Trichilia catigua: therapeutic and cosmetic values

ABSTRACT Medicinal plants play an important role in human health care. It is estimated that about 25–30% of all drugs are evaluated as therapeutic agents derived from natural products. Research in the pharmaceutical industry has demonstrated that for complex diseases, natural products still represent a valuable source for the production of new chemical compounds, since they possess privileged structures. Among Brazilian biodiversity, "catuaba" is popularly used as a tonic to treat fatigue, stress, impotence, memory deficits, and digestive disorders. Studies show antibacterial, trypanocidal, antioxidant, antiarrhythmic, antidepressant, improvement of memory, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, as well as phytocosmetic activity in cellulite treatment and in anti-ageing. The Brazilian plants known and used as catuaba are represented by more than twenty different species; however, the plant most commonly found in Brazil as "catuaba" is the species Trichilia catigua A. Juss., Meliaceae. Thus, the aim of this paper is to present a review of T. catigua, with emphasis on biological activities, chemical and analytical development and formulations in order to provide a broader and deeper insight, seeking a herbal medicine and/or phytocosmetic as well as future prospects for commercial exploitation and directions for future studies.

Mini mental state examination and evaluation of factors associated with cognitive decline in HIV/AIDS-infected people / Miniexame do estado mental e avaliação de fatores que se associam à presença de declínio cognitivo em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS

Neuropsychiatric complications are present in almost one third of patients diagnosed with AIDS who show wide variations in their clinical symptoms, featuring a spectrum of disorders ranging from minor cognitive-motor impairments to profound dementia. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most used and studied cognitive tests around the world and evaluates cognitive function and screening of dementia. Current experiment applies the MMSE to HIV/AIDS patients to screen possible dementia factors in the sample and to evaluate the association of scores that are positively associated with the emergence of cognitive impairment and possible dementia. The study population consisted of 100 HIV/AIDS patients attended at the 15 th and 17th Regional Health Centers covering 50 municipalities in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Whereas patients were classified with cognitive impairment and patients without cognitive impairment, the factors assessed included depression, body mass index, haematocrit, hemoglobin levels, rate of lymphocytes T CD4+, viral load and gender. Twenty-seven (27%) patients had scores lower than expected and were considered cognitively impaired. There was a significant positive association between cognitive impairment and changes in blood hemoglobin and haematocrit, age and depression.

Complicações neuropsiquiátricas estão presentes em quase um terço dos pacientes com diagnóstico de AIDS e apresentam grande variação na sua evolução clínica, exibindo um espectro de sintomas que vai de disfunções cognitivo-motoras leves a demência profunda. O Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) é um dos testes mais empregados e mais estudados em todo o mundo, e permite a avaliação da função cognitiva e o rastreamento de quadros demenciais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar o MEEM em pacientes portadores de HIV/AIDS de modo a rastrear possíveis quadros demenciais na amostra, bem como avaliar a associação desses escores com os fatores carga viral plasmática maior que 50000 cópias mL-1, concentração de hemoglobina menos de 15 mg dl-1, níveis de linfócitos CD4 inferiores a 200 células mL-1, baixo índice de massa corpórea, baixo hematócrito, idade avançada, sexo feminino e depressão. A população estudada constituiu-se de 100 pacientes com HIV/AIDS atendidos na 15 e na 17ª Regional de Saúde, abrangendo 50 municípios da Região Noroeste do Paraná, classificados em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo e pacientes sem comprometimento cognitivo mediante a aplicação do MEEM. Foram avaliados os fatores depressão, índice de massa corporal, hematócrito, níveis de hemoglobina, taxa de linfócitos T CD4+, carga viral, idade e gênero. Do total de pacientes, 27 (27%) apresentaram escores inferiores ao esperado e foram, por isso, considerados cognitivamente comprometidos. Verificou-se uma significativa associação positiva entre comprometimento cognitivo e níveis sanguíneos abaixo dos valores de referência para a hemoglobina e o hematócrito, assim como para idade avançada e depressão.