ABSTRACT
Anethole [1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)benzene] occurs naturally as a major component of the essential oil of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f., family Illiciaceae), comprising more than 90 % of its volatile components. Studies showed that this substance has antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties. In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties of anethole in animal models of nonimmune acute inflammation such as croton oil-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced pleurisy were investigated. The investigated parameters were edema formation, leukocyte migration, and inflammatory mediators involved. Oral administration of anethole at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg reduced both the volume of pleural exudates and the number of migrated leukocytes. Levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGE2) in the inflammatory exudate were reduced by treatment with anethole, but levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß were not significantly altered. In ear edema, the oral treatment with anethole inhibited the formation of exudate and the activity of myeloperoxidase, but not after topical administration. These results suggest that the anethole may be effective in controlling some nonimmune acute inflammation-related disease, probably by an inhibitory action on production and/or release of PGE2 and NO.
Subject(s)
Anisoles/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Edema/drug therapy , Pleurisy/drug therapy , Allylbenzene Derivatives , Animals , Anisoles/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Carrageenan , Croton Oil , Dinoprostone/metabolism , Edema/chemically induced , Illicium , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/drug therapy , Inflammation/metabolism , Interleukin-1beta/metabolism , Male , Nitrates/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Oils, Volatile/chemistry , Peroxidase/metabolism , Pleurisy/chemically induced , Pleurisy/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
Neuropsychiatric complications are present in almost one third of patients diagnosed with AIDS who show wide variations in their clinical symptoms, featuring a spectrum of disorders ranging from minor cognitive-motor impairments to profound dementia. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most used and studied cognitive tests around the world and evaluates cognitive function and screening of dementia. Current experiment applies the MMSE to HIV/AIDS patients to screen possible dementia factors in the sample and to evaluate the association of scores that are positively associated with the emergence of cognitive impairment and possible dementia. The study population consisted of 100 HIV/AIDS patients attended at the 15 th and 17th Regional Health Centers covering 50 municipalities in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Whereas patients were classified with cognitive impairment and patients without cognitive impairment, the factors assessed included depression, body mass index, haematocrit, hemoglobin levels, rate of lymphocytes T CD4+, viral load and gender. Twenty-seven (27%) patients had scores lower than expected and were considered cognitively impaired. There was a significant positive association between cognitive impairment and changes in blood hemoglobin and haematocrit, age and depression.
Complicações neuropsiquiátricas estão presentes em quase um terço dos pacientes com diagnóstico de AIDS e apresentam grande variação na sua evolução clínica, exibindo um espectro de sintomas que vai de disfunções cognitivo-motoras leves a demência profunda. O Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) é um dos testes mais empregados e mais estudados em todo o mundo, e permite a avaliação da função cognitiva e o rastreamento de quadros demenciais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar o MEEM em pacientes portadores de HIV/AIDS de modo a rastrear possíveis quadros demenciais na amostra, bem como avaliar a associação desses escores com os fatores carga viral plasmática maior que 50000 cópias mL-1, concentração de hemoglobina menos de 15 mg dl-1, níveis de linfócitos CD4 inferiores a 200 células mL-1, baixo índice de massa corpórea, baixo hematócrito, idade avançada, sexo feminino e depressão. A população estudada constituiu-se de 100 pacientes com HIV/AIDS atendidos na 15 e na 17ª Regional de Saúde, abrangendo 50 municípios da Região Noroeste do Paraná, classificados em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo e pacientes sem comprometimento cognitivo mediante a aplicação do MEEM. Foram avaliados os fatores depressão, índice de massa corporal, hematócrito, níveis de hemoglobina, taxa de linfócitos T CD4+, carga viral, idade e gênero. Do total de pacientes, 27 (27%) apresentaram escores inferiores ao esperado e foram, por isso, considerados cognitivamente comprometidos. Verificou-se uma significativa associação positiva entre comprometimento cognitivo e níveis sanguíneos abaixo dos valores de referência para a hemoglobina e o hematócrito, assim como para idade avançada e depressão.
