Comparison of antimicrobial potential between microparticles and ethanolic extract of Achyrocline satureioides

• Grant number: 22/09005-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Rosemeire Cristina Linhari Rodrigues Pietro
• Grantee: Eloah Drudi Lepore
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the discovery of antimicrobials and their insertion in the clinic, microorganisms quickly began to develop resistance mechanisms, causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients, in addition to higher costs for health systems. The situation becomes even more critical due to the fact that there are few antifungal drugs available on the market and they have toxicity. For this reason, research for new antimicrobials is necessary and can be carried out using medicinal plants, since they produce substances that guarantee the survival of the plant against pathogens and other possible competitors present in the environment. Achyrocline satureioides, also known as macela, is a plant native to southern Brazil and Argentina, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimicrobial activity. Its major components are quercetin and chlorogenic acid, which have the potential to inactivate adhesins, and enzymes and interfere with drug efflux pumps. However, these substances present lipophilic characteristics and need a modified drug delivery system, such as microparticles, which will also help in the prolonged release. The objective of this project is to evaluate the antimicrobial capacity and bioavailability of microparticles when compared to ethanol extract. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC) will be determined using the free ethanolic extract and incorporated in microparticles, against strains of Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis e Bacillus subtilis.(AU)