ABSTRACT
Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the mucosa and submucosa of the large intestine. One of the mechanisms involved in its etiology is oxidative stress (OS), directly involved in the inflammatory process characteristic of UC. The Campsiandra laurifolia, known as acapurana, was described as possessing antioxidant properties. We used 24 male Wistar rats, divided into control (CO), control + acapurana (CO + A), colitis (CL), and colitis + acapurana (CL + A) groups. This study performed histological analysis, measuring anal sphincter pressure (ASP) and lipoperoxidation (LPO). The activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels were evaluated. The expression of the nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The statistical analysis used was the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test; values were expressed as mean ± standard error, and the significance level was p < 0.05. In the animals of the CL group, we observed the destruction of the crypts and the presence of mucosal ulcers, edema, and submucosal inflammatory infiltrate, as well as increased damage to the intestinal mucosa, reduced ASP, increased LPO and SOD activity, reduced GSH levels, and increased expression of NFkB and iNOS. The administration of C. laurifolia in the CL + A group was shown to cause regeneration of crypts, reduction of inflammatory infiltrate, reduction of damage to the intestinal mucosa, increase in ASP, and reduction in LPO with the restoration of SOD activity and GSH levels. The immunohistochemistry of NFkB and iNOS was significantly reduced. Therefore, the C. laurifolia aqueous extract appears to exert an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in rats with AA-induced colitis. (AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Colitis, Ulcerative/etiology , Fabaceae , Antioxidants , NF-kappa B , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II , Intestinal Mucosa/anatomy & histology , Lipid PeroxidesABSTRACT
Cissus verticillata and Sphagneticola trilobata have been used in Brazilian folk medicine for Diabetes Mellitus treatment, although their pharmacological and toxicological profile has not been clearly established. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the preclinical toxicity of the aqueous extracts of C. verticillata and S. trilobata. The main groups of secondary metabolites were investigated, and the species differed by the presence of coumarins in C. verticillata and by tannins in S. trilobata extracts. The highest contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were quantified in C. verticillata infusion with 2.594 ± 0.04 mg equivalents of gallic acid g-1 of extract and 1.301 ± 0.015 mg equivalents of catechin g-1 of extract, respectively. While the extract of S. trilobata showed minimum values of these compounds, with 0.002 ± 0.001 mg equivalents of gallic acid g-1 extract and 0.005 ± 0.0004 mg equivalents of catechin g-1 of extract, respectively. These differences implied the results of in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), in which the sample of C. verticillata at 5 mg mL-1 showed a value of 122 µM ferrous sulfate equivalents (FSE), while S. trilobata showed 0.93 µM FSE at the same concentration. With respect to cytotoxic assay with murine fibroblast cell line (3T3) only S. trilobata exhibited cytotoxic effects measured by MTT and Sulforhodamine B assays, evidenced by the cell viability value of approximately 16%, in both tests after 24 and 72 hours of exposure of the cells to 5 mg mL-1 of the extract. Comparatively, at 5 mg mL-1 the C. verticillata extract showed cell viability of 142% and 95%, respectively, after 24 hours of cell exposure. On the other hand, both species showed genotoxic profiles evidenced by chromosomal aberrations by Allium cepa bioassay, observed by the higher percentage values of chromosome bridges, chromosome loss, and disturbed anaphase for all concentrations of both extracts than those of the negative control. The results support the characterization of the toxicological profile for both species and create an alert regarding the use of S. trilobata, which should be avoided.
