Effect of Prosopis ruscifolia on lipid profile in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic mice and chemical characterization of alkaloid and flavonoid fractions

Diabetes mellitus interferes with the metabolism of carbohydrates, causing chronic hyperglycemia. Dyslipidemiain diabetes is a condition that leads to cardiovascular disease. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic Prosopis ruscifolia (Pr) leaves extract on hyperglycemia and lipid profile in normo- and hyperglycemicmice. Mice hyperglycemia was induced by alloxan, animals were treated with Pr (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, p.o., 28 days).Fasted blood glucose level on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 was determined. Blood glucose remained within the normalrange in the groups of normoglycemic animals treated with Pr. In the hyperglycemic animals, 100 mg/kg of Pr extractreduced the glycemia, this effect became markedly evident since day 7, until the end of experimental period (p <0.0001), the total reduction reached was 60%. The lipid profile of normal and hyperglycemic mice was evaluated with100 mg/kg, on day 28. A non-significant increase in total cholesterol and low density cholesterol, in hyperglycemicanimals treated with vehicle, and a statistically significant increase (p < 0.0001) in the level of triglyceride and verylow density cholesterol (VLDL) level (p < 0.0001) in normoglycemic animals treated with Pr, compared to the controlgroup were denoted. This could indicate that Pr has a stimulating action on insulin secretion, since hyperinsulinemiais also associated with an increase in the quantity of atherogenic particles of VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.The coronary risk index and the atherogenic index of hyperglycemic animals treated with Pr showed a reductioncompared with the untreated hyperglycemic ones. The presence of three piperidine alkaloids, juliprosopine, 3’’’’–Oxo-juliprosopine, and julifloridine, previously isolated from P. juliflora, was confirmed. Also, the presence of theflavonoid quercetin was detected in this plant. Those compounds are strong candidates presumably responsible forimparting the effect on glycemia and lipid profile reported here.

Actividad sinérgica in vitro de los alcaloides Crotsparina y Esparsiflorina aislados de Croton bomplandianum frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa / In vitro synergic activity of the alkaloids Crotsparine and Sparsiflorine, isolated from Croton bomplandianum, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Se evaluó la actividad sinérgica de los alcaloides crotsparina y esparsiflorina, aislados de Croton bomplandianum Baill. con los antibacterianos gentamicina y ciprofloxacina frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa, microorganismo frecuentemente responsable de infecciones intrahospitalarias. Se empleó el método del "tablero de damas". Se encontraron combinaciones que presentaban efecto sinérgico, logrando la reducción de 87,5% de la CMI de gentamicina, mientras que para ciprofloxacina se logró una reducción del 25,0%. Esto abre interesantes perspectivas sobre el uso combinado de productos naturales puros y fármacos en uso clínico para el tratamiento de infecciones producidas por este microrganismo(AU)

Extractos vegetales de tres especies del género Baccharis inducen la proliferación de células mononucleares humanas / Plant extracts of three species of the genus Baccharis induce human mononuclear cells proliferation

Las plantas de uso en medicina tradicional constituyen una fuente importante de compuestos con actividad inmunomoduladora; entre ellas las especies del género Baccharis, conocidas popularmente como "Jaguareteka´a" en nuestro país, son ampliamente empleadas. En este estudio se evaluó la actividad inmunomoduladora de extractos metanólicos de tres especies del género Baccharis (B. trimera, B. notosergilay B. punctulata) sobre la proliferación de células mononucleares humanas de sangre periférica. Los extractos de las tres especies estudiadas estimularon la proliferación de las células mononucleares. Específicamente, el extracto de B. notosergila estimuló la proliferación celular a todas las concentraciones probadas (5, 10, 25 y 50 µg/mL), mientras que los extractos de B. trimera y B. punctulata mostraron este efecto a 5 y 10 µg/mL. Además, por presentar mayor inducción de la proliferación, se realizó un fraccionamiento con diferentes solventes del extracto metanólico de B. notosergila y B. punctulata. La fracción de acetato de etilo de ambos extractos vegetales aumentó la proliferación celular, sugiriendo que compuestos de polaridad media son los responsables de esta actividad. Estos resultados demuestran que los extractos de B. trimera, B. notosergila y B. punctulata poseen actividad inmunomoduladora sobre células mononucleares humanas y servirán de base a otros estudios para determinar el o los componentes activos de los extractos sobre el sistema inmune(AU)

