Evaluation of anxiolytic-like effect of 7-epiclusianone isolated from Garcinia brasiliensis in mice

ABSTRACT Garcinia brasiliensis Mart., Clusiaceae, species became the target of studies for some years because it has several compounds including polyprenylated benzophenones, as 7-epiclusianone. This benzophenone has several properties, such as leishmanicidal, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, however still did not be studied anxiolytic activity. For this, the open field and elevated plus maze tests were used in order to evaluate the effect of administration of 7-epiclusianone (isolated from G. brasiliensis) on behavioral performance. Swiss male mice (n = 10 per group) were pre-treated with vegetable oil (10 ml/kg; i.p.) or 7-epiclusianone (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or diazepam (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.). After 1 h, the animals were submitted to the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The administration of 7-epiclusianone exerted a possible anxiolytic effect in the open field, increased the number of central crossings and anti-tigmotactic effect. In pre-treated group with 7-epiclusianone (10 mg/kg) was also possible to determine a possible anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus maze due to increased permanence of animals in the open arms. The results suggest a possible anxiolytic-like effect presented by the 7-epiclusianone and suggest its potential for the treatment of anxiety.

Oleanane-type triterpenoid: an anti-inflammatory compound of the roots Arrabidaea brachypoda

AbstractArrabidaea brachypoda Bureau, Bignoniaceae, known as "cipó-una", is widely used in traditional medicine in Southeastern and Northeastern Brazil for kidney stones and painful joints. This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory proprieties of the oleanane-type triterpenoid 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene isolated from the roots of A. brachypoda. Carrageenan-induced paw oedema, formalin test and hot plate test were used to investigate the antiinflammatory activity of 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene in animals. We observed that 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg p.o. demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, by reduced (p < 0.05) paw oedema induced by carrageenan and by decreased (p < 0.05) licking time caused by a subplantar injection of formalin. In conclusion, 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene, a triterpene isolated from the roots of A. brachypoda, demonstrate anti-inflammatory effect in different tests. Thus, it may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, which supports previous claims of its traditional use.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the hydroethanolic extract of the flowers of Pyrostegia venusta in mice

Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl.) Miers, Bignoniaceae, is native to the Brazilian Cerrado and popularly known as "cipó-de-são-joão". In Brazilian folk medicine, the flowers of P. venusta are used as a general tonic and a treatment for diarrhea, vitiligo, cough, and common infections and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. Nevertheless, there are still no studies on its possible anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The P. venusta hydroethanolic extract (PvHE) was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in carrageenan-induced paw edema, peritonitis induced by lipopolysaccharide, acetic acid-induced writhing, and formalin-induced paw-licking tests in Swiss male mice. PvHE at doses of 30-300 mg/kg p.o. demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect. PvHE reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan and inhibited leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity. The extracts showed antinociceptive activity in acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin tests. Our results showed that the PvHE demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive action in mice. All the anti-inflammatory actions obtained are also suggested to due the presence of acacetin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside.

Liquid-liquid extraction combined with high performance liquid chromatography-diode array-ultra-violet for simultaneous determination of antineoplastic drugs in plasma / Extracção líquido-líquido combinado com cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência de diodo matriz-ultra-violeta para a determinação simultânea de fármacos antineoplásicos no plasma

A liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method for simultaneous analysis of four chemically and structurally different antineoplastic drugs (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil and ifosfamide) was developed. The assay was performed by isocratic elution, with a C18 column (5 µm, 250 x 4.6 mm) and mobile phase constituted by water pH 4.0- acetonitrile-methanol (68:19:13, v/v/v), which allowed satisfactory separation of the compounds of interest. LLE, with ethyl acetate, was used for sample clean-up with recoveries ranging from 60 to 98 percent. The linear ranges were from 0.5 to 100 µg mL-1, for doxorubicin and 1 to 100 µg mL-1, for the other compounds. The relative standard deviations ranged from 5.5 to 17.7 percent. This method is a fast and simple alternative that can be used, simultaneously, for the determination of the four drugs in plasma, with a range enabling quantification of the drugs in pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence and therapeutic drug-monitoring studies.

Um método de extração líquido-líquido (ELL) combinado com cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência-detector de arranjo de diodos foi desenvolvido para análise simultânea de quatro fármacos antineoplásicos quimicamente e estruturalmente diferentes (ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, fluoruracila e ifosfamida). O estudo foi realizado sob condições isocráticas, com coluna C18 (5µm, 250 x 4.6 mm) e fase móvel constituída por água pH 4.0-acetonitrila-metanol (68:19:13, v/v/v), que permitiu separação satisfatória dos analitos de interesse. A ELL, com acetato de etila, foi utilizada para limpeza da amostra, com recuperação variando de 60 a 98 por cento. As faixas foram lineares de 0,5 a 100 µg mL-1 para doxorrubicina e 1 a 100 µg mL-1 para os outros compostos. O desvio padrão relativo variou de 5,5 a 17,7 por cento. Este método é uma alternativa rápida e simples que pode ser usado, simultaneamente, para a determinação dos quatro fármacos em plasma, com uma faixa que permite quantificá-los em estudos de farmacocinética, bioequivalência e monitorização terapêutica.

Administração de vasopressina no tratamento do choque séptico / Vasopressin administration in the management of septic shock

No tratamento de pacientes com choque séptico é de extrema importância um efetivo suporte cardiovascular. Entre as respostas neuroendócrinas à hipotensão e ao choque está o aumento da secreção de vasopressina, que inicialmente é eficaz em manter a pressão arterial por provocar vasoconstrição. Em estágios mais avançados do choque séptico, a concentração plasmática de vasopressina está em níveis inadequadamente baixos, podendo ser responsável pela vasodílatação que leva a um déficit na perfusão dos órgãos. Entre os mecanismos responsáveis pela diminuição da concentração pias- rnática de vasopressina podemos incluir a atividade barorreflexa, a depleção dos seus estoques na neuroípófise e a aumentada produção de óxido nítrico. Baseado nos recen- tes avanços do conhecimento, a vasopressina parece ser uma alternativa terapêutica no controle das alterações cardíovasculares durante o choque séptico.