação na parede celular fúngica. Esses resultados indicam que o ácido elágico pode ser o principal composto antifúngico de Lafoensia pacari, sugerindo que o modo de ação antifúngico desses extratos e ácido elágico poderia estar associado à inibição da parede celular fúngica.

Stem-bark extracts, fractions and the isolated constituent, ellagic acid of Lafoensia pacari St. Hil. (Lythraceae) were in vitro assayed for antifungal activity against a panel of yeasts, hialohyphomycetes as well as dermatophytes with the microbroth dilution method. The EtOH extract and its fractions and ellagic acid exhibited activity against Candida spp and Saccharomyces cerevisiae with MIC values between 250-1000 µg/mL, but they showed no action against filamentous fungi and dermatophytes (MIC>1000 µg/mL). Active extracts were evaluated in Neurospora crassa hyphal growth inhibition and sorbitol assays and then the effect of ergosterol on the MIC of ellagic acid was studied. The active extracts and its fractions and ellagic acid showed a blotchy zone around the paper disk and induced malformations of the hypha. Besides, MIC of the ellagic acid against the Saccharomyces cerevisiae was raised from 62 to 250 µg/mL in the presence of sorbitol 0.8 M, suggesting that the ellagic acid would probably exert its action on fungal cell wall. These results indicate that ellagic acid might be the main active antifungal compound of Lafoensia pacari and further suggest that the mode of antifungal action of these extracts and ellagic acid could be associated with the inhibition of fungal cell wall.

Os extratos em hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etila e etanol das entrecascas de Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari e Stryphnodendron obovatum, do rizoma de Simaba ferruginea e do látex de Croton urucurana foram triados contra um painel de bactérias e fungos usando o método de microdiluição em caldo. O látex de Croton urucurana foi o material derivado de planta com maior atividade antimicrobiana. Os extratos em acetato de etila e hexano da entrecasca de Calophyllum brasiliense destacaram-se por suas seletivas atividades antibacterianas. Os extratos polares da entrecasca de Lafoensia pacari notabilizaram-se por suas potentes e seletivas atividades contra leveduras e os extratos polares e não-polares de Bowdichia virgilioides por suas atividades antifúngicas contra hialo-hifomicetos e dermatófitos. Este é o primeiro relato mostrando atividades antifúngicas para os extratos de Cariniana rubra e Simaba ferruginea. Esse trabalho demonstrou a atividade antimicrobiana de plantas medicinais do Cerrado de Mato Grosso em ensaios in vitro e indica que elas podem ser potenciais candidatas para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias no tratamento de infecções bacterianas e fúngicas.

Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts from stem barks of Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari, and Stryphnodendron obovatum and rhizome of Simaba ferruginea and Dragon's blood red sap from Croton urucurana were screened against a panel of bacteria and fungi using the micro-broth dilution method. Dragon's blood from Croton urucurana was the most effective antimicrobial plant material. Ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of Calophyllum brasiliense stem bark deserved distinction by their selective antibacterial activity. Lafoensia pacari stem bark polar extracts distinguished by their potent and selective anti-yeast activity and Bowdichia virgilioides polar and non-polar extracts by their antifungal activity towards hyalohypho-mycetes and dermatophytes. This is the first report showing antifungal activity for polar extracts of Cariniana rubra and Simaba ferruginea. This study has demonstrated antimicrobial activity of Mato Grosso Cerrado ethnomedicinal plants in in vitro assays and has indicated that they can be effective potential candidates for the development of new strategies to treat fungal and bacterial infections.