Phytochemical profile and antiproliferative activity of human lymphocytes of Gomphrena virgata Mart. (Amaranthaceae).

Gomphrena virgata Mart. popularly known as 'Cangussu-branco', is used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammations and infections. This work aimed to carry out phytochemical analysis and evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of Gomphrena virgata. In the phytochemical investigation, in addition to the presence of two ecdysteroids, 20 R-dihydroxyecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone, identified by HPLC-PDA-MS and NMR, 22 compounds were identified by GC-MS. In the cytotoxicity study, the aqueous extract of the roots of this species did not show in vitro toxicity of PBMCs in the concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL when analyzed by the trypan blue exclusion method. Also, it was effective in reducing lymphocyte proliferation, stimulated with the mitogen PHA, by 26.02%, 48.57% and 50.49% when compared to dexamethasone, respectively. In this work we present information about the phytochemicals of G. virgata, showing that the species is promising in obtaining compounds with medicinal potential mainly anti-inflammatory potential.

Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of the extracts, fractions, and chemical constituents isolated from Luehea ochrophylla Mart.

BACKGROUND: Stem bark of Luehea ochrophylla (L. ochrophylla) is used by the traditional Brazilian medicine for treatment of rheumatic diseases and tumors. This study aimed to investigate inhibition of acute and chronic inflammations and cytotoxic activity of extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from L. ochrophylla. METHODS: Hexane (HE) and ethanol (EE) extracts obtained from stem bark of L. ochrophylla were submitted to chromatographic fractionation. In order to test acute inflammation, experimental model of impact injury was used, followed by transdermal application of gels using phonophoresis. Histological analysis was based on scores assigned by the capacity of decreasing the lesion. To evaluate the effect EE and fractions on cell proliferation, human lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and analyzed using flow cytometry. Proliferation was measured using VPD 450 staining and the calculated proliferative index (PI). The cytotoxic activity was evaluated using MTT colorimetric method against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, HCT-116, and Vero cells. GraphPad Prism Version 5 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: HE and EE provided friedelin, ß-friedelinol, lupeol, mixture of lupeol and pseudotaraxasterol, ß-sitosterol, betulinic acid, mixture of lupeol and taraxasterol, (-)-epicatechin, ß-sitosterol-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and (+)-epicatechin-(4ß-8)-epicatechin. HE, ethyl acetate fraction (AF), betulinic acid, and ß-sitosterol promoted regeneration of muscle fibers caused by muscle injury. AF significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the lymphocyte proliferation index (1.36 for cultures stimulated with PHA, 0.7 for untreated cultures and 0.12 for cultures stimulated with PHA and treated with AF 25 µg/mL and AF 50 µg/mL, respectively). ß-Sitosterol-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside exhibited high cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 1.279 µg/mL) against HCT-116 cell line. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that extracts, fractions, and chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla decreases inflammatory processes generated by muscle injury. The anti-inflammatory activity may be justified by high inhibition of T cell proliferation. These extracts, fractions, and chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla may be useful as a therapeutic agent against rheumatic diseases. Moreover, chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla show potent cytotoxic activity against colon and rectal carcinomas.

Nickel: periodontal status and blood parameters in allergic orthodontic patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to compare blood parameters and periodontal characteristics of orthodontic patients allergic to nickel with those of nonallergic patients and to determine the correlation between blood components and periodontal abnormalities. METHODS: Ninety-six randomly selected patients participated in the study. After determining the prevalence of those allergic to nickel, 2 groups were formed: 16 allergic patients and 16 nonallergic patients. Allergies to nickel were diagnosed by using the patch test, periodontal conditions were determined by using the gingival index, and humoral characteristics were determined through a complete blood test, including the quantification of nickel in the blood and the immunoglobulin E level. Feces examinations were performed to control for parasitic infections. Periodontal evaluations were performed blindly. Statistical analysis included the unpaired t test, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Pearson and Spearman correlations (P ≤0.05). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between groups were found for bands (P = 0.001). There was no correlation between the concentration of nickel and immunoglobulin E level (P = 0.674, experimental group; P = 0.605, control group). However, there was a positive correlation between the gingival index and the number of bands (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nickel can have an influence over the periodontal status of allergic orthodontic patients, causing an increase in band quantification that was correlated to gingival index.