José Galberto Martins da Costa

• PhD of Organic Chemistry
• Research Officer at Universidade Regional do Cariri

Studies related to the allelopathic properties of plants have aroused great interest, since species that have compounds with allelopathic activity can be used as bioherbicides in the control of weeds. In this way, the aim of this study was to evaluate the allelopathic action of Dahlstedtia araripensis on the germination and growth of Calotropis pro...

Background/Objectives: The work investigates the effect of the estragole complex encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin (ES/β-CD) in modulating bacterial resistance, specifically in Staphylococcus aureus strains expressing NorA and MepA efflux pumps. Efflux pumps are mechanisms that bacteria use to resist antibiotics by expelling them from the cell. Met...

Anxiety and depression are mental disorders that have been exponentially increasing over the last decades. Psychopharmacology emerged to try to alleviate the symptoms of these disorders; however, the side effects and the time it takes to achieve the desired effect are factors that decrease the search for and adherence to treatment. To remedy this s...

(1) Background: Lippia sidoides Cham is a Brazilian aromatic plant rich in phenolic compounds. In traditional medicine, its leaves are used to treat diseases of the Central Nervous System such as stress and anxiety. This study evaluates the capacity of the aqueous extract of L. sidoides as an anticonvulsant, anticholinesterase and antihemolytic age...

Background: Croton grewioides Baill., a species native to the Caatinga, popularly known as canela de cunhã, is used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea, gastritis and stomach ulcers. The combination of essential oils with antibiotics reveals several beneficial effects associated with the increased efficacy of...

Marine sponges are sources of bioactive compounds, sparking pharmacological interest. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the species Desmapsamma anchorata, Dysidea etheria, and Echinodictyum dendroides. The chemical profile was characterized by the identification and quantification of pol...

Marine sponges belonging to the class Demospongiae have been shown to be promising sources of bioactive compounds, investigated from the perspective of potential medical applications. This review aimed to collect studies on biological activities of clinical importance and the chemical composition of sponge species from that class, highlighting the...

Croton grewioides Baill., a species native to the Caatinga, popularly known as canela de cunhã, is used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea, gastritis and stomach ulcers. This study aimed to identify the chemical composition of the essential oil of C. grewioides (OECG) and evaluate its antibacterial and antib...

Genipa americana L. (Rubiaceae), known as jenipapeiro, has therapeutic and nutritional potential. This integrative review aimed to gather information on botanical characteristics, popular uses, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of G. americana. The methodology employed to obtain the data integrated literature published between 2000 and 2023...

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...

Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. é uma planta endêmica da caatinga explorada pelo homem sendo notório o valor terapêutico nas práticas medicinais. É extraído a partir da casca da árvore e substituído pelo creme dental convencional, na escovação. O uso de plantas medicinais como forma terapêutica é manifestado desde os primórdios em diferentes classes sociai...

Objective The present study aimed to investigate the chemical profile and evaluate the antibacterial and antibiotic-modulating activity of the methanolic extract and ethyl acetate of the stem bark of C. quercifolius against standard and multiresistant strains. Methods The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was determined by the microdilution method,...

This review aimed to select, analyze and gather data published in the literature focusing on the chemical profile and bioactivities described for M. subnitida products. Data collection was carried out through the Capes Journal Portal platform, using the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. Original articles published in English...

Quinones are natural products widely distributed in nature, which are involved in stages of several vital biological processes, with mostly having a variety of pharmacological properties. The main groups comprising most of these compounds are benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, and phenanthraquinones. Quinone isolation has been a focus...

In this study, the efficiency of two detectors—variable wavelength detector (VWD) and fluorescence detector (FLD)—in a liquid chromatograph to quantify azoxystrobin in water was compared. For this, a method was developed in a HPLC-VWD-FLD system using extraction by modified QuEChERS. The detection of azoxystrobin by fluorescence was possible using...

Cnidoscolus quercifolius, commonly known as "favela", "faveleira", "urtiga-branca", and "cansanção", is a plant that is native to the Caatinga biome. The species is extremely tolerant to adverse weather conditions and is of great importance for the population of the semi-arid region, as it has uses in afforestation, the recovery of degraded areas,...

