In Brazil, the snail Biomphalaria glabrata is the most important vector of schistosomiasis due to its wide geographical distribution, high infection rate and efficient disease transmission. Among the methods of schistosomiasis control, the World Health Organization recommends the use of synthetic molluscicides, such as niclosamide. However, different substances of natural origin have been teste...

This work studied the potential use of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the decolorization of the following textile dyes: Drimarene Blue X-3LR (DMBLR), Drimarene Blue X-BLN (DMBBLN), Drimarene Rubinol X-3LR (DMR), and Drimarene Blue CL-R (RBBR). Dyes were individually tested in the reaction media containing 120 mg·L(-1), considering the following parameters: temperature (20-45°C), H(2)O(2) conce...

Methanolic extracts of Vitex negundo (Nochi), Coleus amboinicus (Karpuravalli), Hylocereus polyrhyzus (Dragon fruit) and Andrographis paniculata (Hempedu Bumi) were evaluated in an effort to identify antibacterial compounds against clinical isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Coleus amboinicus crude methanolic (CACM) leaves extract inhibited MRSA growth completely at...

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Hedychium gardnerianum leaf essential oils from S. Miguel Island were determined. All the oils inhibited acetylcholinesterase, with IC(50) values of approximately 1 mg/mL, showing no statistical differences between collection sites. Three oils presented mixed inhibition, whilst one was almost truly competitive. This activi...

In the present study, 32 hexane and ethanol extracts of Protium bahianum, P. heptaphyllum, Croton sellowii, C. rhamnifolius, C. jacobinensis, C. micans and Muntingia calabura were screened for antibacterial activity by the disc-diffusion method. Cytotoxicity assays using the brine shrimp Artemia salina Leach as a model were performed to determine lethal doses for 50% of individuals (LC50 μg/mL)...

A long-chain alkene (1-hexacosene) and a terpene were obtained from the bioactive methanol extract of the air-dried leaves of Pipturus arborescens (Link) C.B. Rob (“Handalamay”) collected from Poblacion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. The compounds were isolated through extraction with ethanol, sequential partitioning with water-chloroform and hexane-90% methanol followed by fractionation and puri...

LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate) shows relatively high aquatic toxicity in hard freshwater or seawater. In this paper, we studied the effect of adsorbent on the aquatic toxicity of LAS in hard freshwater and seawater. Daphnia magna and Artemia salina were used for acute aquatic toxicity test in freshwater and seawater, respectively. Kaolin was used as a model adsorbent and toxic surface ten...

This study investigated the biological activities of five benthic marine algae collected from Northeastern Region of Brazil. The tested activities included larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata, and toxicity against Artemia salina. Extracts of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta), Padina gymnospora, Sargassum vulgare (Phaeophyta), Hypnea musciform...