Jose Maria Barbosa Filho

• Federal University of Paraíba

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant strains carrying efflux pumps and assess their toxicity on Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti models. Microdilution tests in broth were performed to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The efflux pump inhibition was evaluated by analyzing t...

This is the report of the HPLC-MSn-guided isolation of new anti-inflammatory prenylated isoflavonoids and pterocarpans from the stems of Acosmium diffusissimum using GNPS molecular networking as the main tool. Cluster analysis guided the isolation of five new prenylated isoflavonoids, diffusiflavone A–E (1–4 and 9), two prenylated pterocarpans, dif...

Selene-ethylenelacticamide derivatives have been suggested as promising scaffolds with leishmanicidal activity. In this work, we demonstrated, for the first time, the effectiveness of selene-ethylenelacticamide derivatives against mycobacteria. Firstly, selene-ethylenelacticamides inhibited the growth of laboratory strains of Mycobacterium tubercul...

This study presents the synthesis and antibacterial activity of a novel indolic chalcone. Featuring a unique structure, this new chalcone demonstrates significant antibacterial properties against multiple strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The straightforward synthesis method and promising results highlight its pot...

Nos últimos anos, a busca por novos compostos bioativos naturais incentivou o estudo das chalconas devido à sua diversidade estrutural e múltiplas atividades biológicas. Neste trabalho, a chalcona quinolínica (E)-3-(4-((7-cloroquinolin-4-il)oxi)-3-metoxifenil)-1-(naftalen-2-il)prop-2-en-1-ona foi sintetizada através da adição aldólica com elevado r...

Background: Phytol is a diterpene from the long-chain unsaturated acyclic alcohols, known for its diverse biological effects, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Present in essential oils, phytol is a promising candidate for various applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. This study aimed to evaluate t...

Two new caffeoyl triterpenes, cis-lupacosmeol (1) alone and in mixture with trans-lupacosmeol (2), and two known compounds, 16β-hydroxy-3β-trans-caffeoyl-olean-12-ene (3) and 16β-hydroxy-3β-p-coumaroyl-lup-20(29)-ene (4), were isolated from the roots of Acosmium diffusissimum. The structures were chemically characterised using 1D and 2D NMR, IR spe...

A problemática das intoxicações exógenas causa impacto significativo na saúde da população e no contexto das drogas de abuso essas complicações podem causar sérios danos, pois são produtos de fácil acesso e frequentemente utilizados sem supervisão profissional. Este estudo focou em definir e analisar o perfil epidemiológico e clínico das intoxicaçõ...

Leishmaniasis and American trypanosomiasis are part of a set of diseases characterized by the World Health Organization as neglected diseases caused by infectious and parasitic agents in populations in situations of poverty and poor sanitation. Pharmaceutical industries neglect such diseases, which have limited treatments, mainly due to few drug op...

In silico and in vitro tests can reveal promising anti-leishmania activity for natural products and their derivatives. The aim of this study was to investigate in silico the pharmacological activities of potential new chalcones and their leishmanicidal potential in vitro. The in silico study was carried out using the PASS, MolPredictX and Molegro V...

Marine organisms represent a potential source of secondary metabolites with various therapeutic properties. However, the pharmaceutical industry still needs to explore the algological resource. The species Caulerpa lamouroux Forssk presents confirmed biological activities associated with its major compound caulerpin, such as antinociceptive, spasmo...

Depression is a common mood disorder and many patients do not respond to conventional pharmacotherapy or experience a variety of adverse effects. This work proposed that riparin I (RIP I) and riparin II (RIP II) present neuroprotective effects through modulation of astrocytes and microglia, resulting in the reversal of depressive-like behaviors. To...

In 2019, the emergence of the seventh known coronavirus to cause severe illness in humans triggered a global effort towards the development of new drugs and vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These efforts are still ongoing in 2024, including the present work where we conducted a ligand-based virtual screening of terpenes with potential anti-SARS-C...

Skin lesions are considered a public health problem, compromising patients' quality of life. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of fraxetin and monnieriside A on Cultured L929 Fibroblasts through the scratch assay. Supernatants and cells from the fibroblast culture treated with the compounds were used to evaluate essential markers of the tissu...

According to the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Journal, infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli is a neglected tropical disease. Staphylococcus aureus is the most dangerous Gram-positive bacterium among staphylococcal bacteria. Moreover, resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an urgent public health issue. In this s...