Antimicrobial resistance has become a growing public health concern in recent decades, demanding a search for new effective treatments. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the phytochemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial activity of the essential oil obtained from the fruits of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (EOPT) against strains carryi...

In this study, twelve campesterol derivatives (2-13) were prepared by structural modification at the hydroxyl group in C-3 and catalytic hydrogenation at the carbon-carbon double bond in C-5(6). All obtained compounds were characterized by infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C-NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Campesterol (1) and all...

Species belonging to the genus Lippia are used worldwide as foods, beverages, and seasonings. Studies have demonstrated that these species have antioxidant, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. This work aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and anxiolytic effect by different pathways of essential oils and etha...

Medicinal plants are used as cheaper alternatives for the treatment of certain pathologies. Due to the great Brazilian biodiversity, many plants do not have in-depth studies such as Cinnamodendron dinisii Schwacke (pepper or pau-pra-tudo), which is native to the south and southeast. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity o...

Medicinal plants have been used for many years by communities to treat illnesses. The need for scientific proof of these vegetable’s curative effects is as necessary as the proof of the inexistence of toxicity related to the use of extracts with therapeutic potential. Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae), popularly known as “pinha”, “ata” or “fruta do c...

Silva, A.d.A.; da Silva, V.B.; dos Santos, A.T.L.; Juno Alencar Fonseca, V.; de Macêdo, D.G.; da Cruz, R.P.; Almeida-Bezerra, J.W.; et al. LC-MS Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Turnera subulata Sm. Plants 2023, 12, 0. https://doi.org/ Academic Editors: Abstract: Fungi of the Candida genus are responsible for invasive candidiasis, which affects...

Fungi of the Candida genus are responsible for invasive candidiasis, which affects people all over the world and has high mortality rates. This is due to their virulence factors, which give them great resistance and pathogenicity. In addition, the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains makes it difficult to treat these infections. In this way, na...

Aniba riparia (Nees) Mez of the Lauraceae family, is a medicinal plant native to the Amazon region and commonly used as a spice. Chemical analyses carried out in 1982 on the leaves of A. riparia revealed the presence of a special group of alkamides called riparins. Subsequently, analogs were synthesized from isolated riparins. Studies have reported...

Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae) is a species often mentioned in traditional medicine due to the medicinal properties attributed to its leaves, which include antibacterial, antifungal, acaricidal and antioxidant. Several of these actions have been scientifically proven, according to reports in the literature; however, little is known about toxic...

Thirteen fucosterol derivatives were prepared by structural modification at the hydroxyl group in C-3 and catalytic hydrogenation at the carbon-carbon double bond in C-5(6) and C-24(28). The structures of all compounds were established based on their spectral data (IR, MS, and NMR). Fucosterol (1) and its derivatives (2-12, and a mixture of 13a and...

Microbial resistance has become a worrying problem in recent decades after the abusive use of antibiotics causing the selection of resistant microorganisms. In order to circumvent such resistance, researchers have invested efforts in the search for promising natural substances, such as essential oils. Thus, the objective of this work was to determi...

The species Hancornia speciosa (mangabeira) has varied potential. The bark has astringent properties, latex is used for tuberculosis, ulcers, herpes, dermatoses and warts, leaf tea is used for menstrual cramps and the root decoction to treat dislocations and hypertension. The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical composition of the fixed oil...

This study investigated the flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and toxicological properties of the acetone–water fraction of stem bark of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart. (TFSR). The total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were determined, as typified by DPPH● and ABTS●+ radical scavenging abilities, Fe3+ reducing antioxidant powe...

Species of the genus Miconia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with Miconia species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This...

Caryocar coriaceum is an endemic tree of Brazil, occurring mainly in the northeast region in the Cerrado environment. The species, popularly known as "pequi", produces fruits that are used in the manufacture of oil for food and medicinal purposes. This work reviewed studies conducted with the species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal use, its pharma...

