ABSTRACT
Background: The use of plants of the family Euphorbiaceae, particularly Euphorbia tirucalli (avelós) has been popularly widespread for treating a variety of diseases of infectious, tumoral, and inflammatory. Aim: To demonstrated antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of these extracts, evaluating the effect of a topical treatment with an aqueous solution of avelós latex on the survival and on intestinal adhesions in rats with experimental peritonitis. Methods: Peritonitis was induced in 24 Wistar rats, that were randomized into four groups of six as follows: (1) Control group (n=6), no treatment; (2) Antibiotic group (n=6), treatment with a single intramuscular dose of antibiotic Unasyn; (3) Saline group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with 0.9% saline; and (4) E.tirucalli group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with E. tirucalli at a concentration of 12 mg/ml. The animals that died were necropsied, and the time of death was recorded. The survivors were killed on postoperative day 11, and necropsy was subsequently performed for evaluation of the intestinal adhesions. Results: Significant differences were observed in the control and antibiotic groups (p<0.01) with respect to the survival hours when compared with the saline and E. tirucalli groups. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the survival of animals in the saline andE. tirucalli groups; however, one animal died in the saline group. Necropsy of the animals in the saline and E. tirucalligroups showed strong adhesions resistant to manipulation, between the intestinal loops and abdominal wall. The remaining groups did not show any adhesions. Conclusions: Topical treatment with E. tirucalli latex stimulated an increased formation of intestinal adhesions and prevented the death of all animals with peritonitis.
Racional: O uso de plantas da família Euphorbiaceae, principalmente a Euphorbia tirucalli (avelós), tem sido popularmente difundido para o tratamento de uma variedade de doenças de natureza infecciosa, tumoral e inflamatória. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do tratamento tópico com a solução aquosa do látex do avelós na sobrevida e nas aderências intestinas de ratos com peritonite experimental. Métodos: Foi induzido peritonite em 24 ratos Wistar e randomizados em quatro grupos de seis, assim distribuídos: 1) Controle - (n=6), nenhum tratamento; 2) Antibiótico - (n=6), tratamento com dose única intramuscular de antibiótico Unasyn (Pfizer - São Paulo); 3) Salina - (n=6), lavagem da cavidade abdominal com solução fisiológica 0,9%; 4) E.Tirucalli - (n=6), lavagem da cavidade abdominal com E. tirucalli na concentração de 12 mg/ml. Os animais que morreram foram submetidos à necropsia e o horário do óbito anotado. Os sobreviventes foram submetidos à eutanásia no 11odia de pós-operatório e, posteriormente, realizou-se a necropsia para avaliação da formação de aderências. Resultados: Os grupos controle e antibiótico obtiveram diferença significativa (p<0,01) com relação às horas de vida entre os grupos salina e E. tirucalli. Não houve diferença significativa (p>0,05) na sobrevida dos animais dos grupos salina e E. tirucalli, no entanto, houve um óbito no grupo salina. A necropsia dos animais dos grupos salina e E. tirucalli mostrou aderências firmes e resistentes à manipulação entre alças intestinais e parede abdominal. Os demais grupos não tiveram formação de aderências. Conclusão: O tratamento tópico com o látex da E. tirucalli estimulou maior formação de aderências intestinais e evitou o óbito de todos animais com peritonite até o período avaliado.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Euphorbia , Latex/therapeutic use , Peritonitis/drug therapy , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Tissue Adhesions/chemically induced , Administration, Topical , Latex/adverse effects , Peritonitis/mortality , Phytotherapy/adverse effects , Random Allocation , Rats, Wistar , Survival RateABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of chlorhexidine on the formation of adhesions and dilation of the colon at the oral end of anastomosis in the presence of peritonitis. METHODS: Peritonitis was induced in male Wistar rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Abdominal cavities were irrigated with tepid solutions containing 0.9% saline (SAL group; n=8) or 0.05% chlorhexidine (CHD group; n=8), after which colon anastomoses were performed. Control rats (n=8) were submitted to colon anastomoses but not to CLP. Animals were euthanised seven days after surgery and the incidence of adhesions, the degree of dilation of colon loops and an index were calculated to determine variables correlation. RESULTS: No animals exhibited macroscopic signs of residual peritonitis or abdominal abscesses. Adhesions were observed in 75% of control and 100% of SAL and CHD animals. Dilation of intestinal loops at the oral end of anastomosis was observed in control (50%), SAL (57.2%) and CHD (66.7%) animals. The calculated index was 1.25 in group A; 1.86 in group B; and 2.0 group C. CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine promoted stronger adhesions and a greater dilatation of colonic loops than control group.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology , Chlorhexidine/pharmacology , Colon/drug effects , Colon/surgery , Peritonitis/surgery , Anastomosis, Surgical , Disease Models, Animal , Ligation , Postoperative Complications , Peritonitis/chemically induced , Rats, Wistar , Reference Values , Severity of Illness Index , Tissue Adhesions/chemically induced , Tissue Adhesions/pathologyABSTRACT
Post operative peritoneal adhesions are always a threat and can cause adhesive obstruction and sterility in women due to tubal block. To study this problem, an experiment was conducted on 140 Swiss albino rats. Adhesions were produced in the animals by stripping the serosa of the caecum over an area of 2cm, a technique which resulted in about an 80% incidence of adhesions. Various substances like dextran, normal saline, honey, ghee, vitarnine E etc. were instilled into the peritoneal cavity. One group of 10 animals were fed on a diet containing a high dose of vitamin E. The animals' abdomens were opened on the 14th day and the adhesions were studied. Glove powder was instilled into the peritoneal cavity in one group of animals. For each group a control study was also done. Glove powder instillation invariably produced adhesions. Dextran and normal saline failed to prevent adhesions. Serosal application of Vitamin E produced granulomatous adhesions. Application of honey and ghee produced flimsy insubstantial adhesions. A high dose of oral Vitamin E also produced insubstantial adhesions. In the control group where the serosa was stripped and no substance was used, substantial adhesions were formed in a majority of the animals. From this experimental study, it was found that, vitamin E given orally in a high dose and serosal application of honey ghee mixture may be useful in minimising post operative peritoneal adhesions