Prevention of UVB radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice by topical administration of Azadirachta indica(neem) extract

Neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss. fam. Meliaceae) has been extensively employed to combat diverse pathologies. Moreover, it has been described that its leaf extract present anticarcinogenic action. Thus, the neem extract (NE) chemical and antioxidant properties was evaluated, and also, the capacity of two dermatological formulations incorporated with neem extract (F1 and F2) to avoid oxidative UVB-induced skin injury in hairless mice. NE constituents were investigated and free radical scavenging ability were determined by different methods in vitro. Skin from mice treated with F1 and F2 and submitted to UVB radiation were tested for different parameters of inflammation and oxidative injury. Results show that the NE polyphenol and flavonoid content were 135.30 and 37.12mg/g, respectively. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results demonstrated the existence of azarachtin, rutin, ursolic acid and tannic acid. NE presented scavenging ability by ABTS radical, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), inhibition of lipid peroxidation and iron chelation. In vivo, it was observed that mice treated with F1 and F2 showed amelioration of the inflammation by reducing UVB induced skin edema. However, only samples from animals treated with F1 had lower neutrophil recruitment (measured by myeloperoxidase activity), and returning the oxidative status to baseline levels in parameters such as reduced glutathione level, ferric reducing ability (FRAP), and scavenging of free radical (ABTS). Concluding, NE demonstrated a good antioxidant property in vitro, and the data suggest the use of NE added F1 to prevent skin damage caused by UVB irradiation.(AU)

Validation of methodology for assay, pharmaceutical equivalence, and comparative dissolution profile for tablets containing amlodipine besylate

The amlodipine besylate is indicated as a first choice in the treatment of hypertension. Many similar and generic drugproducts companies were able to bring out to the market dosage forms containing amlodipine besylate with lowerprices. In this context, the aim of this work was to validate a simple method for the determination of amlodipinecontent in tablets by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and to perform pharmaceutical equivalence and dissolution profilestudies for three similar and one generic drug products and their respective innovator tablet containing amlodipine(5 mg). The developed method for the determination of amlodipine content proved to be linear, precise, accurate,robust, and appropriate for employment in the quality control of tablets containing amlodipine besylate. The reference(R), similar (S1, S2, and S3), and generic (G) drug products all fulfilled the specifications for the tests of identification,average weight, hardness, friability, disintegration, drug content, content uniformity, and dissolution. However, incomparative dissolution profile studies, the dissolution efficiency of products G and S2 was statistically different fromproduct R, which may indirectly lead to the unsuitable bioavailability and therapeutic inefficacy. Thus, there is a needfor tighter legislation and inspection regarding the quality of pharmaceutical products already on the market.

Comparison of the antioxidant potential of antiparkinsonian drugs in different in vitro models

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Furthermore, oxidative stress plays a role in PD, causing or contributing to the neurodegenerative process. Currently PD has only symptomatic treatment and still nothing can be done to stop the degenerative process of the disease. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant capacity of pramipexole, selegeline and amantadine in different in vitro studies and to offer possible explanations on the molecular antioxidant mechanisms of these drugs. In vitro, the antioxidant capacity of the drugs was assessed by the ability of antiparkinsonian drugs to decrease or scavenge ROS in the neutrophil respiratory burst, ability of antiparkinsonian drugs to donate hydrogen and stabilize the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•), to scavenge 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS+) and evaluation of the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). This study demonstrated that both pramipexole and selegiline, but not amantadine, have antioxidant effects in vitro by scavenging superoxide anion on the respiratory burst, donating electron in the ABTS+ assay and presenting ferric reduction antioxidant power. This chemical structure-related antioxidant capacity suggests a possible neuroprotective mechanism of these drugs beyond their already recognized mechanism of action.

A doença de Parkinson (DP) é caracterizada pela degeneração progressiva dos neurônios dopaminérgicos na substância negra pars compacta. Além disso, o estresse oxidativo, presente nesta doença, causa ou contribui para o processo neurodegenerativo. Atualmente, a DP tem apenas tratamento sintomático e ainda nada pode ser feito para interromper o processo degenerativo. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar, comparativamente, a capacidade antioxidante do pramipexol, selegilina e amantadina em diferentes testes in vitro e oferecer possíveis explicações sobre os mecanismos moleculares antioxidantes destes fármacos. Avaliou-se a atividade antioxidante dos fármacos através da capacidade em diminuir ou sequestrar espécies reativas de oxigênio no burst respiratório, da capacidade em doar hidrogênio e estabilizar o radical livre 2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazil (DPPH•), de remover o radical 2,2'-azino-di-(3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-sulfônico (ABTS+) e da verificação do poder redutor/antioxidante do ferro (FRAP). Este estudo demonstrou que tanto o pramipexol como a selegilina, mas não a amantadina, possuem efeitos antioxidantes in vitro por eliminar o ânion superóxido no burst respiratório, doar elétrons no método ABTS e apresentar poder redutor sobre o ferro (FRAP). Essa capacidade antioxidante pode estar relacionada com a estrutura química desses medicamentos, sugerindo possíveis mecanismos neuroprotetores destes fármacos além de seus mecanismos de ação já conhecidos.

