Maria Flaviana Bezerra Morais Braga

• Doutora em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza; Mestre em Bioprospecção Molecular
• Professor at Universidade Regional do Cariri

A incidência de infecções fúngicas oportunistas causadas por espécies do gênero Candida, caracteriza-se como grave ameaça à saúde pública global. Assim, produtos naturais surgem como possíveis agentes terapêuticos a serem utilizados no tratamento dessas infecções. No presente trabalho, buscou-se investigar o potencial antifúngico do óleo essencial...

Candidemia is a public health challenge as it causes thousands of annual deaths and combating it has become difficult due to the development of resistance in Candida spp. Compounds derived from natural products may counter this resistance. Therefore, we evaluate the intrinsic and combined antifungal activity of valencene and nootkatone compounds an...

Biofilms, formed by microbial communities that increase resistance to antibiotics, are responsible for chronic infections, making their combat a therapeutic priority. Taking this into account, the fruit Caryocar coriaceum stands out for its potential in the treatment of infectious diseases. The different parts of this plant can be used, and the fix...

Antibiotics are crucial in treating infectious diseases, but bacterial resistance is a serious public health issue, increasing costs and prolonging treatments. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), especially strain K2068, exhibits resistance through efflux pumps, complicating treatment. To combat this, alternatives such as thiadiazine derivatives, pr...

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...

Multidrug-resistant bacteria have complicated the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases; their microbial resistance stems from the indiscriminate use of medications and the transfer of resistance genes. Varronia curassavica Jacq., a plant traditionally used to treat rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases in underserved populations, has sparked in...

Varronia curassavica Jacq. is an aromatic species appertaining to the Boraginaceae family and has been mentioned for its numerous traditional uses and pharmacological properties, especially its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical profile and antifungal activities of the esse...

Antimicrobials fight microorganisms, preventing and treating infectious diseases. However, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern due to the inappropriate and excessive use of these drugs. Several mechanisms can lead to resistance, including efflux pumps such as the NorA pump in Staphylococcus aureus, which reduces the effectiveness of...

This study aims to investigate the essential oil from leaves of E. pohliana (EOEP) in regard to its chemical composition, antimicrobial and drug‐enhancing activity, as well as the reduction of fungal virulence capacity. Chemical characterization using GC‐MS showed as major components the sesquiterpenes δ‐cadinene, Epi‐α‐Muurolol, and bicyclogermacr...

This study investigated crotamine (CTA), a peptide derived from the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, known for its exceptional cell penetration potential. The objective was to explore the antibacterial and antifungal activity of CTA, its ability to inhibit efflux pumps and evaluate the effectiveness of its pharm...

Candida species are normally commensal yeasts residing in the human body, under certain circumstances, can trigger pathological conditions such as candidiasis, not to mention antifungal resistance. Lippia sidoides Cham., or pepper-rosmarinus, is a native plant found in the Northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil, cited in ethnobotanical studies for...

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Hancornia speciosa is a medicinal plant popularly used to treat different medical issues, including infectious diseases. Exploring the therapeutic potentialities of the extracts from medicinal plants combined with conventional antibiotic drugs is a promising horizon, especially considering the rising microbia...

The global antibiotic resistance crisis highlights the inappropriate use of medicines by the population and the lack of development of new antimicrobial agents. According to various studies, natural products are promising alternatives for combating bacterial resistance and treating infectious diseases. Accordingly, the present study aimed to analyz...

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...

As microbes develop resistance to various drugs, the treatment of infections becomes increasingly challenging, leading to prolonged illness, heightened severity of infections, elevated mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs. Essential oils are lipophilic and volatile mixtures of compounds that have gained attention in research for novel an...

Cordiera myrciifolia is an abundant species in Northeast Brazil that presents metabolites of biological/therapeutic interest. From this perspective, the present study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents and evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of hexane (HECM) and ethanolic (EECM) extracts of C. myrciifolia leaves. The extracts w...

Fungal infections are a public health problem that mainly affects immunosuppressed people, Candida spp. have been responsible for most sources of contamination and invasive fungal infections described around the world. The need arises to find new therapeutic approaches to combat growing infections. Plants and natural products have been considered a...

Given the current disastrous situation of bacterial resistance resulting in deaths worldwide due to the misuse of antibiotics, it is necessary to explore natural means that can reverse this situation. Thus, the essential oil of Astronium urundeuva, which possesses properties directly related to its antibacterial effects, was the focus of this resea...

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antifungal activity, reduction of fungal virulence, and toxicity of the fixed oil from the inner mesocarp of C. coriaceum tested against three Candida yeasts. The oil was characterized by gas chromatography (GC‐MS and GC‐FID). Antifungal activity was assessed using the serial microdilution meth...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Hancornia speciosa Gomes is a fruit and medicinal species used for treating infectious diseases of the genitourinary system. However, its mechanism of action against microbes is still not fully understood. Infections in the genitourinary system caused by Candida spp. are associated with its fungal resistance and path...

