Evaluation of lipolysis and toxicological parameters of low-level laser therapy at different wavelengths and doses in the abdominal subcutaneous tissue.

Investigate the effects of low-level lasers therapy (LLLT) aiming abdominal lipolysis. Female Wistar rats received applications of LLLT directly in the abdominal skin twice a week (5 weeks). Except the control group (n = 5), animals received treatments with red wavelength 660 nm being (I) R3.3 group (n = 5): 3.3 J/cm2, and (II) R5 group (n = 5): 5 J/cm2, or infrared wavelength 808 nm being (III) IR3.3 group (n = 5): 3.3 J/cm2, and (IV) IR5 group (n = 5): 5 J/cm2. Abdominal subcutaneous and liver tissues were evaluated histologically. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and catalase (CAT) activity were analyzed in liver tissue. In the peripheral blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol were investigated. Micronucleus assay was performed in the bone marrow. Except for the IR3.3 group, all treated groups reduced the body weight (p < 0.001). The R5 group reduced the abdominal subcutaneous tissue weight and thickness (p < 0.05), even though all treated groups reduced the number of adipocytes and its size (p < 0.001). No histological changes in the liver. There were no alterations in the triglycerides and LDL levels. The IR5 group increased the total cholesterol levels and decreased the HDL, ALT (both p < 0.05), and AST levels (p < 0.001). The group IR3.3 showed higher levels of ALP (p < 0.01). The R3.3 group increased the TBARS and CAT activity (p < 0.05). No mutagenic effects were found. The red laser treatment at 5 J/cm2 led to lipolysis and did not alter the liver's parameters.

Carboxyethyl aminobutyric acid (CEGABA) lacks cytotoxicity and genotoxicity and stimulates cell proliferation and migration in vitro.

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetics formulated using compounds with medical-like benefits. Though the antiaging effect of carboxyethyl aminobutyric acid (CEGABA) has been discussed, its action mechanism in cosmeceuticals remains unclear. This study assessed the in vitro efficacy and safety of CEGABA. NHI-3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line was treated with two CEGABA concentrations (50 and 500 µmol/L) for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated by colorimetry (MTT) and the alkaline version of the comet assay, respectively. Flow cytometry and the scratch-wound assay were used to assess cell-cycle phase distributions and cell migration rates. Compared with the untreated control, CEGABA increased cell growth 1.6 times after 72 h, independent of dose. The compound also decreased cell replication time by 4 h. These findings seem to be related with the approximately 1.5-times increase in phase S cells numbers. Importantly, in vitro wound healing improved roughly 20% after treatment with CEGABA for 24 h and persisted after 48 h, indicating culture recovery. The time-dependent proliferation and migration of fibroblasts induced by CEGABA besides the fact that the compound is neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic makes it an ideal candidate in the development of cosmeceuticals in antiaging therapy.

Neurobehavioral and genotoxic evaluation of (-)-linalool in mice.

(-)-Linalool is a monoterpene compound commonly found as a major component of the essential oil of several aromatic species. It has been shown to exert several actions in the central nervous system (CNS) and is able to inhibit glutamate receptors. This study investigated the effect of (-)-linalool in depression and genotoxicity models. Mice were given (-)-linalool (10, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg i.p.) and were evaluated using the tail suspension test (TST). Genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects in blood and brain were investigated using the alkaline comet assay. In the TST, the animals that received doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg presented a decrease in immobility times. No increase in DNA damage was observed in either tissue, and resistance to DNA oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide did not increase. (-)-Linalool showed an antidepressant-like activity in the TST and was unable to cause damage/protection to DNA in brain tissue and peripheral blood. This investigation provides evidence of an important effect of (-)-linalool on the CNS; however, more studies are necessary to support its possible clinical uses.

Effects of gamma-decanolactone on seizures induced by PTZ-kindling in mice.

Gamma-decanolactone is a monoterpene compound, and its psychopharmacological evaluation in mice revealed that it has a dose-dependent effect on the central nervous system, with hypnotic, anticonvulsant, and hypothermic activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of gamma-decanolactone on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-kindling in mice. Phenobarbital, an antiepileptic drug, was also tested for the purpose of comparison. After the behavioral procedures had been undertaken, the animals were killed and brain tissue was sampled to evaluate DNA damage in the brain using comet assay. The data reported here suggest that the administration of phenobarbital (10 mg/kg) and gamma-decanolactone at 0.3 g/kg, but not at 0.1 g/kg, impairs both the severity and the progression of seizures in the PTZ-kindling model. DNA damage to brain tissue decreased in gamma-decanolactone-treated kindling animals (similar to phenobarbital) as compared to nontreated animals. The results suggest that gamma-decanolactone has dose-dependent anticonvulsant properties, and may also have antiepileptogenic and neuroprotective effects in the PTZ-kindling model.

Effect of radicicol infusion on the Src tyrosine kinase activity of rat hippocampus before and after training in an inhibitory avoidance task.

The participation of protein serine/threonine kinases in memory formation and retrieval is well established. In contrast, relatively little is known on the role of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). Previous work showed that intra-hippocampal infusion of the Src-PTK inhibitor radicicol inhibits memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of one-trial step-down inhibitory avoidance task. In this study, we investigated the possible interaction between levels of Src-PTK activity in hippocampus and memory acquisition, formation, and retrieval of this task. Radicicol (0.5 microg/ml) was infused into the CA1 region of the hippocampus of rats trained in a one-trial step-down inhibitory avoidance task. Radicicol infused 15 min before training decreased Src-PTK activity, as measured 0, 1.5, and 24 h after training, and impaired memory acquisition of the task. When given immediately after training, there was a decrease in Src-PTK activity 1.5 h, but not 0 or 24 h after training. This treatment depressed memory consolidation. Radicicol infused into CA1 10 min prior to retrieval testing inhibited hippocampal Src-PTK activity, as measured immediately after the test session. The results suggest that Src-PTKs participate in memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval processes, but the timing of the role of the enzyme is different in each case.

Neurobehavioral and genotoxic aspects of rosmarinic acid.

Rosmarinic acid is a naturally occurring hydroxylated compound. It is present in many plants, for example, it occurs in Artemisia capillaris, Calendulla officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis and in other several plant families. It also shows a number of interesting biological activities, e.g. antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory and antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the i.p. administration of rosmarinic acid (1, 2, 4 or 8 mg kg(-1)) on elevated plus-maze, step-down inhibitory avoidance and open field task in rats. In addition, we evaluated its genotoxic effect on brain tissue using the comet assay. Rosmarinic acid (2 and 4 mg kg(-1)) increased the number of entries in the open arms, suggesting an anxiolytic-like activity when used in lower doses, without affecting the short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) retention on inhibitory avoidance task. Eight milligrams per kilograms of this acid was enough to increase the locomotion and motivation of the animals, but not 1, 2 or 4 mg kg(-1), suggesting that in lower doses, this compound can produce anxiolytic-like effect without exerting locomotor alterations or DNA damage in brain tissue.