Curcuma Longa Abolishes Phenylephrine-Induced Contractions in Isolated Aortic Artery of Rats

Curcuma longa has biological effects. Its cardiovascular activities are yet to be scientifically studied. Objectives: To investigate the vasorelaxant effects of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longa (AECL). Methods: Aortic annuli of normotensive rats, with or without endothelium, were set up in a data storage system with nutrient solution in recipients, with scientifically recommended temperature, aeration and tension. Over contraction by Phenylephrine, the AECL (1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 and 1000 µg/mL) was incubated before and after incubation with atropine or L-name or indomethacin. An AECL concentration-response curve was also built over contractions caused by elevation of extracellular K+. Data were significant when p < 0.05, with GraphPad Prism 6.0 software resolutions. Results: The AECL induced 100% vasorelaxation also in the endothelium-free annuli. The part of the endothelium-dependent effect had EC50 = 4.32 ± 0.05 µg/mL. With inhibition of NO production, the EC50 increased to 126.50 ± 2.35 µg/mL; after inhibition of prostacyclin production, to 124.6 ± 0.05 µg/mL; and after muscarinic blockade, to 437.10 ± 0.2 µg/mL. Opening of K+ channels (relaxation of 56.98%) and VOCC blockade (relaxation of 31.56%) were evident. Conclusion: AECL induced significant vasorelaxation, being more significant in the presence of endothelium. The muscarinic pathway seems to be the main one involved in this effect, followed by the NO production and prostacyclin pathways. The activity in K+ channels by AECL was more significant than its VOCC blockade. The use of other models and tools to study action mechanisms will be important and elucidating

Antibacterial activity of fractions and isolates of Maytenus guianensis Klotzsch ex Reissek (Celastraceae) Chichuá Amazon

Abstract INTRODUCTION This aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of fractions and isolates of Maytenus guianensis, a plant species used in Amazonian folk medicine. METHODS A disk diffusion technique was used to investigate the antibacterial potential. RESULTS The hexanic fractions and tingenone B isolate showed inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate the antibacterial potential of this species and will enable future studies to identify novel therapeutic alternatives from this species.

First report of Rhodnius neglectus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) from the State of Acre, Brazil, and the Brazilian Western Amazon Region

Abstract INTRODUCTION This communication reports the occurrence of Rhodnius neglectus in the State of Acre, Brazil. METHODS An adult male R. neglectus specimen was collected from the Catuaba Experimental Reserve, which is located in the municipality of Senador Guiomard. RESULTS This increases the number of triatomine species reported from the State of Acre to eight and is also the first report of R. neglectus from the Brazilian Western Amazon Region. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of R. neglectus is alarming because even though the species is wild, it can invade and colonize human dwellings and peridomiciles, thereby increasing Chagas disease transmission.

First report of Triatoma sordida Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in the State of Acre and Brazilian Western Amazon

Abstract INTRODUCTION The occurrence of Triatoma sordida in the Brazilian Western Amazon is reported for the first time. METHODS Triatoma sordida specimens were collected from a Gallus gallus nest in a peridomiciliary area of Senador Guiomard municipality in the state of Acre. RESULTS The number of triatomine species in Acre increased from six to seven with this first report of T. sordida in the Brazilian Western Amazon. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of T. sordida in Acre is of concern since it is among the most captured triatomines in peridomiciliary environments in Brazil, and carries a high potential for vector transmission.

Antimalarial ethnopharmacology in the Brazilian Amazon / Etnofarmacologia antimalárica na Amazônia Brasileira

The preoccupation to find new drugs for the treatment of malaria is increasing steadily due to the resistance of the parasite, which is a threat to disease control, The present study describes a literature review on the antimalarial ethnopharmacology (Anti-Plasmodium falciparum - in vitro) of the Brazilian Amazon plants, It was found a great diversity of plant species in the Brazilian Amazon with potential for research of new herbal and secondary metabolites with antiplasmodial action, in addition to treating other neglected parasitic diseases, However, for these studies is needed in addition to financial support, the interaction between different laboratories and research groups for the formation of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams, which will enhance the research level in the region and increase the likelihood of new antimalarial drugs discovery...

Está cada vez maior a necessidade em se buscar novos fármacos para o tratamento da malária, principalmente devido à resistência do parasito, o que é uma ameaça ao controle da doença. O presente estudo descreve uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a etnofarmacologia antimalárica (Anti-Plasmodium falciparum - in vitro) de plantas da Amazônia brasileira. Constatou-se uma grande diversidade de espécies vegetais na Amazônia brasileira com potencial para a investigação de novos fitoterápicos e metabólitos secundários com ação antiplasmodial, além do tratamento de outras parasitoses negligenciadas. Porém, para a realização desses estudos são necessários além de apoio financeiro, a interação entre diferentes laboratórios e grupos de pesquisa para a formação de equipes multidisciplinares e interdisciplinares, o que irá potencializar o nível da pesquisa na região e aumentar a probabilidade de descoberta de novos fármacos antimaláricos...

Efeitos cardiovasculares induzidos pelo óleo essencial de Ocotea Duckei Vattimo em ratos / Cardiovascular effects induced by essential oil of Ocotea Duckei Vattimo in Rats

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos cardiovasculares induzidos pelo óleo essencial das folhas de Ocotea dukei Vattimo (OEOD) em ratos. Material e Métodos: O óleo essencial foi obtido de folhas frescas usando aparelho de clevenger. Ratos machos Wistar (250-350 g) foram cateterizados para registro direto de pressão arterial ou sacrificados para retirada e montagem de átrio isolado de rato. Resultados: Em ratos não-anestesiados, OEOD (1, 5, 10 e 15 mg/kg i.v., randomicamente, n = 6) induziu hipotensão e bradicardia. A hipotensão não foi afetada por atropina (2 mg/Kg, i.v.) nem por L-NAME (20 mg/Kg, i.v.), enquanto que a bradicardia foi abolida somente pela antropina. Em ratos anestesiados e vagotomizados, somente a bradicardia foi atenuada. Em átrio isolado de rato, OEOD (1 - 500 µg/mL) induziu efeitos cronotrópico e inotrópico negativos que não foram afetados pela atropina (1 µM). Além disso, nestas preparações, OEOD (1, 10, 30 e 100 µg/mL) inibiu as curvas concentração-resposta para CaCi2. Conclusão: Estes resultados demonstram que o OEOD induz hipotensão, que parece ser devido a uma diminuição da resistência periférica vascular, e bradicardia, que parece ser devido a uma ativação indireta dos recptores muscarínicos cardíacos via estimulação vagal. Além disso, o OEOD induz efeitos cronotrópico e inotrópico negativos em átrio de rato provavelmente devido a uma inibição do influxo de cálcio, a qual parece contribuir também para a bradicardia induzida pelo OEOD