ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome that reaches more than 382 million people worldwide. It interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, causing chronic hyperglycemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Copaifera duckei, Dwyer, Fabaceae, oleoresin on streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. This study was based on the induction of diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p.) in Wistar rats and treated with doses of C. duckei oleoresin (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.). Subsequently, the clinical, biochemical and histopathological of the pancreas parameters were evaluated. Gas chromatographic analysis indicated that β-bisabolene (22.29%), β-caryophyllene (21.25%) and α-farnesene (15.58%) sesquiterpenes were the major components of the C. duckei oleoresin. In streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus, it was possible to observe that the C. duckei oleoresin treatment had a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the clinical parameters, and that there was a positive improvement. This was attenuated by the urea, creatinine, and transaminases alterations (p < 0.001) observed in animals with diabetes mellitus, as well as the significantly reduced (p < 0.001) values of total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and glucose. In the histopathological analyses of the pancreas, it was observed that the C. duckei oleoresin was able to restore β-cells and to significantly increase the quantity and diameter of the Langerhans islets (p < 0.05), when compared to the diabetic group. The treatment with C. duckei oleoresin, employed under the conditions of this study, presented antidiabetic activity and can improve the complications found in this syndrome.
ABSTRACT
Copaiba trees and their oleoresin is an important natural product used as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drug, in particular for gynecological infections. The in vitro release profile of sesquiterpenes in a vaginal cream containing copaiba (CVC – copaiba vaginal cream) oleoresin in buffered solutions at different pHs was evaluated in the present study. The dissolution test revealed that trans-caryophyllene (TC) was constantly released until the final test time. The maximum peaks were found at a concentration of 478.79 nL/mL for the buffer at pH 5 and at a concentration of 475.99 nL/mL for the buffer at pH 6, with a percentage release of 50.52% and 50.21%, respectively. Likewise, the caryophyllene oxide (CO) was released into the buffers at pHs 5 and 6, with maximum release peaks at 60 minutes at a percentage of 31.8% and 33.5% corresponding to concentrations of 2.779 and 2.925 μg/mL, respectively. The release and dissolution profiles of the sesquiterpene compounds indicated that a pH of 5-6 in the dissolution media is adequate for release of these markers of antimicrobial activity in Copaifera duckei Dwyer. Therefore, these conditions possibly favor the therapeutic action of CVC.
ABSTRACT
The piquia (Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers.) has drawn the attention of the scientific community for its potential as an oilseed crop species. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo the topical anti-inflammatory activity of fixed oil from Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers. – OCV. To evaluate anti-inflammatory activity, the following assays were used in rats: a) granuloma assay (cotton-pellet), b) carrageenan-induced paw edema and c) vascular permeability assay. Gas chromatography analysis from the OCV, transesterified with a BF3-methanol sample, showed the following fatty acid esters to be major compounds of this species: methyl hexadecanoate (32%), methyl octadecanoate (29%) and methyl (E)-octadecanoate (29%). The ED50 calculated from the granuloma assay was 531 mg/kg. In the granuloma assay, rat model of carrageenan-induced paw edema and vascular permeability of histamine test, groups treated with a topical dose of 531 mg/kg OCV showed significant differences (p < 0.05, analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a multiple comparison Student-Newman-Keuls test) when compared to the control groups treated with distilled water. Thus, a 531 mg/kg dose of OCV elicited a topical anti-inflammatory effect in rats, and the fatty acid esters identified in the fixed oil from Caryocar villosum participate in the detected topical anti-inflammatory activity because compounds with this characteristic are capable of modulating acute and chronic inflammatory responses.