Antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri tea on healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri, Euphorbiaceae) tea on healthy subjects. METHODS: Five non-smoking, male healthy volunteers, 20 to 31 years old, were enrolled. Each subject was treated twice, following a randomized crossover fashion regarding the ingestion of P. niruri infusion (5 g/750 mL) (tea group) or 750 mL of water (control group). Fasting venous blood samples were collected prior to and at 1, 2 and 4 h after infusion drinking. Samples were tested for plasmatic gallic acid and ascorbic acid levels, erythrocytic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and intracellular DCFH fluorescence in granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. RESULTS: Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were not altered by tea ingestion. Plasma levels of gallic acid were significantly increased at 1, 2 and 4 h after P. niruri ingestion and plasma ascorbic acid at 1 h after P. niruri ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of P. niruri tea is associated with a slight increase in antioxidant markers in human blood (ascorbic acid and gallic acid), which may contribute to its pharmacological effects.

Correlation between TBARS levels and glycolytic enzymes: the importance to the initial evaluation of clinical outcome of colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been associated with high levels of lipid peroxidation, probably due to neoplasic tissue metabolism. Our objectives were to relate lipid peroxidation with the evolution of CRC and with various biomarkers (GGT, ALP, LDH, CEA) to assess its prognostic value. A longitudinal study was conducted with CRC patients (n=43), using FOLFOX4. At the end of the treatment, patients were grouped into two groups: poor outcome (PO) for those patients whose computed tomography showed signs of metastasis, not reduced or increased in the previous implants, and not reduced or increased in CEA levels and good outcome (GO) for the opposite trends. PO patients had a significant increase in TBARS levels, being different from other group in cycles 4, 5, and 6 of chemotherapy. After cycle 6 of chemotherapy, GO patients had higher SOD (27%) and catalase (33%) activity. TBARS levels showed a positive correlation with biomarkers at the beginning of the treatment, which disappeared after six cycles of chemotherapy, when TBARS levels of the PO group started to increase; the other parameters increased at a later time. Because the serum TBARS levels in GO patients did not increase after the beginning of chemotherapy, it is expected that the increase is not a result of the effects of chemotherapy but of sickness evolution. It is possible that the systemic assessment of lipid peroxidation might become an additional marker because it occurs earlier than other biomarkers and could therefore be useful in the prognosis of CRC patients.

Carbonyl iron reduces anemia and improves effectiveness of treatment in under six-year-old children / Ferro carbonila reduz anemia e melhora a efetividade do tratamento de crianças menores de 6 anos de idade

The treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children usually consists in the use of ferrous sulfate solution, but this treatment does not always have the desired effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of chewable carbonyl iron tablets as an alternative for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in under six-year-old children. Seventy-three children from Brazilian Family Health Units in Santa Maria, Brazil, were included in this study. One group received chewable carbonyl iron (CI) tablets and a control group received a solution of ferrous sulfate (FS) for 90 days, both at a dose of 5 mg/Kg/day. Blood was drawn from study participants at 0, 30 and 90 days of treatment to evaluate the whole blood test, ferritin concentration, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity. We also evaluated the acceptance and adherence to treatment, and the occurrence of side effects during treatment. Hemoglobin increased 1.3 g/dL in the CI Group and 1.2 g/dL in the FS group during the first 30 days of treatment. After 90 days of treatment, the CI Group had significantly better results for hematocrit, MCV, MCH, iron binding capacity and ferritin concentration compared to the FS Group. The ferritin concentration was significantly higher in the CI Group at the end of the treatment (9.51 ng/mL to 26.16 ng/mL). Additionally, the treatment was better accepted with fewer adverse effects by this group. Chewable carbonyl iron tablets should be considered an important therapeutic option in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia of under six-year-old children.

O tratamento da anemia ferropriva de crianças consiste, em sua maioria, no uso de solução de sulfato ferroso e este tratamento nem sempre apresenta a efetividade desejada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a efetividade do ferro carbonila, na forma de comprimidos mastigáveis, como uma alternativa de tratamento para anemia ferropriva de crianças menores de seis anos de idade. Foram incluídas no estudo 73 crianças atendidas em PSFs de Santa Maria, RS. Um grupo recebeu comprimidos mastigáveis de ferro carbonila (CI) e o grupo controle recebeu solução de sulfato ferroso (FS), ambos a dose de 5mg/Kg/dia por 90 dias. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas nos dias zero, 30 e 90 do tratamento para avaliação de hemograma, ferritina, ferro sérico e capacidade total de ligação do ferro. Também foi avaliada a aceitação e aderência ao tratamento e relato de efeitos colaterais durante o tratamento. A hemoglobina teve um incremento de 1,3g/dL no grupo CI e 1,2g/dL no grupo FS aos 30 dias de tratamento. Após 90 dias de tratamento, o grupo CI apresentou resultados significativamente melhores para hematócrito, VCM, HCM, CTLF e ferritina. A ferritina do grupo CI teve um importante aumento ao final do tratamento (9,51ng/mL para 26,16ng/mL). O grupo CI apresentou melhor aceitação do tratamento e menos efeitos colaterais. Comprimidos mastigáveis de ferro carbonila poderiam ser considerados uma importante opção terapêutica para tratamento da anemia ferropriva de crianças menores de seis anos de idade.