ABSTRACT
Spirulina platensis, planktonic blue-green algae, is gaining increasing attention because of its nutritional and medicinal properties. This microalgae contains phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin and allophycocyanin). Previous reports from our laboratory have shown that a protean extract of S. platensis is a potent free-radical scavenger (hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals) and inhibits microsomal lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to purify and characterize phycocyanin of S. platensis. Besides, we tried to demonstrate that one of the main components responsible for this antioxidant activity is a biliprotein phycocyanin. For this purpose, we studied the antioxidant activity of different fractions obtained during the phycocyanin purification process, through the scavenger activity of hydroxyl radical. We also observed that an increase in phycocyanin content was related to an increase in the antioxidant activity in different fractions, and therefore phycobiliprotein phycocyanin is the component mainly responsible for the antioxidant activity.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/chemistry , Cyanobacteria/chemistry , Ascorbic Acid , Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose , Chromatography, Gel , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Free Radical Scavengers/chemistry , Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry , Hydroxyl Radical , Iron/chemistry , Molecular Weight , Phycocyanin/chemistry , Phycocyanin/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
We carried out the Irwin's test with some different extracts of the aerial parts of Thidax procumbens L., the leaves of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br., bark and leaves of Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth. and Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp., and root and leaves of Petiveria alliacea L. At dosage of 1.25 g dried plant/kg weight aqueous extracts of bark and leaves of Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth. and Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Walp. demonstrated the most activity: decrease in motor activity, back tonus, reversible parpebral ptosis, catalepsy and strong hypothermia. These extracts of both plants were assayed for effects on CNS and they caused very significant reductions in spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory behavior and rectal temperature and they increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleeping time.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Animals , Body Temperature/drug effects , Ethnobotany , Female , Guatemala , Hypnosis/methods , Male , Medicine, Traditional , Mice , Motor Activity/drug effects , Pentobarbital/administration & dosage , Plant Leaves , Plant StemsABSTRACT
Teucrium buxifolium Spanish endemic, have traditionally been used for the treatment of rheumatic and other inflammatory affections. In this work, phytochemical screening was carried out to ascertain the qualitative composition of this species and we have studied the anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activity of Teucrium buxifolium. This species has exhibited potent anti-inflammatory properties against experimentally-induced arthritis and carrageenin paw edema. Additionally, Teucrium buxifolium species have displayed significant antiulcer and cytoprotective activity.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Anti-Ulcer Agents/therapeutic use , Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy , Edema/drug therapy , Stomach Ulcer/prevention & control , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/toxicity , Anti-Ulcer Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Ulcer Agents/pharmacology , Carrageenan/administration & dosage , Carrageenan/toxicity , Disease Models, Animal , Edema/chemically induced , Female , Gastric Mucosa/cytology , Gastric Mucosa/drug effects , Indomethacin/administration & dosage , Indomethacin/toxicity , Mice , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Plants, Medicinal , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Spain , Stomach Ulcer/chemically inducedABSTRACT
P-glycoprotein is a multidrug transporter encoded by the mdr3 gene in the mouse intestinal epithelium. The aims of this study were to characterize the mdr3 gene expression in the cephalocaudal axis of the intestine in adult animals and during perinatal development, and to define the molecular mechanism responsible for the heterogeneous expression of the gene along the cephalocaudal axis. RNA extracted from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon was hybridized by slot blot and Northern blot using a mdr3 cDNA probe. The regulation of gene expression was investigated examining the rate of transcription by nuclear run-off analysis. Transport studies of rhodamine 123, a substrate of P-glycoprotein, were performed in everted jejunum and ileum. The level of mdr3 mRNA and P-glycoprotein found in ileum was 6-fold higher than the level found in duodenum. The regional pattern of mdr3 gene expression is established in the intestine of 10-day-old animals. Similar mdr3 hybridization signal in nuclear run-off assay was found in nuclei of enterocytes isolated from jejunum and ileum, suggesting that the heterogeneous expression of the mdr3 gene in the cephalocaudal axis of the small bowel may be predominantly regulated at the post-transcriptional level. Transport rate of rhodamine 123 from the serosal to mucosal side in everted ileum was higher than the rate of transport found in jejunum. These results indicate that enterocytes of the ileum may be more actively involved in the P-glycoprotein-mediated transport of xenobiotics into the intestinal lumen.