The increasing antifungal resistance rates against conventional drugs reveal the urgent need to search for new therapeutic alternatives. In this context, natural bioactive compounds have a critical role in antifungal drug development. Since evidence demonstrates that abietic acid, a diterpene found in Pinus species, has significant antimicrobial pr...

Caryocar coriaceum, commonly known as 'pequi', is a medicinal species used traditionally for the herbal treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases in the Brazilian Northeast region. In this study, we investigated whether the fruits of C. coriaceum have bioactive chemical constituents against etiological agents of infectious diseases. The methan...

This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic effects of the fixed oils of Acrocomia aculeata (FOAA) and Syagrus cearenses (FOSC) against the bacterial strains and the fungi strains of the genus Candida spp. The method of serial microdilution using different concentrations was used for measuring the individual biological activity of the fixed oils. T...

The increased resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs makes it necessary to search for new active compounds, such as chalcones. Their simple chemical structure makes them molecules easy to synthesize. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and potentiating activity of antibiotics and antifungals by synthetic...

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...

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...

This study aimed to identify the chemical composition of the Spondias tuberosa aqueous leaf and root extracts (EALST and EARST) and to evaluate their effect, comparatively, against opportunistic pathogenic fungi. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to a Quadrupole/Time of Flight System (UPLC-MS-ESI-QTOF) was employed for chemical analys...

Candida species are considered opportunistic microorganisms present in the normal microbiota of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts of human beings. These infections are more common in individuals with compromised immune systems and their frequency has increased over the years. Regarding bioproducts, recent research from natu...

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 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...

Essential oils are chemical substances composed mainly of terpenes and terpenoids. These compounds are widely investigated due to their lipophilic characteristics and biological and pharmacological properties. Therefore, the objective of this review was to investigate the potential of essential oils against species of the genus Leishmania, parasite...

The number of arbovirus cases has increased in recent years, demonstrating a need for investing in effective control actions. Among these actions, are strategies using biological control vectors, a field where Wolbachia pipientis has shown itself as useful. Wolbachia pipientis, an obligatory intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, which parasites art...

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...

Lectins participate in the defense against microorganisms and in signaling the damage caused by pathogens to the cell surface and/or intracellular in plants. This study aims to analyze the antifungal potential of lectins extracted from seeds of Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC and Canavalia rosea (Sw.) DC, against Candida albicans and Candida tropicali...

One of the main global problems that affect human health is the development of bacterial resistance to different drugs. As a result, the growing number of multidrug-resistant pathogens has contributed to an increase in resistant infections and represents a public health problem. The present work seeks to investigate the chemical composition and ant...

Lectins are biologically versatile biomolecules with remarkable antimicrobial effects, notably against bacteria, fungi and protozoa, in addition to modulating host inununity. For this, the lectins bind to carbohydrates on the surface of the pathogen, which can cause dan1age to the cell wall and preveni the attachment of microorganisms to host cells...

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...

Weeds are an important source of natural products; with promising biological activity. This study investigated the anti-kinetoplastida potential (in vitro) to evaluate the cytotoxicity (in vitro) and antioxidant capacity of the essential oil of Rhaphiodon echinus (EORe), which is an infesting plant species. The essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS....

(1) Background: Candida is a genus of yeasts with notable pathogenicity and significant ability to develop antimicrobial resistance. Gossypium hirsutum L., a medicinal plant that is traditionally used due to its antimicrobial properties, has demonstrated significant antifungal activity. Therefore, this study investigated the chemical composition an...

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...

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...

Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a health public concern as the combat of resistant microorganisms has become increasingly challenging. Thus, considering the urgent need of developing new therapeutic alternatives, the present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the antimicrobial and drug enhancing potential of th...

Due to the increase in fungal resistance to existing drugs, a need exists to search for new antifungals. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of α, β, and δ-damascone and inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin against different Candida spp. The inclusion complex of β-damascone was prepared by the co-evaporation method using three m...

Sida L. is one of the most diverse genera within Malvaceae, with species popularly used in different countries for the treatment of diseases. Scientific support for the ethnopharmacological potential of some of these species has been provided by bio-assays. In this work, leaf extracts of S. galheirensis, one of the least chemically and pharmacologi...

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...

Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis are neglected parasitic diseases that constitute a major public health problem. In the search for new therapeutic alternatives for such pathologies, the essential oil of the leaves of Psidium brownianum Mart ex DC was investigated regarding its chemical composition, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic effects. The chemical...

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 fruit of the "pequi" (Caryocar coriaceum Wittm.) is popularly used for the treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases. Chemically, the fruit is rich in oils consisting mainly of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. In this study, C. cori-aceum fixed oil was evaluated for its activity against Leishmania infantum strains. Ripe fruits were c...

Lectins are biologically versatile biomolecules with remarkable antimicrobial effects, notably against bacteria, fungi and protozoa, in addition to modulating host immunity. For this, the lectins bind to carbohydrates on the surface of the pathogen, which can cause damage to the cell wall and prevent the attachment of microorganisms to host cells....

