Medicinal plants have great prominence in research into the development of new medicines. Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) is an edible and medicinal plant with economic value in the northeast region of Brazil. Several preparations from E. uniflora leaves and its fruits are employed as a source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. In this study we evaluated the preclinical toxicology of crude extract and vaginal gel obtained from the leaves of E. uniflora (5%, 10%, and 15%) aiming to provide safety for its use in the treatment of vulvovaginitis. Both formulations were applied to the vaginal cavity for 14 days. Detailed observations of the vaginal region, including pruritus, swelling, irritation, burning, pain, and vaginal secretion, as well as the estrous cycle were evaluated. On the fifth day, blood samples were obtained from the supraorbital plexus for biochemical and hematological analyses. The animals were subsequently euthanized. All animals underwent necropsy and macroscopic examination of the vaginal mucosa and reproductive system. A histological examination was also performed. No clinically significant changes were detected during the entire experimental period. All biochemical, hematological, or histopathological parameters were within the normal range for the species. The data obtained allow us to suggest that the E. uniflora vaginal formulations are safe in this experimental model.

Background: Cranioschisis is a malformation that occurs during embryological development and results in incomplete closure of the skull, leaving an opening through which the intracranial tissue can project. Meningocele consists of herniation of the meninges containing cerebrospinal fluid through the cranial defect. In cattle, this association usually manifested by the appearance of a floating saccular protrusion of variable size and volume in the frontal or parietal region of the cranium. This manuscript aims to report a case of cranioschisis associated with meningocele and neurological deficit in a newborn calf in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná.Case: A 2-day-old crossbred female calf was diagnosed with cranioschisis associated with meningocele in the frontal region of the head. On initial clinical examination, an ovoid mass with floating appearance was observed, extending from the supraorbital curvature of the frontal bone to the end of the nasal bones following the midline. The patient had normal parameters for the species and age and a positive sucking reflex. Neurological examination showed permanent lateral decubitus position, spastic paresis of the thoracic limbs and opisthotonus. Complementary imaging studies, including x-rays and ultrasonography, showed a failure in the frontal bone, approximately 5 cm in diameter. Despite the unfavorable prognosis, surgical reduction was chosen. After drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid, excision of the meningeal sac was continuously performed, exposing the subarachnoid space, showing circular failure in the frontal bone with a diameter of 4.5 cm, making it possible to observe part of the right frontal lobe. We opted for occlusion of the bone defect by covering it with the dura mater. Absorbable 0 catgut suture was applied in a simple continuous pattern for coaptation of the meningeal edges. The technique used proved to be viable, but due to lack of therapeutic response and maintenance of the neurological picture, the animal was euthanized three days after surgery.Discussion: The clinical signs of meningocele are generally observed in newborn calves, and the pathology is not reported in aborted animals, which explains the fact that all cases reported in the literature are of calves born at term. Treatment success is variable. In general, it depends on the absence of neurological symptoms, which are invariably linked to morphological alterations in nervous tissue. Thus, animals with neurological symptoms have poor prognosis and may even die spontaneously. In some cases surgical reduction without the use of grafts, as in this report, was successfully performed. The authors reported covering a 7-cm circular gap in the frontal bone thought coaptation of the meningeal edges using a simple continuous pattern of nylon suture, followed by dehorning. In this case, the animal showed no neurological abnormalities and had a good prognosis. We conclude that the surgical treatment of cranioschisis associated with meningocele in bovine species presented in this report had an unfavorable prognosis. As observed in other cases, when the animals have neurological symptoms the prognosis is bleak, probably due to morphological and functional changes of congenital origin in the nervous tissue, as described in the literature. More case studies are needed to elucidate the etiology and pathogenesis of this disorder in bovines, since the cases described in the literature are not associated with the most commonly reported causes, such as the ingestion of certain plants.

Background: Wounds and lacerations are constant in the clinical routine of horses. The treatment of wounds by the second intention is the most common in the equine clinic; it consists in addition to surgical debridement, the use of allopathic or phytotherapeutic healing. In this context, several phytotherapics used in folk medicine have been used with promising results in the equine species, especially marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), recognized by the German scientific committee as antiseptic and healing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the nonionic cream of Calendula officinalis at 2% in an extensive lacerating wound in an equine.Case: A 6-month-old female Quarter Horse, weighing 160 kg, a lacerating wound in the pectoral region of unknown traumatic origin, was treated in the large animal sector of the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade Paranaense (UNIPAR). Clinical examination revealed an exudative wound in the pectoral region, complicated by the presence of environmental organic matter and myiasis, involving transverse pectoral and descending pectoral muscles, with a large tissue separation and exposure of part of the first sternum. After an initial evaluation, a trichotomy was performed around the wound, removal of myiasis and sanitization of the wound with water and PVP-I, which was filled with sterile dressings and covered with a dressing using a tubular mesh. Antibiotic therapy was instituted, along with anti-inflammatory medication and antitetanic serum (5,000 IU). Due to the need for surgical debridement, after previous fasting and general anesthesia followed by site antisepsis, surgical debridement was performed, followed by reduction of dead space with application of standard "Wolf" sutures, for re-approximation of the wound edges was applied suture in Wolf pattern captonated with segments of equipment. In the post-surgical period, topical treatment with nitrofurazone ointment and crystal sugar was instituted. However, after five days of the surgical procedure, there was dehiscence of the wound, at which time another intervention was chosen. After sedation remaining in standard anatomical position, sutures of the same pattern and wire were applied, but captonated with polyester buds and wound dressing was instituted, followed by the application of nonionic cream of marigold (C. officinalis) extract, in the concentration of 2%, twice a day until complete healing of the wound.Discussion: The use of nonionic marigold cream (C. officinalis) 2% showed a significant efficacy, in the case reported, corroborating with literature data that marigold presented an advantage in the inflammatory phase of the healing process, when compared to the other two substances, favored epithelization and demonstrated bactericidal action. This activity is reported to the substances present in C. officinalis, especially the flavonoids, which are phenolic compounds derived from the secondary metabolism of plants. In addition to phenolic compounds such as triterpenes, faradiol esters and taraxasterol are considered responsible for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and angiogenic activities, actions that contribute directly or indirectly to the healing process. The present report contributes positively to the use of alternative treatments in wounds as the phytotherapeutic in question, since it proved feasible, besides avoiding the use of allopathic ones with higher associated costs and environmental impact in its production and use, as well as the emergence of bacterial resistance.