Anti-arthritic properties of crude extract from Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of hydroalcoholic crude extract (HCE) from Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves on the development of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and on pro-inflammatory cytokine balance. METHODS: Collagen-induced arthritis was induced in DBA1/J mice. On the 21st day, the mice were treated orally with HCE or methotrexate, daily. Six weeks after beginning the treatment, the following measures were determined: lymphoid organs cell numbers, percentage of blood cells, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 serum concentrations, activity of hepatic and kidney glutathione S-transferase, hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, bone density and histopathology. KEY FINDINGS: Treatment of CIA mice with HCE 5 mg/kg (HCE5) reduced the percentage of neutrophils and macrophages and the number of bone marrow cells and increased the lymphocyte numbers and the inguinal lymph node cellularity. This treatment inhibited the serum concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α, which may be related to the preservation of bone density and to the slight thickening of periarticular tissues, with minimal fibrosis and fibroblast proliferation in the joints. The CIA group presented advanced articular erosion and synovial hyperplasia. Phytochemical analysis showed mainly flavonols. CONCLUSIONS: HCE5 presented anti-arthritic potential and reduced IL-6 and TNF-α, which participate directly in the development and maintenance of the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis.

Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Activity of Babassu Mesocarp Improves the Survival in Lethal Sepsis.

Attalea speciosa syn Orbignya phalerata Mart. (babassu) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases. Aim of the study. To investigate the antimicrobial and immunological activity of babassu mesocarp extract (EE). Material and Methods. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion assay and by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The flavonoids and phenolic acids content were determined by chromatography. The in vivo assays were performed in Swiss mice submitted to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The mice received EE subcutaneously (125 or 250 mg/Kg), 6 hours after the CLP. The number of lymphoid cells was quantified and the cytokines production was determined by ELISA after 12 h. Results. EE was effective as antimicrobial to E. faecalis, S. aureus, and MRSA. EE is rich in phenolic acids, a class of compounds with antimicrobial and immunological activity. An increased survival can be observed in those groups, possibly due to a significant inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6. Conclusions. The EE showed specific antimicrobial activity in vitro and an important antiseptic effect in vivo possibly due to the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity.

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Reduces Synovial Inflammation and Pain in Experimental Osteoarthritis.

The chronicity of osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by pain and inflammation in the joints, is linked to a glutamate receptor, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). The use of plant species such as Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Amaranthaceae) as NMDA antagonists offers a promising perspective. This work aims to analyze the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory responses of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (HCE) of C. ambrosioides leaves in an experimental OA model. Wistar rats were separated into six groups (n = 24): clean (C), negative control (CTL-), positive control (CTL+), HCE0.5, HCE5 and HCE50. The first group received no intervention. The other groups received an intra-articular injection of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) (8 mg/kg) on day 0. After six hours, they were orally treated with saline, Maxicam plus (meloxicam + chondroitin sulfate) and HCE at doses of 0.5 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively. After three, seven and ten days, clinical evaluations were performed (knee diameter, mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia and motor activity). On the tenth day, after euthanasia, synovial fluid and draining lymph node were collected for cellular quantification, and cartilage was collected for histopathological analysis. Finally, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the compatibility of ascaridole, a monoterpene found in HCE, with the NMDA receptor. After the third day, HCE reduced knee edema. HCE5 showed less cellular infiltrate in the cartilage and synovium and lower intensities of allodynia from the third day and of hyperalgesia from the seventh day up to the last treatment day. The HCE5 and HCE50 groups improved in forced walking. In relation to molecular docking, ascaridole showed NMDA receptor binding affinity. C. ambrosioides HCE was effective in the treatment of OA because it reduced synovial inflammation and behavioral changes due to pain. This effect may be related to the antagonistic effect of ascaridole on the NMDA receptor.

Evaluation of the subchronic toxicity of oral treatment with Chenopodium ambrosioides in mice.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiaceae) have been used by native people to treat many diseases. Recently, we showed that the treatment with small dose (5mg/kg) of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) from Chenopodium ambrosioides' leaves has immunestimulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the subchronic toxicity of the oral treatment with this HE in preclinical assays. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10/group). They received the HE daily at the doses of 5, 50 and 500 mg/kg by gavage during 15 days. The control group received only water. They were observed each hour for 24h and each day for 15 days, when the blood was collected. The serum was used to perform the biochemical analysis. The mice were then killed and the vital and lymphoid organs were collected and evaluated. RESULTS: There was neither death nor alterations in the body weight in the HE-treated groups, but there were alterations in the weight of some organs. There was an increase in the lymph node cells number in the highest two doses. The number of cells in the bone marrow was high in the HE-treated groups, but the number of peritoneal cells was smaller in the HE-treated groups when compared to the control. There was no alteration in the AST, but there was a reduction in the albumin levels in the HE500 group and in the triglycerides and VLDL in the highest doses. CONCLUSION: The subchronic treatment with HE induced punctual alterations in the groups treated with the highest doses. However, the HE treatment was not lethal and did not induce toxic alterations using the therapeutic dose, suggesting that it is safe to use this product in the adequate dose.

Efficacy of the intralesional treatment with Chenopodium ambrosioides in the murine infection by Leishmania amazonensis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoan from Leishmania genus, is an endemic disease in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The chemotherapy to this disease is not always effective and can cause several side effects. Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (Chenopodiaceae) is used by the native people in the treatment of cutaneous ulcers caused by different species of Leishmania. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the treatment with a hydroalcoholic crude extract (HCE) from the leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the murine infection with Leishmania amazonensis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mice were treated for 4-6 weeks post-infection (p.i.) with HCE (5 mg/kg) or meglumine antimoniate (Sb(v)) (28 mg/kg) either by the oral route, once a day, for 15 days or by five intralesional (IL) injections at intervals of 4 days. The thickness of the infected paws was determined weekly and the parasite load evaluated in the draining lymph nodes (LN), the spleen and in the footpad after 7 weeks of infection. The nitric oxide (NO) production was evaluated in cultures with cells from peritoneum or LN. RESULTS: The IL treatment increased the NO production in the LN and peritoneum cultures and reduced the parasite load from the footpad, spleen and LN. On the other hand, the oral treatment decreased did alter neither the NO production nor the parasite load. CONCLUSIONS: IL HCE treatment was more efficient than the oral HCE treatment since the former was able to control the dissemination of infection. This effect can be due to either a direct leishmanicidal effect of HCE or the improvement in the NO production by HCE-stimulated macrophages. The results could justify the topical use of the Chenopodium ambrosioides' leaves in the treatment of the ulcers caused by Leishmania.