Chitosan Membrane Containing Copaiba Oil (Copaifera spp.) for Skin Wound Treatment

The interaction of copaiba oil in the polymer matrix of chitosan can produce a favorable synergistic effect and potentiate properties. Indeed, the bioactive principles present in copaiba oil have anti-inflammatory and healing action. In the present work, chitosan membranes containing different contents of copaiba oil copaíba (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0% (v/v)) were for the first time investigated. The membranes were developed by the casting method and analyzed for their morphology, degree of intumescence, moisture content, contact angle, Scanning Electron Microscope, and X-ray diffractometry. These chitosan/copaiba oil porous membranes disclosed fluid absorption capacity, hydrophilic surface, and moisture. In addition, the results showed that chitosan membranes with the addition of 1.0% (v/v) of copaiba oil presented oil drops with larger diameters, around 123.78 μm. The highest fluid absorption indexes were observed in chitosan membranes containing 0.1 and 0.5% (v/v) of copaiba oil. In addition, the copaiba oil modified the crystalline structure of chitosan. Such characteristics are expected to favor wound treatment. However, biological studies are necessary for the safe use of chitosan/copaiba oil membrane as a biomaterial.

Dentin surface and hybrid layer morphological analysis after use of a copaiba oil- based dentin biomodifier

This study evaluated dentin surface and hybrid layer’s morphology, using copaíba (CO) emulsion as dentin biomodifier before traditional and self-etching adhesive, by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Ninety-six third sound molars were divided into 16 groups, according to the dentin substrate, tested substances, and the adhesive system used. The conditioned dentin surface treated with clorexidina (CHX) 2% showed phosphate salts on two dentin substrates as well as the sound conditioned or not surface treated with calcium hydroxide solution (CHS), where the mineral precipitate deposition obstructs the tubules lumen. A significant difference (p <0.0001) in dentin surface morphology was observed at the CHS group on conditioned and not conditioned sound dentin. The CO emulsion produced a regular and homogenous hybrid layer with many resin tags on both dentin surfaces, irrespective of the adhesive system used, with better performance than CHS and CHX 2% (p =0.0007) on caries-affected dentin at the self-etching group. CO emulsion showed no morphological changes on sound and caries-affected dentin and presented a regular hybrid layer, regardless of the adhesive system used. Keywords: Copaiba oleoresin; Emulsions; Dentin-bonding agents; Phytotherapy.

Copaiba oil-resin (Copaifera langsdorfii Desf.: Caesalpiniaceae) associated with laser therapy for skin wound treatment in Wistar rats

Alternative protocols for the treatment of skin lesions have been developed with the use of techniques such as photobiomodulation and phytotherapy, aiming to optimize this process. To evaluate the effectiveness of copaiba (Copaiferalangsdorffii) oil-resin and low-level laser therapy for treating cutaneous wounds, 15 Wistar rats (Rattusnorvergicus) were used, in whom five 8-mm lesions were produced. The following protocols were applied: negative control group (T1); positive control group (T2); laser therapy with AsGa (904 nm), continuous, focal mode for 10 s, dosage of 4 J/cm² (T3); copaiba oil-resin (T4); and association group (copaiba and low-level laser) (T5). The efficacy of each technique was evaluated based on macroscopic aspects of the lesion, wound healing rate, and histopathological analysis (inflammatory infiltrate and collagen expression). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analyses (P> 0.05). Copaiba treatment showed an advantage in type III collagen expression, whereas laser therapy demonstrated an enhanced capacity for tissue regeneration. The significant advantage obtained from the association treatment is the improvement of the macroscopic aspect of the wound, with a reduction in crust formation.

Molecular docking study of copaíba oil interacting with the spike protein of Sars-CoV-2

COVID-19 triggered by Sars-CoV-2 has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. Organic and inorganic compounds have been tested as potential inhibitors of this lethal virus. For these tests, several techniques are use to design molecules of biological interest for drug composition, in which molecular coupling plays an important role. In the present work, the compounds acids kaurenoic, copalic, and beta-caryophyllene that form the copaiba oil were studied as anti-inflammatories and opens the possibility to inhibit Sars-CoV-2. Molecular docking showed alkyl, pi-alkyl, conventional H-bond, unfavorable bump, and Van der Waals interactions. The calculated electrostatic potential maps showed the nucleophilic and electrophilic regions. The negative binding energies obtained for the three acids suggest the stability of the complexes. The minimum energy states for β-caryophyllene are lower than the other compounds analyzed, and it can be predicted that this is the most stable.

(E)-2,6,10-Trimethyldodec-8-en-2-ol: An Undescribed Sesquiterpenoid from Copaiba Oil

The use of copaiba oil has been reported since the 16th century in Amazon traditional medicine, especially as an anti-inflammatory ingredient and for wound healing. The use of copaiba oil continues today, and it is sold in various parts of the world, including the United States. Copaiba oil contains mainly sesquiterpenes, bioactive compounds that are popular for their positive effect on human health. As part of our ongoing research endeavors to identify the chemical constituents of broadly consumed herbal supplements or their adulterants, copaiba oil was investigated. In this regard, copaiba oil was subjected to repeated silica gel column chromatography to purify the compounds. As a result, one new and seven known sesquiterpenes/sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified from the copaiba oil. The new compound was elucidated as (E)-2,6,10-trimethyldodec-8-en-2-ol. Structure elucidation was achieved by 1D- and 2D NMR and GC/Q-ToF mass spectral data analyses. The isolated chemical constituents in this study could be used as chemical markers to evaluate the safety or quality of copaiba oil.

Raman Imaging and Chemometrics Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Beeswaxes as Matrices for Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Development

Beeswaxes are interesting solid lipids for the development of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), and their origin can be either natural or synthetic. Due to this difference, their performance should be distinct and unstable formulations can be generated. The objective of this work was to investigate miscibility and structural changes (polymorphism) in pre-formulations (blends of solid and liquid lipids) using synthetic and natural beeswaxes in combination with copaiba oil (a natural liquid lipid), in the concentration range of 5.0 to 50.0% (w/w). Raman spectra were acquired over a region of 4 mm2 (mapping mode), dead pixels were removed using Independent Components Analysis (ICA) and Multivariate Curve Resolution – Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) was then used to generate the images. Samples were analyzed at the initial time and after 3 months, using the Distributional Homogeneity Index (DHI) and standard deviation of the histograms. The pre-formulation containing synthetic beeswax showed different structural forms before and after melting, and structural changes over time, depending on the amount of the liquid lipid incorporated. These results demonstrate how spectroscopic imaging techniques can be valuable in pharmaceutical development, as well as the importance of choosing the type and proportion of solid lipid to achieve stable NLC formulations.