Plants used in traditional medicine are an important source of compounds with immunomodulatory activity. Species of the genus Baccharis, popularly known as "Jaguareteka'a" in our country, are used in folk medicine for the treatment of liver, gastrointestinal, inflammatory and infectious diseases. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of methanolic extracts of three species of the genus Baccharis (B. trimera, B. notosergila and B. punctulata) on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Extracts of the three species studied stimulated the proliferation of mononuclear cells. The extract of B. notosergila stimulated cell proliferation at all concentrations tested, while extracts of B. trimera and B. punctulata stimulated at 5 and 10 µg/mL. In addition, we carried out a separation with different solvents of the methanolic extract of B. notosergila and B. punctulata. The ethyl acetate fraction of both plant extracts induced the proliferation of immune cells. These results show that the extracts of B. trimera, B. notosergila and B. punctulata had immunomodulatory activity on human mononuclear cells. Future work will be required to identify the components responsible for the activity on the immune system(AU)

A simplified method for sample collection and DNA isolation for polymerase chain reaction detection of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomine vectors

Due to the overlapping distribution of Trypanosoma rangeli and T. cruzi in Central and South America, sharing several reservoirs and triatomine vectors, we herein describe a simple method to collect triatomine feces and hemolymph in filter paper for further detection and specific characterization of these two trypanosomes. Experimentally infected triatomines feces and hemolymph were collected in filter paper and specific detection of T. rangeli or T. cruzi DNA by polymerase chain reaction was achieved. This simple DNA collection method allows sample collection in the field and further specific trypanosome detection and characterization in the laboratory

Human immune response to triatomine embryo extract

Dipetalogaster maximus embryo extracts were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in ELISA with sera either from Trypanosoma cruzi infected or non-infected individuals. The results showed that there was significant proliferative response and high antibody, titers in sera of chagasic patients.

O xenodiagnóstico e os critérios para avaliar o nível de parasitemia do paciente chagásico crônico / Xenodiagnosis and criteria to assess the level of parasitemia in chronic chagasic patients

A sensibilidade do xenodiagnóstico e sua relaçäo com a parasitemia da fase crônica da doença de Chagas foi verificada em 104 pacietnes crônicos. As ninfas das espécies de triatomíneos, simultaneamente utilizadas nos xenodiagnósticos destes pacientes, divididos em dois grupos, foram examinadas de maneiras diferentes. Os índices de positividade totais nos dois grupos (40,0%e 42,4%) e os percentuais de psotividade por paciente sugerem uma reavaliaçäo do que se denomina a "quantificaçäo da parasitemia do paciente chagásico crônico, considerando a metodologia de exame do xenodiagnóstico

Seqüência dos estudos sobre a produção experimental de megassíndromes em camundongos

A capacidade de produção de megassíndrome de três cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi de diferentes origens foram examinadas usando-se técnicas previamente descritas. Uma correlação significante foi encontrada entre volume e peso do estômago através de autópsia e a área correspondente a silhueta de bário do órgão. Todas as três cepas causam dilatação significante da área do estômago, após prolongada infecção em camundongos quando comparados com o grupo controle não infectado. Todavia, o modelo de comportamento da cepa (MEGA), previamente estudada, pode ter sido alterada pela reciclagem em camundongos nos laboratórios.

The mega-producing capacity of three strains of Trypanosoma cruzi of widely different origins was examined using techniques previously described. A significant correlation was found for two of the strains between the volume and weight of the stomach at autopsy and measurement of the area of a barium silhouette of this organ. All three strains caused significant stomach dilatation after prolonged infection in the mice when compare with a control uninfected group. However the behavior of a strain (mega) previously studied in this model had altered, possibly as a result ofrepeated mice passage in the laboratory.