INTRODUCTION: Chagas' disease is a parasitic, chronic and emergency infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi^[1]. Because of this, we are constantly seeking new therapeutic alternatives and methods of study. OBJECTIVES: To perform a virtual screening of 1,2-diazoles compounds as potential therapeutic agents for Chagas' disease through the elaboration of a predictive model. METHODS: A CHEMBL database^[2], composed of 661 chemical structures with activity potential against Trypanosoma cruzi, was selected. The compounds were classified according to the pIC₅₀ value (-log of IC50), with 332 active (pIC50 ≥7.1) and 328 inactive (pIC50 <7.1) that was selected randomly, keeping the same ratio of active/inactive compounds, in training set composed of 528 active and 129 inactive compounds and test set with 133 active and 129 inactive samples. The prediction set is composed of 31 unpublished 1,2-diazole compounds. The SMILES codes were the input data for all structures, which were in the Standardizer and predicted their properties generated by the VolSurf software^[3]. The model was generated by KNIME 3.1.0 software, using the Random Forest (RF) calculation algorithm. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In the analysis of the model, the hit rates obtained in the test and cross-validation were higher than 73%. In both, this parameter for active compounds was higher than the inactive ones, being, respectively, 80% and 80% for the test and 78% and 73% for the cross validation. The classification rate of the model was evaluated by the graph Receiver Operating Characteristic, corresponding in the test set to 0.843, indicating a high classification rate. The Matthews Correlation Coefficient was used to evaluate the prediction of the model, resulting in 0.63 in the test and 0.61 in the cross validation, indicating that the model has a good prediction. The RF model demonstrated that 13 molecules studied showed a percentage of potential activity above 65%. CONCLUSION: The model presented accuracy, reproducibility and distinguished the probability of potential activity of the molecules under study.

REFERENCES

1. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis). Geneva: 2018. Disponível em: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chagas-disease-(american-trypanosomiasis). Acesso em: 10 de Julho de 2018.
2. EUROPEAN BIOINFORMATICS INSTITUTE. CHEMBL Database. Available in: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/. Access in: 10 july of 2018.
3. MOLECULAR DISCOVERY. Vol Surf (Volume and Surface Descriptors). Available in: http://www.moldiscovery.com/software/vsplus/. Access in: 10 july of 2018.

One of the most current discussions these days is about the benefits of using the medicinal plant Cannabis sativa, generally known as marijuana or cannabis. Studies have been proving the effectiveness of cannabidiol as a therapeutic resource in psychic disorders, such as anxiety, schizophrenia and epilepsy. Latter, is a chronic disorder that occurs mainly in childhood and adolescence, characterized by excessive and abnormal activity of brain cells. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the applicability of Cannabidiol against the symptoms of epilepsy, being a retrospective review from articles published in the period of 2014 to 2018. In 2001, studies demonstrated the efficacy of cannabidiol in the treatment of seizures in children. Unlike the adverse side effects of current antiepileptic drugs, such as dizziness and vomiting, the effects of cannabidiol are almost nonexistent, in both short and long term use. The mechanism of action of cannabidiol is given by activating Cannabidiol receptors (CB1 and CB2) that coupled to an inhibitory G protein acts on the receptors by inhibiting synaptic transmission by blocking voltage-dependent calcium-activated potassium channels. In this context, cannabidiol (CBD) exerts its anticonvulsive function through neuroprotective mechanisms or through neural excitation/inhibition balance. Thus, it is believed that the endocannabinoid system can inhibit episodes of seizures. Studies indicate that this active substance should be used with a vaporizer to reduce the harmful effects of smoke, as well as its use in oil, especially for children and adolescents. Therefore, research has shown that Cannabidiol has broad therapeutic potential in central nervous system disorders, but further studies should be performed, both for the confirmation of these pharmacological effects and for proper approval in the treatment of seizures.

Fabaceae presents 145 subclades and 737 genera. Among them, the genus Sesbania, with about of 500 species, such as Sesbania virgata, whose seeds present high protein content. The present study aimed to characterize phytochemically, evaluate the protein content and bioprospecting lectins and trypsin inhibitors in the protein extract of Sesbania virgata seeds. Seed meal was used to obtain Total Protein Extract (TPE) in Glycine-NaOH 0.1 mol.L^-1 pH 9.0 NaCl 0.15 mol.L^-1 (1:15, w/v). After 22 hours of magnetic stirring, the extract was centrifuged (10000 x g, 30 min, and 4 °C) and the supernatant collected and named TPE. In this, it was determined the total protein content using the bovine serum albumin standard curve; bioprospecting lectins by hemagglutination assays in rabbit erythrocytes (CEUA/UFPB n°.178/2015), and trypsin inhibitors by enzyme assays using the enzyme bovine trypsin; and phytochemical characterization was given by different qualitative tests. TPE presented as protein content 7.13 mgP/mL and 106.96 mgP/gF; hemagglutination titers were 32 UH/mL, with 480 UH/gFa and 4.4887 UH/mgP; not precipitated trypsin inhibitors; and in phytochemical tests, reacted positively to saponins, catechins, flavones, flavonols, xanthones, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins and flavonoids, but reacted negatively to pyrogallic and catechin tannins, leucoantocyanidins, steroids and triterpenes. In other assays performed by our group (data not shown) in which an extract was obtained from buffer Glycine-HCl 0.1 mol.L^-1 pH 9.0 NaCl 0.15 mol.L^-1, under the same conditions, it was found that this extraction method was not able of bioprospecting lectins, but favored the precipitation of protease inhibitors. It is understood, thus, that the extraction method influences the obtaining of TPE, the demarcation of considerable protein content and numerous phytochemical compounds, besides the hemagglutination assays suggest the presence of lectins. Together, all these constituents make TPE a versatile biotechnological tool, to check various biological activities.

