DNA damage and primordial follicle activation after in vitro culture of sheep ovarian cortex in Morus nigra leaf extract / Dano ao DNA e ativação do folículo primordial após a cultivo in vitro do córtex ovariano de ovelha em extrato de folha de Morus nigra

This study evaluated the effect of Morus nigra leaf extract, with or without supplementation, on morphology, activation and DNA damage of preantral follicles cultured within sheep ovarian tissue. Ovaries were collected and divided into fragments, being one fixed for histological and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis (fresh control). The remaining fragments were cultured for 7 days in alpha minimum essential media (α-MEM) supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA), insulin, transferrin, selenium, glutamine, hypoxanthine and ascorbic acid (α-MEM+; control medium) or into medium composed of M. nigra extract without supplements (0.1; 0.2 or 0.4mg/mL) or supplemented with the same substances described above for α-MEM+ (MN 0.1+; 0.2+ or 0.4+mg/mL). Then, tissues were destined to histological and TUNEL analysis. The α-MEM+ treatment had more morphologically normal follicles than all M. nigra extract treatments. However, α-MEM+ treatment also showed signs of atresia because the percentage of TUNEL positive cells was similar in α-MEM+ and in 0.1mg/mL M. nigra without and with supplements. Moreover, a reduction in the primordial follicles and an increase in the growing ones were observed in all treatments, except 0.2mg/mL M. nigra. In conclusion, the follicles cultured at 0.1mg/mL M. nigra extract were in good condition and able to continue their development, as demonstrated by the same rates of DNA damage and follicular activation as the control medium.(AU)

Este estudo avaliou o efeito do extrato das folhas de Morus nigra, com ou sem suplementos, sobre a morfologia, a ativação e o dano ao DNA de folículos pré-antrais cultivados inclusos em tecido ovariano. Os ovários foram coletados e divididos em fragmentos, sendo um fixado para análise histológica e ensaio de marcação de terminações dUTP mediada por desoxinucleotidil transferase terminal (TUNEL) (controle fresco). Os fragmentos restantes foram cultivados durante 7 dias em meio essencial mínimo alfa (α-MEM) suplementado com albumina sérica bovina (BSA), insulina, transferrina, selênio, glutamina, hipoxantina e ácido ascorbico (α-MEM+; meio controle) ou em meio composto de extrato de M. nigra sem suplementos (0,1; 0,2 or 0,4mg/mL) ou suplementado com as mesmas substâncias descritas para α-MEM+ (MN 0,1+; 0,2+ or 0,4+mg/mL). Então, os tecidos foram destinados à análise histológica e TUNEL. O tratamento do α-MEM+ apresentou mais folículos morfologicamente normais que todos os tratamentos do extrato de M. nigra. No entanto, o tratamento com α-MEM+ também mostrou sinais de atresia, pois a porcentagem de células TUNEL positivas foi semelhante em α-MEM+ e em 0,1mg/mL M. nigra sem e com suplementos. Além disso, observou-se uma redução nos folículos primordiais e um aumento nos folículos em crescimento em todos os tratamentos, exceto 0,2mg/mL M. nigra. Em conclusão, os folículos cultivados com 0,1mg/mL de extrato de M. nigra estavam em boas condições e aptos a continuar seu desenvolvimento, como demonstrado pelas taxas de dano ao DNA e de ativação folicular semelhantes ao meio controle.(AU)

Natural products assessed in animal models for orofacial pain – a systematic review

ABSTRACT Orofacial pain is related to tissues of the head, face, neck and all the intraoral structures; it is rather debilitating to the patient and also difficult to treat. There are relatively few studies dedicated to the use of natural products to alleviate orofacial pain in preclinical experiment models (performed in experimental animals which provide support for clinical trials). Main objectives of the present systematic review summarize the studies on natural products assessed in animal models for orofacial pain seeking to give evidence to future development of new pharmaceutical products to manage the orofacial pain. Our review includes a thorough search of literature using the terms of orofacial pain, facial pain, medicinal plants and natural products. This search was performed using to retrieve English language articles in Medline-PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. A total of eighteen studies were included in our survey for the inclusion criteria. Firstly, this review identified 210 citations from electronic search, after removal of duplicates and screening for relevant titles and abstracts, a total of eighteen articles were selected to the inclusion criteria established. Our findings suggest that natural products can be a promising or a trump tool for the development of new drugs to treat orofacial pain conditions, but the researchers that deal with experimental preclinical trials of new drugs (including natural products or synthetic drugs) for orofacial pain conditions urgently need to show translational evidence (with clinical approach) of these compounds.

