Phytochemical profile and biological activities of Bromelia antiacantha extracts / Perfil fitoquímico e atividades biológicas de extratos de Bromelia antiacantha

Reports from popular medicine usually act as a basis for the development of new drugs from natural compounds with therapeutic actions for serious diseases and prevalence such as cancer. Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. is a species of the Bromeliaceae family, considered an unconventional food plant, found in the south and midwest regions of Brazil. Despite the high nutritional content and pharmacological potential of its fruits, few scientific studies report its biological actions. Thus, this study evaluates the phytochemical profile of aqueous and ethanol extracts obtained from B. antiacantha fruits, as well as their possible antioxidant, antitumor, and cytotoxic activities. The aqueous extract exhibited phenolic compounds and flavonoids, while ethanol extracts indicated the presence of flavonoids and coumarin in their composition, regardless of the region of collection. The ethanolic extract demonstrated a more promising antioxidant effect than the aqueous extract and also induced a significant inhibition in the viability of human cervical cancer cells of the SiHa strain. In addition, treatment with both extracts did not alter the viability of non-tumor cells of the immortalized human keratinocyte lineage (HaCaT). These results bring new data about extracts obtained from a native plant, edible and traditionally used in popular medicine, opening new perspectives for its possible therapeutic application.

Relatos da medicina popular costumam atuar como referencial para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos a partir de moléculas naturais com ações terapêuticas para doenças de alta gravidade e prevalência como o câncer. Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. é uma espécie da família Bromeliaceae, considerada uma planta alimentícia não convencional (PANC), encontrada nas regiões sul e centro-oeste do Brasil. Apesar do alto teor nutritivo e potencial farmacológico de seus frutos, poucos estudos científicos relatam suas ações biológicas. Desta forma, este estudo avalia o perfil fitoquímico de extratos aquoso e etanólico obtidos de frutos de B. antiacantha, bem como a sua possível ação antioxidante, antitumoral e citotóxica. O extrato aquoso apresentou compostos fenólicos e flavonoides, enquanto os extratos etanólicos apontam a presença de flavonóides e cumarina em sua composição, independente da região de coleta. O extrato etanólico demonstrou efeito antioxidante mais promissor do que o extrato aquoso e também induziu uma inibição significativa na viabilidade de células humanas de câncer cervical da linhagem SiHa. Além disso, o tratamento com ambos extratos não alterou a viabilidade de células não tumorais da linhagem de queratinócitos humanos imortalizados (HaCaT). Estes dados trazem novas informações sobre extratos obtidos de uma espécie vegetal nativa, comestível e já utilizada tradicionalmente, mas abrindo novas perspectivas quanto a possíveis aplicações terapêuticas.

Phytochemical profile and biological activities of Bromelia antiacantha extracts

Abstract Reports from popular medicine usually act as a basis for the development of new drugs from natural compounds with therapeutic actions for serious diseases and prevalence such as cancer. Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. is a species of the Bromeliaceae family, considered an unconventional food plant, found in the south and midwest regions of Brazil. Despite the high nutritional content and pharmacological potential of its fruits, few scientific studies report its biological actions. Thus, this study evaluates the phytochemical profile of aqueous and ethanol extracts obtained from B. antiacantha fruits, as well as their possible antioxidant, antitumor, and cytotoxic activities. The aqueous extract exhibited phenolic compounds and flavonoids, while ethanol extracts indicated the presence of flavonoids and coumarin in their composition, regardless of the region of collection. The ethanolic extract demonstrated a more promising antioxidant effect than the aqueous extract and also induced a significant inhibition in the viability of human cervical cancer cells of the SiHa strain. In addition, treatment with both extracts did not alter the viability of non-tumor cells of the immortalized human keratinocyte lineage (HaCaT). These results bring new data about extracts obtained from a native plant, edible and traditionally used in popular medicine, opening new perspectives for its possible therapeutic application.

Resumo Relatos da medicina popular costumam atuar como referencial para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos a partir de moléculas naturais com ações terapêuticas para doenças de alta gravidade e prevalência como o câncer. Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. é uma espécie da família Bromeliaceae, considerada uma planta alimentícia não convencional (PANC), encontrada nas regiões sul e centro-oeste do Brasil. Apesar do alto teor nutritivo e potencial farmacológico de seus frutos, poucos estudos científicos relatam suas ações biológicas. Desta forma, este estudo avalia o perfil fitoquímico de extratos aquoso e etanólico obtidos de frutos de B. antiacantha, bem como a sua possível ação antioxidante, antitumoral e citotóxica. O extrato aquoso apresentou compostos fenólicos e flavonoides, enquanto os extratos etanólicos apontam a presença de flavonóides e cumarina em sua composição, independente da região de coleta. O extrato etanólico demonstrou efeito antioxidante mais promissor do que o extrato aquoso e também induziu uma inibição significativa na viabilidade de células humanas de câncer cervical da linhagem SiHa. Além disso, o tratamento com ambos extratos não alterou a viabilidade de células não tumorais da linhagem de queratinócitos humanos imortalizados (HaCaT). Estes dados trazem novas informações sobre extratos obtidos de uma espécie vegetal nativa, comestível e já utilizada tradicionalmente, mas abrindo novas perspectivas quanto a possíveis aplicações terapêuticas.

