Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Background:Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. Ex. Fr) Karst is a basidiomycete mushroom that has been used for many years as a food supplement and medicine. In Brazil, National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) classified Ganoderma lucidum as a nutraceutical product. The objective of the present work was to observe the effects of an extract from Ganoderma lucidum in rats treated with streptozotocin, and an agent that induces diabetes. Method: Male Wistar rats were obtained from the animal lodging facilities of both University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE) and Lusiada Universitary Center (UNILUS) with approval from the Ethics Committee for Animal Research. Animals were separated into groups: (1) C: Normoglycemic control water; (2) CE: Normoglycemic control group that received hydroethanolic extract (GWA); (3) DM1 + GWA: Diabetic group that received extract GWA; and (4) DM1: Diabetic group that received water. The treatment was evaluated over a 30-day period. Food and water were weighted, and blood plasma biochemical analysis performed. Results: G. lucidum extract contained beta-glucan, proteins and phenols. Biochemical analysis indicated a decrease of plasma glycemic and lipid levels in DM rats induced with streptozotocin and treated with GWA extract. Histopathological analysis from pancreas of GWA-treated DM animals showed preservation of up to 50% of pancreatic islet total area when compared to the DM control group. In plasma, Kyn was present in diabetic rats, while in treated diabetic rats more Trp was detected. Conclusion: Evaluation from G. lucidum extract in STZ-hyperglycemic rats indicated that the extract possesses hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities. Support: Proj. CNPq 474681/201.

Healing and cytotoxic effects of psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) leaf extracts

Aim: The aims of this study were to evaluate the wound healing potential in vivo and the cytotoxic effects in vitro of Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) leaf extract and commonly used corticosteroids. Methods: The healing effect was studied in vivo by the clinical and histological evaluation of traumatic lesions in the oral mucosa of rats treated with these substances. Each rat received 2 daily applications of the medicine tested and the animals were sacrificed after 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days. Tissue sections stained with hematoxylin & eosin were analyzed. The histological evaluation involved a 5-point scoring system based on the degree of healing, ranging from 1 (total repair of epithelium and connective tissue) to 5 (epithelial ulcer and acute inflammatory infiltrate). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis of the histological scores. For the in vitro toxicity assay, each substance was applied to mucosa fibroblast cell cultures in conditioned media. The media were conditioned by placing the substances in contact with fresh culture medium for 24 h. The cytotoxicity analysis was performed using the MTT assay. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey’s test at 5% significance level. Results: In vitro, the guava extract caused a decrease in the cell viability and growth when compared to the control and corticosteroids. In vivo, guava extract caused accelerated wound healing from the 3rd day, whereas the corticosteroids delayed tissue repair and were associated with bacterial surface colonization, the presence of micro-abscesses and intense inflammatory infiltrate in the submucosa. Conclusions: Although in a short-term cytotoxicity analysis, the guava extract reduced the cell population in vitro, while in vivo, the extract accelerated wound healing.

Compreendendo os problemas em relação ao uso de medicamentos em uma comunidade atendida pelo PSF: desdobramentos para o enfermeiro

Trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo, realizada na cidade de Santa Rita de Cássia-BA, em julho de 2004, por meio de um formulário com 21 questões relacionadas ao uso de medicamentos, com uma amostra de 62 pessoas. Dos entrevistados, os que tinham o 1º grau incompleto e os analfabetos compunham 65 por cento; 34 por cento dos entrevistados liam a bula e apenas 12,9 por cento dos mesmos a entendiam; 91,9 por cento ganhavam na época da pesquisa de 1 a 1,5 salário mínimo; destes, 29,4 por cento abandonavam o tratamento farmacológico por questões econômicas. A falta de informação, a cultura e os fatores socioeconômicos da amostra influenciam no uso de medicamentos e no abandono/adesão ao mesmo. O principal problema levantado foi o baixo grau de escolaridade. As ações do enfermeiro do PSF, nesta região, deverão estar relacionadas para a promoção do uso racional dos medicamentos.(AU)

Estudo da variaçäo ontogenética de princípios ativos de Leonurus sibiricus L. e suas ações farmacológicas / Ontogenetic variation study of active principles of Leonurus sibiricus L. and your pharmacological actions

A espécie Leonurus sibiricus L. (família Lamiaceae) é originária da Ásia, porém está tão bem adaptada ao Brasil que podemos considerá-la brasileira. Seu uso em disfunções ginecológicas é conhecido há séculos na China; no Brasil, seus usos descritos são como antiespasmódico, anti-reumático, antpaludismo, contra coqueluche, sendo seu uso popular, no estado de São Paulo, como antiinflamatório tópico. Neste trabalho fizemos o acompanhamento do teor de flavonóides, tanto em diferentes épocas do ano, como em diferentes etapas do crescimento da planta. Pudemos constatar que, em condições adequadas de cultivo, a espécie produz uma maior quantidade de massa verde e portanto uma maior quantidade de flavonóides...