Antimicrobial properties of the mushroom Agaricus blazei – integrative review

ABSTRACT Infectious diseases associated with antimicrobial resistance are considered to represent an important public health problem. In this regard, the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill contains several bioactive substances that promote significant functional properties, among them, antimicrobial activity, which has attracted the interest of the scientific community. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether evidence of the antimicrobial action of A. blazei has been reported in the literature. In this integrative review, manuscripts held in research databases available online were examined with a view to answering the question “Does the mushroom A. blazei exert antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and/or Gram-positive bacteria?” Only eight scientific articles that have addressed the antimicrobial properties of A. blazei, in vitro and in vivo, were found, all characterized as pre-clinical, i.e., with level VII evidence. Most authors have found that the A. blazei extract promotes an antimicrobial effect against peritonitis, as well as deadly oral infections, especially those caused by Gram-positive bacteria. However, the scientific data currently available are not sufficient to verify the antimicrobial aspect of the mushroom A. blazei and thus further investigation is required.

Association of cardiovascular response to an acute resistance training session with the ACE gene polymorphism in sedentary women: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to verify the effects of an acute resistance training (RT) session and insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MBP), and heart rate (HR). METHODS: The sample consisted of 27 sedentary women (33.3 ± 8.2 yrs; 69.1 ± 13.8 kg; 1.57 ± 0.05 m; 27.6 ± 5.1 kg/m2) divided into two groups according to their polymorphism I/D (DD = 9; II + ID = 18). Volunteers underwent two experimental sessions: RT - an acute session performed with three sets at 60% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) interspersed with 1 minute rest interval between exercises and sets, and a control session (CON) in which they remained seated for 30 minutes in the laboratory. SBP, DBP, MBP and HR were measured before exercise and during one hour every 10 minutes after sessions, in the seated position. A two-way ANOVA for repeated measures with Tukey's post hoc test was used for the intra and inter-group comparisons. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences on SBP, DBP and MBP after the experimental protocols, and no effect of ACE polymorphism (P > 0.05). However, comparing CON versus exercise effect size values (ES), homozygotic carriers of the allele D presented a drop in SBP which was considered moderate, while in allele I carriers it was small, 30 minutes after exercise. In MBP, homozygotic D carriers exhibited a large ES 20 minutes post-exercise. HR was higher at 10, 20 and 30 minutes after exercise as compared to pre-exercise only for carriers of the I allele ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, an acute RT session reduces clinical BP. In addition to this; it seems that ACE polymorphism had some influence on cardiovascular response to exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION: RBR-6GDYVZ.

A common polymorphism in the renin angiotensin system is associated with differential outcome of antihypertensive pharmacotherapy prescribed to Brazilian older women.

BACKGROUND: Since variations on the renin angiotensin (RA) system tend to exert effects on blood pressure, we investigated the association of the common ACE and AT1R polymorphisms with response to a multivariate pharmacotherapy. METHODS: This prospective study involved 169 hypertensive, community-dwelling older women. Genotypes were obtained by length analysis or direct sequencing of PCR products. Blood pressure-lowering pharmacotherapy was conducted according to current Brazilian Guidelines on Hypertension. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies were in agreement to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Interventions were found to represent actual hypertension-management practices in Brazil, and accounted for a significant reduction in both systolic (P<0.001) and diastolic (P<0.001) blood pressure. Concerning the effect of polymorphisms, no influence of the ACE and AT1R genotypes were found on the magnitude of the treatment-induced blood pressure reduction (P>0.05). Nonetheless, the clinical result varied according to the ACE alleles since mean systolic pressure was roughly 10 mm Hg higher in insertion (I) homozygotes than in the deletion (D) counterparts either in baseline (P=0.001) and endpoint (P=0.010). CONCLUSION: The outcome of the antihypertensive pharmacotherapy advocated by national guidelines was significantly influenced by the ACE I/D polymorphism but not by the AT1R 1166 A/C polymorphism among postmenopausal women.

[Study of the pharmacotherapy prescribed for older-adult in a Brazilian long-term care facility]. / Estudo da farmacoterapia prescrita a idosos em Instituição Brasileira de Longa Permanência.

OBJECTIVE: this study evaluated the medication prescribed to older-adults residing in a long-term facility in the Brazilian Federal District. MATERIAL AND METHODS: social-demographic parameters as well the overall degree of disability and autonomy of the subjects were investigated. Regarding the pharmacotherapy, qualitative and quantitative aspects of the medication were assessed, including the mean number of drugs, most prescribed pharmacological classes and principles, appropriateness to the age strata and agreement to lists of essential drugs. RESULTS: in our setting, the female gender constituted a predisposing condition to an increased number of prescriptions, whereas polypharmacy and a favorable level of autonomy have played roles of main risk factors for the potential onset of drug-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: the occurrence of polypharmacy coupled to potentially serious problems related to these drugs allow to conclude that the pharmacotherapy employed for this group of older-adults present questionable therapeutical value, at least on what concerns some medications, prompting attention to the model of medical and pharmaceutical assistance provided for this population.

Analysis of antidiarrhoeic effect of plants used in popular medicine

Para combater a diarréia muitas vezes as pessoas utilizam extratos de plantas conhecidas popularmente como anti-diarréicas, mesmo sem base científica. Em razäo disto, verificou-se o efeito do extrato aquoso bruto (EAB) das folhas da Psidium guajava (goiabeira), Stachytarpheta cayenensis (gerväo), Polygonum punctatum (polígono ou pimenta d'água), Eugenia uniflora (pitangueira) e Aster squamatus (zé-da-silva) no transporte intestinal de água em ratos e na propulsäo gastrointestinal em camundongos. Com exceçäo do EAB de S. caynensis, os demais aumentaram a absorçäo de água em uma ou mais porçöes do intestino em relaçäo ao grupo-controle. Todos os EAB testados, com exceçäo do P. punctatum, reduziram o trânsito intestinal em relaçäo ao grupo-controle. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que os EAB das folhas de p. guayava, S. cayenensis, P. punctatum, E. uniflora e A. squamatus têm potencial açäo anti-diarréica, a ser confirmada em novas investigaçöes em animais infectados por agentes enteropatogênicos