Aim: To evaluate (i) the in vitro activity of eugenol (EUG) and three derivatives against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and other bacteria, (ii) the EUG and antituberculosis drugs combinatory effect and (iii) the EUG and its derivatives cytotoxicity. Materials & methods: Minimum inhibitory concentration of the compounds were determined by resazurin microtiter or broth microdilution assay and the drug interaction between EUG and antituberculosis drugs by resazurin drug combination microtiter. The cytotoxicity was carried out in macrophages, HeLa and VERO cells. Results: EUG and derivatives displayed activity and synergic effect of EUG combined with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide in Mtb including multidrug-resistant isolates, with more selectivity to bacillus than macrophages, HeLa and VERO cells (selective index from 0.65 to 31.4). EUG derivatives (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl acetate, 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl benzoate, and 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl 4-nitrobenzoate) were more active against nontuberculous mycobacteria than EUG. EUG and derivatives exhibited low activity in other Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Conclusion: EUG and its derivatives show activity against Mycobacterium spp. and synergic effect of EUG combined with antituberculosis drugs against Mtb.

Aim: 17 new 4-methoxynaphthalene- N-acylhydrazones were synthesized in order to evaluate their biological action against important pathogens. Methods:  In vitro susceptibility assays of compounds were performed against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results: Compounds 4a, 4b and 4k were the most potent against P. brasiliensis, two with minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≤1 μg ml-1 and exhibited pharmacological synergy with amphotericin B. The compounds also showed activity against M. tuberculosis, with 4c and 4k being the more promising. Compound 4k showed good synergistic antimycobacterium activity with ethambutol. None of the compounds tested showed toxicity. Conclusion: We highlight the compound 4k, as a potential agent for the treatment of patients co-infected with paracoccidioidomycosis and tuberculosis.

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Aim: To evaluate an assay to detect minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, using as single model rifampicin, isoniazid, levofloxacin (LVX) and linezolid (LNZ) and in combination. Material & methods: MBCs were carried out directly from resazurin microtiter assay plate and 3D checkerboard in M. tuberculosis H37Rv and five resistant clinical isolates. Results: The proposed MBC assay showed similar values to those determined by MGIT™, used as control. LVX and LNZ's MBC values were close to their MIC values. LNZ or LVX combined with isoniazid and rifampicin showed MBC value reduced in 63.7% of the assays. Conclusion: The proposed assay to determine MBCs of drugs can be applied to the study of new compounds with anti- M. tuberculosis activity to detect their bactericidal effect and also in laboratory routine for clinical dose adjustment of drugs according to the patient's profile.