[Anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. leaves (Rutaceae)]. / Atividade anti-helmíntica do extrato aquoso das folhas de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (Rutaceae).

The study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium leaves in two experiments. In vitro test, cultures of goat fecal samples were treated with different concentrations of extract (134.5 to 335.0 mg.mL(-1)). In vivo test was composed of 20 sheep: G1: treated with 0.63 g.kg(-1), during four days; G2: same dose, for eight days; G3: ivermectin (200 microg.kg(-1)) and G4 untreated group. In vitro results showed a reduction of Haemonchus spp, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. larvae greater than 95% in the concentrations between 335.0 and 193.7 mg.mL(-1). Faecal egg counting reduction was 51, 56 and 90% in G1, G2 and G3, respectively, while immature stages and adults ranged from 0 to 91% in G1 and from 26 to 94% in G2. Ivermectin effectiveness was 99% for L4 and L5 of H. contortus and 100% for other nematodes species. Clinical and biochemical parameters have remained in the normality and histophatologic analyses did not show alteration suggesting absence of toxicity. Although the great effectiveness of Z. rhoifolium leaves extract in vitro test, it displayed poor efficiency in vivo regarding gastrointestinal nematodes reduction.

Effects of freezing on bone histological morphology.

Allograft bone has been widely used for reconstruction of different portions of the skeleton. The fragment of bone harvested must be kept under low temperatures. The cryopreservation also contributes to decrease the antigenic potential of the tissue. Although this technique is considered safe, there is little information about the morphological modifications that the medullary and cortical portions of bone suffer after freezing. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the morphology of bone tissue after freezing under different temperatures and periods. Twelve rabbits were used to analyze the effects of two temperatures, -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C, during four periods of time: 30, 60, 90, 120 days. Tissues were analyzed by HE, picro-sirius stains and also by Feulgen's reaction, through qualitative and morphometric ways, considering the area occupied by cells and nuclei, medullary and cortical portions, as well as by collagen expression at cortical. The differences among the treatments were analyzed by Tukey s test, at 5% significance level. Bone freezing increased cellular and nuclear areas at cancellous bone and diminished nuclear area at the cortical bone. Cortical bone collagen suffered denaturation proportionally to temperature decrease and to freezing duration. These alterations compromised the morphology of tissues after 90 or 120 days of freezing at the temperature of -70 degrees C. Cells necrosed during freezing, contributing to reduce bone antigenicity.