Anti-Inflammatory Potential of the Oleoresin from the Amazonian Tree Copaifera reticulata with an Unusual Chemical Composition in Rats.

Copaifera reticulata Ducke is a popularly known species known as copaíba that is widely spread throughout the Amazon region. The tree yields an oleoresin which is extensively used in local traditional medicine mainly as an anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive agent. The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of this oleoresin obtained from a national forest in the central Amazon which presented an unusual chemical composition. The chemical composition of volatile compounds of oleoresin was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The acute toxicity assay was performed with a single dose of 2000 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema and air pouch assays using four different C. reticulata oleoresin concentrations (10, 100, and 400 mg/kg). The exudate was evaluated for nitrite concentration through the colorimetric method and for TNF-α, IL-1ß, and PGE2 by ELISA. C. reticulata oleoresin collected in the Amazonian summer contained six major sesquiterpene compounds (ß-bisabolene, cis-eudesma-6,11-diene, trans-α-bergamotene, ß-selinene, α-selinene, and ß-elemene) and was nontoxic at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, showing low acute toxicity. Different from oleoresin obtained from other sites of the Brazilian Amazon, the major volatile compound found was ß-Bisabolene with 25.15%. This ß-Bisabolene-rich oleoresin reduced the formation of paw edema induced by carrageenan and reduced the global number of cells in the air pouch assay, as well as exudate volume and nitrite, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and prostaglandin E2 levels (p < 0.05). C. reticulata oleoresin with a high ß-Bisabolene concentration showed anti-inflammatory activity, reducing vascular permeability and consequently edema formation, and thus reducing cell migration and the production of inflammatory cytokine, confirming its traditional use by local Amazonian communities.

Chemical Composition and Antiproliferative Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae).

Cyperus articulatus L. (Priprioca) is a plant of the Cyperaceae family traditionally used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region. Studies of the essential oil of this species have identified many terpene compounds. However, little is known about the possible uses of solid waste generated by the extraction of essential oils. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of volatile compounds and to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the ethanolic extract of solid residues generated by the extraction of the essential oil of C. articulatus L. rizhomes in experimental models in vitro using peritoneal macrophages of mice and human tumor cell lines. The analysis of the chemical composition of volatile compounds indicated the presence of sesquiterpenes and particularly sequiterpenic ketones as main constituents. The results showed that the treatment with ethanolic extract of C. articulatus L. reduced the activity of the enzyme arginase and proliferation of cancer cells (p < 0.0001). The extract also showed no cytotoxicity in macrophages in concentrations between 12.5; 25 and 50 mg/mL (p < 0.0001). The results indicated that the extract of C. articulatus L. exerts antiproliferative activity (p < 0.0001) with low toxicity on healthy cells in experimental models in vitro.

Prediction of mutations on structure primase of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus / Predição de mutações na estrutura da primase da arquea Sulfolobus solfataricus

All living organisms need a DNA replication mechanism and it has been conserved in the three domains of life throughout evolutionary process. Primase is the enzyme responsible for synthesizing de novo RNA primers in DNA replication. Archaeo-Eukaryotic Primase (AEP) is the superfamily that typically forms a heterodimeric complex containing both a small catalytic subunit (PriS) and a large accessory noncatalytic subunit (PriL). Sulfolobus solfataricus is a model organism for research on the Genetics field. The aim of this work was to evaluate, via Bioinformatics tools, three mutations in the large subunit (PriL) of the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. The aspartic acid residue in the positions (Asp) 62, (Asp) 235, (Asp) 241 have been substituted by glutamic acid (Glu). The highest positive free energy variation of the three substitutions analyzed occurred with the mutation at the (Asp) 241 site. The in silico analysis suggested that these mutations in PriL may destabilize its tridimensional structure interfering with replication mechanisms of Sulfolobus solfataricus. Moreover, it may also alter interactions with other molecules, making salt bridges, for instance.

Todos os organismos vivos necessitam de um eficiente mecanismo de replicação de DNA. Ao longo da evolução biológica foi observado que esse mecanismo é conservado nos três domínios da vida. Uma enzima importante que participa desse mecanismo é a RNA primase, a qual é responsável pela síntese de novo de iniciadores de RNA na replicação do DNA. Em Arquea-Eucariota, RNA Primase (AEP) tipicamente forma um complexo heterodimérico, que contém uma pequena subunidade catalítica (PriS) e uma subunidade maior não catalítica acessória (PriL). Sulfolobus solfataricus é um organismo modelo de Arquea para a pesquisa no campo da genética. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, por meio de ferramentas de bioinformática, três mutações pontuais na subunidade maior (PriL) de Sulfolobus solfataricus. Nas sequências mutantes, os resíduos de ácido aspártico nas posições (Asp) 62, (Asp) 235, (Asp) 241 foram substituídos por ácido glutâmico (Glu). A maior variação de energia livre positiva das três mutações analisadas ocorreu no sítio (Asp) 241. A análise in silico sugeriu que essas mutações em PriL podem desestabilizar sua estrutura tridimensional, interferindo com os mecanismos de replicação de Sulfolobus solfataricus. Além disso, podem alterar interações com outras moléculas, formando pontes salinas.

Analytical modeling of the thermomechanical behavior of ASTM F-1586 high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel used as a biomaterial under multipass deformation.

Precipitation-recrystallization interactions in ASTM F-1586 austenitic stainless steel were studied by means of hot torsion tests with multipass deformation under continuous cooling, simulating an industrial laminating process. Samples were deformed at 0.2 and 0.3 at a strain rate of 1.0s(-1), in a temperature range of 900 to 1200°C and interpass times varying from 5 to 80s. The tests indicate that the stress level depends on deformation temperature and the slope of the equivalent mean stress (EMS) vs. 1/T presents two distinct behaviors, with a transition at around 1100°C, the non-recrystallization temperature (Tnr). Below the Tnr, strain-induced precipitation of Z-phase (NbCrN) occurs in short interpass times (tpass<30s), inhibiting recrystallization and promoting stepwise stress build-up with strong recovery, which is responsible for increasing the Tnr. At interpass times longer than 30s, the coalescence and dissolution of precipitates promote a decrease in the Tnr and favor the formation of recrystallized grains. Based on this evidence, the physical simulation of controlled processing allows for a domain refined grain with better mechanical properties.