Ocimum basilicum: Antibacterial activity and association study with antibiotics against bacteria of clinical importance

Context: Ocimum basilicum L. (Lamiaceae), popularly known as basil, is part of a group of medicinal plants widely used in cooking and known for its beneficial health properties, possessing significant antioxidant effects, antinociceptive, and others.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the pharmacological effects produced on the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when standard antibiotics and O. basilicum essential oil are combined.

Materials and methods: The extraction of O. basilicum (leaves) components was done by steam distillation. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was calculated using microdilution technique, where the oil concentrations varied from 2 to 1024?μg/mL. The combinations of O. basilicum oil with ciprofloxacin or imipenem were analyzed by the checkerboard method where fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices were calculated.

Results: Ocimum basilicum essential oil, imipenem, and ciprofloxacin showed respective MIC antibacterial activities of 1024, 4, and 2?μg/mL, against S. aureus. In S. aureus, the oil with imipenem association showed synergistic effect (FIC?=?0.0625), while the oil with ciprofloxacin showed antagonism (FIC value?=?4.25). In P. aeruginosa, the imipenem/oil association showed additive effect for ATCC strains, and synergism for the clinical strain (FIC values?=?0.75 and 0.0625). The association of O. basilicum essential oil with ciprofloxacin showed synergism for clinical strains (FIC value?=?0.09).

Conclusion: Ocimum basilicum essential oil associated with existing standard antibiotics may increase their antibacterial activity, resulting in a synergistic activity against bacterial strains of clinical importance. The antibacterial activity of O. basilicum essential oil may be associated with linalool.     

Azadirachtin,a neem‐derived biopesticide,impairs behavioral and hematological parameters in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Azadirachtin (Aza) is a promisor biopesticide used in organic production and aquaculture. Although this compound is apparently safe, there is evidence that it may have deleterious effects on fish. Behavioral and hematological tests are grouped into a set of parameters that may predict potential toxicity of chemical compounds. Here, we investigate the effects of Aza, in the commercial formulation Neenmax^?, on carp (Cyprinus carpio) by defining LC₅₀ (96 h), and testing behavioral and hematological parameters. In our study, LC₅₀ was estimated at 80 μL/L. We exposed carp to Aza at 20, 40, and 60 μL/L, values based on 25, 50, and 75% of LC₅₀, respectively. At 60 μL/L, Aza promoted significant changes in several parameters, increasing the distance traveled and absolute turn angle. In addition, the same concentration decreased the time spent immobile and the number of immobile episodes. Hematological parameters, such as hematocrit, hemoglobin, hematimetrics index, and red cell distribution, were decreased at 60 μL/L Aza exposure. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that 60 μL/L Aza altered locomotor activity, motor pattern, and hematological parameters, suggesting potential toxicity to carp after acute exposure. In addition, this is the first report that evaluates the actions of a chemical contaminant using automated behavioral tracking of carp, which may be a useful tool for assessing the potential toxicity of biopesticides in conjunction with hematological tests. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1381–1388, 2016.     

The Effect of a Selective Inhibitor of Phosphodiesterase‐9 on Oxidative Stress,Inflammation and Cytotoxicity in Neutrophils from Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia

