The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of different extracts and fractions obtained from Hymenaea stigonocarpa stem barks. The cyclohexanic, ethyl acetate, ethanol, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained by maceration. The hydroalcoholic extract was partitioned, which resulted in the ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. All extracts and fractions were subjected to phytochemical screening and evaluation of total phenol and tannin contents. An HPLC-DAD and ultrastructural alterations analysis were performed. Terpenes and coumarins were detected in the cyclohexanic extract. Flavonoids and condensed tannins were present in the other extracts and fractions. The extracts with the highest contents of tannins, ethanol (EE), hydroalcoholic (HE), and aqueous fraction (AF) showed also the highest antimicrobial activity. The MIC values ranged from 64 to 526 µg/mL. The chromatographic fingerprints suggest the presence of astilbin and other flavonoids in EE and HE. Presence of the thick cell wall, undulating outer layer, abnormal septa, and leakage of the cytoplasmic contents and absence of cell wall and cell lyses were the main alterations observed on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 after treatment with the Hymenaea stigonocarpa hydroalcoholic extract. The presence of phenolic compounds like flavonoids and tannins is possibly the reason for the antimicrobial activity.

Unitermos: Calendula offi cinalis, Asteraceae, tratamento subcrônico, hematologia, bioquímica.ABSTRACT: "Evaluation of the hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula offi cinalis L. on biochemical and hematological parameters in female Wistar rats". The effects of the subchronic oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) prepared from fl owers of Calendula offi cinalis L. were investigated on biochemical and hematological parameters in female adult Wistar rats. Forty female rats (n=10/group) were orally treated daily for 30 days with HAE at the doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg body weight and the biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight evaluated. The treatment did not cause any deaths or toxicity in the animals. The administration of HAE failed to change biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight, except for an increase of 24.2% in blood urea nitrogen and 62.3, 30.2, and 44.4%, respectively, in alanine transaminase (ALT) plasma level. For the hematological parameters, there were slight changes in which neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were not different from the reference values. In conclusion, the subchronic administration of HAE of Calendula offi cinalis did not induce any harzadous effects on most of the biochemical and hematological parameters studied in female adult Wistar rats. However, the increase in the levels in blood urea nitrogen and ALT in high doses, suggests a possible renal and hepatic overload which should be investigated in more detail.

RESUMO:A Mentha crispa (Lamiaceae) é conhecida popularmente como hortelã-da-folha-miúda. O extrato hidroalcoólico (EHA) de Mentha crispa, obtido do caule e da folha, possui atividade amebicida (Entamoeba histolytica) e giardicida (Giardia lamblia) e é explorado comercialmente na produção do fi toterápico Giamebil plus ® . Os efeitos da administração oral subcrônica do EHA de Mentha crispa foram investigados sobre a performance reprodutiva em ratos Wistar adultos. Três grupos de ratos machos (n=6-12/grupo) foram tratados durante 30 dias consecutivos com EHA por via oral nas doses de 0,5 e 1,0 g/kg de peso ou água destilada (grupo controle). Em seguida, foram determinados os índices reprodutivos, massa dos órgãos e análise morfológica do testículo, epidídimo e ducto deferente. Os resultados mostram que, durante o período de tratamento, não se observaram sinais de toxicidade ou morte dos animais. Os índices reprodutivos, assim como a massa e as morfologias macro e microscópica dos órgãos não foram modifi cados pela administração subcrônica do EHA. Dessa forma, conclui-se que a administração subcrônica do extrato hidroalcoólico de Mentha crispa (Giamebil plus ABSTRACT: "Evaluation of the hydroalcoholic extract of Mentha crispa on the reproductive performance in Wistar rats". Mentha crispa (Lamiaceae) is commonly known as "hortelã-dafolha-miúda". The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) from the leaves and stem of Mentha crispa possesses amebicidal (Entamoeba histolytica) and giardicidal (Giardia lamblia) activity and it is commercially used in the production of the phytoterapic Giamebil plus ® . The effects of the subchronic administration of the HAE of Mentha crispa were investigated on reproductive performance in adult Wistar rats. Three groups of male rats (n=6-12/group) were orally treated daily for 30 consecutive days with the HAE at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg or distilled water (control group). Then, the reproductive indices, the organ weight and the morphologic analysis of testicle, epididymis and vas deferens were determined. There were no signs of toxicity or deaths during the period of treatment. Furthermore, the reproductive indices, the organ weight and the macroscopic and microscopic morphologic analysis of the organs were not altered by subchronic administration of the HAE of Mentha crispa. It shows that the subchronic administration of the HAE of Mentha crispa (Giamebil plus ® ) did not possess contraceptive activity on the reproductive system of Wistar rats.

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