Evaluation of the adherence by patients treated in a psychosocial ambulatory care setting in northeastern Brazil.

In the treatment of the mental disorders, the lack of adherenceto the pharmacotherapy is observed in about 50% of people and is responsible lot more morbidity, besides being the main cause of psychiatric morbidity and rehospitalization. This work sought to evaluate the adherenceto the medical treatment frompatients attended in a Primary Health Care Center in the municipal district of Aracaju – Sergipe. For that, an exploratory, descriptive and observational studywas accomplished, with transversal design, in the period from August 2011 to November 2011, carried outthrough interview applications. This research finds that more than 55% of the sample hadlow education; 41.4% were single and 42.8% presented other health problems, besides the mental disorder. Regarding to the knowledge level on the used medications, this variable presented good results, since 60% of the patients were classified in the category “know well”. Likewise, the results revealed that 49.3% of the investigated patients did not adhere to treatment, having as main causes of non-adherence the forgetfulness (53%), the lack of the medication in the health units (47%) or the lack of financial resources for the purchase of the medication (45%) – all these were considered as unintentional causes of non-adherence. Anyway it is an unpublished study in the outpatient attention context in Mental Health in the State, the results are expected to contribute for the evaluation and planning actions in the specialized component of the Pharmaceutical Assistance and in the precepts invigoration perspective of the psychiatric reform, focusing on the full approach of the attention towards the mental health and the rational use of psychotropic medicines.

Phytochemical screening, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil of Myrcia pubiflora in mice

This report aimed to investigate the chemical composition and possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil from fresh leaves of Myrcia pubiflora DC., Myrtaceae (EOMP), through different experimental tests. The essential oil of M. pubiflora (EOMP) was obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by GC-MS, and tested at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg (i.p.) in three different tests of nociception (acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin test, and hot plate test) and one test of inflammation (leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity) in order to evaluate the motor activity in mice treated with EOMP. The major component of EOMP was caryophyllene oxide (22.16 percent). This oil significantly reduced the number of writhes in an acetic acid test and the time spent licking the paw at the second phase of the formalin test. Furthermore, EOMP inhibited the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity. However, administration of EOMP did not alter reaction time in the hot plate test, and did not affect the motor coordination test. These results indicate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of EOMP probably mediated via inhibition of inflammatory mediator synthesis or other peripheral pathway.

Bioassay-guided evaluation of central nervous system effects of citronellal in rodents

The central nervous system (CNS) depressant and anticonvulsant activities of citronellal (CT) were investigated in animal models. The CT in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg injected by i.p. route in mice caused a significant decrease in the motor activity of animals when compared with the control group. The highest dose of CT significantly reduced the remaining time of the animals on the Rota-rod apparatus up to 2 h. Additionally, CT at doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/ kg (i.p.) was also capable to promote an increase of latency for development of convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). It was efficient in prevents the tonic convulsions induced by maximal electroshock (MES) in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, resulting in 30 and 40 percent of protection, respectively. This compound was also capable to promote an increase of latency for development of convulsions induced by picrotoxin (PIC) at 400 mg/kg. In the same way, the anticonvulsant effect of CT was affected by pretreatment with flumazenil, a selective antagonist of benzodiazepine site of GABA A receptor. These results suggest a possible CNS depressant and anticonvulsant activities.

Citral reduces nociceptive and inflammatory response in rodents

Citral (CIT), which contains the chiral enantiomers, neral (cis) and geranial (trans), is the majority monoterpene from Lippia alba and Cymbopogon citratus. The present study aimed to evaluate CIT for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in rodents. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were studied by measuring nociception through acetic acid and formalin tests, while inflammation was verified by inducing peritonitis and paw edema with carrageenan. All tested doses of CIT had significant protection (p<0.001) against acetic acid (0.8 percent) induced nociceptive behavior and the effects were also similar to morphine while formalin induced nociception was significantly protected (p<0.05) only at higher dose (200 mg/kg) of CIT in the first phase of the test. CIT significantly reduce (p<0.001) nociceptive behavior emanating from inflammation in second phase at all the doses.The pretreatment with CIT (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the paw edema induced by carrageenan. Moreover, systemic treatment with CIT (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p<0.001) the leukocyte migration in the carrageenan-induced migration to the peritoneal cavity. Our investigation shows that CIT possess significant central and peripheral antinociceptive effects. It was also verified an anti-inflammatory activity. All together these results suggest that CIT might represent important tool for treatment of painful conditions.