The aim of the study was to investigate the possible anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects of BAY 73‐6691 on neutrophils from SCA patients. This study included 35 patients with a molecular diagnosis of SCA, whose neutrophils were isolated and treated with BAY 73‐6691 at the concentrations 100, 10, 1.0 and 0.1 μg/mL. LDH release and MTT assays were performed to verify cell viability. To evaluate oxidative stress, the following parameters were determined by spectrophotometric assays: NO and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). As inflammatory markers, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were evaluated by colorimetric assay and TNF‐α by enzyme immunoassay. The results showed that neutrophils from SCA patients not treated with hydroxyurea (HU) had significantly lower NO levels and catalase and SOD activity, as well as significantly higher MDA, MPO and TNF‐α levels when compared with neutrophils from SCA patients treated with HU and neutrophils from control group. Treatment of SCA neutrophils with BAY 73‐6691 resulted in 94%, 200% and 168% increase in NOx levels, SOD and catalase activity, respectively. In addition, there was a reduction of approximately 46% and 45% in TNF‐α and MPO levels, respectively. In SCAHU neutrophils, there was a 30% and 44% increase in NOx levels and SOD activity, respectively, and a 28% and 37% decrease in TNF‐α and MPO levels, respectively. However, these effects were observed at cytotoxic doses only. The results of this study are original and demonstrate that inhibition of phosphodiesterase‐9 in neutrophils from SCA patients with BAY 73‐6691 was able to increase the NO bioavailability and attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation in neutrophils from patients not treated with HU.     

Expression of cytokeratins in human enamel organ

Cytokeratin (CK) is a filament which plays a central role in epithelial tissue and, like the polypeptides of intermediate filaments in general, shows a high degree of tissue specificity. The CK expression patterns of odontogenic epithelia are still poorly described. We studied the distribution of individual CK polypeptides in the human enamel organ at bell stage and in remnants of the dental lamina. Our immunohistochemical study showed that epithelial cells stained for CKs 7, 13, 14 and 19 with slight changes in their pattern during the differentiation phase of odontogenesis. There was negative staining for all other CK polypeptides tested (CKs 8, 10, 16, 17 and 18). Most of the CKs in the enamel organ epithelia did not show differences related to the stage-specific state of differentiation, except for CKs 14 and 19 at the inner enamel epithelium. A strong label for CK 14 was present at the inner dental epithelium at early bell stage, and this was substituted by CK 19 at the late bell stage when the ameloblasts were fully differentiated.     

The effect of indirect trauma on the rat temporomandibular joint

The effect of indirect trauma to the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is analysed by means of an experimental model. The trauma, applied from an angle-glenoid fossa direction, produced injury of the TMJ. The histological data demonstrated that the impact could produce fractures of the glenoid fossa, but no hemarthrosis was observed. Trauma, both with or without fracture, caused proliferative changes in the TMJ. The glenoid fossa, the articular disk and the articular surface of the condyle were injured. Thickening of the articular surfaces had resulted in reduced joint space. Subsequently, remodelling changes in the condyle were found.     

Sugarcane biopolymer membrane: experimental evaluation in the middle ear

New developments on biomaterials are important in surgery. The behavior of a new membrane produced from sugarcane will be evaluated in the middle ear of rats.Aim: This study analyzed the results from the interaction of the sugarcane-base biopolymer membrane in the middle ear of a rat.Materials and Methods: We ran an experimental, prospective, paired study with 24 Wistar rats. The sugarcane-base polymer membrane was inoculated in the right ear; and an autologous fascia in the left ear. The rats were divided in 3 groups of 8, and slaughtered at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Histological analyses were performed on the rats' middle ear mucosa and their tympanic membranes.Results: There was an inflammatory reaction on the experimental group and middle ear subacute exudate in 50%of the cases; 30% chronic exudate; and 20% was normal. In the control group there was only one case of exudate. The inflammation was initially described as intense, but it decreased over time. Myringosclerosis was observed in both groups. The sugarcane biopolymer membrane was absorbed later when compared with fascia.Conclusion: The sugarcane biopolymer membrane induced an inflammatory reaction in the middle ear which decreased over time, and mild fibrosis. Future studies can indicate its use in otolaryngology.     

Human Dermal Fibroblast Subpopulations Are Conserved across Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Studies

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Hepatic involvement in lepromatous leprosy

Hepatic involvement in a lepromatous leprosy (LL) patient is reported. The serum concentrations of aminotransferases were much higher than previously described in the leprosy literature. Other causes for hepatic damage were ruled out. Such hepatic involvement and elevation of aminotransferases have never been described in leprosy.