Inhibition of Carrageenan-Induced Acute Inflammation in Mice by the Microgramma vacciniifolia Frond Lectin (MvFL).

Most anti-inflammatory drugs used nowadays have an excessive cost and their prolonged use has been connected with several injurious effects. Thus, the search for new anti-inflammatory agents is increasing. Lectins are carbohydrate-interacting proteins that can modulate immune response and the release of inflammation mediators. The Microgramma vacciniifolia frond lectin (MvFL) was previously reported to be an immunomodulatory agent in vitro. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of MvFL on the in vivo inflammatory status in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis and paw edema, using female Swiss mice. The animals were pretreated intraperitoneally with MvFL (5 and 10 mg/kg). In the peritonitis assay, the total and differential migration of white blood cells was evaluated, as well as the levels of cytokines, nitric oxide (NO), and total proteins in the peritoneal fluid. In the paw edema evaluation, the paw volume was measured in the early (from 30 min-2 h) and late (3-4 h) phases of edema formation. MvFL (5 and 10 mg/kg) was efficient in reducing neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α), NO, and protein content in the peritoneal fluid. It also repressed the edema formation in the late phase of the assay. In conclusion, MvFL showed inhibitory effects in in vivo acute inflammation, which encouraged future studies exploiting its immunomodulatory ability.

Evaluation of the In Vivo Acute Toxicity and In Vitro Hemolytic and Immunomodulatory Activities of the Moringa oleifera Flower Trypsin Inhibitor (MoFTI).

BACKGROUND: Protease inhibitors have been isolated from plants and present several biological activities, including immunomodulatory action. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate a Moringa oleifera flower trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) for acute toxicity in mice, hemolytic activity on mice erythrocytes and immunomodulatory effects on mice splenocytes. METHODS: The acute toxicity was evaluated using Swiss female mice that received a single dose of the vehicle control or MoFTI (300 mg/kg, i.p.). Behavioral alterations were observed 15-240 min after administration, and survival, weight gain, and water and food consumption were analyzed daily. Organ weights and hematological parameters were analyzed after 14 days. Hemolytic activity of MoFTI was tested using Swiss female mice erythrocytes. Splenocytes obtained from BALB/c mice were cultured in the absence or presence of MoFTI for the evaluation of cell viability and proliferation. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were also determined. Furthermore, the culture supernatants were analyzed for the presence of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO). RESULTS: MoFTI did not cause death or any adverse effects on the mice except for abdominal contortions at 15-30 min after administration. MoFTI did not exhibit a significant hemolytic effect. In addition, MoFTI did not induce apoptosis or necrosis in splenocytes and had no effect on cell proliferation. Increases in cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS release, as well as Δψm reduction, were observed in MoFTI-treated cells. MoFTI was observed to induce TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and NO release. CONCLUSION: These results contribute to the ongoing evaluation of the antitumor potential of MoFTI and its effects on other immunological targets.

Antitumor activity of Moringa oleifera (drumstick tree) flower trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) in sarcoma 180-bearing mice.

The plant Moringa oleifera is used as food and medicine. M. oleifera flowers are source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants, and are used to treat inflammation and tumors. This work evaluated the antitumor activity of the M. oleifera flower trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) in sarcoma 180-bearing mice. Swiss female mice were inoculated with sarcoma 180 cells. Seven days later, the animals were treated intraperitoneally for 1 week with daily doses of PBS (control) or MoFTI (15 or 30 mg/kg). For toxicity assessment, water and food consumption, body and organ weights, histological alterations, and blood hematological and biochemical parameters were measured. Treatment with MoFTI caused pronounced reduction (90.1%-97.9%) in tumor weight. The tumors of treated animals had a reduced number of secondary vessels and lower gauge of the primary vessels compared to the control. No significant changes were observed in water and food consumption or in body and organ weights. Histopathological analysis did not indicate damage to the liver, kidneys, and spleen. In conclusion, MoFTI showed antitumor potential, with no clear evidence of toxicity.

Multifunctional hydroxyapatite with potential for application in theranostic nanomedicine.

