Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 µg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6 percent (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g percent) and polyphenols (4.63 g percent) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Bothrops jararacussu venom-induced neuromuscular blockade inhibited by Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet hydroalcoholic extract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Casearia gossypiosperma Briquet (Flacourtiaceae) was standardized for the first time through quality control procedures including pharmacognostic methods, fingerprint chromatograms, defined amounts of marker substances and physicochemical characteristics. The pharmacological activity of C. gossypiosperma (Cg) hydroalcoholic extract was assayed by a traditional in vitro test, which involved irreversible neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu) venom (60 ìg/mL) in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. Bjssu venom blocked muscle activity for 26 (± 2.0) minutes (n = 6). Cg extract (0.1 mg/mL) induced changes on the baseline muscle activity without impairing the muscle function and inhibited 87.6% (± 1.8) (n = 6) of the Bjssu venom-induced blockade. Both flavonoids (0.624 g%) and polyphenols (4.63 g%) from the extract were spectrophotometrically quantified. Therefore, the present study confirms the antibothropic activity of Cg extract, supporting the ethnomedical use of Casearia sp. in the treatment of snakebite victims.

Influência do tabagismo sobre as análises laboratoriais de rotina: um estudo piloto em adultos jovens / Influence of tobacco smoking on standard clinical blood tests: a pilot study in young adults

Várias doenças estão relacionadas ao tabagismo, mas não se sabe ao certo o momento em que os malefícios superamos mecanismos de defesa do organismo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar as alterações bioquímicas, hematológicas e imunológicas, em adultos jovens fumantes, comparando com adultos jovens, não fumantes. Vinte e quatro não-fumantes e 14 fumantes (fumam há 8 mais ou menos 1 ano, e uma quantidade média de cigarros/dia = 10 mais ou menos 4,9), alunos da UNISO dos cursos da saúde (Farmácia, Nutrição e Terapia Ocupacional), com idade média de 23 mais ou menos 3,6 anos, participaram do estudo. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas de acordo com as exigências para as seguintes análises: colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol, VLDL-colesterol, triacilgliceróis, glicose, uréia, ácido úrico e creatinina sérica. Os grupos demonstraram ser normolipidêmicos, euglicêmicos, com valores séricos de uréia, creatinina, ácido úrico, proteína C reativa (PCR), imunoglobulinas G (IgG) e M (IgM), complemento C3 e contagem global de glóbulos brancos e vermelhos, dentro dos valores de referência. A maior concentração sérica da uréia foi observada no grupo de fumantes e nenhuma outra diferença significativa foi observada entre os grupos, indicando talvez que a duração do tabagismo não foi ainda suficiente para alterar algum parâmetro laboratorial