The lignoid fraction (LF) of Ocotea fasciculata, which is rich in yangambin and its epimer, epi-yangambin, showed promising activity against Leishmania sp. Subsequently, LF was incorporated into a solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) in order to increase its pharmacological efficacy and decrease toxicity. In this regard, the present study was carried out...

Candida spp. is an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing superficial to invasive infections. Morphological transition is one of the main virulence factors of this genus and, therefore, is an important variable to be considered in pharmacological interventions. Riparins I, II, III, and IV are alkamide‐type alkaloids extracted from the unripe fru...

Background The ability of dermatophytes to develop biofilms in host tissues confers physical and biochemical resistance to antifungal drugs. Therefore, research to find new compounds against dermatophyte biofilm is crucial. Objectives To evaluate the antifungal activity of riparin II (RIP2), nor-riparin II (NOR2) and dinor-riparin II (DINOR2) agai...

Ocotea duckei, known as Louro-de-cheiro, belongs to the Lauraceae family and presents lignoid yangambine (YAN) as the main plant marker. This work aimed to develop and validate an analytical method by high performance liquid chromatography for the quantification of YAN. The sample used was the crude ethanolic extract (CEE) obtained from aerial part...

The species Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (CsE) is popularly used for its anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator and anti-allergiceffects. In preclinical studies, the plant has shown anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, which necessitated a controlledclinical trial to verify its effects in humans. A quasi-randomized study was developed in which th...

Major depressive disorder is a severe mood disorder characterized by different emotions and feelings. This study investigated the antidepressant activity of the phenylpropanoid methyleugenol (ME) in adult female mice exposed to a stress model induced by dexamethasone. The animals were randomly divided into groups containing eight animals and were p...

Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika are arboviruses, transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, that cause high mortality and serious health consequences in human populations. Efforts to control Ae. aegypti are important for preventing outbreaks of these diseases. Essential oil constituents are known to exhibit many activities, such as their use as larvic...

The present study aims to evaluate the gastroprotective potential of riparin III in the acute model of gastric lesions induced by ethanol in mice. Riparin III was synthesized and structurally characterized. Macroscopic evaluations were used through histopathologic tests, in addition to studying the mechanism of action. It also performed biochemical...

Acinetobacter baumannii, a prominent emerging pathogen, is responsible for persistent and recurrent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Its bacterial resistance and virulence factors, such as biofilm formation, contribute to its survival in hospital environments. Combination therapy has proven to be an effective approach for controlling these...

Chalcones are direct precursors in the biosynthesis of flavonoids. They have an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system which gives them broad biological properties. Among the biological properties exerted by chalcones, their ability to suppress tumors stands out, in addition to their low toxicity. In this perspective, the present work explores the role of...

Natural products have important pharmacological activities. This study sought to investigate the activity of the compound betulinic acid (BA) against different strains of bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined and then the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Aft...

Atualmente, a busca por compostos antimicrobianos naturais tem aumentado e, tendo em vista o alto índice de infecção por microrganismos resistentes a antibióticos, tem sido estimulada a busca por novos compostos que tenham efeito antimicrobiano. Os flavonoides se enquadram neste grupo devido às suas fortes propriedades biológicas e medicinais. Ativ...

Dermatophytosis is one of the most frequent superficial mycoses in the world. They are mainly caused by the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis. Biofilm production is an essential factor in the pathogenesis of dermatophytes; it confers drug resistance and significantly impairs antifungal effectiveness. Therefore, we evaluated th...

Aspergillus niger causes infections such as otitis and pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. Treatment involves voriconazole or amphotericin B, and due to the increase in fungal resistance, the search for new compounds with antifungal activity has intensified. In the development of new drugs, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays...

The ability of dermatophytes to develop biofilms is possibly involved in therapeutic failure because biofilms impair drug effectiveness in the infected tissues. Research to find new drugs with antibiofilm activity against dermatophytes is crucial. In this way, riparins, a class of alkaloids that contain an amide group, are promising antifungal comp...

S. aureus and A. baumannii are among the main bacterial species responsible for several infections worldwide due to the different resistance and virulence mechanisms, which can interfere with treatment. The use of antimicrobial combination is one of the therapeutic options; however, they may exhibit potential for nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity....

Trans-Caryophyllene (TC), a sesquiterpene, with proven biological activities, which in this work was tested alone, encapsulated in liposomes and associated with Fluconazole in vitro in an attempt to enhance the effect of the drug. Liposomes were characterized from vesicle size, polydispersity index, and Zeta potential, and imaging by scanning elect...

