HPLC profile and antiedematogenic activity of Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) in mice models of skin inflammation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-edematogenic activity of X. americana L. (HEXA) hydroethanolic extract in ear edema models (acute and chronic) induced by croton oil and by different phlogistic agents (arachidonic acid, capsaicin, phenol and histamine), identifying the possible anti-edematogenic mechanism. HEXA demonstrated a significant anti-edematogenic effect at concentrations of 100-500 µg/ear in ear edema induced by croton oil with higher inhibition of edema of 39.37. However, the concentrations of 100 and 200 µg/ear were taken as a standard, demonstrating the effect in the chronic model induced by croton oil with inhibition of 61.62% and 48.74%. In the AA-induced ear edema model, HEXA showed inhibition of: 24.45% and 32.31%; capsaicin inhibition of 72.72% and 47.57%; phenol inhibition of 34% and 20.1%; and histamine inhibition of 31.8% and 21.62%. Then, the results were showed that HEXA demonstrated an anti-edematogenic effect in acute and chronic inflammation models, demonstrating a probable mechanism of action by the inhibition or modulation of key mediators of the inflammatory process. The chemical profile and presence of flavonoids guaranteeing a profile of activity similar to natural drugs that act or modulate the production of mediators of inflammations.

Inhibitory effects of laminaran and alginate on production of putrefactive compounds from soy protein by intestinal microbiota in vitro and in rats.

Soybean is one of the major components of the Japanese diet. In traditional Japanese cuisine, soybean-based food items are often consumed with brown algae. In this study, we examined the effect of water-soluble and fermentable polysaccharides, laminaran and sodium alginate, from brown algae, on putrefactive compound production, by human faecal microbiota in broth containing 3% (w/v) soy protein. We also investigated the effect of 2% laminaran or alginate diet on caecal putrefactive compounds in rats maintained on diets containing 20% (w/w) soy protein. The caecal microbiota was also analysed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and pyrosequencing with primers targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The polysaccharides, particularly laminaran, inhibited ammonia, phenol, and indole production by human faecal microbiota. Both the algal polysaccharides lowered the caecal indole content. Laminaran was found to increase the number of Coprobacter, whereas Helicobacter was found to decrease in the presence of both laminaran and sodium alginate.

Alcohol irrigation after phenol chemical matricectomy: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: For treatment of ingrown toenails, a phenolization is often chosen. Many reports describe an intra-operative irrigation, or lavage, of the wound with alcohol to neutralize any residual phenol. There are conflicting reports in the literature as to whether a true neutralization is required or merely effective removal of excess phenol. We hypothesized that intra-operative irrigation with 70% alcohol after the application of phenol does not remove enough phenol and a quantity of phenol still remains in the wound nail fold performing its action. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to analyze the suitability and effectiveness of the alcohol lavage step during the treatment of ingrown toenails with a phenolization procedure. METHODS: We performed an in vivo study in 29 patients who underwent unilateral phenol chemical matricectomy to measure the amount of phenol remaining after five irrigations with a total of 15 ml of alcohol. RESULTS: There were measurable amounts of phenol collected after five alcohol irrigation steps, suggesting that phenol was not neutralized by the alcohol. After the first irrigation, only 45.74% of phenol was eliminated. An additional 12 ml of alcohol were necessary to eliminate the remaining 54.25% in the nail bed. CONCLUSIONS: A single alcohol lavage step after the phenolization procedure did not eliminate enough phenol. However, 15 ml of alcohol can serve as a suitable and effective means of diluting and removing any excess or residual phenol from the exposed area by its drag effect.

Stimulation and inhibition of bacterial growth by caffeine dependent on chloramphenicol and a phenolic uncoupler--a ternary toxicity study using microfluid segment technique.

A droplet-based microfluidic technique for the fast generation of three dimensional concentration spaces within nanoliter segments was introduced. The technique was applied for the evaluation of the effect of two selected antibiotic substances on the toxicity and activation of bacterial growth by caffeine. Therefore a three-dimensional concentration space was completely addressed by generating large sequences with about 1150 well separated microdroplets containing 216 different combinations of concentrations. To evaluate the toxicity of the ternary mixtures a time-resolved miniaturized optical double endpoint detection unit using a microflow-through fluorimeter and a two channel microflow-through photometer was used for the simultaneous analysis of changes on the endogenous cellular fluorescence signal and on the cell density of E. coli cultivated inside 500 nL microfluid segments. Both endpoints supplied similar results for the dose related cellular response. Strong non-linear combination effects, concentration dependent stimulation and the formation of activity summits on bolographic maps were determined. The results reflect a complex response of growing bacterial cultures in dependence on the combined effectors. A strong caffeine induced enhancement of bacterial growth was found at sublethal chloramphenicol and sublethal 2,4-dinitrophenol concentrations. The reliability of the method was proved by a high redundancy of fluidic experiments. The results indicate the importance of multi-parameter investigations for toxicological studies and prove the potential of the microsegmented flow technique for such requirements.

[Biogenic amines during intoxication with phenol and correction with the liquid oxygen in the experiment].

Among many toxic substances present in the nature, phenol represents one of those, which may be considered as the endocrinological deregulator. We were conducting experiment on 40 male rats every day influencing by inhalation of the vapor of the phenol, as they laid on the thigh, at the second stage after the inhalation we were making injections of the liquid oxygen under the skin to each rats for the purpose of treatment. After we produced the decapitation of the animals under general narcoses, we took the hypothalamus and investigated concentrations of biogenic amines - dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin. It was shown that in response to the inhalation of the phenol concentration of the biogenic amines has been abolished in comparison with the norm. The liquid oxygen gave the therapeutic effect.

Preventive role of folic acid on the developmental toxicity of phenol in Drosophila melanogaster.

Phenol (PN), obtained from coal tar, is used commonly in medical treatments, industrial areas, petroleum refineries, production of glue, fiber, and nylon. PN is used in the production of benzene and it is emitted in the atmosphere by motor vehicles. Folic acid (FA) is an essential nutrient among the B complex group of vitamins. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PN and PN + FA on various developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster. Different concentrations of PN and PN + FA were administered during the developmental periods of the fly (egg, larva and pupa). When F1 progeny of control and experimental groups were compared, PN was found to extend the process of metamorphosis and decrease the total offspring numbers. However, these negative effects were inhibited by FA treatment at different concentrations (0.25-2.50 mg/kg). These results suggest that FA could effectively inhibit PN-induced abnormalities in developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster.

Experimental and computational mapping of the binding surface of a crystalline protein.

Multiple Solvent Crystal Structures (MSCS) is a crystallographic technique to identify energetically favorable positions and orientations of small organic molecules on the surface of proteins. We determined the high-resolution crystal structures of thermolysin (TLN), generated from crystals soaked in 50--70% acetone, 50--80% acetonitrile and 50 mM phenol. The structures of the protein in the aqueous-organic mixtures are essentially the same as the native enzyme and a number of solvent interaction sites were identified. The distribution of probe molecules shows clusters in the main specificity pocket of the active site and a buried subsite. Within the active site, we compared the experimentally determined solvent positions with predictions from two computational functional group mapping techniques, GRID and Multiple Copy Simultaneous Search (MCSS). The experimentally determined small molecule positions are consistent with the structures of known protein--ligand complexes of TLN.