Although several materials are being studied for the development of theranostic systems, factors such as high costs, low yield, stability of nanoparticles (NPs) and toxicity-related issues hinder their application in medicine. Thus, this paper introduces the synthesis of a theranostic system composed of hydroxyapatite (HAp) functionalized with europium (Eu3+) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs, resulting in a low-cost material that presents biocompatibility, luminescence, antibacterial activity and whose synthesis method is simple. The Eu3+ - doped HAp was obtained through the precipitation method and the functionalization with ZnO occurred in the subsequent stage through the solid-state reaction method. The resulting material, [Ca9.5Eu0.5(PO4)6(OH)2@ZnO], was characterized by several techniques where the photoluminescence spectrum exhibited sharp peaks at the 4fN â†’ 4fN transitions typical of Eu3+ ions, while tests with bacteria proved its antibacterial property. The crystal structure obtained by X-ray diffraction confirmed HAp as the major phase. The multifunctional HAp (HAp:Eu@ZnO) was considered as hemocompatible, exhibiting an in vitro hemolysis ratio of 1.85 (±0.2) %, and its loading potential, tested for two antitumor drugs, showed an adsorption capacity of 43.0 ± 3.6% for 5-Fluorouracil and 84.0 ± 4.0% for curcumin. The cytotoxicity of the system as well as its use as a support for drugs was analyzed through in vitro assays with tumor cells from sarcoma 180 in mice. The results confirmed that HAp:Eu@ZnO is non-toxic to cells and its potential for antineoplastic vectorization is increased by cell internalization due to endocytosis, with up to 39.0% of cancer cell deaths having been observed at the concentrations and period evaluated.

Antinociceptive activity of Schinus terebinthifolia leaf lectin (SteLL) in sarcoma 180-bearing mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi leaves have been used in folk medicine due to several properties, including antitumor and analgesic effects. The variable efficacy and adverse effects of analgesic drugs have motivated the search for novel antinociceptive agents. It has been reported that the S. terebinthifolia leaf lectin (SteLL) has antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 in mice. AIM OF THE STUDY: This work aimed to evaluate whether SteLL would reduce cancer pain using an orthotopic tumor model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sarcoma 180 cell suspension was inoculated into the right hind paws of mice, and the treatments (150 mM NaCl, negative control; 10 mg/kg morphine, positive control; or SteLL at 1 and 2 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally 24 h after cell inoculation up to 14 days. Spontaneous nociception, mechanical hyperalgesia, and hot-plate tests were performed. Further, the volume and weight of the tumor-bearing paws were measured. RESULTS: SteLL (2 mg/kg) improved limb use during ambulation. The lectin (1 and 2 mg/kg) also inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia and increased the latency time during the hot-plate test. Naloxone was found to reverse this effect, indicating the involvement of opioid receptors. The tumor-bearing paws of mice treated with SteLL exhibited lower volume and weight. CONCLUSION: SteLL reduced hyperalgesia due to sarcoma 180 in the paws of mice, and this effect can be related to its antitumor action.

Characterization of 3-aminospirostane alkaloids from roots of Solanum paniculatum L. with hepatoprotective activity.

RATIONALE: Solanum paniculatum L., popularly known as jurubeba, has traditionally been used in Brazilian folk medicine for liver diseases. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the chemical characterization of 3-aminospirostane alkaloids, an important class related to pharmacological activities. This work aimed to characterize the alkaloids using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) supported by molecular networking and theoretical calculations as well as to evaluate the contribution to hepatoprotective activity. METHODS: S. paniculatum roots were collected and macerated with MeOH/H2 O (8:2) obtaining the crude extract (SP-CE). From this, partition using EtOAc with pH variation yielded the alkaloidic fraction (SP-AF). Both were evaluated in an acute liver injury model (100 and 200 mg/kg), after intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) in mice. AST (aspartate transaminase) and ALT (alanine transaminase) serum levels were investigated, as well as the histopathological characteristics. The SP-CE and SP-AF were analyzed by LC/MS/MS, using quadrupole/time-of-flight and ion-trap systems. The alkaloids annotated by the GNPS molecular network had their structures defined using gas-phase ionization and fragmentation reaction supported by theoretical calculations. RESULTS: The SP-CE and SP-AF decreased the ALT serum levels compared with the negative control. The group treated with the SP-CE (at the highest dose) demonstrated a significant decrease of ALT. Hepatic cell degeneration decrease was observed mainly at the highest dose of the treatment. Detailed electrospray ionization MS/MS data allowed us to identify alkaloids not previously reported, to propose their gas-phase reactions and to redefine the initial open ring fragmentation mechanism of the steroidal alkaloids with the jurubidine moiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results allowed us to identify seven steroidal alkaloids from jurubeba and redefine the initial mechanism of fragmentation. A significant hepatoprotective effect was also demonstrated, corroborating its traditional use.

