Hypotensive effect of Eugenia dysenterica leaf extract is primarily related to its vascular action: The possible underlying mechanisms.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eugenia dysenterica (ED) leaves are used in Brazil to treat cardiac diseases; however, there are no scientific data describing the effects of this species on cardiac activity. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of ED aqueous leaf extract (EDLE) on hear rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of anaesthetised rats and its underlying mechanism of action. MATERIAL AND METHODS: EDLE was analysed, and its proanthocyanidin composition was determined. After performing dose-effect curves for EDLE on HR and MAP, EDLE-induced hypotension was evaluated before and after atropine (AT), L-N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), hexamethonium (HXT), indomethacin (IND), carbenoxolone (CBX), or nifedipine (NFD) administration. The effect of proanthocyanidin-depleted extract (EDLE/P-) was also determined and compared to that of the EDLE with proanthocyanidins. RESULTS: EDLE decreased the MAP in a dose-dependent manner; HR was decreased only with the highest and most toxic dose. Only CBX and NFD decreased EDLE-induced hypotension. Five polymeric series of proanthocyanidins were identified, which were mainly constituted by procyanidin and prodelphinidin units with B-type linkage and up to 12 flavan-3-ol units. EDLE/P- induced hypotension did not differ from that induced by EDLE. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiovascular effects of EDLE were primarily related to its vascular action. EDLE-induced hypotensive effect appeared to involve L-type calcium channel blockage as well as myoendothelial gap junction signalling. The higher molecular weight proanthocyanidins from EDLE are unlikely to contribute to its cardiovascular effect.

Antidiarrhoeic effect and dereplication of the aqueous extract of Annona crassiflora (Annonaceae).

We investigated the antidiarrhoeic effect of the aqueous extract of Annona crassiflora leaves (AEAC). The AEAC decreased the diarrhoeic stools and enteropooling induced by castor oil, without altering total faecal output; moreover, the distance travelled by charcoal meal in the intestine was increased. Twenty-eight compounds were identified by LC-DAD-MS in the AEAC, including flavonoids, alkaloids and proanthocyanidins. In addition, two oligomeric series of condensed tannins of up to nine flavan-3-ol units were characterised by MALDI-MS. These data suggest that the antidiarrhoeic effect of the AEAC is related to its ability to inhibit intestinal secretion and/or to increase intestinal absorption. Moreover, the prokinetic effect of AEAC, together with its inhibitory effect on enteropooling induced by castor oil, explains why this extract decreased diarrhoeic faeces without altering the total faecal output. All these effects are in agreement with the pharmacological activity reported in the literature for many of the secondary metabolites identified.

Antidiarrhoeic effect of Eugenia dysenterica DC (Myrtaceae) leaf essential oil.

Essential oil from Eugenia dysenterica leaves was able to inhibit both the diarrhoea and enteropooling induced by castor oil; however, the distance travelled by charcoal meal in the intestine was not change. These data suggest that the antidiarrhoeic effect of the essential oil from E. dysenterica leaves is related to its ability to inhibit intestinal secretion and/or to increase intestinal absorption.

The gastroprotective effects of Eugenia dysenterica (Myrtaceae) leaf extract: the possible role of condensed tannins.

We applied a taxonomic approach to select the Eugenia dysenterica (Myrtaceae) leaf extract, known in Brazil as "cagaita," and evaluated its gastroprotective effect. The ability of the extract or carbenoxolone to protect the gastric mucosa from ethanol/HCl-induced lesions was evaluated in mice. The contributions of nitric oxide (NO), endogenous sulfhydryl (SH) groups and alterations in HCl production to the extract's gastroprotective effect were investigated. We also determined the antioxidant activity of the extract and the possible contribution of tannins to the cytoprotective effect. The extract and carbenoxolone protected the gastric mucosa from ethanol/HCl-induced ulcers, and the former also decreased HCl production. The blockage of SH groups but not the inhibition of NO synthesis abolished the gastroprotective action of the extract. Tannins are present in the extract, which was analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI); the tannins identified by fragmentation pattern (MS/MS) were condensed type-B, coupled up to eleven flavan-3-ol units and were predominantly procyanidin and prodelphinidin units. Partial removal of tannins from the extract abolished the cytoprotective actions of the extract. The extract exhibits free-radical-scavenging activity in vitro, and the extract/FeCl3 sequence stained gastric surface epithelial cells dark-gray. Therefore, E. dysenterica leaf extract has gastroprotective effects that appear to be linked to the inhibition of HCl production, the antioxidant activity and the endogenous SH-containing compounds. These pleiotropic actions appear to be dependent on the condensed tannins contained in the extract, which bind to mucins in the gastric mucosa forming a protective coating against damaging agents. Our study highlights the biopharmaceutical potential of E. dysenterica.

Origens e distribuições dos nervos femorais em ovinos sem raça definida / Origins and distributions of the femoral nerve in sheep mongrel

O crescimento da ovinocultura brasileira mostra que a atividade está em firme expansão. O estudo da morfologia é de grande importância, tanto a nível acadêmico como econômico, sendo assim foram utilizados 30 fetos de ovinos sem raça definida provenientes de abortos, natimortos e mortes naturais de fêmeas gestantes de núcleos criatórios do município de Uberlândia-MG, com o objetivo de analisar as origens e distribuições dos nervos femorais. As peças foram fixadas com solução aquosa de formaldeído 10% via artéria aorta torácica e posteriormente foram mantidas submersas na referida solução por um período mínimo de 48 horas antes do início da dissecação. Os nervos femorais foram dissecados após uma incisão longitudinal ao longo da linha mediana ventral, desde a cartilagem xifóide do processo xifóide do osso esterno, até a borda caudal da sínfise pélvica, que foi desarticulada e atingiu-se a cavidade, da qual foram afastados os órgão e dissecados os nervos. Os nervos supra-citados originaram-se dos ramos ventrais dos nervos espinhais de L4 a L6 e emitiram ramos aos músculos ilíaco medial, psoas maior e menor, sartório, pectíneo, vasto medial, vasto intermédio, vasto lateral e reto femoral.

The growth of the sheep industry in Brazil shows that the activity is in steady expansion. The study of morphology is of great importance, both academic and economic, so we used 30 fetuses sheep breed from abortions, stillbirths and deaths of pregnant natural of nuclei farms of Uberlândia-MG, in which the purpose was to analyze the origins and distributions of the femoral nerve. The pieces were fixed with aqueous solution of formaldehyde 10% via thoracic aorta and then were kept submerged in this solution for a minimum of 48 hours before the dissection. It was observed through a longitudinal incision along he ventral midline from the xiphoid process the xiphoid cartilage of sternum, to the caudal margin of the pelvic symphysis, which was disjointed and attained to the cavity from which the organs were removed dissected and the nerves. It came the ventral branches of spinal nerves from L4 to L6 and issued branches of medial iliac muscles, psoas major and minor, sartorius, pectineus, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris.