ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Terebinthus atlanticus (Anacardiaceae) is an important source of essential oil and phenolic compounds justifying its use in traditional medicine. OBJECTIVE: The present work aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic and the antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Terebinthus atlanticus (T. atlanticus). METHODS: The current study evaluated the effect of a single and repeated (15 days of treatment) oral administration of the aqueous extract of the leaves of T. atlanticus (PALAE) on blood glucose levels in normal and streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Furthermore, the effect of PALAE on glucose tolerance and histopathological examination of the liver was carried out. RESULTS: A single oral administration of PALAE reduced blood glucose levels in normal (p<0.05), and STZ diabetic rats (p<0.0001), 6 and 4 hours after administration, respectively. Furthermore, this extract had an optimal effect (p<0.0001) in both normal and STZ diabetic rats at the 15th and 7th day of treatment. This extract was also shown to prevent significantly the increase on blood glucose levels 120 min after glucose administration, in both normal (p<0.05), and diabetic (p<0.01) treated rats when compared to the control group. In addition, the histopathological analysis highlighted the positive effect of T. atlanticus on pancreas and liver. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the antihyperglycemic effect of the aqueous T. atlanticus extracts in diabetic rats which should be mediated through the amelioration of the oxidative stress as well as an improvement in liver histology.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/therapeutic use , Blood Glucose/drug effects , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Medicine, Traditional/methods , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Streptozocin/adverse effects , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Male , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
The reproduction of Blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus has been described for coastal regions, and for a long time, this species was considered to be a strictly continental spawner. Recently, this species was observed around a seamount habitat 500 nautical miles Northeast of Brazil, located between South America and Africa. In this study we describe the reproductive biology of Blackfin tuna at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA). Male and female gonads were sampled from December 2008 to July 2010, and analyzed macro and microscopically. A total of 361 fish were sampled (247 males and 114 females). Males were more common than females, with a sex ratio of 2.2 ♂:1♀. The fork length (FL) of all sampled specimens ranged from 38 to 98cm, and larger length classes were more frequent in males. It was possible to distinguish six maturity phases for females: immature, developing, spawning capable, actively spawning, regressing and recovering. Five phases were identified for males: immature, developing, spawning capable, actively spawning and recovering. The gonad index (GI) mean monthly values ranged from 6.6 (SD=4.1) to 58.4 (SD=34.7) for females, and from 2.6 (SD=1.3) to 66.2 (SD=30.4) for males. For both sexes, the largest GI values were observed at the beginning of the first semester of the year. Size at first maturity was estimated at 48cm FL and 55cm FL for females and males respectively. Approximately 80% of the specimens were adults and considered to be in reproductive conditions. Histological analysis of the ovaries and testes showed that most of the specimens were sexually mature and were reproductively active during all months of the year. However, females with mature ovaries, with large amounts of hydrated oocytes and post-ovulatory follicles, were mainly found from December to March, thus these months may constitute the main spawning season in SPSPA. Batch fecundity varied between 272 025 and 1 140 584 oocytes for 56 and 68cm FL females respectively. Oocyte development and spawning patterns suggest a multiple spawning behavior. The results revealed that Blackfin tuna is using the SPSPA as a spawning ground, similar to other species commonly observed in the same area during the same reproductive season.
A pesar de la importancia de las capturas del atún de aleta negra Thunnus atlanticus en el noreste de Brasil y en las cercanías del Archipiélago San Pedro y San Pablo (ASPSP), hay una escasez de información sobre su reproducción, especialmente en las islas. La reproducción del atún de aleta negra en este archipiélago se estudió de diciembre 2008 a julio 2010. Con este fin, se recolectaron 361 gónadas de hembras y machos, los machos fueron predominantemente más frecuentes en la muestra total, con una proporción sexual de 1♀:2.2 ♂. La longitud furcal todos los ejemplares muestreados varió entre 38 y 98 cm, y los machos fueron más abundantes en las clases de mayor longitud. Los valores medios mensuales del índice gonadal (IG) variaron de 6.6 (SD=4.1) a 58.4 (SD=34.7) y de 2.6 (SD=1.3) a 66.2 (SD=30.4) para hembras y machos, respectivamente. Los mayores valores de IG para ambos sexos fueron observados el inicio del primer semestre. Los análisis histológicos mostraron que la mayoría de los ovarios y testículos correspondieron a especímenes aptos para reproducirse. Sin embargo, hembras con ovarios maduros, con gran cantidad de oócitos hidratados y folículos post ovulatorios, se encontraron principalmente de diciembre a marzo, que se considera es la época de reproducción del atún de aleta negra alrededor del ASPSP.