Evaluation of antitumor activity and toxicity of Schinus terebinthifolia leaf extract and lectin (SteLL) in sarcoma 180-bearing mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi is a plant broadly used in folk medicine and the use of its leaf extract as an antitumor agent has been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the antitumor potential and the toxicity of saline extract (SE) and lectin (SteLL) from S. terebinthifolia leaves in sarcoma 180-bearing mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity to sarcoma 180 cells was tested in vitro, and antitumor assay was performed using Swiss female mice. The treatments (0.15 M NaCl, negative control; methotrexate 1.5 mg/kg, positive control; SE 100 mg/kg; SteLL 1 and 5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injections started on the 8th day after tumor inoculation and lasted 7 days. It was analyzed: tumor weight; number and gauge of tumor vessels; hematological and biochemical parameters; histopathological changes; and occurrence of micronuclei in bone marrow cells. RESULTS: SE and SteLL showed IC50 values (concentrations that reduced cell viability to 50%) of 301.65 and 8.30 µg/mL, respectively. The lectin was able to induce apoptosis. Treatments with the extract and lectin caused a 57.6-73.6% reduction in tumor weight, which was not significantly different from the reduction in the methotrexate group. Tumors of animals treated with SteLL at 5 mg/kg showed reduced number of secondary vessels while the gauge was lower in all treated groups. In the groups treated with SteLL, tumors showed reduced and slightly vascularized parenchyma, with necrosis in the center and at the periphery. No alterations in the blood levels of urea, creatine, and glucose were detected while serum AST level was moderately increased in the SE group. Histopathological analysis revealed vacuolization and steatosis in the liver of animals treated with the extract and lectin. In addition, the treatments with SE and SteLL resulted in the reduction of filtration space and alterations in tubular architecture in kidneys. In respect to hematological parameters, it was only detected increase in the number of monocytes in SE group. The extract and lectin did not induce the formation of micronuclei in the bone marrow cells. CONCLUSIONS: SE and SteLL had antitumor effect against sarcoma 180 without inducing hematological changes and genotoxic effects in mice; however, some degree of hepatic and renal toxicity was observed, suggesting the evaluation of drug delivery strategies in the future.

LASSBio-1586, an N-acylhydrazone derivative, attenuates nociceptive behavior and the inflammatory response in mice.

Pain and inflammation are complex clinical conditions that are present in a wide variety of disorders. Most drugs used to treat pain and inflammation have potential side effects, which makes it necessary to search for new sources of bioactive molecules. In this paper, we describe the ability of LASSBio-1586, an N-acylhydrazone derivative, to attenuate nociceptive behavior and the inflammatory response in mice. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated through acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced nociception tests. In these experimental models, LASSBio-1586 significantly (p<0.05) reduced nociceptive behavior. Several methods of acute and chronic inflammation induced by different chemical (carrageenan, histamine, croton oil, arachidonic acid) and physical (cotton pellet) agents were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of LASSBio-1586. LASSBio-1586 exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity in all tests (p<0.05). Study of the mechanism of action demonstrated the possible involvement of the nitrergic, serotonergic and histamine signaling pathways. In addition, a molecular docking study was performed, indicating that LASSBio-1586 is able to block the COX-2 enzyme, reducing arachidonic acid metabolism and consequently decreasing the production of prostaglandins, which are important inflammatory mediators. In summary, LASSBio-1586 exhibited relevant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential and acted on several targets, making it a candidate for a new multi-target oral anti-inflammatory drug.

The role of flavonoids on oxidative stress in epilepsy.

BACKGROUNDS: Oxidative stress can result from excessive free-radical production and it is likely implicated as a possible mechanism involved in the initiation and progression of epileptogenesis. Flavonoids can protect the brain from oxidative stress. In the central nervous system (CNS) several flavonoids bind to the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA-receptor resulting in anticonvulsive effects. OBJECTIVE: This review provides an overview about the role of flavonoids in oxidative stress in epilepsy. The mechanism of action of flavonoids and its relation to the chemical structure is also discussed. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that suggests that flavonoids have potential for neuroprotection in epilepsy.

Determinaçäo de padröes de crescimento de células em cultura / Growth patterns for cells in culture

Os padröes de crescimento de linhagens estáveis de células normais e cancerosas, cultivadas em monocamada e em géis de colágeno, foram caracterizados utilizando-se a distribuiçäo de tamanhos de agregados celulares. Células HN-5 (cancerosas) apresentam, tanto em monocamada quanto em gel, distribuições regidas por leis de potência durante todo o tempo que permaneceram em cultura, enquanto que nas células MDCK (normais) e HEp-2 (cancerosas) observa-se uma transiçäo de um comportamento exponencial para um regido por uma distribuiçäo em leis de potência. Estes resultados sugerem que as transições nos regimes de crescimento de MDCK e HEp-2 podem estar associadas a alterações no controle da replicaçäo ou nos padröes de expressäo de moléculas de adesividade celular de junções célula-célula ou célula-matriz extracelular, relacionadas com sinalizaçäo intracelular. Estas transições säo irreversíveis e parecem corresponder a uma resposta adaptativa das células às restrições ao crescimento impostas por uma elevada densidade populacional ou por uma longa permanência em cultura