ABSTRACT
Tetragonisca angustula honey was fractioned in a SiO2 column to furnish three fractions (A-C) in which four hydroxycinnamic acid-Spermidine amides (HCAAs), known as N', Nâ³, Nâ´-tris-p-coumaroyl spermidine, N', Nâ³-dicaffeoyl, Nâ´-coumaroyl spermidine, N', Nâ³, Nâ´-tris-caffeoyl spermidine and N', Nâ³-dicaffeoyl and Nâ´-feruloyl spermidine were identified in the fractions B and C by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A primary culture model previously infected with Neospora caninum (72 h) was used to evaluate the honey fractions (A-C) for two-time intervals: 24 and 72 h. Parasitic reduction ranged from 38% on fraction C (12.5 µg/ml), after 24 h, to 54% and 41% with fractions B and C (25 µg/ml) after 72 h of treatment, respectively. Additionally, HCAAs did not show any cell toxicity for 24 and 72 h. For infected cultures (72 h), the active fractions B (12.5 µg/ml) and C (25 µg/ml) decreased their NO content. In silico studies suggest that HCAAs may affect the parasite's redox pathway and improve the oxidative effect of NO released from infected cells. Here, we presented for the first time, that HCAAs from T. angustula honey have the potential to inhibit the growth of N. caninum protozoa.
Subject(s)
Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology , Bees , Honey , Neospora/drug effects , Spermidine/chemistry , Amides/chemistry , Animals , Antiprotozoal Agents/chemistry , Brazil , Cells, Cultured , Coccidiosis/drug therapy , Computer Simulation , Coumaric Acids/chemistry , NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases/antagonists & inhibitors , Neuroglia/drug effects , Neuroglia/parasitology , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Rats, Wistar , Spermidine/analysisABSTRACT
Evidence from the literature has shown that the wound healing process is enhanced by ultrasound therapy. In the present study, we measured thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS; index of lipoperoxidation) and hydroxyproline (index of collagen synthesis) levels in wounds after therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (TPU) treatment. Male Wistar rats were submitted to skin ulceration, and three doses of TPU (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8W/cm(2)) were used. A circular area of skin was removed with a punch biopsy from the medial dorsal region. After TPU for 10 days, TBARS (Draper and Hadley [21]) and hydroxyproline (Woessner [22]) levels were measured in the tissue around the wound. Results showed that TPU improved wound healing, since the wound size was significantly smaller 5 and 10 days after ulceration in groups submitted to this treatment. Moreover, TBARS levels were decreased in the 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8W/cm(2) TPU groups, and hydroxyproline levels were increased in the 0.6 and 0.8W/cm(2) TPU groups. These findings indicate that TPU presents beneficial effects on the wound healing process, probably by speeding up the inflammatory phase and inducing collagen synthesis.
Subject(s)
Lipid Peroxidation , Ultrasonic Therapy , Wound Healing , Animals , Collagen/biosynthesis , Fibrosis , Hydroxyproline/metabolism , Male , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Skin/pathology , Skin Ulcer/metabolism , Skin Ulcer/pathology , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolismABSTRACT
Contusion injuries are a very common form of both athletic and non-athletic injury, that effect muscle function. Treatments to augment the normal repair and regeneration processes are important for a wide variety of patients. Therapeutic ultrasound has been claimed to promote tissue repair, especially by enhancing cell proliferation and protein synthesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (TPU) on parameters of oxidative stress, namely thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), in skeletal muscle after injury. Wistar rats were submitted to an animal model of muscle (gastrocnemius) laceration. TPU was used once a day. One, three or five days after muscle laceration, the animals were killed by decapitation and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. Serum CK levels were increased in muscle-injured animals, indicating that the laceration animal model was successful. TBARS were not altered after muscle injury, when compared to the sham group. Protein carbonyl content was increased after muscle laceration. Catalase and SOD activities were increased 1 day after muscle injury and not altered at days 3 and 5. TPU decreased TBARS levels after muscle laceration when compared to injured muscle animals without treatment. Protein carbonyl content evaluation presented similar results. It is tempting to speculate that TPU seems to protect the tissue from oxidative injury. TPU diminished catalase and SOD activities, especially on the first day following muscle laceration.
