The challenge of improving pterostilbene (PTS) solubility for solid and semi-solid dosage forms: The obtention of binary and ternary systems.

Pterostilbene (PTS) is a drug candidate with low water solubility and poor bioavailability. On the other hand, drug:cyclodextrins complexes frequently provide bulk powders with low drug concentrations, which is crucial for obtention solid or semi-solid pharmaceutical dosage forms. In order to determine the optimal conditions for enhancing the solubility of PTS:BCD (ß-cyclodextrin) complex, a Box-Behnken design was performed. Although the optimal conditions have been applied, low complexation efficiency (0.127) and the bulk powder remained. A PTS:BCD:HPMC (HPMC, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) ternary system was developed to overcome this limitation, comparing two media, water and a mixture of ethanol-water. When ethanol was used as a co-solvent, the PTS:BCD:HPMC ternary system (freeze-dried) contained 116.65 ± 1.40 mg/g of PTS. This value was 3.4-fold higher than the PTS content observed when the same ternary system was obtained in aqueous media (34.8 mg/g) and 2.8-fold higher than the PTS content observed for PTS:BCD complex (freeze-dried) obtained using ethanol as a co-solvent. Dissolution tests revealed that after 120 min, in a buffer with a pH value of 1.2, only 43% of PTS dissolved. In contrast, 80% and 90% of PTS were dissolved from the PTS:BCD complex and PTS:BCD:HPMC ternary system, respectively. Moreover, the dissolution was fast in a buffer with a pH value of 6.8. PTS:BCD complex reached the maximum PTS dissolution at 75 min and PTS:BCD:HPMC at 45 min. In summary, the results of this study demonstrated, for the first time, that low-bulk powders with a high content of PTS can be obtained from PTS:BCD:HPMC ternary systems using ethanol as a co-solvent. This new finding offers a valuable alternative for producing solid or semi-solid formulations containing highly soluble PTS.

Role of Redox Homeostasis and Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

This review addresses pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), an incurable disease, which determines high morbidity and mortality. Definition of the disease, its characteristics, classification, and epidemiology are discussed. A difficulty in the diagnosis of PAH due to the lack of symptoms specificity is highlighted. Echocardiographic analysis and electrocardiogram of patients help in the diagnosis and in the follow up of the disease. Nevertheless, right ventricle (RV) catheterization constitutes the gold standard for diagnosing PAH. Oxidative stress and inflammation, in an interactive manner, play a major role in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling and consequent increase of pulmonary pressure. The latter results in an increase in RV afterload, culminating with RV hypertrophy, which may progress to failure. Both clinical and experimental studies have shown increased oxidative stress and inflammation, not only in lungs and pulmonary vasculature but also in RV. The use of experimental models, such as the monocrotaline-induced PAH, has helped in the understanding of the pathophysiology of PAH, as well as in the development of new therapeutic strategies. In addition to the traditional therapeutics, the use of therapeutic interventions capable of modulating oxidative stress and inflammation may offer newer strategies in the prevention as well as management of this disease.

Effects of thyroid hormones on aortic tissue after myocardial infarction in rats.

Studies have shown a cardioprotective role of thyroid hormones (THs) in cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, there is no data in the literature examining the influence of TH administration on the aortic tissue in an animal model of MI. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of thyroid hormones on the aorta after MI. Male Wistar rats were divided into a sham group (SHAM), infarcted group (AMI), sham+TH (SHAMT) and AMI+TH (AMIT). After MI, the animals received T3 and T4 (2 and 8µg/100g/day, respectively) by oral gavage for 12 days. Later, the animals underwent echocardiography and euthanasia and the aorta was collected for molecular and biochemical analysis. T3 and T4 administration increased the expression of the pro-angiogenic proteins vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in the aorta of AMIT rats when compared with AMI. With respect to TH receptors, AMI rats presented a decrease in TRß levels, which was prevented by the hormonal administration. In AMIT rats, both TRα and TRß levels were increased when compared with the AMI group. Reactive oxygen species levels and NADPH oxidase activity were decreased in both treated groups when compared with the non-treated animals. TH administration after MI may improve angiogenic signaling in the aorta as well as the responsiveness of this vessel to T3 and T4. These positive effects in the aorta may result in additional protection for the cardiovascular system in the context of cardiac ischaemic injury.

Low-dose estrogen is as effective as high-dose treatment in rats with postmenopausal hypertension.

: This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that 17ß-estradiol therapy improves redox balance by decreasing reactive oxygen species production and increasing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, favoring Akt pathway activation and resulting in a better autonomic vascular control. Ovariectomized female Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) vehicle (VL) and animals treated with a pellet of 17ß-estradiol for 21 days; (2) low dose (LE; 0.05 mg); (3) medium dose (ME; 0.2 mg); and (4) high dose (HE; 0.5 mg). Arterial pressure and its sympathetic nervous system modulation were evaluated by spectral analysis. Nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase (Nox) activities, H2O2 concentration, redox status (GSH/GSSG), protein expression of Trx-1 and p-Akt/Akt were evaluated in the aorta, whereas NO metabolites were measured in the serum. Estrogen-treated groups showed a significant decrease in arterial pressure and sympathetic vascular drive. Redox status was significantly improved and NADPH oxidase and H2O2 were decreased in all estrogen-treated groups. Estrogen also induced an enhancement in NO metabolites, nitric oxide synthase activity, and Akt phosphorylation. This study demonstrated that estrogen treatment to ovariectomized rats induced cardioprotection, which was evidenced by reduced blood pressure variability and vascular sympathetic drive. These effects were associated with an improved redox balance and Akt activation, resulting in an enhanced NO bioavailability.