Cannabis sativa is an Asian plant worldwide known as "marijuana", currently the drug most used among young and adults. It began to be studied from 1960, focusing on the compounds present in the drug, as well as its physiological effects. The use of its active constituents cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been discussed by science due to its therapeutic properties in the fight against diseases such as anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and psychoses. Also, THC has analgesic effects and has been widely used in post-chemotherapy medicine, immunosuppressive diseases and marijuana use disorder. The purpose of this present review is to discuss and question the viability and efficacy of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) against marijuana drug dependence observed in users. The application for the treatment of addiction taking advantage of one of its most abundant components, the THC, allows the user not to experience severely symptoms of abstinence. There are recent studies using Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol to combat the overuse of marijuana, by giving serial doses of THC associated or not with drugs, in order to induce less harmful effects of "pleasure" and decrease the number of implications of smoking the herb itself. It is known that abstinence to Cannabis sativa is due to the cannabinoid THC because of its various connections to the central nervous system, however, it only presents such symptoms when it is in the body in a concentration between or greater than 80-210 mg per day, thus, the purpose of the studies is to obtain the ideal dose for the treatment of individuals seeking to quit the use disorder. Its functionality is not known for sporadic users.

Phenolic compounds have been related to several beneficial effects on health. Most of them are due the antioxidant activity played by these natural occurring substances. The phenolic compounds are able to inhibit the formation of free radicals, which can induce oxidative damage to cell biomolecules, being related to the etiology of several diseases. Many compounds from secondary metabolism of plants can play relevant role in human health preventing cell oxidative damage. The present study was carried out with the vegetal specie PavoniaglaziovianaGürke (Malvaceae), known as "malva-da-chapada" and "tampa-cabaça". Chemotaxonomic studies on the family indicated that its species are great producers of phenolic substances, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins and coumarins. From the species P. glazioviana the isolation of flavonoids has already been reported. The present aimed to quantify the total phenolic content in the ethanolic extract of P. glazioviana as well as to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the studied species. For this purpose, the dried aerial parts of the plant were extracted with ethanol, followed by evaporation of the solvent in a rotary evaporator. In order to quantify the total phenolic content in the obtained extract, the Folin-Ciocalteau spectrophotometric method was carried out. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenger method was used to evaluate its antioxidant activity. After analysis, the obtained result was 48.4 mg of EAG/g of ethanolic extract of the species. In the evaluation of the antioxidant activity, the EC50 found was 6.36 mg/mL ± 0.02921. The obtained results indicated that the specie P. glazioviana produces high content of phenolic substances and presents interesting antioxidant activity, being higher than other species of Malvaceaepreviously analyzed.

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a plant native from India, but its distribution extends to all continents. Its leaves, flowers, pods and seeds are commonly used for food, mainly in Africa, due to its high nutritional value. With regard to medicine, M. oleifera demonstrates immeasurable potential in view of the various biological activities which are reported from its secondary compounds, such as alkaloids, tannins, flavonols, steroids, saponins, coumarins, quinones, resins, lectins among others. Based on this assumption, this review aims to expose the potential of Moringa oleifera in the period 2016-2018, in the use of its compounds for the synthesis of natural products due to its diverse biological activities. The results showed that the several parts of the plant may have different biological activities. The seeds have antibacterial activity with dental importance; activity in the prevention and deceleration of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease (ALS); anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic effect, being beneficial for cardiac structure and function in hypertensive mice; anticancer activity; anti-inflammatory; and protection of neural cells. For the leaves were reported Antitumor activities; therapeutic efficacy against neurotoxicity; for insulin expression and decrease in the degree of insulitis; antimicrobial activity; reduction of myocardial damage and oxidative stress; treatment in atopic dermatitis; gastroprotective activity and improvement of mucus; hypocholesterolemic effect; and ability to prevent chromatolysis, distortion of cerebellar cortical cells and neurobehavioral deficit. For the other parts of the plant similar activities are described, however in less quantity. Thus, Moringa oleifera presents a new perspective on the synthesis of natural products, considering the range of biological activities described for a species, as well as the ease of obtaining and using its compounds.

