Curcuma longa ingestion protects in vitro hepatocyte membrane peroxidation

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of turmeric ingestion on lipid peroxidation and GSH content, promoted by in vitro acetaminophen, on hepatocytes primary culture from well-nourished and malnourished rats. Four groups of Holtzman male rats were used: 1) WNG, well-nourished, fed lab chow diet ad libitum; 2) MNG, malnourished, fed 60 percent of the diet consumed by WNG; 3) WNG+T fed the same diet of WNG, but containing 1 percent of turmeric; 4) MNG+T fed 60 percent of the diet consumed by WNG+T. The animals were sacrificed at 90 days of age, the livers excised and hepatocytes primary cultures were prepared. Half of the plates of hepatocytes culture were treated with acetaminophen. Dose-response curve showed that 6 mM acetaminophen increased peroxidation around 54 percent and decreased GSH content around 63 percent. The model of malnutrition used, by restricting food ingestion (40 percent), decreased body weight in 33 percent and peroxidation index around 42 percent and increased GSH content around 43 percent. Turmeric ingestion decreased hepatocyte peroxidation in both well-nourished (42 percent) and malnourished rats (33 percent) and was able to avoid the acetaminophen pro-oxidant effect in both well-nourished and malnourished animals. Turmeric ingestion played a beneficial role to the organism and, therefore, can be considered a functional food.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da ingestão de cúrcuma sobre a peroxidação lipídica e conteúdo de GSH, por ação tóxica in vitro de paracetamol, utilizando cultura primária de hepatócitos. Quatro grupos de ratos Holtzman foram usados: 1) GNN, normonutrido, alimentado ad libitum com ração de laboratório; 2) GDN, desnutrido, alimentado com 60 por cento da quantidade de ração consumida por GNN; 3) GNN+C, alimentado como GNN, mas contendo 1 por cento de cúrcuma na dieta; 4) GDN+C, alimentado como GDN, mas contendo 1 por cento de cúrcuma na dieta. Os animais foram sacrificados aos 90 dias de vida, e cultura de hepatócitos preparada. Metade das placas de cultura foi tratada com paracetamol. A curva dose-resposta mostrou que 6 mM de paracetamol aumentou em 54 por cento a peroxidação e diminuiu em 63 por cento o conteúdo de GSH. A restrição na ingestão de alimentos (40 por cento) diminuiu o peso corporal (33 por cento) ao sacrifício e o índice de peroxidação cerca de 42 por cento, entretanto, aumentou o conteúdo de GSH cerca de 43 por cento. A ingestão de cúrcuma diminuiu a peroxidação em ambos ratos normonutridos (42 por cento) e desnutridos (33 por cento) e evitou o efeito pro-oxidante de paracetamol em ambos os grupos. A cúrcuma exerceu efeito protetor antioxidante sobre o organismo.

Ligation of the abdominal esophagus decreases scorpion toxin-induced gastric secretion in rats

PURPOSE: Scorpion toxin purified from Tityus serrulatus venom (Tx) induces an increase in volume, acidity and pepsin secretion in the gastric juice of rats. Ligation of oesophagus has been shown to reduce the acid gastric secretion in rats. The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of the esophageal ligation on gastric secretion induced by Tx in rats. METHODS: Forty-four male albino rats were given water ad libitum, but no food for 20 to 24 hours, anesthetized with urethane and the trachea and jugular vein cannulated. Cervical or abdominal esophageal ligation or sham-operations were performed before and after the injection of 0.25 mg/kg of scorpion toxin (fraction Tl) into the jugular vein. One hour later, the volume, acidity, pH and peptic activity of gastric juice were determined. RESULTS: The scorpion toxin induced an increase in gastric juice volume, acidity and pepsin output and a decrease in pH when injected into the vein of intact animals or in sham-operated animals. Cervical esophagus ligation did not interfere with the effects of toxin, however, ligation of the abdominal esophageal decreased the toxin effect on the rat stomach. CONCLUSION: Ligation of the abdominal esophagus decreases the gastric secretion induced by scorpion toxin.

Lethal effect of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus venom: comparative study on adult and weanling rats

Scorpion sting accidents are common in Brazil and several lethal cases occur among children. This observation can be due to higher concentration of circulating venon in children. However, other factors such as those related to the growth and development of the organism might modulate differently children and adult envenomation. The present work aimed to compare acute toxicity, by median lethal doses (LD50) evaluation, using weanling male and female (21-22 days) and adult (150-160 days) rats, after subcutaneous injection with saline extract of crude venom. The LD50 values, expressed as mg of venom protein per kg of rat body weight, were calculated according to the statistical Probit method...

Jatropha curcas L. seeds: chemical analysis and toxicity

A high degree of toxicity was found in raw, cooked, or roasted seeds of Jatropha curcas L. All rats fed on diets containing different fractions of this nut which had been submitted to different treatments were killed as follows: raw nuts, within 2-3 days; raw or cooked nut oil, 6-8 days; roasted nuts, within 14-16 days. Chemical analysis of the seeds revealed a high protein content (26.75%) with a good proportion of essential amino acids and a high lipid content (57.90%)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in germfree, gnotobiotic, and conventional mice: nota prévia

A leishmaniose tegumentar foi muito mais grave em camundongos convencionais e convencionalizados do que em seus pares isentos de germes ou gnotobióticos. Usou-se um inóculo de Leishmania mexicana amazonensis