Effects of purple grape juice in the redox-sensitive modulation of right ventricular remodeling in a pulmonary arterial hypertension model.

The effects of purple grape juice (PGJ) pretreatment in signaling proteins involved in cardiac remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline (MCT) were investigated. Male Wistar rats (control, MCT, PGJ, and MCT + PGJ groups) were treated for 6 weeks with water or PGJ (10 mL·kg(-1)·d(-1)) by gavage. In the third week, they were administered a single dose of MCT (60 mg/kg i.p.). Pulmonary vascular resistance was determined by echocardiography, and hemodynamic analysis was performed in the right ventricle (RV). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and lipid peroxidation were quantified and thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-Akt/Akt, p-JNK/JNK, and cleaved caspase-3 were detected at RV by Western blot. Pretreatment with PGJ attenuated pulmonary vascular resistance and improved hemodynamic parameters in MCT-induced PAH. PGJ and MCT groups exhibited increased H2O2 levels, which were reduced to baseline in MCT + PGJ. ERK1/2 phosphorylation showed the same profile of H2O2 changes. No changes in p-JNK/JNK and p-Akt/Akt expressions were found. An enhanced cleaved caspase-3 immunodetection was induced by the model, which was reversed in the MCT + PGJ group and associated with increased Trx-1 and reduced lipid peroxidation. Improvement in functional parameters mediated by PGJ pretreatment may be associated with the induction of Trx-1, influencing the expression of proteins involved in RV remodeling.

Increase in reactive oxygen species and activation of Akt signaling pathway in neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain occurs as a result of peripheral or central nervous system injury. Its pathophysiology involves mainly a central sensitization mechanism that may be correlated to many molecules acting in regions involved in pain processing, such as the spinal cord. It has been demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and signaling molecules, such as the serine/threonine protein kinase Akt, are involved in neuropathic pain mechanisms. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide evidence of this relationship. Sciatic nerve transection (SNT) was used to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Western blot analysis of Akt and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-Michael adducts, and measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in the lumbosacral spinal cord were performed. The main findings were found seven days after SNT, when there was an increase in HNE-Michael adducts formation, total and p-Akt expression, and H(2)O(2) concentration. However, one and 15 days after SNT, H(2)O(2) concentration was raised in both sham (animals that were submitted to surgery without nerve injury) and SNT groups, showing the high sensibility of this ROS to nociceptive afferent stimuli, not only to neuropathic pain. p-Akt also increased in sham and SNT groups one day post injury, but at 3 and 7 days the increase occurred exclusively in SNT animals. Thus, there is crosstalk between intracellular signaling pathways and ROS, and these molecules can act as protective agents in acute pain situations or play a role in the development of chronic pain states.

Aortic-banding induces myocardial oxidative stress and changes in concentration and activity of antioxidants in male Wistar rats.

Myocardial activity and gene expression of antioxidant defenses and oxidative damage were examined in an experimental model of pressure overload hypertrophy. Male Wistar rats were divided into abdominal aortic-banded or sham-operated groups. After 30 days, arterial pressure and heart rate were measured. Heart, lung, and liver were extracted and weighted to evaluate cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary and hepatic congestion. Heart homogenates were prepared to quantify lipid peroxidation (LPO); the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR); and Cu-Zn SOD and GST concentrations. Total glutathione (GSH) myocardial content was also measured. Arterial pressure (142 +/- 17 mmHg) and cardiac hypertrophy index (3.4 +/- 0.45 mg/g) were significantly increased (by 38% and 22%, respectively, p<0.0001) in the aortic-banded group. LPO was enhanced by 55% in the aortic-banded group (11891 +/- 766 cps/mg protein, p<0.001) compared with that in the controls. SOD activity and concentration were higher (40% and 38%, 15.15 +/- 1.03 U/mg protein, 49.187 pixels, respectively, p<0.05) in the aortic-banded group than in the controls. Aortic-banding induced a decrease by 28% in GST (48 +/- 10 pmol/min/mg protein, p<0.005), by 36% in GPx (38.2 +/- 9.5 nmol/min/mg protein, p<0.005), by 31% in GR activities (1.55 +/- 0.23 nmol/mg protein, p<0.0005), and by 43% in GSH content (0.13 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein, p<0.005). In conclusion, in this model it was observed that myocardial oxidative stress induces alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities and protein expression. The follow up of these parameters could afford an early therapeutical window to avoid heart failure progression.

Neuropathic pain modifies antioxidant activity in rat spinal cord.

Oxidative stress is an important pathophysiological mechanism of many neurological diseases. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been cited as molecules involved in the nociceptive process. In this study, rats were submitted to sciatic nerve transection (SNT) for induction of neuropathic pain, and enzyme activities of SOD and catalase as well as lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in the lumbosacral spinal cord. The results show that LPO was not changed after SNT. SOD activity was reduced 7 days after SNT, while the change in catalase activity occurred on the third and seventh days in both sham and SNT animals. Hyperalgesia in SNT group was detected at the same points in time. These results suggest that SNT was not a strong enough stimulus to deplete all antioxidant content in the spinal cord, since increase in LPO was not detected. However, the role of oxidative stress in nociception can not be excluded.