The Chapada of Araripe, located in the Northeast of Brazil, presents a great vegetal diversity. The region presents a great cultural plurality, which is reflected in several popular knowledge, such as medicinal plants in the region. The study aimed to carry out an ethnopharmacological bibliographic survey of angiosperms present in the region. The s...

The barks of Anacardium occidentale (cashew tree) been used for centuries in the popular pharma-copoeia of South America and West Africa for the treatment of infections and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the biological effect of the ethanolic extract of the barks against strains of Candida spp. and cancer cell lines,...

Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth (Euphorbiaceae), whose occurrence has already been registered in the most varied Brazilian biomes, is commonly found in the Chapada do Araripe, Ceará. The species is traditionally used to treat fungal, parasitic, and degenerative diseases. This study investigated the chemical composition and pharmacological potential...

Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth (Euphorbiaceae), whose occurrence has already been registered in the most varied Brazilian biomes, is commonly found in the Chapada do Araripe, Ceará. The species is traditionally used to treat fungal, parasitic, and degenerative diseases. This study investigated the chemical composition and pharmacological potential...

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are produced by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, and may generate severe health problems such as cancer, ulcers, and even problems in the newborn. This narrative review aims to present updated information about the use of natural bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of sexu...

Plant-derived essential oils are volatile hydrophobic compounds with significant antimicrobial activities. Considering the rise of antimicrobial resistance, these natural products have been highlighted as efficient weapons against multidrug-resistant microorganisms. This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial acti...

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...

In recent decades, fungal infections have been increasing, as well as the indiscriminate use of large-scale antifungal. The objective of the present study was to characterize the chemical components of L. montevidensis leaf essential oil (EOLm) and evaluate its antifungal potential and fluconazole modulating activity against Candida strains. The es...

Concerns regarding environmental contamination by heavy metals extends worldwide with some studies showing promising alternatives for soil recovery using plants. This research aimed to evaluate the ability of rutin flavonoid to reduce the toxicity of mercury dichloride (HgCl2) in microbiological and vegetable models, by antioxidant tests (DPPH) and...

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The Malvaceae family, an important group of plants that have the Gossypium (cotton) genus has been used in folk medicine to treat microbial diseases and symptoms. Aims of the study: This article aims to understand its ethnobotany expression in communities and scientific elucidation of antimicrobial activities of t...

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...

Neglected tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis and Chagas disease have difficult management, as their causative agents demonstrate resistance to the currently available drugs. Therefore, the development of novel antiparasitic compounds is urgent. This study investigated the chemical composition, cytotoxicity and antiparasitic activities of the e...

Antimicrobial resistance and the consequent inefficiency of antibiotics are the main problems faced by medicine. In view of this, numerous researches have been aimed at looking for new agents with antibacterial activity, among them natural products. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of...

Candida infections represent a threat to human health. Candida albicans is the main causative agent of invasive candidiasis, especially in immunosuppressed patients. The emergence of resistant strains has required the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this context, the use of liposomes as drug carrier systems is a promising alternative...

The objective of this work was to evaluate the antiparasitic potential and cytotoxic effect of extracts by the leaves and roots of S. tuberosa. The results show that the extracts of S. tuberosa have low antipromastigote activity against strains of L. braziliensis, since there was no action at concentrations ≤ 500 µg/mL. While for L. infantum there...

(1) Background: Infections by Candida species represent a serious threat to the health of immunocompromised individuals. Evidence has indicated that nerolidol has significant antifungal properties. Nonetheless, its use is restricted due to a low water solubility and high photosensitivity. The incorporation into liposomes may represent an efficient...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and modulatory potential of the Ziziphus joazeiro bark and leaf extracts, both in isolation and in association with fluconazole, against resistant species from the Candida genus. Antifungal assays were used to determine the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of the extract in isolation...

The use in folk medicine of leaves of Mesosphaerum suaveolens for the treatment of diseases of the digestive system and respiratory system, raised the hypothesis that its volatile oil has biological properties against pathogenic microorganisms. To evaluate this hypothesis, the antibacterial, antifungal activity against Candida yeast strains, which...

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...

Anacardium plants have received increasing recognition due to its nutritional and biological properties. A number of secondary metabolites are present in its leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant. Among the diverse Anacardium plants' bioactive effects, their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities comprise those that have gaine...

The emergence of fungal resistance to commercial drugs has been a major problem for the WHO. In this context, research with natural products is promising in the discovery of new active substances. Thus, this work evaluated the antifungal effect of a medicinal plant (i.e., Mesosphaerum suaveolens) against strains of the genus Candida, tested the com...

Infections by multiresistant microorganisms have led to a continuous investigation of substances acting as modifiers of this resistance. By following this approach, the chemical composition of the essential oil from Piper caldense leaf and its antimicrobial potential were investigated. The antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilutio...

Infections by multiresistant microorganisms have led to a continuous investigation of substances acting as modifiers of this resistance. By following this approach, the chemical composition of the essential oil from Piper caldense leaf and its antimicrobial potential were investigated. The antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilutio...