Nitazoxanide induces in vitro metabolic acidosis in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci.

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad-spectrum anti-parasitic drug used against a wide variety of protozoans and helminthes. Albendazole, its active metabolite albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO), is one of the drugs of choice to treat both intestinal and tissue helminth and protozoan infections. However little is known regarding their impact on the metabolism of parasites. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro effect of NTZ and ABZSO in the glycolysis of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci. The cysticerci were treated with 1.2; 0.6; 0.3 or 0.15 µg/mL of NTZ or ABZSO. Chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses were performed in the culture medium and in the cysticerci extract. Regarding the glucose concentrations was possible to observe two responses: impair of the uptake and gluconeogenesis. The pyruvate concentrations were increased in the ABZSO treated group. Lactate concentrations were increased in the culture medium of NTZ treated groups. Therefore it was possible to infer that the metabolic acidosis was greater in the group treated with NTZ than in the ABZSO treated group indicating that this is one of the modes of action used by this drug to induce the parasite death.

EVALUATION OF ACUTE TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF Melia azedarach (MELIACEAE) HEXANIC FRUIT EXTRACT ON SWISS MICE / AVALIAÇÃO DA TOXICIDADE AGUDA DO EXTRATO HEXÂNICO DE FRUTOS DE Melia azedarach (MELIACEAE) EM CAMUNDONGOS

This study was developed aiming to evaluate the acute effects of Melia azedarach hexanic fruit extract on mice. Two treated groups, one for each dose, 300 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg, were prepared. For each treatment group, a non-treated control group was used. All groups were composed of six animals, three of each sex. The animals were evaluated at 30 min., 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 12h and 24h and then daily, for 14 days after treatment, following the Hippocratic screening. At each three days weight gain and ration consumption were evaluated. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations were evaluated in the heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, intestine and brain. No alteration in the Hippocratic screening in both doses, during the 14-days interval, was observed. The mice treated with the 2000 mg/kg doses consumed fewer rations than the animals of the control group; however, weight gain was statistically similar. No statistic difference was observed between the weight of the organs, and they had no macroscopic alterations. No histopathologic alterations were found on the examined organs, for both doses, except for lung alterations such as hyperaemia, haemorrage and edema in both treated and control groups. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the hexanic extract of M. azedarach green fruits had no acute effects against Swiss mice.KEYWORDS: acute effects; hexanic extract of green frui

Melia azedarach em camundongos. Foram compostos dois grupos tratados, sendo um para cada dose, 300 mg/kg e 2000 mg/kg. Para cada grupo tratado foi utilizado um grupo controle não tratado. Todos os grupos foram compostos por seis animais, sendo três de cada sexo. Os animais foram avaliados aos 30 minutos, 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 12h e 24h e a partir de então diariamente, até o 14º dia após o tratamento, seguindo o screening hipocrático. A cada três dias, eles foram pesados e o consumo de ração foi medido. Foi avaliada a presença de alterações macroscópicas e microscópicas no coração, rins, pulmão, fígado, baço, intestinos e cérebro. Em ambas as doses nenhuma alteração em relação ao screening hipocrático foi observada. Somente os camundongos machos tratados com 2000 mg/kg apresentaram consumo de ração menor que o controle, mas, ainda assim, o ganho de peso foi semelhante entre os grupos. Não houve diferença significativa quanto ao peso dos órgãos entre os grupos, nem foram observadas alterações macroscópicas. Não foram encontradas alterações histopatológicas, com exceção de alterações pulmonares como hiperemia, hemorragia e edema nos grupos tratado e controle. Pode-se concluir que o extrato hexânico de frutos verdes de M. azedarach não apresenta toxicidade aguda sobre camundongos Swiss.PALAVRAS-CHAVE:camundongos swiss; extrato hexânico de frutos verdes; histopatologia; Melia azedarach; t

EVALUATION OF ACUTE TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF Melia azedarach (MELIACEAE) HEXANIC FRUIT EXTRACT ON SWISS MICE / AVALIAÇÃO DA TOXICIDADE AGUDA DO EXTRATO HEXÂNICO DE FRUTOS DE Melia azedarach (MELIACEAE) EM CAMUNDONGOS

This study was developed aiming to evaluate the acute effects of Melia azedarach hexanic fruit extract on mice. Two treated groups, one for each dose, 300 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg, were prepared. For each treatment group, a non-treated control group was used. All groups were composed of six animals, three of each sex. The animals were evaluated at 30 min., 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 12h and 24h and then daily, for 14 days after treatment, following the Hippocratic screening. At each three days weight gain and ration consumption were evaluated. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations were evaluated in the heart, kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, intestine and brain. No alteration in the Hippocratic screening in both doses, during the 14-days interval, was observed. The mice treated with the 2000 mg/kg doses consumed fewer rations than the animals of the control group; however, weight gain was statistically similar. No statistic difference was observed between the weight of the organs, and they had no macroscopic alterations. No histopathologic alterations were found on the examined organs, for both doses, except for lung alterations such as hyperaemia, haemorrage and edema in both treated and control groups. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that the hexanic extract of M. azedarach green fruits had no acute effects against Swiss mice.KEYWORDS: acute effects; hexanic extract of green frui

Melia azedarach em camundongos. Foram compostos dois grupos tratados, sendo um para cada dose, 300 mg/kg e 2000 mg/kg. Para cada grupo tratado foi utilizado um grupo controle não tratado. Todos os grupos foram compostos por seis animais, sendo três de cada sexo. Os animais foram avaliados aos 30 minutos, 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 12h e 24h e a partir de então diariamente, até o 14º dia após o tratamento, seguindo o screening hipocrático. A cada três dias, eles foram pesados e o consumo de ração foi medido. Foi avaliada a presença de alterações macroscópicas e microscópicas no coração, rins, pulmão, fígado, baço, intestinos e cérebro. Em ambas as doses nenhuma alteração em relação ao screening hipocrático foi observada. Somente os camundongos machos tratados com 2000 mg/kg apresentaram consumo de ração menor que o controle, mas, ainda assim, o ganho de peso foi semelhante entre os grupos. Não houve diferença significativa quanto ao peso dos órgãos entre os grupos, nem foram observadas alterações macroscópicas. Não foram encontradas alterações histopatológicas, com exceção de alterações pulmonares como hiperemia, hemorragia e edema nos grupos tratado e controle. Pode-se concluir que o extrato hexânico de frutos verdes de M. azedarach não apresenta toxicidade aguda sobre camundongos Swiss.PALAVRAS-CHAVE:camundongos swiss; extrato hexânico de frutos verdes; histopatologia; Melia azedarach; t