This study involves aporphine alkaloids identified through ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. For the present publication, articles were selected from several databases on aporphine alkaloids from 1994 to 2021. In this class, more than 700 compounds have been registered, with 221 were included in this section, among which 122...

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease linked to multiple comorbidities, such as low-grade inflammation. β-pinene, a monoterpene commonly found in aromatic plants, is endowed with anti-inflammatory effect and this fact lead us to investigate the possible hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene in the allox...

This work aimed to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils from Psidium laruotteanum Cambess. (Marangaba-peluda), Psidium salutare (Kunth) O. Berg (Marangaba-vermelha) and Psidium sobralianum Landrum & Proença (Araçá-de-veado), and to investigate their antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Twenty-six chemical compounds were ident...

This study aims to investigate the toxicity and possible effects and mechanism of action of the essential oil obtained from the Piper tuberculatum Jacq.‘s fruit (EOPT) on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice. In the Hippocratic test, it was observed ambulation reduction, sedation, piloerection and mortality of 25% at the dose of 1000 mg/kg and...

There is a recurring concern about the increase in infections caused by fungi and bacteria in the hospital environment. Considering the increase in resistant microorganisms and with that the need for more aggressive treatments for the treatment of these infections, research with natural products has been an effective alternative in the search for n...

The phenology has been discussed according to climatic variations and the environmental characteristics of each physiognomy, trying to identify if there is variation in the vegetative and reproductive phenophases, for Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. in areas of the Cerradão, Carrasco and Humid Forest, Chapada do Araripe in Northeast Brazil and if they...

Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze is a species widely used traditionally in the treatment of ailments, such as stomach pain, hemorrhoids, cough, verminosis, ulcer, liver disease, fever, influenza, nasal congestion, and inflammation. is review aims to provide a survey of available information on seven international electronic databases (Google Sch...

Bixa orellana é uma planta advinda da América do Sul, comumente utilizada para fins econômicos e terapêuticos. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar o perfil químico e avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato acetônico das sementes de Bixa orellana. A identificação e quantificação dos compostos químicos foi realizada através de prospecção...

Spondias mombin is used in the folk medicine for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery, indicating that extracts obtained from this species may present pharmacological activities against pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this work was to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from...

Due to the importance of diseases associated with oxidative stress, the search for natural antioxidants proves to be essential. This work aimed to compare the chemical composition and antioxidant potential of essential oils from the genus Lippia L. through chemometric analysis. The essential oils were characterized by gas chromatography coupled wit...

Background Bacterial resistance to multiple drugs has recently emerged as a serious health problem. Concomitantly, the characterization of new substances with potential antimicrobial activity has been less frequent in the drug development industry. The overexpression of genes encoding efflux pumps that expel antimicrobial drugs from the intracellul...

The applications of nanoparticles in various practical fields, owing to their unique properties compared with bulk materials, have been occupying the minds of scientists for several decades. In this regard, a combination of pharmacology and nanotechnology has contributed to producing newer effective anticancer and antimicrobial agents to inactivate...

The understanding of popular knowledge has guided the studies involving promising natural products for the development of botanical insecticides, through ethnobotanical research. The frequent records of scientific research with the genus Lippia demonstrate a high insecticidal potential for the species, with prospects of new products for the market....

The chemical composition of the Cynophalla flexuosa hydroethanolic extract (CFHEE) was identified and its antioxidant, antifungal and antipleomorphic activities against C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains were evaluated. Phytochemical prospecting evidenced polyphenolic and triterpenoid compounds while UPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of Iso...

Popularly, the fixed oil from the fruits of Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. extracted by extractivists from Chapada of Araripe, it is used for the treatment of various diseases, especially for the treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases. Due to this popular use, it was hypothesized that this product had an effect against pathogenic microorganisms....

The chemical composition of Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. is rich in sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, and is mainly indicated for healing and inflammation in general. Considering the medicinal importance of this species and the lack of research that gathers and analyzes the available information, this study aimed to verify if there is consensus on the...

Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart., popularly known as “barbatimão”, is a plant species traditionally used by topical and oral routes for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Considering the well-described antioxidant properties of this species, this study investigated the protective effects of its keto-aqueous extract using an i...

Azadirachta indica have allelopathic potential, attributed to the presence of allelochemicals capable of altering plant diversity in surrounding areas. This work aimed to evaluate if the decomposed leaves of A. indica can affect the germination and growth of Myracrodruon urundeuva. A. indica leaves were collected at the end of senescence and mixed...

This work aimed to analyze the chemical composition and evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Lantana montevidensis (OEFLM) in mice. The chemical composition of the OEFLM was analyzed by GC–MS, and its effects on the central nervous system were determined by the open field and...

This study presents the chemical profile of extracts from the pulp and seed of Annona squamosa L., as well as the evaluation of their antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities. In the chemical prospection, qualitative assays were performed, and the contents of total phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, and carotenoids were quantified. F...

Background: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) acts on cholinergic hydrolysis, whose changes in its functions are related to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Another important component in these pathologies is oxidative stress, responsible for extensive cellular damage, caused by free radicals. Alkaloids represent an important active source...

Laurus nobilis L (Lauraceae), which is popularly known as laurel. This species is commonly employed in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the antibacterial and modulatory potential of the essential oil of Laurus nobilis and the compound 1,8-cienol. The essential...

O conhecimento sobre a composição de alimentos regionais é de suma importância para a orientação nutricional da população. Os frutos de Mauritia flexuosa L. f. são fonte alimentar que vem gerando interesse devido sua composição química e farmacológica. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a composição centesimal e a atividade antioxidante dos frutos...

Bacterial resistance is a natural process carried out by bacteria, which has been considered a public health problem in recent decades. This process can be triggered through the efflux mechanism, which has been extensively studied, mainly related to the use of natural products to inhibit this mechanism. To carry out the present study, the minimum i...

Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory activity of ferulic acid and four of its esterified derivatives (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl) against resistance mechanisms in Staphylococcus aureus strains. Methods: Ferulic acid derivatives were obtained by esterification with methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol, and then characterized by hydrogen a...

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal potential of the essential oil of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. against Candida strains. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was assessed by the microdilution method using the essential oil at a concentration range of 8192 to 8 μg/mL. The minimum fungicide concentr...

Background The use of medicinal plants is one of the oldest practices of humanity, its use is aimed at the treatment, cure and prevention of diseases. The plant Licania rigida Benth., popularly known as icticic, is used in folk medicine to treat flu, diarrhea, epilepsy and malaria, having some scientifically proven biological activities, such as it...

Ethnopharmacological importance Brazilian medicinal species of the Psidium genus are rich in secondary metabolites such as terpenes and phenolic compounds and present biological activities for several human diseases. For the native Psidium species, there are no specific research reports for any member of the genus about ethnobotanical research, hin...

Purpose: Alternative methods for the use of animals in research have gained increasing importance, due to assessments evaluating the real need for their use and the development of legislation that regulates the subject. The principle of the 3R's (replacement, reduction and refinement) has been an important reference, such that in vitro, ex vivo an...

The improper disposal of waste containing toxic metals is a major environmental pollution problem. Among the different methodologies to deal with this problem, biosorption is considered one of the most efficient processes for the removal of toxic metals from aqueous solutions. The use of natural adsorbents, such as vegetable waste, in a process kno...

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity and to verify, in silico and in vitro, the inhibition of efflux mechanisms using a series of synthesized 1,8-naphthyridines sulfonamides against Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying MepA efflux pumps. The chemical synthesis occurred through the thermolysis of the Meldrum's acid adduct. The s...

Background and objective Efflux pumps are transmembrane proteins associated with bacterial resistance mechanisms. Bacteria use these proteins to actively transport antibiotics to the extracellular medium, preventing the pharmacological action of these drugs. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro the antibacterial activity of 1,8-naphthyridines sulf...

Auxemma glazioviana Taub. (Boraginaceae), conhecida como “pau branco”, está distribuída nos estados do Ceará e Rio Grande do Norte e é utilizada tradicionalmente no tratamento de cortes e feridas. As distintas atividades biológicas estão associadas a presença de quinonas, composto químico de ampla ocorrência na espécie. O objetivo desse estudo foi...

As atividades experimentais representam recurso indiscutível no processo ensino – aprendizagem. Para alunos de graduação essas práticas se tornam mais eficientes quando tratadas de forma contextualizada. Métodos físicos de análises são alternativas simples, de baixo custo e rápidas na verificação da autenticidade de óleos essenciais com alto valor...

Caesalpinia ferrea C. Mart., popularly known as “Jucá” or “Pau-ferro”, belongs to the Fabaceae family, and is classified as a native and endemic species in Brazil. Numerous studies that portray its ethnobotany, chemical composition, and biological activities exist in the literature. The present study aimed to systematically review publications addr...

Species of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae) are widely used in folk medicine in various cultures, for the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Several ethnobotanical studies have reported the use of these species, which, among other benefits, instigated further researches on several pharmacological properties and biologically active compounds prese...

Background/Purpose The fractions were tested to investigate their chemical composition and antifungal potential in vitro. Methods/Results The results obtained through the chromatographic analysis allowed the identification of 28 compounds. Microbiological assays were carried out in order to determine the IC50, cell viability curve and inhibitory e...

This study aimed to characterize the chemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the pulp oil of Mauritia flexuosa L. f. (Arecaceae). Chemical identification was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The physicochemical properties were characterized. Antioxidant capacity has been verified by eliminating of free rad...

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a spice widely used for its medical properties, though the species lacks scientific evidence regarding its toxicity and biologic effects. The aim of this study was the chemical identification by GC-MS analysis and evaluation of the hemolytic, anticoagulant, antidiarrheal and antipyretic activities of the essential oil...

This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition and to evaluate the essential oil activity of Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis against R. microplus larvae and engorged females. Analysis of essential oils by GC and GC/MS allowed the identification of 34 constituents. L. camara oil was mainly composed of Bicyclogermacrene, isocaryophylle...

The present study was aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the aqueous extracts of Odontosoria chinensis (L.) J. Sm. and the synthesized AgNPs were examined for their biopotentials. The Odontosoria chinensis extracts were added to 1 mM AgNO3 solution with different ratios viz., 0.5: 9.5, 1:9, 1.5: 8.5 and 2: 8 ratios for the reduct...

Available online xxx Edited by V € Ord€ og A B S T R A C T This study aims to verify the chelating, antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of Eugenia uniflora in a eukaryotic and prokaryotic model. Ethanolic extract, as well as tannic and flavonoid fractions, were prepared from samples obtained from the species which were analyzed by LC-MS. The...

The chemical properties of Ulva lactuca polysaccharide (ULP), its anti-tumour activity in H22 tumour-bearing mice, and immunoregulatory activity on CTX-induced mice were determined. ULP showed a higher tumour inhibitory rate of 74.41% with repairing cells than cyclophosphamide with side effects on immune system. ULP enhanced the expression of p53 t...

Species from the Annona (Anonaceae) genus are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Ethnobotanical studies provide information regarding the plant part and the preparation method being used, while scientific studies such as in vitro, in vivo, and clinical tests can provide evidence supporting ethnopharmacological repor...

In recent decades, aquatic environment pollution has become a global challenge due to a rapid industrial growth. In this context, adsorption has become one of the most used methods, gaining importance especially in the last decades, given the growing concern over environmental damages caused by these pollutants. Additionally, its low cost and bioav...

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of seasonality from different collection periods on the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the Psidium myrtoides O. Berg essential oil (OEFPm). The OEFPm chemical composition was evaluated through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The oil's antifungal activity...

This research evaluated the anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of a hydroethanolic extract from the leaves of Annona coriacea (EHFAC) and caffeic acid (CA). Mice were intraperitoneally treated with saline, EHFAC (1, 10, 20 mg/kg) or CA (0.15 mg/kg) and subject to the elevated plus-maze, open field, rota-rod, forced swimming and reserpine-in...