José Alixandre de Sousa Luis

Motivated by the search for novel antimicrobials against opportunistic resistant pathogens and based on the reported antimicrobial activity of phthalimides, two series of phthalimide and N-phthaloylglycine esters were designed to investigate whether the addition of butyl and aryl groups enhances their antimicrobial properties. Thus, in vitro antimicrobial activity, antifungal mechanism of action, effect combined with Chloramphenicol, in silico/vitro toxicity, and a docking molecular were studied. Phthalimide and N-phthaloylglycine aryl esters were obtained in yields of 75–98%. Phthalimide aryl ester 3b (R = Me) showed the best results against Gram-(+) and Gram-(−) bacteria, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, and yeast fungi, C. tropicalis and C. albicans, with MIC values equal to 128 µg·mL⁻¹. Regarding the antifungal mechanism of action on C. albicans, the MIC values of compound 3b changed from 128 to 1024 µg·mL⁻¹ in the presence of ergosterol. Furthermore, compound 3b showed synergy with Chloramphenicol against P. aeruginosa, with a FICI value equal to 0.5. Finally, the four most promising compounds had their in silico/vitro toxicity evaluated, which showed moderate toxicity to non-toxicity on Artemia salina larvae. With the exception of Chloramphenicol, all selected compounds, including Fluconazole, are potentially hepatotoxic, but they were predicted not to cause skin sensitization, suggesting a potential application for topical use. Molecular docking revealed that compound 3b exhibits superior binding affinity and stability with the 50S ribosomal subunit (−92.69 kcal·mol⁻¹) compared to Chloramphenicol, and a unique π–sulfur interaction with CYP51, suggesting its potential as a dual-action antibacterial and antifungal candidate against resistant pathogens.

Background: This study assessed the effects of Baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) almond oil supplementation on vascular function, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation in aorta arteries of Wistar rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups. The control group (n = 6), a Baru group receiving Baru almond oil at 7.2 mL/kg/day (BG 7.2 mL/kg, n = 6), and (iii) a Baru group receiving Baru almond oil at 14.4 mL/kg/day (BG 14.4 mL/kg, n = 6). Baru oil was administered for ten days. Platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, vascular function, and reactive oxygen species production were evaluated at the end of treatment. Results: Baru oil supplementation reduced platelet aggregation (p < 0.05) and the production of the superoxide anion radical in platelets (p < 0.05). Additionally, Baru oil supplementation exerted an antithrombotic effect (p < 0.05) and improved the vascular function of aorta arteries (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings showed that Baru oil reduced platelet aggregation, reactive oxygen species production, and improved vascular function, suggesting it to be a functional oil with great potential to act as a novel product for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease.

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 were synthesized from elemental selenium, as a precursor for the production of NaHSe, and subsequent reactions with 4,7-dichloro-quinoline and N-phenylacetamides chlorides were performed. The compounds were characterized by infrared (IR), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and sent for in vitro cytotoxicity tests against L. amazonensis and were found to be active and selective, and two compounds presented half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 5.67 and 10.81 µg mL-1. They also presented good interaction energies in the docking study, suggesting that may exert their effects by inhibiting the N-myristoyltransferase and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase enzymes in parasites.

Background. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is associated with inflamed ileal lesions in Crohn's disease colonized by pathogenic adherent–inv