Amazonian medicinal plants efficiently inactivate Herpes and Chikungunya viruses.

The Amazonian species investigated in this research are commonly utilized for their anti-inflammatory properties and their potential against various diseases. However, there is a lack of scientifically supported information validating their biological activities. In this study, a total of seventeen ethanolic or aqueous extracts derived from eight Amazonian medicinal plants were evaluated for their activity against Herpes Simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and Chikungunya viruses (CHIKV).

Chemical and Biological Evaluation of Amazonian Medicinal Plant Aubl.

(Fabaceae) is an economically important tree in the Amazon region and used for its highly resistant heartwood as well as for medicinal purposes. Despite its frequent use, phytochemical investigations have been limited and rather focused on ecological properties than on its pharmacological potential. In this study, we investigated the phytochemistry and bioactivity of stem bark extract and its constituents to identify eventual lead structures for further drug development.

Antimicrobial Prenylated Isoflavones from the Leaves of the Amazonian Medicinal Plant Aubl.

Aubl. (Fabaceae) is an Amazonian medicinal plant species traditionally used for treating skin diseases. In an initial screening, a leaf extract and its subextracts showed antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Viral Genome Integration into the Host Cell Genome: A Double Edged-Sword.

Genetic information exchange between virus and host cells apparently seems to be detrimental, as pluricellular organisms could develop diseases. Nevertheless, during billion years long evolutionary processes, the cell's genome revealed a mosaic of viral genomes or gene segments, giving rise to speculations that the genome of any cell was constructed and shaped by the invasion of virus genomes. But it could also be interpreted that the cellular genome is the source of autonomous gene segments that escaped from the cells, at some conditions, as a threat to the cell's survival.