Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Plathymenia reticulata Benth has an anti-inflammatory effect and is capable of neutralizing the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu or Crotalus durissus terrificus venoms, probably by precipitating venom proteins (an effect caused by plant tannins). The present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic activity of P. reticulata by using the Salmonella mutagenicity assay (Ames test) and the micronucleus test in CHO-K1 cells. P. reticulata extract concentrations of 2.84, 5.68, 11.37, and 19.90 mg/plate were assayed by the Ames test using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 bacterial strains, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolic activation. Concentrations of 5, 1.6 and 0.5 ìg/mL of P. reticulata extract were used for the micronucleus test. P. reticulata extract was mutagenic to TA98 (-S9) and showed signs of mutagenic activity in TA97a and TA102 (both -S9) strains. Micronucleus test CBPI values showed that the endogenous metabolic system increased the number of viable cells when compared to the non-activated samples and the micronucleus frequency increased when the cells were treated in the absence of S9. We concluded that P. reticulata extract may present direct mutagenic properties.

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 µg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6 percent (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g percent) and polyphenols (4.63 g percent) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 ìg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6% (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g%) and polyphenols (4.63 g%) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Morphometric analysis of the foramen magnum in human skulls of brazilian individuals: its relation to gender

The morphological characteristics obtained by craniometry may be the key to sex determination and enable us to identify unknown individuals in anywhere in the world. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the linear morphometry of foramen magnum to verify the morphological characteristics for gender determination in human skulls of Brazilian individuals. Methods: With a digital caliper, were made three non-consecutive measurements of the foramen magnum in 215 human skulls (139 male and 76 female), from the collection of the Department of Morphology and Descriptive Topography – UNIFESP/SP with registered data on nationality, gender, and age. The craniometric measurements were made in accordance with the protocol defined by Günay and Altinkõk (2000). The data were submitted to intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Student t-test with significance level of 5%. Results: There were no statistically significant differences (chi-square, p > 0.05) between the ethnic groups within each gender. The ANOVA and Tukey tests showed that the gender influenced the width of the foramen magnum. The FM is higher in males (30.3 ± 0.20) than in females (29.4 ± 0.23), but not in length (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The morphometric linear method of the foramen magnum (width) was able to determine the morphological differences between sexes and can be used in conjunction with other anthropological techniques to gender determination of unknown individuals.

The effect of milk on plasmatic and tissue levels of macrolides: in vivo study in rats

The ingestion of milk with drugs, particularly some antibiotics, is frequently recommended in order to decrease possible gastrointestinal discomfort. The objective of this sutdy was to assess the interference of milk in the absorption and tissue levels of macroline antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin). Forty female rats received surgically-implanted PVC sponges on their backs. One week later, granulomatous tissue was observed and the animals were divided into eight groups, which received erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin and azithromycin with and without milk. One hour after administration of antibiotic, the animals were sacrificed. The serum and tissue samples were submitted to microbiological assay with Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, in order to determine drug concentration. Milk did not cause any reduction in the serum and tissue levels of azithromycin and clarithromycin (p>0.05, t-test). However, ingestion of milk reduced by approximately 28.7% the roxithromycin (p<0.0001, t-test) and by 34.1% the rythromycin (p<0.0001, t-test) serum concentrations. Similar effects were observed on tissue levels. Milk ingestion caused a reduction of approximately 20.8% in the roxithromycin (p<0.0001, t-test) and 40% in the erythromycin (p<0.0001, t-test) tissue levels. We concluded that erythromycin and roxithromycin should be not administered with milk