Phytochemical profile and biological activities of Bromelia antiacantha extracts.

Reports from popular medicine usually act as a basis for the development of new drugs from natural compounds with therapeutic actions for serious diseases and prevalence such as cancer. Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. is a species of the Bromeliaceae family, considered an unconventional food plant, found in the south and midwest regions of Brazil. Despite the high nutritional content and pharmacological potential of its fruits, few scientific studies report its biological actions. Thus, this study evaluates the phytochemical profile of aqueous and ethanol extracts obtained from B. antiacantha fruits, as well as their possible antioxidant, antitumor, and cytotoxic activities. The aqueous extract exhibited phenolic compounds and flavonoids, while ethanol extracts indicated the presence of flavonoids and coumarin in their composition, regardless of the region of collection. The ethanolic extract demonstrated a more promising antioxidant effect than the aqueous extract and also induced a significant inhibition in the viability of human cervical cancer cells of the SiHa strain. In addition, treatment with both extracts did not alter the viability of non-tumor cells of the immortalized human keratinocyte lineage (HaCaT). These results bring new data about extracts obtained from a native plant, edible and traditionally used in popular medicine, opening new perspectives for its possible therapeutic application.

Economic Method for Extraction/Purification of a Burkholderia cepacia Lipase with Potential Biotechnology Application.

In order to recover biomolecules, a single downstream processing step is carried out. In this sense, an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) and potassium phosphate salts is used. Intending the purification of Burkholderia cepacia (Bc) lipase, the effects of the molecular masses of 1500 (PEG 1500), 4000 (PEG 4000), and 6000 (PEG 6000), pH (6, 7, and 8) and distinct tie line lengths are perfomed. Although this is reasonable reported in literature, a study covering an economical production aspect considering the Bc is scarce. This characterizes a novelty proposed in this investigation. Lipase is recovered in a polymer phase at lower pH value. PEG 1500/phosphate salt ATPS at pH 6 is considered a good method with ~ 98% of the extraction efficiency. Another contribution of this proposed investigation concerns to a biotechnological material synthesis, which is applied in several advanced and revolutionize engineering practices. Additionally, an economic analysis of the proposed method indicates a minimal sale price (~ US$410/L) inducing to a future and potential commercial application.

Effects of mesenchymal stromal cells play a role the oxidant/antioxidant balance in a murine model of asthma

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterised by chronic airway inflammation. One of the most devastating consequences of this inflammatory process is the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species responsible for oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to analyse the efficiency of treatment with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) in maintaining the oxidative balance in a murine model of allergic asthma by quantifying nitrotyrosine in lung tissues. After confirmation of asthma in the experimental model, samples of lung parenchyma were submitted to immunohistochemical assessment. Intravenous administration of hMSC reduced the levels of nitrotyrosine in the ASTHMA-hMSC group compared to those in the ASTHMA-SAL group. In conclusion, therapeutic administration of hMSC had a beneficial effect on oxidative stress, reducing the levels of nitrotyrosine in lung tissues in a model of allergic asthma (AU)

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Effects of mesenchymal stromal cells play a role the oxidant/antioxidant balance in a murine model of asthma.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterised by chronic airway inflammation. One of the most devastating consequences of this inflammatory process is the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species responsible for oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to analyse the efficiency of treatment with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSC) in maintaining the oxidative balance in a murine model of allergic asthma by quantifying nitrotyrosine in lung tissues. After confirmation of asthma in the experimental model, samples of lung parenchyma were submitted to immunohistochemical assessment. Intravenous administration of hMSC reduced the levels of nitrotyrosine in the ASTHMA-hMSC group compared to those in the ASTHMA-SAL group. In conclusion, therapeutic administration of hMSC had a beneficial effect on oxidative stress, reducing the levels of nitrotyrosine in lung tissues in a model of allergic asthma.

Distensibility index of the inferior vena cava in experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome.

