RESUMO
O uso de plantas medicinais como forma de tratamento para várias doenças é uma tradição que se estende entre gerações, há milhares de anos. Os povos antigos costumavam usar partes específicas de alguns vegetais para a realização de chás e curativos para feridas. Ainda nos dias atuais, muitas pessoas preferem as formas naturais como tratamento para suas comorbidades, principalmente como adjuvantes no combate às dislipidemias. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de analisar as plantas Cynara scolymus L e Artemisia absinthium L para confirmar a presença ou ausência de proteases específicas contra a hipercolesterolemia. A pesquisa foi realizada através de uma triagem das plantas no software RCSB (https://www.rcsb.org/). No final, pode-se confirmar que a planta Cynara scolymus L atende às perspectivas de tratamento da hipercolesterolemia, enquanto a Artemisia absinthium L não apresentou valores suficientes que sejam eficazes no tratamento.
The use of medicinal plants as a form of treatment for various diseases is a tradition that has spanned generations for thousands of years. Ancient people used to use specific parts of some vegetables to make teas and dressings for wounds. Even today, many people prefer natural forms as a treatment for their comorbidities, especially as adjuvants in the fight against dyslipidemia. The present work aimed to analyze the plants Cynara scolymus L and Artemisia absinthium L to confirm the presence or absence of specific proteases against hypercholesterolemia. The research was carried out by screening the plants using the RCSB software (https://www.rcsb.org/). In the end, it can be confirmed that the Cynara scolymus L plant meets the prospects for treating hypercholesterolemia, while Artemisia absinthium L did not present sufficient values that are effective in the treatment.
RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effects of Artemisia absinthium L. ( A. absinthium L. ) extracts on the maturation and function of dendritic cells (DCs). Methods A. absinthium water (AAW) and ethanol ( AAE) extracts were prepared. DCs were separated into several groups and treated with differ-ent concentrations of AAW (containing 5, 50 and 150μg/ml of polysaccharide) and AAE (containing 0. 6, 3 and 6 μg/ml of flavonoid) , respectively. Cell viability, antigen phagocytosis and maturation of DCs were detected by flow cytometry. Levels of cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. Western blot assay was performed to analyze the activation of key molecules in NF-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK) and janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription ( JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. Results AAW promoted the maturation of DCs, significantly decreased antigen phagocytosis and increased cytokine produc-tion (IL-12p40 and TNF-α). AAE significantly enhanced the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on the surface of DCs and decreased antigen phagocytosis, but had no significant effect on cytokine production. Mo-reover, AAE significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of TNF-α, IL-12p40 and IL-6. Further anal-ysis revealed that AAW and AAE could activate the phosphorylation of p38, extra-cellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), IKKα/β, NF-κBp65 and JAK2. Besides, AAE could activate the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase ( JNK ) and inhibit the LPS-induced phosphorylation of inhibitor of NF-κB ( IκB-α) , IKKα/β, NF-κBp65, p38, ERK and JAK2. Conclusion AAW could enhance immunity and AAE could inhibit inflammation.