Publications by authors named "Henrique Coutinho"

The NorA and TetK efflux pumps mediate resistance to fluoroquinolone and tetracycline antibiotics by actively extruding these compounds and reducing their intracellular concentrations. Consequently, intense research has focused on inhibiting these efflux mechanisms using antimicrobial agents derived from natural or synthetic sources. This study used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) to analyze the various functional groups present in p-coumaric acid.

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Pharmacotherapy in Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS), which is a mental disorder, generally involves benzodiazepines due to their action via GABA, but their side effects, such as excessive sedation, mental confusion and risk of dependence, are considerable. It is important to investigate the anxiolytic potential of plants such as Caryocar coriaceum, due to the presence of secondary metabolic compounds, such as isoquercitrin, capable of promoting the reduction of anxiety during AWS. We evaluated the anxiolytic-like potential of ethanolic extracts from the leaves (EEPL) and pulp (EEPP) of C.

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This study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of the L. bark extract (HEXA) and its primary component, caffeic acid (CA), through in vivo assays. : The antinociceptive properties were assessed using abdominal writhing, hot plate, and Von Frey tests.

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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 the antibacterial and drug-potentiating effects of phytol against multidrug-resistant bacteria and to evaluate its properties: ADME and molecular docking.

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Thiadiazines are heterocyclic compounds known for some pharmacological activities. However, the ability of these compounds and their derivatives to act as antibacterial agents and inhibitors of the efflux system in resistant bacteria remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial and NorA efflux pump inhibitory activities of thiadiazine-derived compounds (IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ17, IJ18, IJ19, and IJ20) against the Staphylococcus aureus 1199B strain.

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This study aimed to evaluate the clot-lysing and membrane stabilizing capacities of ascorbic acid (AA) using and methods. For this, we used clot lysis and hemolyzing tests to check the anti-atherothrombosis and membrane-stabilizing properties of AA, respectively. Additionally, molecular docking studies were performed to investigate AA's interactions with cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and plasminogen enzymes.

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Background: Anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness and a major contributor to impairment. Thus, there is an urgent need to find novel lead compounds to mitigate anxiety. It is widely recognized that the neurobiology of anxiety-related behavior involves GABAergic systems.

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Biofilms are complex microbial structures that have a significant impact on human health, industry and the environment. These complex structures represent one of the main mechanisms of microbial resistance, and their development constitutes a serious health problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the potential for inhibition and eradication of bacterial biofilm by salosodine, which is a steroidal alkaloid sapogenin found in plants of the Solanum genus.

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Assessing the quality of surface waters is essential for identifying changes in freshwater ecosystems and supporting the planning/proposing of measures to mitigate polluting sources. However, many studies involving the identification of pathogenic bacteria and/or their resistance profile to antimicrobial agents need a more holistic approach to conditioning or modulating factors. Thus, we apply different multivariate statistical techniques to the data set from the Capibaribe River's surface water, one of the most important in the Northeast of Brazil.

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Oral traditional knowledge disseminates the use of young leaves of (Asteraceae) as poultice in feverish cases among family farmers in Santa Catarina, Brazil, but there is a lack of phytochemistry and pharmacological studies on this species, especially those related to volatile organic compounds. In the present study, the dry leaves of were subjected to hydrodistillation for the extraction of essential oil. Sample characterization was conducted using GC-FID and GC-MS.

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Sleep disturbance causes many health problems in humans worldwide. This study evaluated the effects and possible mechanisms of sclareol (SCL) and/or linalool (LIN) through in vivo and in silico studies. For this, young chicks SCL (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and/or LIN (50 mg/kg) were orally administered thirty minutes before to the thiopental sodium (TS)-induced chicks with or without the standard drug diazepam (DZP: 3 mg/kg).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to improve vaginal birth experiences by using non-invasive methods like aromatherapy, specifically testing the effects of Citrus sinensis L. (sweet orange) essential oil on pain and anxiety during labor.
  • A randomized clinical trial involving 84 pregnant women compared the effects of inhaling sweet orange oil versus a placebo, assessing pain intensity and anxiety levels, along with physiological metrics.
  • Results indicated that the aroma significantly reduced both pain and anxiety in labor, particularly for first-time mothers, suggesting it could be effectively incorporated into labor practices.
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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 situation, new compounds capable of improving the performance of these medications and reducing their adverse effects have been sought.

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Article Synopsis
  • Bacterial resistance, particularly in Staphylococcus aureus, poses a serious global public health challenge, driving researchers to explore new solutions such as efflux pump inhibitors.
  • A newly synthesized chalcone was tested for its antibacterial properties, revealing it does not have direct antibacterial activity, but it can enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and ethidium bromide.
  • Molecular docking simulations indicate that the chalcone likely functions as a MepA efflux pump inhibitor, targeting the same binding site as known inhibitors.
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Orofacial pain affects 10-15% of adults and can severely impact quality of life. Despite ongoing treatment challenges, monoterpene alpha-phellandrene (PHE) shows potential therapeutic benefits. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an inclusion complex of PHE with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (PHE-HPβCD) for treating orofacial pain.

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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of liposome-encapsulated eugenol-based thiazolic derivatives against efflux pump-carrying bacteria. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined to evaluate the antibacterial activity and antibiotic potentiation against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as to analyze the inhibition of efflux pumps in S. aureus strains 1199B and K2068 in the ethidium bromide assay.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns beyond the viral infection itself. Bacterial co-infections, particularly those involving Acinetobacter baumannii, have become a significant worry in critically ill COVID-19 patients. A.

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The misuse of antibiotics has led to an alarming increase in bacterial strains resistant to these drugs. Efflux pumps, which expel antibiotics from bacterial cells, have emerged as one of the key mechanisms of bacterial resistance. In the quest to combat and mitigate bacterial resistance, researchers have turned their attention to efflux pump inhibitors as a potential solution.

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In this study, four types of "Juá" stem barks (Ziziphus joazeiro) were investigated for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The tested samples included natural coarse barks, and barks washed with water, ethanol-water, and NaOH solutions. The solvent-modified materials simulated the waste of the industrial extraction of saponins from bark.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study assesses how campesterol and its derivatives enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a microdilution test.
  • All tested compounds significantly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of norfloxacin and gentamicin, indicating a strong potentiating effect.
  • Additionally, the research included molecular docking studies to analyze the interactions between the most effective compounds and proteins, marking the first exploration of these compounds' role in antibiotic potentiation both in vitro and in silico.
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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 Forssk presents confirmed biological activities associated with its major compound caulerpin, such as antinociceptive, spasmolytic, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and cytotoxic.

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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 fluoroquinolones.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium responsible for resistance to multiple drugs and the efflux system is widely studied among the resistance mechanisms developed by this species. The present study evaluates the inhibition of the MepA efflux pump by thiadiazine-derived compounds. For this purpose, thiadiazine-derived compounds (IJ-14 to IJ-20) were tested against S.

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