The importance of coating standardization in gastro-resistant capsules produced in magistral pharmacy / Importância da padronização dos revestimentos utilizados em cápsulas gastrorresistentes produzidas em farmácia magistral

Gastro-resistant capsules are often used for several purposes, such as protection of unstable drugs in acid medium to the action of gastric fluids or protection of the gastric mucosa to irritants drugs. The aim of this study was to verify the variation of preparations of capsules coating with cellulose acetate phthalate and methacrylic acid copolymer, without drug addition, in 7-10% coating concentrations, prepared manually with four or five immersions in tested coating solution. Results were analyzed considering the formulation's disintegration test. Within the context of formulations under analysis, it was observed that the capsules coated with cellulose acetate phthalate 10% complied with the pharmacopeia's disintegration specifications. However, capsules coated with methacrylic acid copolymer did not show accordance with the pharmacopeia's specifications. The results emphasize the need for the standardization of coating methodology.

Cápsulas gastrorresistentes são frequentemente utilizadas com diversos propósitos, como a proteção de fármacos instáveis em meio ácido à ação dos fluidos gástricos ou proteção da mucosa gástrica à fármacos irritantes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a variação da preparação de revestimento de cápsulas com acetoftalato de celulose e copolímero do ácido metacrílico, sem adição de fármaco, em concentrações que variam de 7 a 10% de revestimento, preparadas manualmente com quatro a cinco camadas da solução dos revestimentos testados. Os resultados foram analisados considerando o teste de desintegração das formulações. Das formulações testadas, foi observado que as cápsulas revestidas com acetoftalato de celulose a 10% cumpriram com as especificações farmacopeicas quanto à desintegração. No entanto, cápsulas revestidas com copolímero de ácido metacrílico não mostraram conformidade com as especificações farmacopeicas. Os resultados obtidos enfatizam a necessidade de padronização da metodologia de revestimento.

Influência do armazenamento de suspensão bacteriana na respostainflamatória em camundongos / Influence of bacterial suspension storage in the inflammatory response in mice

O preparo de suspensão bacteriana é procedimento importante para avaliação da inflamação e podeser obtida por diferentes métodos que precisam ou não do passo de armazenamento. O objetivo destetrabalho foi investigar a influência do armazenamento de suspensão de Staphylococcus aureus na viabilidade bacteriana e sua influência na inflamação in vivo. A suspensão bacteriana de S. aureus ATCC 6538 foi preparada visualmente seguindo o grau 4 da Escala de McFarland. A viabilidade bacteriana nessa solução foi determinada pela contagem de UFC, a qual foi utilizada para induzir artrite séptica e peritonite. O armazenamento por 24 h reduziu as UFC de S. aureus. Essa redução da viabilidadebacteriana resultou em diminuição da hiperalgesia mecânica, edema e recrutamento leucocitário na artriteséptica, e recrutamento leucocitário e produção de citocinas na peritonite bacteriana. Estes resultadosdemonstraram que o armazenamento de suspensão bacteriana afetou sua viabilidade, resultando emdiminuição da resposta inflamatória in vivo, sugerindo a importância de padronizar procedimentos parao preparo de suspensão bacteriana. Uma abordagem concebível seria determinar o número de UFC em um específico grau da Escala de McFarland, o qual permitirá o preparo e o uso de uma suspensão bacteriana no mesmo dia para os testes in vivo.

The preparation of bacterial suspension is an important procedure used in laboratories for inflammatoryevaluation protocols and can be obtained by different methods that need or not need step storage. The aimof this work was investigate the influence of storage of Staphylococcus aureus suspension in bacterialviability and its influence in bacteria-induced inflammation in vivo. The bacterial suspension of S. aureus ATCC 6538 was prepared accordingly to 4th degree of McFarland’s Scale by visual comparison. This suspension was used to determine by CFU counting the bacterial viability and for administration to the animals to induce septic arthritis and peritonitis. Twenty four hours of storage reduced the S. aureus CFU. As a consequence of reduced bacterial viability, was detected reduced mechanical hyperalgesia, edema and leukocyte recruitment in septic arthritis and leukocyte recruitment and cytokine production bacterial peritonitis. These results demonstrate that storage of bacterial suspension affected bacterialviability, which resulted in diminished inflammatory response in vivo, raising the importance of standardprocedures for bacterial suspension preparation. A conceivable approach would be to determine the number of CFU at a specific McFarland’s scale degree, which will allow the preparation and use a bacterial suspension in the same day for in vivo testing.