Introduction Yangambin and epi-yangambin are the main lignans found in Louro-de-Cheiro [Ocotea fasciculata (Nees) Mez], a tree native to the Atlantic forests of northeastern Brazil whose leaves and bark are widely used in folk medicine. The present study investigated the leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory effects of both lignans in in vitro models...

Abstract Acute lung injury is an inflammation that triggers acute respiratory distress syndrome with perialveolar neutrophil infiltration, alveolar-capillary barrier damage, and lung edema. Activation of the toll-like receptor 4 complex (TLR4/MD2) and its downstream signaling pathways are responsible for the cytokine storm and cause alveolar damage...

Antimicrobial drugs are of great importance in the control of bacterial infections. Its indiscriminate use contributes to the consolidation of bacterial resistance. Its applicability is due to its secondary metabolites, such as saponins, which are compounds with relevant antibacterial action. Hecogenin acetate is a saponin present in plants of the...

Introdução: Espécies da família Asteraceae são conhecidas por apresentarem propriedades aromática, cosmética e terapêutica; tendo diversas pesquisas que evidenciou potencial medicinal dessa família. Dentre as espécies de Asteraceae, está Praxelis clematidea, que é rica em substâncias químicas como flavonoides, terpenóides e esteroides, as quais pod...

Monoterpenes are a highly diverse group of chemical scents that originate from plant secondary metabolic processes, one purpose of which is to serve as a defense against herbivores. Plant-derived monoterpenes produced from Lamiaceae species have demonstrated acaricidal activity against pest mites and ticks. However, the mechanism by which these com...

A worrisome fact is the increase in microbial resistance, which has as its main cause the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Scientific studies have investigated bioactive compounds such as steroidal sapogenins, in the perspective of new beneficial alternatives for the control of bacterial resistance. Therefore, the objective of this work was to ve...

The increase in bacterial resistance to available antibiotics has driven several researchers to search for new agents with therapeutic properties. Diosgenin is a naturally occurring steroidal saponin that has demonstrated several pharmacological properties. In the present study, we report the antimicrobial activity of diosgenin against the standard...

The present study aims to demonstrate the chemical composition of the ethanolic extract of Sarcomphalus joazeiro bark and to evaluate its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. For that, the ethanolic extract of the stem bark was prepared, and chemical characterization was carried out in UPLC-ESI-QToF-MSE. Minimum inhibitory concentration and anti...

This study aimed to investigate, through in vivo and in vitro methodologies, the effect of acute trans,trans-farnesol (12.5, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) administration on behavioral and neurochemical parameters associated with pilocarpine-induced epileptic seizure (300 mg/kg, i.p.) in mice. The initial results showed that the compound in question pr...

Natural Killer cells (NK) are crucial in host defense against viruses. There are many unanswered questions about the immune system in COVID-19, especially the mechanisms that contribute to the development of mild or severe forms of the disease. Although NK cells may have an essential role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, the mechanisms involved in...

Background: Neuroprotection in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an unmet medical need. Objective: We evaluated two agents, aglepristone (progesterone receptor antagonist) and N-salicyloyltryptamine (STP) (activator of Maxi-K channel in GH3 cells), for neuroprotection in Feeney's weight drop model of TBI. Material and methods: Forty-eight male W...

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting 1-2% of world population, and one-third of patients are refractory to pharmacological treatment. This fact has stimulated research for new antiepileptic drugs and natural products have been an important source. trans-Anethole (TAN) is a phenylpropanoid, component of some essential oils, extracte...

INTRODUCTION The drugs currently available for treatment of anxiety and depression act through modulation of the neu-rotransmission systems involved in the neurobiology of the disorder, yet they often present side effects, which can impair patient adherence to treatment. METHOD This, has driven the search for new molecules with anxiolytic and anti...

Leishmaniasis are endemic diseases caused by different species of intracellular parasites of the genus Leishmania. Due to the high toxicity and drug resistance of current antileishmanial drugs, it is necessary to identify new and more effective drugs. Previously, we investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi action of BA5, a deriv...

A series of coumarin derivatives and isosteres were synthesized from the reaction of triflic intermediates with phenylboronic acids, terminal alkynes, and organozinc compounds through palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the compounds was evaluated against two non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell line...

