Chemical Characterization and Biological Activity of Varronia curassavica Jacq. Essential Oil (Boraginaceae) and In Silico Testing of α-Pinene
by 
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José Thyálisson da Costa Silva
1,Viviane Bezerra da Silva
2,Sabrina Bezerra da Silva
3,Maria Ivaneide Rocha
3,Adrielle Rodrigues Costa
3,Jailson Renato de Lima Silva
3,Marcos Aurélio Figueirêdo dos Santos
4,Maria Elizete Machado Generino
4,Jeovane Henrique de Souza
3,Maraiza Gregorio de Oliveira
3,Clara Mariana Gonçalves Lima
5,*,Raimundo Luiz Silva Pereira
5,Renata Ferreira Santana
6,Isaac Moura Araujo
5,Maria Flaviana Bezerra Morais-Braga
1,Talha Bin Emran
7,8,9,Henrique Douglas Melo Coutinho
5,* andJosé Weverton Almeida-Bezerra
11
Cariri Applied Mycology Laboratory, Regional University of Cariri, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
2
Applied Ecology and Phytochemistry Laboratory, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50740-600, PE, Brazil
3
Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory, Regional University of Cariri, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
4
Applied Botany Laboratory, Regional University of Cariri, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
5
Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Regional University of Cariri, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil
6
Department of Food Science and Engineering, Southwestern Bahia State University, Itapetinga 45083-900, BA, Brazil
7
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
8
Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
9
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Analytica 2024, 5(4), 499-511; https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica5040034
Submission received: 29 June 2024 / Revised: 31 July 2024 / Accepted: 30 September 2024 / Published: 3 October 2024
(This article belongs to the Topic Discovery of Bioactive Compounds from Natural Organisms and Their Molecular Mechanisms against Diseases)
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant bacteria have complicated the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases; their microbial resistance stems from the indiscriminate use of medications and the transfer of resistance genes. Varronia curassavica Jacq., a plant traditionally used to treat rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases in underserved populations, has sparked interest as a potential source of antimicrobial compounds. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial effects of V. curassavica essential oil and to evaluate its toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. The essential oil was extracted through hydrodistillation and its chemical composition was determined using GC-MS. Antibacterial tests were performed with microdilution. The results showed the presence of major compounds including α-pinene and β-caryophyllene. The essential oil did not show relevant MIC, but it enhanced the effects of the antibiotics, gentamicin, norfloxacin, and oxacillin. It exhibited no toxicity and did not affect geotaxis, even at high concentrations. The in silico analysis of α-pinene revealed low toxicity; however, its permeability to the BBB shows that caution is needed in its application. These results indicate that the essential oil of V. curassavica shows promising potential in enhancing pharmaceuticals to prevent increased bacterial resistance. In addition, it demonstrated safe aspects when tested on D. melanogaster.