Stryphnodendron spp., popularly known as “barbatimão”, is the native Brazilian tree most often employed to treat wounds and infections. The aim of the present study was to highlight the importance of S. adstringens, as well as other Stryphnodendron species recognized as “barbatimão”, to human health, depicting the relevance of ethnopharmacological knowledge to scientific evidence for uses, related chemical compounds, development of pharmaceutical formulations, and the establishment of toxicity parameters. For this purpose, the literature databases PubMed, Scielo, Lilacs, CAPES Thesis and Google Scholar were searched until 2017. It was observed that stem bark was the primary part of the plant used, mainly as a decoction, for wound healing and treatment of infectious and inflammatory disorders. Confirmed biological activities, including wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, were related to the presence of compounds from tannin class, mostly proanthocyanidins. Toxicity parameters for stem bark were inconclusive, but toxicity was observed to a significant extent when seeds were ingested by cattle or other animals. Due to these important and confirmed biological activities, government policy encourages the phytotherapic use of S. adstringens, and some formulations with stem bark extracts were developed and patented. Furthermore, antiprotozoal, hypoglycemic and antiviral activities were identified as promising.

Tagetes patula L. shows a complex chemical composition, ranging from glycosylated flavonoids and thiophenes in extracts until terpenoids in the essential oil. In the present study, due to this rich flavonoidic constitution, its antioxidant potential was determined, having shown values of antiradical percentage superior to reference compounds, mainly the extracts prepared with flowers. Previous studies performed emphasized the acaricide potential of T. patula and thus, the present study aimed to verify the action of extractives obtained from aerial parts on growth of entomopathogenic fungi related to biological control of brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus and the action against pathogenic fungi closely associated with pets. None of the samples inhibited the growth of strains of Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae, enabling feasible future studies of synergism on acaricide activity of formulations containing fungi and extracts. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of flowers (FlEtOH70%) against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum was significant (193.3 μg/mL and 253.9 μg/mL, respectively), as well as ethanolic extract from aerial parts (APEtOH70%) against T. rubrum (312.5 μg/mL). In order to ensure the safety of a topical formulation containing the extractives of T. patula, the cytotoxic potential of these samples were tested in murine macrophages cells. At higher concentrations all extracts were quite lethal, with IC50 ranging from 210.96 μg/mL to 468.75 μg/mL for APEtOH70% and FlEtOH70%, respectively. These results suggest that the application of a product containing T. patula extractives in the control of ticks could be used, at principle, only on the environment.

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ABSTRACT. The production of enzymes using agro-industrial waste is a low cost alternative for the reuse of byproducts, with the subsequent impact decrease on the environment. Current analysis produced xylanase using fungus Aspergillus niger, with two types of wastewater generated during the pulp chemical bleaching phase as inducers. Xylanase was produced by submerged liquid fermentation and factorial design optimized parameters that influence production (concentration of wastewater and production period). Initial culture conditions (pH, temperature and agitation) were optimized independently. Alkaline wastewater was more effective than acidic wastewater for the induction of xylanase in optimized conditions: 50% of culture medium, 7-day production, 30°C, pH 6.0 and agitation at 160 rpm. Despite different results, acidic and alkaline wastewaters induced xylanase production by A. niger when employed in concentrations lower than or equal to 50% of culture medium and in the most optimal conditions described above. Alkaline wastewater is highlighted as the most efficient for such production.Keywords: enzyme, Aspergillus niger, factorial design, agro-industrial waste, xylanase.Reutilização de efluentes da indústria de celulose para otimização da produção de xilanase fúngica RESUMO. A produção de enzimas, a partir de resíduos agroindustriais, é uma alternativa para reutilização destes subprodutos como substrato de baixo custo reduzindo seu impacto causado pelo descarte no meio ambiente. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi a produção de xilanase por Aspergillus niger, utilizando dois efluentes gerados nas fases de branqueamento químico de polpa de celulose como indutores. A produção de xilanase foi realizada por fermentação líquida submersa, e utilizou-se planejamento fatorial para otimização dos parâmetros influentes de produção (concentração de efluentes e período de produção) e as condições iniciais de cultivo (pH, temperatura e agitação) foram otimizadas de forma independente. O efluente alcalino se mostrou mais efetivo do que o efluente com característica ácida, na indução de xilanase em condições otimizadas: 50% em relação ao meio de cultura, sete dias de produção, 30°C, pH 6,0 e agitação de 160 rpm. Conclui-se que ambos os efluentes, ácido e alcalino, apesar de levarem a diferentes resultados, são capazes de induzir a produção de xilanase por A. niger quando empregues em concentrações menores ou iguais a 50% em relação ao meio de cultura e nas condições ótimas descritas acima, destacandose o efluente alcalino como mais eficiente para produção de tal enzima.Palavras-chave: enzima, Aspergillus niger, planejamento fatorial, indústria de celulose, xilanase.