Tephrosia sinapou extract reduces inflammatory leukocyte recruitment in mice: effect on oxidative stress, nitric oxide and cytokine production

Tephrosia toxicaria (Sw.) Pers., which is currently known as T. sinapou (Buc'hoz) A. Chev., Fabaceae, is a source of compounds such as flavonoids, however, few studies addressed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of T. sinapou. Therefore, we evaluated the antioxidant mechanisms of the T. sinapou ethyl acetate extract in vitro, and whether the extract affects leukocyte recruitment in four models of inflammation and the involvement of nitric oxide and cytokines in its mechanism. In vitro, it was observed that the extract presented hydrogen donating ability to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS+), and also efficiently inhibited iron-dependent and independent lipid peroxidation and iron chelation assays. In vivo, it inhibited the recruitment of total leukocytes and neutrophil induced by carrageenin, zymosan, glycogen and lipopolysaccharide in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Two mechanisms were detected: 1) T. sinapou effect on leukocyte recruitment depends on nitric oxide since was dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), and 2) the extract also inhibited the production of crucial cytokines for the leukocyte recruitment; tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1β. Concluding, T. sinapou ethyl acetate extract reduces oxidative stress in vitro, and inflammatory leukocyte recruitment by a mechanism related to inhibition of cytokine production, and in a nitric oxide dependent manner in vivo.

Validation of HPLC, DPPH• and nitrosation methods for mesalamine determination in pharmaceutical dosage forms

Mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA) is used because of its local effects in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, the aims of this work were to compare and validate three analytical methods for the quality control of commercial coated tablets containing 5-ASA: high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH•) and nitrosation. The parameters linearity, precision and accuracy were studied in this work. HPLC with ultraviolet detection at 254 nm was carried out with a C18 column and a mobile phase constituted of 30 mmol/L monobasic phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and methanol (70:30; v/v), with 25 percent tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate. The DPPH• method was performed at 517 nm and using 100 mmol/L acetate buffer, pH 5.5, ethanol and 250 æmol/L ethanolic solution of DPPH•. The nitrosation method was accomplished by using a platinum electrode and standard 0.1 mol/L sodium nitrite as titrant solution. Repeatability (intra-day) and intermediate precision (inter-day), expressed as RSD, were lower than 3 percent. The experimental recoveries were between 72.5 and 99.9 percent. Statistical analysis by one-way ANOVA, followed by the multiple comparison test of Bonferroni showed no significant difference among the three methods. All proposed methods can be used for the reliable quantitation of 5-ASA in pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Mesalazina (ácido 5-aminosalicílico, 5-ASA) é utilizado devido seu efeito local no tratamento de doença inflamatória intestinal. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar e validar três métodos analíticos para o controle de qualidade de comprimidos comerciais revestidos contendo 5-ASA: cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE), radical 1,1-difenil-2-picril-hidrazil (DPPH•) e nitrosação. Os parâmetros linearidade, precisão e exatidão foram estudados neste trabalho. CLAE com detecção ultravioleta em 254 nm foi realizada utilizando coluna C18 e a eluição em fase móvel constituída de tampão fosfato monobásico 30 mmol/L (pH 7,0) e metanol (70:30; v/v), com 25 por cento de sulfato hidrogênio de tetrabutilamônio. Para o método de DPPH• utilizou-se tampão acetato 100 mmol/L, pH 5,5, álcool etílico e 250 æmol/L solução etanólica de DPPH• a 517 nm. Para o método de nitrosação utilizou-se um eletrodo de platina e um padrão de nitrito de sódio 0.1 mol/L como solução titulante. Repetibilidade (intra-dia) e precisão intermediária (inter-dia), expressado como DPR, foi menor que 3 por cento. A recuperação experimental foi entre 72,5 e 99,9 por cento. Análise estatística por "one-way" ANOVA, seguida de comparação múltipla do teste de Bonferroni, não mostrou significância entre os três métodos. Os métodos propostos podem ser usados para análise quantitativa do5-ASA em formas farmacêuticas.

Gestaçäo: orientaçöes básicas / Pregnancy: basic orientations

Com a constataçäo, por meio dos prontuários, da existência de alto índice de gravidez na regiäo da Unidade Básica de Saúde do Jardim Tókio, em Londrina, e por ser uma das questöes que preocupam a direçäo da unidade, o grupo de alunos do GIM5, de 1996, resolveu estudar e empreender uma açäo de acompanhamento e orientaçäo às mulheres grávidas da regiäo. Os acadêmicos também visitaram um colégio, onde conversaram sobre sexualidade e gravidez na adolescência com alunos do 2§ Grau. Os estudos dos membros do GIM5 compreenderam planejamento familiar, controle de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, aleitamento materno e até preparo físico pré-parto. O ginecologista e a direçäo da UBS dera, cobertura a estes estudos e, ao final, foi organizada uma atividade com a participaçäo das mulheres grávidas , para o repasse das informaçöes de seu interesse