We determined the accuracy of distensibility index of inferior vena cava (dIVC) for evaluation of fluid responsiveness in rats with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and validated this index for use in rat models. In protocol 1, E. coli lipopolysaccharide was administered in Wistar rats (n=7). After 24h, animals were mechanically ventilated, and stroke volume (SV) and dIVC quantified after blood drainage and subsequent volume expansion (albumin 20%). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to determine the optimal dIVC cutoff. In protocol 2, rats (n=10) were divided into fluid-responders (SV increase >5%) and nonresponders (SV increase <5%). The dIVC cutoff obtained from protocol 1 was 25%. Fluid responders had a 2.5 relative risk of low dIVC (<25%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values for dIVC were 74%, 62%, 59%, and 76%, respectively. In conclusion, a dIVC threshold <25% was associated with positive response after volume expansion and could be used to titrate fluids in endotoxin-induced ARDS.

Ovarian follicle growth in the catfish Iheringichthys labrosus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae).

The morphofunctional organisation of the female reproductive system, the oocyte growth and the follicular envelope ultrastructure were studied by the first time in the catfish Iheringichthys labrosus from Upper Paraná River basin, Southeastern Brazil, in order to contribute to the knowledge of the reproductive behaviour strategies of this species. As in other Neotropical freshwater siluriforms, the ovaries are of the cystovarian type, the oocytes develop in an asynchronous pattern and mature oocytes are released in clusters in the ovarian lumen, being transported through the oviduct to the urogenital papilla. During the primary growth, nuclear material is transported to the ooplasm, forming the yolk nucleus, where proliferate membranous organelles. The onset of the zona radiata formation occurs during the late perionucleolar stage with the deposition of the outer layer. At the vitellogenic stage, this envelope reaches 6.35+/-0.84microm of thickness, being constituted by three distinct layers crossed by pore-canals containing oocyte and follicular cells processes. Cytochemical analyses evidence neutral glycoproteins in cortical alveoli, yolk globules and zona radiata. Follicular cells with squamous shape during the primary growth acquire synthetic activity at the secondary growth, reaching 37.82+/-4.72mum in height at the mature vitellogenic follicles. These cells accumulate sulphated polysaccharides in large electron-lucent vesicles during the vitellogenic stage which are possibly secreted to form a mucous coat at the egg surface. These evidences suggest that I. labrosus may have adhesive eggs as also detected in other Neotropical freshwater Siluriformes.

Aplicación de un cuestionario de detección de casos psiquiátricos en dos poblaciones de la práctica médica general / Application a questionnaire for psychiatric case detection in 2 po of general practice

El Cuestionario General de Salud de Goldberg, es un instrumento de detección de casos, y fue aplicado en dos poblaciones de la práctica médica general. Con el propósito de determinar las dimensiones que mide el instrumento, se realizó un análisis factorial con los datos de cada población por separado, y se comparó la versión de 5 factores derivada de cada una. En los resultados se comparan los reactivos que tuvieron mayor peso en cada una de las poblaciones, así como la forma en que se agruparon. En términos generales, las mayores diferencias se observaron en la agrupación de los reactivos de ansiedad y depresión; sin embargo las diferencias de agrupación no impiden la posibilidad de derivar una sola versión breve y escalada del instrumento que sea aplicable a poblaciones con diferentes características sociodemográficas

Prevalencia de trastornos mentales y factores de riesgo en una población de practica medica general / Prevalence of mental disorders and risk factors in a population of general medical

En la presente investigación llevada a cabo en México, en la consulta externa de un hospital general en un período de 5 semanas, se reportanlos resultados más relevantes sobre: la validez y estandarización de un instrumento de detección temprana de casos, el Cuestionario General de Salud (CGS), utilizando como criterio de validez externa la Entreviosta Psiquiátrica Estandarizada (EPE); la prevalencia de transtornos psiquiátricos, grupo diagnóstico y subgrupos afectados; la relación entre las puntuaciones obtenidas entre la EPE y las subescalas de CGS

Prevalencia de trastornos mentales y factores de riesgo en una población de practica medica general / Prevalence of mental disorders and risk factors in a population of general medical

En la presente investigación llevada a cabo en México, en la consulta externa de un hospital general en un período de 5 semanas, se reportanlos resultados más relevantes sobre: la validez y estandarización de un instrumento de detección temprana de casos, el Cuestionario General de Salud (CGS), utilizando como criterio de validez externa la Entreviosta Psiquiátrica Estandarizada (EPE); la prevalencia de transtornos psiquiátricos, grupo diagnóstico y subgrupos afectados; la relación entre las puntuaciones obtenidas entre la EPE y las subescalas de CGS (AU)