Experimental benznidazole treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with Chagas disease

Trypanosoma cruzi strains from distinct geographic areas show differences in drug resistance and association between parasites genetic and treatment response has been observed. Considering that benznidazole (BZ) can reduce the parasite burden and tissues damage, even in not cured animals and individuals, the goal is to assess the drug response to BZ of T. cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, before treatment. Mice infected and treated with BZ in both phases of infection were compared with the untreated and evaluated by fresh blood examination, haemoculture, polymerase chain reaction, conventional (ELISA) and non-conventional (FC-ALTA) serologies. In mice treated in the acute phase, a significant decrease in parasitaemia was observed for all strains. Positive parasitological and/or serological tests in animals treated during the acute and chronic (95.1-100%) phases showed that most of the strains were BZ resistant. However, beneficial effect was demonstrated because significant reduction (p < 0.05%) and/or suppression of parasitaemia was observed in mice infected with all strains (acute phase), associated to reduction/elimination of inflammation and fibrosis for two/eight strains. BZ offered some benefit, even in not cured animals, what suggest that BZ use may be recommended at least for recent chronic infection of the studied region.

Fenoles de interés farmacológico en hojas de vides silvestres (Vitis spp. ) de México / Phenols of pharmacological interest in leaves of wild grapevines (Vitis spp. ) of Mexico

Sedentary styles of life, along with inadequate nutritional habits, increase the risk to develop degenerative chronic diseases. Searching for possible alternatives of prevention for those risks, it has been investigated about the quality and nutraceutic properties of several agricultural commodities. The phenols are substances with important functions in vegetal organisms; and moreover they have antioxidants properties in the cellular metabolism of humans and animals. In order to quantify the content of three phenolic acids and a stilbene, it was performed analyses, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV/Vis), on metanolic leave extracts of 97 wild grapevines (Vitis spp.) of Puebla, Mexico. Those plants were found growing in their natural environments from 207 to 2175 m. The gallic acid was the most common of the metabolites since it appeared in 96 of the 97 samples, rutin was the second most common substance and it was identified in 80 samples, the caffeic acid appeared in 29 and finally resveratrol only in 14. The leaves of wild grapevines contain diverse antioxidants substances that might have several benefits in the human health; in addition the suitable conservation, maintenance and correct advantage of this plant genus provide environmental services and the balance of ecosystems.

Estilos de vida sedentarios, conjugados con inadecuados hábitos alimenticios, incrementan el riesgo de contraer enfermedades crónicas degenerativas. En la búsqueda de posibles alternativas de prevención, se ha investigado en la calidad y aspectos nutracéuticos de productos agrícolas. Los fenoles son sustancias con importantes funciones en organismos vegetales que, además, poseen propiedades antioxidantes en el metabolismo celular de humanos y animales. Con objeto de cuantificar el contenido de tres ácidos fenólicos y un estilbeno, fueron realizados análisis por cromatografía de líquidos de alta resolución (HPLC-UV/Vis) en extractos metanólicos de hojas provenientes de 97 accesiones de vides silvestres (Vitis spp.) de Puebla, México que crecían en su ambiente natural desde 207 hasta 2175 msnm. El ácido gálico fue el más común de los metabolitos ya que se presentó en 96 de las 97 muestras, el rutín fue la segunda sustancia en común y se identificó en 80 muestras; el ácido caféico se presentó en 29 y finalmente el resveratrol en 14. Las hojas de vides silvestres poseen diversas sustancias antioxidantes que podrían tener múltiples beneficios en la salud humana; además la adecuada conservación, mantenimiento y aprovechamiento de este género provee servicios ambientales y el equilibrio de ecosistemas.

Treatment of taeniasis with Puag-Haad: a crude extract of Artocarpus lakoocha wood.

Thirty-nine patients with tapeworm infection were treated with five grams of crude aqueous extract of Artocarpus lakoocha wood, "Puag-Haad". Seven of them vomited the drug immediately. Of the 32 patients, segments with scolices of Taenia saginata and of Taenia solium were recovered from 24 and 2 patients respectively. The side effects were vomiting and nausea.