Characterization and evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides

Abstract The essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Amaranthaceae, was obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger apparatus and characterization was performed using chromatographic and spectroscopic assays (GC-FID, GC/MS, 1H NMR). Two major compounds were identified: p-cymene (42.32%) and ascaridole (49.77%). The ethanolic extract and hydrolate were fractionated by liquid–liquid partitioning and the compounds were characterized by GC/MS. The essential oil, ethanol extract and fractions by partitioning with dicloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol were tested in tumor cell lines (K562, NALM6, B15, and RAJI). Significant cytotoxic activity was found for essential oil (IC50 = 1.0 µg/ml) for RAJI cells and fraction dicloromethane (IC50 = 34.0 µg/ml) and ethanol extract (IC50 = 47.0 µg/ml) for K562 cells. The activity of the essential oil of C. ambrosioides is probably related to the large amount of ascaridol, since the other major compound, p-cymene, is recognized as a potent anti-inflammatory and has low cytotoxic activity.

Development of hydroethanolic extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae using factorial design followed by antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory evaluation

Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br., Convolvulaceae, is a medicinal plant that grows abundantly as a pan-tropical stand plant. The 3² (two factors and three levels) factorial design, was applied to determine the best time and drug/solvent proportion to maximize the flavonoid content in the hydroethanolic extract by maceration process. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were studied at 5-20 mg/kg, i.p., using the writhing test and carrageenan-induced pleurisy models in mice. The optimized extract was able to inhibit more than 50% of abdominal writhing at 20 mg/kg, with 55.88%±2.4 of maximum inhibition. Indomethacin, used as positive control, inhibited 64.86% at 10 mg/kg. In the pleurisy model, the extract produced dose-dependent inhibition of the first phase of inflammation (4 h) in the pleural cavity induced by injection of carrageenan (1%) in mice. It inhibited 50%±0.82 (p<0.01) of exudation induced by carrageenan, and 60.88%±0.14 (p<0.01) of leukocyte migration to the pleural cavity. In conclusion, the results validate the technological conditions of the maceration process to produce an optimized bioactive herb extract for the development of analgesic and anti-inflammatory phytopharmaceuticals using 70 ºGL ethanol, a plant to solvent ratio of 12.5% (w/v), and ten days of maceration.

Programa educativo sobre sexualidade e DST: relato de experiência com grupo de adolescentes / Educative program about sexuality and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: experience report with a group of adolescents / Programa educativo sobre la sexualidad y Enfermedades Sexualmente Transmisibles: relacto de experiencia con un grupo de adolescentes

O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a experiência com grupo de adolescentes através de oficinas vivenciais sobre educação sexual. Realizamos 10 oficinas com adolescentes de baixa renda do Município de Aparecida de Goiânia/GO, que aconteceram a partir de reflexões e socialização do conhecimento sobre esta temática. O trabalho foi embasado na metodologia participativa de Paulo Freire e potencializado pela atenção dos coordenadores ao movimento do grupo, considerando suas necessidades e possibilidades. Concluímos que para o sucesso do trabalho interativo o coordenador de grupos deve ter uma escuta sensível aos anseios do grupo, especialmente o de adolescente. É necessário estimular a participação para a aquisição de conhecimentos o que favorecerá o exercício da cidadania e transformação da sua realidade social.

The object of this study was to give an account of the experiment with a teenage group by using sexual education experiences of their own. Ten workshops were made with low-income teenagers of Município de Aparecida de Goiânia /GO, which happened because of the socialization and reflections about the contents of this study. The work was based on Paulo Freire's Participative Methodology and made better by the attention of the coordinators to every single group, considering their special needs and possibilities. We conclude that for the success of this work, the coordinator must listen to the group with a very sensitive prospect, especially when dealing with a teenage group. It is necessary to stimulate the participation, so that more can be learnt and the citizen work can be able to change its social reality.

El objetivo de este estudio fue relatar la experiencia con grupo de adolescentes a través de talleres vivenciales sobre educación sexual. Realizamos 10 talleres con adolescentes de bajo poder adquisitivo del Municipio de Aparecida de Goiânia-GO, que se dieron a partir de reflexiones y socialización del conocimiento sobre esta temática. El trabajo fue realizado en base a la metodología participativa de Paulo Freire y potenciado por la atención de los coordinadores del movimiento del grupo, considerando sus necesidades y posibilidades. Concluimos que para el éxito del trabajo interactivo el coordinador de grupos debe tener una escucha sensible a los anhelos del grupo, especialmente de los adolescentes. Es necessário estimular la participación para la adquisición de nuevos conocimientos favoreciendo así el ejercicio de la ciudadanía para transformación de su realidad social.

Avaliação dos efeitos centrais dos florais de Bach em camundongos através de modelos farmacológicos específicos / Evaluation of central effects of Bach Flowers Remedies in mice using specific pharmacological models

Os Remédios Florais de Bach (RFB), constituem um método alternativo de tratamento usado largamente na terapêutica de várias patologias em muitos países do mundo. Os RFB são reconhecidos como tratamento natural pela OMS desde 1956. Embora o mecanismo de ação dos RFB ainda não tenha sido elucidado, eles vêm sendo indicados para o tratamento de várias doenças neuropsiquiátricas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi detectar possíveis efeitos centrais dos RFB em modelos farmacológicos utilizados na pesquisa de substâncias com efeitos ansiolíticos, hipnóticos, antidepressivos e neurolépticos. Para tanto, camundongos receberam um tratamento agudo via oral (0,45 mL) 1 hora antes dos testes. Os resultados mostraram que os florais Gorse e, em conjunto, White chestnut, Agrymony e Vervain exibiram perfis antidepressivo e hipnótico, respectivamente. No modelo de ansiedade foi detectado efeito ansiolítico do floral Agrymony. Entretanto, não foram observados efeitos neurolépticos do floral Clematis. Os resultados nos levam a sugerir que os efeitos centrais dos florais avaliados podem ser parcialmente detectados através de modelos farmacológicos utilizados na pesquisa de agentes psicotrópicos.

The Bach Flowers Remedies (BFR's) are worldwide used as an alternative therapeutical approach for several pathologies, being considered by WHO as natural therapy since 1956. Despite the unknown mechanism of action, the BFR's have been widely used on treatment of several neuropsychiatry diseases. Based on pharmacological models used to detect ansiolitic, antidepressant, hypnotic and neuroleptyc effects of different substances, the aim of this work was to evaluate possible central effects of the BFR's. For this purpose, albino mice received BFR's treatment (0.45 mL) by oral route 1 hour prior to each test. The results revealed that the Gorse flower alone and a mix of White chestnut, Agrymony and Vervain showed antidepressant and hypnotic effects, respectively. On the anxiety model, Agrymony showed an ansiolitic effect but no neuroleptyc effects were observed for Clematis floral therapy. The herein described results allow us to conclude that the studied BFR's central effects may be partially detected through pharmacological models currently and widely used on psychotropic agents research.

A abordagem de adolescentes em grupos: o contexto da educação em saúde e prevenção de DST / The approaching of adolescents in groups in the context of the education in health and sexually transmitted diseases prevention

Reflexão sobre as caracteísticas da abordagem de grupos de adolescentes em atividades de educação em saúde e prevenção de DST