Bioprospecção do Sesquiterpeno zerumbona, para o tratamento de infecções cutâneas

Abstract

Pathological skin changes such as impetigo, acne, erysipelas, cellulitis and boils are caused by microbial agents and affect more than 80% of the world’s population. Most of these pathologies are topically treated with drugs that do not have satisfactory cost-effectiveness. The present study has as main objective to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the sesquiterpene zerumbone the main active ingredient of the essential oil from Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, against skin infections. For obtaining of zerumbona, the essential oil was submitted of hydrodistillation, will be subjected to chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis for verification of the degree of purity as the presence of zerumbone. For evaluation of antibacterial activity of zerumbone, an adaptation of cavity-plate and agar dilution methods were used to test different concentrations of zerumbone against main causative agents of cutaneous pathologies Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes e Candida albicans. For determine the bactericidal activity of zerumbona in relation to time, the Time kill curve were performed. The obtained essential oil had a high zerumbone content (87.95%), after recrystallization process, the substance purity increased to 98.79%, presenting an excellent antimicrobial activity against S. aureus (MIC ≥250μg/mL and MIB ≥500 μg/mL), P. acnes (MIC ≥125μg/mL and MIB ≥250 μg/mL) and yeast C. albicans (MIC ≥100μg/mL and MFC ≥200 μg/mL). The natural substance presented bactericidal effect between 6 and 12 hours for S. aureus and 30 hours for P. acnes. Zerumbone was able to inhibit biofilm formation (S. aureus) from of ≥500 μg / mL. The potential antioxidant and cytotoxic of zerumbone will be analyzed in vitro through cell culture assays. Zerumbone showed no cytotoxic effects on normal eukaryotic cells (VERO). Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) showed excellent antioxidant activity (100μg / mL equivalent to 0,65nM/mL Trolox). The results obtained elucidate the antimicrobial potential of zerumbone against the most frequent microorganisms in cutaneous infections. These data can help for the development of new phytotropics of topical use, directed to skin infections, with from bioactive principle Zerumbona. This can serve as a basis for therapeutic schemes generation, more effective and cost-effective.