Introdução: A candidíase está relacionada a uma grande variedade de manifestações clínicas que se expressam desde infecções na pele e mucosas à infecção sistêmica. Sendo esta última associada a uma alta taxa de mortalidade global, variando de 36% a 63% em diferentes grupos de pacientes. A terapêutica de infecções fúngicas invasivas é limitada pois...

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of (-)-myrtenol alone and combined with antifungal agents against Candida spp. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration of (-)-myrtenol and fluconazole against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis strains was obtained using CLSI guidelines. Combination of (-)-myrteno...

Aspergillus genus causes many diseases, and the species Aspergillus flavus is highly virulent. Treatment of aspergillosis involves azole derivatives such as voriconazole and polyenes such as amphotericin B. Due to an increase in fungal resistance, treatments are now less effective; the search for new compounds with promising antifungal activity has...

The traditional knowledge associated with the use of medicinal plants has significantly contributed to drug development research. In this context, Aloysia gratissima, commonly known as bee-brush or white-brush, has been widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as an analgesic and antimicrobial species. Phytochemical analysis of A. gratissima essentia...

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection and remains a relevant cause of chronic heart failure in Latin America. The pharmacological arsenal for Chagas disease is limited, and the available anti-T. cruzi drugs are not effective when administered during the chronic phase. Cardiomyocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cell...

Pests and diseases are responsible for most of the losses related to agricultural crops, either in the field or in storage. Moreover, due to indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides over the years, several issues have come along, such as pest resistance and contamination of important planet sources, such as water, air and soil. Therefore, in orde...

Musa paradisiaca L. (Musaceae), a tropical plant named banana is used as food and as medicine in Brazil. Banana inflorescence, popularly known as mangará, presents several biological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we demonstrated the immunomodulatory activity of banana inflorescence extract (HEM) on a mice model of combined a...

Background : Aloysia gratissima (Verbenaceae), popularly known as bee-brush or whitebrush, has been widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as analgesic, expectorant and antimicrobial. Phytochemical studies have identified β-caryophyllene as one of the major components of the essential oil of this plant. This bioactive sesquiterpene has been shown t...

Insetos praga são modelos de estudo na busca de métodos alternativos de controle que não agridam o homem e o meio ambiente, devido aos efeitos nocivos às plantações de grãos causando grandes impactos econômicos. O estudo buscou avaliar o potencial inseticida e ovicida da neolignana Burchelina sobre Oncopeltus fasciatus. Os bioensaios foram conduzid...

Sesquiterpernes are natural compounds widely distributed in plants rich in essential oils; among these compounds, α-humulene and its isomers stand out for their multiple pharmacological properties and for their uses in the cosmetics, perfumery and food industries. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review (SR) in order to identify the...

Riparins are alkamides naturally found in the fruits of Aniba riparia (Nees) Mez, but currently synthetic molecules as Riparin E (Rip-E) can be obtained. Potential biological of Rip-E as schistosomicidal agent against Schistosoma mansoni worms, as well as against Staphylococcus aureus strains has already been described. However, the mechanism of ac...

Background: Depression is a common, chronic, and often recurrent serious mood disorder. Conventional antidepressants present limitations that stimulate the search for new drugs. Antioxidant and neuroprotective substances are potential antidepressant agents. In this context, riparin I (RIP I) has presented promising results, emerging as a potential...

Ocotea duckei Vattimo, popularly known as “louro-de-cheiro”, “louro-pimenta”, and “louro-canela” is a member of the Lauraceae family found in the Northeast region of Brazil. It is popularly used to treat neuralgia, dyspepsia, anorexia and pain. This current study aimed to promote the isolation and the identification / determination of new secondary...

Fungal pathologies caused by the genus Candida have increased in recent years due to the involvement of immunosuppressed people and the advance of resistance mechanisms acquired by these microorganisms. Liposomes are nanovesicles with lipid bilayers in which they store compounds. α-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene with proven biological activities, and...

This study describes a virtual screening performed for two series of selenides (28 compounds), derived from N-phenylacetamides chlorides and 7-chloro-quinoline, to determine their potential for leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani. Seven compounds were predicted as potential leishmanicides; therefore, they...

Introduction: biofilm-related infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are difficult to treat and few effective pharmacological options are currently available for this purpose. In this context, coumarin (2H-1-Benzopyran-2-one) has been reported to have antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, but...

