*2.4.3 Antifungal activity*

Different kinds of antimicrobial proteins have been purified from plants such as, β-1,3-glucanases, chitinases, ribosome-inactivating proteins, thionins, and defensins. In this case, β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase separated from type B wax of *Copernicia cerifera*, has revealed antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi medium [12]. Based on the results, the yeast *Saccharomyces cerevisiae* showed the patterns of growth for *Fusarium oxysporum* and *S. cerevisiae* in the presence of different fractions obtained from "Carnauba" wax and in control medium. Plant chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases are known as antifungal hydrolases since they inhibit fungal growth in model experiments by using on agar plates and in liquid media. The presence of isolated proteins by using SDS-Tricine-gel electrophoresis, and showed inhibit early growth of all fungi in their fractions in agar plates. Based on these results, defense proteins like chitinase and glucanases which appear to inhibit the early growth of all fungi and cause hyphal morphological alterations for fungi growing in the presence of these proteins (relative molecular masses of 26,000 and

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*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90252*

role for these hydrolases.

*2.4.4 Hypercholesterolemic activity*

vascular diseases without side effects cause.

of carbohydrates and lipids.

*2.4.5 Hypoglycemic activity*

*The Phytochemical Composition of Medicinal Plants: Brazilian Semi-Arid Region (Caatinga)*

24,000 Da) as compared with growth on control medium. According to the authors, *Copernicia cerifera* wax contains defense proteins ability to inhibit fungal growth. Moreover, the fungal cell walls together with β-1,3-glucans, recommend a protective

Paim et al. [24] first time studied *in vivo* study of the antihypercholesterolemic

Furthermore, in this investigation, Filho et al. [25] revealed that the extract of PCO-C (100 mg/kg) found that productive in decreasing total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in both dyslipidemia induction models in hypercholesterolemic mice. This effect ascribed to the presence of high dietary and crude fiber content and antioxidant potential of PCO-C. Histological investigations demonstrated that PCO-C has no hepatotoxic impact and diminishes hepatic steatosis in animals that expended hyperlipidemic ration. In this manner, it was inferred that PCO-C separated from *Copernicia prunifera* may be helpful in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Additionally, the authors highlighted that the results obtained in animals treated with PCO-C were pivotal compound had therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases related with the metabolism

Rodrigues et al. [26] studied that oral administration of *Copernicia cerifera* in glibenclamide diabetic mice at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg bodyweight for 21 days. According to the authors, the findings of this study indicated that 10% isopropanol in heptane leaf extract of Carnauba powder extract had antidiabetic activity when using therapeutic doses (100 and 150 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). However, after treatment with 150 mg/kg b.w dose was found to be effective in significantly controlling blood glucose levels (*p* < 0.05), when compared to the reference drug glibenclamide. The observed hypoglycemic activity could be associated with the phytochemicals present in carnauba wax powder. These finding results suggested that PCO-C leads to diabetes by protecting beta-cells from oxidative damage. Indeed, the presence of the antioxidant effect of PCO-C may improve the pancreatic beta-cells to inhibit glucagon secretion and release more insulin levels. Finally, this study clearly shows that the leaf extract of carnauba wax powder possesses possible

hypoglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

effect of the aqueous pulp extracts (APE) from the *C. prunifera* (APE 150 and 300 mg/Kg b.w./day) were directed to hyperlipidemic mice for 90 days. It showed that APE was promising results with lipidemic alterations were effective in both models causing significant changes in the values of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-C and triglycerides in serum. Nevertheless, it showed no renal toxicity and liver toxicity parameters (enzyme AST) and renal metabolites (urea and creatinine) to animals. Additionally, APE in high doses showed no renal and liver toxicity to animals. Despite the fact that the histological results bring about liver of mice treated with APE shows that doses (150 and 300 mg/Kg b.w./day) were not ready to alter the inflammatory procedure contrasted with the standard diet (SD) fed mice, all things considered, that better reaction opposing the hypercholesterolemic diet (HD). Besides, it was recognized the reduced intensity of inflammation in higher dose receiving present in the group. According to these results revealed that aqueous fruit pulp extracts of carnauba reduced hypercholesterolemia showing a potential preventive effect against cardio24,000 Da) as compared with growth on control medium. According to the authors, *Copernicia cerifera* wax contains defense proteins ability to inhibit fungal growth. Moreover, the fungal cell walls together with β-1,3-glucans, recommend a protective role for these hydrolases.