Anti-inflammatory and redox-protective activities of citronellal

The anti-inflammatory and redox protective effects of the citronellal (CT) were evaluated using in vivo and in vitro tests. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of CT (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) inhibited (p < 0.05) the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity. Additionally, the carrageenan- and arachidonic acid-induced rat hind paw edema was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05) by i.p. administration of 100 and 200 mg/kg of the compound. When the redox activity was evaluated, CT (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced hepatic lipoperoxidation (p < 0.001), as well as oxidation of plasmatic (p < 0.05) and hepatic (p < 0.01) proteins. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that CT possesses anti-inflammatory and redox protective activities. It is suggested that its effects are associated with the inhibition of the enzymes in the arachidonic acid pathway, which prevent cell migration by inhibiting leukotriene production, edema formation and the increase of reactive oxygen species in tissues. Therefore, CT is of potential benefit to manage inflammatory disorders and correlated damages caused by oxidant agents.

Antinociceptive effect of the ethanolic extract of Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Sm., Fabaceae, in rodents / Efeito antinociceptivo do extrato etanólico de Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Sm., Fabaceae, em roedores

The ethanolic extract of the trunk bark of Amburana cearensis (EEA) was examined for its oral (p.o.) analgesic activity at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the EEA (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the number of writhing by 33.4 percent and 40.7 percent, respectively. Additionally, EEA (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased by 77.5 percent, 79.7 and 91.3 percent, respectively, the paw liking time in the second phase of the formalin test. Therefore, EEA showed a dose-dependent analgesic effect in formalin test and was effective in reducing writhing in mice.

O extrato etanólico da entrecasca de A. cearensis (EEA) foi avaliado em modelos experimentais de nocicepção. No teste das contorções abdominais induzidas pelo ácido acético o EEA (200 e 400 mg/kg, v.o.) foi significativamente efetivo em inibir o estímulo álgico (33,4 por cento e 40,7 por cento), respectivamente, em relação aos animais do grupo controle. O EEA, em todas as doses, promoveu uma redução significativa do tempo de lambidas das patas na segunda fase do teste da formalina (77,5 por cento; 79,7 e 91,3 por cento). Os resultados sugerem uma ação antinociceptiva do EEA.

Plants with anticonvulsant properties: a review: [revision] / Uma revisão de plantas com propriedades anticonvulsivantes: [revisão]

Seizures are resistant to treatment with currently available anticonvulsant drugs in about 1 out of 3 patients with epilepsy. Thus, there is a need for new, more effective anticonvulsant drugs for intractable epilepsy. However, nature is a rich source of biological and chemical diversity and a number of plants in the world have been used in traditional medicine remedies, i.e., anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, analgesic, antidepressant. This work constitutes a literature review on medicinal plants showing anticonvulsant properties. The review refers to 16 Brazilian plants and a total 355 species, their families, geographical distribution, the utilized parts, method and references. Some aspects of research on medicinal plants and a brief review of the most common animal models to discover antiepileptic drugs are discussed. For this purpose over 170 references were consulted.

Cerca de um terço dos pacientes epilépticos não conseguem ter um tratamento adequado com as drogas anticonvulsivantes atuais. Nesse sentido, as plantas medicinais surgem como uma fonte promissora de novas moléculas químicas com propriedades biológicas apreciáveis. Muitas plantas ou produtos de origem naturais têm sido propostos para o tratamento de várias patologias, tais como: epilepsia, diabetes, ansiedade, depressão, dentre outras. O presente trabalho realizou um extenso levantamento na literatura especializada de plantas medicinais com propriedades anticonvulsivantes. Um total de 355 espécies vegetais foi identificado, sendo 16 plantas encontradas na flora brasileira, com indicação para o tratamento de quadros convulsivos. Características como nome da espécie, família, partes utilizadas, país do estudo e /ou publicação, métodos e referências foram sumarizados. Além disso, os principais apectos dos modelos animais mais utilizados no estudo de plantas/substâncias com propriedades anticonvulsivantes foram revisados. Mais de 170 referências foram consultadas.