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammation that triggers acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with perialveolar neutrophil infiltration, alveolar-capillary barrier damage, and lung edema. Activation of the toll-like receptor 4 complex and its downstream signaling pathways are responsible for the cytokine storm and cause alveolar damage on ARD...

Four new piperine derivatives, PC1-PC4, were synthesized, and their structures were fully characterized by infrared (IR) and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Quantum chemical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP-D3/6-31G(d,p) and 6-311+G(2d,p) basis sets. Electronic properties,...

Stress is crucially related to the pathophysiology of mood disorders, including depression. Since the effectiveness and number of the current pharmacological options still presents significant limitations, research on new substances is paramount. In rodents, several findings have indicated that corticosterone administration induces the manifestatio...

Background : p-Cymene and rosmarinic acid are secondary metabolites found in several medicinal plants and spices. Previous studies have demonstrated their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective effects. Purpose : To evaluate their gastroduodenal antiulcer activity, gastric healing and toxicity in experimental models. Methods : Prevent...

Leishmaniases are a group of infectious diseases, with different clinical manifestations, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. First line drugs used in the treatment of leishmaniosis are high in price and very aggressive, often requiring medical monitoring. Thus new therapeutic alternatives are needed and, in this context, natural products h...

Aims This study aimed to investigate the potential of limonene as an efflux pump (EP) inhibitor in Staphylococcus aureus strains RN-4220 and IS-58, which carry EPs for erythromycin (MrsA) and tetracycline (TetK), respectively. Background The evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms over time has impaired the action of most classes of antibioti...

Aims: To evaluate the vasorelaxant effect induced by the essential oil of the leaves of O. duckei Vattimo (ODEO) and its main constituent, trans-caryophyllene, in rat superior mesenteric arteries. Methodology: Isolated rat superior mesenteric rings were suspended by cotton threads for isometric tension recordings in Tyrode’s solution at 37ºC, gasse...

Chronic inflammation provides a favorable microenvironment for tumorigenesis, which opens opportunities for targeting cancer development and progression. Piplartine (PL) is a biologically active alkaloid from long peppers that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. In the present study, we investigated the physical and chemical interact...

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a secondary metabolite present in several plant species that has already demonstrated antioxidant, antiallergic, anticancer, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects experimentally. Due to the promising pharmacological properties found previously, this study aimed to assess the oral acute toxicity and the...

A series of fifteen new piperine-derived diesters was synthesized through the substitution reaction between the salt of piperic acid, obtained through piperine basic hydrolysis, with the δ-chloro-esters, obtained through the cleavage of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with acyl chlorides in the presence of ZnCl2. The final compounds were obtained with yields...

Natural products have been used to treat various infections; however, the development of antimicrobials has made natural products in disuse. Riparin I, II and III are natural alkamide isolated from Aniba riparia (Ness) Mez (Lauraceae), that exhibit economic importance and it is used in traditional medicine, and popularly known as “louro”. This stud...

Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, was brought into the spotlight due to its widespread and increased pathogenicity, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs), which are multipotent cells capable of differentiating into the major neural phenotypes, are very susceptible to ZIKV infection....

The polymorph selection during the discovery and development of new drugs is a crucial factor in ensuring the efficacy of a formulation. Thus, the physicochemical properties, including crystal structure, need to be considered in the decision tree that leads to a drug candidate. Riparins, natural alkamides isolated and later synthesized from Aniba r...

Isougenol is a phytoconstituent found in several essential oils. Since many natural products are potent antimicrobials, the synthesis of hybrid molecules-combining the chemical skeleton of the phytochemical with synthetic groups-can generate substances with enhanced biological activity. Based on this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the...

Ten imides derived from safrole, 4a-4j, were synthesized and their structures were fully characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis. Among the ten imides studied, eight are new. The compounds were evaluated in an in silico study and show...

Background Natural products, such as phenylpropanoids, which are found in essential oils derived from aromatic plants, have been explored during non-clinical psychopharmacology studies, to discover new molecules with relevant pharmacological activities in the central nervous system, especially antidepressant and anxiolytic activities. Major depress...

Coumarins exhibit a wide variety of biological effects, including activities in the cardiovascular system and the aim of this study was to evaluate the vascular therapeutic potential of 7-Hydroxicoumarin (7-HC). The vascular effects induced by 7-HC (0.001 μM–300 μM), were investigated by in vitro approaches using isometric tension measurements in r...