Lamiaceae is the largest family-level clade of the order Lamiales and comprises approximately 295 genera and 7775 species, presenting cosmopolitan distribution. It is estimated that in Brazil there are 36 genera and 490 species. Lamiaceae is classified into 10 subfamilies that present a large variety of secondary metabolites, among them diterpenes are commonly reported for this family. These diterpenes can be used in the chemotaxonomy of this family, because they have stable and quite diversified structures, being found in several species of the Lamiaceae family. Thus, the objective of this study is to classify two subfamilies of Lamiaceae based on the identification of diterpenes and their respective botanical occurrences available in our internal database (www.sistematx.ufpb.br), using descriptors calculated by DRAGON 7.0 software. The 3551 botanical occurrences and their 119 descriptors obtained from molecular fragments were used as input data in SOM Toolbox 2.0 (Matlab) to generate a self-organizing map (SOM), allowing to classify two subfamilies: Lamioideae(L) and Scutellarioideae (S). Therefore, the results obtained by the chemotaxonomic study corroborate with the phylogenetic classification based on the DNA that was proposed by Li et al., 2016.

O Zingiber Officinalepopularmente conhecido como gengibre ou mangarataia, uma vez que as antiguidades são amplamente utilizadas para fins terapêuticos e culinários. É popularmente usado em infusões contra resfriados, em sucos de frutas, em culinária, podemos encontrar em pedaços cristalizados, desidratados, secos ou em pó. O objetivo deste estudo é discutir o uso do mesmo como tratamento adjuvante no controle da emese e náusea de pacientes oncológicos em tratamento. O mecanismo de ação do gengibre responsável pela atividade antiemética, ainda não está claro. O gengibre tem óleos voláteis, como o shogol e o gingerol, que são seus constituintes químicos ativos. Estudo apresentado pela ASCO 2009 mostrou que a suplementação de gengibre 0,5 a 1 mg / dia por seis dias, iniciando três dias antes da infusão da quimioterapia, reduziu a incidência de náusea aguda. Outros estudos em ratos mostraram efeito direto no trato gastrintestinal e ação no Sistema Nervoso Central. Emese e náusea são os principais efeitos induzidos por drogas citotóxicas. Segundo relatos de estudos na literatura, o gengibre tem promissora ação antiemética como terapia adjuvante em pacientes oncológicos, trazendo a redução destes sintomas e ainda atuando com outros efeitos benéficos como antiinflamatório, antioxidante, antimicrobiano, antiplaquetário, hipolipemiante e hipoglicêmico. Seu uso ideal é recomendado em doses terapêuticas de acordo com o perfil de cada paciente e por períodos limitados, também permitiria a redução de outras drogas convencionais, tanto pelo uso de vários medicamentos pelo paciente, como trazer consequências financeiras positivas para a empresa.

The use of medicinal plants is widespread throughout the world and its use in Brazil is part of the reality of the population. It can be said that phytotherapy is a use of plants for therapeutic purposes, stimulating as natural defenses of the organism and employing its chemical constituents to combat various conditions. The review of data present in the literature, as an extremely important way to unite it scientifically proved on a species Hancornia speciosa Gomes. Considering that a popular medicine is widely used in Brazil and does not always have concrete evidence as to the correct use of the species. This work aimed to gather a set of information based on national and international literature on a species Hancornia speciosa Gomes on their biological activities to elaborate a literature review. The methodology used for bibliographic research and scientific character. Composed of information of national and international scientific origin in the area of ​​Natural products, collected indirectly based on secondary sources such as: books, websites, scientific articles, theses and magazines in the databases. A set of information about what has been reported in the literature on a species Hancornia speciosa Gomes was then elaborated. And it organizes in tabular form.

Triclosan has been used to coat sutures and reduce surgical-site infections (SSI). However, due to environmental issues search for safer antimicrobials is on the way and essential oils are promising candidates. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of a suture containing Lippia sidoides Cham essential oil (LSEO). Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 15656) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) were cultivated in BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) medium. Broth microdilution technique for determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), agar diffusion test and a monospecies biofilm experiments for testing bacteria adherence were carried out in triplicate. For diffusion agar and multispecies biofilm methods the LSEO was incorporated in a testing suture (Poliglactin 910) using chemical procedures. A suture with triclosan (Vycril® Plus) was used as a positive control. MIC values of LSEO were < μg/mL for both of strains. The halos of LSEO-suture and triclosan-sutures against S. aureus were of same magnitude (20 mm). The halo for LSEO-suture and triclosan-sutures against E.coli were 5 and 3 mm, respectively. The LSEO-suture presented the same bacterial anti-adherence effect as the triclosan-suture. This study showed that Lippia sidoides Cham oil is a promising antimicrobial material to coat sutures and reduce surgical-site infections (SSI).