BackgroundWith the emergence of strains resistant to conventional antibiotics, it is important to carry studies using alternative methods to control these microorganisms causing important infections, such as the use of products of plant origin that has demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity besides biocompatibility. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts of Equisetum arvense L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Punica granatum L. and Stryphnodendron barbatimam Mart. against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata, and to analyze the cytotoxicity of these extracts in cultured murine macrophages (RAW 264.7).MethodsAntimicrobial activity of plant extracts was evaluated by microdilution method based on Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), M7-A6 and M27-A2 standards. The cytotoxicity of concentrations that eliminated the microorganisms was evaluated by MTT colorimetric method and by quantification of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) using ELISA.ResultsIn determining the minimum microbicidal concentration, E. arvense L., P. granatum L., and S. barbatimam Mart. extracts at a concentration of 50 mg/mL and G. glabra L. extract at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, were effective against all microorganisms tested. Regarding cell viability, values were 48% for E. arvense L., 76% for P. granatum L, 86% for S. barbatimam Mart. and 79% for G. glabra L. at the same concentrations. About cytokine production after stimulation with the most effective concentrations of the extracts, there was a significant increase of IL-1β in macrophage cultures treated with S. barbatimam Mart. (3.98 pg/mL) and P. granatum L. (7.72 pg/mL) compared to control (2.20 pg/mL) and a significant decrease of TNF-α was observed in cultures treated with G. glabra L. (4.92 pg/mL), S. barbatimam Mart. (0.85 pg/mL), E. arvense L. (0.83 pg/mL), and P. granatum L. (0.00 pg/mL) when compared to control (41.96 pg/mL).ConclusionsAll plant extracts were effective against the microorganisms tested. The G. glabra L. extract exhibited least cytotoxicity and the E. arvense L. extract was the most cytotoxic.

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CAPE was able to inhibit the gene expression, production and the activity of MMPs induced by LPS and also increased the gene expression of TIMP-1. The present observations suggest that CAPE exerted a positive effect on the regulatory mechanism between MMPs and TIMP, which is important for the control of different diseases.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), limewater (LW), and Polymyxin B (PMB) as irrigants over MMP-3, MMP-8 and MMP-9. Thirty-three patients with apical periodontitis of single-rooted teeth were treated according to three-experimental groups (n=11): group-1: 2.5% NaOCl was used as irrigant; group-2: 2.5% NaOCl for the first two files and LW: [0.14% Ca(OH)2] for the last two files; group-3: 2.5% NaOCl for the first two files and PMB for the last two files. The association of Ca(OH)2 and CHX was used as an intracanal medication in all groups. Four root canal samplings (S) were collected: S1) immediately after access cavity; S2) after biomechanical preparation; S3) after EDTA application; and S4) after removal of the intracanal medication. After quantification of MMP-3, MMP-8, and MMP-9, the data were analyzed by Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis tests and completed by Dunn test (5%). Regardless the used irrigant, there was no difference in reducing MMP-3 or MMP-8 (P=0,5273, P=0,7048 respectively). However, in reducing MMP-9 (P=0,0246) the NaOCl group was the most effective followed by NaOCl+LW group and NaOCl+PMB group respectively. The intracanal medication [Ca(OH)2 + CHX] with the NaOCl and NaOCl+LW was effective in reducing MMP-8 (P<0,0001, P=0,0025) and MMP-9 (P=0,0007, P=0,0047) respectively, but not for the group of NaOCl+PMB which was not effective in reducing MMP-8 or MMP-9 (P=0,1718, P=0,1953) respectively. NaOCl and NaOCl+LW were effective in reducing MMP-9 levels, and this effectivity could be improved by the use of the intracanal medication [Ca(OH)2 + CHX] in reducing MMP-8 and MMP-9 levels.

Objetivo: Avaliar potencial antifúngico dos extratos de Equisetum arvense L. (cavalinha), Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (alcaçuz), Punica granatum L. (romã) e Stryphnodendron barbati-mam Mart. (barbatimão) sobre biofilme de Candida albicans em resina acrílica. Material e métodos: Cepa-padrão de C. albicans foi cultivada em ágar Sabouraud-dextrose por 24 h a 37°C. Após padronização do inóculo (10 6 células/mL) em espectrofotômetro, foram mantidos em caldo Brain Heart Infusion suplementado com sacarose (5%) um disco de resina acrílica estéril com 100 µL do inóculo padronizado, por 5 dias a 37 °C. As amostras dos grupos tratados (n = 10) foram expostas separadamente à concentração de 50 mg/mL de cada extrato por 5 min e ao antifúngico nistatina (48.83 UI/mL). Para o grupo não tratado (controle, n = 10) foi utilizada solução fisiológica estéril (NaCl 0,9%). Os biofilmes foram desagregados dos discos de resina acrílica por homogeneizador ultrassônico por 30 s. Após diluições decimais, foram feitas semeaduras em placas de Sabouraud-dextrose e incubação por 48 h a 37 ºC. Posteriormente, foram contadas as UFC/mL e os valores foram convertidos em log 10 e realizada análise estatística (ANOVA e Tukey Test; p ≤ 0,05). Resultados: Todos os extratos naturais e a nistatina proporcionaram reduções significativas (p < 0,01) do biofilme de C. albicans em comparação ao grupo controle (NaCl 0,9%), no entanto, não houve diferença estatística entre os extratos (p = 0,1567). Conclusões: Houve formação de biofilme de C. albicans em resina acrílica e todos os extratos vegetais foram efetivos para esta levedura, atuando semelhantemente à nistatina. Efeito antifúngico de extratos vegetais sobre biofilme de Candida albicans em resina acrílica