Subject(s)
Asteraceae/cytology , Asteraceae/chemistry , Asteraceae/toxicity , Diabetes Mellitus/diagnosis , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Vitaceae/cytology , Vitaceae/chemistry , Vitaceae/toxicityABSTRACT
The objective of this research was to identify the effects of 3-week treatment of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats using a leaf decoction of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (20 g/L) on physiological, biochemical and histological parameters. Streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg in citrate buffer, pH 4.5) was administered IP to induce experimental diabetes one week prior to the treatment. STZ caused typical diabetic symptoms: polydypsia, polyuria, polyphagia, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and histopathological modifications in the pancreas, liver and kidney. The treatment of diabetic rats using the decoction decreased blood glucose levels, inhibited hepatic glycogen loss, and prevented potential histopathological alterations in the pancreas and kidneys. No differences were found between the control rats treated with the decoction and the control rats maintained on water only. In conclusion, these results suggest that C. xanthocarpa leaf decoction (20g/L) might be useful for diabetes mellitus management, but further pharmacological and toxicological studies are needed.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar os efeitos do tratamento com o decocto das folhas de Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (20 g/L), durante 3 semanas, sobre parâmetros fisiológicos, bioquímicos e histológicos de ratos normais e diabéticos induzidos por estreptozotocina. O diabete melito foi induzido uma semana antes de iniciar o tratamento experimental, pela administração IP de estreptozotocina (STZ, 70 mg/kg em tampão citrato, pH 4.5). Os ratos tratados com STZ apresentaram sintomas típicos de diabete: polifagia, polidipsia, hiperglicemia, hipertrigliceridemia e alterações histopatológicas no pâncreas, fígado e rim. O tratamento dos ratos diabéticos com o decocto diminuiu os níveis de glicose sanguínea, inibiu a degradação do glicogênio hepático e preveniu possíveis alterações histopatológicas no pâncreas e no rim. Nos ratos controles tratados com o decocto não foram verificadas diferenças significativas em relação aos controles tratados com água. Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que o tratamento com o decocto das folhas de C. xanthocarpa leaf decoction (20 g/L) possa ser útil para o manejo do diabete melito, porém estudos farmacológicos e toxicológicos ainda são necessários.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Plant Extracts , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental , Plant StructuresABSTRACT
O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o teor de quercetina obtido dos extratos de partes aéreas de Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers., Asteraceae, submetidas a diferentes técnicas de secagem, bem como a avaliação de sua atividade antioxidante in vitro. Foi verificada maior concentração deste flavonoide nas amostras secas em estufa, porém não houve diferença significativa na atividade farmacológica das amostras analisadas.
The objective of this work was to verify the influence of different drying processes on the levels of quercetin of the aerial parts of Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers., Asteraceae, as well as the evaluation of the in vitro antioxidant activity of these extracts. We demonstrated that the highest concentration of this flavonoid was detected in oven-dried samples, although there no significant difference in their pharmacological activity of all analyzed samples could be shown.
ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases affect millions of people and have high mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. Studies about the consumption of garlic and onion showed that these species have considerable beneficial effects against diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and are classifed, therefore, as functional foods. Their properties have been attributed to organosulfur compounds, particularly allicin, which are abundantly found in their tissues. This study reviewed the literature about the effects of garlic and onion on the cardiovascular system.
Enfermedades del sistema cardiovascular afectan millones de personas y son causadoras de elevados índices de mortalidad y morbilidad en el mundo. Estudios sobre el consumo de ajo y cebolla mostraron considerables beneficios en relación a enfermedades como hipertensión, trombosis y arterioesclerosis siendo considerados alimentos funcionales. Esas ventajas han sido atribuidas a la presencia en abundancia de compuestos orgánicos sulfurados en el tejido de esas plantas, destacándose entre ellos la aliicina. En este trabajo relatamos un estudio bibliográfico sobre la acción del ajo y la cebolla en el sistema cardiovascular.
As doenças do sistema cardiovascular atingem milhões de pessoas e são causadoras de elevado índice de mortalidade e morbidade mundial. Estudos realizados sobre o consumo do alho e cebola relataram que estas espécies apresentaram considerável efeito benéfico sobre enfermidades como hipertensão, aterosclerose e trombose, sendo desta forma, considerados como alimentos funcionais. Essas atividades têm sido atribuídas aos compostos orgânicos sulfurados, abundantes nos tecidos dessas plantas, destacando-se a aliicina. Desta forma, o presente estudo visa realizar um levantamento bibliográfico sobre o alho e a cebola quanto à sua ação sobre o sistema cardiovascular.